Priscilla Ambrosi's Testimony

Hometown: Rio De Janeiro
School in Brazil: Federal University of Rio Grande Do Sul
Major: Biomedicine (Undergraduate), CWRU

How did you know about this program?
Since I have a dream to go abroad for my career, I look for every opportunity online. Also, Science Without Program markets prevailed in Brazil. Everyone knows and discusses about the program.

What drove you to join this program?
My dad went around the world and kept telling me different cultures. I just know that I have to do it. In addition, I love research and the cliché is that research is thrived in the US.

What is your first impression about CWRU or USA?
Everything is huge. There are so many options here, and USA is organized and pretty. As for CWRU, students have many available resources, but I think one of the reasons is the tuition here is way higher than Federal Universities in Brazil, nearly free.

Tell me about differences between schools/lives here and in Brazil.
Café in Brazil is cheaper with decent meal. Maybe food is not as various as here, but the price is decent and affordable. Education system is different: in Brazil, 35 credit hours per week, less assignment, more tests; in USA, less class time, more assignment. Campus here is smaller than my school in Brazil, and there are more graduate students here than undergraduates which is also opposite from my school in Brazil.

Tell me about culture shock or any impact which you are not used to after coming to USA.
Sandwiches for lunch and potatoes for breakfast. The diet habit here is completely different from in Brazil. However, I appreciate the culture diversity here which makes me get to know people from different countries.

Do you make friends here in USA?
I made friends mostly from lab and the village not from class. Brazilian students are most closed to me, and I also made friends from India, Korea, China and Portugal.

What is your most special, unforgettable experience during the past 6 months?
Last semester after final, we went to the field next to the village. We kept running on the grass with our bare feet. It was relaxing and free, which made me stop complaining and start to appreciate and enjoy my life.
I was excited when I was invited to join softball team in Biology Department. My dad used to want me to experience American baseball, and I did it. It was so fun!

Tell me about your internship.
It is a research type internship. I have to study the development and fusion of embryo to see how they decide to become a king, a queen or a worker through focal microscope.

Is there any suggestion that we can help you or other Brazilian students in the future?
If you can explain better about “Rush” event, that will be great. We are so confused if we can join or when it happens. In addition, if you can provide map of supermarket and related bus information, that will be really helpful. In sum, I think this program is amazing!

Mario Fernandes's Testimony

Hometown: Lencois Paulista
School in Brazil: University of Sao Paulo
Major: Physics (Undergraduate), CWRU

How did you know about this program?
My Dad told me, and it seemed a good opportunity.

Why choose USA? Why choose CWRU?
We could not choose schools. Instead, we could just choose certain areas, fields that we are interested in. Then IIE, an intermediate organization will match us with specific schools. The only thing we can decide is to accept it or not.

What is your first impression about CWRU or USA?
I thought Americans arrogant, but surprisingly I realized that they actually are nice and friendly after coming here.

Tell me about differences between schools/lives here and in Brazil.
Everything is different, but it is not better or worse. For instance, in Brazil, we have bad professors in states school. They just want to get rid of class. In USA, professors give students attention and interact a lot. Homework here in USA is much heavier than in Brazil. Sometimes I think it is too much, because many theories need time to think and digest. Other than school and assignment, I can only have time to browse Facebook now. In addition, I am used to food here now but still I miss rice and beans which are main dishes in Brazil.

Tell me about culture shock or any impact which you are not used to after coming to USA.
In Brazil, it is common to kiss on someone’s chicks when meeting people or saying hi. But here it is not like that. People usually prefer to keep some distance. At first I thought my suitemate was pissed at me, but after talking to him I realized he just needs more private space.

Do you make friends here in USA?
Most of my new friends here are international students such as Korean. American students do not interact with me a lot. I hang out with other four Brazilian students most.

What is your most special, unforgettable experience during the past 6 months?
I went to Detroit for Roger Waters (previous Pink Floyd member)’s concert, the Wall. Although Detroit is an empty city, it made me feel like home. People there for the concert were full of passion. I talked to them five minutes as if I knew them entire life.

Tell me about your internship.
I am doing my internship with a new Physics professor for some electronic projects. I set direction for each object and monitor how it responds from the currency graph. I have learned a lot because it is new to me.

Is there any suggestion that we can help you or other Brazilian students in the future?
No, I cannot think of any. I just want to tell coming students to enjoy professors out here. They are really nice and patient.