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Challenge

In an environment where only 38% of U.S. community colleges offer study abroad opportunities (CCIERI 2024–25), the Nebraska Consortium of Community Colleges’ TRIO program stands out as an exception. Six community colleges work together to make international education possible for TRIO-eligible students — including first-generation, low-income, and students with documented disabilities. Coordinating across multiple campuses and funding sources, the consortium needed a provider capable of delivering a complex, multi-campus program with consistent quality and support.

Solution

In 2025, the consortium partnered with API for a Costa Rica program led by Southeast Community College. With each institution sending students, they were able to combine enrollment and secure more affordable pricing. API managed all program logistics — from coordinating faculty needs and student travel to arranging guided cultural excursions — ensuring a seamless experience for both students and leaders. The program offered three academic credit hours and explored Costa Rica’s ecology, tourism economy, and conservation programs. Guided by local experts, participants experienced the Arenal hot springs, Arenal Hanging Bridges, the forest canopy, and the Rescate Wildlife Rescue Center, and engaged in a service-learning project in an Indigenous community. Participation goals were met at 100%, with all 28 expected students attending alongside six faculty leaders.

Benefits

• Access for TRIO-eligible students: Targeted first-generation, low-income, or students with documented disabilities; many received Pell Grants or other aid.
• Full participation: 100% of anticipated students attended (28 of 28).
• High-impact learning: Positive feedback on excursions and cultural activities tied to ecology, tourism, and conservation; three academic credits earned.
• Collaborative efficiency: Six colleges share a rotating leadership model and benefit from price breaks with larger combined enrollment.
• Ongoing partnership: The consortium plans to continue working with API annually, aiming to grow participation to 50 students. Past destinations include Italy, France, and Costa Rica, with Greece or Croatia under consideration for future programs.
• Reliable program delivery: API’s expertise in managing complex, multi-campus programs ensured smooth execution, cultural depth, and strong on-site support.

“I enjoyed all the opportunities that were offered and had a great experience. API supported me throughout the program, helping me understand my role and successfully navigate challenges along the way.”
— Samantha H., Southeast Community College, TRIO First Gen; Sole in Costa Rica

Curious how to bring a program like this to your campus? Learn more about building your own Customized and Faculty-Led Programs with API!

The post Nebraska Consortium of Community Colleges: A TRIO-Focused Model for Study Abroad appeared first on Academic Programs International.

API is committed to providing enriching international experiences to its participants. We believe in the importance of promoting acceptance, dignity, and respect among people of all backgrounds.

API demonstrates its commitment to inclusiveness by providing affordable and accessible programs, offering individualized support, and conducting ongoing diversity education and training for all API staff.

No matter who you are or where you come from, API will support you during your journey abroad.

Please see below for a statement from API CEO and Founding Mama, Jennifer Attal Allen:

To the API Community, 

API is proud to be a global learning community, made up of individuals of many different races, cultures, and belief systems. This wide range of diversity makes us a better, kinder organization. We don’t tolerate prejudice and inequality in our own organization and are outraged by the persistent racism and brutality that has disproportionally affected black Americans. Tragically these issues are not new, but the time for us all to unite in support of real change is now.

When the Founding Mamas came together 23 years ago to form API, it was with the mission to help expose American students to different cultures, different languages, different political ideals, and different ways of life. We have seen the profound changes that international experiences have generated in our own lives and we remain committed to the importance of exposing younger generations to new lifestyles, belief systems, and viewpoints during these formative years to help foster respect and understanding. 

When preparing our students to go abroad we encourage them to be introspective and sensitive to cultural values and different ways of seeing the world. Our goal is to help students develop their cultural sensitivity and self-awareness while abroad, which in turn we hope will translate to a similar openness to seeing and respecting differences in the United States. We know that it often requires time away from our everyday lives (our respective “comfort zones”) to have our eyes opened, our beliefs refined, and our personal prejudices challenged.

According to the most recent Open Doors Report published by the Institute of International Education (IIE), 341,751 U.S. students studied abroad for academic credit in 2017/18. Only 6.1% of those students were black/African American and just 4.4% identified as multiracial. On June 2, Andrew Gordon, founder and CEO of Diversity Abroad, challenged the field  to “assess the systems and structures that guide the field of international education that, if left unchecked, will contribute to the effects of systemic racism.” 

Just as our field has committed itself to focusing on healing and rebuilding after the wide scale impact of the global pandemic on international travel and education, here at API we recommit to examining our actions and anything that we might even unintentionally do to advance systemic racism. With that intention in mind, we commit to diversifying our study abroad population to more closely mirror the demographics of our culturally and racially diverse country.  As one example, API will double our long-standing Diversity Scholarship so that we can provide additional funding for students of color who plan to study abroad with API. We are also expanding our programming through our new APIConnect Platform, which increases access to global learning.

We are advocates for change. API’s Diversity, Inclusion, and Equity working group will continue to elevate the conversation at API and work toward encouraging all staff members to be proponents of “anti-racism”, to contribute to changing the dialogue in our country and to advocating for real and systemic change. We know that such change comes only through hard work, perseverance, and continually demanding more from leaders in positions of power. Though the United States has not fully lived up to the promise of equality before the law, I am inspired by the conversations, actions, and calls for change driven by our young people. 

Though times may be dark at the moment, I have hope for the future —because of our students. I see their passion, their ideas, their openness, their empathy, their sense of justice, and their demands for equality. I admire their refusal to take “no” for an answer when working to improve the lives of others.  As educators in the international space, we hope to develop students who can be empathetic listeners, who are committed to productive dialogue and creative problem solving, and who respectfully affirm and appreciate the identity of others. 

I know people can transform as a result of interactions with other cultures and with people of differing backgrounds. I witness it every day. Facilitating this transformation through exposure to new ideas, places, and cultures has always been, and will continue to be, the guiding tenet that drives our organization, now and for years to come.

Together in change and respect,

Jennifer

API regularly spotlights various diverse groups as a monthly feature on our Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion webpage. 

The post API Community Letter appeared first on Academic Programs International.

A large part of my identity is that I am a Black woman. I take pride in that, but I’m also very aware of my identity at all times.

I wasn’t sure how that would combine with my study abroad experience, but I learned a lot about myself and others throughout the process.

I studied abroad through Academic Programs International (API) in the Fall of 2018 in Florence, Italy. Coming from the University of Alabama, I already understood how my identity impacted me at home, but I wondered how it would change in this new foreign country. I’m typically an optimistic person, and that did not change in this instance. In fact, I did little research surrounding Italian’s cultural views on women and African Americans. I’d been told by friends that Italians love Black women and that was enough for me to not be concerned.

I had an amazing time studying abroad in Italy! But there were certain instances where my race came into play that are worth mentioning.

For one, I was the only Black person in my study abroad program. The group was mostly Caucasian women with a few Hispanic and Asian women as well. This wasn’t a huge problem for me, as I am very much used to being in these types of situations. But, this definitely speaks to the lack of diversity in many study abroad programs and it sparked my interest in advocating for such experiences for all.

While I was never discriminated against or treated differently by any of my fellow students, my blackness and womanhood often came into play while walking the streets of Italy. Most of the people I interacted with were able to tell that I was American once I opened my mouth and spoke and that identity became more prevalent that any other as I was deemed a tourist. But for those who did not hear me speak, a question of my identity was often brought up. While walking through the streets to class, vendors and salespeople would often call at me specifically to get my attention. They would say things like “Africa? Ethiopia? Somalia?” or any other African country they could name in an attempt to learn where I was from. In the beginning I would retort back, “American,” but I soon found it was easier to just ignore them since they were really just trying to get me to buy their products. Once, someone even called me Beyoncé, to which I was flattered, but also annoyed at the generalization because I truly look nothing like Beyoncé.

Honestly, this was more of an annoyance than anything else, as I have been catcalled before in America and this was just another version of that. It was interesting to see my friends’ reactions when they witnessed it. A few of them got really upset that this was happening and wanted to find a way to show those individuals what they were doing was very ignorant. But, as someone who has experienced real racism in America, these subtle passes of ignorance were relatively harmless to me.

