Bruna and Janaina
Autor: Letras | Publicado: 2011-08-07T21:45:00-07:00

Exchanging Cultures

Alison is an American girl, from Ohio US. She is studying here in Brazil, at UFMG, trough an exchanging program called Fulbright. During our interview, we talked about her expectations, how is doing her adaptation with cultural differences, and she told me a little bit about her life in Ohio. Do an exchange programs is not a big deal for Alison, whereas she “growing up doing exchanging programs”, she said. Check below more information about Alison’s exchanging program, here in Brazil.

Bruna: Why did you choose Brazil to do your Exchange program?
Alison: I wanted to come to Latin America, because I love Latin America and I am particularly passionate about economic development. So, Fulbright had a special opportunity, and I took it. Other really important features were my carrier goals, my passions and some practical things that led me to Brazil instead of South Korea or Germany or another place.

B: Which were your expectations about here? What do you expected for?
A: I always say that: “I always try not to have expectations, to not be disappointed.” For example, I had no idea how to pack. When I got here was goanna be winter, and my idea of winter was complete different. Right now, this is summer, and in Ohio this is best weather we can ever hope for.

B: I think now its fall here.
A: I know. And a funny thing is, in United States, when spring and summer comes you have to wear white pants. I have a felling that is its fall here, but in my head its spring, because it is warm enough. So, in my soul is spring and I will wear my white pants.

B: When get the winter you goanna see the difference, because is not too cold.
A: When I landed at the airport, one of the professors told me that “with the winter would be like here, in my head I seriously thought about moving here.” I hate winter, specially the winter in Ohio. I don’t feel well with cold weather, because I spend so many years as freezing. I am done.

B How has being your adaptation with the culture and the language?
A: I think in the first month and a half I adapted very well but when the second month and a half started, was a lot more challenging. It could be because I moved, since I was so used to live where I was living, and then I moved. So I went from a big house, with a pool, a lot of space, my own bathroom, to a small apartment, down town, sleeping on the floor and a lot of noisy. Speaking of this, I think one big culture difference between United States and Brazil is the amount of noise that is socially acceptable to make at certain time. In the US its awful plays a loud music or make a lot of noise after 10 p.m. at night. It is like you can call the police and people can get in trouble, for play music too loud at 1 of the morning. Here that’s not the case. This is a big difference and a challenge for me.

B: Are you bothered?
A: I used to be really bothered. When I movie to the city, there was a bar that every night play music very loud, so I had moved again. Right now, my new apartment is really quiet. It is so high up in the air that the only sound that I hear at night is the street cleaners, and that is acceptable. Another culture difference that here things start a lot earlier. In US if call anybody before 9 in the morning is almost rude, here at 7 in the morning people are living their houses. 

B: How was the process to you getting a scholarship, in you country? I mean, because here in Brazil is very difficult.
A: It depend witch program you do, some are more competitive than other. It could be as easy as you go on a website, you find a language school, they find you a host family, and you just pay the money and come. I have been done that for Costa Rica, Spain and France. I would be able to do it with Brazil as well, but my program is not idiom. So, the process wasn’t that demanding, but actually it is very competitive. In the process there are two essays, three recommendations, a language evaluation, and then an application form, which is a kind of essay. After that, people in New York read the application, and if they approved, they send it to Brazil. Then people in Brazil decide if you can go to the country. So, I’m doing is a big exchange program between governments, which makes it different the other ones.
 
B: So, this is not your first exchange program?
A: No, is not I was grow up doing exchange programs. I was in Ohio and there’s not much to do in the summer, and I didn’t have much contacts with sports. The only thing to do is play softball and I probably was the only girl in my town that was not in a Softball team. So, I went in exchanging programs. It did not exactly make me fit in, but it make me stronger and better, more educated and more open mind.

B: How is your contact with Brazilian people?
A: I was living in house with other exchange students, and then I went to live with the Brazilians, then I back to live with the Americans. So, sometimes I really spend time with Brazilian and sometimes do it with the “intercambistas”. For example, all the weekend long I spend a lot of time with Brazilian people and their friends, and I feel like I am part of their group of friends. I mean, I hope I am, because I like them and I am the only American. I can say, as much as I spend time with the Americans, I do my part to get in on my Brazilian friends groups.

That’s it, thank you so much Allison to help me, with my assignment!!!!!