01- On the BARRA beach, the most beautiful and central beach of the city.
02- How far away is the beach from the school?
02- 200 m (5 minutes by walking).
03- How does the school building look like?
03- It´s a big house with a beautiful outside area, where the students can sit down, read a book, talk or just drink a coffee. It´s situated in a very central and safe street close to the beach and to cafés, restaurants, banks, post office, shopping center, etc.
04- How far is it to the Historical Center?
04- It´s 4 km to the Pelourinho, the Historical Center of Salvador.
05- How can students get downtown and how much does it cost?
05- They can get a bus directly to downtown (20 minutes). The bus costs US$ 0,50 and a taxi costs US$ 5.
06- Will there be computer/internet access?
06- Yes, all students have free access to the computer and Internet at the school, plus wireless internet. For additional access, there are several internet cafés close to the school which charge approx. US$ 1 - 2 per 30 minutes.
07- How do I get to school on the first day?
07- Your host family will walk with you or drive you to school on your first day. If you stay in one of the hotels or the guesthouses, you will get exact information from the staff at the reception.
08- What happens in a typical day at school?
08- Classes start at 9 a .m. and end at 12:30 p.m. with three 10-minutes-coffebreaks in between. Students who choose the Brazil Workshop PLUS-program will also have classes in the afternoon from 1:30 p.m. to 3:10 p.m. There are cultural activities in the afternoon as well, like dancing or cooking classes, Capoeira, singing and percussion classes. The school also offers cultural excursions; to participate on these activities, you just need to inform our secretary.
09- What will the homestay be like?
09- All our homestays are located within walking distance from the school and the beach. Students are guaranteed their own room. Hot running water is available at all homestays. Our homestay families range from middle to upper class, the facilities provided are clean and modern, very similar to the standard in your country. Brazilian families are very open, friendly and welcoming.
10- What is the average air temperature in summer and in winter?
12- A visa is only required for American, Canadian, Australian, Japanese and Russian citizens. It´s best to get a tourist visa from the local Brazilian Consulate in your country some weeks before travelling. All other nationalities can stay up to 90 days in Brazil (with the possibility of an extension).
13- What to bring?
13- There are many upscale stores and shopping malls, so almost everything can be purchased here. We suggest to bring light and comfortable casual clothes. A bathing suit and sandals are necessary. It´s not smart to wear or bring along your best accessories and jewelry when traveling, rather modesty is suggested in this area.
14- What is the typical cuisine? What will I be eating, especially with my family?
14- Beans, rice, vegetables, seafood, meat (beef, chicken) and lots of fruits. Bahian cuisine is very exotic and has a strong African influence. For lunch, there are many "self-service" restaurants with an excellent variety of food charged by the kilo (approx. US$ 4). Salvador has many international restaurants as well and another particular speciality all over Brazil are the famous Churrascarias, where you get the best of barbequed meat. We recommend drinking bottled water or water from a cooler (filtered) as most people here do. It´s best to avoid food from street vendors until you get used to the environment.
15- How much extra money should I bring?
15- Housing and breakfast are included in the price, additional money will be mostly needed for lunch, dinner, transportation and personal expenses (e.g. shopping, nightlife) - ranging from US$ 200 to 400 per month. Students often travel further to other destinations in Brazil before or after their stay at our school, so it´s up to the individual to calculate how much money they will need.
16- What about mail, exchanging money and telephone calls?
16- Mail from/to Europe or the US takes more or less a week to arrive. Sending a postcard costs approx. US$0.60 and letters a little bit more. There are banks and post offices within a few blocks of the school. You can withdraw money from several ATM machines with your credit card, maestro or cirrus card. To make either local or international phone calls, you will need to buy a phone card (being sold in many locations) or call from an internet café.
17- Where can I play sports?
17- It is easy to find a soccer or volleyball game on the beach. The school supports a basketball team where the students can participate. Salvador has many gyms with modern equipment and various aerobic classes are offered as well. You can easily purchase a monthly membership.
Rua João Pondé, 240 - Barra - Salvador - Bahia - Brasil CEP 40140-810
Phone: +55 71 3264-0007 | Fax: +55 71 3264-0053 | skype: dialogo.school office@dialogo.tur.br
