Brazil | Panthers Abroad
Brazil — Salvador, Lençóis, São Luis, Rio de Janeiro| Halle Sivertson | Summer 2019 | Bachelor of Fine Arts in Dance
Why did you want to study abroad? Why this location?
Honestly, I never thought that I would study abroad. Even last year when I was helping the dance department raise money for the trip to Brazil, I wasn’t planning on actually going. However, I realized that this was an amazing opportunity that I just couldn’t pass up — being able to travel to a different country with a great group of people, while also being able to learn about things I never would have been able to otherwise! I also felt the need to challenge myself to go outside my comfort zone and face my anxieties, which was one of the main reasons holding me back from not going on the trip. While learning Portuguese and adjusting to the culture wasn’t easy, it was definitely worth it in the end!
What made this country different from living in the U.S.?
There are many similarities and differences between the U.S. and Brazil, but something I noticed a lot was the social aspect. People are more open, and won’t hesitate to come up and talk to you. It helps that the weather is practically always warm, but there’s always people hanging out on the streets socializing, rather than isolating themselves in their houses. I really enjoyed the value placed on human connection and sharing experiences. There was also music everywhere. I was probably more aware of it since I was studying music for my research project, but something I miss is the amazing music we would hear anywhere we went, especially the drums!
What did a typical day look like for you?
I suppose there wasn’t really a “typical” day for us in Brazil, as we did something different every day and sometimes were a bit spontaneous. Usually, I would wake up and eat a good breakfast at our hotel, which was actually more of a bed and breakfast type place called a pousada. Then I would get ready to go out and do whatever we were doing that day — it might be taking a dance or music class/workshop, taking a tour of a local historical site or museum, exploring the city we were in that day, or going to the beach. Later in the day, we might go to a local restaurant or see a performance. In São Luis, a lot of our time was spent seeing Bumba-meu-boi festival performances and interacting with the performance groups. At some point in the day we would always have a break to absorb what we had experienced and record our thoughts and research notes in our journals, as well as just relax.
How much did this trip impact your educational experience and in what ways?
Being a dance major and art & design minor, this trip was perfect for me. We learned about Brazilian dance, music, art, architecture — just about everything artistic. As an artist, expanding my horizons and learning about art around the world is great for gaining inspiration as well as understanding how culture and history influences art. Not only was it beneficial for my studies, but it was good for personal growth as well. I learned how to thrive in new environments, overcame a lot of my fears, and got a lot closer to all of the people traveling with me.
What was your favorite memory from the trip?
I have so many good memories from Brazil that it is hard to choose a favorite. However, I really loved going up to Sugarloaf Mountain in Rio de Janeiro. The view was breathtaking, and I never wanted to go back down! You could see practically all of Rio — the buildings and houses woven throughout the hills and mountains, the beaches and the ocean spreading as far as the eye can see, and the huge Christ the Redeemer statue in the distance, looking majestically over it all. It was a good reminder of the great beauty in the world and made me want to keep traveling!
This could be you! Check out the options we have for studying abroad here. If you’re interested in learning more, the Center for International Education is located in Garland Hall, Room 138 or can be contacted at (414) 229–4846 and cie@uwm.edu.
