After studying at University of Santa Catalina in Florianapolis in Brazil, Anna made it home to Japan. I went there myself last year and it sure was a fantastic place to go.

一年間ブラジル、フロリアナポリス市のサンタカタリナ大学に留学していたAnnaが超素敵な女性になって戻って来ました。私も昨年９月会いに言って来ました。本当に素晴らしいところでしたよ〜！

Here is the interview I did with her:

Annaにブラジル生活の感想を聞いてみると、

“Even though I couldn’t speak perfect Portuguese, everyone was trying to help me.”

「言葉ができなくても（ポルトガル語）みんな親切にしてくれる」

“Smiles always help.”

「笑顔が大事」

“I realized the good side of the Japanese spirit: Omotenashi (hospitality). However, we need a bit more freedom in the Japanese culture and customs.”

「おもてなしや、いろんなことがきちっとしている日本の良さを感じた。でも日本はちょっときちっとしすぎ」

“Students at the university really speak up. The professors speak for the first few minutes only, and the the rest is for the students to take charge. It was really fun! In the Japanese university classes, many times professors speak to students, but no response. It is a one way street. In Brazil students really make classes themselves.”

「むこうの大学はみんな発表する。先生は最初の数分だけ話し、あとは学生主体。楽しい。日本は先生が話しかけても、し〜ん。一方通行。むこうは自分たちで授業を作り上げていく」

“I went to see judo, track and field, volleyball, and gymnastics in the Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro. One of my old friends won a bronze medal in judo. It was so exciting. Since the tickets were very expensive, many Brazilians couldn’t afford to buy them and were not so interested in the event. Inside the Olympic Park, there were mostly foreigners and it was quite safe. I felt like it was not like Brazil. I bought the most expensive tickets. However, there were no one to check them. I found out later I could have bought the cheap ones and have sat at the expensive seats. Hope this doesn’t happen in the Tokyo Olympics.”

「リオのオリンピックでは柔道、陸上、バレー、体操を見に行った。柔道には長大付属小、中時代の同級生の永瀬くんが出場し銅メダルを獲得！感動した。チケットが高いのでブラジル人はオリンピックにあまり興味がなく、オリンピックパーク内は外国人ばかりで安全でブラジルではないようだった。一番高いチケットを買ったけどチケットの確認がなく、実際一番安いのを買っても高いところに座れた。日本ではあって欲しくないけど。」

“Watching the games was very exciting! I thought it was really fun to have the samba lessons before each game. There were people livening up the games. They were instructing the audience like, ‘You dance like this with this music’ etc. It was so much fun!”

「競技は楽しく、競技の前に必ずサンバのレッスンがあった。盛り上げ隊もいた。『この曲はこういう踊りしてね』という感じですごく楽しかった」

I had the opportunities to visit many places in Brazil.  At the Iguazu Falls, crossing the bridge, you are in Paraguay and crossing another one with a bus, you are in Argentina. I could see the poverty in Paraguay and the big open nature in Argentina. This experience made me feel how big the earth is and at the same time the river is dividing the countries. When the country you are in changes, the whole scenery changes and you witness different realities.”

「ブラジルではいろんなところに行ったが、イグアスの滝では橋を渡るとパラグアイ。バスで川を渡るとアルゼンチン。パラグアイでは通りの汚さや貧しさを感じ、アルゼンチンでは何もない地球の広さを感じた。川一本で国が変わるとこんなに景色が変わるのかと思った」

All in all, the life in Brazil for me was trying very hard for everything, but I never felt it was painful and suffering. At the beginning, I felt a bit lonely, but people always helped me even though my language skill was not up to par. I really feel I have grown as a person after this experience. I have a bigger perspective for life now.”

「ブラジルでの１年をひとことで言うと、毎日がチャレンジだったが、全く苦ではなかった。最初はちょっと寂しかったが言葉がわからなくても周りがいつも助けてくれた。本当に実りが多く自分が大きく成長したと思う。昔の自分がいかに視野が狭かったかというのを認識した。本当にこの経験で視野が大きく広がったと思う」

Well, studying abroad or living abroad really gives us different perspectives of many things and makes us realise our potentials.

留学は本当に自分のいろんなことに対する固定観念を拭い、新しい世界や可能性に気づかせてくれます。これは実際に体験しなければわからないことです。

みなさんもぜひ近い将来海外生活体験してみてくださいね！自分の可能性発見の旅になること間違いなしです❤️