Brazil is a land of diversity and the fifth-largest country in the world! You could fit India, Argentina, Algeria and Britain inside it and still have room! Rio de Janeiro will thrill you from the glittering Sugar Loaf, sleek Cristo Redentor and the extravagant samba-school parades of Carnival, it’s a visual extravaganza. The beaches, the tropical vegetation of the Tijuca Forest National Park are breath taking. Away from the beaches, art galleries, such as the Museu Nacional de Belas Artes and the delightful MIAN (Museum of Naïve Art), are well worth visiting. In 2013, two new art spaces opened: the MAR (Museu de Arte do Rio), in the downtown area, which celebrates Rio de Janeiro’s visual arts, architecture, history and culture; the Casa Daros in Botafogo showcases contemporary Latin American art. Ahhhh, Brazil will change your life!
With its delicious food, diverse population, and world-famous festivals, Brazil is an ideal place to immerse yourself in a new culture. By living with a host family and attending a local high school, you’ll learn the ins and outs of Brazilian daily life. This is your chance to step outside your comfort zone and rewrite your high school experience. Why not spend a year or semester swaying your hips to the Samba, enjoying churrasco (Brazilian barbeque), and forming lifelong bonds with family and friends?
AFSers in Brazil learn Portuguese, attend high school, and live with host families. In a culture where family life is cherished, don’t be surprised if many extended family members want to get to know you during your stay.