When Ammanda Sanches arrived in St. Louis with her husband, Daniel, two years ago, he plunged into his studies toward a doctorate degree in economics, while Ammanda toured the city with her camera in hand. Ammanda, who worked as a photographer’s assistant in their native Brazil, now finds new inspiration in the sights of St. Louis.
“I walk all the time with my camera,” says Ammanda. “It’s my passion, I love to do this.”
Ammanda speaks enthusiastically about her time here and the varied photographic subjects she sees. “St. Louis has a lot of really nice places. It’s not difficult to find spots for great pictures.” Still learning English, Ammanda says she would like to study photography.
Daniel shares Ammanda’s love of the city. “I really enjoy living in St. Louis. It is a very nice city, and most of the attractions are free (good for graduate students!). We like to walk around during the weekends and get to know new places.”
“I chose Washington University because it is one of the leading research universities in the world,” says Daniel. “In particular, the major build-up of new faculty in the Economics department makes it very attractive for young economists. The new people together with previous faculty members provide an excellent environment for doing research, and all the professors are really accessible and try to help students to develop their own research. The program also provides support for research during the summer, and professors get involved in the placement of students upon graduation.”
St. Louis
The “Gateway to the West” is a thriving metropolitan area of 2.6 million people that retains the friendly character of the Midwest. The fun and culture of a big city are readily available, but living here is easy and affordable.
Convenient highways make it possible to live in any part of the city. Full-time Washington University students and staff are eligible to receive a Metro Universal pass from the university that provides free access to the entire Metro transit system, including buses and light rail (MetroLink), which serve St. Louis City and County as well as Madison and St. Clair counties in Illinois.
Forest Park, located adjacent to the Medical Center, is a haven for individuals seeking either solitude or outdoor fun. This enormous park, larger than New York’s Central Park, offers public tennis courts, three golf courses, an outdoor ice rink, a 12-kilometer paved trail, picnic areas, athletic fields and a lake. The park is home to the Saint Louis Science Center , the Saint Louis Art Museum, the Missouri Historical Society and the nationally recognized Saint Louis Zoo.
St. Louis is a sports-minded city that enthusiastically supports Cardinals baseball, Rams football, Blues hockey and a number of semi-pro teams. Many other types of affordable entertainment also are available. The Missouri Botanical Garden offers beautiful displays year round. The Saint Louis Symphony Orchestra is among the country’s best, and several first-rate theater companies practice their art here. The Fox Theatre presents Broadway shows, dance performances and concerts. Blues, jazz and rock bands are hot attractions in local clubs, and a large outdoor venue draws major concerts.
Outdoor activities can be found within and around the metropolitan area; bike trails line both the Mississippi and Missouri rivers, and the Ozark mountains and river valleys are perfect for backpacking, camping, fishing and canoeing. St. Louis ‘ central location makes exploring nearby cities easy and inexpensive.
For more information, visit www.explorestlouis.com.