Challenge #1: Leaving our apartment complex. Spoiler alert: There is a “secret” button.

Seems simple enough, right? Well think again! Having moved to a different country before, I thought I had a certain idea of what I could expect from my time in Brazil as well as some preconceived notions of the potential struggles I might face when travelling to a foreign country for the first time. However, I certainly never considered not being able to leave my own apartment building… Fortunately, after several failed attempts and some extensive searching, we were able to locate a “secret” button on one of the columns close to the exit. 

We were finally free to explore this new city that is to be our home for the next two months. Our new home base, Goiânia, is located in south-central Brazil and has population of roughly 3 million people. Goiânia was a “planned” city and designed to replace the old state capital, Goiás, which was increasingly inaccessible due to the surrounding mountains. The main industries include agriculture and livestock raising. Surprisingly, the weather is comparable to back home: hot and extremely dry. However, while Calgary is beginning to cool down, here in Goiânia, it is only going to get hotter with temperatures climbing into the 40s during our stay.

Despite the huge adjustment and initial uneasiness, we have hit the ground running in an attempt to see and experience as much as possible. We have been fortunate enough to have met so many wonderful people within such a short period of time here. Our liaison Wilson, set us up with a few “Cultural Friends”. These students volunteered to show us around, help us acclimate, and basically act as our personal tour guides. Although these students were essentially forced to be our friends, we have been able to foster genuine relationships and friendships with them, which we are incredibly grateful for. 

Largely thanks to our wonderful new friends we have been able to discover more of the city, explore surrounding areas, and taste new food. Although our journey has just begun, we have already realized that two months is not nearly enough time to explore this beautiful country and experience everything the culture has to offer.

Tchau for now!