Heidi Specht

Heidi Specht • May 29, 2019 •10:19 am

Ashley Hare ’20, Political Science Major from Duke

I originally chose to study abroad through Arcadia because it has a reputation at Duke as being one of the better programs. I heard so many good things from my friends who had studied with Arcadia in the past. But I specifically chose the Granada program for the smaller city, to help...

Heidi Specht • Apr 25, 2019 •3:55 pm

Conservative Wave Rises in Spain

While Americans experience the rise of Trumpism in the United States, I’ve been able to witness firsthand the rise of a similar conservative movement in Spain. In December 2018, history was made in Spain when, for the first time in decades, a far-right party won seats in a Spanish regional...

Heidi Specht • Apr 2, 2019 •3:35 pm

Comparing Spanish-Speaking Programs

For someone wanting to learn Spanish, Arcadia has a variety of diverse study abroad options: Chile in South America, Cuba in North America in the Caribbean, and Spain in Europe. As a Spanish major, I decided to try all three programs before I graduated. I’m a junior, and so far, I have made it to...

Heidi Specht • Feb 20, 2019 •9:11 am

How to Pack like a Study Abroad Pro

Anyone who has spent a semester abroad can relate when I say that the most stressful part of studying abroad happens before your semester begins, when you have to pack your suitcases for an entire semester. I used to stress over it for weeks—what to bring, what to leave at home, what to put in my...

Heidi Specht • Dec 21, 2018 •11:54 am

Caitlin Aldridge ‘20, Food Pantry Steering Committee Member

“The Food Pantry Steering Committee had the idea to start a food pantry last spring. Student leaders from clubs such as Young Democratic Socialists of America (YDSA), POWER, and Melanin in Action met with a few faculty members who were the liaisons for gathering resources and finding...

Heidi Specht • Nov 28, 2018 •8:06 pm

Tearing Down Language Barriers, Building Cultural Bridges

I sit down at an outside table at Easton Cafe, with a hot coffee at my side and a beat-up notebook in front me. Maren, an exchange student from Germany, arrives a few minutes later for our German lesson. “Hallo,” she says to me, “Wie geht’s dir?” “Mir geht’s gut,” I respond. “Und dir...

Heidi Specht • Nov 12, 2018 •11:21 am

Expanding Cultural Understanding Through ASIA

This is the first year that I decided to attend the Asian Students in America (ASIA) Club. I was invited by my friend Seisuke, a Japanese exchange student at Arcadia whom I met over the summer at IPAL orientation. Ever since he heard that the first ASIA meeting would have free sushi, Seisuke was...

Heidi Specht • Oct 8, 2018 •5:02 pm

First Impressions of Arcadia: an International Perspective

A week before the annual mass of new students descend on Arcadia, another group— about 70 international students representing 15 countries— arrive with the same mix of anxiety and excitement. For many of those international students, it is their first time at an American...

Heidi Specht • May 9, 2018 •10:54 am

Tourism’s Effect on Indigenous Chileans

Upon entering San Pedro de Atacama (the world’s driest desert, in northern Chile), tourists are greeted with a view like no other: volcano-topped horizons, white salt flats that seem to go on forever, and vibrant red rocks in every direction. This might be what makes the Chilean Desert one of South...

Heidi Specht • May 2, 2018 •9:56 am

‘Do You Eat Chilis in Chile?’

This week, I sat down with my Chilean friends and asked the burning question: What are the most common misconceptions that foreigners have about Chile? I was surprised when everyone starting talking at once. Clearly, there are a lot. Here is a narrowed-down list of questions Chileans...

Heidi Specht • Apr 10, 2018 •1:31 pm

Claire Weisner ’20, International Studies Major in Chile

My favorite part about studying abroad in Chile is that I am fully immersed in the culture. I live with a Chilean family, so I am constantly in a situation which forces me to use Spanish. Relying on English is not an option. This experience teaches you to be patient with yourself—...

Heidi Specht • Apr 4, 2018 •11:47 am

Commemorating International Women’s Day in Chile

On March 8, countries all around the world celebrated International Women’s Day. Being in Chile, I had no idea what to expect for this day. But when I walked into Pontificia Universidad Católica de Valparaíso (PUCV), my Chilean university, I was surprised to see it had changed...