Student Testimonials

Kate Van Sickle

Brazil

"Studying abroad taught me about Brazilian culture and people, but most importantly I learned about who I am, the values that are important to me, and what makes me the person I am. I learned to see the world with a broader view, to realize that everyone has different ways of living life, and experiencing the very similar challenges and joys that life presents to all of us."

Kate Van Sickle working in an MST village in Northeastern Brazil

One Mango at a Time

I flew South on the high of false confidence. Fear greeted me as I landed in Sao Luis, a northern city of Brazil. In all my preparation for this great project, I had not worked on my Portuguese. I assumed that what I had learned two years before would magically flow from my tongue. No. I stuttered clips of Spanish, rephrased it and ended up with a jumbling of Portuguese and Spanish mixed with odd words that I had simply made up.

I spent the first night crying in the hotel, plotting an immediate return to the U.S. And then my other voice spoke up: "All this work and you're going to run home in a panic? No way! You get yourself to the village and everything will be fine."

I was right. I spent the next three months learning Portuguese, studying the culture and history of this unusual village, and sleeping in a hammock to soothe my overworked brain. This challenge took so much of my energy- I did not know I was capable of thinking and learning so much in such a concentrated time. All the while the kids watched my every move, commenting on my writing, my clothes, my hair, my walk, and even whether my legs were shaved or not. My purpose was to learn the details of the village life. I learned it one mango, or giggling child, or soccer game at a time. Immersing myself was the key. This was a completely different schooling. I did not study from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m., I was learning each minute of every single day. The weekends meant nothing, as I still had to struggle to understand the activity around me.

Brazilian kids

After many thoughts of "what am I doing?!" I finally began to learn. My Portuguese became smooth, allowing me to start to tell funny stories, listen to other people's conversations, play word games with the kids. My understanding of the village culture allowed me to begin to understand the political structures within and surrounding the village. I could watch the news on TV and be effected like those around me. My village friends and family told me stories of their struggle for land, about the social movement that brought them together, about the massacre that happened recently in a neighboring state. They showed me their fun. The little kids showed me the joy of running around in the rain, the older kids showed me how much they enjoy playing cards, or drinking a little sugarcane rum. The mothers showed me how hard they worked to keep the kids and the food and house going. The fathers showed me that they could sweat and work hard all day, and then wash up and gently hold their kids.

So many memories, and so many personal successes. I proved to myself that I was capable of so much more than I had ever imagined. This second trip to Brazil led to a third, fourth and fifth trip. I now have a host family that feels like a real family, I have friends, and memories of playing, working, thinking, talking, worrying, creating, and learning. All the work that I have done in Brazil has been only a fraction of the learning I have done. The members of the village are my greatest teachers. Being in Brazil was overwhelming, but one step at a time I experienced the pure exhilaration of being submersed into a different culture.

I live my life differently because of my experiences in Brazil. The short time that I felt fear is only a reminder to me that I am human. The amazing feeling of accomplishment and success that I carried home with me is the true gift. I encourage everyone to step outside of his or her normal routine, and learn life's lessons one mango or one little journey at a time.