Another relevant factor in my experience is the current political climate of Italy.

While I was there, the country was dealing with an overflow of refugees from African countries and this had sparked a sort of negative image towards Black people. So, it’s no wonder I got a few dirty looks or long stares, but the overall tone was much less tense than I imagined.
One of my professors actually told us about an incident where a refugee had been murdered by an Italian man for ultimately no reason and the subsequent uproar it caused among refugees. There was great tension during that period of mourning, but she expressed that many Italians did not have prejudices against Black people and that greatly aligned with my experience.

My experience outside of Italy was even more stress-free.

I traveled to 13 countries and over 20 cities while studying abroad. I can’t recount any other instances where my identity played a role in a negative experience of mine. In fact, I was almost as unaware of my identity while traveling as I ever have been. There were even comforting moments like when I was traveling through Paris and stumbled upon a district full of other Black people advertising hair braiding and barber services. Frankly, I hadn’t seen that many people that looked like me in a long time and that was an exciting and heartwarming coincidence for me.

Also, speaking of hair care, that was a big concern for me as I prepared for my time abroad. As someone who spends a great amount of time, money and effort on maintaining my hair and skincare, a lot of my suitcase was devoted to these products. But I probably should have done more research beforehand because shortly after arriving, I stumbled upon a few city blocks owned by Black people that catered toward Black people. I was able to find a hair braider, natural hair care products, African food, and so much more within Florence. It not only made my experience easier but spoke to the growing trend of diversity and inclusion throughout the world. In fact, there was a great bit of diversity with many Asian restaurants and even a section of Florence called China Town!

Honestly, most interactions surrounding my race dealt more with intrigue and curiosity than hatred.

I spoke to a few Italian students regularly while in Florence, and they were always very interested in learning about my experience in America and my different perspective. As well, by the end of my trip, my Italian sounded fairly authentic and strangers simply assumed that I was Italian, like them. The direction of the world is leaning towards greater inclusivity and understanding, and my study abroad experience for the most part affirms that.

Unfortunately, there is no real way to avoid being discriminated against, and luckily, I did not have to deal with any prevalent and impactful racially motivated incidents, but simply being aware of that possibility is important. Of course, being aware of your race in America is common place for most, but there are other countries that are far more progressive in their stance on diversity and many that are far less accepting. Being aware of all this can be incredibly helpful when planning a trip abroad, and in this way you can get the most out of your experience, just as I did.

The post A Black Woman’s Experience Studying Abroad appeared first on Academic Programs International.

I would love to say that my experience thus far in Costa Rica has been one full of rewards and renewal.

However, that would be a complete devaluement of what it means to be a black, gender-nonconforming, queer person experiencing Costa Rica as a first-time traveler. It’s interesting how these intersectionalities work together to help define who I am as a person, on top of helping to define how I experience life as a person.

Costa Rica is beautiful, and it is definitely a place where a lot of growth can happen.

I believe that Costa Rica has done well to help me gain a new sense of self. One with which I identify more strongly with my roots, seeing as to how Costa Ricans themselves are very prideful and celebratory of their own heritage(s). That being said, my roots have become a point of contention in the Costa Rican world as they apply to how people view, see, and treat me. Blackness becomes scrutinized, not that it already wasn’t, and becomes commodified in ways that are based more upon fantasy, than realism. In other words, my experience as a black person in Costa Rica differs greatly from my experience as a black person in the United States, and here’s why:

Being black in the states essentially comes with the basic setup of having to exist, live, and operate within white-dominated spaces in general.

We are expected to conform to eurocentric standards of beauty in order to be beautiful, ‘behave’ and abide by white-based legislation that does not apply to us. We are also the slates by which white people can practice exploitation, experimentation, and gentrification. Black people are both the most highly-judged people, as well as the most highly-valued. And it sucks. It sucks being fetishized to the point where everything you do as a person is looked at as ethereal; as ‘exotic.’ Or, being critiqued to the point where loss of identity becomes second-hand to bodily movement. Not to mention, that the pervasiveness of whiteness has allowed and promoted anti-blackness in pretty much every other community there is. Most commonly, at least from my experience, the Latin community is what comes to the front of my mind when discussing a large presence of unwarranted anti-blackness in another marginalized community.

