VGCC Instructor returns from study trip to Brazil
Vance-Granville Community College instructor Tracey Bennett of Durham spent part of her summer break representing the college on a 13-day (June 23 – July 5) study trip to Brazil. She was one of 24 educators who traveled to the world’s fifth-most populous country as part of World View , an international program for educators based at UNC-Chapel Hill. The Consortium in Latin American and Caribbean Studies at UNC-Chapel Hill and Duke University co-sponsored the expedition. Bennett presented reflections on the trip to fellow VGCC faculty and staff members at a college-wide convocation on Aug. 16.
Bennett, who is an instructor for VGCC’s Early Childhood Associate program, said that the goal of the “enlightening” trip was to gain an understanding of Brazil’s educational, cultural and social systems. “Although it was enjoyable, this trip wasn’t all fun and games,” Bennett said. “I hope to incorporate what I learned into my classroom teaching, and to help others at VGCC develop a globalized curriculum.”
The World View group toured a variety of public and private schools from the elementary to the university level, as well as a community center serving children and the elderly. The group visited sites mostly in the cities of Rio de Janeiro, Salvador and Cachoeira, all in eastern Brazil. The Americans learned about various aspects of the society, including the food, traditional dances, racial diversity and poverty. Bennett said that the people were overwhelmingly “friendly and smiling,” even those who live in the “favelas,” which are crowded, impoverished areas in Brazilian cities.
The trip coincided with the World Cup, and soccer-loving Brazilians followed the games with keen interest. “Everyone was so excited and showing their pride in their country,” Bennett recalled. “When the games came on television, the towns completely shut down to watch.” When Brazil’s team was eliminated in the quarter-finals, Bennett said many locals were “literally in tears.” On a happier note, the World View group participated in a march in the style of Carnival (“Carnaval” in Portuguese), the annual celebration that has become identified with Brazil.
Bennett took two unique VGCC contributions with her on the trip. First, she took hand-made, encouraging postcards from the young children and teachers at the Day Care Center on the college’s main campus to the students and teachers of Bahia Street School, which seeks to provide quality educational opportunities for economically-impoverished young women and girls. Bennett also gave the school several early childhood education textbooks that were sent by the books’ author, VGCC Early Childhood Associate program head Jennifer Johnson.
Above: Vance-Granville Community College instructor Tracey Bennett (right) poses with Brazilian tour guide Rodrigo Braz Vieira at the Christo Redentor (“Christ the Redeemer”) statue on Corcovado Mountain near Rio de Janeiro.
