Hello! My name is Annika Jonker, and I have the incredible opportunity of attending UGA’s Avian Biology study abroad program May 8th – which is only days away! Throughout my life, I have lived in 3 continents thanks to my father’s job. I was born in South Africa, then moved…
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I have never been outside of the country before. None of my family has. When I first approached my mom and dad about this amazing opportunity, I was equally as skeptical as they were. Many thoughts were rushing through my mind: Could we afford this? Would I enjoy leaving my…
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Many people, when applying for a study abroad, are told of the amazing sights and academic ventures they will experience. However, what people never emphasize if the lifelong, unbreakable friendships you will create. In the photo, you see a group of tired and sweaty, but ecstatic, students. We started as…
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I returned from Costa Rica on May 28th. Those who went on the trip with me can tell you that I had a full evolution of emotion during our 20 days there. Excitement for the first few hikes quickly turned into exhaustion which melted into severe homesickness. Missing my family,…
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Coming home from Costa Rica was a very bittersweet moment. I enjoyed this Study Abroad trip so much and loved all the many experiences I was able to have. However, once I knew it was close to time to going home, I knew I was ready. I was excited to…
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After being home for a few days and fully recovering from my time abroad, I’m given the opportunity to reflect on last month. My time in Costa Rica felt like a dream. I woke up in my own bed that first morning back and it felt so strange. I didn’t…
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My first week in Costa Rica has been amazing. The landscape is breathtaking and the culture is full of life. The accommodations of the first few places we have stayed have been drastically different. Ensenada is on the Gulf of Nicoya with flat pastures and steamy weather. The next location,…
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From hiking in the beautiful rainforests to swimming in huge waterfalls, there were so many great moments on my trip to Costa Rica with Avian Biology. However, there are two moments that stick out to me the most. The first moment was in a cloud forest in a place called…
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I have been very blessed in my life to visit several countries with my family and UGA study abroad programs. I have fallen in love with traveling and experiencing other cultures so the decision to go on the Costa Rica Avian Biology Trip was a no-brainer for me. This is a more physically intense…
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Wow! Four years went by faster than I thought it would. Summa cum laude, hooray! I couldn’t have done it without the mentors I met through the UGA community. I am thankful for the friendships, opportunities, and financial support I’ve found within the Department of Horticulture and CAES. I intend…
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