Service Learning in Salvador da Bahia, Brazil

This trip was the highlight of my travel experiences because of the depth of experiences including art, history, religion, music and dance. The very personal connections GCAC has with the most prominent and talented artists in Salvador de Bahia. We saw the most famous Samba-Reggae Group, Olodum, up close and personal. Our opportunity to drum with and perform with Yaya Muxima allowed us to contribute to this group that organizes the community and supports women and children in what was once a slum area and now visited by artists and intellectuals. These include Jimmy Cliff, Paul Simon, and Michael Jackson. The group of women was intergenerational and contributed to our sense of joy and belonging. The African Dance lesson was magical and brought me back to classes I took many years ago. The leaders were communicative, knowledgeable beyond expectation, and responsive to the needs of the group.

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This trip was the most amazing trip of my life. The GCAC group was so welcoming and I have an amazing new family now. We got to emerse ourselves in their rich history and learn one on one with the people and their culture. We explored the religious aspects of Salvador as well as the music and multiple different styles of Samba. We learned their history through museums, music, dancing, and the amazing people and teachers we met. GCAC makes sure we are learning and to make sure it is something everyone will enjoy. It is a deep dive into what makes Salvador, Salvador. I got once in a lifetime fulfillment and experiences through this trip and lessons I will never forget!

I had a life changing experience on this trip! I learned so much about a different culture and lifestyle, music, and life lessons in general. The leader of this trip made it so much easier. This got me out of my comfort zone by far, and I don’t think I’d have done it without such excellent leadership and guidance. I loved this experience and so glad I did it!

This trip was the perfect combination of tourism and local culture immersion. From shows and sea turtle rescues to staying with locals and trying new local foods the variety gave us everything. The leaders made sure we were well prepared and felt safe while staying in a country while only knowing a little of the language. This was truly the experience of a lifetime.

This trip opened me up to a new culture, new language, and new people. The trip was meticulously planned and orchestrated, with every detail carefully thought out. I am forever grateful for this experience, as it allowed me the opportunity to consider my place as a global citizen, learn about a wonderful culture, and expand my thinking. I am eternally grateful for this opportunity.

I went back in 2011 and it was a wonderful experience that I still think about today. It was great to immerse myself in Brazilian culture and my life was changed for the better. We had the opportunity to meet with the students and teaches at the local university and we also had time to just visit around the city.

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Going to Brazil with the group was a great experience! It was my first trip out of the country. I felt like I was prepared to go months in advance. I had no worries about transportation or housing, and never felt unsafe. Each day was structured and fully planned out with activities. I was much more immersed with the culture, locals, and food than if I had just visited there on a vacation.

I traveled to Salvador da Bahia, Brazil in the summer of 2006 with Dr Julie Hill as part of the University of Tennessee at Martin Percussion Studio. This experience gave my peers and I the opportunity to grow as musicians but more importantly as people. I have been a teacher for 15 years, and I refer to this trip very often to my students. This has many times helped open my students eyes to how there is more to learn that what is ten feet in front of their faces. I am a better teacher, a better mentor, and a better person for having this experience. If not for this program, I certainly never would have taken the journey. I am deeply appreciative of Dr Hill for inspiring us in this way, and I certainly hope for as many people, young and old, as possible to have similar opportunities.

Our trip to Bahia was incredible, providing educational opportunities, fun, and life changing experiences. Everything was handled with care and great attention to detail. Our entire party was made to feel comfortable and safe throughout our journey. Highly recommend.

Being able to experience other countries and cultures was a truly eye opening experience. Learning how others live and witnessing the power of connections that we can share with one another really shows how similar we all are despite the differences of our every day lives. The experience that I had will forever live in me and will forever impact how I live my life. There is so much to learn when you get outside of your bubble and see the world and the people in it. Brazil is one of the most fascinating places I’ve ever visited. The music, the food, the art, and the people will always hold a special place in my heart.

In the summer of 2006 I took a student trip with Dr. Hill to Savador da Bahia. The experience was life changing. We were immersed in the culture with music lessons, concerts, and traditional food. We truly experienced the whole of Brazilian life in Bahia. I learner music there that I still practice today. The music I learned there gave me a focus for grad school and fostered a love for other cultures that I wouldn't have gotten anywhere else. Even now, almost 20 years later, I recall those experiences and how they shaped my life. We stayed in Salvador da Bahia. While there we explored the history of the city, took in many concerts, and got to take lessons in Brazilian Capoeira. We then traveled to Sau Paulo and took lessons with a professor there and got to see life in a big city in another country. I was also able to purchase musical instruments that I still currently use. These instruments were hand made and of a much better quality than what we can have shipped to the United States.

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My first time in visiting Salvador da Bahia, Brazil was life changing. Being a musician and an educator, I knew many values of music, but I never fully realized music's power to transform generations until I went to Salvador. There are so many wonderful organizations in Salvador helping transform the lives of women and young people through the arts. I am ever grateful for my exposure to these citizen heroes who are now my dear friends. If you want to learn more about Afro Brazilian heritage, culture, fine and performing arts, percussion/drumming, dance, history, and culinary arts to name a few, while helping to serve the mission of one of the organizations mentioned above, this program needs to go on your bucket list asap!