The Chart Online

South American students make Southern their new home
Jerry Manter

Managing Editor

There s a little South American flavor roaming around the campus this semester.

The story s the same in Santiago, Chile.

Only there, it s a little Joplin pride.

Five Missouri Southern students are studying in Santiago, Chile, at the University of the Americas while earning credits toward their degree. In the exchange, five Chilean students are taking classes at Southern this semester.

Helping students make the transfer to Chile is Dr. John Lewis, associate professor of business. Teaching around the world is nothing new for Lewis, and he knew when he came to work at Southern, he d fit right into the College s international focus.

I enjoy doing this, said Lewis who also helps exchange students from Chile make the transition to Southern.

The University of the Americas and Southern have established a relationship through the years with the students and their international experiences.

Our goals were mutually complimentary, Lewis said. We want to contribute to their educational program.

Through intense language barriers and significant cultural differences, students find themselves learning Spanish and living life in a different light. For most students, the culture shock begins the moment they step off the airplane.

Most of them struggle when they get there, Lewis said. They realize how much more there is to learn.

Students that travel to South America must have a minimum of two years of Spanish and be comfortable with different cultures.

They have to listen and speak the Spanish language, Lewis said.

Lewis thinks this is probably the best way anyone can learn.

There is no substitution other than total immersion in the language and culture to advance their skills, he said.

Southern students in Santiago are Seth Vannaman, Eric Atkinson, Nick Barnett, Crystal Dunfield and Josh Wardlow. Chilean students studying at Southern are Kike Venegas, Oliver Walker, Hugo Sepulveda, Ramon Delgado and Carolina Contreras.

When reporting back to Lewis, many students share the same feelings.

They say how different their expectations are, he said. The experience is probably more stressful than expected.

Contreras can say first hand how difficult it is to live in a place unfamiliar to home.

It s difficult, Contreras said. It s very different in America.

Contreras, senior business major, moved Aug. 10 to Joplin, and said the first few months have been challenging to say the least.

I miss my parents and boyfriend, she said. It s not good.

Living in a different culture is hard for some. The language barrier is difficult as well. One of the hardest things for Contreras is eating American food.

I don t like the food here, she said. It has a lot of calories.

Contreras knows in the long run the exchange program will do wonders for her life back in South America.

It s good for my future in Chile, she said.

Dr. Dorothy Bay, associate professor of biology professor, has plans on working in South America as well. Bay teaches Southern students at Technology University of Costa Rica in Cartago. Similar to the University of the Americas in Santiago, the institution has a strong relationship with Southern to exchange students.

Their university is very comparative to Missouri Southern, Bay said. It s so similar to what we have here.

Bay instructs General Biology for 31 days in the summer session at the university. It s not, however, the same class taught at Southern. Students have the opportunity to take many field trips to volcanoes, rain forests, hot springs and the ocean.

It s a biological wonder, Bay said. They have so many ecosystems.

While the course is set in a tropical wonderland, it s no walk in the park either.

It s an intense course, she said. It s very demanding.

The trip can cost more than $2,400 for students planning to make the journey south. However, the trip can cost around $1,200 with a grant.

The grant isn t hard to get, she said. It s a real bargain.

Bay has taught the course in Costa Rica for three years. She said the program can be beneficial for students who take the course.

It s a very rich experience, she said.