Embracing the Uncomfortable

By Alexa DeLeon

Going abroad to Brazil was something I did not expect to do. For those who know me, I am extremely comfortable being comfortable. Getting out of my comfort zone is not something I ever look forward to and often not something I voluntarily like to do.

However, stepping out of my comfort zone became surprisingly easy here in Bahia. Whether it was asking questions to the speakers during lectures, going to the beach, attempting to speak to people in Portuguese, dancing, or jumping from the boat into the water (with a life vest, of course), I found myself embracing new experiences with an open heart.
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Coming in, I knew I wanted to let loose and create new memories, but I really did not see myself doing the things I did during my time in Bahia. The first workshop was on Capoeira with Mestre Sapoti during the first week. I did not want to participate; I just wanted to watch because it was interesting, but I knew it was something I would not do. The instructor made sure we all participated and even had us go in the middle to do some of the steps. I could not say no because it seemed like everyone else was okay with it. I noticed myself being stiff and not really engaging, but I still participated. I was intrigued but did not put in all the effort I should have, though at the time, just being part of it was enough to say I did it.

The whole group after the capoeira workshop

​The next activity that was extremely out of my comfort zone was the Afro-Brazilian dance workshop with Antonio Cozido. I have two left feet, and it takes me a long time to learn the steps. Dancing is one of my least favorite things to do because I feel like everyone is watching me make mistakes. This workshop was not what I expected at all. I attempted to dance, pushing through my discomfort and insecurities. The instructor had a lot of patience with me, which brought me a lot of comfort and helped me accept the discomfort. In the end, I realized how fun it was. It was intimidating in the beginning, but I slowly started to let loose, not only to participate but to show the group that although I did not really want to do it, I was trying.

The whole group after the dance workshop.

At the beginning of the program, I used Google Translate every day to communicate with my host family. I was afraid to make mistakes and make a fool out of myself, so to keep it safe, I used the translator. Meals at the dinner table were silent, and to me, silence is extremely uncomfortable, but attempting to speak a language I was not fluent in was even more so. As the days went on, the conversations at the dinner table became more verbal. I became more comfortable not only attempting to understand but to speak it too.
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One of the most recent things I did was jump off the boat into the water. I do not really know how to swim, and I freak out when I cannot touch the bottom, but surprisingly, I had a burst of adrenaline and wanted to jump in with my friends. They told me if I did not know how to swim, I should not jump in, but I really wanted to and ended up wearing a life vest. Never in my 20 years of life would I have done that, but being in a different country, specifically in Brazil, helped me so much.

Students canoeing with one of the host moms.

​Throughout the weeks, I noticed how uncomfortable people in Brazil have been for years to be where they are today. Learning the history of slaves, the struggles of women, and the number of battles that must be fought today taught me that life is meant to be uncomfortable. Humans are supposed to step out of their comfort zone. For me, stepping out of my comfort zone changed my entire mentality. I think getting that rush of adrenaline was thanks to the struggles I heard about during the lectures here in Brazil. Professor Clarice Mota, the speaker for the Racism and Health in Brazil lecture, talked to us about the struggles of black students. As I reflect, I understand how uncomfortable an education is for them, not because they do not want it, but because it is something new, and they must fight against the prejudices that surround them. Learning about women’s reality and Lei Maria da Penha has helped me understand how uncomfortable reporting abuse is and how uncomfortable one must be to make a change.

Students with Dr. Clarice Mota.

My small out-of-comfort accomplishments might not have made much of an impact, but I choose to believe that these experiences will stay with me forever. My time in Brazil has motivated me to leave comfort behind and embrace being uncomfortable as a positive thing to help myself and others grow. This has been my favorite study abroad program, and it is because of the memories I made and the experiences I gained through my discomfort.
 
Sources:
Lecture on “Women’s relaity and Lei Maria da Penha in Brazil” with Major Denice Santiago. May 24, 2024.

Lecture about Racism and Health in Brzil with Prof. Clarice Mota. May 24, 2024.

Workshop on Capoeira with Maestre Sapoti at Aliancia Francesa. May 17, 2024.
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Workshop about Afro-Brazilian Dance with Antonio Cozido. May 18, 2024 

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Alexa DeLeon is a sophomore at the College of Saint Benedict and Saint John's University, hoping tp purse a major in political science, with a concentration in pre-law. She is originally from Cicero, Illinois. Alexa enjoys learning about underrepresented communities in the realm of policy issues and likes to be an advocate for inclusion for marginalized communities. Something fun about Alexa is that she has seven dogs, 3 males and 4 females.

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