Bula from Fiji! This is a word that we got very familiar with during our time in Fiji. It means hello and is said to EVERYONE. During the trip, people would roll down their windows just to say Bula while passing by. It was so different from here where your passing smile will be turned down by looking away. In Fiji, everyone was a friend. While in Fiji, we traveled to a few Islands including Beqa (Ben-gha) island where they do firewalking! We learned a lot about their culture and even got to go on a village visit where the children sang to us. We were there studying sustainability and were able to stay at a beach house that was almost entirely solar powered, which was one of my favorite places. The snorkeling in their marine protected area with a specialist was also a big highlight. This trip was incredible, and I will never forget the people I got to meet and the meaningful interactions I had while I was there. The kindness that they show there is something we should all aspire for our lives. I can’t wait to use the knowledge of island sustainability in my future career in Environmental Science. Vinaka (Thank you) UT Honors Program!!
TRAVEL: CATIE VALENTINO
I had the honor of accepting the Honors travel award to apply to my study experience at the University of Oxford this spring. I am so grateful for what this scholarship provided me, as it was the reason that I got to see Europe after the Oxford term was completed.
As soon as my studies were wrapped up, I packed a backpack and traveled the continent for a full month. I got to experience Paris and Nice first, then Venice, Florence, Rome, and Pompeii (with my partner-in-crime Tori Walters), Prague, and Berlin and Dresden where I got to visit distant family that I haven’t seen since I was a young girl. To top it all off, my other partner-in-crime Lauren Marolf and I visited Dublin, Galway, and Edinburgh before starting our journey back to the states.
It was an adventure that I never imagined coming true, and yet it did. I cannot express my gratitude to the Honors Program enough!
Catie Valentino
Study Abroad: Cameron DeMarie in Peru
Traveling to Peru was amazing as my classmates and I got to see all the beauty the country had to offer. We started by touring Lima and visiting all of its best neighborhoods, learning about Peruvian food, customs, and traditions. We then traveled around the dry desert region to see an awe-inspirig oasis and ride dune buggies in the sand. After that, we traveled to Nazca to view the famous Nazca lines from small propellor planes and later drove to a vineyard to see fresh grapes being grown in Peru’s unique climate. Finally, we went to Cusco to see the ancient Inca ruins of Machu Picchu and learn about the amazing elevated city and its local culture. All in all, I learned so much about the Peruvian economy and culture during the trip and made lifelong friends in the process. I am thankful to the honors program for helping me to fund this trip and for allowing me to share pictures and my experience.