about brasilia.

Half of the Fulbright research grantees of the Southern Cone (Brazil, Argentina, Chile, Paraguay, and Uruguay) had a research conference-- a regional conference-- in Brasilia this past week to share our research projects and meet and swap ideas. I wasn't exactly sure what to expect, but I was pleasantly surprised by everyone's projects-- it was one of those unique situations in which you had something to learn from everyone, and everyone had something to learn from you.

The days were filled with short, fifteen minute presentations going over what your project was about, your cultural experiences, etc. In between all of these, we had the chance to tour Brasilia, the capital of Brasil, and home to many of Oscar Niemeyer's works (he planned the city from the ground up to be shaped like a cross-- it ended up looking a bit like an airplane). We also got to hike to Chapada Imperial, which was filled with lots of waterfalls, and fun plants from the Cerrado.