On May 15, I learned that understanding Brazil takes looking at it from multiple perspectives. Throughout the day, every class and interaction showed me a different side of the country. From language and history to healthcare and family life, I realized there is so much depth and diversity within Brazil that cannot be understood through just one experience. By the end of the busy day, I felt tired but also very grateful for everything I was able to learn.

We started the morning with Portuguese lessons. During class, we learned the months of the year and how to say our birthdays in Portuguese. Even though it sounds simple, it was honestly harder than I expected to pronounce and remember some of the words. Still, our instructor Giovanna made the class enjoyable because she was very engaging and patient with us. Learning the language, even in small ways, has helped me feel more connected to the people and culture here.

Later in the day, we had classes on sustainability, Brazilian history, and odontology in Brazil. The history lesson stood out to me because we learned about how Brazil developed over time and the many ethnic backgrounds that make up its population. It made Brazil feel more real to me because it helped explain why the culture has evolved into what it is today and reminded me how diverse the country truly is.

Outside of class, I also noticed differences in everyday life. At lunch, I remember thinking how I would probably never experience prices like this in the United States because a steak meal here cost around nine U.S. dollars, while it would likely cost much more back home. I have also noticed that people here seem very kind, welcoming, and patient, which has made adjusting easier.

One of my favorite parts of the day was having dinner with our host family. We ate baked chicken, rice, beans, and french fries, and everyone spent a long time sitting and talking together. Our host sister was especially funny, which made the night really enjoyable. Experiences like this have helped me realize that learning about Brazil is not only about what happens in the classroom, but also through conversations and everyday moments. Overall, this day reminded me that there are still so many layers of Brazil left for me to explore and learn from. If someone asked me what I have learned about Brazil so far, I would honestly say that there is still so much more for me to discover. Brazil is an incredibly diverse and layered country, and every day here reveals something new that makes me even more excited to continue learning and exploring.