STOCKTON, Calif. – The University of the Pacific took 20 first-year students on an immersive learning and culture experience to Chile, shedding light to a tremendous study abroad opportunity.
Two of those 20 students on the two-week trip included freshman Daphne Iosua, who competes on the Pacific women’s cross country and track & field programs, and freshman Sam Holley, who is a member of the Pacific beach volleyball team.
Iosua and Holley were captivated by the sights and sounds they got to explore throughout the learning environments, which featured lectures on Chilean history at the Universidad de los Andes, visits to museums and cultural sites in Santiago and stargazing in the Atacama Desert.
“It was amazing to see the world outside of America,” health and exercise science major Holley said. “It felt like being in a position of observing everything with total cultural immersion.”
“I really liked Santiago a lot,” bioengineering major Iosua said. “It was fun to be in the city. We had group activities and a couple of lectures throughout each day. We had bus passes and could explore the city on our own. I thought it was really cool to just be in the city and experience the culture.”
While on the trip in Chile, Holley and Iosua still maintained their physical preparedness as they embark on their first seasons as Tigers.
“I woke up early every day and went on a run,” Iosua said. “I run track and cross country, so running was something I needed to keep up with. I loved seeing a city through running. It’s so cool to travel around a city that way.”
When asked about their takeaways as to how the trip will further grow as individuals, Holley and Iosua both gave insightful answers.
“This trip showed me there’s a world outside of beach volleyball,” Holley said. “Right now, I’m focused on my studies and trying as hard as I can to excel in my sport. These four years are all I have, and thinking about life afterward is scary because I’ve played volleyball since I was ten. The trip showed me there are so many parts of the world to see and experience after my beach volleyball career. That helps me as an athlete because if you hold tightly to the idea that your sport is your whole identity, it creates stress. It ties your worth to your sport. Seeing more of the world helped me loosen that mindset.”
“It was interesting to see how different countries approach sports, working out, and health in general,” Iosua said. “Diversifying your experiences helps you get better. And when we were in the Atacama Desert, the days were long. I was exhausted and still getting in my workouts. It was great practice for discipline. I felt grateful I could have long days doing cool things and still get in what I needed for my sport.”
Learn more about study abroad opportunities with Pacific here.
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