Tiradentes, MG, Brasil

This experience brought out the best of me, it made me learn a new language without sitting through a course. It taught me a new way to communicate by using the skills and vocabulary that I already knew. Spanish and Portuguese are very alike, and maybe the Brazilian's felt offended that at first I spoke to them in Spanish rather than Portuguese. But after a few practices I got the hang of it, I was able to understand and comprehend and most importantly I was able to communicate back without a problem. 


I was able to build friendships with people outside of the university students, that now are great friends and even though there was a 35% language barrier we have made it work, speaking three languages at once English, Spanish and Portuguese. 


A communication skill that I improved would be that of rather than explaining with words I was able to expressing my self via physical aids and contact. Something that I often do, but not often am I appreciated for it. So this definitely opened my eyes to a new way to communicate a new way to appreciate the tongue of others and another reason for me to learn a new language. (Something that I plan to do on my own) I feel that if I am able to teach myself a new language, I can do anything and that is the goal I have set to myself. I struggled, I really did and my classmates did too. But, I learned that the best way to enjoy a travel experience is to adapt to the place you have traveled. As Americans we always seem to want things to fall into place, but our way, we aren't willing to take an extra step to view things from a different angle. As of the moment I arrived to Brazil, I knew that this was going to be a challenge and that is why I made it a goal to achieve, learn not only more about Brazil but learn their language, their slang!