Até mais!

It's almost surreal to think that my time in Sao Paulo is over. The last few days with my lab partners as well as the other MHIRT students were very sentimental. I will definitely cherish the new, life-long friends that i've made as well as the valuable professional experience i've acquired while working in the lab. Though this was my first time in South America, this will definitely not be my last! 

 Akeem, Me, JD, Elton (MHIRT students) as well as Catch (our Brazilian tour guide) - Luz railway station

 Our fabulous neighborhood, Butanta! The neighborhood is full of students from the University of Sao Paulo as well as up-and-coming young professionals. It is a very safe, quiet, and neat neighborhood. 

 Me finishing my last primary cell culture

 MHIRT 2013! The Sao Paulo students came to visit the students in Floripa. 

We decided to take a trip to Rio de Janeiro - this was definitely an experience to remember!

Elton, Ellen, and I decided to go hang gliding over Leblon beach in Rio! 

 The sunset over Sugarloaf mountain was breathtaking

Buying traditional Brazilian items from local vendors in Embu!

Brazil- A recap of an adventure that changed my life!

 

 There wasn't a day that passed that I was astounded by the beauty of Floripa, even the rainy days.

 Everyday I went to work at LABCAI and learned something new about the world of science.

But there was plenty of time for relaxation and fun.

 

 

Many acais were eaten.

And friendships and memories were made that will last forever.

 

Having a chance to travel and to LIVE and to work in this amazing country has been one of the most rewarding experiences of my life. I am forever thankful for the people that I meet who taught me something new about myself and about life. I will always remember Florianopolis, my MHIRT-Floripa-crew, and the people of Floripa who call themselves Manezihos. I hope to one day return to the Magic Island and reunite with the people that changed my life and once again exchange our thoughts and ideas about the world. Friendships have no boundaries.

The Hardest Part: Saying Goodbye

The complete MHIRT Floripa '13 team with our mentors;
by far some of the most amazing people I've had a chance to know.

After nearly 24 hours of traveling around the world, I've finally made it back to my hometown (Cullom, Illinois), and the shock/realization of being back is starting to hit me. Once I got over the beautifully surreal nature of Floripa, it started to truly feel like home. From taking the buses and going to lab, to relaxing on the beach, eating pasteis, and speaking Portuguese, I realized how difficult it was going to be to leave at the end of our experience. 

Last week, with the help of my labmates, I completed my research project with Dr. Padua Antonio Carobrez. Over the course of the summer I was able to learn and conduct my own behavioral studies, after having learned the stressful surgical technique of stereotaxy. However, my experience in my lab extended far beyond simply conducting experiments. I had the incredible opportunity to learn about all aspects of Brazilian life from my labmates: Frank, Cris, Camila, and Karina. From going hiking and marching in protests, to having lunch and wandering through parks, my amazing labmates helped make my experience once-in-a-lifetime. 

Saying goodbye to all of the awesome people I met in Floripa was harder than I ever imagined. In such a short period of time, I managed to create amazing friendships that I'm sure will be able to withstand the distance between us. I also realized that someday, without a doubt in my mind, I will return to Floripa (once I learn a little more Portuguese). 

Até logo Floripa!

For five days me and the rest of the Floripa crew took a trip to the beautiful and famous city of Rio de Janeiro! We were so thankful to have to opportunity to see the Cristo Redentor on a clear day!

 

 

My last day in the lab with Alice Schappo, Kiuanne Lino Lobo, me, Dr. Beth Linder, and Giovani Caroletti! I was trying so hard to not cry! I enjoyed working with them so much and I am definitely going to miss them

This picture perfectly sums up the ten weeks here in Floripa. Our mentors invited us to a barbecue! Nothing but laughs, great food, and great company.

A picture of the last beautiful, Brasilian sunset that I'll see for a while. This will definitely not be the last time I go! Até logo, Floripa!

Farewell Belem, until next time...

Meet the lab 

These guys were a great pleasure to work with.  Always joking and always willing to talk or help.  

 Meet The Amazon

Leap frog any one? Unfortunately, I was parted from my camera (long story don't ask) but here's a few pictures of the Amazonian fauna and flora.  Check out the jaguar sleeping on the left, thats how one survives the heat of the day! 

