First Week in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
An Overnight Flight and a Smooth Arrival
I officially made it to Rio de Janeiro!
After my trip to Alabama to visit family before flying here, my mom and a family friend dropped me off at the Atlanta airport. I flew directly from Atlanta to Rio overnight. My flight wasn’t until 11:40 p.m., and I got dropped off around 8:00, so I had plenty of time to read and mentally prepare for everything ahead of me.
Also, remember how I’m injured and have two walking boots!? Well...I still have them. BUT, I was able to get wheelchair assistance through the airports, which made the whole experience much easier!
I had help getting through security, to my gate, with my luggage, and onto the plane in Atlanta, and then had assistance again once I landed in Rio. Everything went SO smoothly. This time there was no wallet left behind, no money stolen, no lost luggage, and no wrong last name on my plane ticket!
When I arrived, one of my friends met me at the airport so he could help with my bags, getting into the car, and then getting everything safely from the Uber into my hotel. I was so thankful he came because I was honestly pretty nervous about safety in Rio, especially with my boots drawing even more attention to me.
Finding My Footing in a New City
After being here for a week, I honestly don’t feel nearly as unsafe as I thought I would, which has been such a relief. The way some people described Rio before I came, I thought I was going to be dodging bullets everywhere I went. It really hasn’t felt like that at all.
You definitely have to be smart and follow some rules. I don’t walk alone at night, which is a little difficult because the sun sets around 5:30 p.m. right now. I don’t walk around with my phone out, I’m always aware of my surroundings, and I avoid going into favelas, especially alone. I’m still learning what areas are safe for tourists and when it might be appropriate to visit certain places as part of an organized tour.
For transportation, I’ve mainly been using Uber. I feel totally fine using UberX when I’m with a group, but if I’m going somewhere alone, I’ve been getting Uber Black just to be extra cautious. It’s definitely more expensive, especially when I’m not splitting the cost four ways, but I’d rather pay a little more and feel comfortable.
I’ve only done that twice so far, once to meet a friend at a market during the day and once to meet a friend at a restaurant around 6:00 p.m., and both were completely fine. Basically, you just have to be aware. That’s really it.
Also, the day I arrived in Rio, I found out there had been a helicopter crash where the pilot and passengers died. A helicopter ride over Rio was literally something I had been planning to do while I was here...I still think I might do it.
Obviously, hearing about the crash was scary, but I’m also a pilot, so I understand that there is a level of risk every time you go into the air. Accidents like that are incredibly tragic, so it’s definitely something I’ll think seriously about before deciding whether or not to go.
Beaches, Açaí, and Movie Nights
For my first two nights, I stayed at a really nice hotel in Copacabana with one of my best friends in the program! We went to Ipanema Beach, ate açaí, played a Moroccan card game, and watched the sunset. It was absolutely gorgeous and genuinely felt like I was living in a movie.
We also figured out our Brazilian phone plans and walked around the mall getting a feel for everything we might need for our apartments, like pillows and sheets.
We also went to see Spider-Man in theaters! They had it in English with Portuguese subtitles, which worked out perfectly because I had wanted to see it in the U.S. before leaving but never had time.
A New Semester and a New Perspective
I arrived on a Saturday, and our first day of classes was already that Monday, August 10! We had our first class, Green & Sustainable Finance, with my IBEA cohort. Honestly, it was a lot more interesting than I expected.
Finance has never been something I naturally understand or love, and sustainability hasn’t necessarily been a topic I’ve been super interested in either. Growing up, I didn’t really understand the seriousness of climate change or believe that the small actions we take as individuals could actually make much of a difference. I think part of me always had this mindset of, “What difference can I actually make?”
But this class has already been really eye-opening. I’m learning more about the efforts being made around the world and how different countries and companies are approaching sustainability. It’s also been interesting to learn more about where the U.S. has fallen short compared to other parts of the world.
After every class, we have to submit a learning diary reflecting on what we learned, which I actually think is going to be really cool. I’m excited to see how my perspective changes throughout the semester.
Our school is called FGV EBAPE, and it’s pretty small. I haven’t gotten any good pictures of it yet! They have another building nearby where we can go eat after class, and the food is SO good. It’s a buffet with all kinds of Brazilian food, and you pay based on the weight of your plate. I’ve been able to find plenty of options that are safe for me with my nut allergy!
I only have two other classes this term: Brazilian Culture and Society with my IBEA cohort and Startups and Venture Capital. My two IBEA classes are from 9:20 a.m. to 12:50 p.m., while electives like Startups and Venture Capital are from 6:30 to 10:00 p.m., which has been SO weird to adjust to.
Luckily, my Startups and Venture Capital class was canceled last week, so I technically haven’t had it yet. The funny part is that none of us saw the professor’s message on the school platform, so we all showed up anyway. Everyone was a little annoyed that we had come all the way there for nothing, but oh well.
Making Rio Feel Like Home
The rest of my first week has mostly consisted of getting settled into my apartment, which, by the way, is absolutely amazing.
I’m living in student accommodation, and you can’t even get inside without facial recognition and fingerprints, which makes me feel so much better about safety. My room is amazing, and I have the BEST view. I’m seriously so grateful.
There are also so many shared spaces throughout the building. We have a pool, rooftop, workout area with dumbbells, and a multipurpose room with a giant mirror that I have been using to do my physical therapy and YouTube Pilates workouts with a friend!
There’s also a shared kitchen, but my Brazilian buddy who I was paired with was so sweet and gave me an air fryer to use for the semester. It has made cooking in my room incredibly easy.
So basically, my first week in Rio has consisted of moving in, doing lots of shopping, going to markets, trying Brazilian food, meeting up with the IBEA 8 Brazilians, and relaxing by the pool.
I also got to cheer on some of my friends while they ran a half marathon here in Rio, which I was originally supposed to run too before getting injured. Definitely a little sad that I couldn’t be out there running with them, but it was still so much fun getting to support them.
Making Every Day Count
Overall, my first week has gone so much smoother than I expected! I can’t believe this is my final semester of IBEA.
Trying to enjoy every single day because I know it will fly by.
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