A Break Abroad
March 28, 2016
By Emma Alexander, Honors Communications Intern
Spring break is a great time for travel, and the possibilities are truly limitless. Purdue students journeyed far and wide this March. Some went home to be with family. Others embarked on outdoor adventures. Still others sought warmer regions. However, a select group of students participated in Honors College Study Abroad opportunities this past week. One group traveled to Peru, the other to Transylvania.
Studying abroad with the Honors College is an incredibly unique and eye-opening experience. We reached out to several participating students upon their return to the States to gather their first-hand experiences and sentiments.
Dr. Brite and her students in the Peru study abroad course pose for a photo at Machu Picchu.
Catie Cowden, a senior in computer engineering, reflected on her experience traveling to Peru.
Our trip to Perú was amazingly nontraditional. While we did visit the tourist sites in Cusco and Machu Picchu, we spent so much of our time off the beaten path! We visited research farms and remote native villages, and we interacted closely with the people of Perú in multiple ways. We had seven local Peruvians with us the entire trip, and we had lots of opportunities to interview people and get firsthand knowledge of the culture. As a Computer Engineer, the course content in animal science and anthropology was entirely new to me... I learned so much! I decided to sign up for the trip as a sort of capstone to the Spanish minor I am pursuing, but I ended up getting much more out of the trip than I expected!
Dr. Facinelli and her students in the Translyvania study abroad course pose for a photo.
Student Alex Reisinger, who visited Transylvania this past week, began by sharing why she chose to attend this trip in the first place.
I hadn't really heard of Romania or Transylvania beyond the book Dracula and maybe a handful of B-movies. I thought I'd see what's out there, and I'd taken a previous class with Dr. Facinelli and enjoyed it. I was thrilled to receive honors credit while traveling somewhere I'd never been before to learn about its history.
Alex then expounded by explaining what she took away from the trip.
I gained a better understanding of Romania's past. It was interesting to learn the history while simultaneously seeing and visiting all of these historical sites. I also got to see a country that's just very beautiful and, I think, often overlooked.
Kristen Sequeria, who traveled to Peru this break, addressed her motivation for signing up and reflected on her experience.
I embarked on this study abroad program to spend my Spring Break in a unique place and to see the country of Peru in a way that many travelers do not get to. Traveling around Peru with a group of students from diverse backgrounds helped me to appreciate the culture and think outside the realm of my major.
Kevin Zhang, who visited Transylvania, shared some of his experience as well.
I learned a lot about Romanian life and culture. I also learned a lot about Vlad the Impaler and Bram Stoker's Count Dracula. We visited a lot of cool cities like Sighisoara and Brasov. I really liked spending time getting to know everyone who attended the trip with me, and I enjoyed exploring Romania. It's a beautiful country, and I would definitely go again given the chance!
Another student, Paige Rudin, described her trip through the use of three keywords.
Contrast, cuy, and ananaw capture my Peruvian Purdue experience. Contrast because of the stark differences between the blue sky and green grass, extreme wealth and day-to-day existence, and ancient Incan structures and colonial architecture. Cuy, Spanish for guinea pig, because it represents the new and exciting found beyond the crest of every hill and curve of cobblestone street (cuy is a delicacy in Peru; yes, I tried it, and yes, it was good). Ananaw, a Quechua word that essentially means 'what beauty,' because this feeling was interwoven, overlaid, and tangible throughout the entire journey. The fusion of these three languages, cultures, people, and ideas made for an incredible, vibrant adventure with new friends and new discoveries.
It is clear that students enjoyed their experiences. Luckily for you, the Honors College offers many study abroad opportunities each year. Whether it’s a spring break trip, maymester, summer experience, or semester-long endeavor, the Honors College has a program to fit your needs. I invite you to explore our website for more information, but the first-hand experiences of students are always most insightful. Don’t be afraid to reach out to your peers about their experiences. I can assure you they are all extremely enthusiastic to share!
