So there is so much to update on as so much as happened in the past week and I have been really bad about posting on here. Last week I was accepted into Universidade de São Paulo which will extend my study abroad here in Brazil at least another semester or year! That was so exciting, especially since it is the #1 university in Latin America! I’m definitely really happy to be getting another chance with my study abroad experience, because as much as I have loved my time here everything that I have enjoyed has been outside of my university (Fundação Armando Alvares Penteado). I’m not going to lie and say that I loved my university because I really didn’t. Sure it was really pretty and sure I made some friends (even though they left after 1st semester) but the Brazilian students in my class were not very open to me and pretty much wouldn’t talk to me (let me clarify this a little— they are in their 3rd year and have had classes with the same kids every year so they have cliques and are all very close so it’s hard to come into something like that) and the classes were not what I was expecting. They were very boring and basic, not a lot of new learning or exciting things. So I guess I’m just really excited to move to USP where they have a lot more class variety and exchange students taking normal classes like me. They also have this really awesome program where they give you a buddy type thing to help you start out at the university and they have a ton of programs for you to meet people and get involved. Best part? They have a women’s soccer club team! I’m hoping to join that not only to meet people but because I live in Brazil and am missing playing soccer like crazy! Basically, I’m just really excited all over again for USP!
Moving on, I just got back from a long weekend in Ilhabela which is an island off the coast of the state of São Paulo in between the cities of São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro. It was absolutely amazing! I went with my boyfriend for our 2 year anniversary and we stayed at the Hotel Mercedes (which I will post some pictures of in a bit) and they ended up giving us an upgrade from the basic room to their VIP suites (best rooms they had) since they had overbooked our room and felt bad about it but I won’t complain, those rooms were amazing and had an ocean view! We spent the weekend mostly enjoying the ocean and the views from the large hills that run along the outside of the island! It was an absolutely wonderful and relaxing weekend!
Now, I just need to change my plane ticket to go back to the US for July so that I can get my new visa and then I come back for another 6 months to a year of adventure!
Ready for a vacation. I feel like schools that you’re studying abroad at should not have attendance let alone let you only miss 3 classes and then you fail. We’re here to study the culture and live a new way, not learn how the economy is rubbish.
Gilman Scholarship coffee hour tomorrow in São Paulo! Excited to tell them about my experience so far in Brazil as well as eat lunch at Chili’s beforehand (yes I’m missing it)!!
