Our program is unique in many ways but one of the main ways in which it is unique is because we provide our students with a host family experience. The host family experience provides total immersion in language and culture. As a study abroad student in Guadalajara and Salvador, it enabled me to make wonderful relationships and enjoy my experience in a way I would not have. Our students find the experience daunting because of the language barrier. It can be nerve-racking living in someone else’s house. However, despite the challenges, it is a very positive experience because the care and concern the host families have for our students is clear. I am so very grateful to our host families for taking extra special care of our students on this trip. I am thankful for their time and energy. I know that the experience will continue to support our program goals of  including helping people and cultures understand each other. Muito obrigada pelo apoio e carinho!

Our initial meeting

Julie and her host mother ZeZe

Sergio, Olivia, Analia and Shaun

James and Lyta

Khadirah, Suedes and Maekaylia

Eliane, Adrienne and Marlen

Maimouna and Daisy

Today was our first full day and it was full of felicidade (happiness!) Our day started with meeting our host moms. The night before we were given a wonderful and thorough orientation and even some treats like candy, a shirt, and a half of a postcard which helped us identify our host moms today. After we found each other, we exchanged greetings and all of the students gave gifts to their moms. Then we proceeded to breakfast inside of the Wish Hotel. 

Breakfast was buffet style, and there were so many yummy foods to try. I appreciated that there was a nice balance (at least for me) of foods that I recognized and food that I did not recognize. It was a fruit and bread lovers heaven, which is to say that I was in heaven. Papaya, watermelon, pineapple, and more were all delicious. I also had a chance to try different types of breads, yogurt beverages, and juices. 

After breakfast we checked out of the hotel and went home with our host moms. There were two of us GSU students assigned to my host home and the mother also has a daughter our age. We went to the store with our host sister and she showed us the water view from the apartment and we went back home to eat some lunch. 

After lunch we had our first lesson in survival Portuguese. We received a packet with common phrases grouped by topic, and we went over the alphabet and pronunciation. 

After our language class we had a dance class with Antonio Cozido. He has been teaching dance for 40 years and is the creator of a dance style called Swing Afro Baiano. The class was everything! It was full of energy, and he did a great job at teaching us the meaning and history behind the dances as well as creating a fun environment. 

My night ended with cake, laughs, and language practice. My host family had visitors and we all sat around practicing both English and Portuguese. The first full day was the perfect feel for various aspects of Brazilian culture. 

Swing Afro-Baiano

Here is a picture with host mom (Suedes) on the first day.

Maekaylia Jackson