Maymester

  • I learned  more in Costa Rica than I ever thought would be possible. Waking up to howlers, sleeping to gecko calls, currency exchange rates, BIRDWATCHING, how to hike 101, intermediate photography skills, enjoying whatever is around me, how to mail a postcard, hammock napping, rudimentary Spanish, that I can living without running water and A/C…

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  • That’s pretty much all the Spanish I know. And, here’s another confession. I wrote some notes about my pre-departure thoughts for this blog. Having already been on one fantastic CAES study abroad trip to Costa Rica, I had good intentions of posting an inspirational blog to allay the fears of other students considering studying abroad.…

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  •  I have, for many years, volunteered at a therapeutic riding facility where people with special cognitive, physical, and emotional needs ride horses to improve their development, so I have spent hundreds of hours with horses. I admire their beauty, their grace, and their strength, and I know the joy of riding and communing with nature…

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  • The three weeks I spent in Cortona, Italy in May certainly changed my life. As I type this, I sit in my room in Athens, surrounded by a few bottles of wine I ordered to be shipped from Italy. Mind you, the bottles are unopened, after all, it is noon and I would never consider…

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  • I’m already yearning to go back to France. I had such an amazing experience. I loved meeting new people, getting close to the other students on the program, and definitely the food. Especially the food. I’m sad that I had to rush back to the states to do an internship and didn’t get to visit…

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  • Colorful birds, amazing waterfalls, active volcanoes, and warm, friendly local people – these are just a few of the things we saw and experienced during our action packed Maymester adventure in Costa Rica. Rising at the crack of dawn, we hiked through the forest, learning about the distinct ecosystems, studying the many different bird species…

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  • Now that I am back at school, it is hard to believe I really went on such an amazing study abroad. I was very lucky to be one of the thirty students on that trip and to meet other students with the same passion for traveling. The week I returned home I could not stop…

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  • Looking Back

    As my European travels and study abroad program came to an end, I became more and more excited to get back to the states to see my family and friends. Upon arrival, I was just happy to be back to all things familiar. It was nice to be able to read signs and menus again, as…

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  • May 21, 2016 Today was spent in multiple different locations around Salaj County where we got to see a few different people’s specialized trade. With each site visit, we saw hardworking, dedicated and prideful people with a product to offer that made these characteristics visible. At the honey processing facility, they shared with us the…

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  • A Full Heart

    May 20, 2016 It is our first night with our host families and I can already feel my heart expanding eight sizes. I have that felt that deep feeling that I get when I feel most connected with myself and the world around me. This feeling comes on when I feel a sense of community,…

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