After nearly two full days of travel from Toronto, I made it to Maun, Botswana. I’m here as a Global Development intern with Travel for Impact (TFI) through the Queen’s University Project on International Development (QPID). Even though it’s only been a few days since I arrived, it already feels like a whole lifetime of personal growth has happened.
Getting here wasn’t easy. I’m still catching up on sleep and adjusting to the jet lag. The first few days were stressful and full of unexpected challenges, which is kind of expected when you travel—especially across continents and cultures. But honestly, what I’m focusing on isn’t what went wrong. I’m choosing to look at how resilient I’ve been and how I already feel more empowered and mature than I did just a week ago.
Being in Africa, the continent where humanity began, feels incredibly special. There’s this unexplainable sense of deep-rootedness. On a personal level, I also feel a connection. My grandfather’s family came from this continent during the Portuguese colonization and the corresponding establishment of slavery in Brazil, and I’m the first person in my family to come back here. It’s hard to put into words what that feels like.
There’s something really eye-opening about transitioning from a country in the Global North to a country in the Global South . The differences feel stark, especially because Maun is a smaller town focused on safari tourism. There seem to be fewer urban pressures here, more connection to nature, and a stronger sense of community. In many ways, it’s making me reflect on how we live back home and how I navigate my space. For example, streets don’t have names here in Maun, and Google Maps isn’t reliable, which means I’ve been using geographical coordinates or talking to people to find my way around.
One of the best parts of this connection has come through language. I’ve started learning Setswana, and I’ve been trying to use it whenever I can. People have been complimenting my pronunciation, which feels amazing and encourages me to keep going. I love how rich the language is—I’m learning that there’s so much culture and history embedded in it, often expressed in just a few words. It’s also made me wish that Setswana (and other African languages) were available on Duolingo. There’s such beauty in learning a language that many people around you speak—it creates a small bridge, a shared space, even if it’s just a few exchanged words.
I’m feeling excited to be here, but I’ll admit—there have been moments where I miss my family. I didn’t think I would that much, especially since I’ve lived away from Brazil for so long and I’ve travelled quite a bit. But this feels different. The routine is completely new, and combined with the time change and the feeling of being a bit out of place, it can get overwhelming. One thing I’m still adjusting to is not being able to walk around on my own.
For safety reasons, I’m usually accompanied by a local, which sometimes feels limiting. I also realize that part of this is because I’m seen as a foreigner or tourist, which might make me more vulnerable to certain risks that locals are less likely to face. At the same time, I know many people here do feel safe in their own neighbourhoods—it’s not a one-size-fits-all situation. Similarly, in Canada, while I often take for granted my ability to move freely, I know that not everyone has the same experience, especially those from marginalized or racialized communities. Reflecting on this has made me more aware of how privilege can show up in subtle ways—through how I’m perceived, the assumptions people make about me, and the spaces I feel safe in.
In a few days, I’ll be starting my work with Travel for Impact, which partners with other incredible NGOs like Shelter Botswana and Women Against Rape. I’m looking forward to contributing in whatever way I can, but even more so, I’m here to listen and learn. I don’t want to show up and push a Western lens or assumptions about what “development” should look like. My Global Development major and Psychology minor have helped me become more aware of these dynamics, and I try to stay as humble and open as I can. This isn’t about “helping” in the white-westernized-saviour sense—it’s about showing up, being useful, and working together.
Being here has made me feel so aligned with my passions. Social justice, human rights, community—this is the stuff that fills me up. And honestly, so does wildlife. One thing I’ve been doing since I arrived is noticing the animals around me. I’ve been hearing to so many different sounds. I’ve seen lizards basking in the sun, dogs wandering the streets, birds I can’t name yet. Observing nature has been a grounding practice for me for years, especially when I’m feeling anxious. One morning I caught myself just watching a little lizard soak up the sun while everything around it was moving so fast. It reminded me that nature runs on its own time, and sometimes we need to slow down and observe instead of trying to control everything.
On that note, it’s been interesting to see how differently animals are treated here compared to what I’m
used to in Canada. Dogs, for example, aren’t typically spoiled or treated as family members. People often laugh when I get excited about seeing a dog on the street. I remember speaking with a man from Botswana who told me he doesn’t like dogs or cats—he simply didn’t understand the appeal. At first, I assumed this was just about economic priorities—when daily survival is more pressing, spoiling a pet might seem absurd. But I’ve come to realize there’s also a deeper cultural difference at play: a fundamentally different way of relating to animals that isn’t just about resources, but about values and norms. It’s made me question how much of what I consider “normal” is actually shaped by culture and privilege.
Finally, a quick thanks to SASS—I’ve been leaning on their writing tips and resources to help me get my thoughts down for this blog, my journal entries, and reports for QPID. Writing has been a way for me to process everything and make sense of the whirlwind of emotions that come with such a big transition.
Only a few days in, and already this experience is changing me. I came here thinking I was ready to contribute, but I can already tell I’m the one being transformed. I’ll keep sharing as the journey unfolds.
Until next time,
Maria