A Heartfelt Farewell to My Beautiful Brazil
PGS: Perspectives in Afro-Luso-Brazilian Culture
Anna Maria, one of the Penn Global Seminar Correspondents, shares her experience abroad during the Spring 2025 PGS. Follow along with the group of correspondents on our blog and look out for their images on the @pennabroad Instagram feed.
Since returning to the hustle and bustle of life at Penn from our enchanting week in Brazil, my classmates and I have experienced great difficulty transitioning away from the warmth and beauty of Brazil to the confines of a classroom in the gray month of March. The memories of Brazil’s warmth and beauty, the vibrant culture, and the many pictures we took are a comforting reminder of our time there. Since returning, the content in my PGS class has taken a more profound meaning, and my appreciation for the land of my ancestors has grown. I am incredibly grateful for having had the opportunity to go on this trip, as its impact on me has been undeniable.
The trip had its surprises, but none of them went unwelcome. For example, I was pleasantly surprised by the locals’ remarkable adaptability to accommodate our language and cultural differences. Before leaving for the trip, I feared that since we were visiting small towns, we would encounter many instances where things would get lost in translation. However, everyone we encountered was more than willing to utilize any bit of English they could to communicate with us. This adaptability reassured me and opened my mind to the potential challenges of cultural exchange, making me more confident about future interactions. Another thing that surprised me was how painless the many journeys were on the road or in the sky. Thankfully, no major hiccups were getting in the way of where we needed to go.
Furthermore, when reflecting, I see very little I would do differently. I did my best to immerse myself as much as possible in all aspects of the trip. One thing I can look back on and say I wish I had done was take the opportunity to practice my Portuguese as much as possible. I did utilize my language ability a lot. However, there were too many times I let myself use English as a crutch when communicating with the bilingual Brazilian natives. Everyone in Brazil was more than patient when I would use my Portuguese with them. However, I let my insecurity get the best of me and would flip to what was comfortable. Language is a way to connect on a deeper level with another person, making me wish I had taken advantage of the opportunity while I had it.
Before I resign from my duties as a PGS correspondent, I want to leave some advice to any of you future PGS students. First off, go into the experience with a wide-open mind. Try not to set unrealistic expectations and mentally prepare yourself to deal with being outside your comfort zone. Additionally, immerse yourself as much as possible in the class; it makes the trip experience so much more meaningful when you understand the purpose of your visit. Sitting in the churches, descending the mines, and walking the cobblestone streets, made the lessons come to life. Finally, please throw yourself into the culture of the country you are visiting; take the opportunity to connect with the locals and participate in the traditions, as those moments will be some of the most memorable and inspiring!
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