The first portion of our study abroad experience in Brazil was spent in the city of São Leopoldo, which is located in the southern region of the country. The city itself was quaint and wasn’t super touristy, which allowed us to experience a more authentic side of Brazilian culture. During our time there, I learned a lot about both energy systems and Brazilian culture through company visits, university tours, and simply exploring the city. One thing that really stood out to me was our partnership with Unisinos University, which was conveniently located directly across the street from our hotel. Having the university so close allowed us to spend a lot of time interacting with professors, students, and researchers, which made it feel like we were actually part of the experience instead of just visitors. What made São Leopoldo stand out even more was how naturally the academic, professional, and cultural parts of the trip all blended together. The close partnership between Unisinos and HT Micron, for example, gave students research and professional opportunities while allowing industry and academics to come together and work on new technologies.
Many of the technical visits throughout São Leopoldo focused on energy systems, utilities, and semiconductor technologies, and these visits helped me see engineering from a much broader perspective than I had before. At Certaja Energia and CPFL RGE, I learned how much planning, maintenance, and coordination are required to operate a reliable electrical grid, and I gained a greater appreciation for how closely power systems are connected to the people and communities that depend on them every day. Visiting HT Micron and ittChip showed me a side of semiconductors I had never really thought about before by highlighting how manufacturing, research, and global supply chains all contribute to modern technology. Other visits, including Nutrifor, Hemocord, Ludfor, and Higra, showed how engineering can be used in healthcare, biotechnology, automation, and sustainability. It was interesting to see how many different industries depend on reliable and efficient energy systems. Whether the focus was healthcare, manufacturing, biotechnology, or automation, each organization relied on concepts that I have studied as an engineering student, reminding me just how many different areas engineering impacts. More than anything, these visits reminded me that engineering is about much more than solving technical problems. It’s also about helping people, supporting communities, and finding solutions to real-world challenges.
Outside of the technical visits, some of my favorite experiences came from exploring the culture of São Leopoldo and simply spending time with the people around me. We visited street vendors, local markets, and shopping centers where many of the items felt surprisingly affordable due to the favorable exchange rate. Seeing the products sold by local vendors and businesses gave me a better sense of everyday life in Brazil and highlighted some of the differences between Brazilian and American consumer culture. We also had the opportunity to participate in a Capoeira class, which was unlike anything I had experienced before. The combination of movement, music, and expression made it a fun way to engage with Brazilian culture and try something completely new. Some of the most memorable moments came from activities we discovered on our own during our free time in the evenings. A couple of these activities included attending a soccer match between Grêmio and Flamengo and listening to live samba music. Both experiences showed me just how passionate Brazilians are about music, sports, and celebrating together. At the same time, some of the activities that brought our group together had nothing to do with Brazil itself. Whether we were playing cards, shooting pool, or watching sports after a long day, those familiar activities helped strengthen friendships within the group and made the experience feel more personal and welcoming. Trying new foods was another highlight of the trip, from dessert pizzas and Brazilian chocolates to Guaraná, which quickly became one of my favorite drinks and reminded me of the butterbeer sold in the Harry Potter stores. Looking back, some of these cultural experiences ended up being just as memorable as the company visits because they helped me understand what everyday life in Brazil is really like.
Looking back on our time in São Leopoldo, it was much more than just an engineering-focused study abroad experience. The combination of technical learning, cultural immersion, and personal experiences made the trip far more impactful than simply learning about these topics in a classroom. From renewable energy systems and semiconductor manufacturing to Brazilian food, music, and soccer culture, every experience helped me better understand both Brazil and my own interests as an engineering student. Looking back, São Leopoldo wasn’t just a place where I learned about engineering in another country. It was a chance to meet new people, try new experiences, step outside my comfort zone, and see firsthand how culture and engineering shape everyday life in different parts of the world.
Swanson School of Engineering 