Fellow Stories

The Importance of Names

Andrew deFigueiredo

2018-01-15

When sitting down to write this I wondered how I might go about writing a blog that is meaningful and at least somewhat unique. So I will focus upon one key thing I have learned during my stay here in Garopaba which I wish I knew from the beginning. Names. It is quite simple, but...

Strengthening My Independence

Leonardo Ruiz-Sanchez

2018-01-15

Deep wounds

Leonardo Salvatore

2018-01-14

"Oi, are you home? I'm about to get there." "Go ahead, I'm waiting for you to open the garage. Be quick." "5 minutes and I'll be there." The car turned for the last time and, as soon as she saw it, she rapidly unlocked the gate and opened it. "Let's go!", she said waving at...

When my parents came

Sophie Winter

2018-01-07

 I was fortunate to have my parents (de Estados Unidos) come and visit me during December. I may have cried a bit when they arrived in the airport, but I think that was also because of the “amendoim doce ” or, “sweet peanuts” we bought afterwards. They were delicious.   We toured through the neighboring...

Meu primeiro discurso em Português

Elise Steenburgh

2017-12-31

I have a t h i c k American accent. I hate it. My voice is too high. I put too much inflection in my words. It breaks my heart, but I won’t be returning to the US with a Brazilian accent. But at least I’ll speak Portuguese. Learning Portuguese is easily my favorite part of my GCY...

A short entertaining story

Sophie Winter

2017-12-23

The scene is set. We were driving home after seeing the fluffiest, poofiest, biggest dog I have ever seen. His name was Konan, and I was given the opportunity to visit him at his home at the end of a rickety road on the top of a mountain. After I had given him hugs and...

Move those hips!

Filip Carnogursky

2017-12-14

“Dance is the best therapy” a dance professor confidently announced on the beginning of my first samba class. It startled me. When I thought of dancing, I either thought of monotonous jumping in a club with one fist raised to the ceiling, or of strenuous counting of my steps and stressing out whether I and...

Capoeira Angola

Dominique Landinez

2017-12-14

I was awaken by a knock on my door Sunday morning. I had just gotten home 3 hours earlier from a late night out. It was early. I reluctantly peeled off my covers and rolled out of my bed to open the door. The blinding bright light poured in and took me off guard. I...

Amigo Especial

Rujen Amatya

2017-12-11

My road to Brazil was filled with struggles. From persuading my parents into participation in the program to obtaining a US tourist visa during Trump’s foreign policy period, I had to experience it all. I am an international student from Nepal and only after my second attempt to obtain a Brazilian visa (I was rejected...

Too Good at Goodbyes

Trevor Hall

2017-12-10

  Tchau Tchau   Besides abacaxi, muito, and beleza, these words are the most common I speak in Portuguese. I like the feeling  the farewell has as it rolls around in a rhythmic circle in my mouth. No, I do not enjoy saying goodbyes to everyone I meet here in this welcoming country. I am actually thrilled to...

The Adventure of the Apprenticeship

Zoe Ward

2017-12-05

  I was quite surprised when I found out my apprenticeship would be at a local daycare or creche. I thought, what I did I know about working with kids, given the little to no experience I had with them. But as I always tend to do here in Brasil, I accepted and embraced the...

2-3

Leonardo Salvatore

2017-11-29

Soccer. It’s a big thing in Brazil. Everyone belongs to a team. Whether it be in Serie A or Serie B, from where they were born or where they grew up, everyone likes a team. Corinthians, Santos, Palmeiras, Flamengo, Cruzeiro: these are probably the most famous soccer teams, but the list keeps going, and it’s not...