Midyear Seminar Fulbright Year 2 In Rio de Janeiro

My first year Fulbright midyear seminar was held in Salvador, but this year we had it in Rio de Janeiro! This year's conference I got the bravery to apply for a position to lead a workshop, and I won the spot. We spent Tuesday-Thursday at Fulbright ETA led workshops, workshops presented by graduate students, Foreign service officers, private sector Fulbright alumni members, and education field specialist Fulbright alumni members. This is about the time of the year when we start kicking into the mindset of- what comes after Fulbright.
Our hotel was right on the Copacobana beach, and my room was an amazing 25th story view overlooking the water. The hotel also had a rooftop heated infinity pool!
On one of the seminar days we spent learning more about the culture of Rio and taking a trip through the city. We got to explore the Escadaria Selaron, and it was my second time there. I bought a capirosca with mango, but it was more alcohol than fruit. We were supposed to go to Sugarloaf Mountain, but it was closed due to the high winds, so instead we went to Christ the redeemer!

Infinity pool on the rooftop

The rooftop view from the hotel

Our view looking out from the hotel

My last seminar conference with Fulbright as an ETA

Spot my name on the presentation list!

My coworker Amanda and program manager Karina

I took a photo exactly here one year ago my first time exploring Escadaria Selaron

Everyone loves a fruit capirinha--> caipirosca

The view from the Christ the Redeemer statue

But first a selfie. The wind was very strong!

My amazing Centro-Oeste Regional group

It was hard to capture a good photo with it being so dark, but we cleverly used a lit sign nearby to help with lighting

  

One of my best Fulbright friends I've made through my second year journey- Maddy 

Cheesin' on Copacabana beach

Escaped for a quick beach walk after I finished lunch early one day

English Immersion Program

"One hundred and eleven students from Brazilian public schools are participating, from July 1 to 5, in an English Immersion program “English Immersion USA” – sponsored by the United States Embassy and its Consulates in Brazil.  In this thirteenth edition of the program, all Brazilian states and the Federal District are represented in Brasilia for a week totally immersed in American culture with plenty of time to practice their English.

During the program, students will attend conversation, history and geography classes, play sports and learn about American culture and cuisine.  In addition, all of the participating students will present an action plan in social entrepreneurship to be implemented in their respective communities, using their experience and learnings from the immersion week in Brasília.  All activities will be conducted in English so that the participants can develop their skills in the language and deepen their knowledge of the cultural diversity of the United States.

The selectees are between 15 and 18 years old, are all engaged in social projects in their communities, have academic excellence and were semifinalists of the selection process to the Youth Ambassadors Program in 2019.  All expenses, such as air transportation, accommodation, health insurance, meals, and cultural programming, are sponsored by the U.S. Embassy and its consulates in Brazil.

Photos of the program are available on the Flickr site: https://flic.kr/s/aHsmEHtQGY "

Pontão do Lago Sul During Daylight

This was my third time at Pontão do Lago Sul, but my first time during the daylight! 

It had some beautiful trees and a walking path lining the waters edge

Some benches to sit at scattered along the path

Enjoying the sunshine with Daniela and Andre

There is a small amphitheater like area, which I've never seen used for other than sitting and relaxing 

Then the golden hour hit 

We went to the sunset watching area

There is literally a sign along the path directing visitors to the best viewing area for the sunset