I moved to the United States for university, and before last August I had lived all of my life in Brazil, my country of origin. Many Brazilians, including myself, complain loudly and often of our corrupt politicians, lack of infrastructure, less than decent healthcare and education, and high crime rates. After spending the past year in the U.S. these problems became even more apparent to me, as although the US isn't perfect, it is considerably better than Brazil in many aspects.
Basic things such as being able to walk more calmly in the street to the high quality education I came here for makes it hard to explain why I would even consider moving back to Brazil if I managed to get a job after graduating, and even harder to rationalize the ambition I have to move back upon completing my education here.
Let me elaborate. It is a combination of an at times irrational love for my country and a need to give back and try to improve our current grim situation. This is reflected in everyday things and actions, such as when I think of things to write about for Odyssey, I find it hard at times to come up with topics that aren't related to Brazilian politics or social matters, as these are the issues that I feel most passionate about. And I even have trouble analyzing global polemic disputes, such as the legalization of the abortion or the legalization of marijuana, without a Brazilian perspective and background of the issue.
My father always says that to help Brazil prosper we simply have to invest in it, whether by opening a business that will generate jobs, working as a qualified professional, or being employed in a company and helping it expand. He emphasizes how this is as important as charity, and having grown up hearing these lessons I can't help but feel the need to give back.
A friend once told me of a parent-teacher meeting in school when he was younger, and how his teachers would tell his parents “your child has so much potential, he just hasn't learned to access it yet". I interpret Brazil to be like this child, and this potential is another things that motivates me to go back after graduation.