Technology Me

It has been 76 days since I have arrived in Brazil but it seems that it is having quite the reverse effect that what I initially thought it would have. Being in a country where not everybody has internet and the ones who do, it's slow and jolty, many would think that you learn to navigate away from facebook and google, and your computer in general... I am now living proof that this is not at all how it works. In the past 76 days, I have started reading news, blogs, twitters, the works. When the internets down, I work on 3-d animation, flash, or general html for my site. It seems that the more I'd like to get away from it all, the more I find to do on my computer, more sites to log into, more blogs to subscribe to and read...



(Here's the latest in maya)

Cyrille Gindreau

Caxambú

Few days late but I wanted to create a video to go along with this blog...
So Susan and I decided: You know what? let's go on an adventure... We're comfortable enough with our knowledge of the language and the culture to be able to go somewhere on our own by now right? And so we did...
We of course had our handy friend Lucas to help us pick a place and he ended up suggesting Caxambú. And so the following day (Friday) we got on a bus and headed there. It was about a three hour bus ride from São João del-Rei. Trip there wasn't to bad, rained a little, had to stop in two other cities before we got there, but generally fun. Once we arrived in Caxambú, our main priorities were: food, shelter, and money. Well as we wondered around the town, we began to notice that this was obviously a tourist town full of fancy hotels and nice bars, the trick was to find a hotel that was a bit more affordable seeing how we're college students... Our first try was a semi-fancy hotel, but in the middle of town. Cost about 160 reals a night! No good... And so on we went, we found a bank where I would be able to get some money out of the atm(which I later found out I couldn't because they didn't have the right atms), found a nice little plaza/avenue area with a few bars and restaurants, and finally, after about two hours of walking around this strange, new place, we came across a hotel that seemed a lot more affordable and so we went in, checked it out, looked at one of the rooms, and got it(only 80 reals a night). For the price, I was actually surprised at the quality and service, we pretty much got a suite; main room(big), bathroom with separate bath and shower, and a little entrance hall room with a fridge. So we set our things down and took off to go find food seeing how it was now around 8 at night. We decided to go back to the plaza and go to a little pizzeria. Good food, great service, and a decent tab. We then proceeded to go back to the hotel and go to sleep.
We woke up around 8 the following morning to try to get a head start on the town. Our first order of business was to see how we were going to get back to São João del-Rei. Head to the bus station, check the times, the price, and that's fine. As we're leaving we see a "ski life" operating on the other side of the road. Lucas told us something about there being a "water park" here and so we went to check it out and ended up taking the life to the top of this huge mountain overlooking the city. There was also a statue of Jesus but it looked really funny because of all of the radio towers around it:



After enjoying the view for about an hour, we take the "ski lift" back down. On our was up and down the lift, we notice that what we are traveling over seems to be some kind of park so when we arrive at the bottom, we proceed to go into the park. Lucas's "water park" ended up being a nature park with mineral springs all over the place. Part of the park was like a childrens playground, another was full of monuments with the different springs dictating what this water was for. One of the springs, you washed your eyes with, another one was for gargling with. Another part of the park contained a lake where you could take swan boats out on, and part was full of tourist attractions and venders. After spending the day there, we decided to go back to the hotel and take a nap. Later that night, we ended up going to the same pizzareia for lack of creativity and energy. At the end of our meal, they asked us where we were from and asked us to sign there guest book. So if anyone goes to Caxambú, look for us in that guest book. We actually found someone from Rio Rancho, NM. small world right? The following day, we left the hotel at 7am, got on the bus and headed home. So far, Caxambú is deffently one of my favorite places to go, wonderful people, beutiful park, and the price wasn't to bad. overall spent 400 reals for the two of us for a three day trip, not bad at all... Here's a little video I put together on our trip:



Cyrille Gindreau

When it rains, it pours...

Many of you are familiar with the expression: "When it rains, it pours" but chances are, you don't take it literally... For example, nothing to interesting is happening in your life, then all of a sudden, you wife leaves you, you get fired, and find out you have a warrant out for your arrest because you forgot to pay a few speeding tickets... Well, in Brazil, I'm not sure they have this expression BUT, when it rains it freaking pours!!! 

This is a picture that I took from the balcony of my house of the road in the front... As you can plainly see, the city is quite flooded... At first I was quite surprised that this was actually quite an ordinary thing for it to rain this much, I was sitting at my computer when one of my room mates told me to come check it out. They later informed me that they weren't going to there classes on this accord. Today it happened for a second time, except I was at school at the time so of course, I walked home and started uploading pics of it... quite beautiful and tons of fun! Word of advise: best clothing to wear in these conditions, in my opinion, is sandals, shorts, and a jacket... The first time it rained this much, I did not wear this, and well, started wishing I had, couldn't wear my shoes for a week and my pants reeked! Today was much better... You can find the rest of the pictures that I took on my website: Adventures in Brazil.

Report (portuguese)

aqui é meu reportagem em português

“Eu acho que é importante para todos os estudantes da universidade no Brasil, principalmente em meu curso, fazer um intercâmbio¹” disse Lucas quando questionado sobre o programa de intercâmbio. Lucas Oliveira, 24, estudante em São João del-Rei, disse que no próximo ano gostaria de estudar nos Estados Unidos por um semestre. UFSJ e New Mexico State University(NMSU) mantêm juntas um programa de intercâmbio de estudantes de uma universidade para outra. Com essa ligação direta, estudantes como Lucas têm uma oportunidade de ver o mundo, estudar coisas diferentes e aprender culturas novas.

