Thoughts from abroad...

Sullivan, (above) lonely and looking for “The Girl from Ipanema.”

Daniel Sullivan, Steds junior, is studying abroad in beautiful Brazil. Let's hear what's going on south of equator...

St. Ed: How are you getting along in Brazil,  the largest Spanish-speaking country?

Sullivan: They speak Portuguese.

St. Ed: Yes, of course. Still, how is your Spanish coming along?

Sullivan: They say that most communication is non-verbal and that helps. For example, I've heard this idiom from many, and it goes something like this: "A gente deve esfaquear o gringo e depois jogar o corpo no rio." Now, that's a mouthful, but based on the attentive stares and intense body language that comes with it, it can only mean one thing: "Welcome! We're glad you're here."

St. Ed: Is it true? Is Carnival celebrated every weekend, or does it just feel like it is?

Sullivan: A14-year-old boy could buy a bottle of whiskey from a diner at 11 a.m. with half a day's wages and a dream. Americans live to work, Europeans work to live, and Brazilians don't work at all. But they sure know how to party! 

St. Ed: From your picture, it looks like you have taken time from your rigorous academics to enjoy a few of the famous beaches of Brazil?

Sullivan: I have. There's definitely an adjustment to be made to the more relaxed come-to-class-whenever-you-feel-like attitude of my peers and my professors. Thankfully, I have been able to make the adjustment.

St. Ed: What do you miss from home?

Sullivan: I'm definitely missing clean drinking water and the streets free of feral dogs, but I also miss St. Ed's, Chipotle, and that South Bend skyline. Of course, you can't beat waking up under the Dome. 

Oh, to be a student again…