Each year, Partners of the Americas awards professional travel grants through the Education and Culture Program. The travel grants fund international travel between the U.S. and Latin America and the Caribbean for qualified individuals to visit Partners of the Americas Chapters and member organizations to work together in areas of mutual interest. The Education and Culture Program is a U.S. Department of State program with funding provided by the U.S. Government and administered by Partners of the Americas.
Barbara Trentacosta traveled from Maine, United States to Natal, Brazil in 2020 for the Bicycle Project. Below she reflects on her international exchange experience and growth.
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Barbara Trentacosta |
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Home Community Maine, United States Exchange Destination Natal, Brazil Exchange Themes
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The Bicycle Project is an exchange of cycling enthusiasts involved in improving bicycle infrastructure in our cities. This project strives to promote a healthier environment in both of our states by reducing our reliance on polluting automobiles and developing safe bicycle pathways.
In her final report, Barbara wrote: “As much as the two Chapters had talked and written long-distance via social media beforehand, by visiting Natal in-person I finally feel I have a good understanding of Natal’s transportation/cycling culture and enough information to bring to the Maine Chapter and Bicycle Coalition of Maine (BCM) to nurture this project.” With regards to language, she got out of her comfort zone and leveraged what she knew: “Much to my surprise, my knowledge of Italian and Spanish—plus the wonderful Brazilians who smilingly encouraged my fumbling attempts at speaking Portuguese—was much easier than I anticipated.”
What motivated you to participate in the Education and Culture international exchange program?
I am an avid cyclist whose career was working with international adult students, teaching ESOL. Every day at work I encountered other cultures and thus my understanding of and interest in the world expanded. The Bicycle Project with Partners of the America’s Maine Chapter was a natural combination of my career working with people from other cultures and my passion for bicycling.
I quickly realized that bicycles for residents of Natal are critical for transportation to work, to a much greater extent than our Mainers who use bicycles primarily for outdoor fitness. For many residents of Natal, a bicycle is their sole means of transportation. I was astounded to see one route which has 200 cyclists per hour in the morning commute! At one end of the city my hosts showed me a factory that has 5,000 spaces for bicycles!
What advice would you give to someone considering participating in an Education and Culture exchange program?
Don’t assume that North American ways are “more advanced” than our South American friends. I went to Natal prepared to explain in depth the concept of “bicycle rodeos” — where children ride on temporary, chalk-constructed pathways with intersections and road challenges to learn how to ride safely; I arrived in Natal for the opening day of a newly constructed, permanent “rodeo” park where a busload of children promptly arrived to practice safe bicycling.
Interested in learning more about the Education and Culture Travel Grant Program and how to participate as a host or traveler? Get more information on our website here: https://www.partners.net/program/travel-grants/
