Tourista

I’ve been in Brazil now for over four weeks and I can’t believe how fast the time has gone. The first half of my trip was amazing, but when we hit the three-week halfway point, I resolved to step up my game as far as seeing the sights. Armed with my underused guide book and …

Island Time

We left at dawn. Well, before that actually. Me and five other members of our program decided to take advantage of the recent three day weekend by heading off to Ilha Grande, a beautiful island off the coast of Rio de Janeiro state. We got up at 4:30 a.m. and clambered into two taxis, bound …

The Daily Grind

I’ve started to fall into a routine here in Rio. And, as “cafezinhos” have become a central part of my life, I couldn’t resist the above coffee reference. Sorry, not sorry. https://flic.kr/p/nUN9zb Every morning, when my alarm goes off at 7:30, I get up to turn it off and then get back in bed for …

Dois Dias

I landed in Brazil about 39 hours ago, but from sunrise to sunset to sunrise to sunset, I’ve been in this city for two days – "dois dias". On the ride between Galeão International Airport and my homestay in Copacabana, I realized immediately why they call Rio “a cidade maravilhosa” – “the marvelous city.” Boy, …

Ready for Rio

Since coming home from school, the friendly dialogue I’ve exchanged with familiar faces has followed a steady pattern: “Nice to see you. Hope you’re enjoying school. What are your plans for the summer?” When I answer that I will be spending six weeks studying abroad in Brazil, I usually get one of two responses. “Ohmygosh! …

Allison: Summer in Rio

Allison Hillsbery is a Georgetown University student studying abroad this summer in Brazil through UF. If you want to learn more about her program, click here: UF in Rio - Language & Culture What is your year and field of study? I am a rising sophomore at Georgetown University, majoring in International Business and pursuing two minors (Spanish …