Brazil

A couple of weeks ago, I had the pleasure of spending spring break in Brazil with the College of Agriculture study abroad programs. This trip was epic! The 15 of us spent the week experiencing agriculture with people from the Federal University of Viçosa (UFV) and the community. We traveled to three different cities: Ouro Preto, Viçosa, and Rio. All three were full of rich history and people who love what they do. The students of UFV were amazing. They taught us traditional martial arts and dancing, and about their studies in agriculture. They showed us research on cannabis and Macaúba palm, which was interesting. We met coffee farmers who are working to change the game of coffee farming with the regeneration of the land. Coffee in Brazil is grown for the quality, not the quantity of the beans, and so giving back to the land is part of the quality of the bean. The people are what made the trip worth it. From the incredible dairy farmers who taught us how to make cheese to the owners of our hostel, to our tour guides and trip planners, all of these people made the trip incredible. Study abroad teaches you more about yourself than you would ever have guessed, and if you are going to do one thing in your four years here, then study abroad!