International Internships in Brazil

My internship experience has broadened my horizon and understanding of international business and what it means to be a global citizen. I have always read about international business concepts in college textbooks, but it does not become apparent until you experience it. During my senior year at Susquehanna University, I was able to draw on examples of personal experiences for classroom learning and provide perspective in lectures. In addition, I was able to broaden the scope of the Stein Fellowship internships.

Interning in Brazil helped me become a better communicator across languages, adapt to unfamiliar work environments quickly, and adjust to different cultural norms. Some cultural differences are as simple as how you greet someone, workplace priorities, and the balance between work and life. Each week, I became more accustomed to the cultural value system. I learned that Brazilians enjoy the company of others and everyone is of equal status in a social setting. No titles or experience gaps come between individuals outside of the workplace.

After graduation from college, my experience served as a primary talking point during job interviews. It made my background unique compared to United States-based internships. Job recruiters wanted to hear about my experience just as much as I wanted to share my experience with them. The internship added value to my business knowledge and perspective, which will follow me throughout my career opportunities.

The highlight of my experience was learning something new each day. The unfamiliar settings challenged me to take advantage of every opportunity. I realized that the chance to travel to Brazil and intern at an international company was a continuation of my global experience. Each morning as I walked out the door, I wondered what would be different or what new challenges I would face. My ten weeks in Brazil taught me to be more flexible and adaptable in my daily expectations. One day I would be learning a new manufacturing process, and the next day I would be learning how Brazilian companies interact with customers from around the world.

In addition, I tried to learn Portuguese through my manager and practice it on a daily basis. I do not consider myself a quick learner when it comes to learning a new language. It was definitely a challenge for me despite similarities to the Spanish language that I studied. However, by the end of my ten-week internship, I was able to learn enough to communicate with other people and navigate around my surroundings. I did not realize that the country of Brazil had so many dialects, which made learning the language even more challenging. I was fortunate to have coworkers that would take the time to educate me.

Interning in Brazil is a great experience and you should take advantage of every opportunity. It is a very diverse country and it has a lot of great places to visit. I would suggest balancing your internship commitment and personal experiences.

My manager encouraged me to travel and experience different parts of Brazil. Traveling around the country could have been easily forgotten if my manager did not make it an internship priority. It would also be beneficial to keep a journal of your internship accomplishments, contributions, and/or experiences. It helped me share about my internship and its value with others.