Two journeys, one goal
Eric Andersen started his post-secondary academic career with modest goals. Since his experience studying abroad in Burgos, Spain as part of UPEI鈥檚 May-mester program, he鈥檚 looking to hit new targets.
Originally from Makkovik, NL, Eric had been working in northern Labrador mining nickel and copper. Although he enjoyed the work, the pay, the two-week-on two-week-off shift schedule, and the fact that he was close to home, he decided to go back to school. He was looking to expand his employable skills, and found a program of interest at UPEI.
鈥淚 started here for a Public Administration certificate,鈥� he explains. 鈥淚 did that because I鈥檇 worked for a mining company for ten years, and I took a year to see what university was going to be like. I thought with a Public Administration certificate and a year, year-and-a-half [of study] I could leave with that certificate, and have something tangible for a job interview.鈥�
Turns out his Public Administration certificate was just the beginning of his UPEI journey鈥攍iterally.
鈥淚 think I saw May-mester promoted on the UPEI Campus Life Facebook page,鈥� he says.
The May-mester program is administered by UPEI鈥檚 Office of Study Abroad and International Collaboration, to create short-term international study opportunities to students of all UPEI faculties and schools. The April to May schedule allows students to travel between the end of the academic year before their summer employment begins. Experiences in Ireland, France, the United Kingdom, and the Faroe Islands were open to UPEI students, but the trip to Spain and its focus on the Camino de Santiago, a famous pilgrimage in the northern region, caught Eric鈥檚 attention.
鈥淭here were a few other destination opportunities but I鈥檝e always wanted to go to Spain. Ever since I was in my late teens and early 20s, it鈥檚 a place I鈥檝e wanted to visit.鈥�
Eric attended an information session and learned more about the application criteria and funding for successful applicants. After finding out his application was accepted, he and 14 other arts, science, business and engineering students from UPEI started to prepare for the trip in April.
鈥淲e landed in Madrid, but didn鈥檛 stay there very long, and then we went north to the University of Burgos where we did the course work and stayed in residence,鈥� he says.
His next two weeks were a whirlwind of coursework, lectures, tours, and a true immersion to Spanish food, culture, and politics.
鈥淭he entire experience was amazing,鈥� he says. 鈥淲e did about 40 hours of coursework studying architecture, history, business, computer science and databases, marketing鈥攍ots of opportunities your traditional study doesn鈥檛 give you. It was really eye-opening.鈥�
And walking. Lots of walking.
鈥淲e walked the Camino [de Santiago] trail along the pilgrimage route,鈥� he says. 鈥淭he first day we walked about 10 or 15 kilometres just to get an idea of what the whole walk would be like, and visited a nice little village with an old castle. There are different lengths you can walk, or you can take a bike or go by horseback.鈥�
Reflecting on his May-mester trip after returning home, Eric gained a new perspective on the political and social landscape of northern Spain鈥攐ne he鈥檚 gathered by talking directly with residents and his international professors.
鈥淚t was good to see a different part of the world, Spain is a lot like Canada and America, a developed country,鈥� he says. 鈥淏ut there鈥檚 a different attitude in Europe and regional differences, but talking world politics with people there was great. We talked about Brexit and the European Union. I study PoliSci so we talked about that quite a bit, it was different to hear from someone directly affected.鈥�
Eric also realized the potential collateral learning opportunities of talking and travelling with his UPEI student companions.
鈥淲e weren鈥檛 all Arts students,鈥� he says. 鈥淛ust because there may not be a lot of Engineering students taking part in this kind of trip, it鈥檚 all the more reason for an Engineering student to go because it introduces so many other things and I might get to hang out with students from different programs and get to see what that鈥檚 like. This group of students was amazing鈥�
Today, Eric is completing the final semester of his Bachelor of Arts degree, majoring in Political Science with a Sociology minor. After his journeys from the mine to the classroom, and from Charlottetown to Spain, he鈥檚 got plans for tomorrow.
鈥淚鈥檓 thinking of a masters program, and I want to work with people,鈥� he says. 鈥淎fter working in a large corporation basically turning rocks into mud to be shipped to a smelter, working with people seemed interesting and a better life for me. Maybe something in the public service, helping people with programs or outreach.鈥�
