Alexandra.K.Rego.24@dartmouth.edu
(508) 560-1900
Available terms: 23X (virtually), 23F, 24W, 24S
Hello! My name is Alex Rego, and I am a '24 from Martha's Vineyard, Massachusetts. I am a Czech-American dual citizen with a lifelong dream of becoming a diplomat. In my development as a global citizen, I have participated in many related activities on campus including the Rockefeller Global Leadership Program, the Matariki Common Purpose Global Leadership program, and residency at La Casa LLC. I am majoring in both Government and Geography with a minor in Hispanic Studies. During the spring term of 2022, I had the opportunity to study abroad in Buenos Aires, Argentina on the Spanish FSP.
My study abroad experience was undoubtedly one of excitement, but also of great challenge. I was drawn to the program out of love for the Spanish language and Latin American cultures, both of which I became very well acquainted with in my 10 weeks in Buenos Aires! Speaking from my experience, the highlights of my program include my homestay family (I have many fond memories of dinnertime conversations), the students on my program (I made many deep and enduring friendships in a very short period of time), and the geographic diversity of Argentina (I was able to see many bucket-list destinations between classes). I can also confidently say that my Spanish excelled, and this came primarily due to my growing confidence in speaking the language as the weeks passed. This being said, I certainly found myself grappling with mental health challenges for the duration of the program. While the chatter around studying abroad led me to believe that these struggles would magically disappear upon stepping foot in a new country for 10 weeks, I still found myself battling the same thoughts I experience on the Dartmouth campus. I therefore had to devote significant energy to practicing self-compassion (e.g., patience, relaxation), meaningful reflection (e.g., time spent alone, debriefing with other students), and leaning into my support networks (e.g., my host family, other students, and faculty on the program, friends and family from home). I also found joy in spontaneity, as straying from type-A habits allowed for a more grounded, present, and organic experience in the city. I have also found that spontaneity is the common denominator among my favorite stories from my study abroad experience. And on that note, please do not hesitate to reach out! I love a good story, and moreover, I love connecting with individuals navigating their experiences as a global citizen.