CONTACT AN AMBASSADOR - AMERICAS

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1 CONTACT AN AMBASSADOR - AMERICAS ARGENTINA Kacie Schrum ISA Buenos Aires, Argentina: Latin American Studies Fall 2016 While in Argentina, my host family embraced me as I arrived and let me know I was now part of their family. I went to family gatherings of over 30 people where scratch-made pizza would make its rounds, followed by a full out parilla /cook out. While there, I learned Spanish from the locals, about their public transportation system, and where to find the cheapest empanada, but more importantly, I learned more about myself. Alynna Summit Buenos Aires: Capital of Culture - Spanish Course Students should study abroad in Argentina because it is rich in literary elements, language elements, and historical elements. Some of the greatest authors come from Argentina, such as Jorge Borges, while also producing very important people, such as our current Pope. Argentina is a great country to visit, especially if you are trying to learn Spanish. My favorite experience in Argentina was going to the local markets, where you can purchase hand-made items from locals. I found some very neat things, while also having the opportunity to meet and converse in a different language with people who have lived in Buenos Aires for years and have seen it prosper.

2 Ania Syska Buenos Aires: Capital of Culture - Spanish Course I believe that studying abroad in Argentina is one of the most unique, selfdeveloping, and educationally enhancing experiences that a student could have! The bustling city of Buenos Aires, Argentina provides so many opportunities to practice your Spanish language skills in settings such as: the subway, buses, trains, open-air markets, restaurants, cafe`s, & with locals. I found it very enriching to have guided educational time with my professor to ask questions and hear feedback, but also to have plenty of free time to use Spanish with my classmates around the city. My favorite experience in Buenos Aires, Argentina was celebrating the Revolution Day of Argentina with all of the local Argentinians through parades, decorations, street food, concerts, and overall Argentinian pride. BELIZE Sydney Burgess OCN 480/GEO592 Landscapes of Belize: Mtn. to Reef Faculty-Led Short-Term Spring 2017 Belize has a rich cultural diversity, interesting people and is a relatively young country. Belize has luscious forests full of exotic tapirs and scarlet macaws and Mayan temples from long ago; Belize has something for everyone. My favorite experience was scuba diving for the first ocean dive ever; the water was crystal clear, colorful coral swayed in the ocean current and the water was so warm that I did not even wear a wetsuit! Kaitlyn Lowrance Belize Archaeology Field School Faculty-Led Summer 2017 The Belizean culture is a rich blend of Indigenous, European and Caribbean, which can be seen in the art, architecture, and in the food. 17th century British colonizers built many of the canals that flow along the main. Belize is a smaller country, with this being said, we visited the Mayan site of Xunantunich, went zip lining, and cave tubing in just one day in central Belize.

3 CHILE Kelly Heimann Faculty-Led Other students should study abroad in my host country because within its boundaries are a multitude of different landscapes and cultures. In one trip studying in one country I was able to see the big Santiago city lifestyle, more laid-back beach living in Viña Del Mar, the sites and living in San Pedro de Atacama, and the snow covered Andes mountains. With all of the different terrains within one country it give so much more of a variety and eye-opening experience to learn about the development of the places, see their natural beauty through mini trips, as well as attend a Chilean University getting a formal education. Gabriella Hernandez Faculty-Led Summer 2016 After vowing to myself in middle school that I would never ride a horse again, I was definitely set back when I found out that our first group activity was an all day horseback riding excursion. Unexpectedly, this 5 hour trip turned out to be one of my favorite experiences in Chile. This opportunity forced me to step out of my comfort zone, and by doing so, I was able to truly enjoy the beautiful scenery of Chile as well as conquer one of my fears. Melissa Piechowiak Pontificia Univ. Catolica de Valparaiso (PUCV) Summer Program Summer and Fall 2016 Chile is incredible. It has everything from the Atacama Desert, thousands of miles of Pacific coastline and mountains, and of course, beautiful Patagonia. There is something for everyone in this country. The city of Valparaiso is very enchanting with all of its bright colored murals and the nice people that live within it. It is hard to become bored living in Chile because of everything there is to see and experience. Juliana Reyes Summer 2017 I believe that student should study in Chile because it is an overlooked wonder in Latin America. The country has beaches, the Andes mountains, Atacama Desert, lush forests, and historical cities. I grew close to my host family and other Chilean students while exploring the country. A couple of other students and I started taking salsa classes that the university offered and we became friends with many Chilean students. They started to invite us to go out dancing and seeing more of Valparaiso while practicing our Spanish. These moments I will remember for the rest of my life!

