Karmen Armand on studying and living at the University of Campinas in Brazil as part of the Double Degree Programme
Karmen Armand, a second-year student in the Master's program "Science, Technology, and Innovation Management and Policy" (ISSEK), is completing her master's degree at the University of Campinas (UNICAMP) this summer to receive both a Russian and a Brazilian diploma. She graciously agreed to share her experience of living and studying in Brazil this year.
PREPARING FOR DEPARTURE
Why did you decide to participate in the double degree program, and how did the application and selection process go?
I've always been fascinated by Latin America: I loved music, literature, and dance; visiting it was my dream. I also really wanted to gain international experience as part of my education, which I didn't have the opportunity to do during my undergraduate degree. When I learned about the double degree program, I knew it was my chance.
The selection process itself wasn't difficult: I prepared a motivation letter, described my plans for the programme and the reasons for choosing it, and then went through an interview, where we also discussed what awaited me in Brazil and whether I was truly ready for it.
What documents were required for admission/enrollment at UNICAMP? How difficult was the visa application process?
Preparing documents for the University of Campinas was straightforward. I only needed to prepare an application and a transcript from HSE University. However, obtaining a student visa proved more challenging—the list of required documents was impressive. Fortunately, the embassy staff were friendly and helpful. The key is to carefully review the requirements on the embassy website and begin gathering documents well in advance.
Did you prepare in any way for your move to Brazil? Did you study Portuguese in advance? Did the host university provide any special adaptation materials?
A few months before leaving Russia, I started studying Portuguese on my own. I'll admit it didn't help me at all as upon arrival I still couldn't understand Brazilians at all! I read a lot and watched videos about life and culture in Brazil. The University of Campinas sent me materials about studying in Campinas, which covered the most important aspects of adaptation, such as housing, transportation, medical care, food, cultural life, etc.
How did you search for a place to live in Campinas?
I must admit that finding housing was one of the most challenging tasks. The University of Campinas doesn't provide dormitories for students, so for the first few weeks I rented an apartment on Airbnb (which wasn't easy to do from Russia—I had help from friends abroad). Then, once in Campinas, I started looking for long-term housing through Facebook*. Large houses near universities where students live together — so-called "republics" — are popular in Brazil as well as kitnets — small apartments for one person. The former is cheaper, the latter is more expensive. One interesting thing is that each "republic" has its own atmosphere, and they often look for someone who will "fit in with the group." To get a place to live I had to go through interviews in Portuguese, and I failed the first few! Another local peculiarity is that apartments are usually rented unfurnished, so I bought a lot of the furniture myself. Luckily, the student who was moving out of the room I'm currently living in sold me some furniture.
STUDYING AT A BRAZILIAN UNIVERSITY
Can you describe your typical school day/week? How does the schedule differ from our program?
At HSE, I only had evening classes on weekdays and afternoon classes on Saturdays. At the University of Campinas, classes can be scheduled for anytime: the earliest ones start at 8am, and the latest ones end at 11pm. I tried to choose the classes that were during the day, since I live in Campinas but study in Limeira, and the commute was an hour by bus. The educational process itself isn't much different from what it is at our programme at HSE University: discussion of new topics, preparation of presentations, studying articles, etc.
How does the grading and assessment system work? Are there exams, coursework, or projects? What courses are you taking?
At the University of Campinas, regular class attendance is important: to receive a passing grade, you must be present for more than 75% of your classes. We had graded assignments throughout the semester and a final project or essay at the end. Otherwise, the course curriculum depended on the individual instructor and was not much different from the HSE curriculum. Grades are awarded using a letter format, from A to F.
Last semester I took three courses: Marketing, Emerging Topics in Sustainability, and Entrepreneurship and Socioeconomic Development, and right now I am finishing my master's thesis. Studying in Brazil is generally more relaxed and has had a positive impact on my academic performance.
How is communication with classmates and academic supervisors organized? How actively do you use English?
We used Moodle to study (similar to LMS that we have at HSE), and corporate email as well as group chats in messengers (created specifically for each course) to communicate — this allowed us to interact freely with instructors and classmates. Overall, the distance between instructors and students is noticeably smaller in Brazil. Everyone with whom I interacted directly during the program—academic director, instructors, programme manager—all spoke fluent English. However, if you know Portuguese, your potential network expands significantly.
What university resources turned out to be particularly helpful?
I find computer labs very useful since it is quiet there and comfortable - perfect to write papers.
LIFE IN BRAZIL
What were your first impressions of the city and the university? What surprised you most?
I arrived in early August when it was winter here, and the nights were very cold at first. The houses here have no heating so I slept fully clothed. What struck me most though were the palm trees and the general abundance of greenery around. You can often see mango, acerola, and mulberry trees growing outside. And, of course, year-round sunshine is something very unusual, considering I've lived most of my life in cloudy St. Petersburg. Campinas itself, frankly speaking, is not very impressive, but the university is very interesting—it's a huge campus like those you see in American movies, with everything you could possibly want.