Embora haja uma troca direta entre as duas universidades, não é tão simples fazer parte deste programa. Na UFSJ, para serem selecionados, os estudantes devem ter concluido 40% do curso, apresentando Coeficiente de Rendimento igual ou superior a 7,5 e ter o conhecimento da língua que é falada no país. Quando o estudante atende tais exigências, pode ser efetuado o intercâmbio. Uma vez aceito no processo de seleção, os estudantes serão entrevistados na língua do país de recepção para mostrar a facilidade e a habilidade de sucesso em seus estudos em uma outra língua.

Na NMSU não é muito diferente o processo seletivo. Os estudantes devem ter terminado 2 semestres do seu curso para tornar-se elegíveis, ou seja, devem mostrar a proeficiência no português ou espanhol e comprovar condição financeira, sendo pago a taxa de matrícula na NMSU. Uma vez aceito no programa, os estudantes devem trazer carta de recomendação, teste do “WebCT” e seguro de saúde de HTH. Assim, em entrevista por e-mail, recomenda Jose Francisco: “Aprenda tanto quanto possível sobre a cultura. Filmes, música, política, tudo que voce puder.²”, uma vez que ele é de NMSU e esteve em São João del-Rei por um semestre.

Então, o que um estudante faz depois que ele completa tudo isso? Eles registram os bilhetes aereos para o país de destino! Ao chegarem lá, começa a parte mais difícil. Ao chegar em São João del-Rei, os estudantes devem se matricular para as aulas, regularizarem-se com a polícia, atender às orientações dadas, e à outras coisas desta natureza, tudo em português. Embora muitas pessoas no escritório de intercâmbio falem o inglês, a orientação e o registro sao feitos em português.

Na NMSU, o processo começa com: “As escolas associadas nos notificam de seus candidatos, depois, eles preenchem o formulário de intercâmbio na NMSU, para eu rever,³” disse Dr. Huntsberger, “ Então eu trabalho com admissões internacionais para admiti-las como estudantes de “non-degree”. Então nós podemos emitir seus documentos do visto.³” Quando aceitos, nós arranjamos moradia para os estudantes que têm a opção de comprar um plano de alimentação. Quando chegam, os alunos vão á orientação de estudantes e, depois, registram-se para as aulas.

Então, por que ir se há tanto trabalho? Qual é o ganho? Não seria mais fácil estudar apenas no mesmo local? “Foi uma experiência única em minha vida.⁴” diz Fernando em uma outra entrevista de email, “Durante o tempo que passei lá conheci pessoas de várias nacionalidades, pratiquei o inglês, cursei matérias que não existem na grade curricular de meu curso no Brasil e conheci finalmente o país, cuja cultura esteve presente na minha formação desde que era criança.⁴” Fernando fez intercambio durante um semestre na NMSU. “Eu começaria dizendo dos ganhos acadêmicos em primeiro lugar, nao é?⁵” Segundo Adelaine, coordenador do intercâmbio da UFSJ “Quando você vai para um outro país, você aprende uma outra lingua. Isso já é um ganho e uma competencia que você vai adquirir.⁵” Por essa razão, o trabalho compensará para quaquer pessoa que participar de um programa de intercâmbio.

Report (english)

Here is the report that I have created using the interviews in english...

“I think it's important to all the students in college in Brazil, mainly in my course, to make an exchange program” says Lucas when asked about exchange programs. Lucas Oliverira, 24, is a student at the Federal University of Sao Joao del-Rei(UFSJ). He says that in the next year, he would like to study abroad for a semester. UFSJ and New Mexico State University(NMSU) hold together a sister exchange program for students from either university to go to the other. With this direct link, students get an opportunity to see the world, study different things and learn new cultures.

Although there is a direct exchange between the two universities, it’s not just a walk in the park to be accepted into this program. At UFSJ, to be eligible, students must have already completed 40% of their major, present a transcript showing a GPA of 2.5 or better, and must have fluency of the language that is spoken in the country that they would like to go to. Once a student has completed such requirements, they may apply for the exchange. Once accepted in the application process, students will be interviewed in the language of the receiving country to show there fluency and ability to succeed in their studies in another language and country.

NMSU is much the same in their ways. Students must have already completed 2 semesters at NMSU to become eligible, must show proficiency in the portuguese or spanish, and must prove there financial ability; They will be charged NMSU tuition. Once Applied and accepted into the program, Students must bring letters of recommendation, take “Web CT” tests, and obtain HTH health insurance. “Learn as MUCH AS POSSIBLE about the culture. Movies, music, politics, everything you can.” Recommends Jose Francisco in an email interview. Jose is from NMSU and stayed in São João del-Rei for a semester.

So then what does a student do after they have completed all of this? They book plane tickets and get to there country! Once they have arrived, the most difficult part comes. When arriving in São João del-Rei, students must register for classes, register with the police, attend student orientation, and other things of this nature, all in portuguese. Although many people in the ‘intercambi’ office speak english, orientation and registration is all in portuguese.

At NMSU, the process starts with: “Partner schools notify us of their candidates, who then fill out the NMSU exchange application, which I review,” Starts Dr. Huntsberger, “ Then I work with international admissions to get them admitted as non-degree students. Then my office issues them their visa documents.” Once accepted, they are arranged into student housing and they have the option of buying a meal plan. They then arrive, goto orientation and sign up for classes.

Why go if it’s so much work? What is gained? isn’t it easier to just study in the same campus? “It was a unique experience in my life.” Starts Fernando in another email interview, “During the time that I passed there, I met different people, practiced english, took classes that didn’t exist in my university in Brazil and got to know a country’s culture that has been in my life since the time I was a child” Fernando has gone on a semester exchange to NMSU. Adeline stars “I’ll start by talking about academic gains... When you go to another country, you will learn it’s language. becoming competent in another language is a gain in itself.” Adeline is the exchange program coordinator for UFSJ. With so much reason to go, the work will become well worth it for anyone participating in an exchange program.