Being in the middle of nowhere, with no way to contact those I left behind, created a space for growth. I found it both exhilarating and challenging—being disconnected from the world I was used to felt like flipping a coin. On one side was the thrill of living entirely in the moment, unattached to the steady ping of messages or the urgency of news. On the other side was the gnawing awareness that those I loved were still living their lives without me, and I couldn’t instantly be part of their moments or share my own. This experience, however, taught me something profound: there is beauty in this disconnection, a freedom that opens space for the unexpected and the new.
By: Maria Muller, University of Vermont
Overall, the most memorable moments from my semester abroad have been from our interactions with the local community, and I can’t wait to share my new experiences and Chilean slang with my friends and family at home.
By: Alice Gipe, University of Vermont
Our last field work trip of the semester took place right in our backyard in Reserva Nacional Tamango. For the past 2 months, we have been able to see Tamango, a mountain just northeast of Aquasol (our base camp), as it transitions through the seasons […] Now in the first week of April, we got the opportunity to explore the region while collecting important data on the conditions of the trails.
By: Sebastian Janowitz, University of Vermont
Our time in Botswana is beginning to wind down, but we have still been treated to some incredible new sights and experiences. Close encounters with a pride of lions, playing wiffleball at sunset with a bat hand-carved from Mopane, and catching a glimpse of the elusive and almost mythical Sable Antelope are just a few things that made Khwai a magical place to spend some of our last days in the field.
By: Ansel Spitler, Montana State University
I was about to go to bed, when I heard a growl behind my tent. Not a tame growl, not a small growl, but a full-bodied, rumbling growl. I was already halfway out of my tent, and as soon as I heard that, I sped walked away towards the rest of camp. That was totally a lion.
By: Nora Ferguson, Montana State University
A looming shadow stood outside our tent, sniffing intensely with glowing green eyes… we made eye contact and I froze in my sleeping bag. The moonlight was the only thing illuminating its silhouette as it ducked its head down and carefully picked up my left shoe before slowly walking off with its prize.