4 Abigail Hawkes I simply do not have the words to express how grateful I am for my study abroad experience. From hanging out with the local Chilean students, to skiing down the slopes of the Andes Mountains, I have made memories that I will hold near and dear to my heart for as long as I will live. From the moment I landed in Chile and met up with my faculty-led group, I knew that I had made friendships that would last a lifetime. Every day in Chile brought me absolutely priceless and memorable experiences. While studying abroad, every day was my favorite day. Rachel Hawkins Study abroad is an experience like no other. It's new, it's exciting, but mostly...it's challenging. Everything is an adjustment and you learn to adapt to any situation you may come across. Studying abroad is enriching because it pushes you to do things you may not be fully comfortable with, and ultimately it helps you grow. If anything, you will come back with a new sense of independence and confidence you never knew you could have developed. Similarly, the people you meet will always be one of the highlights no matter where you may choose to study. Living with a host family gives you insight of what real Chilean culture can be like, and I think it definitely enhanced my study abroad experience. Julia Shabow I believe that studying abroad is imperative for the overall success of students of all cultures, socio-economic statuses, and courses of study. Spending six weeks abroad in Valparaiso, Chile has given me the opportunity to not only utilize and improve my Spanish skills, but it also allowed me to become immersed into a Latin American culture; which I would have never truly experienced if it were not for the study abroad program through UNCW. During my time in Chile, we visited several different towns, historical landmarks, as well as many different natural landmarks. The experience that I would deem the most memorable would be visiting the Atacama Desert. We spent our time learning about the landscape and the historical importance it holds between Chile and Bolivia.

5 Ashley Wilson Studying and living in Chile was an enriching experience in so many ways. It forced me to challenge myself and keep an open mind, as any experience abroad does. Living with a host family in a foreign country is an excellent way to get out of your comfort zone and become fully immersed in a culture. My host family was tremendously helpful and taught me all about Chilean culture. They were such genuine people, and we still keep in touch to this day. The Atacama Desert was absolutely my favorite experience in Chile. There are a vast range of beautiful landscapes, wild animals, and historical sites. COSTA RICA Kayla Samartin ISA San Jose, Costa Rica: Spanish Language, Liberal Arts &Environmental Studies Fall 2016 I believe that going abroad is an opportunity that everyone should take advantage of. Not only did I get to learn about the values, traditions, beliefs and language of new cultures, but I also learned a lot about myself. Tamarindo, Costa Rica is now one of my favorite beaches in the world. I was lucky enough to snorkel, watch the sunset behind a jungle, dance on a catamaran with locals, and witness bioluminescence all in one day - with people that I will never forget! DOMINICAN REPUBLIC Amber-leigh Courtemanche Language and Culture in the Dominican Republic My study abroad trip to the Dominican Republic was one of the most influential experiences of my life. The country itself is so diverse and beautiful that every day offered a new scene and a new part of the culture I had not seen before. The people in the country are among the nicest people I have ever met, and many would offer a helping hand if needed. This opportunity also allowed me the chance to grow in my language abilities. My favorite place that I visited in the Dominican Republic was Las Terrenas in a town called Samana where we visited caves and the beach by a boat ride, followed by a guest lecture. This was my favorite place on the island because the atmosphere perfectly portrayed the mixture of Dominican culture. At any hour, music would be playing, there was artwork everywhere, and many of the locals of the area spoke both Spanish and French, so in this small town you could see the effects of the history of the country.

