Exchange Students

Brazilian Students

	Gabriel Santana, Recife, PE gabrielsantanas@hotmail.com Texas A&M University from January 2007 to May 2007 “Studying Animal Sciences in the USA at TAMU for one semester was an amazing experience. I took three courses that increased a lot my knowledge. I met unforgettable people and made good friendships. I’ve been in contact with different cultures from all parts of the world. It was a great preparation for my career and future.”			José Pavan Neto, Pirassununga, SP jose_pavan@uol.com.br Texas A&M University from January 2007 to June 2007 “Studying at Texas A & M University was a great experience for my career and also for my personal life. The Department of Animal Science is an example to all who wish to follow the academic career, because it counts with the work of quality professors, staff and graduate students, and excellent laboratories, facilities and different classes from Brazil. I would like to thank everyone who made College Station an important place and say that I will make it back to learn even more at TAMU.”
	Eliza Trickett, Pirassununga, SP trickett.eliza@gmail.com Texas A&M University from August 2007 to August 2008 “Participating at the CAPES-FIPSE Exchange Program was an outstanding experience! I enjoyed every single moment, from my arrival to the last day in College Station. I’ve lost track of how many interesting people I met from all over the world, and how many lifetime friends I’ve made. Taking classes at the Animal Science Department, such as getting involved in research and attending courses definitely improved my skills and career. The challenges you face not only makes you grow as a person, but also gives you strength to go even further. I would like to thank Dr. Tedeschi and everybody that keeps this project running and making a difference in all students lives. I strongly recommend being part of this team!”			Carolina Monteiro, Recife, PE cacah_monteiro@yahoo.com.br Texas A&M University from August 2007 to July 2008 “I spent one year studying at TAMU. It was a wonderful experience. It helped me to improve my personal and professional skills.The Animal Science department is very well structured, and the professors are excellent and too friendly. Also, working in Dr Tedeschi’s Lab led to more experiences about ruminant nutrition. At the end, it was perfect.”
	Rafael Aquino, Recife, PE faelaquino@ibestvip.com.br Texas A&M University from August 2007 to January 2008 “I testify the new reality about the USA Education System on Animal Science; that was a wonderful experience because I saw new technologies, and know many cultures, not only American culture, but Mexican, Japanese, Chinese, etc. I worked with Professor Tedeschi in the Ruminant Laboratory and studied some school subjects like General Animal Science, Animal Nutrition and Feed and Feedings. I helped Dr. Carstens in the project with Angus cattle at the Beef Center of Texas A&M University. I’ve seen a rodeo show that’s amazing! So, the experience was plural, where I could improve my English , my world vision, my concept about the USA, my student profile in the Animal Science area, and I could believe in myself because I showed to me — Yes, I can!”			Juliana Cisotto, Pirassununga, SP University of California-Davis from August 2007 to July 2008 “The opportunity to participate at the CAPES/FIPSE program was amazing in different aspects. Studying at UCDavis was a fantastic way to amplify the horizons, learning so many things and having so much fun at the same time. I really appreciated the time spent at this program and I am very glad to be one of the selected students in this fellowship. This program is amazing and I will recommend it to all interested students. I just want to say THANK YOU for everybody who make part of this excellent year.”
	Kalina Martins, Recife, PE kakaxinha2@hotmail.com Texas A&M University from January 2009 to July 2009 “My name is Kalina Martins and I came to Texas A&M to study animal science as an exchange student. I had a wonderful experience as a student. I learned a lot about animal science, meats, and ruminant nutrition. The classes are amazing, always were concerned with you and if you are learning. The structure of the University is remarkable. I had an amazing experience. College Station it is a quiet city, and people are nice and help you all time”			Fabiane Mascari, Pirassununga, SP fabiane.mascari@usp.br Texas A&M University from January 2009 to Jume 2009 “I really enjoyed the classes I studied and all the professors I met were very polite and friendly,one of the reasons that motivated me to keep studying harder. Besides, I had the opportunity to go to many conferences and met many professionals in Animal Science, and I also made many friends all around the world. Thus, everything I learned in TAMU will make the difference for my career and also for my life. I would like to say thanks everyone involved in the program for this great opportunity.”
