Beyond the Screen: Bangalore, India and São Paulo, Brazil

OHS is a unique school. There are high-level classes and amazing students–each with their own skills and academic interests. But another great and special thing about OHS is where the students live (and I don’t mean their background screens on Adobe Connect). Sometimes we forget that our classmates could be on the other side of the world or even just down the street, so let’s get to know some of our OHSers’ spectacular cities and see what goes on beyond the screen!

Kaveri (’26) is a full-time freshman who lives in Bangalore, India. A city that she says “offers everything!” from a vibrant nightlife full of nightclubs to old markets with vegetable sellers pushing carts around. She has lived there for over a decade. Geographically, Bangalore is an in-land city and in the southernmost part of India. Kaveri describes the climate as “really pleasant.” Bangalore used to be a hill station (a town in the lower mountains of India), but not anymore as the climate has become much cooler.

Bangalore has a lot to offer. Kaveri describes a sacred tradition that the city shares, rangoli–designs that can be made with flower petals, dry rice flour, and sometimes even chalk. “For every festival in Bangalore, rangolis are made early in the morning. Outside every shop and home, colorful patterns can be seen,” the first year OHSer describes. Despite Banglore being heavily populated, this beautiful custom creates unity and community; no wonder she loves living there!

A rangoli

One of Kaveri’s favorite pastimes is to walk around her local market. She proudly remarks how there are “so many amazing and pretty things to see.” This is so great because no matter what you’re doing, even grocery shopping there is beauty. While Bangalore is an urban-based city, there is an extensive wildlife. That’s right, animals that roam free. There are a lot of street dogs in Bangalore and Kaveri enjoys feeding them. It’s like having multiple pets without having to actually house them–seems pretty cool!

Last but certainly not least, Kaveri says the internet is really good. Looks like Bangalore checks all the boxes for any OHSer.

Next up we have Helena (’26), a 9th grade single-course student at OHS. She lives in São Paulo, Brazil. Helena has lived there for almost her whole life and describes how “You can walk around” and “see people of different nationalities, races and religions but…all of these cultures are appreciated and incorporated into Brazilian traditions.” Sao Paulo, being an international city, is great and Helena simply states that “it feels like I am traveling the world…I can have some delicious Japanese food and feel like I am walking the streets of Tokyo but I can also be enjoying traditional Lebanese dishes and feel like I am living in Beirut.” So not only are there a wide variety of people but dishes to eat?! Sign me up.

But that’s not the end. According to Helena, “the city is an international finance center but also filled with nature and wildlife worth exploring.” No wonder why there is such a great diversity of people; there is something for everyone!

One of Helena’s favorite spots in the city is Ibirapuera Park, “which is widely known for its beautiful views and contemporary art museum Bienal.” Helena is one lucky OHSer, there is so much to do and see! She also enjoys visiting Liberdade, São Paulo’s Japantown. A place that Helena recommends visitors to go to is the ‘Museu do Futebol’ as Brazil is known for its phenomenal soccer which is typically called futbol (football). One popular attraction that you might want to take a stop by is MASP (Museu de Artes de São Paulo Assis Chateaubriand). Helena describes it as “a fascinating art museum located in one of the city’s most famous avenues, Paulista.” There is certainly endless culture to explore and learn in São Paulo.

An important idea that São Paulo presents is how it’s important to keep an open mind and not fully believe a stereotype. Brazil is largely associated with the Amazon forests and probably not an international city with great cultural diversity. For Helena, São Paulo is her home and loves it because of “how connected it is with other big cities around the world” and it is easy for her to reach “any area surrounded by nature.” To her, “Sao Paulo will always have a place in [her] heart, for giving [her] a memorable and unforgettable childhood!” It is so heartwarming how much Helena loves her city.

Helena believes that “anyone with an open mind and a love for different cultures should definitely consider visiting Sao Paulo! It’s a city that can offer a comfortable and luxurious stay but is packed with knowledge and diversity hidden in its corners.'' It seems like São Paulo would float any OHSer’s boat because…well, after all, OHS is an international school. But of course the internet quality remains a key factor if an OHSer considers traveling there during the school year. But it’s not a surprise that among all the activities going on in Sao Paulo, it would have a decent internet connection.

From India to Brazil and all over the world, OHS students continue to prove how special they are but also the cities they live in.