Introduction: your typical college junior

It's hard to figure out how to start your first blog post. What makes it possibly more difficult is that my introduction is similar to so many others'.


I'm a college junior, and in two days' time I'll be in the airport on my way to Fortaleza, Ceará, for a semester abroad. So for now, I'll be writing here about my experiences while I'm there. I am sure I'll have some; I just hope they're worthwhile, educational, and maybe interesting (or entertaining) for you to read. And if not, well, at least I'll have something to remember my time in Brazil by.


So, to catch you all up, here's where I'm coming from: I'm originally from Philadelphia, but now live in Brunswick, ME. I go to Wellesley College where I'm a Latin American Studies major with a bit of a random-yet-fun love for all things Astronomy. I'm on the Ultimate Frisbee team, sing in the Wellesley College Choir, and play the oboe in the Chamber Music Society. I spent this past summer in Seattle,

  where I worked for World Vision, a Christian humanitarian aid organization "dedicated to helping children through tackling the root causes of poverty and injustice worldwide," according to their mission statement. And, after a summer there, I'm convinced that I can—am obliged to—work towards changing (eradicating?) the inequalities that exist in the world today.

...And where I'm going: I'm headed to Fortaleza through a program entitled Brazil: Culture, Development and Social Justice. For the first two months, I'll be in a homestay in the city, taking classes in Portuguese and an interdisciplinary seminar which focuses on those issues mentioned above. The second two months are an independent study project/field study which I design and carry out. After that—who knows? I've got some time to travel and work before I head home. Right now the plan is to work with kids in the favela (slum) in Recife, the largest slum in the world.

My biggest concern is the fact that I have yet to learn the language (Portuguese). But I am confident that I'll be able to overcome that barrier fairly quickly and I'm excited for the adventures I'll inevitably find. So for now, I'll close. Next time you hear from me, I'll be in Brazil! Until then—or as they say in Brazil, até mais,

Katie Read More...