Category: The Americas

Central America, Study Abroad, The Americas

Starstruck at Starfish Beach by Ailani Garcia Balderas

As someone from Charleston, SC who had never left the state—let alone the country—our beach day in Bocas del Toro quickly became one of the most memorable and awe-inspiring experiences of my life. For someone used to brown-gray, misty coastlines, the dream of seeing turquoise-blue water had always felt a bit mythical. But that day, it became real. It wasn’t just about studying abroad; it … Continue reading Starstruck at Starfish Beach by Ailani Garcia Balderas

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Central America, Study Abroad, The Americas

Pursuit of Pura Vida by Elijah Danjoint

To a Costa Rican citizen, “pura vida” is a saying that is as habitual as saying good morning. As Costa Rica’s unofficial national slogan, you can hear this saying at every corner store, every restaurant, and every beach. Meaning “pure life”, pura vida is a versatile saying used in greetings, ways of saying thanks, and many other positive interactions. Hearing this so often and so … Continue reading Pursuit of Pura Vida by Elijah Danjoint

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North America, Study Abroad, The Americas

Learning About the Locals by Katie Campbell

Throughout my time in Banff, Canada, I got the opportunity to learn about some of the locals and their daily lives. Each person I talked with this week had an interesting story or wise words to share. I noticed many foreign individuals from Australia, New Zealand, and the UK. I could talk to some of them in passing; each had a unique story. One of … Continue reading Learning About the Locals by Katie Campbell

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Study Abroad, The Americas

Panamá – Post Trip Reflection by Adam Schaich

For my final blog post, I thought it would be advantageous to both reflect on my thoughts on my trip as well as provide advice for future students who may participate in the same trip. Overall, taking part in the College of Charleston in Panamá trip was an extremely beneficial learning experience for me with regards to both classroom concepts and cultural engagement. Since the … Continue reading Panamá – Post Trip Reflection by Adam Schaich

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Study Abroad, The Americas

Visiting a New (To me) Part of the World by Adam Schaich

Although I have been lucky enough to travel to dozens of different US states and a number of countries in Europe, I had never visited anywhere in Latin America before embarking on the College of Charleston’s Maymester trip to Panamá to study the Panamá Canal and its related business implications. Having no family of Latin descent and with only classroom experience and Spanish, I had … Continue reading Visiting a New (To me) Part of the World by Adam Schaich

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Study Abroad, The Americas

Global Classroom – Panamá Study Abroad by Adam Schaich

Hi, my name is Adam Schaich and I am participating in the College of Charleston Maymester Study Abroad to Panamá. This trip is specifically focusing on the Panamá Canal, its operations, and the business impact in both the local community and the country as a whole. Today, I would like to share my experience in the “global classroom.” Through studying abroad and participating in hands … Continue reading Global Classroom – Panamá Study Abroad by Adam Schaich

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South America, The Americas

Global Classroom by Ainsley Cook

You could definitely say we were immersed during our time in Chile. Contemporary Chilean history is all around Santiago and the University. We would often pass by La Moneda, the president’s building and the site of the military coup in 1973. I lived very close to Plaza de la Dignidad (formerly Plaza Italia) where a lot of the city comes together. Historically this has been … Continue reading Global Classroom by Ainsley Cook

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South America, The Americas

Reflection on my Chilean Experience by Alina Rosario

My study abroad experience in Santiago, Chile has taught me a lot about the Chilean culture as well as their history and how it affects them today. I think that this experience will help me in my future career in understanding people from different Spanish speaking countries and the difference in native speakers of the language. In my time there, I learned a lot more … Continue reading Reflection on my Chilean Experience by Alina Rosario

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South America, The Americas

Protests in Chile by Leasette Leon

In mid-October, as I was finally adjusting to my new life here in Chile, a mass movement of protests began. These protests first began by a group of high-school students, due to the rise of the metro prices, which was labelled as “Evade”. However, this was only the spark that lit the fire. These protests have now become a national movement for social change. These … Continue reading Protests in Chile by Leasette Leon

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