	Denea Pires, Recife, PE dna@zootecnista.com.br Texas A&M University from January 2009 to July 2009 “I had never lived as much intensity as I lived during these 6 months! The Texas A&M University allowed me to improve my professional and personal skills. The professors are thoughtful, respectful, supportive and I felt really important because the TAMU (include facilities and staff) was extremely important to open my mind for the world! Living and studying abroad is a great experience, but those at Texas A&M University are AWESOME!”			Ana Paula dos Santos Silva, Pirassununga, SP paullynhass@gmail.com Texas A&M University from January 2009 to August 2009 “I spent one semester at TAMU in 2009 and it was great. The animal production in the US is way different than our production in Brazil. We have lots to learn with them and them also have lots to learn with us, and this was what made TAMU such a unique experience to me! The professors are polite, open to questions, and the way that they teach the disciplines is great. I really enjoyed my time there, trying to learn the most from everything that I was faced to. After my semester at TAMU, I went to WTAMU in Canyon, TX for an internship. I spent 7 weeks there learning more about feedlot nutrition and management. Being at WTAMU was a great complement to my time in College Station. Thanks CAPES-FIPSE for the opportunity!”
	Juana Chagas, Recife, PE juanachagas@hotmail.com Texas A&M University from August 2009 to January 2010 “My experience in College Station and Texas A&M was great as a student and as a person. First the University is like a dream, I took two classes that were super interesting and helpful to my knowledge. I have made contact with different cultures, and I met new friends. I really had an amazing and unforgettable time here. I will always be an Aggie!!”			Viviann Biglia, Pirassununga, SP vibiglia@hotmail.com Texas A&M University from August 2009 to January 2010 “Spending the semester at Texas A&M University was an amazing and unique experience! Texas A&M is one of the best universities in meat science, and having the chance to take these classes, helped me understand the American way of meat production. Besides it, living with Americans, getting to know more about American way of life, generally, was awesome! Everything that we had to go through just made me feel more ready to find a real job. All the knowledge gained, will be, certainly, a differential in my curriculum! Thanks for the opportunity! I really appreciated it!”
	Andrea Ianni, Pirassununga, SP deiaianni@hotmail.com Texas A&M University from August 2009 to January 2010 ” Studying at Texas A&M was a fantastic experience, that I will always remember. I took very interesting classes and learned different visions and animal production methods. I met new people and made a lot of friends, learned another culture and other ways to think and teach. I would like to say that I appreciate the opportunity and wish good luck to the new exchange students”			Valdson Silva, Recife, PE valdsonjose@yahoo.com.br Texas A&M University from August 2009 to January 2010 “I really enjoyed the Fall 2009 semester at Texas A&M University. It was an amazing and unforgettable experience! I learned many and various new things about animal production in the United States through my classes and work in the Ruminant Nutrition Laboratory. I also learned a lot about American culture and customs. I was able to meet a lot of people from different countries and I made many new friends. This experience has enriched me both academically and personally. I will never forget my time at Texas A&M!!!!”
	Beryk Salab, Pirassununga, SP beryk_salab@yahoo.com.br Texas A&M University from January 2010 to June 2010 “My semester at Texas A&M University was an amazing experience; I learned too much with my professors, my friends and with the all challenges that live in another country can give us. I enjoyed be part of American culture, and show them our Brazilian culture, even for few months. This opportunity was singular to my professional success and I am sure that too many doors will be open for me after this experience. If I could, I would like to live everything again! I’m thankful to all that made my time here in College Station a great time!”			Julyana Souza, Recife, PE julyanasena@zootecnista.com.br Texas A&M University from January 2010 to June 2010 “HOWDY! My name is Julyana Sena and I was at Texas A&M University in spring 2010. Studying and living in USA was a dream for me. These six months at Texas A&M increased all kinds of experiences in my life. I took three classes, which contributed a lot for my knowledge in Animal Science, and it will be a differential in my career. Have met different people and cultures made me a better person. The professors, the classes, projects are so different from Brazil, and I learned a lot with this. Our time in the Ruminant Nutrition Laboratory was totally enriching, a unique and great opportunity. I’m thankful for all the people that helped me including my roommates, my classmates and all the people that I met here. Texas A&M changed my life, and definitely I’ll be back.”
	Mateus Freua, Pirassununga, SP mateus.tamu@gmail.com Texas A&M University from January 2010 to February 2011 “ ‘From the outside looking in you can’t understand it. From the inside looking out you can’t explain it.’ The life at A&M is translated as: get involved. The opportunities to do it are numerous, from student organizations to institutes. The classes are well-prepared and the spirit to succeed is always present. Become part of the FIPSE program is a huge responsibility, which goes beyond study. It is become part of an international group that seeks new knowledge to develop cutting-edge concepts regarding not only ruminants, but agriculture overall. Goals that perfectly match to the A&M spirit: give back to the community. Join FIPSE is a scientific and philosophic exercise. I have met people from all over the world and once you exchange ideas you begin to call into question your own life, values and country.”			Priscila Levy Alvarez, Pirassununga, SP pri0levy@hotmail.com Texas A&M University from August 2010 to March 2010 “My semester as a student in Texas A&M University was a very amazing experience in my life. To be part of the FIPSE/CAPES network I feel will help me to have a lot of good opportunity in my career and social life, such as the one in JBS Five Rivers. I made a lot of good friends for life and built some good relationships that changed my life. I also learnt a lot from the professors and TA’s that taught on the classes I took. Being in the lab of Ruminant Nutrition gave a lot of knowledge and experience. I have to be thankful for the BRSA (Brazilian Student Association) for inviting me to be their president and to be a very good group of friends. Thank y’all for all the support and I hope to keep in touch with everybody I know from this period of time in Texas!”
