From day trips to historical towns to Brazilian funk clubs!

One of my best learning experiences at University was the two-week Summer School in Brazil. I was joined by another 40 international students and 20 local students for the University of Federal Minas Gerais Summer School on Brazilian Studies (UMFG SSBS). This was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to study Brazilian culture deeply and authentically whilst learning about other peer’s nations, cultures, food and making international connections.

The SSBS was an intensive and in-depth study of all aspects of Brazilian society, with lectures covering history, race, geology and even economics! Our group was made up of students who all shared English as a common language. It was an amazing experience in itself: we had differing accents, slang and occasionally a difference in humour.

A part of SSBS was also afternoon Portuguese classes, where we could learn the basics of Brazilian Portuguese as well as everyday sayings necessary for our exploration of Belo Horizonte, the city where UMFG is located.

An incredibly unique and insightful aspect of this program was its inclusion of cultural activities to reinforce our classroom learning experience in new, real-world contexts. We had traditional dance classes, Brazilian treat tasting, watched local films, day trips to historical towns, visited famous galleries, recommended places to explore and were offered peer-led university tours.

We spent most of the day and evening together, with Brazilian students suggesting evening activities and places to see. This meant that our days were busy, constantly social, and always exciting. I became very close to those on the trip, as did everyone involved in SSBS. The local students took us to samba nights, Brazilian funk clubs, rival soccer matches and hidden local concerts

My experience was unforgettable and opened my eyes to a new and intimate way to experience culture, learning and contemporary society as a young person in Brazil.

If you had the opportunity to attend SSBS at UMFG, you should take it. I have stayed in touch with many of the international and local students from the program, as well as others that I have met along the way or out and about in Belo Horizonte.

To summarise my my experience is difficult, but it was perspective-changing, fast-paced, filled with fun, and I created connections with diverse people from around the world who came together with openness, acceptance, and energy every single day. I am already planning on returning to Brazil and have begun exploring future travel and study options!

Hannah Lambert
Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences
UFMG Summer School on Brazilian Studies
Global Short Programs Travel Scholarship Recipient