I will be returning to the Oaxaca region of Mexico where the Global Seminar I participated in took place. Specifically, I will be going to Rio Viejo which is located near Puerto Escondido, a relatively popular beach town. While I am there, I will be helping to manage and organize a field lab for the Archaeological dig in the town. The dig is focused on evaluating how climate change impacted human health and the household economy during the Late Classic and Early Post Classic periods of the region. 
 

The Global Seminar experience has opened up new potential professional paths for me. I wouldn't have had the chance to participate in a field dig in the capacity that I will during next spring. While this may not directly lead to future positions, it allows me to directly engage in something that I have had a personal interest in for a very long time. The Global Seminar also allowed me to engage more deeply with a culture that I wasn't very familiar with by actually getting to visit locations and interact with people. It is a totally different experience to be able to actually talk with people, taste the food, and walk around historic areas than just reading about them. The Global Seminar really allowed me to broaden my horizons in a way that would have been difficult without it. 
 

While I am back in Mexico I am looking forward to learning more about Archaeological digs and being able to experience the culture on a broader scale. I am really looking forward to the opportunity to be able to go back and visit markets to find meals or ingredients to cook food! Even though they were a bit intimidating at first during my Global Seminar, I quite enjoyed going into different markets, to try new foods, practice my Spanish, and seeing the bustle of daily life. It also gave a good way to further explore the cities that we stayed in, especially for the markets located off the more touristy areas. 
 

In my career in years to come I hope to be able to find a way to fuse my interests in Engineering and Anthropology. I hope that by taking this field lab experience I can better find ways that I can combine both my interests!
 

I would advise any students considering doing a Global Seminar to take the opportunity! There are a ton of resources to help finance and support students who are interested in going on a Global Seminar, and they can be a great way for students with strict course curricula to be able to study abroad. It can be a bit intimidating to step outside of your comfort zone, but the opportunity to experience a different culture, especially with people who are familiar with it, is something that I found very personally fulfilling. Additionally, if time commitment is a concern for longer study abroad options, Global Seminars offer a great way to leave room for other things like internships or research positions during the summer. Overall, I would highly recommend trying to do a Global Seminar, it is a very unique experience and can lead to unexpected opportunities! 

My only regret is that I didn't have time to go on more Global Seminars! I really enjoy how they help engage with a culture that you may be unfamiliar with, while being able to tie it back to more academic concepts that can translate into coursework for a major or minor. These courses really help to branch out and diversify the educational experience at CU and can really broaden your horizons!