The first days of August witnessed the gathering of nations in Juiz de Fora. Ten new foreign students, from seven countries, Germany, South Korea, France, Mexico, Japan, Peru and Puerto Rico, were received for a semester of study in Brazil. Students who are received by UFJF via bilateral agreements, participated in the second edition of the Orientation Day, an event promoted by UFJF | International, aiming to welcome and provide guidance on registration procedures and an introduction to the campus area.

On August 3rd Monday morning, new students attended the Rectory amphitheater where they were informed about a special timetable, developed in a partnership between teachers and UFJF | International with courses in the areas of arts, languages – including a crash course in Portuguese for foreigners – biological sciences, dentistry, law, psychology and history. This partnership rose the opportunity to participate in graduate courses and after-school projects managed by researchers at UFJF.

A student of cultural studies, Madeleine Yvonne Bausch, University of Passau, Germany, considered the event relevant for a clearer awareness of what lies ahead, in a new stage of their academic life. “The most important questions were answered, as the registration process, and also was a moment of meeting new colleagues and making new friends.”

Campus tour

Following up Monday’s orientation, on Tuesday it was time to go into the field, for a tour in the UFJF Campus. UFJF | International, with the support of Health Insurance company UNIMED, offered to the exchange students their Unimed Juiz de Fora Bike Station Bycycles to make it a more pleasant activity.

Students were guided around the campus ring road and visited some of UFJF facilities such as the sports complex of The Physical Education Faculty. The French student, Caroline Joncour, from ENSA-Toulouse, saw the tour as a form of “appropriating the space and vegetation, both as welcoming as the people in Brazil.” “It’s amazing to have access to the physical education college to practice sports, and even the ring road is a great place to exercise,” said she in her native language, which she promises to soon replace for a good Portuguese.

After about 40 minutes of cycling, the students gathered for a little more conversation. Berverly López-Cancel, exchange student at the University of Porto-Rico, commented his impression of the campus: “It’s a family place. I can imagine a picnic here, or myself studying sitting on the grass.” Their special grid classes are start tomorrow.

Message from the Director of International Relations, Rossana Melo: “We are pleased to welcome all international students to our academic community at the Federal University of Juiz de Fora. Our International Office team is ready to help and advise you. We are committed to making your stay an enjoyable one”.