After nine wonderful months, I had to finally say goodbye to my new home in Brazil. Although I traveled throughout the country, from Sao Paulo in the South to Belem in the North, I adored my time learning about new cultures, music, foods, and all sorts of experiences that helped me grow professionally and personally.
Before leaving Brazil, I made sure I had enough souvenirs and momentos to cherish when I return to the United States. Some of my favorite gifts included: a wood painting that I bought in Sao Paulo, some shells I collected off the shores in Bahia, and a puzzle a museum docent gave me in Rio de Janeiro. Because I made friends with some of the local people in the Belem neighborhood where I stayed, I made sure to tell them goodbye. If they were vendors, which they often were, I either bought another one of my favorite goodies from them (such as a pastel or some fruit) or donated whatever leftover Brazilian currency I had.
I feel confident about the research I accomplished while in Brazil. Although there were many challenges along the way, I know I did my very best in gathering the information I needed. I also made wonderful friends along the way! These are people I know will stay in my life, and I hope to reconnect with in the near future.