	Marcelo Lima, Pirassununga, SP marcelo.lima@usp.br Texas A&M University from August 2010 to March 2010 “Being part of Capes/FIPSE exchange program has been a great experience for me not just academic or professionally but also culturally and personally. I’ve learned a lot. For me, it has reached a point that made me see a lot of new unreached ones. I quite recommend it.”			Nathallia de Medeiros Cavalcanti, Recife, PE University of Florida from August 2010 to February 2011 “Having the privilege to participate in this exchange program was a great experience I had. This program gave me an opportunity to meet the academic side of a fully participating in the interactive classroom sessions and in laboratory activities, which gave me the opportunity to work with methods never seen before, thus expanding my knowledge. I also had the opportunity to participate in enriching academic training in an experimental station. I cannot forget the incredible exchange of culture. I had the opportunity to meet not only the American culture but also with cultures of various countries. This program was a unique experience for me which I am forever grateful, and have great significance in my life”
	Jacqueline Leite, Recife, PE University of Florida from August 2010 to February 2011 “The experience of participating on this exchange program at University of Florida was really amazing, beneficial and I learned a lot in so many different areas. I was able to see how the subjects are taught in different perspectives and also the laboratory practice gave me the opportunity to explore methods and procedures that I have not been in touch before. I can’t forget to mention how important this chance will be for my career, and how interesting it was to be in contact with people from all over the world while learning about different cultures. I will never forget the time I had there and the people I met. I’m really thankful for the wonderful, once in a life time opportunity and go Gators!!”			Leandro Fragoso Lins, Recife, PE California Polytechnic State University from September 2010 to June 2011 “Leaving my university and my country, and participating in the FIPSE-CAPES exchange program was a challenge met. Arriving in the United States, studying at Cal Poly (one of the best public universities in the country with the largest dairy science program), and having the opportunity to work at the Dairy Products Technology Center as one of five dairy centers of excellence was wonderful. I just have to say, thank you so much. For nine months, I believe I fulfilled my goals and I had a wonderful life experience. I took five courses of dairy science, had individual study in the laboratory, participated in events, attended conferences and visited large dairy farms. All gave me new knowledge about American milk production and dairy products that greatly improved my Animal Science career. Also, the experience of living in another country that everyone talks about but only you can feel its ups and downs and the challenges that teach you and show that, more than accumulated scientific knowledge, you gained new concepts of life. I grew with a different intensity and now I feel like a new person. I am forever grateful for all the challenges I faced, for everything I did, for all those people I met, for all the help I received and for all the things I learned. Things that are just details when you have a sunrise.”
	Emmanuele Arruda, Recife, PE University of Florida from December 2010 to June 2011 “Have lived almost six month in U.S.A. was one of the best experiences that I had, studying in the University of Florida, where I learned new topics about Animal Science with excellent professors, besides to know special people of different cultures. I am sure how much important was this period in my life and how it is unforgettable. Thank you so much my God.”			Janerson Coelho, Recife, PE University of Florida from December 2010 to June 2011 “I had a great experience at my exchange in University of Florida and in the Range Cattle Research & Education Center , I learned a lot of things about animal production. I’ve had a lot of practicum experiences and gained knowledge about the American culture and way of life. I really liked the expericienes that I’ve had in UF and it was very important for my professional life and self development. Also during my staying in USA I had the opportunity to travel to a lot of places and made a lot of friends that came from different parts of the world and also United States. I really had a great experience in the “Gators’ City” and around USA.”
