Even with time at home to reflect on the experiences I had in Brazil, I still don’t think I can process just how incredible this experience has been for me. It’s an experience that will only come once in my life. I initially went to develop a research project on urban green spaces, but this trip was so much more than that.

Santarém didn’t just come with the opportunity to do research in one of the most ecologically significant areas of the world—it came with a family, with friends, with experiences that I’ll never have again. I never thought I’d find myself ugly-crying in the airport because I’m not ready to go home. I never thought that six weeks would be long enough to develop such an intimate human connection with people I now consider family.

I know that I’m not the same person I was when I left the U.S. in May. Santarém has taught me to become more flexible, more compassionate, and to allow myself to take things at a slower pace. My host family noticed the little things that made up who I am, and loved them all. They taught me to find those little things in other people, too. I hope to be a better friend, a better peer, and a better member of the community when I return to Pittsburgh this fall.

I will not lie and say that there were no frustrations in this trip. I was pushed academically, and there were many complications that arose when it came to research. However, I am grateful for these frustrations—they have allowed me to grow more flexible and more confident in my abilities. I have learned that I can do this. Even if it’s hard—Especially if it’s hard. I’ve been able to grow my professional communication skills, something I’ve always found myself struggling with. In my next three years at Pitt, I hope to immerse myself in research, and I am immensely grateful for such a fantastic introduction.

Thank you, Santarém. Ainda tenho saudades de você.