Presentation PDF - Office of Study Abroad

ECUADOR: HOW LATIN
AMERICA RESHAPED MY
THINKING
By: Katherine Barren
Type of learning abroad experience
• Semester abroad
• Full Spanish language immersion
• Universidad de San Francisco de Quito in Quito, Ecuador
• Small, private university
• Travels to Peru
Campus: Universidad de San Francisco de Quito
Campus: Universidad de San Francisco de Quito
Campus: Universidad de San Francisco de Quito
How to Describe My Experiences
• El Etnógrafo by Juan Luis Borges
• “It’s like there’s a secret that I can’t tell you, it’s
one that needs to be experienced for yourself.”
How South America Changed my Thoughts
• I found that the context of the culture helped me to learn the
language
• Host family
• Friends
• Students & teachers
• Taxi drivers & getting lost
• Hospitals & Clinics
• My experience
• Urban area
• My friend’s experience
• Rural area
Hailing a taxi in
Quito, Ecuador
• “How many North
American Students
does it take to hail a
taxi?”
How South American Changed my Thoughts
• Peace of mind
• Relaxed pace of life
• Maximize quality of time
• Selflessness
Quito Hospital
• Urban area
• In conjunction with the university
• Well-staffed
• “Pick a number”
• Medication
Vaccinations
Health records
Atacames Hospital
• Free clinic
• Rural area
• Mysterious Gatorade bottles
• Pain medication only
Local Hospital in Cuzco, Peru
• Cures for:
• Stomach aches
• Headaches
• Nausea
• Back pain
• Heartburn
• Indigestion
Lessons I Brought Back to MSU
• What did these three medical experiences teach me?
• Everyone comes from different backgrounds
• Privileges of technology & medicine
• Wealth of research
• I learned to look beyond the grade
• Overarching goal
• Help me excel in my career goals
• Clear communication is incredible and it can take you a
long way
• Patience
• Furthering my career goals
QUESTIONS?