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Student Traveler

Trent R.

Brazil
Hometown: Dairy, Oregon

Two years ago I would have expected my high school career to be the same as everyone else's. Eighteen months ago I got the idea to make my senior year different. Today I live on a tropical island in Brazil, less than 200 miles south of the equator. If there is one thing I have learned from my experiences so far, it is that you never know where life will take you. My home changed from a cabin surrounded by mountains and pine trees to a skyrise apartment next to the governor's mansion and a view of the beach. I am Trent Rabe, an exchange student in São Luís, Brazil, and this is a blog of all the wonderful opportunities I have had on the bottom half of the world.

Posts

Friendly Conversation With the Brazilian Locals

By Trent R.

How hiding from the rain turned into a well-spent afternoon filled with human connection. Last week, I took a trip with a few other exchange students to a fishing village... keep reading

Learning Portuguese

By Trent R.

Before moving to Brazil, I had almost zero experience with Portuguese. I downloaded the Duolingo app on my phone, but I rarely used it. Until I boarded the plane from... keep reading

Making Brazilian Friends

By Trent R.

On the flight here, I got pretty nervous about making new friends. Would the locals be able to speak English with me? If they could, would they like me? What... keep reading

Brazilian Culture and Customs

By Trent R.

I expected the Brazilian culture to be different from the American culture I grew up in, but I was not really ready for it all when I arrived. No amount... keep reading

Christmas Giving in Brazil

By Trent R.

In the United States, we exchange gifts and donate time or financial resources to charity during the holidays. In Brazil, many Christmas traditions are different than back home, but the... keep reading

High School in Brazil

By Trent R.

Going to school is a BIG part of studying abroad. What a surprise, right? Not really, but because most of the potential exchange students reading this post are probably interested... keep reading

Spontaneous Trip Off the Island - My Adventures in Alcântara

By Trent R.

My fellow "Intercamibistas" and I took a boat off the island for a weekend. We visited historic villages, deserted beaches, and other islands. Check out the video above for a... keep reading