Global Girl

Wednesdays can be the hardest day of the week, right smack in the middle. You have already worked two days but still have two days left. Last week I started a Wednesday pick-me-up, because sometimes all it takes is talking about the good things of the week to make your week that much better.

So one week into my so called habitual Wednesday post, and I’m already late. However, I do have an excellent excuse: I was in the plane flying back to the United States yesterday. Arriving in the States is great because I get to see my family and friends here, but there is always a little strain in my heart when I get off the plane hear all that English and realize my time in Brazil is over (for now…). This calls for a really BIG “pick-me-up.” So despite the fact that it is Thursday, I’m going to continue with my new tradition.

Here are the five things that brightened up my last week:

1. I got an internship last week as an intern at the Brazil Institute of the Wilson Center for International Scholars. This is a body that acts as a non-partisan think tank in Washington, DC. It is right up my ally. I’ll be helping organize conferences, researching, and even help update their blog. (Thanks again, Mom for getting me into this blog thing!).
2. My boss at the Brazil Institute at the Wilson Center, Paulo Sotero, just so happened to be in Rio de Janeiro last weekend. I was able to meet up with him on Sunday. He was such a great guy, and made me very enthusiastic about my new opportunity.
3. I went to the book release of a great professor and woman, Bianca Freire-Medeiros. Over the last few weeks I have been in contact with a lot of her research assistants, and finally was able to meet her in person two weeks ago. Meeting her, I realize why she has such a following of wonderful students: She is so nice, ridiculously smart, and so welcoming. She launched her book, Gringo na Laje, which is available at Fundação Getúlio Vargas library. Now I want to go back to Brazil and study at FGV so that I can research with her too!
4. Even though I delayed my Cabo Frio trip due to my meeting with Paulo Sotero, I did finally make it to the best city in the state of Rio on Sunday. What was even better was that it actually was sunny and hot enough to go to the beach! Plus, I got to spend some great quality time with Leandro’s wonderful family.
5. I guess this last item is both a drag-me-down and a pick-me-up: I returned to the United States. What is most exciting about returning home is that it is a start of a new phase in my life. I will be starting Georgetown Master’s program in August, and I begin my internship shortly after that. I’m moving to a new city, Washington, DC. Plus, Leandro and I will no longer be separated by a continent, because he will be coming to receive a Master’s degree in 3D Animation at Savannah College of Arts and Design in Atlanta, GA. So, even though right now I might feel a little “saudades” (nostalgia more or less) for Brazil, I know that it is a great day to start this new and exciting part of my life.

Have a great rest of the week guys!