Positive expectations

May 24, 2017

Since deciding to attend Northeastern, I had been eyeing the different Dialogue of Civilizations programs. I have never traveled outside of the country and I couldn’t think of a better way to do it than with my classmates while taking interesting classes. Sustainable Energy in Brazil caught my eye for a few reasons. First of all, the location seems amazing. I watched hours of the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, so I Brazil was fresh in my mind. I also looked into the locations before applying and all of the cities we visit in Brazil have something unique to offer. Second, the location is extremely relevant to the classwork. Brazil is already implementing many sustainable energy strategies and we get to visit companies that are leading the way in sustainable energy. Lastly, sustainable energy is a very important topic today. Our planet needs help and, as an engineering student, I feel obligated to educate myself on the topic, so I can make a difference in the future. Now, I am counting down the days until I leave for Sao Paulo.

I only expect positive change from this experience. Since I have never left the country, I have a very limited world view. My experiences are limited to the same country where everyone is fairly similar. When I’m on a different continent, I expect to experience a whole new culture with many interesting beliefs and perspectives. Hopefully, this new culture will give me a new and more developed perspective on the world. That is my main goal. I plan to achieve it by experiencing the culture in as many ways as possible. I will try to make the most out of every cultural activity in order to explore the culture as thoroughly as possible. My main fear is doing something rude or offensive and not being aware of it because of cultural differences. However, if that does happen, it will be a learning experience and help me achieve my goals in the end. I’m most looking forward to simply experiencing the Brazilian culture, but if I had to choose one cultural activity that I’m excited about, it would be attending a soccer game. I’m a big sports fan and have only heard legends about Brazilian soccer. Overall, I can’t wait to leave for Brazil and am excited to see what I take away from this experience.

Written By

John Zukowski

I am a first-year mechanical engineering major from Madison, Wisconsin. I have never left the country. So, when I saw the chance to study sustainable energy in Brazil, I jumped at the opportunity. As an engineering student, I feel obligated to understand the implications of technology on the environment. Through this Dialogue, I hope to gain an understanding of sustainable energy that will help me throughout the rest of college and my future career. I am also excited to explore the culture of Brazil. Hopefully, by immersing myself in a foreign culture for a month, I will develop a new perspective on the world.