The smell of various animals drifted through the air as we entered the Veterinary hospital for a tour. Passing by and looking into several labs like the one pictured below, the tour guide explaining what each lab was used to analyze. It was starting off like any other college tour… Read more…
I entered the classroom to a cacophony of noise coming from every direction. Nearly all of the 40 kids in the class were talking at the same time, some with each other, some with the teacher, all in Portuguese. “Class must not have started yet,” I thought to myself Read more…
As I walked up a flight stairs, I smelled a mix of waxed floors and cafeteria food and I was taken back to my first day of middle school in Buffalo, NY. Only I wasn’t in Buffalo, or even New York, I was in a Brazilian high school, or “college.” Read more…
Though many exciting things have happened so far on this trip, it has been the Brazilian people I’ve interacted with that have made this experience whole. While preparing to depart, I was the most nervous about being homesick. I’ve never been away from my family for more than a week, Read more…
Our host family lives right next to the favelas, which is another word for a slum. Each time we drive past the favelas, I am shocked and saddened by how people live in such poor conditions. Last night as we were driving past the favelas, there was a beautiful sunset, Read more…
Above me there is a lesser kiskadee. He is Brazilian, but even he seems like a foreigner. He is in a food court, no place for a lesser kiskadee. He sits in the ceiling as the chief observer. His first name by the German biologists was bodyguard. I suppose he Read more…
Yesterday, we had our first Portuguese lesson here in São Paulo. As a result, I gained confidence in my Portuguese skills and was feeling muito proficiente (very proficient). Our host family arranged for a driver to pick us up to take us to UMESP, who speaks very little English. He asked Read more…
What are some of the things that come to mind when you think of the word “grandma”? Perhaps you have many wonderful memories of being spoiled with a never ending supply of food and the occasional (and by occasional, I mean frequent!) gift at the most random of times. As Read more…
Whoa what a busy day! It’s hard to believe we’ve only been here three days, it seems like at least a week! This morning we had a cooking class where we learned how to make Galinhada and Brigadeiro, which were delicious! I think peanut brigadeiro is my new favorite sweet. Read more…
If someone asked me the best thing about Brazil, it would definitely be the people. They are so kind, welcoming, and hospitable. BUT, a very, very close second in the ranking of my favorite parts of Brazil so far is the food. Brazilian food is some of the best I’ve Read more…