ki e~ Twenty-eight students pioneer the new foreign studies program, located in Vina del Mar, Chile Juniors Feydra Gorsline and Erin Bailey. missionary Tom Hook and seniorJonathan Reynolds concentrateon spottingseamon– keys at Salt Flats in the Atacama Desert in Chile. The sea monkeys were the favored cuisine of the flamingos that roamed the area. (Photo by Melissa Wilson) Sophomores Jo Ellis, Jaet Beamon, Arnie Stratton and Holly Russell, juniors Craig Bettenhausen and Mary Reynolds, sopho– more Natalie Williams and juniors Daniel Penick and Melissa Wilson take a lunch break on top of a mountain at the World Class Ski Resort in Portillo, Chile. Students took trips that involved athletic activity. (Photo courtesy of Melissa Wilson) _ . 18 student life When the 28 students studying at Harding University in Latin America stepped off ll,e plane, none of them knew what to expect for the semester. They were the first to attend Harding's newest foreign studies program, located in Chile. Dr. Jeff Hopper, dean of interna– tional studies, said that Latin America was chosen because Presi– dent David Burks wanted a Spa.nish– speaking program. After research, Chile was chosen because of its stable economy. Since thiswas the first year for the program, students didn't have the luxury of sto– ries from previous HULA students like the other programs did. They were the first, the experiment, the group to set the standard. Some students were more pre– pared than others, and some even spoke Spanish. "It's frustrating not being able to communicate," sophomore Daniel Penick said. "Once I ordered little green Jewish women for di nner in– stead of green beans." The first impressions of Roca Blanca, where the group stayed, amazed many of the students with its apartments overlooking the Pa– cific Ocean. "The accommodations are amaz– ing," sophomore Emily Safley said. "I have never lived in such a nice atmosphere. We can see the sunset over the ocean every night from our living room." The faculty planned numerous trips so the HULA students could see and experience the sights and culture of Chile. "This program seems to be more athletically centered," senior Dannie Rio said. "We've already been skiing in the Andes, hiking in the desert and soon we'll be white water rafting." The first trip, which was a week of skiing at Portillo, a world-class ski resort, set the tone for the rest of the semester by uniting the group. The second trip was to the Atacama Desert, where HULA stu· dents saw geysers, salt flats, sand dunes and more. On their free day, students who weren't horseback riding or sand· boarding browsed in artisan mar– kets. Life was not just exciting trips al HULA. The group also managed to fit in classes. "I thought our academics would be a blow off, but 1was surprised to find otherwise," sophomore10 Ellis said. "If you like to slack off, I'd avoid a foreign studies program." Overall, students and professors agreed the first semester ofthe HULA program ran smoothly. -Amie Stratton
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