Alumni Interview with Chiara

What inspired you to go abroad?

I always liked to travel and I visited a lot of countries in Europe already, but I wanted to try something different and go outside Europe for once.

Why did you choose Brazilian Experience?

I wanted to participate in a volunteering program so I looked on different websites. I wasn't sure where I wanted to go, but in that year I met some Brazilians and I was fascinated with their culture and stories. So, I decided to look for volunteering projects in Brazil and I found the Brazilian Experience website. I liked their projects and it looked well organized.

What was your favorite part about Florianópolis?

The different beaches and trails in nature.

What surprised you most about Brazil?

Its’ variety. It is such a huge country and every place I visited was different.

How did local staff support you throughout your program?

I got a lot of support from thee local staff. If I had a problem, I could always reach someone to ask for help.

What is one thing you wish you would have known before volunteering abroad in Brazil?

To bring two different credit cards. I didn't inform myself much about credit card/money issues and I traveled only with my Visa debit card (my bank told me that it would work in Brazil). The first ATM I tried didn't work and it took some time to find out which banks worked for me. Also, sometimes my card didn’t work in museums, restaurants, or shops, and my friends too had some problems. Next time I travel so far away or for such long time, I will try to have two different credit cards, just to be sure.

Describe a typical day in the life of your program.

Everyday I started around 8 a.m. or 9 a.m. (just few times sooner, but it was my choice). Everyday I was working in a different area, but usually my duties were to clean the enclosures, to prepare food for the animals, and to feed the animals. Sometimes I helped the veterinarian or did beach monitoring.

What did you enjoy doing in your free time?

Exploring some trails in nature, going to the beach, and meeting people.

What was your accommodation like? What did you like best about it?

I was in a small, but nice, room in a little house with a big garden. It was very cosy and I didn't have any problems. The house belongs to a young girl who also worked in the same organization where I was volunteering, so it was very nice to live with her. It was very close to the workplace, so I could also use a bike to go there or a bus.

Do you have any packing tips for individuals headed to Brazil?

Sunscreen! Maybe I have a sensitive skin, but I found a big difference between my sunscreen and the one some friends bought in Brazil. Bring a hat/cap, comfortable shoes, and a rain jacket; these were my lifesavers.

What is one thing every participant should know before participating in your program?

Be open to the new experience and if you don't know any Portuguese, I would recommend you learn some, because many people there couldn't speak English. It wasn't a too big of a problem, but probably it would be helpful to know some phrases or to understand a little bit.

How difficult was it to communicate with locals?

At the beginning it was very difficult. When I asked for information I always got an answer, but the problem was to understand it;: most people spoke very fast and it was so hard to understand them. It took some time to get used to Brazilian Portuguese pronunciation. Locals were always nice to me and willing to help though.

What made your experience abroad unique?

The Brazilian people. Everyone was nice and welcomed me warmly.

What was the hardest part about volunteering abroad?

Probably getting used to some local habits, like Brazilian's time concept very different from my own.

Now that you're home, how has your program abroad impacted your life?

I learnt so many things abroad: a new language, to be flexible, to try new things. I had some little difficulties during my time in Brazil, but I see them as something positive, because they taught me to be prepared for unexpected things and how to deal with them.

What's one thing you wish you would have done differently?

Maybe going out more often or staying longer.

Would you recommend Brazilian Experience to others? Why?

Totally! I had such a good experience with the project and the provider. Everyone was nice and ready to assist me. I think I couldn't have had a better experience!

What do you feel the biggest benefit of volunteering abroad is?

For me, it was to learn a new culture and a new language.

If you could volunteer abroad again, where would you go?

Probably New Zealand.