Name: Binh Nguyen
Major: Business Support Tech, UI REACH Program
Future Career Aspirations: A data entry job or work in a clerical office providing data entry support

Why did you choose to study abroad with the Baker Teacher Leader Center Global Education Initiatives?
Since high school, I've always wanted to study abroad since I lived in the south of France for five months while my parents were on sabbatical and teaching. I've always loved experiencing the various cultures and ethnic foods as well as the diversity there in many countries.

What were your big takeaways from the trip, in other words, how did the trip change you and what did you learn?
You're never too old to start learning a new language and meeting new people who turn into friends or acquaintances. I learned some Spanish in the process of mainly teaching the children English (I was confused mostly talking in French because that's what I learned plus four years in Spanish). I also learned the value of what it means to say "Pura Vida" and know more about the people there and the environment such as the flora and fauna, tropical birds, and the beaches, whales and dolphins.

Would you recommend this trip to others?
Yes, I would completely recommend this trip to others. I 1,000% highly recommend this trip to people who may struggle with making friends, learning a new language or thinking it's too expensive but it looks good on a resume, and they really want to go.

What would you say to someone who was thinking about studying abroad?
I would say for those people who are actually contemplating it to study abroad, to go for it because you never know when you'll get the chance to – it's probably a once in a lifetime thing, and you may get scholarship money out of it, as well as getting to meet new friends while teaching English to others and making even more memorable and cherished memories from your time studying abroad.