	Kathleen Bonatti Andrades, Pirassununga, SP Texas A&M University from January 2011 to July 2011 “Living in the United States as part of a team of students who had the opportunity to meet and integrate the knowledge of two major universities such as University of São Paulo and Texas A&M University, has provided me a growth beyond what I could imagine to aspire to be, further solidifying my professional knowledge, specifically in the area of Ruminant Production, and adding the extra benefit in continuing to improve my English language skills. In this place I met people from all over the world, given the huge contingency of international students, what has giving me the opportunity to learn about different cultures, expanding my knowledge of the world. Being here has shown me that I can go beyond, and what I learned here, both in class and in the lab will for sure improve my career opportunities.”			Thiago Camargo Dias, Pirassununga, SP University of Florida from January 2011 to July 2011 “Studying at UF was one great experience to me, in my personal and professional. I had a chance to know many interesting people and places. At classes in the Animal Science department and Agriculture department I could learn more about pasture managements, meat processing and carcass evaluation in US. With Dr. Vendramini as my advisor, when in Gainesville I had an opportunity to have my individual study in the Dr. Sollenberger lab, working with pasture quality analysis. In start of May I started my work training on the Range Cattle Research & Education Center-UF in Ona, I was there about one and a half month working with beef cattle management and pasture management in some experiments. I’ll never forget this experience, I’m very thankful for this oportunity…”
	Paula Parra, Pirassununga, SP parra.paula@gmail.com Texas A&M University from August 2011 to February 2012 “It was my greatest experience in college! I really enjoyed all classes and opportunities that Texas A&M offers to the students. Besides, it was a remarkable experience to learn and live in another culture that is so much different than mine. I totally recommend this exchange student life experience.”			Driane Ventura, Recife, PE drianeventura@gmail.com Texas A&M University from August 2011 to December 2011 “UNFORGETTABLE AND AMAZING!! These words can define my experience at Texas A&M University. During the FALL 2011 I improved my knowledge in Animal Science, especially in Ruminant Nutrition, so I would like to Thank Dr. Tedeschi and everybody that made it possible! I’m so glad that I have learned a lot about American Culture and know and live together with people from different parts of the world. It was wonderful and made me grow as a person! Gig ‘Em!”
	Ivo Gonzales, Pirassununga, SP ivo.gonzales@usp.br Texas A&M University from August 2011 to February 2012 “Howdy! Participating in the FIPSE/CAPES Exchange Program at Texas A&M was one of the greatest experiences of my life. The lectures, laboratories, facilities, and professors are of first quality, and I was provided continuous support throughout. Learning Food Safety, Meat Science and U.S. Beef Cattle Production and Management will help me as a future professional and allowed me to see other aspects of the food supply chain. Above all, the people I met during my stay in Texas will forever remain a part of me. I am thankful for the support I received from my college, USP-FZEA, from Texas A&M University, and from FIPSE/CAPES. Spending the Fall 2011 semester in Aggieland has been a huge learning experience for me and I will carry what I have learned for a lifetime.”			Izabela Aline Gomes da Silva, Recife, PE University of Florida from August 2011 to December 2011 Being part of the history of the exchange program provided by CAPES/FIPSE was one of the most challenging, yet best experience in my life so far. I must admit that when I left Brazil, knowing that I would spend a long time away from my family and my friends, I felt scared. But when I arrived in the land of “Uncle Sam”, I started to enjoy every single moment of it and I thank God I had such a blessed experience. I studied at the University of Florida and met amazing people from different part of the world. I became part of a wonderful Colombian family, learned about several cultures and tried delicious foods. I also had the opportunity to improve my English and learn some Spanish (thanks to my host-family). I participate in lectures, courses and a field-day at school. I learned new practices and methodologies in the Range Cattle Research & Education Center in Ona and in the Forage Laboratory at UF. After classes were over, I traveled to different places (like NYC, Washington DC, among others) and now, near the end of all activities, I have acquired new perspectives on how to grow personally and professionally. I am so grateful to God and all the friends and relatives who supported me during my journey. I will miss the “Orange and Blue” life style, and I know it will be hard to say goodbye to the “Swamp”. I just have to tell everyone to believe and always continue walking; never give up on your dreams because mine came true!!! GO GATORS =)
