Danicka Leeds is a Human Developmental Sciences major at UC San Diego with a double minor in Spanish Linguistics and Psychology who will be studying abroad at the University of Chile. She plans to stay at a local family home upon arrival. Danicka writes of the opportunity to study abroad: “I want to gain insight into another culture and be entirely immersed in a different way of life to gain appreciation for another way of living and apply the values I’ve learned to my own life. I want to be able to redefine the narrative that travel is only possible if you’re rich and to show that a girl like me whose family comes from a line of homelessness can be able to make these dreams a reality. I want to be able to learn medical terminology in Spanish so that I can connect with Spanish-speaking patients without the use of a translator to show that I care for them and that I want to know them.” She plans to work as a phlebotomist in Chile to gain more medical terminology in Spanish and gain hospital experience.
Michaela Schwartz (Chile, 2020-21)
Michaela Schwartz is an Environmental Policy major at UCSD who plans on studying abroad for an academic year in Chile. While in San Diego she watches the sunset at the beach every night - the ocean’s beauty is an endless source for inspiration in her major. From a young age it was obvious to her that there is a lot to learn outside of the traditional classroom. This has led her on many travel adventures including six month stays in Madrid, Australia, Hawaii and shorter solo trips to Europe, the Philippines, Vietnam and Kenya. Michaela sees the study abroad program in Chile as an opportunity to continue with her passion to see the world while gaining a deeper understanding of the cultural differences that impact a country's contributions to climate change. She is excited to be practicing her Spanish again and refuses to leave Chile until she is singing, talking, and dreaming in fluent Spanish.
Michaela was unable to fulfill her study abroad plans due to the pandemic.