Adjusting to Fortaleza

Blog Entry 8/5/06

Today, I finally feel as though I’m getting over the initial culture/language shock of arriving in Brazil. Ben and I were talking last night about the difference in going abroad for 1-2 months versus an entire year. When one travels to another country for a few weeks to a few months, as I have in the past, there is a clear endpoint in sight at all times. However with this trip, for the first time, I feel that there isn’t necessarily a clear endpoint in sight right now, which I’ll confess was initially overwhelming as I began my year in Brazil. While this is one challenge of a year abroad, I also feel that it is one of the greatest parts of the Fogarty program, in that one must adapt to life in another culture without that clear endpoint in sight.

Regarding language, my Portuguese is beginning to improve, as I’ve spent several hours a day using the Rosetta Stone language software for Portuguese. After some practice, I now feel that I can follow at least some of the conversations that I hear. Portuguese will remain my primary task for the beginning of the next week, but I will begin with the research later next week, while continuing to study Portuguese.

My project again seems to have changed, with a new initial focus that I am very excited about. I will ultimately work with some of my Brazilian colleagues on some molecular diagnostic tests for diarrhea in children in the laboratory, but my initial project will be to take charge of a community study related to physical fitness in children as related to some genetic and environmental determinants. It should be an interesting and fun project that will take me frequently into the local community.

My culinary experiences thus far in Fortaleza have also been enjoyable, as I’ve had some excellent seafood (fish, shrimp, and lobster) and incredible fruit (pineapple, guava, mango, and melon).

And so after 3 days in Fortaleza, I am settling in and beginning to enjoy life here. Boa noite!