	Miguel Machado, Pirassununga, SP miguel.machado@usp.br Texas A&M University from January 2012 to July 2012 “There is a spirit that can ne`er be told….that’s the spirit of Aggieland”. That phrase can explain how hard it is to put into words the best seven months of my life. I am grateful to been an “aggie”, and it was the most exciting experience ever! I’ll never be able to explain to someone and express how I felt while I’ve lived in Texas, and how wonderful it was being a student at Texas A&M University. Texas A&M’s campus is amazing and I have learned a lot from my professors, TA’s, classmates and friends. I’ve made friends for life and I’m so thankful I had the opportunity to participate in the FIPSE/CAPES program. I experienced a personal and professional growth that will without a doubt be of great value to my career. From now on, I’ll keep saying to everybody: If you ever have a chance to study abroad, do it! I’ve fallen in love with Texas, and it will forever live in my heart. The memories I bring with myself will never be erased from my mind. Thank you FIPSE/CAPES for the wonderful opportunity. Thank you Aggieland for the lessons, memories, and experience. Gig’em Aggies!!!”			Caroline Cerqueira, Recife, PE carol_c_melo@hotmail.com University of Florida from January 2012 to July 2012 “Studying and living in USA to improve my knowledge about animal science was an incredible experience. I really loved the people and the University, that opened my mind about how amazing and wide is the Animal Science and how easy is to decide what kind of specie I wanna work with. I made a lot of friends from a lot of different countries and improved my resumè, my practice, my knowledge, and my english with my classes and internship. I would say that it was the best experience ever. ”
	Erick Santos, Recife, PE i.cky@hotmail.com University of Florida from January 2012 to June 2012 “The best experience I’ve ever had in all my life was given by the CAPES-FIPSE program. I could study at University of Florida where I learned what being a GATOR is. I had an opportunity to improve my skills in English and my knowledge in Animal Science. I enrolled in four classes, including a Supervised Research where I got experience in laboratory techniques, and when the classes were finished I made an Academic Training. It also was a chance for me to know another culture and make friends from the entire world.”			Igor Gonzales, Pirassununga, SP igor.gonzales@neo.tamu.edu Texas A&M University from July 2012 to December 2012 “Howdy! Being an Aggie at Texas A & M is much more than being a student, it is also being apart of a tradition that cannot be expressed with words. Not just academically, but also socially and professionally this was a remarkable experience. Opportunity is the word that defines what I felt during my period in Aggieland. Every door I knocked on was an opportunity to be seized! I would like to thank the CAPES/FIPSE program and my college, FZEA-USP for all support that I received. I am also thankful for all my new friends that I met here that helped me with so many things here. It was a great experience in my life that I recommend to all students. Thanks, and Gig ‘Em!”
	Monica Duarte Silva, Pirassununga, SP monicaduarte@usp.br University of Florida from July 2012 to December 2012 “How not to breath that amazing and exciting air and not get mesmerized by the gator nation? You can’t! The people, the coziness of a small town and the ocean of orange and blue during the football games are what made and makes everyone that spend the semester here so much in love for this place. Furthermore, the structure of the classes, laboratories, libraries and the support that the teachers give to the students, makes the desire of one more semester in UF. Personally, I got an opportunity to practice my english daily, living in an apartment with a German girl and two American girls, it was an awesome and interesting experience. I was glad to show the Brazilian culture to so many nationalities and also learn from them. Moreover, I was able to attend four subjects during the semester, work at Dr.Sollenberger’s Forage Laboratory for five months under the supervision of Richard Fethieri, got a chance to spend a day on a career shadowing at ZooMiami (Learning about elephants), and of course watch an amazing football match with the Gator’s fans! I’m thankful for my parents for the support and investment on my studies, which allied with the opportunity of FIPSE/CAPES program, brought me to this dream. My career, my networking and my life will never be the same after this huge step, because now when I shout ORANGEEE, there will always be someone to answer back, BLUEEE! – It’s great to be a Florida gator! – Gooo Gators!!!”			Cledir Lima, Recife, PE clelima@hotmail.com Texas A&M University from August 2012 to February 2013 “Howdy!!! Studying abroad was an experience that I always wished for, and studying at Texas A&M University (Whoop) lived up to the expectation. This experience would not be possible without the Capes/Fipse program. While at A&M I learned that each person that comes here really makes a difference and is always able to be a part of its traditions. I’m very thankful for the amazing staff of professors and everyone that works here. Another goal that I had in while in College Station was to be a part of the “American Culture” and I was fortunate to enjoy amazing experiences in two of the most important holidays: Thanksgiving and Christmas. And I was also connected with different parts of the world with others exchanged students from Europe, Africa and Asia. I had the opportunity to live with American friends (my American family) and I really made wonderful friends, and for these reasons I can say: “It is one experience that I will keep for the rest of my life.” And I hope to come back soon! Thanks Aggies and Gig’Em!”
	Gleise Medeiros, Recife, PE medeirosgleise@gmail.com Texas A&M University, From August 2012 to February 2013 “Howdy! The program CAPES/FIPSE gave me the best experience that I could have in my life. Participating in this program opened my mind and expanded my knowledge. The time that I spent at Texas A&M University was absolutely wonderful and unforgettable; I loved the traditions and everything that makes you an Aggie. I cried, smiled, studied and I appreciated each moment in Aggieland. Studying at TAMU really improved my English and helped me learn more about Animal Science. I will never forget my friends that I have made from every place in the world and I will always be thankful for this opportunity. This experience will help me in my professional career and in my personal life and is one that I will always remember and recommend to every student… Gig ‘Em” Aggies!!”

