Erin Breen

Erin Breen is a student at Arizona International's partner institution, St. Francis Xavier, in Nova Scotia, Canada. The following is a personal account of her experience studying at AIC during the Fall, 1999 semester.

Coming to Arizona was a shock, not only because of the heat, but also because of this new environment that I was entering. The shock was not from people or campus life, but in terms of the general atmosphere and culture here in the southwest. The introduction to Spanish culture was intriguing, as I'm more use to the French and Scottish traditions. The heat was incredible in August, and the monsoons were amazing, but it was the nature of the course material, the professors who taught me, and the other students that intrigued me most. I was encouraged to think critically end express my own opinions and experiences, yet everyone was respectful towards one another, honestly interested in world issues and proud of their own cultures and backgrounds. This enlightened me greatly about issues I previously knew nothing about. Because of this my career aspirations have expanded and I feel that I owe that to AIC.

Also during my stay I was able to see a number of wonderful places, such as the Desert Museum, Mount Lemmon, the Grand Canyon, Arcosanti and even Las Vegas. These experiences were amazing and unforgettable, better than any picture I had ever seen.

The people at AIC were extremely helpful and receptive during my stay and I've made some incredible friends who I hope to always keep in touch with. They were so interesting and fun to be with I'm already planning to visit in the coming years. You never really know who you are until you meet new people who enlighten you about yourself and the world around you.