New Senses

Guest post by: Maggie Buenrostro, a junior studying Finance and Information Systems was awarded the GBC Scholarship and had the opportunity to travel abroad to Brazil.

After a few days in Salvador, Brazil, I fell in love with the city. I started my trip to Brazil in Rio De Janeiro- where I was introduced to a new way of foods, interaction, and beautiful beaches. But Salvador is a whole different world, this city stimulated my senses in a way I have not experienced before. The vibrant colors, food, people and smells offered a unique experience everyday. Coming from someone who likes to dive into new and sometimes scary opportunities, I can tell you what makes this city so amazing for me is, again, the exposure to a medley of senses.

Not only touch, smell, taste, sound, and sight- but feeling as well. The different senses I felt when my host mother treated me like family, to when I saw a breathtaking sight of the Atlantic during sunset, and seeing places like Comunidade da Liberdade allowed me to gain a new perspective on Brazil and income disparities. This program opened my mind to a new way of thinking about food, dance, and music as these cultural elements are utilized as tools for social empowerment.