Abroad101: Study Abroad Reviews

Can't wait to visit again Past Review

By (Environmental Sustainability, George Mason University) - abroad from 06/03/2013 to 08/06/2013 with

Brazilian Experience / BE: Curitiba - Internship Placement Programs

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
Tremendous experience of Brazilian culture. Often people have a streotype of what life is like in other countries. It's always nice to prove the stereotype wrong.

Personal Information

How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? 6 months+

Review Your Program

* Overall educational experience

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

* Host Country Program Administration

On-site administration of your program

* Housing:

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

There was a bit of an interest clash with the first host family, but the second was much more suited for my personality

* Food:

The food in Curitiba was always a wonderful experience. With so many new cultural options to choose from in the city, everything from small snacks to a restaurant experience was fairly affordable. However, if you are interning with a company, daily restaurant dining can quickly become costly, especially if you have a big appetite. (In Curitiba, most restaurants charge you based on weight of the meal.)

* Social & Cultural Integration:

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

Brasileros, are quite welcoming of foreigners; in Curitiba the fairly wide variety of nationalities will make you feel quite comfortable. The cultural connection to romance most certainly will rub off on you during your stay, most people here have a gentle demeanor. In Curitiba, many residents are excited to showcase their culture and heritage, so they will be eager to show the best places to tour, restaurants to eat, and places to shop. If you can, I suggest travelling outside of the city or State of Parana too. Each local area has a quite a different pace of life, and there's always tons to explore. Other nice spots to travel included Foz do Iguacu, Rio de Janiero, and Santa Catarina. In Curitiba some lovely spots to tour are Jadim Bontanico, and Ópera de Arame. Make sure you're at least your intermediately competent in Portuguese unless you have a good friend who is fluent. It can be quite a challenge avoiding scammers if you don't know your way around and also can't speak fluently.

* Health Care:

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

Health care in Curitiba seems to be quite well accounted for. I had a little scare with a stomach virus during the trip, but the public hospital I was taken to gave me a good prescription for an affordable price ( the hospital visit was also tremendously affordable).

* Safety:

Be careful traveling at night; Most of what I was exposed to was petty theft. It's best to travel in groups of friends, but as a general rule, you don't have to worry too much

If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? Yes

Finances

* Money: How easily were you able to live on a student's budget?

(1 = not very easy/$200+ on food & personal expenses/week, 2.5 = $100/week, 5 = very easily/minimal cost)

Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? Food costs can range from just under $100 - 120

Language

* Did your program have a foreign language component? Yes
How much did the program encourage you to use the language?

0 = No encouragement, 5 = frequent encouragement to use the language

How would you rate your language skills at the beginning of the program? Beginner
How would you rate your language skills at the end of the program? Beginner
What was the highest level language course you had completed prior to departure? None
How many hours per day did you use the language?
Do you have any tips/advice on the best ways to practice the language for future study abroad participants? Be sure to have a translator app, or dictionary with you. Try finding Brazilian novelas/movies and watching them before you travel.

Other Program Information

* Where did you live?

Select all that apply

  • Host Family
* Who did you live with?

Select all that apply

  • Host Family
* Who did you take classes with?

Select all that apply

  • Americans
  • International Students
About how many local friends did you make that you will likely keep in touch with?

A Look Back

* What did you like most about the program?
  • Program Co-ordinator was very attentive to our needs during the visit
  • Friendly Brazilians around our age
* What could be improved?
  • Host family pairing could be easier if video chat was an option
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? .

Reasons For Studying Abroad

To help future students find programs attended by like-minded individuals, please choose the profile that most closely represents you.
The Avid Adventurer
The wardrobe you packed was better suited for a semester of camping than club hopping. Outdoorsy, you might forgo a crazy night out for an early all-day adventure. You'd rather take in the rich culture of an old town than the metropolis of a modern city, but for you getting off the grid is ideal.