Rebeca at the University of pennsylvania
Rebeca Maia is currently a freshman in the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia. She is originally from Recife, a city in the state of Pernambuco in Brazil. She attended the American School of Recife (EAR) from the ages of four to nine. Even though it is a school in Brazil, EAR follows the American education approach (more information about the specific differences in the Education in Brazil page). At the age of nine, Rebeca moved from Recife to Aracaju, a city in the state of Sergipe, where she attended a Brazilian school called CCPA for two years. When she was eleven, she moved back to Recife and attended EAR until her graduation in May of 2014.
I decided to conduct my interview with Rebeca over Skype as opposed to over the phone, since facial expressions and gestures can add a lot to someone's responses. I called Beca on Skype and after she picked up, we chatted for a while about how our second semester was going. After about ten minutes, I thanked her for her help and asked if we could begin.
"Can you tell me a bit about your experience attending an American school in Brazil? How does this school differ from traditional schools in Brazil?" I asked. "Attending an American school in Brazil, particularly in Recife, where many people still do not get the point of international schools, made me feel like some of my classmates and I were somewhat disconnected from the world surrounding us as a whole. We didn't go home for lunch and stayed at school for extracurricular activities, traveled at least twice during the school year to academic or athletic events with other american and international schools in Brazil, and we did not go through the stressful process of vestibular (Brazilian college entrance exam). To the ones more devoted to academics, our Portuguese could fail us from time to time and we would speak to each other in a weird amalgamation of portuguese with american slang in English. Other Brazilian schools would know kids from other schools in Recife whereas we would instead mingle with kids from other states and American schools throughout Brazil. Our school followed the American curriculum, but it still included increments of the Brazilian system, with classes such as Brazilian History, Brazilian Geography and Portuguese. I thought our classes were generally more thought-provoking and inciting of critical thinking than classes at most of the Brazilian schools seemed to be, and each of us would be in control of how much we wanted to challenge ourselves through AP exams, clubs and sports." Rebeca responded As I heard Rebeca explain her thoughts, I thought about everything that she was saying and I couldn't agree more. I remembered my trips with Model United Nations to other American schools throughout Brazil and how that made me more connected with the international community. "I couldn't agree more. I miss our old MUN trips! So tell me, what motivated your decision to apply to colleges in the United States?" I asked. "I miss our old trips too! Since I wasn't completely sure of what I wanted to major in after high school but still leaning toward the field of media and communication, the concept of liberal arts schools that did not demand immediate declaration of major upon arrival deeply appealed to me. In addition, the prospect of moving out of my parents house at an early age seemed like a good idea. As an only child in Brazil, getting used to living in comfort would come way too easily if I stayed with my parents for long." Rebeca explained. I understood her reasoning perfectly, especially since it is one of the reasons why I decided to apply to college here too. "After having lived here for about a semester, what are your thoughts about the American culture? How do you believe it differs from the Brazilian culture?" I asked. "In America, it amazes me that people seem to be way more politically aware than in Brazil, but maybe it is just because I am attending a top-notch university. It is also interesting how people of all ages seem to be fueled by the entertainment industry." She said, thinking about her response. "I also think that Americans seem to be more straightforward and somewhat less tactful than Brazilian people in general. I guess not everyone has our "jeitinho." (more information in the Brazilian culture page) In addition, it's interesting that some Americans I have met see themselves and their culture as the norm and whatever different behavior as foreign. For instance, most cannot grasp that in Brazil, living with your parents after high school is not stigmatized. It intrigues me that Brazilian women are usually associated with promiscuity here when in reality I've seen way more twerking, grinding, and what society would deem "inappropriate clothing" such as crop tops and short shorts during this last couple of months I've been here than I've ever witnessed in Brazil. It's not that I do not approve these behaviors; I believe everyone, especially women, should have the freedom to behave the way they please as long as it is not harming others. It just puzzles me that Brazilian women are usually associated with these behaviors that seem to have negative connotations in a country in which these are widespread. American women seem to have more sexual freedom than Brazilian women, probably because Brazil is still governed by a conservative catholic state of mind." Rebeca responded, looking at me and questioning whether I agreed with her or not. "I've noticed similar cultural differences too, Beca, and I believe Brazilian women seem to be seen that way in several countries, even in Brazil, where we know in fact it isn't true. With that in mind, what would you define as the 'Brazilian stereotype?' How do you think the Brazilian culture actually differs from it?" I asked, interested in her response. "Brazil is known across the world for its parties, a variety of alcoholic drinks, soccer, and "promiscuous" women. As I said in the previous question, it intrigues me that this association is made. While Brazil does have a lot of partying, drinking, promiscuous women, and soccer, there is a lot more to the the country and not everyone enjoys doing these activities. In fact, a great part of the population does not," Rebeca pointed out. "Last question, I promise! Do you think that any specific Brazilian habits or customs aided or hindered your adaptation process to the United States?" I asked. "Absolutely. I had a harder time adapting than many of my friends who had been doing chores such as laundry for years. It was all new to me. On the other hand, I think people in Brazil are always taught to be very friendly and outgoing. This part of the Brazilian culture helped me adapt quickly and make new friends" Rebeca concluded. I thanked Rebeca again for her collaboration to my project. I shared a lot of her thoughts about Brazil, the Brazilian culture, and how it is like to be associated with the "Brazilian stereotype." At first, when I mentioned to people I was from Brazil, they would always ask me about soccer and parties. Some people (not at Emory) even thought that Brazil only had rain forests (when in fact only a relatively small portion of it is covered by the Amazon Rain Forest) and asked me if I ride a canoe to school everyday or if I live with monkeys. I don't, and a lot of them were shocked when I told them Brazil has developed cities. Read more about my thoughts on Rebeca's interview, the Brazilian culture, and what it has been like to adapt to the American culture as a Brazilian in my cultural analysis page. |
" I thought our classes were generally more thought-provoking and inciting of critical thinking than classes at most of the Brazilian schools seemed to be." " American women seem to have more sexual freedom than Brazilian women, probably because Brazil is still governed by a conservative catholic state of mind". "While Brazil does have a lot of partying, drinking, promiscuous women, and soccer, there is a lot more to the country". |