Isabelle Guimarães
“Studying abroad has always been a dream of mine.”
Why did you choose to study abroad at Washington College?
“When my family traveled to the United States for the first time, I, at just 13 years old, was mesmerized by the potential of the American lifestyle. Since then, experiencing study abroad has been something I actively pursued. Furthermore, as the years went by and my ideas matured, I learned that studying abroad would be an enriching experience for my resume and could potentially enhance my position in the job market. Therefore, for me, there has never been any doubt that one day I would be studying and attending classes in other languages.”
What were your biggest takeaways?
“The primary lesson this experience taught me was not to judge cultures solely based on what we see on television or on social media, as personal experience is the best way to understand a reality vastly different from your own. Another lesson I learned and will carry with me for the rest of my life is that we can find friends in the most adverse situations possible.”
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Wow, I've experienced so many cultural shocks! From the cuisine (Americans love putting ketchup on everything) to the way teachers behave in the classroom! Obviously, none of these things were able to overshadow the good experiences I've had during this semester. It's really cool being an outsider observing how the world works differently for everyone here!
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The student-campus relationship in my country is vastly different, which means I'm not as involved in my campus as you all are here - we don't have sports clubs with games all year round or clubs for painting, filmmaking, arts, or role-playing games. At my university, I was part of the Public International Law Litigation Society (PILLS/PUC-Rio), where we debated various topics of public international law in biweekly/monthly meetings. Additionally, I assisted the university's legal aid clinic, where students and professors from the Law Department provide free legal assistance to financially disadvantaged people living near the university. I couldn't find any similar activities here, although I got involved in other activities such as the Dance Club, with weekly ballet classes, and yoga classes.
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I'd like to invite everyone to come to PUC-Rio for an academic exchange. It's an incredible opportunity for students to experience true independence - students don't live on campus, classes are large, and professors give students considerable freedom to research and develop their academic paths. Additionally, an exchange at PUC-Rio will allow students to live in one of the most beautiful cities in the world, according to UNESCO, where forests, beaches, mountains, and the metropolis blend in a stunning way. It's a city with a diverse culinary scene and where the warmth of people's embraces matches the average temperature throughout the year (around 100°F)!
“I have formed strong friendships here, which I intend to cherish for the rest of my life.”