Have you ever experienced a moment in life when all of the crazy and chaotic things going on slowly fade away, and you are able to fully focus on the beauty of the world we live in? I don’t think it happens often enough to anyone, but when it does Read more…
Goodbyes are always difficult but I did not expect leaving my host family and saying goodbye to São Paulo to be so hard. Tuesday night of our third and final week in Brazil carried in these farewells which made leaving Wednesday morning even more difficult. At the beginning of the Read more…
We have been experiencing and learning so much about Brazilian culture, and it is only fitting that we give back to their people. Today, we spent the day giving back to the community. We started our morning at Todo Mundo Feliz, a school that brings education and assistance to the Read more…
Admittedly, I wasn’t sure what I was going to talk about going into today since we were mainly traveling! However, the time we spent traveling gave me a lot of time to reflect on my gratitude for everything we experienced on this trip. Specifically, I am grateful for life, I Read more…
As we drove away from our hotel in the chill of an autumn morning in Foz do Iguaçu, I really felt as though I didn’t even care about seeing the beautiful spectacle that I had been excited about for the last two years. The day before, we had hugged and Read more…
In our everyday lives, the rich diversity of language often escapes our notice. Yet behind each language lies a story of the centuries which have shaped it into the vibrant language we recognize today. The Portuguese language is no different. Stepping into the Museu da Língua Portuguesa, we embarked on Read more…
My host family’s dog, Yoda, changed my Brazilian experience to something familiar even when I felt different. Growing up surrounded by pets, I’ve always found an unexplainable comfort in having a dog around. There’s beauty in walking with them, witnessing their growth through thick and thin, and knowing they’ll always Read more…
Started in 2001, a community school in a gang-heavy area provides free education and care for children from 4 months to 14 years old. It supports families earning less than 14,000 BRL annually, ensuring even those making less than $400 a month can enroll their children. The school relies on Read more…
Coming to Brazil, I was largely excited about the experience as a whole but honestly highly apprehensive about living with a host family. An array of thoughts plagued me – “what if they don’t like me?”, “what if I do something wrong on accident”, “What if I’m not what they Read more…
Friday was a day that I was really anticipating throughout the days leading up to it. I badly wanted to learn how to cook and I love dancing so much that I knew samba was going to be great. These activities are art forms, just like I consider playing soccer Read more…