 Meet the City

These were taken from a penthouse apartment overlooking the Plaza da Republica. Some nights started clear and ended in a blur (effects of the heat of course).

 Meet the Festivities

 The month of June has parties and parades all day everyday.  Every Sunday has a street party with bands and vendors.  The people with me in the photo are studying acting at the Federal University of Para.

The Time Has Come

Goodbye Uganda. Thank you for all that you have taught me. I have never had an experience like this. Visiting you was life changing, eye opening, and awe-inspiring. I have had a wonderful time meeting your people and seeing the beauty of your land. It has been great having Susie, John, Justin, and Amanda as my companions on this journey, and I hope that I have the opportunity to join them again to visit you. My departure has been bittersweet, but I will always keep the lessons that I have learned from you with me throughout my life. Thank you for the adventure, but it has come to the point of saying farewell. Thus, farewell Uganda and all that you encompass. I may not be with you physically, but hopefully we will still have a connection spiritually and mentally. You will be missed.

Our last field visit with the Kizinda Farmers Group at the Ishaka Health Plan

The wonderful cake that our co-workers surprised us with at the farewell dinner that the Ishaka Health Plan coordinated for us

All of us reunited again on the Nile River for our last few days in Uganda

The beauty of Uganda, sunset over the Nile River

 Justin, Susie, John, and I in the Amsterdam before we split to go on different flights or into the city

Farewell my friends.

This journey has been everything that I imagined it was going to be and more. I can only thank God, MHIRT, and my friends for giving me the opportunity for going to this beautiful country and allowing me to broaden my knowledge of the world and who I am as an individual.

Goodbye Uganda. Until we meet again.

Saying "Goodbye"

Justin and I have reached the end of our research project and spent a couple days purchasing final souvenirs and just being a tourist in Jinja, a city just southeast of Kampala, Uganda. We learned so much during the course of the project: from one another, our host the Centre for Reparations and Rehabilitation, and Ugandans. As we return home, I want to leave some few words of advice for those coming to Uganda after Justin and I.

1) The struggle is real!!! Every day is a struggle in one way or another. Maybe you will never have hot water while you're there, a boda almost runs over you, no one shows up for a focus group or interview, the translator doesn't show up, you get bitten by an unknown insect, there's no transport, or any other number of things can happen. Just remember the struggle is real and it is DAILY. This is completely normal and okay, just roll with it as best you can.

2) Patience is a virtue every MHIRT participant in Uganda needs. It takes a LONG time to get anything done. No, really. Research is a process with delayed gratification. Everything in Uganda takes a long time, so it's no surprise that research here works much the same way. Just be patient, trust in your supervisor and colleagues, and know that everything works out in the end.

3) Learn from locals. Locals have a lot to teach us about all kinds of things. Stop to listen, ask questions, and think critically about what you've been taught in the U.S. and what they are telling you. Some of the best information comes from casual conversations.

4) Love and trust in the other MHIRT participants! Justin and I didn't know each other before we started the project, but after all the struggles and the wonderful things we experienced together I think I can speak for both of us when I say we have developed what will be a long-term friendship. Other MHIRT participants can be a rock for you when the struggle gets real (see #1).

5) Enjoy the experience. Some folks get caught up in the struggles (see #1) or have difficulty being patient (see #2), never bother to learn from others (#3) or fail to trust and love their supervisor, colleagues, and other MHIRT folks (#4). Remember to take a step back, remember where you are, why you are there, and that there are times to be serious and focus on the work and there are times to have fun and enjoy the moment.

Our time in Gulu and our work over the northern districts was truly amazing. We are preparing our final reports for the organization as we also prepare to return home, see our families and friends, go back to school and work, and experience that reverse cultural shock of being home again. A huge thank you to MHIRT, NIH, the Centre for Reparations and Rehabilitation for hosting us, all our research participants, advisers, and colleagues!

Meu ùltimo post

Dear MHIRT Journal,

With only a few more days left here in Brazil, my mind reflects back on all of the experiences that I have had in this country.

