It is real, I am now in Brazil, in São Jose dos Campos. To get an internship was not easy because there are lots of people who also search for internships and of course some profils of the internships including tasks, languages,... which you have to have. But this does not mean that it is not possible to get one, there are many traineeships, management, development,...traineeships. Because I realy wanted to go abroad and do an internship, I tried very hard to get one and it took quite a long time.

 

When I had contact with AIESEC ITA in Brazil, the life did not get easier. I had to organize and mail to them pretty a lot (accomodation, visa, work). But this experience made all exchanges who are now in São Jose dos Campos. It is good and it makes sense that AIESEC all over the world has the same values and vision, but dont forget that people are despite this fact different and of course its an other culture. I had to write and call them several times to get the documents for applying for visa but at the end everything was fine and I got visa.

 

Now I can enjoy the time in São Jose dos Campos. AIESECer from São Jose dos Campos picked me up at the airport, we went to the student room of an AIESECer and I thought hopefully I do not have to stay in his room for the period of the next three months. It was realy a student room (chaos) and no space for a kind girl like meJ Thanx god, I came to another house. And I was not alone, there was David from Venezuela and a week later came Fernando from Columbia, they also do a traineeship via AIESEC. It is quite funny with the latinosJ

 

Now I am here for six weeks and I have realised that it is another world. The culture, the people, the food, the language, everything is different for me. From Day to Day I am connected with more people, I get to know more streets, parcs, places. I learn from Day to Day more portugese words and sometimes life is getting easier for meJ But for this you have to be patient. To be patient is the miracle thing you have to be here. But the time is short and it is also important to see things, to do something and to plan.

 

The people here in Brazil are usually very helpful and friendly and everybody is welcome here, in Brazil are a lots of cultures and integration problem does not exist I think. But Brazil has another problems, many social problems. (crimes, poverty...)

 

I work in a NGO, it is called CASEPAFE – centro de assistência social evangélico palavre de Fe, it is an development traineeship. Because the stay here is short (three months) I have already known that I do not have quite a lot of work every Day. But for me it is not a kind of work, it is more getting to know the NGO and be part of it. My task is to do Marketing for the NGO, for this I have to know the NGO, the Office and the four centers. One is a school for children and the other centers are social centers for helping families. I am researching marketing ideas, but it is not easy, because of the limit of finance and time resources. Some days I am not in the Office, I am then in the other centers and getting to know the work of them. They are all very friendly and I like the way how they introduce me.

 

The weather here was at the beginning of my stay pretty cold, especially in nights. I think because the houses are not as good isolated as in Europe. In July, when it was cold, some people weared shorts, sandals and a cover-very funny PictureJ But it is getting warmer and warmer.

 

The weekend before I was in Caraguaubatuba, it is a very beautiful beach. The weather was perfect and the water... unbelieveable, I did not want to go out of the water anymoreJ I drank the first time cocowater on the beach, Just awesomeJ

Last Friday I was in São Paulo, it is also very impressioning and a big city, it has 10 Mill habitants, Austria has 8 Mill. I guess. I was at the AVENIDA PAULISTA and this street is big too, a lot to see, but the way home was not good, the traffic was bad, because daily 6 Mill cars passing to São Paulo.

In september I go to Rio the Janeiro with people from Campinas. I am realy looking forward to it.

 

It is good to make trips, because Brazil has realy nice places, but travelling alone is too dangerous. So this is why connections are very important. AIESEC organized a party and portugese classes every week, this is a good opportunity to get the exchanges better known. We are at least 10 exchanges. For me it is important and it makes me happy  to get to know national and international people J

 

What else can I tell about Brazil: There are a lots of good Padarias, so many sweets you can not believe and very good fresh juices (mango, coco, etc.)The life here in Brazil is Salsa and Churrasco (grilled carne). You do not say here in Brzil to a party “ party”, you say “churrasco” (grilled carne)J Everywhere is Churrasco.

 

I am very glad to be connected with more and more people from Day to Day and to visit nice places. The people here are very friendly and this makes me happyJ

I hope I could tell you something about my stay here. Greets. Marlene