Experiencing Brazil from the inside out

My month abroad in Brazil was undeniably one of the most enriching and transformative experiences of my life. I chose to do the program without really knowing what to expect; I just knew that I wanted to learn Portuguese and experience Brazilian culture through the eyes of a local family.

Since my host family was quite large, I was able to experience the contrasting realities of three generations, spanning from the ages of 22-85, each with different values, jobs, hobbies, perspectives, and approaches to life...Needless to say, I learned a lot, as each member of the family was eager to share their unique tastes, activities, and favourite places with me!

One of my favourite experiences was visiting a public rural elementary school in the outskirts of São Paulo. Since one of the members of my host family worked as a school teacher, she offered to take me one day as a guest. It was an incredibly moving and eye opening experience for me, as many of the children had never seen a foreigner before. It was charming to be asked so many questions about life in Canada, to share words in English, and to connect with these kids who grew up in an entirely different world than my own.

For me, there's nothing more fulfilling than expanding my own understanding of the world through experiencing the diversity of cultures, languages, social classes, lifestyles, values, and people. Teaching English in a Homestay in Brazil gave me this opportunity. What's more, I finished the program with lifelong friendships, a library of aventures and stories, and memories I will cherish for the rest of my life.