Got IRB clearance!

It's a good day, my friends and followers. I just received word from the good folks at the Office of Research Clearance in Stony Brook that my project has been approved.

Now I just have to get cleared in Brazil... we'll see how that goes.

How I got a Fulbright.

It seems like every Fulbrighter who manages to keep a blog about their trip has one of these-- so why shouldn't I? Last year, as I was frantically trying to finish up my application, I would scour the web in hopes of finding some tips from former Fulbrighters. Here is my experience; it seems like everyone has a different one.

1. Panic about the possibility of starting medical school at the ripe old age of 21. I'm a young one, and as my junior year drew to a close, I started having nightmarish visions of being an infant in medical school, surrounded by a bunch of worldly doctors and medicals students that had seen the world and decided to start the practice of healing. I also feigned a sense of "burn out," i.e. what someone experiences when they are SICK of libraries and cubicles and hard sciences. Enough said.

2. See about possibilities to "open my horizons." I researched, and searched and searched and searched for ways to "enrich my life" while still having some sort of focus. I'm not a big relaxer-- most of my summer vacations in college I was doing internships for magazines, taking a summer class or two, or studying abroad.

3. Fell in love with the Fulbright program. Of all the fellowships, grants, scholarships, etc. that are out there, I really admire the Fulbright program. I liked the idea that you got to create your own project, pick a country, and the overriding concept-- forming connections across borders-- really appealed to me. The program hit a soft spot in me for both it's commitment to higher education, and philanthropic perspective.

4. Find a project, fill application, ask professors politely for recommendation letters. Find affiliation abroad. Here are my tips to you all: be very, very persistent when it comes to getting comments for your grant application. I made a list of every person I wanted reviewing my application, and each person saw that application at least two times-- most of them three. Don't be afraid to ask strangers; in fact, I asked everyone from an anthropology professor to the Writing Program director at my school to a professor I e-mailed at another University (I didn't even know him, but I did know that he got like, 15 Fulbrights. Ok, like four. But still). Everyone can offer some form of criticism. And through these connections, I've learned that most people in academia are willing to help students to put themselves out there, and these connections can be invaluable later on, for other experiences.

5. Harass professors for recommendation letters. Send massive amounts of e-mails to potential affiliations in hopes of finding a connection. Questions whether you might in fact be killing virtual trees with the amount of e-paper you are using. I started applying for my Fulbright a bit later than most people-- versus many students start in the spring of their Junior year, I started at the end of summer, after my internship ended. So, I was on a time crunch. I wouldn't recommend anyone to start this late, unless they are very focused and motivated, but it helped that I've been on deadline before-- journalism teaches you how to thrive when the clock is ticking. Thus, when finding an affiliation, I asked EVERYONE, EVERYWHERE how to form a connection to the institution I was interested in. A wonderful professor, who I found by looking at the editorial board of the scientific journal that my host institution publishes, was based in the US. I e-mailed him (and the rest of my board) a mini-pitch, and he happened to help me out by setting me up with the right people, who in turn found the right professor/researcher I should affiliate with. My mentors in Brazil were even more incredible, because we were able to quickly collaborate and produce a very strong letter of affiliation for me, which I think is a *big* reason I have the grant today.

6. Finally! find an affiliation. Scramble to get the letter in time for letter.

7. Submit application.

8. Wait.

9. Try to forget about it, but really think about your application nearly every day.

10. Get a wonderful e-mail in January stating your application has been forwarded to Brazil.

11. Get a letter in March-- you've been granted a Fulbright!

Last minute packing.

It seems as if the items in my suitcase have multiplied overnight. At first, it was just a few dresses, some tops, and a random array of flats. But one by one, I've accumulated a mountain of things that seem, well practical for my upcoming move. Here's a few things that I've found might be useful to bring:

• Snacks: I'm packing some Nature Valley granola bars, and a whole slew of fruit leather. It'll be a good breakfast food for the first few weeks when I'm rushing out the door, or when I just don't have time to figure out what to make/eat. I'm so, so excited to try all the different fruit juices in Rio-- they'll be a tasty addition to a protein packed bar.
• Flashlight: I bought a fantastic one when I went to college, and ironically, never used it once. Maybe it'll come in handy during a power outage in the city.
• Tea bags: I've heard from a few friends that teas are difficult to find, so I'm packing my favorites: some green tea from Tazo, and Yogi Ginger tea.
• Shampoo/Conditioner: I just went to the store today, and bought this. I got the professional sized version, thanks to a lovely friend of my mom's, and I'm also hauling this conditioner. Together, these should last me a few months, until I have a friend or two come visit and bring more along. I'm picky about my beauty products, and hair care is no exception. Plus, cost for quality, it's bound to be cheaper here than in Rio.
• Beauty Products/Skin care: On that same note, I've gotten a stash of all my favorite skin care products. While I'm open to trying new things in Rio, I'm better safe than sorry with the stuff from here.
• Running Shoes/Jump rope/Yoga mat: These are my exercise essentials. Along with an iPod and some sports attire, I've got enough stuff to keep me calm and fit away from home.
• DVD-R's, CD-R's, Junk drives
• Folders, Composition Notebooks, Manila Envelopes

I'll add more if I think of anything useful.

