| Major(s) | Politics and International Relations |
| Hobbies | Painting, playing tennis, and knitting |
| Hometown | Tucson, Arizona |
| Program/Study Site | SIT Study Abroad: Fortaleza, Brazil - Social Justice & Sustainable Development |
Why did you choose Brazil?
I chose to study abroad in Fortaleza, because I realized that this might be the only opportunity I would probably ever have to go to Brazil. The visa requirements make it extremely difficult to travel there unless you are going to stay for an extended period of time. In addition to that, the opportunity to live and study in Brazil was also particularly enticing to me, because of the economic and social transformations Brazil is undergoing presently. The rise in power of the Partido dos Trabalhadores (PT) or Workers' Party has lead to incredible changes in laws related specifically to labor rights. At the same time, Rio +20, the 2014 FIFA World Cup, and 2016 Summer Olympics ensure that Brazil is getting recognition on the world stage. Being part of and understanding the changes that were taking place was the main objective of my study abroad experience there.What courses did you enroll in while abroad?
I was enrolled in a Portuguese language class, Sustainable Development and Social Justice, and a Field Study Seminar. The Field Study Seminar prepared me for the Independent Study Project I undertook during the last month of my stay.What was your living situation?
I stayed with a homestay where I had a mom, dad, and two younger brothers.What did you do for fun?
For fun, I visited the international library, went rollerblading by the beach, and toured the local fish market that boasts some of the freshest catches one will ever eat.Highlights of the program:
The Independent Study Project was an amazing experience for me. During the last month of my stay I was able to conduct interviews with domestic workers and their female employers in order to understand the relationship between the two women and the way it affects the expression of labor laws. The study not only prepared me for thesis, but also gave me the opportunity to meet some amazing women and get hands on experience in field work.
The most challenging aspects of your experience:
Some of the most challenging experiences I had were negotiating the bus system, which did not have maps. In order to know what bus to take and where to get off, a person had to ask their fellow bus goers. However, after a while I became used to asking other people for information, and it gave me a great excuse to strike up a conversation with people that I might have otherwise never talked to.
Final comments or suggestions for future participants:
Study Abroad in Brazil! I have been trying to find a way to return ever since I left. Updating this post in spring 2014: I could not more highly recommend this program to other students. Not only did it help me complete my thesis, it also provided all sorts of opportunities I never thought possible. This past spring I was awarded the Alice Rowan Swanson Fellowship, a grant given to SIT students hoping to continue their research in their study abroad countries, as well as the Fulbright English Teaching Assistant Fellowship in Brazil (along with 3 other participants in my Fortaleza program!). I am currently living in the state of São Paulo helping give English classes at the Universidade Estadual Paulista. My time in Fortaleza was more formative than I could ever have understood when I first wrote this response to my experience. I hope you all have the opportunity to take part in this amazing program.
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