US Students

	Renee Renner, Davis, CA rerenner@ucdavis.edu Universidade Federal Rural de Pernambuco from August 2009 to December 2009 “Studying in Brazil was one of the greatest experiences of my life. I’ve made marvelous friends and excellent industry contacts, been able to visit some of the most breathtaking beaches as well as other captivating regions of the country. While building upon my animal science background and developing my language skills I also experienced an intense amount of personal growth. I’m so grateful for the opportunity to have participated in the FIPSE program at UFRPE in Recife and will carry the knowledge and memories I accumulated there for the rest of my life.”			Katelyn Spradley, College Station, TX katelynspradley@hotmail.com Universidade de São Paulo/FZEA from January 2010 to July 2010 “My experience here at USP has been incredible – I can’t believe how quickly the time is passing. The nutritional practices of Brazil are so different than those of the United States and I am learning so much – in the areas of agriculture, language, and culture. The atmosphere of Brazil will steal your heart – the students and professors are more than welcoming and offer help whenever needed. The classes are hands on with laboratories, practicals, and field trips that allow you to really see the Brazilian way of production in action and be a part of it. If you have even an inkling of an urge to apply, I would strongly recommend doing so.”
	Andre Alves, San Luis Obispo, CA Universidade Federal Rural de Pernambuco from August 2010 to December 2010 “Participating in this exchange program was probably the best experience of my life. While I was there, I had the opportunity to see many wonderful places, eat delicious food, and acquire a great amount of knowledge regarding ruminant animal production. However the absolute best experience there was meeting the people I met. From day one, I had been treated like nothing but family. The friendships I made with my roommates and classmates continue to be extremely valuable to me. It was really hard to say goodbye! My ability to make friends and contacts in a foreign country definitely improved my networking abilities, something that is ever valuable in the job market. This experience made me a better person and a more employable, cultured individual that can provide diversity and experience that could only come from participation in an international exchange program like this one.”			Theresa Chavez, College Station, TX Universidade de São Paulo/FZEA from August 2010 to December 2010 “I wasn’t quite sure what to expect when I boarded the plane heading for Brazil. My nerves were quickly put at ease as I was welcomed with open arms by the wonderful people I met and quickly fell in love with the FZEA campus and Brazil. Taking several courses and assisting with research projects gave me a new and different perspective which has helped me with my academic career. The opportunity to see and understand the agricultural practices of another country has provided me with valuable insight to the agricultural industry, and I am excited to continue learning about international agriculture as a whole. I whole-heartedly believe more people should take advantage of the FIPSE-CAPES program.”
	Carla Madonado, College Station, TX Universidade Federal Rural de Pernambuco from August 2010 to December 2010 “I loved my semester in Recife Brazil. Not only did I learn more about my chosen career but I learned about an amazing place and met new friends that became my second family. I loved every minute I was there yes at first it was a little bumpy but after that first bump its smoothed sailing. It was an amazing experience and an awesome adventure. I cannot wait till I go back again to Recife I would not change it for anything in the world.”			Alyssa Word, College Station, TX alyssaword@tamu.edu Universidade de São Paulo/FZEA from February 2011 to July 2011 “I am so thankful I had the opportunity to participate in the FIPSE program. These few short months in Brazil have allowed me to broaden my horizons through getting to know a new language and culture. I have been able to build skills much needed in an agricultural job market, while getting to know more about international agriculture and production systems in Brazil. The general atmosphere of the people in Brazil have absolutely captured my heart, and the relationships I have built with my roommates and classmates are some I know I will continue to maintain. This program has been by far the greatest thing I have done in my academic career-and that’s not to mention how much it has absolutely changed my life. I have experienced a major personal growth here and found a love for new languages, cultures, and international agriculture. Because I have fallen in love with the country, I know I will come back to Brazil someday; and I definitely encourage everyone to take advantage of this wonderful program.”
