Photos taken by Kennedy Campbell (Kalamazoo College), Student Correspondent for CET Brazil, Fall 2024
Pontifícia Universidade Católica de São Paulo (PUC-SP) Tour
Three days after we arrived in São Paulo, on July 31, we had our first official tour of the Pontifícia Universidade Católica de São Paulo (PUC-SP). The community at PUC feels very similar to my home university, Kalamazoo College, with a tight-knit atmosphere where everyone regularly comes together for informal events. The late-night activities at PUC are very similar to those at K, particularly in the sense that they’re student-centric and cultivated. I was especially intrigued by the university’s historical and political significance, which was emphasized throughout the tour.
One of the main reasons I chose this program was its connection to social justice and political activism. Although I won’t be directly enrolled at PUC and most of my classes will be at the CET center, I’m eager to further explore forms of resistance, especially on university campuses.
Exploring Perdizes with my Roommates
During our first week, my roommates and I began traversing our new neighborhood, Perdizes. Fortunately, I was already acquainted with most of my roommates—Josh, Sarah, and Gloria—since we all attended the same university back home. However, exploring the neighborhood gave me the chance to chat more with one of my Brazilian roommates, Julia, and learn about her experiences in São Paulo.
As we wandered around gathering essentials for our apartment, we visited a local bakery, Elite das Perdizes, which quickly became one of our favorite spots. We usually order a cappuccino pequeno and pão. It’s become a ritual that we look forward to.
Avenida Paulista
On Sunday, we ventured to Avenida Paulista, which is closed to cars on Sundays. It transformed into a lively pedestrian street filled with food stalls, street performers, live music, and pop-up shops. We also visited Japan House and Instituto Itaú Cultural, two prominent cultural centers in the city that were recommended by some of our Brazilian roommates, especially since both were free to enter and offered unique exhibitions. After spending a few hours exploring, we decided to head home on the metro.
Now that classes are in full swing and the workload is picking up my roommates and I still make an effort to explore new parts of the city during our daily walks. So far, my favorite class has been Brazilian Politics and Society at the university, but honestly, the experience in all my classes has been amazing. I feel like I’m truly learning and growing from the insightful discussions that everyone contributes to. In general, I’m excited to continue making lasting memories in Brazil and can’t wait to see everything else the city has in store for me!