Travel is an eye opening and educational experience – not to mention a lot of fun. It teaches you cultural awareness, empathy, humility and hones language and problem solving skills.
I have a Spanish minor from the University of Minnesota and went to school in Toledo, Spain and traveled in Mexico, developing my Spanish speaking skills.
Using a Jerome Foundation, Dayton Hudson and General Mills Travel and Study grant, I moved to Brazil for six months to build relationship with artists and musicians, studying the cultural differences between Brazilian and U.S. Two previous month-long trips allowed the experience of attending two Carnival weeks in the winding cobblestone streets of the Northeast Brazilian city of Olinda.
At American Swedish Institute, I studied Swedish for four years, using my language skills as part of my professional work and to communicate with Swedish visitors and the consulate, as well as Swedish relatives whom I also visited in Sweden. They also came to Minnesota to visit with our family.
In addition, I’ve traveled to Venice, Italy during the historic 2019 flooding, and visited Scotland during the International Fringe and Theatre Festival, taking in performances, the historic sites, riding a legendary steam powered train and kayaking with the seals.