Hi! My name is Nathan Gonzalez and I’m a college student from California. I study Business and City Planning at UC Berkeley, and right now I’m studying abroad in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. I live with a host family in Copacabana, just a few blocks from the beach, where I get to practice Portuguese every day and try lots of new foods like pão de queijo and açaí.
In school, I’m really interested in commercial real estate, basically how buildings and cities are designed and used. I love walking through Rio and seeing the mix of colorful houses, modern skyscrapers, and famous landmarks like Christ the Redeemer. I am taking 4 super fun classes here, one of which is an architecture class. This class helps me understand how Brazil’s history shows up in its buildings.
Outside of school, I have a big passion for aviation. I’m training to become a pilot, which means I get to fly airplanes! Flying has taught me about so much about myself, how people communicate, and how we travel.
I’m proud to be the first in my family to study at a university and to travel this far from home. My journey in Brazil is about learning new languages, making friends, and sharing experiences that I hope inspire others to follow their dreams too.
Want to know more about how you can study or intern abroad when you are a college student? The Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship Program is a program of the U.S. Department of State with funding provided by the U.S. Government and supported in its implementation by the Institute of International Education (IIE). Learn more about the scholarship by clicking here!
