Living and Studying in the United States – Perspectives from Four Brazilian Students at Saint Martin’s University

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Four Brazilian students studying at Saint Martin's University participate in a panel discussion on living and studying in the United States. From left to right are Felipe De Souza, Karyny Belo, Louise Da Silva and Victor Leal.
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By Lisa Herrick

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Breezie O’Neill (right), Assistant Director at the Office of International Programs and Development at Saint Martin’s University, with student, Kari Inch, greet attendees at the inaugural Washington State and Rio de Janeiro Conference on the United States and Brazilian Exchange held on campus.

If you thought you heard an abundance of Portuguese being spoken throughout Thurston County recently, it is likely you did. Certainly, that was the case lately on the Saint Martin’s University campus in Lacey, Washington. The University recently concluded the inaugural Washington State and Rio de Janeiro Conference on the United States and Brazilian Exchange held during International Education Week.

The purpose of the conference was to promote student exchange between Washington and Rio de Janeiro by bringing together representatives of higher education institutions from the two states.  The conference was held in response to the ‘100,000 Strong in the Americas’ initiative that aims to increase educational exchanges in the Western Hemisphere.

The initiative’s goal is to prepare youth with the cross-cultural skills necessary to be successful in the 21st century economy and create a new generation of leaders. Reportedly, the number of Washington students studying abroad in Brazil is low. The number of Brazilian students studying in Washington State is also low. The hope from this conference is to change those numbers.

Truly, at the heart of the Saint Martin’s University conference were the Brazilian students themselves. Four delightful, lively and intelligent Brazilian undergraduates participated in a panel discussion, facilitated by Marco Tulluck, Director of International Programs and Development at Saint Martin’s University.  The focus of the panel discussion was on living and studying in the United States. Felipe De Souza, Karyny Belo, Louise Da Silva, and Victor Leal all answered a variety of questions with tremendous poise and engaging humor.

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Four Brazilian students studying at Saint Martin’s University participate in a panel discussion on living and studying in the United States. From left to right are Felipe De Souza, Karyny Belo, Louise Da Silva and Victor Leal.

Felipe explained some of his initial culture shock after arriving on campus in March. “Here, everything works on a scheduled time, which is good to learn – to understand what being on time means, here.”  Louise followed up by describing one of her first encounters on campus. “In Brazil, we greet each other with a hug and kiss. The first time I did that they took several steps back from me. I said, ‘Oh, I am so sorry.’”  Both scenarios received a knowing burst of laughter from the attendees, with many gesturing toward the cultural differences pertaining to what is considered to be punctual within the two cultures as well as how greetings are conducted.

Each of the Brazilian students are pursuing a different major. Felipe is a mechanical engineering major while Karyny majors in nursing, Louise in pharmacy and Victor in civil engineering. Yet they all have a common goal – to improve their English skills within their respective majors and gain a better understanding between the two countries.

Louise shares, “One of the biggest challenges is trying to do like the American students do in class while trying to improve our English. Sometimes we just need a little more time to learn the content of the class because we are also learning the expressions used. There are a lot of new terms we are learning in English.”

Victor agrees and explains how helpful and supportive the students, professors and the Saint Martin’s University community have been. “I like to be able to talk directly to the professors during their office hours. They are always willing to help.”

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Marco Tulluck, Director, International Programs and Development at Saint Martin’s University moderates the Brazilian student panel discussion.

As the students shared their appreciation for the opportunity to study at Saint Martin’s University as well as the challenges of being a student in a new culture, Meg Dwyer, Media Relations Manager for the University, was tweeting their advice to future Brazilian students: “Be on time to class and bring a jacket!”

In addition to Felipe, Karyny, Louise and Victor, Saint Martin’s University has been hosting 28 Brazilian students since last summer, marking the first time the Universtiy has hosted students from Brazil.  Their journey to Saint Martin’s is the result of the Brazilian government’s initiative to send its students to higher education institutions in the United States to study Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) professions. The University has partnered with the Institute of International Education and the Brazil Scientific Mobility Program, which provides scholarships to students to study in the STEM fields at colleges and universities in the United States.

An equally important initiative throughout the five-day conference was to provide the local business community with a convenient opportunity to learn why they should consider doing business in Brazil, given its emergence as a vibrant economic engine.

Brazil is the seventh largest economy in the world and has existing business relationships with Washington-based companies.  There are approximately 5,000 Brazilians living in western Washington many of whom actively encourage entrepreneurship and social engagement in Washington.

Brazil has been in the limelight as the recent host of the 2014 Soccer World Cup and as host of the upcoming 2016 Summer Olympics.

 

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