Boarded on the Flight back to China in Sao Paulo, I know that my training time in Brazil is going to the end now. When I first got informed of this IAESTE communication chance, I've no idea about this big country except for its well-known football team and caf¨¦. Now, I am looking forward to the next chance to visit this colorful country again.

To be honest, my job in the training process is not an easy one. Sometimes I have to spend more than ten hours a day to study the required knowledge or to do the programming. And this is the first time for me to live abroad, I have to overcome the loneliness. But it was the Brazilian friends who gave me the confidence to overcome all the difficulties.

When I landed in Sao Paulo on 22nd Oct 2002, I had to find the airport bus service to go to the main bus station of that city. Without the capability of Portuguese, I didn't know how to get the information I need. I came to a waiter in a cafeteria and got frustrated on the spot because he couldn't understand English at all. I began to get worried how to survive in this country. But the waiter got out of the cafeteria and quickly found me a group of passengers that could speak English. Thanks a lot to the waiter! These passengers were family just back from their traveling. They helped me find the bus service to go to the main bus station of Sao Paulo and got the time schedule of the bus going to the city of Ribeirao Preto where I am heading for. In my first hour in Brazil, I was already deeply moved by the friendly and kindhearted Brazilian people.
On the bus to the bus station, I met a girl who could speak English. Her name is Vivini. We talked a lot about the interesting differences between the two countries. And finally we arrived at Tieti, the bus station, a big big one with so many bus companies that I didn't know how to find the one I wanted. "Thomas(my English name), don't worry, I will help you find the bus company." Vivini's words made me feel so lucky. Thank you, all of you, my friends.

I spend the week days in UNAERP, the university where I was working for and I stay home at night and at the weekends together with my host - Helder Henrique Paiva and his friends Fabio, Fernando and Daniel. They are students in USP - Universidade de Sao Paulo. They are studying in the branch of USP in Ribeirao Preto. They are so nice guys that we took each other as brothers all the time. They accompanied me to make my life a colorful one full of joy. We cared about each other. Whenever I need some help, they will stop their work to do me the favor. I spent the first weekend and Christmas in Helder's home. I enjoyed living together with his family and his friends. I visited Daniel and Fernando's hometown, Porso Alegly, a city of beautiful scenery everywhere¡­. Fabio often toke a ride with me and we played with our dog - Zeg. I almost never cook when I was in China. But I tried to cook for my friends several weeks after I got to Brazil. And they loved my Chinese cooking! We often ate Chinese dishes together with Brazil ones.

And about my job during the training, it was a user authentication system for a computer lab. It was a new topic for me. Fernando, my supervisor, told me that they need this system to manage the network usage better and hoped me to finish the job as early as possible. At the very beginning, I was worried about whether I was capable for this job. I did not have some English books available, the computers are running Portuguese version operating systems, not all the staff spoke English¡­. But gradually, I received the help from everybody of our working team. I feel more and more confident. Robertinho and Francisco helped me to install and update the English version operating system which can decode Chinese characters so that I can communicate with my family and my friends in China through internet. Vanessa helped me to install the Microsoft NT server many times to solve the trouble of the net card. My boss, Teobaldo often come to me to ask whether I need some help in my living there. Ceizer and Marcela gave me great support in the knowledge of Windows operating system and Oracle database. After two month hard working, my program successfully provided the required function. I felt so proud of my job and I appreciated a lot for all the help from my friends there.

This IAESTE training program gives me the chance to gain more technical experience and know Brazil, the country far from China. I appreciate the effort of the IAESTE organization.