Photos from Rio de Janeiro taken by Cornelia Sartie.
As a LLB(Hons) and Bachelor of Arts student, I chose to study abroad in my final semester of my degree. After five years of studying in Wellington, I was ready for a change of scenery. PUC-Rio, located in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, stood out to me for a variety of reasons. Firstly, I wanted to study the themes of my degree from an international perspective, learn a new language, live in a tropical country and live outside of the “Global West.” Rio ticked every box and exceeded all my expectations!
Finding community through learning Portuguese
I arrived in Rio de Janeiro at the end of January 2025 to begin a 4-week Portuguese Intensive Language Learning Course. After a long 20+ hour journey, I was greeted by warm humidity, breathtaking beaches and lush nature. My Portuguese course started each morning at 9am and finished at 2pm. After class, I would join the other international students taking the course and we’d go down to Ipanema, Copacabana, or Leblon beach. We’d relax and unwind in the sun, enjoy drinks and food, practice Portuguese and swap stories of our first weeks navigating our new lives. Those friendships became the heart of my exchange.
Studying at PUC-Rio
The semester started about a month after the intensive course. I took four papers; Portuguese for Foreigners, Democracy and Human Rights in Brazil, Extremisms in Europe and America and Brazilian Foreign Policy. My schedule ran from 1–5pm on Monday–Thursday, which was the perfect balance to travel, explore and develop my personal hobbies. The course load was lighter than at VUW, which meant I could engage in the classes without the constant stress of assignments or exams. Classes were dynamic and debate-driven, which suited me perfectly.
Exploring Brazil beyond the classroom
During my time in Brazil, I travelled to São Paulo, Ilha Grande, and throughout Bahia. Each trip deepened my connection to Brazil’s rich history and culture. I enjoyed new food and art, learnt more Portuguese and history. I snorkeled with fish, explored caves, experienced the iconic Carnival, watched Lady Gaga perform at Copacabana beach, visited museums, fed monkeys and took in endless views of the countryside. In particular, my trip to São Paulo was my first real solo trip which gave me space to explore at my own pace, discover new layers of independence and learn a lot about myself in the process.
Navigating challenges and building resilience
Part of what makes the exchange experience so meaningful are all the hardships you learn to get through and overcome. In particular, I found it difficult to secure long-term affordable accommodation which tested my patience and made it difficult to feel settled. Furthermore, there is a lot of bureaucracy in Brazil which can make it difficult, frustrating and confusing when engaging with any governmental or legal processes. Safety in Rio is also a concern as there are a lot more precautions I needed to take to keep safe. Finally, the usual homesickness and loneliness of being overseas was difficult to navigate. These challenges taught me resilience and, in these moments, I found leaning on my friends for support (as we were all going through the same things!) was crucial. I left Brazil with a deeper sense of confidence and an empowered belief that I can travel and make a home anywhere!
A truly transformative experience
Two months post-exchange, I can say it was definitely one of the best decisions I’ve ever made. I fell completely in love with Rio and its rhythm, warmth and contradictions. I’m already dreaming of going back! My classes were extremely fruitful; expanded my worldview and taught me things I would have never learnt by staying in New Zealand. Furthermore, my experiences reshaped how I see the world and myself.
If you are considering an exchange—go!! You’ll come back changed in the best ways.