Alex, BSc Economics and Finance
Oi! You might think that’s a rude way to start a blog, just like I thought it was a rude way to start a conversation when I first got to Brazil, but it so turned out that it’s their equivalent of hey or hello! My name is Alex and at the end of my second year I decided to take a leap of faith and complete a summer abroad at the University of Sao Paulo (USP), studying a range of subjects such as economics, finance, accounting and agribusiness. Not only was this my first time out of Europe, I also knew no one else who was going, so there was definitely a lot to worry about from my end! Luckily for me, the group was absolutely incredible and gelled together perfectly, organising trips to nearby cities by ourselves and even gathering as a 30 person strong group to celebrate my birthday near the end of the trip!
One of the main highlights of studying at USP was the sports facilities, which we were given access to for free. We regularly got together to play football, volleyball or simply work out in the gym with Surrey and USP students alike. It was a great way to bond with my fellow Surrey students while also learning more about the Brazilian culture. The best thing about this was how chatty the local students were, they seemed really interested in getting to know us better and learning about our culture as much as we did theirs!
Having worked at a cooperative in the past, learning about agribusiness in Brazil was particularly intriguing to me, while my background in economics allowed me to have a vested interest in the course as a whole. While I believe that being from a background like mine allows you to enjoy the academic side of the course more, there is still a lot to be learnt and experienced by a student from a different faculty. The trips organised by USP were very informative, and didn’t lean too much on economical information in order to be interesting, creating an engaging environment that encouraged questions and made for an overall fun day out!
This was an opportunity that never would’ve been possible for me without Surrey’s bursaries and scholarships*. Completing a summer school in a continent that I never envisioned myself feasibly travelling to was a wonderful experience, and not only did it help me expand my academic skillset and CV, but it helped me find life long friends and a beautiful appreciation for the Sao Paulo state as a whole. Adeus!
*Funding support is available to contribute towards the costs of going abroad. Funding will be available for students to apply for, but is not guaranteed, as it is subject to application and availability. Other available bursaries and scholarships are subject to student’s meeting the given eligibility criteria.
