It’s been two months since my fellowship in Brazil wrapped up. The year flew by and was one of the most challenging and rewarding experiences of my career. Now that I’ve had some time to reflect on my first year in Brazil, I thought about what I would do if I could do it all again.
Here’s what I’d recommend to do more of in Brazil:
- Avoid the expat community – for a while. Working abroad is an incredible opportunity to meet new people and immerse yourself in a new culture. If you’re planning to be abroad temporarily, use this as an opportunity to take a sabbatical from your culture and language and immerse yourself in your new country. You’ll be able to pick up the language faster and better understand the culture from locals, two things that are critical at work.
- Say yes. Before I started my fellowship, another fellow recommended to always say yes to everything: dinners, concerts, trips. You’ll figure out what and who you like and don’t like later on, but don’t be afraid to experience new things. Even when I felt uncomfortable, I said yes. Now, I have new friends and good stories to share. So, say yes and put yourself out there – at work and outside the office.
- Ask for help. I’ve had my fair share of problems with utility companies in the U.S. But there is nothing to prepare you for the nightmare that is changing the address on your internet service or dealing with a gas shutoff in your apartment while in a foreign country. Asking for help with these kinds of situations from a local is important, but this also extends to your team at work. Don’t be afraid to admit if and when you need help.
Here’s what I think is best to do less of:
- Worry. Am I saying this the right way? Did I meet expectations on this? What does this mean? If there’s one thing I wish I did less of, it would be worrying. If you’re focused on working hard for your clients, learning the language and the culture and having an open mind, it will all work out, even if there are bumps in the road.
- Fear making mistakes. You might miss a flight to Rio because you though the flight was at 6 p.m. when it was at 6 a.m. Or you might mistranslate something and end up completely lost. With a little humility, you’ll get through the mistakes and you’ll have some good stories to tell. And you might even be able to laugh at yourself a few months later for that missed flight.
- Staying put. Don’t stay in. Travel. Explore your new city and country. Meet new friends. Eat new food. If there’s one thing that is important to keep in mind during your Brazil experience, it’s not staying put. Go forth, be brave and explore.
Nick Lucido is a Daniel J. Edelman Global Fellow alumnus and senior account supervisor working in São Paulo.