If you know me at all, you would know that I LOVE food. Before arriving in Brazil, I was very excited to partake in all the glory the food had to offer. My excitement only grew when I learned we would spend a morning at a Gastronomy class at Metodista. Read more…
There is one thing I know to be true for me and most people: the ability for nature to immediately rejuvenate the mind and body, especially after a week’s worth of hard work. I speak to all people who work tirelessly throughout the week when I say that doing so Read more…
The very first night we were here in São Paulo, our group chat on WhatsApp lit up with messages. The vast majority of those messages were excited announcements that said something along the lines of “LOOK AT THIS PET OUR HOST FAMILY HAS!” Dozens of photos of adorable pets, mostly Read more…
Coming into this trip I saw it as an experience that would be similar to an extension of our class, just as the mission’s trip I went to Africa on was an extension of my father’s work. While this has certainly been true to a certain extent with our Portuguese Read more…
Every day in Brazil has been jam-packed with activities: Portuguese classes, job shadows, company visits, cultural activities, and trying to navigate this new culture. It’s hard to keep track of what I’m doing and when, and I quickly learned to just go with the flow and be prepared for anything. Read more…
Before we came to Brazil, I wondered how I could feel at home in a country that I’ve never been to, staying with a family that I don’t know who speaks a language that I don’t understand. Over the past week and a half, these worries have quickly faded as Read more…
Yesterday a few lucky students were able to visit the Butantan Institution, where, among many things, vaccines for deadly illnesses and poisons are manufactured. Once a small farm, Butantan has become one of the biggest suppliers of vaccines and anti-toxins to the Health Minister in Brazil, and has become one Read more…
One of the first things I noticed about my host family’s kitchen is that it didn’t have a garbage can. Well, that’s strange, I thought. Where on earth am I supposed to throw my tea bag? After a bit of snooping, however, I discovered a pot of compost on the Read more…
Sunday we had nothing scheduled, and my roommate Mariah and I were looking forward to a day of rest. It was a day dedicated to spending time with our host families. Our host mom, who we call Mama Natalia, planned a day to meet her family and enjoy some authentic Read more…
“I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.” John 10:10 This verse, John 10:10, is the theme verse of the college Bible study group that I attend. It is also where the phrase on my t-shirt in this photo, “That they may have life,” Read more…
