The four things Instagram photos won’t show you about study abroad


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Spring semester of junior year is a popular time for college students to pack their bags and set out for foreign adventures. I remember being at USC (being one of the few in my peer group that decided to stay at school) and looking at the captivating Instagram photos of my friends riding camels in Morocco, having morning tea in England and taking artsy mural photos in Italy. Studying abroad seemed like a carefree, easy task – filled with complete and utter happiness.

Now in my senior year, I am currently studying abroad in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Though living abroad is an incredible opportunity, there are some things that Instagram photos just won’t show you.

Studying abroad isn’t easy. There are a million things that are involved with studying in a foreign country. New food, new culture, new language and transferring credits are just a few of the many things that can be mentally, emotionally and physically draining.

During my first month here in Brazil, it was really difficult adjusting to the Brazilian diet (so much so that I ended up losing 10 pounds, which I’m not necessarily complaining about.) Breakfast usually consists of bread and a fruit – which left me feeling hungry again very quickly. Brazilians also eat a lot of salty, fried snacks (called salgados) that I soon grew tired of. I missed the diversity and big portions of American food that I was accustomed to, but having completed my first month in Brazil, I’ve now found ways to make the Brazilian diet work for me.

Your preconceived notions (and those of your peers) about the country you’re going to visit are probably wrong. Before traveling to Brazil, the media, my family and friends made me believe that I was traveling to an exotic place in the middle of the Amazon, plagued with violence and drug and human trafficking. This couldn’t be farther from the truth. I feel very safe in Rio de Janeiro, which yes, is an actual functioning city with public transportation, people driving cars, shopping centers, businesses, educational institutions, etc. Like any place you travel to, you should be aware of your surroundings and be cautious of traveling by yourself at night, but I haven’t experienced any more danger in Rio than back at school in L.A.

You will be put out of your comfort zone, but that isn’t always a bad thing. It’s not a secret that Brazilians spend a lot of their time at the beach. One of the first things I noticed was what tiny bathing suits women and men wear at the beach. The “fio dental” (dental floss) bikini stereotype is very real for many Brazilian women. Coming from the United States, where retro, high-waisted bathing suits are currently the trend, it made me uncomfortable both seeing and showing so much of the human body in broad daylight. Nevertheless, I’ve come to respect how Brazilians view the human body. Instead of finding it shameful, they treat it as something to be admired – which I’ve found to be very liberating.

Lastly, an Instagram picture can’t possibly sum up your experience studying abroad. Studying abroad in Rio de Janeiro has given me time to appreciate the world around me, not just the one in my phone. Take the time to truly experience the country you’re traveling to and you’ll soon realize just how great studying abroad really is. (Plus, if you’re going to a place like Brazil, sometimes your Internet won’t work so you won’t even be able to check your social media pages.)