Amazing
There is only one word that can adequately describe my experience in Brazil-
AMAZING! I had a fantastic time learning the culture, the language and the
landscape all while having a great scientific experience. Even though I was
only able to see a small portion of the astoundingly diverse country- I saw
just enough for me to know that I have to return- I feel grateful for the
opportunity I was given.
In 10 weeks I traveled from the Northeastern city of Salvador, with its
strong African roots, to the Southern state of Parana, which is home to
large German, Argentine, and Paraguayan populations. I was also able to
travel to one of the most beautiful cities in the world Rio de Janiero and
escaped unscathed from a place that rivals Tel Aviv as one of the most
dangerous places in the world. In between I spent most of my time in the
state of Sao Paulo, know primarily as the home of the world's 3rd largest
city, but a state that is so much more!
Even in my home-base, Jaboticabal, a city of 77,000, I was able to see that
much like the United States, Brazil is a country of immigrants. In the case
of my town and much of the state of Sao Paulo many of those immigrants were
Italian and Japanese, which meant some amazing cuisine and some pretty
excellent home cooking.
I did so many things in Brazil that I would or could have never done here at
home:
I went to a rodeo
I vaccinated cows
I went to a slaughterhouse
I took blood from deer
and I learned a new language.
Living with a Brazilian and working in a lab, also helped me make many friends which only made
leaving that much harder! There were tears all around.
Of course I went down there to work and after 6 weeks of decent effort my
presentation on the potential spread of ehrlichiosis was well received. One
day I hope to return and finished the work that I started and of course
reunite with the many friends I was so lucky to meet.
