Jaqueline Martinez is an American student of Industrial Engineering at Texas Tech University, place that requires that the students study abroad in order to graduate. She combined this demand with her willingness of  becoming socially aware of the culture and become more appreciative in third world countries and that’s how she decided to do an internship in Brazil. The student is doing her internship at Bel Pan, a food production company specialized in bakery. 

Check out our interview with Jaqueline:
 
Be: Why did you choose to come to Brazil for an exchange program?

I choose to come here because in my university there I have a need to study abroad in order to graduate from the engineering school . Also, because there is a need to intern and gain experience from the real world before going to work in the future.

Be: What is the main reason you choose to go on exchange?

The main reason was because there was an opportunity in my opinion to become socially aware of the culture and become more appreciative in third world countries to those in the USA.

 
 
Be: What are your goals with this experience? If we met at the end of your stay, which achievements would you like to tell your friends you had.

As far as goals are concerned, I am looking forward to becoming more socially aware of other cultures and traditions without being reluctant to experience new ideas and events. I would like to become as fluent as I can in Portuguese and also take as much knowledge and application of the industrial engineering theory to the USA, so that I am more prepared to venture into the US workforce.

 
 
Be: How do you feel today that you are starting this experience?

It’s a cultural shock because everything is very different from the USA. It all appear to be very similar to Mexico, which is where my parents are from. However I am 100% used to the way of lifestyle here because I have only visited Mexico with my family.