Submitted by Paige Ezell on the 2016 summer session program in Brazil sponsored by the Department of Behavioral Health and Nutrition…
An eight hour plane ride is not always ideal. Somehow, all the problems seemed to disappear as I saw the sun rise over Sao Paulo. Finally touching down in Brazil was such a relief and after a few hours our group had gotten all together. We headed off through the Brazilian countryside to Brotas, a town known for its adventure sports. In our short time spent in Brotas, our nights at the hotel were peaceful, complete with a hot tub and hammocks. During the day, we had a much different atmosphere, complete with white water rafting, zip lining, swimming in a waterfall, and more importantly, trying to figure out Brazilian culture.
After a few days, we left for Sao Paulo, causing a huge change of scenery from the small town to large city. We visited multiple sports clubs ranging from top performance facilities, to schools for families in the favelas. Even though seeing the elite sports facilities in Brazil was a good experience, I gained a much greater appreciation from visiting the favela school. The volunteers and students were so incredibly welcoming and very eager to share their culture with us. One of the most memorable moments was watching their capoeira demonstration. Since this activity isn’t popular in the United States, it was a new experience for most of us. The high energy and happiness surrounding the dance made it so enjoyable. The icing on the cake was when the members invited us to participate with them. It made the experience so special because it was an exchange of cultures surrounded by pure joy.
While in Sao Paulo, we were also able to see the Olympic Torch Relay. It was very surreal to be a part of history and seeing the torch in person. Even though there have been ill feelings from Brazilians surrounding the Olympics, seeing the excitement of the people proved that the Olympic spirit still thrives no matter where it is. I loved the feeling of being connected to everyone, in spite of differences in life or a language barrier, resulting from sports.
One of the other special moments for me was when we were able to visit a local volleyball team. What I enjoyed most was the team giving us time to speak with their physiotherapist. Being an athletic training major, it was a great learning experience to see how other countries handle sports medicine. Their equipment was not as modern as what we use in Delaware, but as they spoke to us, they made it clear that they work with what they have to provide their athletes with the best personalized care possible.
In the short amount of time we have been here, it has been both a blessing and a struggle to try to fit into a new way of life. It has been apparent that a lot of differences exist between American and Brazilian life, but we all have the same human characteristics. New cities and new experiences are still yet to come, but each one will no doubt be valuable as we continue on this adventure.