Trips: San Antonio, Dallas, Fort Worth, Houston

Hi again, y’all!

Told ya I wouldn’t take long to be back — and this time I actually made it. So proud of myself! 

Over the past few weeks, I got to visit a few different cities here in Texas — and honestly, I loved them all. So I thought I’d drop by and share a bit about those experiences.

First stop: San Antonio. I went on a trip with the TTI group, and we visited the beautiful River Walk and The Alamo. It was so interesting to learn more about the Spanish occupation in that area and the conflicts that eventually led to it becoming part of the U.S. Really gave me some historical perspective!

Next up was Dallas, which I visited with some classmates. We rented a car and went on our own. The city actually reminded me of São Paulo, with tall buildings everywhere! We didn’t have that much to do there, but it was still cool to check out the skyline. What really stole my heart, though, was the nearby town of Fort Worth. It had that charming small-town vibe, like an old western movie set. We even got to see a longhorn parade — I absolutely loved it!

In Houston, we haven't had a problem. Quite the opposite! We had a great time. My classmates and I went to the Museum of Natural Science, which was amazing. But the real highlight for me was definitely the NASA Johnson Space Center. I was like a kid again! I loved the aircrafts, the simulations, everything.

Even though I got to visit all these cities, time was short and I didn’t get to explore them as much as I wanted. So far, though, Austin is still #1 in my heart. 💛 

Texas is treating me so well — let’s see what comes next!

 xoxo, 

Ana Paula Salvador

First Weeks, First Impressions

Hi, y'all!

I know I said in my last post I’d be back soon with updates… and here I am, late again. (Sorry once more, Fontini!)

Anyway — better late than never, right?

So much has happened these past few weeks! I’ve visited a bunch of places. We did a city tour around Austin, went to some parks, and checked out lots of cool landmarks. I also met some awesome people — my classmates and professors are great too! But today I really wanted to share my first impressions of the people here.

Back in 2008, I had a  few bad experiences. Nothing super rude, but I could tell people treated me differently because they assumed I was Mexican or from another Spanish-speaking country. They’d start talking to me in Spanish, and when I replied in English and said I was from Brazil, their attitude changed — suddenly they were nicer. But by then, that awkward first impression had already stuck with me.

This time, I haven’t had any situations like that so far. Austin feels way more multicultural now — I’ve seen more people from different backgrounds, and I think that helps. Everyone’s been super friendly, always ready to help, and with a smile on their face. It’s been such a positive vibe!

One of the highlights of these first few weeks was my trip to New York Cirty for the 4th of July. The city definitely has its ups and downs — amazing food, tons of stuff to see and do, but also super crowded, noisy, and kinda dirty. Still, I had a great time! I squeezed in a lot during the few days I was there and had some really cool experiences.

What stood out the most to me, though, was noticing the cultural differences within the U.S. In NYC, I felt like people were way more focused on themselves. They just mind their own business and don’t really go out of their way to help others. Honestly, I had some unpleasant moments — especially with restaurant staff. Some were kinda rude, not patient when I was unsure about what to order, and a bit pushy about tips.

Coming back to Austin made me appreciate this city and its people even more!

I promise I’ll be back soon with more updates — for real this time!

xoxo,

Ana Paula Salvador

 

Then and now

Hey, everyone!

This blog is all about sharing my experience as a student at the University of Texas at Austin, where I’m participating in a Teacher Training Program for Brazilian English teachers. My experience goes way beyond the classes — it’s in every person I meet, every place I visit, every text I read, every food I try, and so much more. I know I’m starting this blog a little late (Sorry, Fontini!), but better late than never, right?

Let's start with some thoughts on the past and present. Back in 2008, I had the chance to take part in a similar program here in Austin, but through the Texas International Education Consortium, sponsored by the American Embassy in Brazil. At first, I was really surprised by how much the city has changed over the past 17 years. Some changes were great, others… not so much.

The not-so-great ones? Well, one of the saddest things I noticed was the increase in the number of homeless people on the streets. It really got to me, and I just hope that situation changes soon. Another thing is how much the city has grown — and so has the traffic, especially during rush hour. And the number of tall buildings really took me by surprise! Back then, there were only a few around Congress Street and nearby areas. Now, there are loads. They’re beautiful, though! I’m not complaining about that, but I just hope Austin doesn’t turn into a city like São Paulo where you can barely see anything but buildings.

On the bright side, some things haven’t changed — the city is still super clean, has good public transportation, the friendly people, tons of green spaces, amazing food, and of course, fantastic places to listen to live music.

Now, about me — how I’ve changed over these 17 years. Ana Paula from back then was 25 years old, had a 2-year-old daughter, and a husband who traveled a lot for work. I was still struggling with two jobs and pursuing a a challenging graduate degree. I had tons of plans, but no time to make them happen because I didn't even have time for myself. Because of that, I didn’t really get to enjoy the opportunity to the fullest because I was always worried about my responsibilities back home.

Ana Paula is now 43, has a husband who travels much less, a 19-year-old daughter who's super smart and amazing, and a stable position with a good income at the Federal Institute of Amazonas. All this new context allows me to be a better teacher, a better student and a better mom. Also, it gives me more time for myself to do the things I love and, as a result, I can be a better person. This new chapter is really letting me experience what I couldn't back then — living in the moment without guilt and truly diving into this intercultural experience. I'm excited to share more about all of this soon!

Catch y'all later!