Examining comparative law and learning from local and international dignitaries during study abroad in Portugal.
– Hayley Millsaps, SPC Student, Portugal Program, June 2019
Portugal was such an incredible experience and one I will remember for the rest of my life. I already loved to travel, but being able to live like a local in a foreign country just ingrained that in me more. This trip pushed me to my limits at times, but it also helped me build my confidence by allowing me to know that I can push those limits and I don’t have to be afraid.
The country of Portugal is incredibly gorgeous. No matter where I looked or turned, there was beauty to be seen. The beaches are some of the prettiest I’ve seen and the lookout spots off the cliffs are what dreams are made of! My favorite place we visited was Berlengas Island, which is actually now the screen saver on my phone. The picture really helps me to remember: no matter what we are going through in life, even if it is a tight space and seems impossible, there is a way to get through it or navigate around it.
During the course, we were able to go to the U.S. Embassy and meet the Ambassador. My favorite person we met on the trip, however, was the Deputy General at the Portuguese Ministry of Justice. I personally loved him because he is incredibly inspiring. This man is blind and holds a very high position in the country. This is absolutely amazing to me because here in the U.S. it seems that a disability might stop someone from holding such a high position, even if one could do the job.
Since this was a course for comparative law it was interesting to not only compare the law, but to compare how people work with the law. This man was able to quote a specific line from a specific article of the law. He was also one of the sweetest people we met and even took more time out of his week to go on another tour with us. This truly spoke to how kind and genuine the Portuguese people are.
Thank you to SPC for giving me the opportunity of a lifetime to go to Portugal and for the scholarships provided to ensure I could go. I want to especially thank Dr. Eldridge for creating a program that was interdisciplinary.
Without this program I probably never would have gone to Portugal, but now I want to go back and explore even more of the country. I left a piece of my heart in Portugal and I can’t wait to go find it again.
– Hayley Millsaps, SPC Student, Portugal Program, June 2019
Thank you for sharing Hayley!
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