Anna and Cody playing capoeira
Living Abroad by Sarah Ouellette
In the morning, Caitlin and I faced the challenge of making our way from the apartment to the school with a hand-drawn map. We wound through bustling streets, admired the vast array of shops and padarias, and finally felt the relief of sighting our destination. Through the next few weeks, we will always start our day with this walk. At first, it was intimidating to be a foreigner walking the streets of São Paulo without a guide. But I realized that this self-dependency is a blessing in disguise; in time I will come to appreciate the independence, freedom, and new skills that come as a result of total immersion. Also, these fifteen minutes of being neither at the apartment nor at school will be valuable time—just us reflecting while walking in a big city.
Lunchtime at Flor do Paraíso
Our first cultural lesson of the day was an active one. On the rooftop of the school we were taught how to play capoeira by several maestros and instructors. Capoeira is a mix of dance and martial art. Prior to the trip, we learned that African slaves in Brazil developed capoeira, which has endured as an art form and is a symbol of Brazilian culture. I was fascinated by what the maestros had to say about how capoeira educates those who play it. You may learn a great deal by sitting in a classroom, but the body learns nothing. With capoeira, you engage your instincts, intuition, and sixth-sense by moving your body in unspoken coordination with the one you are playing against.
When it was time for lunch, Milena, Cathrine, Caitlin and I headed out to the street. We saw a group of our Brazilian peers in the courtyard and while asking for restaurant recommendations, we all ended up having lunch together at a restaurant nearby the school. I am very grateful for the time we had, as it was my first time directly interacting with our Brazilian peers. We got to know them a little, were able to practice our Portuguese, and they helped us navigate the restaurant. The culture of eating out is one of my favorite parts of life in São Paulo so far. It is a daily, casual activity that fosters a sense of community and culture.
Throughout our trip, we will be having lectures on diverse topics that include business, healthcare, Brazilian history, and government. Today we had a visiting professor lecture on comparative law and a Portuguese lesson with Giovanna. After a semester of weekly lessons with Giovanna over Zoom, we finally got to meet her in person! I found that it is much easier to absorb the content of Giovanna's lessons while immersed in the language, compared to while in the United States. A sense of necessity goes a long way in aiding language acquisition. Yet, our classes for the day were not finished before some of us began to doze... we have had a busy first few days.
Back at our apartment, our host was cooking beef stroganoff. Five of us sat down to the meal on the patio of the 24th floor apartment, overlooking the illuminated night. I have never used 'beautiful' as a term to describe cityscapes, however, today I did. I look forward to many more nights observing this view.
About the author
Roberts Wesleyan University
As a community of learners committed to historic Christianity, Roberts Wesleyan University seeks to prepare thoughtful, spiritually mature, service-oriented people who will help transform society.
We are a private Christian university in Rochester, New York, offering over 80 undergraduate and graduate programs.
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