PUC-Rio was created in 1940 by the Jesuit Order with the objective of developing knowledge based on humanistic values. The university now has 20,000 students who come from a variety of religious, ethnic and social backgrounds. The Pontificia Universidade Catolica do Rio de Janeiro (PUC-Rio) is recognized worldwide as one of the most important doctoral research centers in the country. The campus is located in Gavea, a charming neighborhood located near the forest and the beach.

The University took two days of integration for the exchange students. During those two days, they explained us what was Rio, what was a Carioca, how to behave in any situation, where to go and not go, what to see and not see. An integration made in Portuguese so not the half of the exchange student was able to understand fully the content of those two days. They also took a lot of time to explain us the administration of PUC, the classes and the add and drop session.

The campus of PUC is big; there are three main buildings, different restaurants, gymnasium, 23 departments, 13 labs, 7 libraries, 3 auditoriums, computers labs, bookstore, a church, banks… It is cross by a river and surrounded by tropical trees. If you are patient you can have the chance to see a monkey in the campus.

I am in English classes, so I do not have classes with Brazilian students, only exchange students mostly from the US. So in class, it is very quiet, but the teachers are Brazilian. The classes start usually late and end early. We can arrive at any time; no one will notice you are late. 90% of the class is done at home, with the readings. Classes are just a help, where you can ask your questions to the teachers.

Mainly, PUC is a wonderful place to study, unfortunately, as the whole Brazil; it has some issues with administration. Nobody knows anything, everything is complicated. For example, going to the library can be hell. You have to ask for a code, they give you a locker where to put your bag (you are not allowed to bring any bag inside, you have to redo this operation every 4 hours, and if you lose the key, you have to pay 5$R), you pass the security portic. To find a book, you have to go to a computer, which will give you a reference (if you find a working computer) and after 20 minutes, if you are lucky, you have your book in your hand.

To anyone ready to wait for anything, welcome to PUC!

After a two months’ internship in Chambéry with English colleagues, and some very awkward moments, the D day was here. I fought with my sub cases, with my online registration classes and then I was, at 4 in the morning, going to Geneva airport. It was snowing. After five movies, three different meals, and a lot of turbulence, the plane finally lent. The first challenge was waiting for me, find a cash machine and a taxi to bring me at the address I was supposed to go. After an hour turning around the airport with a Brazilian guy following me, trying to help me, I found money, and a cab. At my arrival at the apartment, the taxi driver told me I was supposed to pay the help of the other man… First lesson: do not accept any kind of help!

First day in Rio: one word: HOT! Over 40°C! Just the time to go to the store to buy a solar cream and come back at the apartment and I was red! I took the rest of the day exploring the barrio of Leblon and the beach (which is huge). What surprised me the most are the trees on the street, huge, beautiful and inhabited by small monkeys.

So here I am, in Brazil, with one goal: see everything.

Boa dia !

Last September, my school send me an e-mail telling me I was going to pass the first semester of 2013 in Brazil... BRAZIL ! You know the huge country in South-America, half covered by the Amazony! The country where beaches are crowded during the whole year, the country where women are dancing in the street half naked only wearing feathers, the country where people are dancing samba all night to the sunrise, the country where favelas are everywhere...well... a country alive!

I am lucky. I am going to pass the semester in Rio de Janeiro, you know the city dominated by a huge Christ watching it. My university, PUC, is situated en la zona sul de Rio at ten minutes from the beach and the ocean.

I am very exited about living and going to this wonderful country.