This program gave me the experience of a lifetime. From being out in the ocean on the boat, to being in the estuary in just a sailboat, I saw such a variety of marine life such as pods of dolphins, devil rays, different colored starfish, Moorish Idols, humpback whales, and much more. While abroad, this program helped me realize that I definitely want my career to deal with the ocean, whether it be marine rehab or collecting research. I loved waking up and being able to see the ocean from my balcony and it being less than a five-minute walk down to the beach. I could definitely get used to falling asleep to the sound of the waves. It also affected me on a personal level because it helped me see from a different perspective in the sense that the world is truly so large and although there were many differences, there were still so many similarities shown in the people and community. I want to continue traveling the world and seeing all that it has to offer.

One of my favorite parts of this program was learning about the culture and meeting locals. Meeting the locals really helped me gain a better insight into what those who live there do on a daily basis. We also had a great opportunity to have dinner with one of the staff members of Underwater Africa’s community. Not only did he welcome us into his home and allowed us to see his property, but we were also able to meet some of his family. Meeting and talking to the people were honestly my favorite part, and I wish I had more time to do so. Everyone was so kind and fun to talk to, they were just as eager to learn about me as I was to learn about them.

A lot of people are nervous to study abroad because they are scared it will be hard to make friends. However, once you reach your final destination, it is so easy to talk about what each person is excited or scared for, allowing you to get to know each other more and make way for more conversation. I have created such a bond with so many different people who I only just met a couple weeks ago, yet I couldn’t imagine being on the program with anyone else. Coming from a very low-income family and being a first-generation college student who is always stressed about finances, one thing I am constantly reminding myself is that money will always make its way back, but memories cannot be replaced. If you are second-guessing doing a study abroad program, my advice is to just do it because you will make endless memories traveling the world and experiencing new things with people who will have such a strong impact on who you are as a person.

Name: Amanda Chmura
Status: Senior
Major: Fisheries and Wildlife
Hometown: Westland, Michigan
Program: Marine Biology Internship in Mozambique