My faculty-led program focused on food, agriculture, and sustainability practices in Greece. I learned through lectures, hands-on activities and excursions across Greece. We learned about vineyards, horticulture, dairy cattle, crop and livestock production, and the Mediterranean diet. By traveling to Greece, I gained a deeper respect for the farming and learning practices in America. I learned the importance of being open-minded because I was learning completely new material - and sometimes the things I learned did not match what I thought I already knew. Everyone does things on a different level of development, and I learned that it's OK, because farmers have to find what works best for them. Advice for others? The hardest part of an international experience is making the commitment to apply and accept a spot. After that, the time flies and it is so much fun. The things you learn and people you meet are more than worth the cost of the program. |
My experience made me grow personally because I realized how important it is to take advantage of opportunities. Others my age in other countries do not always have the same freedoms I do in America, and this experience made me more humble and appreciative for the opportunities provided by my country.