From Sweat to Shivers: Mexico to Brazil

Kadeem Thomas is a student at the University of South Florida and an ISA Featured Blogger. He is currently studying abroad with ISA in Florianopolis, Brazil

Talk about a dramatic change! As I left Merida, Mexico, it was close to 100 degrees, and you couldn’t go far without sweating. Now, here in Florianopolis Brazil, it is 55 degrees, and I’m freezing. Needless to say, I got sick almost as soon as I arrived, but I have had a chance to learn a few interesting things about Brazil.

Brazil is about the same size of North America excluding Canada.

Almost ten times as many slaves were brought here than in the U.S. Thus, I’m able to blend in a bit more than I would in other Latin American countries.

We are on the opposite side of the globe, almost where Jacksonville would be, so it is winter, but a Florida winter.

Here on the island, almost everything is at an incline due to the many hills and mountains. There are many different beaches, sand dunes, and cities on this piece of land.

The stop lights are very peculiar, and I still don’t get them 100% just yet.

In the bank, you must put all metals into a locker, or the doors will not open.

And the showers are electric, which means they are plugged into the walls.

The world awaits…discover it.

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