Six Months in Another World

Ratings
Overall
4
Academics: 4
Support: 5
Fun: 4
Housing: 4
Safety: 4
Review

I knew when I got on the plane to Rio that it would be one of the most important six months of my life so far, but I couldn't imagine just how different I'd be when I left. Over the course of a long semester abroad, I fell in and out of love on a daily basis with one of the craziest, scariest, most breathtaking places on the planet, and I can't imagine having chosen to go anywhere else. Rio is a city of extremes, but learning to fit into the rhythms of carioca life and truly feel at home in the city, whether on the beaches, in a downtown café, or in a favela as part of my research and internship, was one of the most rewarding experiences imaginable and a huge marker of personal growth. During this time, CIEE was an amazing support system, for everything from navigating doctor's appointments or the Brazilian postal system to trading memories, music, and food recommendations. It's only been a little while since I left Brazil, but already I miss it - I miss sitting on Ipanema Beach with nothing but ocean between me and the South Pole, I miss weekend morning hikes through the Tijuca National Forest, and most of all I miss the friends I made in Rio, all the time we spent traipsing through Copacabana, dancing in the streets during Carnaval, killing time between classes. Rio really does pull you in and leave a little part of itself in you - once you leave, you're always counting the days until you go back.

Would you recommend this program?
Yes, I would
Year Completed
2017