Sasha Langholz

Sasha Langholz

Major: Public Health; Latin American Languages, Literatures, and Cultures

"I enjoyed meeting people from other regions of the country and city. It's important to understand the wide variety of experiences that residents have across different socioeconomic conditions. It's also fun to speak to people from different areas and learn new slang as well as new accents."

 

 

What led you to study abroad? Why did you choose your country/program?

I wanted to improve my fluency in Portuguese and explore Brasilian culture.

What was the most interesting cultural experience you had abroad?

I enjoyed meeting people from other regions of the country and city. It's important to understand the wide variety of experiences that residents have across different socioeconomic conditions. It's also fun to speak to people from different areas and learn new slang as well as new accents.

What was the biggest challenge/concern of your study abroad experience? How did you respond?

I didn't have any serious challenges. I lived in a safe neighborhood and attended a private school, so I never had any barriers stacked against me. The biggest "challenge" I had was making new friends in a new environment.

Describe a typical day for you abroad.

I would wake up, take the bus to PUC, grab an acai or breakfast pastel. After class, would either play futsal with the Womens team or head to Aterro do Flamengo to play pickup soccer. On days I didn't play soccer, I would go to the beach with some friends. At night time, we would grab dinner at a rodizio or even a couple espetos from the street. By night we would go out to dance clubs or parties that would happen in the street like BG or Tiradentes.

What coursework did you take while abroad? How did courses abroad compare with Berkeley classes?

Intensive Portuguese IV (Summer Intensive), Semester: Portuguese 5, Brazilian History (English), Intro to Marketing (Portuguese), Health and the Environment (Portuguese)

What was the most memorable/meaningful aspect of your time abroad?

The friends I made and connected with across the city.

What impact did studying abroad have on you personally?

It made me more flexible in situations I can't control. It also helped me deeper understand politics in Latin America.

What would you recommend to students considering studying abroad, especially to your country or program?

Don't let Rio's reputation for violence get in your way of appreciating all the city has to offer. Talk to people, because cariocas love to talk!