The American Sociological Association defines culture as “anything created by the mind, hand or mouth of humans.” It is malleable and constantly changing around us — even our own definition of culture differs from that of our closest friends or family members, simply because of unique lived experiences.

As someone who recently moved to the United States, reflecting on my own relationship with culture has been a constant process. I grew up being exposed to American TV shows, movies and books, which led to the creation of preconceived notions and ideas of what the environment in the U.S. would be like.

It is interesting to see how much the expectations I had diverged or aligned with the experiences I have been living through, while also getting the chance to share my own concepts of life and society as a Brazilian. 

Why we leave home

When leaving your country, many things are taken into consideration. However, I would say the main concept is always understanding the “why” behind the decision being made.

In my case, similar to many other Brazilian students who are enrolled at Kent State University, we were students at The American Academy program that is in partnership with a Brazilian university. This program allows us to come to America and pursue our dreams related to studying abroad.

Most of these dreams come from the idea of leaving home and looking for a different perspective on higher education and the privilege to enrich ourselves both culturally and academically. I think it is also born from innate curiosity, wondering how different the world outside of our own bubble is and what kind of impact we could bring to it. 

Curiosities of campus life

It is impossible to talk about change and not mention the oddities that accompany it. Ana Ligia Reis de Sousa Viana, a senior advertising and applied communication studies major, spoke about how university life was one of the aspects that she was most curious about when moving here from Brazil.

She explained that compared to Brazilian universities that tend to focus mostly on classes and academics, American universities have a much higher interest in student involvement and the creation of an ecosystem beyond traditional education.

An example she mentioned is Greek life, which, much like Viana, I was also only exposed to through movies and TV shows before coming to campus.  

Tastes from home

Food is the basis of most social moments, allowing people to connect over the process of eating or making it. In Brazilian culture, it is no different, from dedicating the first slice of your birthday cake to someone who has been important to you that year to weekend barbecues with extended family as an excuse for getting together.

When talking to other Brazilian students, it was interesting to see how often the topic of sharing culture through culinary dishes came up.

Sofia Helena Dambros da Silva, a junior journalism student who moved from Brazil at the beginning of 2025, expressed that sharing traditional dishes from home has been her main way to connect with people, while also giving them a chance to be openly curious. 

Silva also commented on how adapting to American food has been a process, which I personally relate to and agree with.  Especially because Brazil is a much more tropical country and relies heavily on a myriad of spices for cooking in everyday life.

Seen and heard

I also asked both Viana and Silva about how they have been treated and perceived once people understand that they are international students. Silva talked about how, usually, at first glance, people would not categorize her as a foreigner. 

She pointed out that sometimes there is a lack of knowledge about the scale of diversity present in a country as big as Brazil and how there is no specific checklist of physical traits when trying to identify someone’s background. 

Viana discussed that, because English is not her first language, her accent is noticeable, and it can show people that she is from a different country. But her culture is something she is deeply proud of and happy to have others be aware of, so it can be shared.

Connecting with home

Living abroad has taught me that culture is not something we simply belong to — it is something we constantly reshape through our interactions, independent of how big or small they are. Each conversation, meal and misunderstanding becomes part of a much larger, evolving understanding of who we are and how we connect to the world. 

To me, the process of finding ways to connect to American culture while also leaving room for my Brazilian roots has been a balancing act that focuses on self-understanding and accepting that the pride for my origins can be shown in many different ways.

I think what surprised me most, beyond everyday differences, is how much this experience has shaped how I see culture within myself and what role I play in it. Being Brazilian has become much more than my national heritage, but a central part of who I am and how I connect to the world around me. It has allowed me to meet people, share stories and inspire curiosity, while also getting to feed my own. 

As strange as it seems, leaving Brazil has made me feel more connected to my home country than ever before.

Sometimes it is strange speaking a language that is not my own and trying to connect to people through customs and slang that I didn’t always use, but it is incredibly rewarding to share my own experiences and be guided and exposed to a different way of life.

I have not been here for long, but the limited experiences I’ve had have been nothing short of memorable and fundamental to my formation as an individual.

Rafaela Tomal-Reis is a writer. Contact her at [email protected].