My name is Nicholas Baker, and I am a senior at the College of Charleston. I have completed all the requirements for my major (chemistry) and sought to complete my honors immersed project overseas in Lisbon, Portugal. The program, led by CofC’s Dr. Morgan Hughey (public health), seeks to understand the ways in which public green space affects well-being in Lisbon. We will be traveling around the city auditing parks and creating our own database that will be used to draw conclusions about the significance of urban green space; similarly, how access varies across the city. The host program is run through an organization called CIEE at the NOVA university in Lisbon. I chose this program because – although it is not my major – I have a great interest in public health, especially as it relates to urban living. I think that as climate change and widespread pollution become more prevalent, a discussion about incorporating green space into our cities must take place.

My goals abroad are quite straightforward. They are to: (1) learn about me through exposure to new experiences and (2) to meet and connect with new people. I have no specific sights I would like to see; I think my main goal is to become more open minded and worldly In my own experience, travel has always been associated with lots of intrinsic growth. I think when I am abroad – and, perhaps most importantly, outside my comfort zone – it challenges me to grow a lot as a person… to consider new perspectives and outlooks. I must concede, however, that I have done little research about Lisbon or Portugal in general – in some ways I am hoping to go with no expectations or preconceptions. I would like to meet locals and learn about their favorite things to do and see. To me, this is more exciting!