Please tell us about your daily life: shopping, transportation, cellular services.
The university town has a wide variety of shops, and public transportation takes you to one of Brazil's largest shopping malls. There are numerous online platforms, such as iFood (for grocery shopping), Mercado Livre, and Amazon (similar to our Ozon and WB stores). It is important to keep in mind though that most platforms list prices without tax, so the total price of the order is always a surprise.
There are no pickup points here—orders are delivered directly to your home. Public transportation runs regularly, and taxis are also readily available. Intercity travel is limited to buses and flights; there are no trains. In my experience, buses have never departed on time and have always arrived 1-3 hours late. There are numerous mobile phone providers here, the most popular being Vivo and Claro, both of which are quite reliable.
How do you like the local cuisine? Have you tried any traditional dishes?
The Brazilian diet is fairly monotonous: rice, beans, farofa (roasted cassava flour), and plenty of coffee, which they drink at all times. Some truly delicious dishes worth mentioning include churrasco (Brazilian barbecue), moqueca (white fish fillet or shrimp in coconut-lime sauce), and curau (corn pudding). The exotic (for us) fruits—like mango, papaya, and guava—are incredibly delicious. However, it's best to avoid bread, fermented milk products, or pickled foods.
How do you spend your free time? Are there any student clubs, events, or sports? Do you have a favorite place in the city for studying and/or relaxing?
You can play sports on campus: the Faculty of Physical Education offers a variety of sports clubs for a nominal fee. You can go dancing—there's a cultural center near the university—and, of course, attend parties: they're held here almost every week. Campinas itself is a large city with a population of over a million, so there's entertainment for everyone's taste.
In my free time I travel around Brazil. My favorite place is Ipanema Beach in Rio de Janeiro. São Paulo is also a fun place to spend time at - it is a large modern metropolis located nearby.
CULTURAL EXPERIENCE AND ADAPTATION
What cultural differences were the most noticeable (in communication, studies, everyday life, etc.)? Were you able to make friends among the local students?
Brazilians are very friendly and sociable, they're interested in people from Russia, and they're always willing to help. I'd also note that they're not at all confrontational and avoid any signs of aggression.
One of the things I had to get used to was the slower pace of life: long lines that often form at the checkout due to informal interactions between salespeople and customers, and service in restaurants is not particularly prompt (no one rushes to clear tables, bring food or the check). After living in Moscow it is particularly difficulty to get used to such a relaxed and slow pace of life.
At the moment, all my friends here are foreign students like me. Making friends with Brazilians is difficult, especially if you don't speak Portuguese fluently. Local students generally know English, but are very shy about speaking it, believing that their level is low (although this is not true).
Have there been any misunderstandings due to cultural differences?
When you first meet Brazilians, they show a heightened interest in you (most likely you're the first Russian they've ever met): they pepper you with questions about your life and impressions of Brazil. They might even offer you to be friends, go out somewhere together, or invite to come over for dinner. Don't take this too seriously: they'll likely forget your name the next day. And it's not because they're bad people—they're just not the most committed, and all those plans they make are always put off until "tomorrow" that never comes.
I'm also still learning to slow down and take my time—it's not always easy. Sometimes I find the Brazilian relaxedness appealing, and other times it irritates me. Conflicts in such situations are futile, so it is better to accept this aspect of local culture as a given.
What is the most valuable experience you gained while studying in Brazil? Did it change your plans for the future?
The most valuable experience for me here is the realization of my own ability to find a way out of the most difficult situations and solve problems, even in unfamiliar exotic environments. While initially my plan was to finish my studies and return home to Russia, I fell in love with this country and became so attached to it that now I don't want to leave.
Could you give some advice to future students: what to pack; what expenses to expect (housing, food, transportation); how best to organize the first few weeks; what apps or services are especially useful in Brazil.
It's best to bring sunscreen and insect repellent (and also get a yellow fever vaccination, just in case). During your first few weeks, it's best to explore the university, meet other students, and actively look for long-term housing. Renting a dorm room in Campinas costs approximately R$800-1200 per month, and cell phone service costs R$80-100 per month. Food and transportation are slightly cheaper than in Moscow.
The apps that I most often use are Uber and the UNICAMP app, where you can, for example, book a seat on a bus to another campus or check the cafeteria menu.
And one more tip: avoid going into unfamiliar areas, especially after dark. It's best to check first if the area is safe. The university campus around UNICAMP is fairly safe, but downtown Campinas is not (city centers in Brazil are generally considered unsafe). If you do decide to go out there, do so during the day, with friends, or on crowded streets—and don't openly display your brand-new phone.
Campinas isn't the most impressive city, so it's best to travel around Brazil as much as possible. It's a very large and incredibly beautiful country, so there are plenty of places to visit.
*The product of Meta designated as an extremist organization in Russia
