Student Testimonials

Lynne Penke

Mexico

While I have had numerous opportunities to travel, study, and work abroad, our research trip to Mexico in the summer of 1997 was a very different type of experience. As a research assistant to faculty, the expenses of my trip were covered by a grant. Under Dr. Chollett's supervision, we interviewed sugar cane growers and mill workers who live in very remote villages, as well as their wives and children. We lived in their homes and immersed ourselves in their village while conducting interviews about the effects of NAFTA on their lives.

Lynne Penke and Deb Martens typing field notes at
La Purisima, Michoacan

This sort of experience was very different than visiting the capital of a country; we were able to truly immerse ourselves in the rural Mexican culture, and fully grasp the current economic, social, and political situation in Mexico.

Most people would tell you that spending time abroad teaches you a lot about another culture. This is true. But it also does something equally (if not more) important: it teaches you about your OWN culture. Being outside the USA gives you a whole new perspective on your country, your home, your customs, and your life. You are given the awesome privilege of viewing American culture from the outside. Living outside the United States taught me SO MUCH about how we live and how we frame different aspects of life and culture; every time you become aware of something new and culturally rich in your host country, you are forced to confront your own nation's heritage.

Lynne Penke and Deb Maertens at the market in La
Purisima, Michoacan

With the same token, you will learn more about YOURSELF than you could ever imagine. Observing the lives of those who live differently than we do forces us to critically examine the way we live, and I promise you that with every conversation you have and every ritual or tradition you observe, you will grow, learn, stretch yourself, and you will yearn for more.

Finally, I can assure you that every thing you hear about working in a global community and workplaces becoming more culturally diverse is true. My passion for Latin America and its people helped shape my career path within the Unites States, and the Spanish language skills I perfected while overseas have made me much more marketable in today's job market. Clients and companies want to work with people who have knowledge of and experience with their culture, and the need for such people here in MN is growing on a daily basis.