Brazil 02.09.2010 - 17.09.2010

Adrian Mahlstein

Born on July 22nd 1984, I spent my childhood and youth in a small village in the suburban area of Lucerne. Thanks to a lucky hazard during high school, I received the chance to spend an exchange year in São Paulo, Brazil. This time had a great influence on my understanding of the world, myself as well as my roots. The return to Switzerland was not easy, the fond memories and many friendships motivated me to visit my second home on a yearly basis. In the fall of 2008 I earned my Masters Degree in International Relations at the Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies in Geneva. Presently I am working as an intern at the Swiss Federal Department of Foreign Affairs, Presence Switzerland. I am excited and motivated to pass my experience and knowledge about Brazil on to a curious travel group. We will have the opportunity to make experiences and look behind doors that usually are closed for common travelers.

Séverine Erismann

Born on December 14th 1985, I grew up in a little idyllic village in the countryside of Lucerne. During high school I spent an exchange year in the U.S., where I got interested in world affairs and different cultures. After high school, I grabbed my backpack and travelled to Costa Rica, Colombia and Ecuador where I taught English on the Galapagos-Islands for two months. During my geography studies in Fribourg I got bitten by the travel bug again. I left for Chile where I did a university exchange for one semester in Valparaíso. Once started, the travel bug always comes back. Further travels and internships let me discover different parts of South and Central America. Right now I am doing a Masters in Development Studies with focus on global ecology and sustainable development in Geneva. I’m very much looking forward to travel to Brazil with an adventurous group and to get to know the country from a different perspective.