Research and Nature Conservation Internship in Brazil

During this internship, I sharped my skills teaching English, working with kids of all ages, event set up and take down, supporting teachers as they taught various classes, and learned Portuguese throughout my stay. I learned about mangrove ecosystems and explored the impact of sea level rise on them. Overall, it was an amazing experience!

Although I met some great people and try to focus on the good that came from my internship, I would be lying if I didn't express how misleading it was, resulting a lot of emotional distress and frustration. My work contract stated I would be primarily conducting environmental research, monitoring forest biodiversity, and data analysis. In reality, for 28-30 hrs/wk I was babysitting, sweeping, and trying to help teachers conduct classes (who didn't even know who I was or how to include me, making matters worse that I couldn't communicate to them, as I didn't speak any Portuguese when I arrived and was told it wasn't needed). When I did do environmental work (1-2 hrs/wk), it was researching on my own or reviewing my work with my supervisor, in which instead of encouraging and teaching me, she spoke very condescendingly and blamed me for things whenever she could, even for information or instruction she never told me. I was minimally trained, and quickly became the trainer of the volunteers after me. I felt strongly that my time and work was undervalued and that my supervisor had some resentment and would often get very frustrated at me for simple things, like not hearing her or not knowing info. that was never disclosed to me (by her). When I brought up my concerns, she would gaslight me, tell me I were wrong and try and blame me for the situation, using manipulation tactics. Crucial information wasn't communicated to me consistently, often making my work feel very purposeless and unsuccessful. There wasn't a role for interns here (or physical space in many instances, as I was told to move out of the way often), I was made to feel in the way, and would not recommend undergoing this internship.