Day 6 -Esther Knappenberger – Experiencing Brazill

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 be what you make of it. Today was definitely a day of saying “yes” to all the possibilities our host family had in store for us to experience. Most of our time was spent in São Paulo’s city center. Through Marilia, Edu, and Serena’s planning, our day was filled with beautiful sights, sounds, smells and flavors. From trying the variety of fresh, exotic fruit in the Mercadão Market to listening to a string quartet play Beethoven in a Monastery built in the 1500s. Our day was one of diverse cultural experiences.

We visited the Mercadão Market, Theatro Municipal (Municipal Theatre), Fonte dos Desejos (Fountain of Wishes), Sé Metropolitan Cathedral, Liberdade (Liberty, Japanese Town), Farol Santander (Santander Lighthouse), Universidade de São Paulo (University of São Paulo), A Bolsa do Brasil (The Brazil Stock Exchange), and then the Monastario de São Bento (Monastery of St. Benedict). Each of these places we visited gave Emmaline and I new insights into Brazilian culture that included social norms, popular cuisine, Brazilian history, art, and music. It was wonderful to experience all of these different things with our host family because we were able to learn so much from them about each place we visited.

It made all the difference to be with Marilia, Edu, and Serena because they could share their personal stories and experiences with us. Learning about Marilia’s time in law school and what her educational journey was like a window into education in Brazil. When we visited A Bolsa do Brazil we were able to learn about Edu’s time working there. During our visit to the Mercadão market we were able to learn about Serena’s love for olives, which are just one of the many treats you can find there.

The many beautiful experiences Emmaline and I had meant all the more because of how our host family invited us into learning more about different parts of their lives. This day has taught me that experiencing Brazil begins with getting to know the lives of people who experience it everyday. I’m so thankful for our host family and the impact they have already had on my life.