Why should I do this?
What do I get besides a great tan and some amazing photos?
(1)
Cultural exchange: You're not in Kansas anymore! The food is
different, the housing is different, the values are different. You’ll learn the
indispensable cultural aspects of living in a multi-national world. How can you
become a world leader or a socially-conscientious scientist without
understanding the differences between the US and other nations? As the world
gets smaller, your decisions must be evaluated within the context of divergent
cultures, traditions, and ethnic sensibilities.
(2)
Service learning: Want to volunteer in a poorly funded inner-city
school for the blind? How about monitoring pollutants in Brazilian Rivers?
Maybe installing water projects in rural communities? You can get first hand
experience unlike anything available in the US.
(3)
Undergraduate research and field studies: Brazilian ecosystems
are unique and some are disappearing quickly. Seize an opportunity to do
original research and get exciting hands-on experience with environments unlike
anything you’ve seen before.
(4)
Self-confidence:
Nothing
prepares you for the real world like international travel. You’ll come away
better centered, and problems back home just won’t seem so big anymore. You will
earn a poise and composure that puts you ahead of the pack!
Ouro Preto, a small mountain town near Universidade Federal de
Minas Gerais. (Photo: David Bahr)
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