Next study abroad destination: Latin America
By Sheila Kelly
Staff Writwr
While many Maryland students interested in study abroad look across the pond for traveling experience, the cultural hotspot of Latin America lags behind in attracting students.
The U-Md. Study Abroad Office and other student organizations are joining efforts to guide students to see Latin America as the next Europe for traveling abroad experiencing.
“Spanish is a very popular language to learn, for obvious reasons, so a lot of kids want to go to Spain – but it’s really expensive in Spain,” said Lisa Tenley Alton, the Study Abroad Office’s program specialist for outreach. “It’s not as expensive to go places like Mexico. The economy has pushed some people to consider [places that they] haven’t before, which is great because we think there’s a whole wealth of wonderful learning to happen there.”
Although Maryland’s education abroad program does not offer any full semester trips to Latin American countries, it has short-term programs and semester-long exchange programs with universities in Argentina, Brazil, Chile and Mexico.
The study abroad office is also trying to increase Latino students’ participation in the program through scholarships, recruitment and possibly adding a semester-long program in Latin America within the next year, Alton said.
At U-Md. and nationwide, “the number of students of color studying abroad is much lower than the number of white students studying abroad,” Alton said.
Marta Manzano, a senior Salvadoran French and Italian major who has studied abroad three times, said that cultural shocks in the host country might also influence Latinos’ decision to study abroad.
“Some [Latino students] are scared of not being [culturally] accepted if they go to a different non-Latin-American country, so if they go to like China or Africa or a country where they don’t really have interaction with Hispanics,” Manzano said. “I didn’t fit in to the American stereotype, but I had no problem with [being accepted in those countries].”
While studying abroad in France, Manzano was asked by her host mother what country El Salvador was in. Manzano, who enjoys “the challenge” of introducing her culture and language to other people, was happy to correct her host mother and show her the country on a map.
Students looking for a more philanthropic international experience can travel to Latin America through service-oriented student groups, such as Students Helping Honduras.
The volunteers involved in SHH have already built two elementary schools, created an eco-friendly waste management system, installed electricity, and built 44 homes in various underprivileged Honduran villages.
While U-Md.’s chapter of SHH only began this fall, the group started back in 2005 when founders Shin Fujiyama and his sister, Cosmo, went to the city of El Progreso in Honduras and witnessed the terrible conditions there.
Maryland’s chapter of SHH, one of 18 college chapters and two high school chapters, started when Sam Tiburzi, a sophomore letters and sciences major, ran into students from another school at the First Look Fair who wanted someone to start a U-Md. chapter.
Afterwards, Tiburzi agreed to create the chapter.
“I think it’s nuts that it’s all students, not corporate sponsors,” Tiburzi said. “We only sent two people [to Honduras last winter], but we still have 30 who are dedicated and raising money.”
Though the Maryland chapter is still relatively small, Tiburzi said they expect to “crush” their fundraising goal of $3,500 through bake sales every Thursday, an online donation page, and a volleyball tournament with a $10 participation fee May 8 on La Plata beach.
“I just hope so many people want to go down there,” Tiburzi said, adding that speaking Spanish is not a requirement.
In Honduras, they mostly help “They just need to be hugged and played with, they don’t care about language.”
Short URL: http://www.lavozlatinaumd.com/?p=538
Posted by
[...] the original here: Next study abroad destination: Latin America « La Voz Latina Share and [...]
Thank you Shelia!!!!
Marta Manzano
Just found your site on google and that i think it is a shame that you just aren’t ranked increased since this is a marvelous submit. To change this I determined to avoid wasting your internet site to my RSS reader and that i will try and mention you in one of my posts since you genuinely deserv far more readers when publishing content of this top quality.
I will visit your blog regularly for some latest post.
Hey, that’s a great list of tips. Picked up a tip or two from it…thanx.
I like this information and it has given me a bit of inspiration to have success, so keep up the good work. =)
Thanks a ton for this direction fantastic evaluation; this may be the type of step that retains me although out the day.I have forever long been wanting around for your web-site best as a result of I seen about these from a shut pal and was joyful when I was in a position to discover it best suited just after seeking out for some time. Becoming a experienced blogger, I’m delighted to discover out other people taking gumption and including in the direction of the community. I just preferred to evaluate to present my thanks on your submit as it is rather pushing, and lots of internet writers tend not to get the credit they should have. I’m constructive I’ll be back and will deliver out a couple of of my colleagues.
I am pleased for this useful great web page; this may be the sort of subject that sustains me although out the day.We’ve usually heard been not too long ago desiring near to in your web-site suitable after I observed about these from a near friend and was delighted when I was in a very placement to obtain it pursuing searching out for some time. Being a eager blogger, I’m happy to view other most people taking motivation and adding on the neighborhood. I just needed to remark to demonstrate my comprehension for your submit as it is particularly inviting, and lots of writers really do not get the credit score they have earned. I’m constructive I’ll be again once more and can send a number of of my friends.
I would like to thank you for the efforts you’ve made in writing this post. I am hoping the same best work from you in the future as well. In fact your creative composing abilities have influenced me to begin my own BlogEngine blog now.
This is my first time viewing your blog. I found so many stuff in your blog especially on the user comment section. That I can use for my site as well. Thanks. I’ll come back to visit soon.
Good day, This specific internet webpage is certainly fascinating and enjoyment to learn. I’m an enormous cooling fan from the things mentioned. I also get pleasure from studying the reviews, but learn that alot of individuals ought to stay on composition to try and add value in direction of the original weblog submit. I would also encourage every single person to book mark this web page for any favorite help to assist situated the expression.
Your work surely doesn’t miss out in providing useful information to readers. Nothing is greater than gaining knowledge on something new from reading. Thank you for sharing your thoughts with us.
Superb blog post, I have book marked this internet site so ideally I’ll see much more on this subject in the foreseeable future!
I am stricken by the way you managed this topic. It is not often I come across a web site with intriguing articles like yours. I will make a note of your feed to keep up to date with your hereafter updates. I like it and do sustain up the effective work.
I was actually pleased to find this webpage on search engines.I had to say thank you so much to you with regard to this wonderful article.
Thank you for sharing the article. good luck
Thank you……
I visit your blog practically daily and i like what are you doing with it. Many intresting articles on lots of hot topics and tendencies also, you have skills at writing. I always learn new things with the help of this blog and for that i thank you wit…
Awesome blog , thanks for the post!
I just stumbled on your blog when I was lookng on google. I have to say that the information here was the most complete that I found anywhere. I am definitely bookmarking this to come back and read later.
Although I can’t agree with all you said, I must admit I do love your style of writing.