	Carly Borel, College Station, TX carly.borel@gmail.com Universidade de São Paulo/FZEA from February 2011 to July 2011 “Truth is: I can’t put into words what I have felt in Brasil. I can take thousands of photographs and talk about my experiences for hours, but neither will capture the essence of Brasil. My stomach was in knots when I left my country and family. Now the tables have turned and my stomach is in knots just thinking about leaving Brasil. I strongly encourage anyone interested the FIPSE program to PURSUE it! I have formed lifetime friendships, learned a new language, experienced a beautiful/colorful culture, traveled to breathtaking places and grown personally. I have learned completely new perspectives in agriculture, sustainability practices, production methods, new species and countless other things. These 5 months have been truly priceless and I’m forever thankful. The culture and people of Brasil will always have a piece of my heart and I cannot wait to return.”			Darren Henry, College Station, TX Universidade de São Paulo/FZEA from February 2011 to July 2011 “To describe how this experience has affected me in this short space is impossible. I met people who I know I will have lifetime connections with, I have done things I will never forget, and I have seen things in this beautiful country that I know I will never be able to see anywhere else. Living in Pirassununga not only allowed me to study at the greatest university in Brazil, but it also allowed me to be conscious of and appreciate a new culture. All in all, there is no price that can accurately describe how much this program means to me.”
	Dustin Valusek, College Station, TX Universidade de São Paulo/FZEA from February 2011 to July 2011 “First off there is no way to summarize this experience, and no way to perfectly account for the things that I have learned from this beautiful culture, these people, and this country. A few aspects that this great opportunity and experience is having on my life are, gaining different perspectives, meeting new people, and learning the Portuguese language. When I return I am certain that my vision of the world and attitude about many things will change, and for this I am excited because I know a piece of Brazil will forever live in my heart.”			Catalina Vargas, Gainesville, UF Universidade Federal Rural de Pernambuco from February 2011 to July 2011 “I feel truly blessed to have been able to participate in this program. For someone who truly wants to learn a language, a cultural submersion is a must and that is exactly what this journey has provided me with. I have learned so much in such a short period of time, I have met so many wonderful people and I have been able to experience life as Brazilians do. My classes have taught me so much about the rural world and have definitely awaken a new interest and passion in my academic career. The professors are wonderful and their passion and love for their subject is expressed throughout their classes. I know that this experience will open up so many doors for my life and I will be able to incorporate everything I learn into it. I have grown so much through this program and would recommend it to anyone. Even though I have definitely had my ups and downs, I would do it all over again if I had the chance. Experiences like this one are difficult to find and I think that CAPES/FIPSE does a fantastic job in providing students with this opportunity. It will definitely be a bitter sweet goodbye as I will miss my new family and friends, but I know that very soon I will be back”
	Jasmine Dillon, College Station, TX jadillon@ymail.com Universidade de São Paulo/FZEA from February 2011 to July 2011 “My experience as a participant in the FIPSE/CAPES program has been nothing short of amazing, and as such it would be impossible to capture it all in this small space! I have studied with some of the best students Brazil has to offer, and even more, have forged friendships of a lifetime with people I never dreamed I would have the opportunity to get to know. I have learned, lived, and fallen in love with Brazilian culture (and Portuguese!), and gotten to experience Brazilian agriculture firsthand! I will leave Brazil a different person than I was when I arrived, with a changed world view and a new perspective on international agriculture. If you ever have a chance to get out and submerge yourself in another culture, do it! It will be an experience of a lifetime. The FIPSE program is an absolute gem and I encourage anyone who is even slightly interested to apply!”			Enrique Hernandez, Davis, CA Universidade de São Paulo/FZEA from January 2011 to July 2011 “I studied at USP one of the best universities of South America. I am really happy with the level of education that I received at USP. The professors at the USP were really helpful. The people from Brazil are amazing. They threat us with so much respect and are really welcoming. I met a lot of good Brasilian people, to whom I am really graceful for the help they gave us and for making us feel right at home. I made lot of good friends who I expect to visit in the future again. I also created a good friendship with people from Texas, Chile, Ecuador, Paraguay, Colombia and France. I found the campus to be really diverse. I had the opportunity to travel a bit in Brasil, and see some of its beauty. Is hard to find people like the Brasilians. I wouldn’t trade my experience for anything. I grew as a person and expanded my network. Now I feel more confident and prepare to start searching for a job.” Click here for a video about his exchange experiences in Brazil.
