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TableofContents

SemesterOverviews

AnIntroduction………………………………………………………….………………1LearningPlan………………………………………………………………………….2‐4IntegrativeEssay…………………………………...………………………………..5‐7Self‐Evaluation……………………………………………………………………...8‐12

Seminars

LatinAmericanStudies………………………………………………………..13‐30YearlySeminar……………………………………………………………………31‐69SpanishLanguage…………………………………………………….………….70‐89Writing,Research,andDocumentation…………………….………...90‐102GlobalEnvironmentalIssues……………………………………….…...103‐125LivingLatinAmericanCulture……………………………………….…126‐135

Miscellaneous

FieldTripDocumentation………………………………………………...136‐143OutsideProjects……………………………………………………..………..144‐150Photographs………………………………………………………………........151‐1

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AnIntroduction

WhenIappliedforGlobalCollegelastyear,IhavetoadmitIwasinvestingagreatdealinsomethingthatIknewverylittleabout.Allofmyhardwork,fromthefirstdayofHighSchooltothedayofmygraduation,wasforthepurposeofsendingmetoaschoolthatwasanythingbutsimilartotheeducationalsystemthatIhadknownsincetheverybeginning.Therewouldbenomoremathorsciencecoursesatthisschool.Therewouldbenomoretests.Nomorethanfortykidswouldbeinmyclass.Andonemorething:Iwouldbestudyinginadifferentpartoftheworldeveryyear.Yes,Iwasinvestingalot.NowthatIhaveseenGlobalCollegewithmyowneyes,theproductofthatinvestmentisclearandinvaluable.Iamlivinginanunfamiliarplace,adjustingtonewhabits,andseeingtheworldthroughafreshsetoflenses,allwhilebeingmoreproductivethaneverbeforeinmylife.Threemonthsoflearning,culminatingindailylanguagelessons,coursesinLatinAmericanStudies,Cross‐CulturalStudies,WritingandResearch,EnvironmentalIssues,andLatinAmericanCulture;ahomestay;somefortyessays(manyinSpanish),dozensofjournalentries,threefieldtrips(oneofwhichto

another

country),ahandfulofoutsideprojects,andcountlessmemories—onlyatthisschoolcouldIhavehadalltheseexperiences.Theaimofthisportfolioisnottodocumenteverythingthathashappenedtomeoverthelastthreemonths;togivethatgoalanyjusticewouldtakemorethanabook.Rather,thisportfolioismeanttoprovideasnapshotofmylearningexperienceduringthefirstsemesteratGlobalCollegeinCostaRica.Myhopeisthatoneday,Iorsomeoneelsecanlookbackatthisportfolio,andallsubsequentportfolios,andreturntotheexperience.Inthissense,theinvestmentwillcontinueon.

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Costa Rica Center

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Fall 2008Emilio Vargas Mena

Learning Plan

Goals Statement

The main purpose of my enrollment at Global College is to acquire an overall perspective onsome of the most relevant topics, enriching cultural elements, and pressing issues taking place inthe international domain. While this is how I envision my purpose at the beginning of myfreshman year, it will be an ongoing process to reshape and refine it. Not only is this my firsttime being in an environment that allows for any experiential development or individualbuilding; it is my first time being in a school that can provide the adequate resources for me tohave a sound learning career. Therefore, my current goals are likely to change drastically overthe years.Specifically, my interests lie in the human aspect of world studies. Language, art, societaldevelopment—these areas of study are what I intend to pursue most during my time at GlobalCollege. I also have a particular interest in studying the contrast between traditional/indigenouscultures and modernization. I choose this approach as opposed to international relations ordiplomacy because I feel that it allows me to have a more hands-on, personal relationship withthe areas in which I will study. I believe that the highest points in experiential discovery arereached when coming face to face with the very people whose land I am a visitor to, rather thanthe individuals who exert power over them.In addition, there will undeniably be paths that I take throughout Global College not necessarilyfor the relevance that they offer to my central interests, but rather for the insight that they offer tothe country that I am in. An example of this is my choice to study the environment in Costa Ricafor a semester—a topic that does not directly relate to the overarching theme of humanities, but atopic that is among the most important in Costa Rica today. I will continuously strive to find abalance between what my life’s main interests are, and what each part of the world’s maininterests are.