How amazing would it be to go surfing in the morning and skiing in the afternoon? Take a trip to Easter Island, or to the Atacama desert?
What if you could get class credit for it?
Next semester, Lipscomb is introducing its inaugural trip to Santiago, Chile. Students who go on this trip will have the chance to interact with Chileans, sample unique cuisine and live in the world’s longest country, from north to south.
The students will take humanities courses, as well as Spanish, and get to choose from several electives ranging from biology to PE.
Linda Benthall, the on-site coordinator for Santiago loved the time she spent there last spring.
“I visited Santiago in May and was overwhelmed by the beauty of the people and the country,” Benthall said. “The people are laid-back, fun and friendly. They have a rich political history. [Chile’s] geography is fascinating, as it’s the longest country in the world and is just over 100 miles wide.
“It has a desert on the north, mountains on the east, glaciers on the south and an ocean to the west, creating a type of ‘island’ from the rest of the continent. It also claims a large chunk of Antarctica.”
The Chilean adventure is just the latest life-altering trip offered by the university.
“Lipscomb students consistently say that a semester abroad is life-changing,” Benthall said. “They learn so much about themselves, a foreign culture and God’s presence around the world. Students gain confidence, perspective and adaptability that is valuable for the rest of their lives.”
Memphis native Matt Filchak, a French major with minors in both German and Spanish, is eager to get there.
“I love traveling and learning about new cultures,” Filchak said. “Chile is an opportunity to do that, especially since it’s not a place I would go on my own– it’s not on my to-do list. And since I love languages I get to learn Spanish at the same time.”
The Santiago team leaves in early January and will come back home in mid-April. They will have experienced rich history, culture and growth, according to organizers.
To find out more aboaut that trip and to discover what the Global Learning program is all about, e-mail any questions to Linda.benthall@lipscomb.edu.