Bruna Rossati is a senior majoring in chemical engineering who came to Tuscaloosa from Ribeirão Preto, Brazil, as part of a cultural exchange program between The University of Alabama and other Brazilian universities. Next year, Rossati will transfer from the English Language Institute to The University of Alabama and join the College of Engineering along with her Brazilian peers in order to experience college life in America before going back to Brazil at the end of next year.

Why did you come to the U.S.?

I am part of the Brazilian Exchange Program that brings a huge group of Brazilians, mostly engineers, to study at the University for a year and a half. I specifically came to the University because there are more things related to technology and engineering compared to the other universities I applied to.

What do you like the most about campus?

I love that it has a lot of green landscapes, trees and open spaces.

What don’t you like about campus?

I don’t have anything to complain about the campus. It is very nice.

What’s the most different from your home country?

The food is totally different.

Was it hard to adjust to the United States?

Adjusting wasn’t as hard as I imagined; it was way easier than I thought. The hardest thing is probably getting used to the food and the fact that we don’t have total autonomy, because I don’t have a car to go wherever I want and there aren’t many public transportation options, which makes you dependent on people who have cars.

Something that made the transition much easier is the fact that there are other Brazilians in the same program.

What’s the weirdest thing Americans do?

The clothes some Americans use are way different than I was expecting and what I am used to seeing back in Brazil.

What is your favorite thing Americans do?

I really like their music. I think it is the best. Also, generally the people are very nice and more open than I was expecting, but you need to spend more time with them in order to become close friends.

How do you feel about American food?

I feel very uncomfortable because I don’t really like it, but I am trying to see it in a different way and get used to it. I am still in the adjustment process.

How do you feel about football?

I’m learning about football and getting to know all the rules, and as I learn, I’m starting to like it more every time.