Hometown: Sao Paolo, Brazil

What’s the hardest thing about studying abroad?

Living with a stranger. It’s good for you, you learn it’s not just about you. You need to think about others. You have to learn how to manage your life and your roommate’s life.

But if coming to the U.S. was hard, dating in another language is weird. Meeting parents is already scary. Meeting someone’s parents in another language is, like, okay, I’m gonna die.

What’s your favorite food?

Feijoada—it’s got meat and beans, sausage and ribs, it’s really juicy and you can taste the meat even in the beans. It’s got a typical smell and you know it’s a good day when you walk in to that smell.

What’s one aspect of your culture or country you’d like Americans to know?

Brazilians don’t speak Spanish. Or Brazilian. And the capital of Brazil is not Rio. It’s Brasilia, with an ‘s.’ I don’t know one single person who has zika.