Puntarenas, Costa Rica

Through this scholarship I was able to return to the state of a child. I was bombarded with new experiences, feelings, and thoughts and had to learn how to express myself in a way others could understand. You would think with speaking a different language words become the most important part of your life. Yet as time goes on and your limited vocabulary continues to fail you, it becomes apparent how important ideas are. Through this experience I learned to find alternative ways to express ideas as my limited vocabulary failed me. You learn alternative ways to say things. You pick up on the nuances of the language and the people that surround you. This scholarship allowed me to travel to Cuba, Costa Rica, Panama, and Nicaragua. I was able to see beaches, mountains, and rain forest, and historical cities. I was able to emerge myself and in turn learn more about who I was and want to become.

— Marie Dor  |  University of North Carolina at Charlotte