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 of the people blend with the natural beauty of the coast and surrounding Atlantic rain forest. The samba music playing from the kiosks as I walked along the golden sands set the tone for the relaxed yet still lively environment of the Bertioga Beach. The warmth of the Brazilian sun reminded me of my experience so far with the Brazilian people- friendly, welcoming, with a love for life. Today was the day I finally felt at home in Brazil, a true global citizen.

One thing stood out to me in particular beach day- how everyone has different ways of relaxing. I was the first person in the water, fighting against big waves while trying to go even deeper into the ocean. It was a physically exhaustive exercise, but I find the waves of the ocean relaxing. Meanwhile, many people never even entered the water. Others played volleyball while others of us laid on our towels and soaked up the sun. What this showed me was that despite us all being at the same beach, we all found ourselves enjoying it in different ways.

I think this is interesting because it speaks to the uniqueness of each of us as individuals. Personally, I was most relaxed after swimming while laying on my towel with the others. The scene was perfect- good music playing, street corn in hand, a coconut beside me to drink from, the waves crashing ahead, beautiful mountains and trees behind, and surrounded by great people all around. What more could I ask for? This moment was the peak of my beach day, while for others it was the friendly volleyball games being played. For others, maybe it was the conversations around the resort pool. In the end, what this beach day with the Global Honors Program showed me was just uniquely everyone can be in how they enjoy and make use of the same place