Walker College International Programs - SPAIN!
Sarah Green is a senior with a double major in Accounting and International Business with a minor in Spanish. She studied abroad in Alicante, Spain, spring of 2008, and spent this summer in Uganda, Africa, teaching social entrepreneurship.
"Studying abroad in Alicante, Spain, was an experience of a lifetime," says Sarah Green, of her spring 2008 time abroad. "I learned a lot about myself, what I wanted to accomplish in life, and how to interact with people who thought differently from me. Studying abroad was more than just what we learned in the classroom and learning a new language, it helped me to open my mind and adapt to a completely different culture."
Before her original Spanish excursion, Green worked to create an Appalachian State chapter of AIESEC, a global student organization that promotes cultural understanding while building student leadership skills. Once it was established, she helped organize the first Global Opportunities Conference, which sought to provides ideas, knowledge, and resources to students and the regional business community to seek global opportunities.
It was met with much success. The second annual Global Opportunities Conference is scheduled for Friday, Oct. 9.
While in Spain, Sarah attended AIESEC’s global conference in Barcelona. “It was an amazing learning experience and a great way to expand our global networks. I now have lasting friendships with people from all over the world.” She added, “After returning from Spain, I started looking for the next place to go.”
Working through AIESEC, she eventually traveled to Kampala, Uganda in summer 2009.
"This is a completely different experience than Spain because I am in a developing country," she said. "I never thought it would be possible, but this experience is a million times more rewarding than any other I've encountered."
While in Uganda, Sarah taught entrepreneurship and led University students in developing and implementing a business concept/plan using micro-finance techniques.
"The students here want to make a better life for themselves and work hard to fulfill their goals. The lifestyle is completely different than that in the Western world, yet I feel just as comfortable here as I do at home," she said. "There is a "no worries" mindset here. If something doesn't work out how we planned, instead of getting stressed, people just change their course of action.
"If the water or power is off for a few days, you laugh and go on with your lives, while learning something new about yourself."
Sarah blogged while in Uganda, and invites students to read about her days spent as an international ambassador from Walker College.
We could all benefit from the Ugandan people and learn about what it is like to be hospitable, carefree yet tenacious, and diligent," she said. "There are so many opportunities here, and I encourage everyone to take the chance to have a once-in-a-lifetime experience that I am certain will change your life."
