Here I am, one week into my study abroad experience in the Dominican Republic, and I've already learned so much. However, for my first post I want to discuss why I chose this country and why I chose to study abroad here in the first place!
Why leave the U.S.?
I've studied abroad before in Guatemala and loved the experience. I feel like there is so much that can be learned by living and experiencing how other people live. It is a challenge leaving my comfort zone, but then again without a challenge there wouldn't be a reason to grow!
Why the Dominican Republic?
I've been lucky enough to have a taste of South America when I visited Ecuador, and a taste of Central America when I visited Guatemala. I loved Latin America, but I had not yet gone to the Caribbean.
Dominicans are also famous for speaking very quickly so I figured if I can overcome that obstacle, I should be able to understand Spanish at any speed.
I can't ignore the beauty of the country either. The geography ranges from arid Mediterranean environments in the south to
Mountain ranges to scenic beaches to lush forests. The biology major in me can't help but appreciate the biodiversity seen in this country.
Why this semester?
It may seem a little odd to study abroad the last semester of undergraduate education, and it sort of is. I chose to study abroad this semester because I had to complete all of my prerequisites for Physician Assistant applications and complete interviews. I also wanted to finish all of my Biology courses so I could focus purely on Spanish culture and history courses. That leaves this last semester for studying Spanish. As I head into my Physician Assistant education, I wanted to refresh and advance my Spanish speaking skills while I could.
Why Santiago?
I wanted a city that was large, so that left me with either Santo Domingo or Santiago. The Exchange program in Santo Domingo was a newer one and focused more on business, while Pontifical Universidad Catolica Madre y Maestre (PUCMM) had a lot more options with Dominican natives. Additionally all of the courses are in Spanish.
Because the city is inland (about an hour and a half from the beach) I feel there are less tourists around and I can get a better feel for how Dominicans really live and be more immersed in the culture.
So that's a little overview about why I chose what I did, and I hope to enjoy the rest of my time here!
Why leave the U.S.?
I've studied abroad before in Guatemala and loved the experience. I feel like there is so much that can be learned by living and experiencing how other people live. It is a challenge leaving my comfort zone, but then again without a challenge there wouldn't be a reason to grow!
Why the Dominican Republic?
I've been lucky enough to have a taste of South America when I visited Ecuador, and a taste of Central America when I visited Guatemala. I loved Latin America, but I had not yet gone to the Caribbean.
Dominicans are also famous for speaking very quickly so I figured if I can overcome that obstacle, I should be able to understand Spanish at any speed.
I can't ignore the beauty of the country either. The geography ranges from arid Mediterranean environments in the south to
Mountain ranges to scenic beaches to lush forests. The biology major in me can't help but appreciate the biodiversity seen in this country.
Why this semester?
It may seem a little odd to study abroad the last semester of undergraduate education, and it sort of is. I chose to study abroad this semester because I had to complete all of my prerequisites for Physician Assistant applications and complete interviews. I also wanted to finish all of my Biology courses so I could focus purely on Spanish culture and history courses. That leaves this last semester for studying Spanish. As I head into my Physician Assistant education, I wanted to refresh and advance my Spanish speaking skills while I could.
Why Santiago?
I wanted a city that was large, so that left me with either Santo Domingo or Santiago. The Exchange program in Santo Domingo was a newer one and focused more on business, while Pontifical Universidad Catolica Madre y Maestre (PUCMM) had a lot more options with Dominican natives. Additionally all of the courses are in Spanish.
Because the city is inland (about an hour and a half from the beach) I feel there are less tourists around and I can get a better feel for how Dominicans really live and be more immersed in the culture.
So that's a little overview about why I chose what I did, and I hope to enjoy the rest of my time here!