My trip to Brazil was surely a great learning experience. I’ll admit in the beginning it was a little rough; getting used to the living situation, learning my way around, trying to communicate with people, and settling into a routine were all challenges in the beginning. But when I look back, I see that it is struggles like these that nurture a fulfilling learning experience. As my time went on, I got increasingly more comfortable with my surroundings, and realized my appreciation for the open and loving personality of Brazil. The understanding I gained from working and observing the way of life in here is unparalleled to anything I could have learned while being in the United States; it is only when you are completely outside of your comfort zone that you can really find out what you’re made of.