Study Abroad in Brazil

 Ready to study abroad in Brazil? The fifth largest country in the world, Brazil spans almost half of South America and features a coastline of more than 4,500 miles. A melting pot of people, passions, and tastes, studying abroad in Brazil is sure to open your eyes to a whole new world!

 

 

Geography of Brazil

Wanting to study some wildlife while studying abroad in Brazil? Brazil has two very large natural draws: the Amazon River, with over 4,000 miles of waterway, and 3,000 documented species of fish, as well as the Pantanal, the largest wetland in the world where you can see jaguar, capybara, and the wily cousins of the alligator, the caiman.

If there were a figure to represent Brazil it may well be Christ the Redeemer, the famous statue found in Rio de Janeiro. At 130 feet tall, the statue stands on the Corcovado Mountain and visitors can take in breathtaking views of the city below. Speaking of cities, the metropolises of São Paulo and Recife boast ample culture and nightlife for those seeking color and movement, while Olinda and Parati are old colonial cities with beautiful churches, multihued houses, and plentiful beaches.

Language in Brazil

Studying abroad in Brazil may allow you the opportunity to learn Portuguese, which is spoken by almost 100% of the population. Not interested in picking up another language? Stick to the larger cities where Spanish and English may also be used.

Cost of Living in Brazil

At the time of this writing, two Brazilians Reals are the equivalent of one U.S. Dollar. With most of the prices in Brazil half of the cost of that in the United States, you can expect the (approximate) price of items like rent in the city to be around R$1,000 to our R$2,056, an inexpensive meal to be R$15 to our R$21, yet the price of milk to be R$2.30 to R$2.16. Getting around isn’t pricey, though: 1 kilometer by taxi is R$2.40 to our R$3.24.

Brazillian Culture

When packing for your study abroad in Brazil adventure, make sure to pack some yellow and green—or an official jersey for futebol (or, as Northern Americans say, soccer), the most popular sport in Brazil. The country’s team is the most successful in the history of the FIFA World Cup, with São Paulo, the site of its inaugural tournament, slated to host the 2014 World Cup. Another event to look forward to? The 2016 Olympics, which will take place all over the country in cities like Manaus and Cuiaba.

Carnaval (held forty days before Lent), is one of the major events the country celebrates. Time your trip right and you’ll be able to see displays of dance influenced by African, Portuguese, and American Indian (think samba, quadrilha, and carimbo), and capoeira (an African and Brazilian martial art that combines dance, acrobatics, and music) while studying abroad in Brazil.

Something you can enjoy year-round is the food! Studying abroad in Brazil will allow you to enjoy large portions of fresh, simple foods like the national dish of feijoada, a stew of beef, pork, black beans and vegetables like cabbage, carrots, and tomatoes; or pão de queijo, cheese bread; and quindim, a coconut custard—while serving caiprinha, a liquor made from sugar cane, with lime and sugar.

And for those study abroad students looking for tangible examples of art and design, with pieces heavily influenced by art deco and expressionism, a visit to either Museu Arte Sao Paolo (MASP) or Museu de Arte Moderna Rio de Janeiro is in order.