International Guest

“My stay at English Camp was one of the best experiences of my life. Not only was I able to share my culture with the campers and staff, but I also learned a lot about different cultures in return. The staff at the camp were all so friendly, I found it easy to make friends. The facilities at English Camp are exceptional, and the food is delicious. The activities were so much fun. Overall my experience at English Camp was amazing. I hope that I will be able to return next year.

It’s very cool to be a leader because you have the chance to make good friends and make memories that will last forever. Since we speak English all the time, it becomes even more interesting. It feels like being in another country!”“Life is lived fowards and understood backwards These words were written by Megadeath (As I learned from a really cool leader) I believe in them, since today I can firmly say that English Camp changed me into a better person. That place is seriously magical… From the plates in the cafeteria to the bunks in the bedrooms, everything there has an air that can only remind you of home, as a foreigner I only just realized that I never felt out of place, I never felt lonely or stressed, even though we “worked” (If you can call what we did all day so) so much, but seriously, the EC made me grow in so many different levels, first of all it made me adapt to change since every week I had a new set of people coming in, I had a new set of complete strangers, but there was something all of them had in common, they were all warm, open people ready to get to know me, and have fun with me, to this day and probably till the day I die I still feel like I belong there…My classmates keep making fun of me since I happen to find an connection to Brazil/EC in pretty much everything, from politics to sports, I can only explain this by saying that all of the beautiful people I met there from campers, through leaders all the way to Regis and the women in the cafeteria left a mark very deep inside my heart and I think that it keeps making short cuts with my brain so I can’t really get them out of my head either. If I had to name one favourite moment I would probably go nuts trying to take my pick, instead I think my most favourite thing about English Camp was definetly the people, I guess they are the ones that give the magic to the place. The leaders are all freaks, but hey that’s a good thing! It takes freaks to change the world, and I wouldn’t mind if any if them took it over any given day of the week, I’m sure they would make it a better place, besides there is no such thing as being scared of yourself there, you can dance, you can scream, you can do anything, and seriously I guess that’s one of the most valuable lessons you can give to someone: Be yourself and do it on purpouse, because it’s fun!!!And well what is camp without the campers? All those amazing kids that gave me the chance to get to know them and play with them, it’s so cool to see them learning without even knowing it, it’s impressive how they pour their hearts into anything they really want, and how they open it to you. There’s only one sad thing about all this, how close you can grow to people in so little time, I remember crying with the campers at the end of each season, I can tell you nothing compares to when it hits you that the place you call home is nine hours away from all the great friends you just met… Well I guess I’m getting sentimental, I just wanna say, don’t forget me cause I’ll never forget you since I walked out of Brazil not with many new friends but with a whole new family, and for anyone else who ever reads this and has no idea what I’m talking about, just go to the EC, no words can explain what you experience there, I guess you’ll have to live it yourself…. EC people: Until I die or move you have a place you can call home in Mexico. Thank you!

The word that cames to mind when I think “English Camp” is “awesome”. In truth it was lots of work, but that was far overweighed by the amount of fun we had, as leaders amongst ourselves as well as working with and spending time with the campers. At every stage there was something new to experience; I started halfway through a season and the hospitality and warmth of the staff made getting ready really easy and of course great fun. Being a trainee had its works but it was a great learning experience too, learning the intricacies of running a camp as well as how all the little pieces mash together to make up a camp, from free sports to Jinkanas to Projects. I found these projects a creative way of interacting with the kids and young teens, and the campers themselves were great to work with from the vet campers to the wonderful energy at working with the younger campers bringing out my “inner child”.…the leaders definately throw in an exciting element into the mix, with all their different stories and their funky humour, working with a group of people has never been so much fun. I loved the vibe at the camp, everything about the place contributed to my experience there, from the responsibility and the professionalism to the great times among both the leaders and the campers. And taken as a whole, the camp was a wonderful learning experience which I throughly enjoyed. And by the way, the food was awesome!!

Volunteering at the English Camp in Brazil was so much fun.It was a challenging yet a rewarding experience for me. I came with no great expectations but to my surprise I was blown away by the beauty and positive energy flowing throughout the camp. I loved working with the kids and was amazed with their creativity, willingness to learn the English language and their curiosity about the American Culture. There was never a dull moment at the camp and the challenge came in physically keeping up with the kids. Nonetheless, I enjoyed interacting and getting to know each and every kid. Being around them brought me back to my carefree youthful days.I also got the opportunity to make good friends among the other leaders who were all so hospitable and welcoming. They were such great help when it came to showing us around the city as well. Coming to the English Camp was a great way to be introduced to the Brazilian Culture, not to mention a great way to taste various delicious Brazilian dishes. Overall, my whole experience at the camp and Brazil was priceless and unforgettable.

The experience of volunteering at the English Camp in Brazil is something that is hard to put in words. Before arriving, I was very nervous about going to a country in which I knew very little about. I was relieved, however, when upon my arrival I was treated like family. Everyone I met was so friendly and genuinely interested in my well being. The atmosphere of the English Camp was so fun and energetic. The staff was very warm and hospitable, the kids were great and the food was delicious. Although I was only able to stay for less than a month, I will carry this experience with me for the rest of my life and cherish all the friendships that I was able to make along the way.

