So it’s been a few weeks since I’ve been back now and I still have that excitement of having had an amazing first study abroad experience in Belize. I was there for a whole month doing things that I never thought I would be able to do until vet school. Studying abroad has made it possible for me to gain experience in my desired field of animal sciences. Never would I have imagined that as an undergraduate I’d get to assist in spay/neuter surgeries or see these amazing exotic animals like the tapir or jaguars in person. While I’m glad to be home and I get to talk to my family and friends about my amazing once in a lifetime experience, if offered to go back, I would do it in a heartbeat. Honestly, I may even think about going back to Belize someday to do an internship or revisit the Belize zoo, which now has a special place in my heart.

Like I said in my previous posts, I never really thought that I’d ever have the opportunity to study abroad because of expenses and I am just so happy to have had this opportunity to do so. Aside from gaining all this wonderful experience and having something special to add to my vet school applications, I earned 6 credits toward graduation in just a month! The people I met over there are amazing and many of them were actually people I went to school with but never actually spoke to. Who knew it would have taken a trip all the way to Central America in order to meet some of the coolest people? An experience like that is something to bond over with the people I spent it with and I even have a million of pictures and videos to look back on and remember years from now.

In general, as far as my study abroad experience, I believe that everyone should have the opportunity to do what I did at least once during undergrad. To anyone reading my posts I say, never feel like it is too much money or that it isn’t possible for you. There are ALWAYS opportunities, you just have to look and apply to everything you can.