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Master Lucie Fojtová, Brno University of Technology,

ročník 1,5

Faculty

Faculty of Civil Engeneering

Field of study

Architecture and Urbanism

Field of internship

Architecture

Specialization of Internship

City/Urban, Community and Regional Planning

Internship period (from - to)

10/10/2022 - 2/12/2022

Internship duration (weeks)

Transport (means, price)

airplane, apr. 1500 Euro

Insurance/Insurance company

Kooperativa

Visa/Work permit (yes/no)

Price of Visa

City of Internship

Brazil, Ouro Preto

Internship reference number

BR/2022-182-UFOP

About the country

Location of the place

Ouro Preto is a small historic colonial town in the interior of Brazil. It is located at an altitude of about 1000 m above sea level, in a very hilly landscape. The nearest big city with an airport is Belo Horizonte, but by Brazilian standards, Rio de Janeiro and Sao Paulo are also very close, making it a very lucrative and interesting part of the country.

City

Ouro Preto is very pleasant, and unlike most Brazilian cities, it is also very safe. There are a lot of students living here, and thanks to the fact that the city is a UNESCO monument, it is also visited by a lot of tourists. The city is really beautiful, clean and there are also several nature hikes nearby. There is public transport in the city (buses and local taxis) but most points of interest are within walking distance. There are plenty of cafes, bars, shops, restaurants, churches and museums in town so there is plenty to discover.

Surroundings (possible trips, ...)

Around the city I visited the nearby waterfalls, Itacolomi Natural Park, the neighboring city of Mariana, the city of Belo Horizonte (I highly recommend the Inhotim Museum), Rio de Janeiro and Sao Paulo.

Employer

I worked in a research group at the local UFOP university. The collaboration was great, I really enjoyed the work. All my supervisors spoke good English and were very nice and helpful.

Work description

I worked on different projects alone and in collaboration with other students. My main work included field research, creating 3d models, creating visualizations and researching and designing possible solutions.

Salary (sufficient for local conditions?)

I got 600 reais per month. At university I had the option of lunch and dinner in the school canteen (for free). However, it's not enough money to live in Ouro Preto (accommodation alone costs 400 reais), so you have to account for your own expenses.

Language requirements

In the description of the internship it was written that English or Spanish is required. As I mentioned my superiors spoke perfect English, unfortunately you can't do without at least basic Portuguese in Brazil (almost no one outside the university speaks English), so I highly recommend learning at least the basics before you go.

Accommodation (price, who provided it)

I lived in shared student housing (the so-called Republic). This form of accommodation is very specific, but it was one of the best experiences of the whole internship. I lived with 8-10 Brazilian girls, it was an amazing opportunity to get to know the locals and get involved in the social life and learn the language. I stayed in a shared room for two people, the accommodation is simple but perfectly adequate and I highly recommend it to anyone visiting Ouro Preto. The accommodation included a kitchen and laundry facilities.Accommodation cost 400 reais per month

Social life

Meeting IAESTE members (pick-up at the airport, organized events...)

I did not request a pick-up from the airport because I had one night in Belo Horizonte before arriving in Ouro Preto. I was picked up at the bus station in Ouro Preto by my roommates car, the arrangement was great and it definitely helped me a lot. I didn't end up attending the events directly with IAESTE students because there were enough social activities in Ouro Preto, but I was part of a few whatsapp groups, so the opportunity was there, I just didn't use it personally.

Meeting other foreign students

I only met other international students once, but as I mentioned above, it was my decision rather than not being an option.

Sport and culture

There are many opportunities for cultural activities in the city - there are churches, museums, restaurants, cafes and other businesses. In case you stay at one of the republics a lot of social activities are organized by local students. The university includes a gymnasium.

Food, local specialties

The state of Minas Gerais is famous for its good food, so there's certainly no shortage of it. The most typical dish is beans with rice and meat. I didn't find as many dishes for vegetarians and vegans in shops or restaurants as I'm used to from Europe, but otherwise the food in this area is really good.

Other information

Possibilites to communicate with the Czech Republic

Facebook, Whatsapp, Messenger.

Recommendations for students who will go to the same place

Learn at least the basics of Portuguese, live in the Republics, allow for expenses beyond the internship fee, pay attention to safety in Brazilian cities (Ouro Preto is relatively safe but still good to be wary of). It's not easy to get a sim card for foreigners in Brazil, you'll probably need help from locals.