What does the future host of the World Cup, Olympics and annual Carnival Party all have in common? Brazil. Furthermore, Brazil did a dry run for these events by hosting 40 Sternies, in their Havaianas flip flops, with Caipirinhas in hand. We took to the beaches, clubs, restaurants, bars, soccer fields, favelas, and occasionally sat in on a class or two.
The international program gave both full- and part time students the opportunity to take a class abroad and learn about doing business in a foreign country. However, the major lesson for our class was not about business or partying, but rather about one man making a difference for under privileged children in a favela (shanty villages in Brazil). The program he started up was called Meninos do Morumbi.
The program kicked off with 40 students arriving in Sao Paolo, opening with a city tour followed by a happy hour of endless Caipirinhas and cervezas. After a long night of hydrating and jet-lag acclimation, we were quickly introduced to our international school, FGV. Thankfully, it was only a 5-10 minute walk from the hotel, which sometimes spared us from the torrential downpours of the Brazilian rainy season. FGV did a fantastic job of providing us with all the Brazilian coffee, juices and sandwiches we could want during class!
Through our experiences, we were constantly reminded about three defining aspects of Brazil. First, the country's constant preparation for two major global sporting events, which have been a focal point for the Brazilian economy. The infrastructure and economy are undergoing major innovations for the 2014 FIFA World Cup, and the 2016 Summer Olympics.
Second, the emerging market status of Brazil, within the "BRIC" countries, highlights it as a critical economy within South America. Furthermore, Brazil's economy is growing at a rapid pace and is heavily dependent on China's economy. Recently, China has overtaken the US as the largest trade partner with Brazil.
Finally, the income disparity within Brazil was the most apparent and intriguing aspect of the economy. Seeing extreme wealth directly adjacent to extreme poverty provided an interesting dynamic throughout our trip. This type of income disparity, although common in parts of the US, were astonishing in Brazil.
Social programs, such as Bolsa Familia, help to mitigate this disparity through economic support of underprivileged families. However, it was our class's introduction to Meninos do Morumbi that really had an impact on everyone. The kids that were part of this special program kicked off the event by performing traditional Samba dancing for the DBi students. They then grabbed students and faculty to join in. However, it wasn't until the leader put a drum in every Sternie's hand and taught us to play the instrument that we felt the power of the program. It was eye opening, the effect a musical instrument can have on a group. Everyone was involved, motivated and felt the impact throughout the demonstration.
Finally, the next highlight of everyone's trip was the traveling that Sternies did after the program. Students visited Uruguay, Argentina and various parts of Brazil throughout the break. People had the opportunity to experience the unique terrain, extravagant beaches and amazing nightlife of Rio De Janeiro. Many Sternies claimed the nightlife at the Museum of Modern art as the "Best Night Ever." Staying up and out past 4 am was common in Rio. Others ventured to the romantic town of Florianopolis, where many met their Valentines for the night! Sternies continued along the beach to the north and east as they ventured up the coast to Buzios. Finally, some Sternies roughed it deep into the Amazon, while others opted for the relaxing beaches of Uruguay and Argentina. No matter where the MBA students travelled, most, if not all, will argue it was the best trip of their MBA careers!
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