Experience report
ANR:
Name:
E-mail:
Exchange semester:
Academic year:
321846
Laurence W.M. Otemann
l.w.m.otemann@tilburguniversity.edu
Fall Semester 2014
2014-2015
Host University:
Fundacao Getulio Vargas EESP/EAESP/Direito
Country:
Brazil
TOPIC: Admission, arrival, housing
How was your arrival organized? Did someone pick you up from the airport/station? Was an
orientation or introduction activity organized? How was accommodation organized? Does the
university provide you with accommodation? What kind of accommodation does the university
provide? Did you have to book your accommodation in advance or did you have to search for a place
to live after you arrived?
There was nothing arranged at all, there was no arrival or pickup from the airport. However there was
an introduction day organized which started with general information about the university, the healthcare
program and a presentation by the dean. After that there was a city tour which is nice if you didn’t do it
yourself yet. The university does not provide any housing however there are several Facebook groups
where you can subscribe and find housing yourself very easy. I moved once during my exchange and
in my second house I had a furnished room in an apartment with 3 other Brazilian students.
TOPIC: Location of university/city
Please describe the city you lived in. Where is the university located in the city? What is the best
place to go to eat/drink/dance/do sports/etc.? What are interesting things to see and do in your host
city? What was different than in Tilburg?
Although a lot of people consider or think that Sao Paulo is a dangerous city: it is not! The neighborhoud
where the university is located is Bela Vista, one of the best neighborhoods in Sao Paulo together with
Jardims, which is on the otherside of Paulista Avenue. In these two neighborhoods you can find
everything you need, from gyms to clubs to restaurants and much more. Personally I think Sao Paulo
it self is not a very interesting city to visit as a tourist, however it is an amazing place to live especially
around Paulista Avenue. The city is completely different from Tilburg since there are more people living
in this city than in the Netherlands as a whole.
TOPIC: Academics
Which courses did you take and why? Which courses would you recommend? What did the courses
add to your program at Tilburg University? How does the university compare to Tilburg University
concerning the level of the courses, use of extra material, level of English, workload, etc.? Overall,
were you happy with your academic achievements during your exchange? Please describe the
campus of your host university.
During my exchange I took 2 economics, 2 business and 2 law courses. These courses are all
completely different from the courses at Tilburg University since they approach more the historic and
recent developments of the continent and less about finance, account and macro for example. The
courses I took are: Introduction to International Taxation (Law), Business Law, Brazil in Global Affairs
(Economics), the Development of Latin America (Economics), Emerging Powers (Business) and
Corporate Social Responsibility (Business). The level of classes is a bit lower than in Tilburg, however
the subjects have a different approach. There are much more presentation, discussion and papers
involved than in Tilburg. The content is excellent though, the latest research papers/magazines/books
are used. The University itself does not have a campus but are two big buildings next to each other,
and the law building is located down the street.
TOPIC: Social life
Which social activities organized by the university or students? Did you have contact with local
students? Did you have contact with other exchange students? How did you get along with the local
students and other exchange students? Did you travel to other places/countries during your
exchange?
Except the introduction day there are no social activities organized for the exchange students, however
there are university parties which are excellent. There is a special group/organization on Facebook
where you can subscribe who organizes parties for all the exchange students from all different
universities in Sao Paulo and these parties are amazing too. This is also a nice way to get in touch with
students and exchange students from different universities. Furthermore I had an excellent relationship
with the Brazilian students since there were some in my classes and of course because there is a buddy
program. During my exchange I travelled a lot to different places in Brazil but also to different countries.
During my exchange I travelled to Argentina and Chile and after my exchange to Boliva and Peru. Often
in the weekends I travelled within Brazil to places at the beach or to different cities like Rio de Janeiro
and Salvador.
TOPIC: Living costs
How did you finance your exchange period, apart from the grant you received from Tilburg University?
What were your living expenses abroad like compared to Tilburg? What did you spend most of your
money on? What would you advice future students to spend their money on? Please outline your
approximate monthly budget whilst on exchange: housing, food, textbooks, etc.
Going on an exchange is expensive, definitely when you travel a lot. The living expenses in Sao Paulo
are comparable with those in Tilburg and depending on the location housing is ever more expensive.
Going out to a club can be very expensive too, depending on the club since in most clubs you have to
pay an entrence fee in order to get in. The most expensive thing is travelling though, and because I
travelled a lot this counts up.
A budget (€):
Housing: 300-400
Food: 100-150
Textbooks: 10 (small books, but mainly priniting costs)
Travelling: Depending on the month and destinations
Fixed contracts in Holland: Depending on the contracts you have (mobile/insurance/etc)
TOPIC: Culture
Did you experience culture shock while on exchange? How would you compare your host culture to
your own culture? What did you learn about your own culture while on exchange? What was different
about your host culture than you expected? What did you like and not like about your host culture? Do
you feel you learned a lot about your host culture, and if not, what would you like to learn more? How
would you describe your host countries culture? If you travelled to other cities/countries during your
exchange, were they different than your host city/country, and how?
I did not experience a culture shock while being on my exchange, but probably because I have
travelled before to different places in the world. The Brazilian culture is complete different from the
Dutch culture, it is much more calm and easy going. If you want something to get done expect it wont
be done when you want it. This could be nice since there is less pressure during deadlines however it
is annoying when you need something fast. I think I learned a lot about my host country’s culture,
especially to be patient and to respect all different cultures.
TOPIC: Personal development
What did you learn from the people you met during your exchange? Would you do things differently if
you had the chance, and what would you do differently? What was your best experience, and what
was your worst experience? What will you remember for ever about your exchange period? What was
the most important lesson you learned about yourself during your exchange period?
During my exchange I learned a lot about different cultures and people. The most important lesson I
learned is that you need to adapt to a different culture. If you ask for a favor you can never expect that
it will be done in the timeframe they promised you, which is probably the most important thing I learned
during my internship. The things I always will remember are the amazing people, the great travel
adventures and of course the impressions from the different countries I have visited.
TOPIC: Tips for future students
Would you recommend an exchange period? Would you recommend your host university? What
should prospective students bring with them/leave behind? What preparation is required for going on
exchange to this destination? Was there anything you should have done in preparation that you didn’t
do?
I would recommend to research really well where you want to go. Going to Brazil not only means
beaches and party but also living in a country which is not as developed as the Northwestern European
countries. Sao Paulo however is a very modern city around Paulista Avenue and a great place to live.
In addition to that my university is excellent, well know in Brazil and is top ranked in Economics. I would
definitely recommend Sao Paulo and this university.
TOPIC: A picture is worth a thousand words
If you took any pictures or made any videos that you would like to share with future exchange
students, please include them (or e-mail them separately). Pictures that show your daily life or
symbolize your exchange period are especially interesting for future exchange students.
Terrazzo Italia, a breathtaking view from Sao Paulo!