Internship in Brazil

Spirit, rhythm, passion, carnival – all of these combine to form an approach to life that is like nowhere else on Earth. However, Brazil has much more to offer than the usual clichés of Copacabana beach, samba, coffee, Sugarloaf Mountain and football. It is the world’s fifth largest country in geographical area, occupies nearly half of the South American continent, and has a population of almost 200 million people, whose characters differ greatly from region to region. Brazil is huge in every sense of the word and the ideal location to take part in an unforgettable internship. Brazilians are generally regarded as a very proud, passionate and religious people, who love to dance and party. This vibrancy, together with stunning scenery, historical cities and a population famous for their hospitality and fun-filled nature, make Brazil a truly unique place to visit.

Rio carnival is often called the “biggest show on Earth” and is a spectacular multi-coloured display of samba dancing and Brazilian culture. The world-famous parade is the climax of the festival and is jam-packed with people from various “Escolas de samba” (samba schools) who compete to have the best floats, costumes, music and dancing. Throughout the city there are also countless balls, street parties and music concerts, which generate a magical and vibrant atmosphere that must be seen to be believed! After so much entertainment, what could be better than heading straight for the coast to seek out the country’s most beautiful beaches? It is impossible not to be instantly enchanted by the white sands and the paradise-like beauty of the turquoise seas. The most well-known beaches are Ipanema and Copacabana in Rio, Joaquina (in the South and famous for its international surfing competitions), Praia do Forte on the Bahia coast (site of the Tamar Project for the protection of sea turtles), and last but not least, the heavenly shores of the Fernando de Noronha archipelago.

The Amazon is, of course, a must-see during your stay in Brazil. With a surface area of almost 5.5 million square kilometres, it is the world’s largest rainforest and covers 61% of the country. The Amazon is recognised as having the greatest biological diversity in the world, and it is estimated that the total number of species in Brazil could approach four million.

Portuguese is the national language, although the pronunciation is quite different to that of Portugal and other former Portuguese colonies. Some people even believe that Brazilians now speak the “Brazilian language” due to their completely different accent and intonation. These differences can be compared to those between American and British English, although the level of variation is somewhat greater and each region has its own linguistic peculiarities. Many Brazilians also speak German and Italian, particularly in the southern regions, due to the historical influence of colonisation. Brazilian society is notably diverse and multi-ethnic, and has been shaped over centuries by various European, African and Indigenous cultures and traditions.

The Brazilian economy is the world’s ninth largest, and has well-developed agricultural, mining, manufacturing and service sectors. The country has recently experienced huge growth in its exports trade (specializing in aircraft, agriculture, steel and automobiles) and finance industry, and is regarded as one of the group of four emerging economies called BRIC.

As you can see Brazil is a country full of joy, colour, friendliness and good living – when you have been here once, you will want to return again and again!