West Valley instructor & Manaus student reunion
Faculty & students from both sides have been in touch and eventually pay a visit to each other!
In the picture, WVC instructor Lance Shoemaker and FUCAPI student Andre Maues and his family share a meal in Manaus. Andre took Mr. Shoemaker's Introduction to Business class back in 2007 when he participated in the exchange program.
"One of the greatest things of being part of an exchange program is the people you know during that experience. More than just acquaintances, you can make great friends along the way. After more than two years since I returned from California, it was with special pleasure that I welcomed professor Lance Shoemaker, from WVC, during his trip to Manaus. It was fantastic to personally interact with him again and gave me the opportunity to show a little of my hometown to an old friend, who was so kind to me during my stay in the US." Andre Maues

Exchange students join the soccer fever in Brazil

Exchange students are cheering for Brazil and U.S.A. teams. They talk about the unique experience of watching the games in the only country that has won the World Cup five times.

Sabina Diaz (second from left) celebrates Brazil's victory with her classmates at UNIFEI last Sunday. Brazil beat Ivory Coast 3-1.

"Watching the world cup in Brazil is exciting. Every time Brazil plays the entire city of Itajuba stops! Everyone is at home watching the game with friends. I especially love seeing the entire city and people with Brazilian flags". Sabina Diaz, SJSU student

"The streets and plazas are filled with people of all ages on the days Brazil plays in the world cup. I have really never seen anything like it before. You can't go outside without seeing a Brazilian flag flying off of a balcony, out a window, or strapped to car. Brazil really does stop for 1 hour and 30 minutes during Brazil's game. If a store IS open, because most are closed, they are watching the game in the store" Greg Hedling, WV student

Students Greg Hedling and Matt Garcia soccer playing-acting during a visit to Rio de Janeiro.

"No sporting event in the U.S. compares to a Brazilian national team soccer match. At first I found myself confused by the amount of emotion and passion Brazilian people have for the world cup, but when the second and third goal came I was jumping and screaming along with everyone else. Best of all was not the game itself, it was the celebration afterwards that lasted for hours. Everyone in the street dancing united to celebrate a victory of the Brazilian national team", Brian Ornelas, WV student

CA students visit companies in Minas Gerais

The State of Minas Gerais has a territory greater than France’s or Spain’s. The university network partners with several technology centers supported by the federation of industries training high level professionals to supply industry demands in all sectors.
The region known as the “Valley of Electronics” has 120 companies, generating seven thousand jobs, manufacturing over five thousand different products in Telecommunications, IT and Industry Automation Most professionals in the region are educated and trained at UNIFEI, Federal University of Itajuba and INATEL, National Institute of Telecommunications, where our exchange students are taking classes. In the last three months they have participated in a series of visits to local companies.
SJSU student Sabina Diaz and West Valley students Matt Garcia and Rashel Alexin in a visit to the Center for Technological and Social Development, and Teletronix, a telecom equipment manufacture.
In the picture, students Matt, Sabina and Rashel are accompanied by Danyela Macedo, from INATEl, and Jeferson Ferreira, Portuguese instructor.

Students also met with Roberto de Souza Pinto, President of SINDVEL, Association of Industries of Santa Rita do Sapucai. They had aconversation about the differences between doing business in Brazil and CA.

On the right, studens Sabina, Rashel and Matt with SINDVEL President Roberto de Souza Pinto. On the left, Jeferson Ferreira, Matt Garcia, Rashel Alexin, Roberto S. Pinto, Sabina Diaz, Dany Macedo and Paulo Waki.

West Valley college student Rashel Alexin is taking classes at INATEL, National Institute of Telecommunications in Santa Rita do Sapucai, Minas Gerais. She is also interning at the local business incubator."This certainly has been a life changing experience for me. I feel fortunate to have an internship of my interest. I am working at the "Incubadora De Empresas". Due to my interest of International Relations I have assisted them with translating information to English for easier export process. Furthermore, I have been given information about Importing and Exporting products to and from Brazil. I only hope that I will be able to help them further once I have returned".

Brazilian student internship in Silicon Valley

Juliano Silva, from UNIFEI, Minas Gerais, is interning at WV Advanced Transportation Technology and Energy, assisting the department in various energy efficiency projects.

On the left, Juliano uses a segway to visit different buildings in the college
On the right, Juliano with David Esmaili, Director, WV ATTE

"The opportunity to do an academic training through ATTE was highly important for my personal growth because I was able to challenge myself into this new set of responsibilities and improve skills that were not taught in college. My position required project engineering, economic analysis, product research and be involved with all the energy efficiency projects at West Valley College, such as a wide campus Lighting retrofit and a fuel cell for the swimming pool. I also had contact with environmental clubs of the District to discuss some ideas of how the colleges could go green, by improving student commute and doing workshops to present some of the hot topics regarding renewable energy sources. Now, we are finishing the editing of webcasts for the development of a green curriculum and I am preparing myself to leave California and fill my suitcase up with all the knowledge I acquired here. I hope to keep in touch with all the people involved with this amazing program and I am super thankful for all the support I had during the best year of my life."

Life in Brazil

Our exchange students are fully engaged in their classes, internships and life in Brazil.

"Itajubá is a wonderful city to live in. I am learning many new things and meeting a lot of people at school, and work. Life here is very relaxing and different from any place I have ever been too! Everyone here is very friendly and helpful." Sabina Diaz, SJSU student

"My schedule is busy but doable. I have 5 classes which include, Philosophy, Statistics, Entrepreneurship, Portuguese, and one online class that I'm taking at West Valley College. The classes are really difficult due to the language, but it is getting easier to understand everyday. Whenever I have any question or challenges, the students and teachers are very helpful. I feel really lucky with my internship. I was chosen to work at a video game startup called KeePlay, that makes educational games for children. So far they have had me doing translations and research. I am only working 12 hours a week but I enjoy working there." Matt Garcia, WVC student

Matt, on the right, at KeePlay with colleagues Ariel and Paula.

WVC student Brian Ornelas is attending classes at FUCAPI, in Manaus, Amazonas. He's been visiting local companies and participating in special activities such as a presentation about the exchange program and the study abroad experience. He was joined by FUCAPI staff along with Silvia Moreira dos Santos, who attended WVC last year.

From left, FUCAPI professor Euler Guimaraes, students Silvia M. dos Santos and Brian Ornelas and Ivna Braga, FUCAPI exchange program coordinator.

Brian visited a jewelry manufacture in Manaus that uses sustainable materials such as seeds, fish skin and natural fiber. Brian was hosted by manager Elizeu Souza and Rita Prossi, designer and owner (on the left).

On the photo on the right, Brian is at the laptop manufacture Positivo, where he was accompanied by professor Euler Guimaraes, Maria Leula Nogueira, Quality Control manager and Ivna Braga, FUCAPI coordinator.

Internship program

Our exchange students are participating in internships in parallel to their academic activities.
Greg Hedling, from West Valley College, is interning at MITS, Medical Information Technology Solutions, in Itajuba, Minas Gerais. He works with MITS general manager, Guilherme Fonseca, in the picture.
"Though I have no experience with the development of software or hardware I am doing my part and helping as best as I can. I help with translations on their website and I will also be trained on the devices and equipment they manufacture. My work here is not only a benefit to MITS, but a benefit to myself as well".