My stay in Brazil has truly been an amazing experience and I am so grateful for the opportunity that I had to do research in the lab of a renowned scientist as well as explore this beautiful country. I have learned a great deal of things that will stick with me throughout life, and I have also met many people whom I hope to stay in contact with.

I especially appreciate my mentor, Dr. Luiz Britto, and my direct contact, Deborah Azzi-Nogueira, for all that they have done for me while being here in Brazil. They have made me feel very welcomed and it was as if I was a normal part of the lab family. With the help of the various research students in the lab, I have learned many lab techniques and procedures to add to my repertoire.  Since the project that I have been working on is entirely new, I have learned a lot about various tests, trials, and error that accompany research experiments. Oh, and let’s not forget about Portuguese, a language that I have learned embrace while being here. If one wants to buy/order food, find directions, or catch a taxi, then knowing some basic Portuguese is a great benefit. I have also spent many hours translating lab protocols from Portuguese to English. Muito obrigado Google transdutor!!!

Aside from my lab experiences, I was able to travel to many different places in Brazil. My peers and I traveled to Florianopolis, Ubatuba, and Rio de Janerio. All of these places were absolutely beautiful and we had a lot of fun. We swam in the ocean, dove under the water while being engulfed by huge waves, sand boarded down the sand dunes of Floripa, hang glided from a mountain top in Rio, hiked to the top of Sugar Loaf mountain to see the sunset, and saw the Cristo Redentor (Christ the Redeemer) statue! IT HAS BEEN ABSOLUTELY WONDERFUL!

I am truly going to miss Brazil, but all things must come to an end. I will forever cherish the memories and friends that I have made.  I will always think of this research experience as part of a stepping-stone and a foundation for my future goals in science.

P.S. Acai is one of the best desserts that I have ever had in my life. I am going to miss it oh so much!!!

My last words from Brazil

               WOW, what a time I have had here! In two very short months, I have been given the chance to experience and learn so much that it is hard to describe in words. From the endless amounts of food at a Churrasquearia to seeing Pope Francis, there is not a price that can be placed on the memories I have made. Many of these experiences have been external in that I have seen them or been present for them, but they did not necessarily effect my character. However, something that stands out to me and that I think will help me the most as I return to the United States is Patience. As someone who has very little of this virtue, I see the great value it holds within a person. I believe some people are born with more patience than others (in my case, little to none), but I also believe a certain level of patience can be acquired. This level is something I strive for because I know that patience is one of my greatest weaknesses. Since my arrival here in Brazil, I feel that my patience has been tested. Whether it was the frustrations of traveling with a group (which if you have done before, you know can be exhausting), mistakes made in the lab, or waking up to a cold shower every morning I always kept repeating to myself "PATIENCE". This was a subtle reminder to calm down and that everything was going to be just fine. I hope to hold to this acquired trait and bring it home with me to apply it in my everyday life. If I take away nothing else from this trip to Brazil (which will never happen), the least I can say is "patience was my friend there".

So what do I think was the coolest thing I have done in Brazil?
              By far, it has to be the JMJ....or as we Americans call it World Youth Day. My last post was about this event and it truly was an amazing event to attend. I do not necessarily want to do it againa nytime soon, but I do not regret it at all. In being there, I was able to get this feeling of being a part of something larger than myself and that in itself was rewarding enough to me.

What do I miss the most from home? 
             1. Hot water...the hot water tanks are solar-powered where I live and so when I take a shower                      early in the morning there was never hot water (not to complain though, because at least I had                        water)
             2. A regular internet connection...on any given day ours did not work, which made contact back                     home difficult
              3. English...after being here awhile you become exhausted of having to convey a message to                          someone in a mixture of Portuguese and English
             4. Convenience...living in such a big city as Sao Paulo everything is far to us, therefore it is                             unmotivating sometimes to even leave your residence


Overall, my experience has been a great one. I am thankful to my fellow MHIRT students (past and present) for helping me along and going through this with me. I thank those who are in charge of the MHIRT program for working so hard in preparing us for coming here. And, of course, I thank all of those here in Brazil (co-workers, friends, etc.) who have treated me so well and taught me so much.