The Global Honors Program at Roberts is truly one of the highlights of the academic side of this campus. Through this program, I have been able to make meaningful connections to global cultures and expand my knowledge of these cultures in so many ways. From stepping into my first day of my Honors First Year Seminar class, to leaving my final Honors On-Location class, I have grown so much as a student and person. Every aspect of this course has been preparing us for the weeks to come, where we will finally be able to utilize our skills abroad. The Honors On-Location course has been absolutely essential in preparing us for the trips to both Brazil and Puerto Rico. There are a few key components of this course that made the biggest impact in terms of trip preparation.

The ability to take a deeper dive into Portuguese lessons has been incredibly valuable during this entire preparation process. I know that in my personal experience, one of the biggest obstacles I saw in preparing for the trip was overcoming the language barrier, especially with the differences seen in the English and Portuguese languages. However, the opportunity to engage with daily Duolingo lessons, as well as experience live video-call lessons with our favorite Portuguese instructor, Giovana, have not only been rewarding, but also extremely enjoyable. There is an unmatched sense of accomplishment in learning different ways to communicate with others, and I know this extensive language prep is essential for a great trip abroad.

I also want to emphasize the value of our deeper research into specific cultures through our portfolios and other course materials, including Travel to Transform by Freeman Fung and You Are A Global Citizen by Damon Dominique. These resources were some of the most important catalysts for our journeys as global citizens, because they required us to reflect within and see how our own cultures have shaped who we are today, and also how that relates to other cultures around the world. We made unique connections with each other through our weekly discussion post conversations, and realized we are all more similar than we may think. When we take the time to see the beautiful intricacies of our own cultures, we are also able to take that same lens and expand it to global cultures, gaining a stronger sense of appreciation, understanding, and love for them. This ultimately reinforces the Christian values of loving your neighbor as yourself, and seeing the worth and beauty of every single individual around the world.

The importance of the Honors On-Location course and the trip preparations accomplished throughout the semester cannot be overstated. Some of the most exciting activities in the weeks to come include capoeira and samba classes, opportunities at ESEG, and quality time spent with the wonderful host families. This class has allowed us to fully immerse ourselves in the cultures we will soon be encountering, through activities like language lessons and intensive research, and prepare not only our minds, but our hearts, for our upcoming trips.