Studying abroad is often described as a transformative experience, but I didn’t fully understand what that meant until I lived it myself. In May 2024, I traveled to São Paulo, Brazil for my first time abroad alone through CGIS’s service learning program; GIEU. Although I was nervous and my Portuguese was limited, I was welcomed with open arms. In a city of over 12 million people, I was struck by how deeply kindness and community run through Brazilian culture. From conversations in the neighborhood bakery to long evenings with my host family, I experienced firsthand the everyday ways people build lasting relationships and care for one another. Sharing meals at the table with my host family became a highlight of my days; even with language barriers, we found ways to communicate, laugh, and create bonds that I continue to treasure and nurture today.
The program wasn’t just about me adapting to a new place, it was about learning through relationships and community building. I had the opportunity to collaborate with GoodTruck Brasil, an NGO that works alongside local communities to fight food insecurity. Instead of a one-sided experience, it was about listening, showing up, and contributing to ongoing projects already led by dedicated people in São Paulo. The work taught me the importance of grassroots efforts, collaboration, and recognizing that sustainable change comes from within communities themselves.
The first time we visited a favela, impoverished neighborhoods in Brazil, they decided to give us a tour of the community. At the time it felt wrong to be touring through a community that was so intimately connected to one another, as we were literally foreigners invading someone's personal space. However, we immediately understood why they felt the necessity to do this. It was the parts of the country that got ignored by those in power, that deny any injustices remained in the country. It was their way of showing us that they were real, and so were their struggles.
On our last day, a community leader, Adriana, decided to make us volunteers arroz doce (sweet rice pudding) as a way to thank us for our work. Although the resources within the favela were limited, she went out of her way to make us feel at home for our efforts. We sat in a circle and held an open dialogue where she talked about how she rose to her position, the work she does, and the toll it was taking on her. It was refreshing to have such an honest conversation with someone I grew to admire. Her and I had the opportunity to talk a little bit more in depth through portunhol—a mix of spanish and portuguese, and once it was time to leave she told me that it was her dream to one day visit Mexico, my home country, but that she didn’t think it would be possible for her to ever leave her community. I think about this interaction often, and how someone that I met for a brief period of time, and have no way of communicating with now, was able to have such an impact on my life.
On the rides back from the favelas to the CET center, CGIS’ site partner, I would have long conversations with Fabio, a GoodTruck staff member who worked alongside us and helped translate. We’d dive into conversations about Brazilian politics, daily life, and his perspective on the country. Those talks grounded the experience in a way that went far beyond anything I could have learned in a classroom.
Looking back, GIEU has been one of my most memorable experiences at UMich. It reminded me how much there is to learn when we step into new environments with humility and openness. The time I spent in São Paulo shaped not only how I see the world but also my own life and experiences. I left Brazil with unforgettable memories and a reminder that even across languages and borders, connection is always possible.
Learn more about GIEU Brazil here!
Have questions for Sofia? Reach out to her at sofiavaz@umich.edu
