IMPACTED VIEW OF WORLD ISSUES: • Learned how the values of a culture impact the culture's management of their natural resources (Belize). • Belize trip expanded view of different ecosystems around the world and how unique and important tropical forest of Central America are. • Academically, study abroad brought new meaning and context to things I have learned in the classroom and from textbooks.

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IMPACTED CULTURAL PERCEPTIONS: • I gained so much culture and learned about different places and people. • In two months in Spain learned a lot learned about other cultures. • I feel I am more informed and culturally aware about the world at large. • Now understand more about French culture, what is important to them, how different America is from Europe, what we take for granted as luxuries the French would hold dearly.• Developed a great appreciation for Costa Rican culture. • Guatemala allowed me to experience a world completely different from the U.S. • The people you meet in Spain make an impact, so that upon return, you realize how the cultures are so different and you gain respect on a national level. • Go for a full year to experience the culture to its fullest. • It is an incredible experience to be completely immersed in another culture completely different from your own.

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IMPACTED LANGUAGE LEARNING: • My Spanish improved incredibly within a few days and in 4 weeks the change was phenomenal. • In two months in Spain learned a lot of grammar, really practiced speaking Spanish. • I was forced to communicate and use the Spanish I was learning. In New Mexico there are many opportunities to use Spanish, however it is very easy to lapse into English. In Ecuador this wasn't an option. It was fun because I could see my progress in daily activities such as going to the market or catching a cab. • Immersion really does work! • More confident in learning Spanish. • Learned more Spanish in 8 weeks in Costa Rica than I learned in 4 years in college. • ...fun, interesting, only way to really learn another language. • ...forced to use what you learn and that makes the experience challenging yet fun. • Learning-wise I learned so much more Spanish than taking classes at the University.• I learned more Spanish there in a month than I did in two semesters at NMSU. • ... ultimate way to learn Spanish and open your mind. • I always struggled at my university with language and never thought it possible for me to learn a language until this program. It is very flexible meaning you start and stop when you want and you learn so much very quickly (Distance education student studied in Chile). • I don't think I would have ever had understanding in Spanish with this experience. • Nice to learn Spanish different from that spoken in Mexico. • I gained self confidence and had an incredible time. It is also a more efficient way to learn a different language.

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IMPACTED EDUCATION AND PROFESSIONAL CAREER: • Helped me get a tutoring job with mid-school and high school students in Spanish that pays well. Also helps in pursuing my job career.• Will always be able to relate business practice back to Lyon, France, to compare U.S. business practices with France. • Since I want to be a bilingual kindergarten teacher, my two months in Spain put me one step closed to my goal. • Before visiting Tokyo I was considering the possibility of maybe teaching in Japan. Now I am positive I will return after obtaining my masters. • I experienced in London what I had only read or talked about in classes, and for a theatre student it was great. • It has made me more focused on my academic career so I can experience more like this trip to the UK. • Studying abroad gives you a new knowledge of another country that you could not acquire in a classroom. • Each place I have lived and studies has taught me different perspectives on Political Science and Government. I feel that these experiences have challenged my way of thinking about my country’s government. Being able to study other countries government and their perspective of my countries government has been very interesting.

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OPPORTUNITY FOR TRAVEL AND MAKING FRIENDS: • Get to travel, meet people, learn about yourself. • I met many people from all over the world who have traveled a lot, which made me want to see more of the world. • You meet a lot of people and you travel a lot. • I gained so much culture and learned about different places and people. I saw much of the world that I would never have seen. I also met so many new people . People were really nice and the families were all very involved and nice.

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EXPANDED WORLD VIEW: • The experience of getting a feel for daily life in Japan, the different aspects of history and politics, was an experience I will never forget. • Appreciate the luxuries we have in terms of basic amenities such as hot water and utilities. • I met some great people that opened my eyes to see outside of the box that Americans live in. • You get learn about life and culture outside of America. • I would recommend just to see that other parts of the world operate differently. • I would encourage everyone to go study abroad since it is a great experience that teaches you many things about life, the world, and also more about yourself. • ... Necessary to get a "world view" and understand one's place as a world citizen and as an American. • Appreciate I live in a country without bars on windows and doors and neighbors one can trust. • Seeing all the poverty in India has changed me. • Being in Tokyo allowed me to let go of my romanticized Western preconceptions and to see Japan as a real place, far better and more breath taking than I had ever imagined.

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