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Photographs taken by Dominique Ziehl (Smith School), Pupil Correspondent for CET Brazil, Fall 2023
July 27
On our first day in Brazil for Fall 2023, just a few fortunate college students made it to Guarulhos Worldwide Airport on time. The others have been left scrambling via delays, missed connections, and prolonged visa processing. Apart from one zoom session collectively earlier than arriving in Brazil, nobody knew who anybody else was or precisely what they appeared like. We didn’t even know our CET representatives have been who have been selecting us up. Fortunately, we have been someway capable of spot the dazed and confused faces via the ocean of arrivals and huddle close to a café for pickup.
We drove nearly an hour into central São Paulo and moved into our residences, assembly our Brazilian roommates. They attend the close by school, PUC-SP (Pontifícia Universidade Católica de São Paulo), the place a few of us will enroll.
The identical night time, we met up with CET’s leaders and people of our examine overseas classmates and flatmates who may make it for pizza night time on the CET administrative constructing.
After consuming and cleansing up, all of us realized find out how to get again to our residences from the CET heart. We reenacted the well-known Beatles album cowl on Wanderlei Road (Rua Wanderlei). Don’t fear; it was a dead-end avenue!
July 28
On the second day, our CET cohort walked up the hill to PUC-SP. A few of us will enroll in a single totally Portuguese course, whereas others will take as much as two programs. We toured the campus and met a couple of of the native and alternate college students of PUC, who may even assist us combine socially with the opposite college students.
The middle courtyard is indicative of the retro type all the campus embodies—deep, muted colours, dense foliage, and previous stone, plaster, and concrete. This older constructing was once a convent for clergymen and nuns earlier than it was transformed right into a college, and far of the spiritual structure stays intact. The courtyard’s predominant focus directs towards the Cross, with picnic benches offering seats on one aspect solely. That is to advertise homage and keep away from sitting along with your again turned to the centerpiece.
Within the afternoon, PUC hosted a capoeira workshop on the highest ground of one in all its tutorial buildings. Capoeira is an Afro-Brazilian martial artwork originating from influences between the enslaved peoples touring from Africa, Indigenous Brazilians, and Portuguese. It emphasizes the mixing of dance, acrobatics, and music. Our trainer continuously reminded us to smile and movement with our actions, as that is extra of an artwork type than a fight sport. After the workshop, we snacked on basic Brazilian meals, like pão de queijo (cheese bread balls) and açaí, and watched the sundown from the rooftop.
July 30
On Sunday, half of our group realized find out how to catch the bus to Avenida Paulista, which was once the well-known monetary district within the metropolis. Earlier than the beginning of every week, all the avenue is blocked off to vehicles. Music, meals carts, and retailers stuffed the streets for an all-day metropolis park gathering.
We stopped at SESC, a tradition heart that hosts up to date artwork exhibitions on a number of flooring and a rooftop bar overlooking the avenue. AVAF (Assume Vivid Astro Focus) is an artist collective that embraces conceptual experimentation and queer resilience. Most of its members are from Brazil and France, and on at the present time, the set up included an interactive efficiency exhibit.
July 31
On Monday, we needed to stroll again to PUC for our direct enrollment orientation with the worldwide pupil coordinator. Two college students I share an condo constructing with went with me, and we tried to take the extra easy route however ended up face-to-face with hills as intense as San Francisco. Within the photograph above, we needed to climb straight upward a number of tales, getting our train for the day. It was effectively value it as a result of the bushes and morning air made for a really stunning scene.
We may already hear the drums and folks chanting after we received to campus.
Initially of lessons, there’s a practice referred to as “trote” for entry-level college students, which can embrace elevating cash for charity and donation of supplies like meals or blood. College students collect within the courtyard referred to as the prainha (small seashore), the place they will watch music performances by the completely different main departments. This drum present known as the bateria (battery), and there are a number of hosted all through the day by the completely different departments. Older college students paint newcomers’ faces with yellow and blue for the college’s colours, and big banners fall from the balconies.
The identical night time, a couple of of us already had our first PUC lessons to attend. It’s widespread for Brazilian universities to host night time lessons to permit college students full flexibility with their schedules. Many Brazilians work full-time internships in the course of the day and might solely examine at night time. These can last as long as 4 hours!
Right here’s a photograph of one of many lecture rooms. We by accident confirmed up half-hour early as a result of the beginning time on the schedule was misprinted.
It was a vibrant expertise seeing how busy the campus was, illuminated by streetlamps and social effervescence. This vigorous night time tradition is vastly completely different from American universities, that are often quiet—except there are weekend occasions or shuffling from these few individuals who have night time lessons or electives.
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