About Brazil
A land of magnificent beaches,
vast rain forests and music-fueled cities, Brazil bears an astounding
variety of natural and cultural wonders. This is the world’s largest
country in the tropics, and the only limit to a journey here is your
imagination. São Paulo is a multi-cultural city of more than 17 million
people. It is the second largest urban area in the Americas and an
important South American economic and cultural center. São Paulo has a
modern subway system, shopping malls, beautiful parks, nightlife, and
open air fruit and flower markets. São Paulo is often compared to New
York City because of its distinct ethnic neighborhoods and excellent
cultural venues. The city offers numerous entertainment opportunities
including theater, plays, cinema, museums, and Carnival samba schools.
Salvador da Bahia, located on the
Atlantic coast in northeastern Brazil, has 2.1 million inhabitants. Due
to the strong slave presence during the Colonial period, Salvador has a
strong African influence, including religious and spiritual practices,
cuisine, and ethnic dynamics. Today Salvador is a booming city and its
historic and ethnic diversity can be noted in the city’s architecture
and layout: old parts of the city are next to modern complexes.
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Brazilian
Educational System
Education is divided into three levels, with several grades in each
division. Fundamental education (the first educational level) is free
for everyone, including adults, and mandatory for children between the
ages of 6-14. Secondary education is also free, but it is not
mandatory. Higher education, including graduate degrees, is free at
public universities.
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