Before coming to Brazil, people would ask me what I was looking forward to the most- what I wanted to take away from the trip. My answer was a loose anticipation of what I hoped for, seeing as I couldn’t and still cannot tell the future. It went something like Read more…
“Not everything will go as planned in Brazil!” was our mantra by the time we left for Brazil. However, I could not have prepared for the unexpected and sad news I received when I called home. A family friend I called “Grandma” was going into hospice care. On Friday morning, Read more…
Coming into this trip, I was pretty confident with my ability to speak Portuguese. After all, I knew how to say please, thank you, and hello. What could possibly go wrong? I suppose I forgot that real people speak faster than the voices on Babbel and hand gestures aren’t as Read more…
Before we arrived in Brazil a few days back, my head was filled with various assumptions. I was anxious about the language barrier. Did I know enough Portuguese to understand my family? To understand others? Although these feelings seemed to be a reality, that fear was extinguished by my gracious Read more…
I have a secret to tell you. Although I may look steely on the outside, between you and me, inside I am a fervently nervous person. The months that stood in between me and my departure for Brazil were filled with worries that I would somehow break down during my Read more…
I understand now why writers often take trips when they encounter writer’s block. It’s hard to resist inspiration surrounded by God’s creations within a different lifestyle. My few days in Brazil have left me in utter awe. I feel as though my heart could burst with the insights and joy Read more…
After being in Brazil for less than a week, I am starting to understand why Dr. Kovach didn’t want us to write “newsy” blogs. For one, it would take hundreds of pages to talk about every new experience and moment of joy and excitement. Secondly, focusing on the details might Read more…
I have traveled to different countries before and was expecting some similarities, but this trip to Brazil has turned out thus far to be leagues away from my past experiences. Not only am I not with my family but I have been immersed in the language in a way I’ve Read more…
I can’t speak Portuguese. I’m slowly starting to pick up words here and there and learning how to order food, but a conversation? I wish. I have never been good at learning other languages. I took Spanish for 6 years and can’t speak it, so I was very nervous coming Read more…
I probably first heard it the moment we stepped off the bus to meet our host families on campus in the Rudge Ramos neighborhood of São Bernardo do Campo. Then, it was a little louder around the table at dinner and at breakfast the next morning. Finally, it hit me Read more…