I love this place. It is the place to be as a camper or leader. Everyday has something new and fun. You meet new people, get to wake up to a beautiful scenary every morning, and enjoy there awesome food. Dances, games and so much more. It was the best learning experience, and vacation fun I’ve ever had. Everyone should have a chance to come here. I will never forget this. I love you all!

English Camp was a great experience. I really felt like I was helping the Brazilian kids by teaching and correcting their English. I met many new people, Taka, Rocky and Katrina were the coolest leaders. Digo was the coolest coord and having another american was very good. Sam was very cool and fun to talk to. I had a great time.

I think English Camp is a great Camp for Portuguese children to come and learn English. There are many things to do so you are never bored! English Camp is a great place to meet many awesome people. All of the leaders are nice and helpful. The food is safe and good to eat. The group projects are fun and entertaining. English Camp is great!” “This Camp is amazing. I will always remember it for the rest of my life. Brazil is a beautiful place with great people and the country side is awesome! There is one thing I will never forget to bring to the Camp is warm pijamas during the winter only. The games are so much fun to play. The leaders are sometimes a little bit crazy, or so you might think so, but they are just doing their job. The campers are so much fun to talk to. I have even learned Portuguese… to rap it all up when you come, try not to cry when you have to leave.

My experience at English Camp has been unforgettable. I lived at the Camp for four weeks and was able to meet many new people. I have been able to form long-lasting friendships with many campers, leaders and the staff. The food was awesome, and the sports activities were great. I feel that by attending this camp I have helped the campers improve their English. While I have been able to enjoy the beautiful countryside of Brazil

This is my second time back to Brazil and the English Camp. It was good to see the camp and the familar faces, but no mater how many times i come back to brazil, it feel still so new to me. Although the nights were still REALLY cold, and the afernoons were full of projects, it still felt like a new experience. The food was just as i remembered, and the weather was just as i remembered it, WET! hahahaha. But flying to the Brazil, knowing i am going to help so many people, and have fun doing it , the feeling is amazing. The leaders this season were so funny, and even funnier to watch them try to keep everyone in line. There was so many joyous and excited kids, the leaders had to become kids to keep up. lol. But when it came down to it, we all had fun and even a few of us got to be leaders for a day, witch is harder than one would think it is.The projects are done 2 times a day. The objection of projects is to get the camper to use their english in a way they will remember it, but a mimerization trick, or by a picture they drew. I made most of my Englsih Camp memories from projects. This year it was right after Micheal Jackson’s death, and so he was used quite often in our projects, we even learned the “Thriller”. The food, like i said, is verry rememberable. It is worth all trying, just to get a taste of the country. When i came back to brazil i had a verry Verry VERRY small portugues vocabulary, but when i left, i did know how to say “chicken roll” in portugues, and somehow it became my nickname at the camp……it is….. COXINHA. Everytime i come to brazil the campers are about 93% different. There are a few familiar faces, but not many. And with a varitey of kids, comes a variety of things the kids like. For example, on week one every wanted to play sports all day long, and week two, was full of CRAZY dancers, and week three we had the best galla dinner you could imagine. The dorms are roomy, but cold (bring warm and cozy pajamas), the food is amazing, and the people are even better! There are great games every afternoon, and when you are in projects, it gives you a chance to teach others to improve their english in a fun way. The flight to get to brazil may be long, but it is worth it in the end. These three weeks have been the best in a long time. I wanted to stay in this beautiful country even long. I have one peice of advice i give to anyone comming to brazil, and i tell it to myself when i am walking into the camp. “have fun, make memories, and just try not to cry when you have to leave.”

English Camp 2012 is a place and a moment that I will never forget. It has shaped the way my past 3 years have played out. English Camp and Brazil was my first experience abroad. I had no idea what flying internationally was like, what do when I arrived, I spoke no Portuguese, and I certainly didn’t know what impact English Camp or Brazil would leave on me when I returned to the United States. In short, going to English Camp and being a volunteer international counselor allowed me to enter into the greatest friendships of my life. I was fortunate enough to meet a fellow leader, Luis Paulo Silva, who became one of the greatest friends of my life. I have since spent six months with him when I studied abroad in São Paulo. If I were never at English Camp, I would have never met LP and thus never had a solid group of Brazilian friends when I decided to study abroad for a semester in 2014. Second, I was introduced to Francine Pizzo who is a representation of how all girls around the world should act and carry themselves. To me, she is a person to take example from. Two other friends that I met at English Camp were Hugo Friere and Victor Berezutchi. Both of these guys have a joy for life and are genuine people who care about friendship. Fortunately for me, all of these friends that I met at English Camp were ones that were a large part of my study abroad experience; friends that I couldn’t have done without. And moreover, they are friends that are still close to my heart and ones that I keep in touch with on a regular basis. So, what all of this means is that English Camp is a place where you can make an impact on Brazilian kids’ lives and immerse them in American culture, but its also a place that you never forget. Whatever that reason is, English Camp is a place that begins a life of adventure, both for the campers and the leaders. I remember arriving to the office and chatting with Silvia before I left for camp. Then arriving to Sandra’s open arms. Lastly, coming full circle, by being introduced to Solange Pizzo. These three ladies love what they do and it shows in their passion to bring kids into the English Camp immersed adventure. The idea of English Camp is to create a spark in people that allow them to continue the adventure of life. That’s exactly what English Camp did for me. It taught me what my true passions were and allowed me to meet some of the best friends of my life. So for that, thank you English Camp. Muito obrigado e um grande abraço!