With that being said, it came as no surprise to me when I landed in Costa Rica and was immediately met with patronizing eyes that questioned my motives for being here. Although expected, it was hurtful to see that from the jump my life here would be one of constantly having to prove my validity in a space I should already have access to. Unlike the United States, where blackness is very much something that people make financial capital off of, Costa Rica, or the Latin-Americans pervade and make use of blackness in a different way.

Here I have noticed that people are intrigued, or mesmerized by this mystical thing I have grown up with; my skin.

As a matter of fact, my blackness in its’ entirety has become central to my likeness here, and it’s unnerving. Instead of scrambling to aspire to whiteness I am faced with being over-analyzation that makes me feel like a zoo animal. Some of my interactions with the ticos have been unsatisfactory in that they are usually initiated with the feeling of inadequacy. My not being fluent in Spanish definitely plays a part in this, considering that I willingly came to a Spanish-speaking country. Because of that, I understand the hesitance of the ticos to speak with me. They perceive this as me not being fully culturally-aware which must be frustrating. However, it’s also frustrating for me.

I understand the mentality that non-North Americans feel about North Americans given our position in the world, and our history. But, I have to say, it’s pretty annoying being grouped into a stereotype of what people perceive us to be based off of hearsay rather than personal experience. Especially considering that, once again, I am black and that in and of itself already comes with millions of stereotypical biases.

One thing I do miss about the states… the availability! Although the United States has a plethora of options when it comes to cosmetics, clothing, and food (and just about anything), here these options are very limited. In addition, stuff here is a lot more expensive as far as clothes and cosmetics go; whereas other things, like Uber and food products are generally cheaper.

On the other hand, there are things that I find really unique about Costa Rica that I have come to value deeply.

For instance, the tranquil haziness that each day brings is absolutely gorgeous to me. The days here feel longer. Because of that, I feel like I have a lot more time to get things done in a more efficient manner. In addition, the sun generally feels amazing and you can pretty much wear whatever you’d like on any given day.

I like how the people are more intimate with each other, and how a part of the culture is getting to know your community; compared to the states where most people don’t even know their own neighbor. The culture of intimacy and romantic expression of platonic relationships is intriguing, and day by day it is helping me become more in tune with the side of me that yearns for human interaction.

I also love the food and the way that the food is holistically cooked. It tastes so much cleaner and healthier, and I haven’t felt immense losses of energy as much as I would have back home. In relation, I absolutely love and adore my host-mom, Lizbeth, because she is quite literally the epitome of what good people aspire to be like. I would have to say that living with her and being under her tutelage has broadened my horizons, and made me a more considerate person overall.

In totality, I do absolutely love Costa Rica!

I love the way that the people look, and the way that family is maintained here. The authenticity of unconditional love is amazing, and it makes me feel warm inside when interacting with locals. I believe that as the remaining months pass, I will become a much more well-rounded person with many different outlooks on life.

The post Fading in Between Worlds appeared first on Academic Programs International.

So you’ve made it abroad!

But now you’re trying to navigate through an incredibly different location that is likely very brand new to you. If you consider race a main part of your identity, you may feel in between worlds. This can be very frightening to deal with as a minority in your host country. If you haven’t checked out my previous blog entry on ways to prepare for the cultural change, don’t worry, I’ve got some more advice for you here. 

If you’re feeling uncomfortable or out of place, there are many different ways you can go about alleviating that:

1. Reach out to your program leaders or faculty members and tell them how you are feeling.

All of these individuals are truly there to help. If you are feeling out of place, confiding in one of these individuals can be a great way to feel less excluded. They can offer you advice on how to better assimilate to the culture, and they can also give you more context and information about the culture that can help ease your mind. Additionally, they can refer you to others who may relate well to your situation, or further aid you in the transition.

2. Look into finding local groups that have similar interests and backgrounds.

While it may be difficult to find others with a similar identity as you, and further, it may be difficult to develop a relationship with those individuals. But, there are other ways to help you feel less excluded. Volunteering is a great option as these are people who tend to be incredibly open-minded and supportive. These spaces can often be a safe place for you to go if you’re feeling outcast.

