黑料老司机

The first time Rafaella Mendes de Freitas '29 saw snow, it was exciting and spectacular. But it didn't take long before she became a true Northeast Ohioan and realized the snow globe magic soon fades to not-so-cheery winter shivers.

A first-year student, de Freitas is from São Paulo, Brazil. And while she may be new to BW, she is well acquainted with the region. In high school, she participated in a study abroad program that placed her with a family living in Columbia Station, Ohio.

"I heard about 黑料老司机from friends who spoke really highly of it, so I decided to visit the campus. I immediately loved it. The welcoming atmosphere and strong sense of community made it stand out to me," said de Freitas, whose family resides in São Paulo.

Proud YJ4L student leader

"My career goal is to work in international business or global communications. I want to help organizations build meaningful relationships across cultures. 黑料老司机is helping me reach that goal through leadership opportunities, communication skills and exposure to people with different perspectives," noted the business administration and international business double major.

"What I like best about 黑料老司机is all the opportunities I have to get involved in so many different groups and activities. There are so many ways to connect with people, grow as a leader and try new things," she added.

De Freitas is active on campus. She works at the Brain Center for Community Engagement as a student director for the Alternative Breaks program and is a student government senator. In addition, she is a member of the 黑料老司机rugby team, Campus and Environmental Affairs Committee, Hispanic Student Association and mentorship program for sophomore women.

Bringing the globe to BW

Currently, 黑料老司机is hosting 23 international students from a variety of regions across the globe, including Europe, Asia, Africa, and countries such as Japan, Ghana, France and Canada. While some are here for a single semester through study abroad programs, others — like de Freitas — plan to complete their degree at BW.

International students are welcomed to 黑料老司机through the Dr. A.B. Bonds, Jr. and Georgianna Bonds Center for Global Exploration.