Brazil - Summer Cultural Exploration
Programs in Brazil
Program Summary
- Dates: 7/1/08- 7/28/08
- Accommodation: Homestay, placement throughout Brazil
- Language: No language requirement
- Age: 15 - 18 years old
- Application Deadline: Please Call for Avail.
- Cost: $5950 (2008)
Participants who choose the Month Immersion program in Brazil will live with a host family and experience the Brazilian way of life firsthand, while practicing their conversational Portuguese. The host family experience is the key component of this program and enables participants to gain a unique perspective into Brazilian culture while providing invaluable language contact with native Portuguese speakers. Participants will not attend school.
Experiences
More than a sport, futebol (soccer) is the national passion in Brazil. Some businesses and schools may even close during the World Cup or important national competitions. Volleyball, basketball and tennis are popular, as well. Traditional dances and regional festivals are favorite activities. Brazilians seize the opportunity to celebrate any occasion, often with singing and samba dancing. Weekend and holiday barbecues are common.
Program Details
Students will stay with carefully selected host families throughout Brazil. Common placement areas in the past have included Goiania, Curitiba, and Santa Maria. Students are not placed in large metropolitan areas, such as Rio de Janeiro or São Paulo, nor are they placed in extremely rural locations. Families in Brazil are typically very close, so activities that gather the entire family, including extended family, are very common. Adjustment to host family life and Brazilian culture will be assisted by a program representative.
Intrax students will be given the opportunity to join various group trips and excursions. The prices of these trips vary depending on length and number of cities visited. Students will participate in an intensive 10-hour Portuguese class at the start of the program. For an additional fee, a language teacher can be hired to help students learn or improve Portuguese language skills.
Included in the program fee is an excursion to the city that no words can describe, Rio de Janeiro! Spend 4 days/3 nights in a city that is famous for samba, soccer and Ipanema Beach! Students will be fully chaperoned as they explore on foot, by bus and by cable car this diverse and culturally rich city.
Requirements
- 15 - 18 years old (19 year old students may be considered on a case by case basis).
- 2.5 GPA or higher (4.0 scale)
- Desire to learn Portuguese
- Flexible personality; desire to be challenged, ability to remain open-minded and tolerant of cultural differences
Program Information
| Length | Cost | Application Deadline |
|---|---|---|
| July | $5,950 (2008) | Please Call for Avail. |
Factors to Consider
In order to apply for a Brazilian visa, students may be required to apply in person at one of the eight Brazilian consulates in the United States. Depending on where you live, this may require travel. In order to find the Brazilian consulate that covers your region in the United States, go to http://www.brasilemb.org/consulado/consular_jurisdictions.shtml. It is also important to note that the visa application process can take up to 4 weeks to complete.
In addition to obtaining a visa, students will have to register with the Brazilian government upon arrival. The fee for a Brazilian identification card is approximately $75.
Vaccinations may be required prior to departure.
Program Includes:
- Round-trip airfare from a major international airport near your home (in the continental U.S.) including domestic and international flights
- Airport transfers on arrival and departure
- Homestay accommodation, including meals with your host family
- Accident and illness insurance
- 24-hour emergency assistance
- Pre-departure and in-country orientations
- Supervision, guidance, and support during the application process and throughout the program
- Intrax T-Shirt ( girls
| boys
) - Intrax Student Handbook
Program does not include:
- Passport and visa application fees as applicable
- Personal expenses (e.g., toiletries, clothing, internet, calling card, activities)
- Any other item not specified




