Experiences in North and South America
Devan Annan
¡Hola! My name is Devan Annan, and I spent spring 2012 in Osorno, Chile. Osorno is a small town located in the Lakes Region in Chile. I attended the Universidad de Los Lagos and took 18 credits, all of which transferred back as upper-division Spanish credits. Being a small-town Idaho girl, I jumped at the chance to leave my comfort zone and experience something new. I was the only native English speaker in the school, the other foreign exchange students being from Spain, Mexico, France, and Colombia. I couldn’t fall back on English or my customs, forcing me to grow in ways I didn’t know possible. Now, being back, not a day goes by where I don’t think about Chile. I can’t wait to return. The advice I would tell anyone who is even a little interested in student aboard is jump in with two feel, go abroad, you never know what you can learn! devan.annan@Umontana.edu
Heidi Kunkel
I studied my first semester of junior year at Universidad Adolfo Ibáñez in Viña del Mar, Chile. Living in Chile was the best decision I have ever made in my life, and I learned a lot about myself and grew into a more independent person. I got to take classes with local students in Spanish, lived in an apartment overlooking the beach, and experienced Chilean culture in one of their most popular cities. Viña is very close to Valparaíso, another popular city, and I often took the very cheap bus there to spend the day. I got the chance to travel within Chile and South America; I made it to Argentina, Peru and Bolivia. I am majoring in Spanish, and my time spent in Chile drastically improved my skills in the language; it didn’t take long for me to catch on and speak confidently. Viña is a central city in Chile, and it’s big enough that major bus companies go through, so it’s easy to catch a bus going anywhere in Chile and South America. If you have any questions about living, traveling and studying in Chile, feel free to email me at heidikunk@gmail.com.
Eddie Woolridge
My time spent teaching Physical Education in Punta Gorda, Belize was unforgettable. From my wonderful host family teaching me local customs, to the unforgettable memories I created with dear friends, studying abroad was one of the best decisions I have ever made! It was the catalyst that has outlined the rest of my life. My time spent abroad has opened doors and has inspired me to continue traveling. Not only have I grown as an individual, but have gained greater insight to what this world has to offer. wool0098@gmail.com