3. Join clubs and sign up for extracurricular activities.

Another extension of finding local groups would be to get more connected with students at the institution where you are studying. Making friends in class is great, and by joining clubs and extracurriculars, this further connects you to individuals with similar interests. As well, if you are in a study abroad program, this is a great way to meet others outside of your programs and gives you a chance to make even more meaningful connections.

4. Stay in contact with friends and family at home.

While it can be difficult to stay in contact depending on the time difference between your location and your loved ones, keeping this connection can help to alleviate some anxiety with being in a foreign place. As well, having those individuals to confide in if culture shock sets in offers more comfort even though you are not physically near them. While making connections while abroad is important, maintain the already existing ones is just as important and can be incredibly comforting. 

5. Ask questions

If you can, engage with friendly locals to learn more about their perspective and history. Often times, there is no true tension between groups, and merely an underlying history or cultural norm that is in place. Finding out from true locals their actual intentions and feelings may help alleviate any feelings of exclusion. Now, this doesn’t mean walk up to a stranger in the street! But sparking conversations with shop owners and restaurant owners can over time lead to meaningful connections and honest conversations. 

6. Reach out to your study abroad program leaders in your home country, especially if you feel unsafe.

These individuals are trained to deal with such issues. They are aware of the cultural differences that exist and can give you great advice on dealing with the change. As well, if the problem persists, they can find a solution to reassure your safety and wellbeing.

Most of these tips deal with building or maintaining connections.

When you are in the minority surrounded by others you don’t know, the experience can be incredibly daunting. But friend by friend, it can become less burdensome. Take it one step at a time, day by day and try to make the most of your trip by focusing on your goals and purpose for being abroad. But more than anything, reach out. There’s a network of people all around you that are more than willing and ready to help!

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Live in an LGBTQ-friendly city!

Today, a unique assemblage of bookstores, cafes, cinemas, and museums aimed at those who identify as LGBTQ can be found throughout Berlin. Visit the Spinnboden Lesbenarchiv und Bibliothek, the largest lesbian archive in Europe, or take a stroll in Nollendorfplatz, a famous square in the Schöneberg district in which the annual Gay and Lesbian City Festival is held. In addition, Berlin is home to numerous organizations that offer counseling, health services, and legal assistance to those in the LGBTQ community, ensuring that Berlin is an enjoyable and safe place for people of all genders and sexual orientations!

Enjoy a wide variety of course options!

The FU-BEST program offers courses in a variety of areas of study, including architectural history, art history, conflict studies, cultural studies, economics, environmental science, film studies, gender and women’s studies, history, Holocaust studies, international business, international relations, Jewish studies, media studies, music, philosophy, political science, religious studies, sociology, and statistics. Advanced German speakers may elect to pursue the GermanPLUS track, in which all course material is taught in German. No experience with German? That’s okay as well! Although students are required to take a German language course suited to their level of experience, FU-BEST also offers classes in English and French.

Explore Germany with API!

In addition to local field trips required by many courses, the FU-BEST program includes excursions to several historical sites both in and outside of Berlin, including “the Reichstag building (including a session of the German parliament) and/or the Chancellor’s Office (Bundeskanzleramt), the site of the former Nazi concentration camp at Sachsenhausen, the former prison complex in Berlin-Hohenschönhausen of East Germany’s state security police (Stasi), and the royal palace Sanssouci, as well as the 1945 allied conference site in nearby Potsdam.” Our on-site staff leads this excursions and gives students a local’s perspective into the history of Germany. Furthermore, API students are given the opportunity to take a week-long excursion to a city either in Germany or elsewhere in Europe! 

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Travel Guide Black Out

Hi there! As some of you may know, my name is Tyshawn Khaalis Smithers. Typically, I go by ‘Khaalis,’ my middle name, given its uniqueness
and peculiarity. Here is a little bit about myself; I am a gender-nonconforming male-presenting black person who is from Fredericksburg, Virginia. I am twenty years old, and I am into an abundance of things. I love movies, writing analyses, music, poetry, and anything

As a first-generation college student, I understand the horrors that can come with being independent. In relation, this document is going to include details about my experience as a study abroad student in Costa Rica. I will
be providing safety tips and insight into my journey!

