Group studies abroad over break

A group of 18 USC higher education and student affairs graduate students traveled to the Dominican Republic over Spring Break, researching for projects and enjoying the country.

“It was required for research we were doing for class,” said Spencer Bennett, a second-year graduate student, who worked on an individual project involving comparisons of the different college educations the country had to offer.

According to a press release from the Study Abroad Office, students worked on projects relating to student life, history, government and finance in the country. Even though the students were traveling for a class project, the trip was a true “eye-opener” for students like Bennett, who said he learned a lot about the Dominican Republic.

Bennett thought that the people were different than what he is used to in the states, for he said that they were very friendly, and offered much hospitality.

“They have their own sense of time called ‘Dominican Time,’ in which they are very relaxed about time and appointments,” Bennett said. “I wish we could be more like that.”

First-year graduate student Keith Waak was really impressed with how college degrees were viewed differently in the republic as opposed to how they are treated in the United States.

“All degrees are equal, and people don’t have to worry about whether or not if they are accredited,” he said.

Waak said that he endured great experiences, ranging from donating to kids who were playing with flattened basketballs to visiting the first church and school of the country, which were historically the first institutions of the New World.

“It was absolutely amazing, and I would definitely do all of it again,” Waak said.

While traveling to the different schools, the students were welcomed by the former first lady of Haiti, and they learned that she was running for president for Haiti.

“It was really awe-inspiring,” Waak said.

Allison Atkins, another first-year graduate student, was also astonished by meeting the former first lady of Haiti.

“It was a great opportunity and well-worth the money,” Atkins said.

She spent her time talking to high officials and administrators on policies and options relating towards education. Atkins said that it was sad that the country appeared to be so poor and in much poverty. However, her only problem with the trip was how the weather there was “really hot.”

Bennett only had one negative.

“Aside from not speaking good Spanish, I couldn’t think of any negatives,” he said.

He said that he really enjoyed the time he spent with his classmates and all of the “inside jokes” they shared, and would go back in a heartbeat if he could.