For a time,
this has seemed much like a dream. Each morning as I would awaken, I was taken
aback by the fact that the sun peaked through palm trees outside my window and
that the lagoon rustled a few steps from my dwelling place. Then there was an
acceptance of this reality, as each day I encountered Brasilians who, like me,
were playing out their daily routines of commuting, studying or working, and
always making time for a bit (or more) of fun. I become a piece of their lives
as they do in mine. Through shared experiences and fruitful exchanges, I
appreciate more and more the nuances that flavor of our distinct native
cultures, while realizing the principal ingredients are very much the same.
This cultural
exchange is more than an internship or language immersion; its greatest value
lies in the opportunity to understand the human experience in a setting apart
from your own. In this endeavor, I hope to gain all that I can. To do so, I have
enlisted all my senses. I have promised myself not to fall into the trap of
complacency and not to be arrested by fear. More than before I hope to give new
places and people the chance to teach me, to marvel at the things that may seem
inconsequential, to allow myself to be moved, and to influence my world in
return. I am breathing in Brasil and imprinting this beautiful journey on my heart.
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