Pre-departure preparations

First, when preparing to depart from the United States (or your home country, wherever that may be), you should look into the market system of the country you will be traveling to. I didn’t and that was a giant misstep on my part because I’ve gone ‘without’ for a large portion of the time I’ve been abroad.

I didn’t have access to necessary cosmetics, preferred foods, and preferred clothing.

It was very dejecting, but I ended up finding a way to make it work. I do not advise that, however, because it was not ideal.

That being said, for those of you departing from the states, I would advise you to buy your skincare before you go: sunscreen, face wash, moisturizer, toner, and everything else from a store of your choice back home. Stores like Sephora and Ulta are nonexistent. If you frequent those places because of their reliability, that will not be an option for you during your stay. For me, even the Wal-mart’s in San Jose lack a lot of the product Wal-marts in the states have. In order to be fully prepared and comfortable, I highly suggest investing in yourself beforehand.

In relation, while San Jose does have multiplazas and malls that mimic the style of commercial buildings in the states, they typically have higher prices and fewer selections.

On-site

For safety, I have just a few tips that I think can help to improve your experience by making it safer, and by increasing your awareness. As black people, we are faced with discrimination, prejudice, unwarranted indifference, and ostracism everyday; although we have become accustomed to it, it still does not make navigating the world any easier. Especially when talking about being black in a predominantly Latin region.

For black males and male-presenting others: Just like anyplace else, you will
be met with fetishization regarding your body.

How do you combat this? Acknowledge it for what it is, and do not allow yourself to be used for other people’s selfish endeavors. You’re in Costa Rica; so, use the nature, parts of the culture, and the opportunity to solidify your sense of identity.

For black females and female-presenting others: You will also be met with extreme fetishization.

However, it can materialize into more physical forms of exacerbation; assault, objectification, ostracism, and more. While these are not certainties, they are very likely probabilities and with that being said, it is imperative that you all take care of yourselves by forming communities and watching out for each other. Yes, experience and welcome diversity, but also remember the importance of representation and remember the importance of shared experience.

Also, for women or anyone presenting as a woman physically or conventionally, I would advise being aware of your surroundings, traveling with friends when possible, and being aware of who is preparing and serving alcohol to you. Of course the blame isn’t on you, and it never should be. But it’s important to be safe. I would advise against walking alone at night, and I would advise at least always keeping one or two friends in the loop about who you may or may not be with. Be wary of Ubers, of your surroundings, and be safe.
-Khaalis

A note from API

Studying abroad is an opportunity API strives to provide for as many students as possible. We would love to provide you with any resources, tips or answers to your questions before you head abroad. Whether you’re concerned about studying abroad as a person of color, or as an LGBTQ+ minority, we are here to provide assistance, support and resources every step of the way!

The post My Travel Guide for Students of Color – API Blog appeared first on Academic Programs International.

For a week in March 2019, we were privileged to visit Cuba to learn about the nation’s health care system.

Our contingent ran the health professions gambit, including people in nursing and medicine, health care administration, global health, health communication and health policy. But our mission was unified: to learn about health care in Cuba and use the experience to reflect on our situation in the United States.

While in Cuba we met with physicians (both urban and rural), diabetes and vaccine researchers, farmers, educators, medical students, HIV-AIDS patients and more.

We visited medical schools, clinics, physicians’ offices, rural villages and more. We walked the streets of bustling Havana and rural Viñales. At night, we processed what we had seen and explored our thoughts – often with the sound of salsa music in the background.

Though Cubans acknowledge that their system is not perfect (and what system is?), they are proud of what they have accomplished in health care. Despite widespread poverty – compounded by a lack of resources that has been intensified by the American-led embargo – Cuba’s infant and maternal mortality and life expectancy rates are comparable to those in the United States, and lack the racial and class-based disparities that plague American health outcomes.

