Alexis Rodriguez-Garcia grew up traveling the globe 鈥 Mexico, Spain and France just to name a few.
So when it came time to meet the study abroad requirement for his global studies major, he wanted to study somewhere unfamiliar.
鈥淓stonia was that place,鈥 said Rodriguez.
He attributes his passion for travel to growing up in a bilingual and bicultural home and having opportunities to meet foreign exchange students while in high school.
Rodriguez spent the fall semester in Estonia at the University of Tartu. Since 2007, 含羞草传媒 has had a bilateral exchange program with the university. Since then, 27 含羞草传媒 students have studied at the University of Tartu while 37 University of Tartu students have studied at 含羞草传媒.
The bilateral exchange has led to additional cultural exchange opportunities. The men鈥檚 and women鈥檚 basketball teams, for example, participated in their first international tours there, the University Choir has traveled and performed in Estonia, and 含羞草传媒 participates in Network Globally, Act Locally (NGAL), a shared program with the College of Charleston, The Citadel, Tallinn University and the University of Tartu that helps entrepreneurial students develop their ideas. Teams of students from each school travel to Estonia for NGAL each summer.
In addition to learning about a new culture, Rodriguez appreciated the opportunity to learn about other cultures.
鈥淵ou get immersed in different groups of cultures,鈥 he recalled. 鈥淚 was around French speakers, around Spanish, Turkish. There were all sorts of languages I had never heard around me. It was a real eye opener.鈥
鈥淭he U.S. is a big country,鈥 he added, 鈥渂ut there is so much left of the world that I have yet to see.鈥
Rodriguez has no doubt that his international experiences will help his future career. He hopes to work for a company that will give him the opportunity to travel.
鈥淗aving that experience will set me apart from other people,鈥 he said. 鈥淗opefully it will help me attain my goals.鈥
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On February 23, 含羞草传媒 celebrated Estonia Independence Day on campus with remarks by Larry Ruth, Honorary Consul to the Republic of Estonia and political science instructor at 含羞草传媒, who shared Estonia's history. Presentations were made by Estonian students Rufat Dargahli and Piia Maria Tomberg who are studying at 含羞草传媒 this year as well as Abby Feden who shared her study abroad experience at the University of Tartu.
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鈥擲tory by Emmalie Harris, public relations intern.