Yoga Studios in Rio.

I figured it might be a good idea to start compiling a list of yoga studios in Rio, to have as a reference for once I arrive.... here's the unofficial list. I hope to continue updating it as I find more.

Last updated: 9/14/2010

Centro

Academia Hermógenes Yoga
R. Uruguaiana 118
Centro
Tel: 2224-9189

Gávea

Nirvana Yoga Centre
Praça Santos Dumont 31
Gávea
Tel: 2187-0100

Sao Conrado

Centro do Yogaterapia Pedra Bonita
Estrada das Canoas 1135
Sao Conrado
Tel: 2422-4573
Website: www.tantrayoga.org.br

Leblon

Saraswati Studio de Yoga do Leblon
Av Ataulfo de Paiva, 706
Leblon
Tel: 2512-6079

Ipanema

Yoga & Culture
Rua Visconde de Pirajá, 8
Ipanema
Te: 2523-6775

Universidade de Yoga
Rua Visa Piraja
Ipanema
Tel: 2523-6775
Website: uni-yoga.br

Yoga and Cultura
Rua Visconde de Piraja
Ipanema
Tel:8835-1681
Website: www.yogaecultura.com.br

Blyss Yoga
Rua Visconde de Piraja 318/211
Ipanema
Tel: 55-21-2513-0005
Website: www.blyss.com.br

Copacabana

Kailasa - Filosofia Yoga Terapias
Trav. Angrense 14/304
Copacabana
Tel: 2549-1707

Vidya Mandir Centro de Estudos de Vedanta e Sánscrito
R. Miguel Lemos 44/902
Copacabana
Tel: 2287-2774

Leme

Ashtanga Yoga
Rua Gustavo Sampaio 126/802
Leme
Tel: 021-543-9336

Largo do Machado/Catete

Dakshina Tantra Yoga Centre
Rua do Catete 344/202
Largo do Machado
Tel: 2205-6073
Website: www.tantrayoga.pro.br

Flamengo

Instituto de Yoga e Terapias Aurora
Praia do Flamengo 66/914
Flamengo
Tel:205-1570
Website: www.institutoaurora.com.br

Botafogo

Centro de Yoga e Vedanta Sivananda
R. das Palmeiras 13
Botafogo
Tel: 2266-4896 or 8671-4896

Update on my visa.

Good news! I received my "Pedido do Visto." Aside from a minor heart attack over the accompanying warning letter that came with the letter (a list of suggestions that should be expired by now), and the loss of yet another set of passport photos, I've got 95% of what I will need to register with the Federal Police.

In the meantime, I've been steadily packing every short thing I own, in anticipation of some heat.

Deciphering research clearance in Brazil.

A panic set in over me yesterday. In less than a month I'll be arriving in Rio, and I have yet to move forward on my research clearance process; it's a stress bubble that's been waiting to burst, and last night, at 11 PM, it popped.

Of course, I've known for some time that I was going to have to deal with the IRB (the United States' research ethics committee) and CONEP/CEP (the national and local research ethics committees of Brazil). But I only recently got my grant documents finalized, and terms and conditions set. Since then, I've been working fruitfully trying to make some headway into the clearance process.

Applying for a visa.

Shortly after finalizing all terms and conditions for my Fulbright grant, I applied for a visa to stay in Brazil as a researcher. Since it was my first time applying for one, the whole process seemed quite novel to me. It should come as no surprise, then, to all of you who have dealt with any sort of bureaucracy, that the tasks and hoops that Consulates put you through is worthy of Oscar-acclaim. First were the passport-sized photos that needed to be attached to my application forms. No smiling! No harsh colors! The examples that were posted on the Brazilian Consulate website made me re-question whether or not I actually was heading to a country filled with such joy and love—the photos looked like prisoner mug shots.

Then came trying to understand what exactly the Consulate wanted. Some places told me I needed to attach my original visa application. Others told me to attach my “RER”, a sort-of receipt that the Consulate could use to check your file. I wasn’t going to take any chances, so I attached both, along with a lengthy cover letter professing my love of the country and hope that they would accept me (Really, it was just a bullet-point list of everything the packet included and why). And off it went.

Getting ready for Rio.

In a fortunate sequence of events, I was awarded a Fulbright research grant this past spring. Since then, I've been caught up with a bundle of other activities (graduation, World Cup, working...), but now that it's (essentially) a month before I start, I've started to refocus my efforts to getting ready.

After much perusal though the blogosphere and the vortex of the Internet, I decided to start a blog to provide my perspective on life as an American in Rio. While my viewpoint isn't exactly new-- being a Fulbrighter, and equipped with some heady journalism skills I picked up in college should make for an interesting read.

Ate logo!