E-mail: ebondare@nd.edu
Language: Spanish
Location of Study: Santiago, Chile
Program of Study: Santiago Summer, University of Notre Dame
Sponsors: The Center for the Study of Languages
Visit Emilia-Maria’s Blog
“To have another language is to possess a second soul.”
Charlemagne
Hi there! My name is Emily Bondarenko. I am originally from Minsk, Belarus but now live in the Chicago suburb of Buffalo Grove, IL. I am a biochemistry and Spanish major in the Glynn Family Honors Program, and my home on campus is the marvelous two-time Women’s Hall of the Year, Flaherty Hall. I am excited to finally be able to travel to Santiago, Chile this summer through Notre Dame Study Abroad. I was originally supposed to go last summer, but the program got cancelled due to COVID.
While in Santiago, I will be taking two courses: one on the poetry of Gabriela Mistral and another on theology in Latin America. I will also be involved in a variety of cultural experiences in Santiago and throughout Chile. I am looking forward to learning more about the community there, especially with respect to healthcare perspectives. I hope that my experiences will not only expand my worldview but also help me become a better advocate for patients as a future medical professional.