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- Joe H. •
- Study Abroad in Venezuela •
- Finance Major
“You
can’t do any better to learn a language. It’s
a whole experience…it’s like the classroom is
24-7.”
—Joe H. |
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Joe is a finance major who spent the semester in Mérida, Venezuela. He studied Spanish language, and took a biology class to fulfill his liberal education requirements. Joe’s experience broadened his view of the world, and has inspired him to travel more in the future.
Joe chose to study abroad early in his undergraduate career, and he recommends this as a way to fulfill requirements while exploring a new country and culture. He found the language immersion to be a great help in learning Spanish.
“Just being there all the time, having to speak it, reading the paper, you can’t do any better to learn a language. It’s a whole experience…it’s like the classroom is 24-7.” Joe also chose to do a biological science course on tropical ecology. The field study aspect of the course was important for him. “We were up in the Andes Mountains, so for our class we were actually with the things we were studying.”
As far as his future in finance, Joe felt his experience in Venezuela helped him gain perspective on what is important to him. “It gives you more perspective on different cultures and different lives,” he said. “It just made me realize that there’s more to it than the US. You need to enjoy things while you can enjoy them, and see things as they are. Get beyond the superficialities…It’s great.” Joe’s future plans now include further travel. Next year he plans to participate in a study abroad program in Hong Kong through the Carlson School of Management. After graduation, he said, “Hopefully I’ll travel more of South America and more of the world to see how other people live, and interact with day-to-day experiences.”
Outside of class, the most important parts of Joe’s experience were his host family and his free time activities. He lived with a 55-year-old host mother in Mérida, who helped him adjust to a new language and culture. “The host family was the greatest part of it, because she introduced me to her friends, and I ended up spending most of my time with Venezuelans, rather than Americans,” he said.
In addition, Joe found his free time to be filled with travel and exploration. “Every other weekend we were at the beach, in the mountains, going camping, going hiking, going to waterfalls, going to the middle of the plains. You get to see and know the country more than, let’s say you go there for a week and experience things quickly. Just being able to travel and go around the country was one of the best parts of the trip.”
Joe’s advice to future study abroad participants: plan in order to maximize the experience. “Don’t let things go by,” he said. You’re there once; you’ve got to do something all the time. When you’re there, it’s going to go so fast. Just take it in, one step at a time, and just do it.”
Last modified on May 13, 2008 |