	Liz Schusterman, College Station, TX liz.schusterman@gmail.com Universidade de São Paulo/FZEA from August 2011 to December 2011 “These last 5 months have been the best of my life. I wish it was easy to explain how life-changing this semester has been. But, unfortunately, words and photographs do not suffice. These memories I’ve made will stay with me forever. I’ve also made lifelong friends that are truly wonderful and genuine people. They have been a huge blessing to me and are the cause of my awesome study abroad experience. Along with the memories and new friends, this semester has helped me to realize what I want to pursue in my education. Without a doubt in my mind, the FIPSE/CAPSE program has been the most rewarding and worthwhile experience. It is amazing to see how far the other students and I have come in such a short amount of time. I have a newfound appreciation for so many things that I had never even noticed before my exchange experience. Now, as my semester comes to an end, all that is on my mind is when I will get the opportunity to return here. I had no idea that I would fall in love with Brazil, it’s culture, and it’s people.”			Aline Theodoro, College Station, TX linertbr@gmail.com Universidade de São Paulo/FZEA from August 2011 to December 2011 “My study abroad in Brazil was amazing. Every student should participate in a program like the FIPSE-CAPES. It was great to enrich my knowledge on the ruminant animal production in Brazil. My time spent in Brazil made me view the country and culture through a different vision. USP-FZEA is a great University, and they have wonderful professors. I made friends for life and I can’t wait to go back and see them again. Surprisingly, I did not only make Brazilian friends. I met people from Mexico, Argentina, France, Africa, Colombia, and other countries that were studying abroad at FZEA as well. So I came back to United States with the perspective of expending my horizons to other cultures in the World. I am very thankful for the opportunity that FIPSE-CAPES gave to me in this study abroad program.”
	Leanne Wiley, College Station, TX leanne.wiley87@gmail.com Universidade de São Paulo/FZEA from January 2012 to July 2012 “I am in accordance with the other students on this page. I feel like we are are special group and because of this experience on some level only we can understand each other. An opportunity as special as this may only present itself once in a students career, and it needs to be fully embraced. For those that have not had a chance to experience any piece of Brazil it is difficult to explain. At Texas A&M we say “from the outside looking in you can’t understand, and from the inside looking out you can’t explain it”. The experiences, friends and perhaps future colleagues there have changed me, and have forever made an impression on my life, lifestyle and the form in which I view the world. This beautiful country and its people will always hold a piece of my heart and I can only prepare for the day that I will return.” Click here to check Leanne’s blog			Lonisa Early (“Nessie”), College Station, TX nearly@tamu.edu Universidade Federal Rural de Pernambuco from January 2012 to July 2012 “Blessed. The best word I can find to describe my feelings regarding my experience in Brazil. Blessed to have participated in a study abroad program specific to my major/ interests, blessed to have been immersed in Brazilian culture and mostly blessed to have made the life-long relationships I made. My host-family opened their home, hearts and world to me- making me feel like another loved member of the family. My classmates provided endless help, laughter, insight, smiles and friendships I will hold dear for a lifetime. The country and culture of Brazil not only left an impression in my heart but also has interwoven with who I am/ how I live here in the US. This year (my final at TAMU) I’m out-of-my-mind excited to be living with three friends I met at UFRPE in Recife, Brazil. I hope I can help make their experience abroad as fun, eye opening and enriching as the one they helped provide for me.” Click here to check Nessie’s blog
	William Whitworth, College Station, TX waw@tamu.edu Universidade de São Paulo/FZEA from July 2012 to December 2012 “Coming to Brazil has been the experience of a lifetime for me! I have learned so much down here, it is incredible! I am really thankful for being given this opportunity to expand my horizons and be introduced to a new culture! I have learned and experienced a lot of things down here that I did not think I would get to do. I learned a lot in the classes that I took as well as the experiments that I have helped with. In my swine production class, I was allowed to castrate a piglet as well as give injections. In an experiment I helped with I was allowed to draw blood for sampling as well as assist in the slaughtering process. I have also made many lifelong friends in only this short period of time. I believe that this alone made the trip worth everything. Also I was able to travel with friends to various cities and experience a few things that I could not do in the United States. For example, I participated in a free Artificial Insemination course and I had a CPF (this is kind of like a social security number) I could have received a certificate saying that I am authorized to perform artificial insemination. I hope maybe one day I can return here and do an internship!”			Misty Jackson, College Station, TX b-girl21@neo.tamu.edu Universidade de São Paulo/FZEA from January 2013 to June 2013 “After my time in Brazil, I am beyond speechless. I made so many friends in my classes, in the house that I lived in, and through community activities. I also made one inspiring best friend that really took me under her wing. She helped me both to learn the language and to get out and travel to places throughout the country. With her help, not only was I better able to understand what was going on in my classes, but I was even able to visit unique parts of Brazil! I actually celebrated my 21st birthday while I was in Brazil and all of my roommates surprised me with a trip to a waterfall, dinner out on the town, a cake, and even a gift! I never expected to feel like I was part of a family or to ever have anyone that I barely knew do that for me. The opportunity to be immersed in the Brazilian culture and learn Portuguese was simply amazing. I was even able to attend many seminars on subjects including subjects such as horse nutrition and post-graduation opportunities. My classes and the seminars I attended gave me unique ideas on how to improve agricultural management practices in the United States. I loved my time in Brazil, and I cannot wait to return someday!” Click here to read Misty’s blog.