How and why did you choose your specific program(s)?
·
When I began to look into study abroad, I didn’t
have very much travelling experience. I became interested in the study to
Belize because there wasn’t a language barrier and I thought that a faculty led
experience would be helpful. Going to Belize is three weeks in country, which
was a perfect length of time! All of these reasons helped me to feel
comfortable in my first study abroad and made for an incredible experience!
How did your experiences abroad contribute to your overall
education, especially in your field?
·
Working in Belize provided learning
opportunities and hands on experience that I could not have gotten from
studying in a classroom. One of the most valuable things I learned was how to
understand the importance of health disparities. When speaking with a patient
in Belize, it is a completely different experience than at home. I learned how
to understand the differences in culture and general health knowledge, which is
something that I know will be applicable to my future career.
Why would you suggest your program(s) to others?
·
Studying abroad taught me so much in just a
short amount of time! Even though you may spend an entire semester studying for
a certain class, the skills I gained from Belize in three weeks are
irreplaceable. I was able to receive upper level honors biology credit, but
there will never be a good way to classify what is learned when studying in
another country. This study abroad was relaxed, but you could make the
experience be all that you wanted it to be. You can learn about medicine
practices and education from an entirely new perspective, all while
experiencing a unique culture.
For information about the programs discussed in Amy’s
interview, contact the Study Abroad Office (studyabr@uark.edu)!
