Last semester ended so fast and I never got the opportunity to properly sit down, write, and reflect on Brazil and my IBEA journey. So here is the long awaited final post for this site!
Brazil was a whirlwind, but I’ve already missed it a lot. Although I am happy to be back in a place that is conventionally more safe and comfortable for me, I miss the food, music, beaches, people, and lifestyle that I had. I spent so much time outside, doing workouts on the beach and walking on big trails by the coast. I miss my favorite little coffee shop that I used to go to with my friends between classes, and being in Lapa at our favorite caipirinha spot. I also miss the sports (like volleyball) that I played, and having classes and consulting with my IBEA best friends.
With Rio having so much to offer while also being a spot where you have to be very aware of safety, I found it difficult to find a balance at the beginning of the semester. It was hard to know what I could do, where I could go, and what decisions were the smartest given all of the advice and warnings I had heard. In the end, I ended up finding a way to feel a sense of independence and freedom which was much different from the beginning of the semester where I did everything with someone by my side. I was able to find routes that felt safe, and also was fortunate enough to have visitors during the semester which made me feel more at home. As I got more confident in my level of Portuguese I was also able to communicate more effectively which just enriched my time and connections there with people I met and experiences I had. Yes, Rio can be dangerous and its imperative to take suggestions seriously and always be aware of your surroundings and how you portray yourself on the streets. However, its impossible to enjoy a semester while living in fear constantly, so its important to take care of your mental/physical health and find a lifestyle that still feels fulfilling and works for you (which takes time and adjusting to uncomfortable surroundings).
In November, we all did as many things together as we possibly could have. We took a trip to Goiânia and visited the beautiful house/resort that our Brazilian IBEA’s family owns. We spent the weekend there and it was our last big trip all together. We danced all night, ate the BEST Brazilian food, and were completely spoiled with the tranquility and getaway of the resort. His family was so generous to give us that last experience all together, and it was one of my favorite IBEA memories.
Going back to December, we all graduated. It was such a bittersweet week and I definitely felt every emotion. For our ceremony, I had the privilege to write a speech about IBEA. The overall theme of my speech was looking towards what we can accomplish in the future through taking what we’ve learned from this program.
To be surrounded by the same people for two years in 4 countries was the biggest, coolest privilege that I’ve ever experienced. They really all became family to me and I miss them a lot. I remember the goodbyes feeling like they lasted forever because everyone kept showing up to say bye to everyone else, over and over, until there were no IBEAs left. It kept getting more and more painful as the circles became smaller- lots of tears :( !!
I was fortunate enough to have my parents there for our IBEA graduation- they are just the best! I loved introducing them to my life in Brazil and my IBEA best friends. We all had the best time celebrating. After graduation, the three of us took a short (but needed) trip to Santiago, Chile to visit my family there.
Looking back on this time in my life, I’ve come to the conclusion that it was impossible for me to fully appreciate what I had. I was so intentional about looking around, realizing how lucky I was, and taking in every new experience. But, until its over, I couldn’t entirely grasp what I had. This is a sad reality because there will always be small regrets when experiencing such life changing journeys, but even with these feelings, I am really proud of myself and everything that I embraced, accomplished, and learned. It’s really special to be back with my home friends, family, and USC community, but its been a weird adjustment from being gone for so long.
Moving forward, I want to continue posting blogs/updates about my life on a different platform, because I've really enjoyed this. To give a final current update, I will be graduating with my undergrad degree in International Business and Management (consulting), with a minor in Portuguese in May. I also have a concentration in Business Sustainability, which has allowed me to take some really cool courses that give me a break from strictly business classes and let me focus on the state of our world. Also, this summer, I have accepted an internship at Mercer Consulting Company in Chicago, IL. I will move there in June for the summer! Next semester (fall 2025) I will be back to Columbia, SC to finish up my Master of International Business degree (I am currently taking masters classes now, which makes my completion of this degree faster). My final graduation will be in December- I am not sure where life will take me after 2025, but I am excited for whatever is coming. Additionally, I have accepted a position at Darla Moore to be an official Graduate Assistant. I will be in charge of planning International Business events, leading teams, and recruiting participants for trips/events.
I am so thankful for all of the support I have received from my family, friends and faculty. I could talk forever about my experience at USC and what my program has given me, so I am always open to chat if anyone reading this has more questions or comments about anything!
Thank you SO much for reading this past year 🙂
Love,
Brigitte
P.S.
Subtle plug, I urge whoever is reading this to also check out Emily Yn’s podcast project: https://creators.spotify.com/pod/show/emilyyn/episodes/International-Business-Education-Alliance-wBrigitte-Pinochet-e2vho3c
Emily is in IBEA with me, and I was lucky enough to be on this podcast and give a little bit of advice about abroad, and also talk about our experiences. Whether or not IBEA is your journey, she has interviewed really cool people who have so much wisdom to offer from their travels. The theme of the podcast is essentially "going abroad: the reality versus social media's portrayal"!
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