6 ECUADOR Isabelle Chan Univ. San Francisco de Quito- GAIAS Spring 2018 Ecuador is an amazing country with such a variety of activities to do. It's one of the most biodiversity countries in the world and has mountains, the coast, the Amazon, and the Galapagos to visit. I loved traveling to different regions when I had free time, but I also loved the culture. Staying with a host family was an amazing opportunity. I learned how to cook traditional Ecuadorian dishes and practiced my Spanish. For being such a tiny country, Ecuador has so many wonders to explore and this country is a great fit for students who want to experience a different culture and take part in many incredible adventures. Leah Palian Tropical Ecology and biodiversity in Ecuador Faculty-Led Summer 2016 Ecuador was absolutely beautiful! As a biology major, I was able to receive 6 credit hours for performing tropical research over two weeks in the summer. The mountain ranges and waterfalls are experiences you can t receive elsewhere. Wild horses roamed the fields, and rainbow birds soared over the treetops. Rosny Vargas Caicedo Univ. San Francisco de Quito (USFQ) Summer Program In Ecuador there is this city called Otavalo and in it there is a market full of native Ecuadorians who speak Quechua the native language of Ecuador. I do not know how to describe it, but being submerged into the authentic Ecuadorian culture was so enriching it allowed me to finally come to the realization that I love the Spanish language. I went to Quito, Ecuador in pursuit of my family legacy I have numerous family members from Quito, Ecuador and I wanted to get to know them. In my experience, being with family, being apart of a culture that is my own I felt at home it allowed me to finally understand who I am and what I would like to do in the future. NICARAGUA Kaylee Market PED 101: Physical Activity and Wellness- Yoga and Outdoor Adventures in Nicaragua and Costa Rica While we were in Nicaragua many of us were able to pick up even small Spanish words that could help us when talking to the natives. The best part of Nicaragua is that it is it is not a popular destination, it is one of the least traveled destinations and that allowed us to immerse ourselves in the culture and language. The most enriching part of my study abroad experience was just being able to watch the locals and how they live such clean lives off the land and the sea. They are so grateful for what little they have and what little they get it brought an overwhelming sense of gratefulness for what I have in my life.

7 Lauren Inness PED 101: Physical Activity and Wellness- Yoga and Outdoor Adventures in Costa Rica and Nicaragua I spent my freshman spring break in Nicaragua and Costa Rica completing the lab requirement of my PED 101 through activities such as daily yoga, horseback riding, hiking, and salsa dancing. Through this experience, I was able to go out of my comfort zone, see new countries, and try new food while having the comfort of being part of a group led by faulty. I learned from my experience that I do want to go abroad again and explore new countries and other foreign foods. My favorite experience was horseback riding in Nicaragua where we witnessed the incredible beauty of the country, from the beaches to the mountains. As we were returning the horses, we were treated to a magnificent sunset on the beach. These are memories that I will treasure forever. PERU Natasha Pate ISA Lima, Peru: Business & Latin American Studies Courses with Locals - Semester/Academic Year Fall 2017 Hiking to Laguna 69 in Huaraz, Peru was the most breathtaking experience during my semester, both figuratively because of the incredible contrast between the icy blue and teal tones of the glacial lake and the stark grey cliffs behind it and literally because it had an altitude of over 15,000 feet. It was an extremely challenging hike but the view was unforgettable. Simone Dozier Univ. San Ignacio de Loyola (USIL) Peru is a wonderful place that has a diverse landscape. From arid deserts to luscious jungles Peru has adventure waiting around every corner. Not only is it a beautiful country but it is one of the most historically significant places in the world as it was home to the Ancient Incas. It is amazing that wherever you go you will stumble across ancient ruins. In addition, the people in Peru are quite friendly and love to share their history with you. My favorite place in Peru was Cusco. Cusco was the capital of the Incan Empire and therefore has ancient ruins seemingly on every corner. The people are amazing, the countryside is enthralling, the history is enriching, and the nightlife is vibrant. What more could you ask for?