Cuba is deeply invested in medical education, for aspiring physicians both in Cuba and around the world.

A drive through the western parts of Havana reveals a vibrant, sprawling complex of buildings immersed in vaccine and other biotechnological research. In a nation that cannot afford the high costs associated with widespread acute and chronic illness, Cuba’s focus is on prevention, from frank talk about STI prevention, to mandatory vaccines that are not part of our regular vaccine schedule in the United States – such as vaccines against tuberculosis, leptospirosis and typhoid fever – to the much-discussed treatment they are exploring for lung cancer, to genomic research that aims to prevent diseases before they arise.

Cubans emphasize the hyper-rational organization of the system’s three-level approach to health care delivery, with family physicians located in communities serving as the first point of contact (including house calls), “policlínicos” serving as a community-based second tier and hospitals serving as a last resort for cases of acute need. While Cubans are allowed to access any of these tiers at any time, most opt to utilize the system as it was intended. Few Cubans go to the hospital when they do not need to. The system incentivizes this through unfettered access and by building trust in the overall design.

A particular highlight of the trip was when we American students were afforded an hour to converse with Cuban medical students.

This was at the Victoria de Girón Institute of Basic and Preclinical Sciences. The students compared notes on their experiences. Despite significant resource differences in education systems, the students found they utilized common textbooks and study strategies. Perhaps the most important takeaway was the revelation that their lives – their aspirations, as well as challenges – were not so different. Two days later, as further evidence that friendships were in the making, the students met again, this time in an unplanned run-in at a fashionable Havana art and music center, where yet more conversation and connection took place.

Cuba has a lot to offer with osteopathic medicine in particular.

After all, osteopathic approaches to health care emphasize the importance of the physical exam and prevention, turning to pharmaceuticals and technologies only when necessary. In Cuba, where many drugs and expensive equipment are hard to come by, there is an opportunity to reflect on core principles and see what osteopathic principles can accomplish in a resource-poor environment. It is well known that Americans overuse medical technology and testing; in Cuba, the problem is the inverse, where the American embargo is making it hard for Cubans to get some of the medical equipment they need.

The post Learnings from Cuba appeared first on Academic Programs International.

Studying abroad opened my eyes in a way that I didn’t expect.

I lived in Grenoble, France for a semester and I found myself questioning preconceived notions about the people and the immigrants surrounding me. Not only did Grenoble house a diverse population of people because it is close to three countries’ borders and the Mediterranean Sea, it is also continuously accepting people as refugees. These people are not rich and have needs like we all do. Often times, they live in areas that are not taken care of and are very dirty. Theses areas are not properly equipped for the people to prosper in this new environment.

Although France is welcoming on the governmental front, people are not always welcoming on the personal and communal level.

I couldn’t help but compare it to the treatment of minorities in the states. I had noticed it prior to departing the United States but not quite as drastically like I did upon my return. Not only in the immigrant or refugee populations but it is also the resident populations that aren’t seen as white and aren’t “privileged enough” for the right to stand up to these drastic disparities. I won’t get into the nitty gritty because I don’t want France to be perceived as negative, but it’s the same things that happen on the streets all over the world. The way we treat people based on  their perceived “race” can negatively impact the entire system around the world. The treatment that we show minority populations harms a greater amount of people than it helps and it’s not the way for prosperity.

By observing these parallels abroad, I came back more aware of the problems that plague so many around the world.

That got me thinking about the people on my campus which is in a very small town in a region that is not dominantly positive. For the most part,  the students who participate in international experiences are often white, because – for many underrepresented students – study abroad is seen as only accessible to those who can afford it.

Fortunately, my campus values study abroad and the lessons that come out of it.  However, I believe there is a disparity between the opportunities available and the reality for minorities.

My international experience has helped me discover my passion and path as an anthropologist in a deeper way. To begin, I want to dig into advocacy on campus and spread it further. Then, I want to focus on LGBTQ+ populations and minority women so that they are given the opportunities that others are because I identify with both these populations. In my future plans, I will continue to strive to work with advocacy programs around the world.

The post Diversity Perspectives While Abroad appeared first on Academic Programs International.