Dominic Haik

Dominic Haik is an Ambassador who studied abroad in Spain.

Briefly describe a specific cultural experience you had on your trip that made a lasting impression.

While I was on the trip, I was able to practice with the university's basketball team three times a week. This provided me an awesome opportunity to make lasting friends. Also knowing true Spaniards allowed the others in Segovia to accept me as one of their own and take me into their culture as more than just a tourist.

Why did you choose the program in which you participated?

I chose the program because I believe that to truly be immersed and experience the culture in full it is important to learn another language, and to experience a country much different than ours.

Describe your overall study abroad experience.

Awesome, fulfuilling, Rewarding, experience of a lifetime

How has the trip affected you? How are you different for having completed the experience?

I am different from having this awesome experience because as a political science major I only read about many of the things I saw and experienced in books. Now I have see them first hand and am able to understand the dynamics of the complex situations abroad that we here in America are never are able to see.

What advice do you have for future Study Abroad Students?

Make friends with the locals. It will allow you to be accepted into the culture as a local and not as a tourist. Also travel to some place that you never would think of. Take risks