Today we visited the headquarters of a massive perfume and beauty products company. The greatest lesson that I learned on the tour of Natura is that the beauty of nature is compounding. It is not just one thing that makes Read more…
Today on our Brazil adventure, we journeyed to the beautiful headquarters of one of the highest-grossing companies in the country: Natura! Natura is a brand that sells cosmetics, fragrances, soaps, and other self-care products, all with an emphasis on sustainability Read more…
There are few things like a trip that can expose the kind of person you are. Our time in São Paulo has definitely succeeded in doing this. Not only was today full of fun activities, but these activities revealed just Read more…
As cheesy and cliche as it sounds, music really does have the power to connect people. This was especially clear when we did a samba workshop on Wednesday May 21! A large part of the workshop was learning how to Read more…
“It’s ‘outra,’ not ‘ootra!’” My Brazilian friends Alice and Matheus were laughing at me as I tried to pronounce this Portuguese word correctly over and over again during our three-hour Portuguese lesson. Overwhelmed, I finally got it right and sat Read more…
On the first full Monday of the trip, we went out to help a local group called Todo Mundo Feliz. Todo Mundo Feliz is a group focused on providing after-school care for young kids in Santo Andre and even taking Read more…
Today, May 20, 2025, the Global Honors students in Brazil spent the day engaging and dissecting language. We started the day by studying the Portuguese language for three hours, followed by two hours exploring and interacting with language at the Read more…
Brazilian culture is so diverse and special, and it seems everyone is involved in their culture. We honestly didn’t have a plan for our day until a couple days before we went, so it was on a whim, but it Read more…
On the eighth day of our trip to São Paulo, Brazil, we were fortunate enough to be able to give our time and resources entirely for the betterment of others. Our group spent the day at an elementary school and Read more…
When we started preparing for this trip, I knew that learning Portuguese would be the most difficult thing for me. I love learning new languages, but I have a horrible memory. I knew that I had to put effort in Read more…
May 16, 2025 – Bertioga Beach, Brazil Today was all about the beach. Brazil is known for its beautiful beaches, and it sure lived up to the hype. Bertioga offers a perfect cultural immersion into Brazilian life. The vibrant spirit Read more…
May 16th, 2025, will have to go down as one of the best days of our trip. We were provided the opportunity to go to the Sesc club in Bertioga, São Paulo. Every part of the trip was an exchange Read more…
Today, I learned that even if people do not share a common tongue or culture, many things can bring very different people together. As the day unfolded, I began to notice that even across different languages, there are certain experiences Read more…
I don’t think I realized just how much I could experience and learn about a culture in one day of activities and sightseeing. I think it is safe to say that whenever visiting somewhere new, your experience is going to Read more…
Many people talk about the importance of learning some of the language of the place to which you are traveling. However, you don’t truly understand its importance until you arrive, and I was no exception to this. Today, we left Read more…
It is fascinating to learn a new culture’s traditions, foods, and values. Today was a full journey into the heritage and traditions of Brazil, highlighted by Capoeira, food, history, and (for me) futebol. We had a Capoeira class in the Read more…
One thing I think about ever time I travel is how quickly your whole routine flies out the window. All of a sudden, you’re in a new country, new city, with a new language, new family, and in this case Read more…
Have you ever heard the saying “life is only as good as the people you do it with”? When I think about my second day in Brazil, I am especially reminded of this saying. Brazil is so incredibly beautiful, and Read more…
Today I received the most genuine and warm welcome that I feel any person could ever give to another. Arriving in an unfamiliar place that is nearly 5,000 miles away from your home can leave you feeling very worried and Read more…
“We’re not in Kansas anymore.” These words, first uttered by Dorothy from “Wizard of Oz”, were repeated by “Avatar: The Way of Water”‘s Colonel Quaritch as I watched the movie on the plane ride to Brazil. They were also the Read more…
I had no idea what to expect on any international trip, let alone a trip to São Paulo, Brazil. There is no amount of preparation that can replicate a true culturally immersive experience, which is what I have now been Read more…