History & Health in Brazil : Reviews (Salvador)

I loved being immersed in the culture and being able to practice my Portuguese! All of the activities were extremely beneficial and very engaging.

It was nice to stay with a host family...it gave me a wonderful real-time experience

My favorite part of this program was getting to opportunity to grow relationships and connections with people that live in Salvador because it helps you see what lives really are like in a new culture.

My favorite part of the program was how immersive it was!

Stepping into a world so unlike the one I am usually immersed in was eye opening and provided with opportunities I could have never imagined without being there.

I loved how the activities were interconnected with the lectures. This allowed me to learn information in class, then directly apply it to real-world experiences and have the opportunity to understand it more!

The classroom sessions were the most rewarding, where I learned the history of Afro-Brazilian religions, and the history of health policies in Brazil, from those who are not only experts in these fields but experienced inequality in Brazil.

I found living with my host family as the most rewarding experience because I had the opportunity to be fully immersed within the culture and the language. I felt at a home away from home!

The most rewarding elements of the program was learning from the tour guides who were very knowledgeable and passionate about the topics we would be learning about or the places we discovered while being in Salvador.

I found the cultural aspects of the program the most rewarding. In essence, I thought the exposure to Afro-Brazilian culture through food, art, dance, activity, architecture, religion, and lectures was incredibly immersive and rewarding. Moreover, I found the trips to the Kaonge Quilombo and those to NGOs incredibly insightful and rewarding due to the multitude of activities and in-person interactions. I also enjoyed visiting both the temples and the churches.

The most rewarding element of the program was building international connections.

Learning about the culture enough to connect with some of the people there. I liked asking my host family about some of the activities I was going to or their perspective on it to understand deeper.

Studying the language beforehand can help you out greatly.

I learned that Brazil is one of the most racially diverse countries in the world, and as such prospective students should expect to experience African, Portuguese, European Asian, and American, civilization

It is important for you to go into your program with an open mind in order to be able to make the most out of your experience.

Something I learned on this program that would be helpful to future students is to not have expectations based on things you see or hear. Visiting a completely different culture made me realize that you never fully know what you're going to see or live and it's important to keep an open mind.

In general, I think the study of Afro-Brazilian culture firsthand is incredibly important because it gives students insights into their own cultures while also broadening their horizons and exposing them to another culture that was shaped in very unique ways. Moreover, I would advise future students to take the program seriously, enjoy the experience, and make sure to bring lots of sunscreen.

Studying abroad is so so important if you have never been outside the United States. We are often stuck in our small world and unwilling to think about people who are different than us, but studying abroad really opened my horizons and taught me there is more than one correct way of living.

Mastering some basic Portuguese is helpful in the journey, even if you aren't fully fluent. It is also important to do what feels right for you once you are abroad, evening if that means passing up on a nighttime activity to get some sleep.

The most important thing is to keep an open mind. If you allow yourself to truly be a part of the experience it will welcome you with open arms!