My exchange to the University of São Paulo, first time in Brazil!
- jhoanguzmanh
- Apr 26, 2021
- 2 min read
It was 2014, I was in my 4 year of college at the Universidad Industrial de Santander (UIS) and I have finished all my core courses and started my elective and required major courses in Metallurgic Engineering. Someday, the idea of pursuing an internship in the metallurgic industry or an academic exchange in a different institution crossed my mind. I wanted to have a differentiation among my peers. Without work experience and acquaintances in the Colombian industry, it was difficult to find opportunities in the field for me. Moreover, the vacancies for such internships were very rare in my academic department. I started to skim for university programs abroad, especially in Brazil because I knew that the education was free, outstanding, and the language Portugueses was easier to learn than English (I did not know English at that time). I reached out to the office of International Relations UIS, and I discovered that it had many academic agreements with Brazilian Universities, one of them, in the Polytechnic School of the University of Sao Paulo (USP).
After receiving the orientation and help from International Relations UIS, I explained my plans to my family of going to Brazil. They supported my decision, even with our economical difficulties, so I applied to an academic exchange in USP. I read a lot about the University, the city of São Paulo, and investigated the Faculties before I received acceptance to the program. I also learned Portuguese. The day came and I got accepted! I was so thrilled...
I got accepted as an exchange student in the Department of Metallurgic and Materials Science and Engineering of USP, the best of Latin America. I wanted to attend classes that were not offered in Colombia, especially about polymers and powders. More importantly, I also wanted to do research. I emailed Professor Hélio Goldenstein, who frequently worked with Colombian researchers. He answered me and told me about his projects. When I arrived in Brazil, he associated me with his postdoc, Dr. Mario Ramirez, who will become my friend and advisor during my stance in USP. I worked with HSLA steels for the oil industry. The best part of my academic exchange was to learn from different Professors, made scientific collaborations, and conduct experiments. I was the first student from UIS in that department, and that incentivized the mobilization and acceptance in research of more Colombian students from UIS there. Moreover, one of the juries of my final work will become my master's mentor, Professor Fernando Landgraf, however, that will only happen 3 years after, in 2017.
Brazil was amazing, I learned so many things, the most important: I want to be a scientist. Besides college life, I knew important friends from different parts of the world, we party, played soccer, and shared many happy moments! I lost my fears and I had the opportunity to see beautiful and natural places of that incredible country. I went to Rio de Janeiro and Foz de Iguzau. Regarding its food, I loved it, my favorite dish was stroganoff (delicious), and also loved its music. I am so grateful for this experience, thanks to my family I went to Brazil and had the privilege of study abroad!
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