Welcome to São Paulo, a city of contrasts, diverse ethnicities and vibrant life! Home to 19 million Brazilians, Sampa – as the locals call it – is the financial and economic hub of Latin America. The city vividly exemplifies the challenges and possibilities of modern Brazil: a serious wealth gap with dynamic growth, modern buildings and luxurious shops alongside thousands of city-dwellers with minimal infrastructure.

Sampa never stops. There is always something going on, from international festivals or meetings to musical celebrations, painting, cinema or fashion. Declared a "World Gastronomic Capital" by the 10th International Congress of Gastronomy, Hospitality and Tourism, the city offers myriad flavors among which to choose. Beyond food, the blend of European, African, Asian, and indigenous races and cultures has left its mark all across Brazilian society, from music and dance to beloved futebol (soccer), where rhythm, skill and passion meet in the field. With exposure to capoeira, samba and bossa nova are students will experience Brazil's most famous cultural exports firsthand.

Even amidst the cement and glass skyscrapers, we can also find one of the world's largest urban rainforests. Minutes away is the Serra de Cantareira, a protected reserve of the Atlantic rainforest that once covered the region and one of the richest biodiversity sites on earth.     

Two weeks of immersive education will give students an opportunity to witness São Paulo's power to surprise, and give an understanding of Brazil that goes far beyond figures and facts.