Acacia Rhodes is a second-year Forestry, Fisheries, and Wildlife major specializing in wildlife conservation with a minor in Spanish. Acacia studied abroad on the Panama:Through the Lens of AgriCulture, Sustainability and Diversity program during winter break 2023.
Some of the most memorable moments on the trip were visiting the indigenous village and people of Panama (and eating lunch on a big leaf!), visiting the beautiful nature trails of Panama and many agriculture and plant-based farms including diverse animals and plants. I also enjoyed our community service-learning project which involved hanging out with local kids and doing arts and crafts using sustainable materials, visiting the pineapple farm for some fresh pineapple, the boat ride to go see some of the amazing diversity of Panama, amphibian and butterfly conservation center, and, of course, the most famous site: The Panama Canal! Also, it was a lot of fun to try all of the amazing fresh foods and dessert like the "tres leches" and "flan" cake and of course the surprise "no me olvides dessert."
Studying abroad is one the best and most educational and enriching experiences everyone should have. Traveling abroad can help you grow enriching experiences everyone should have. Traveling abroad can help you grow as a person by pushing you outside of your comfort zone, and opening your eyes to different ways of life, language, and culture throughout the world.
Finally, after taking six years of Spanish in high school and deciding to minor in Spanish at Ohio State, I am thrilled to have had the opportunity to use apply my language skills to fully immerse in the language's culture. There is something incredibly satisfying about expanding your knowledge about a place through direct interaction with the physical environment and having the opportunity to experience it rather than reading about it in a textbook or a structured class setting. Additionally, this has expanded my global awareness by helping me understand the similarities and differences between what I am used to and where I currently live as well as limiting and understanding my cultural biases.
Studying abroad (no matter where) is one the best and most educational and enriching experiences that I think everyone should have. Traveling abroad has helped grow as a person by pushing me outside of my comfort zone, and has opened eyes to different ways of life, language and culture throughout the world, especially in Panama. It has also a lead me to make really good friends, especially ones that are pursuing the same interests and passions. Studying abroad has also been great first-hand experience in my field of interest and has made it clear to me the kind of career path that excites me the most, and has allowed me to think differently in a whole new way then before. I think that becoming a global citizen traveling abroad has helped make me the more well-rounded, empathetic and culturally sensitive person I am today. I truly think that if everyone traveled abroad while they could, the world would be a better place.
