Hi! My name is Leslie Vergara. I grew up in Houston, Texas and went to North Carolina for college. I did not have opportunities to travel when I was young, but during high school, I won a scholarship to go to London for two weeks--fully paid! That was my first time flying on an airplane. Since then, I have been a traveler. I like to visit new places and learn about their food, language and dances. Since London, I have traveled to Ghana, Ecuador, Mexico, and finally, participated in a virtual internship in Santiago, Chile.
From studying to volunteering, I strongly believe traveling internationally is the best learning experience. Aside from traveling, I also enjoy baking banana bread, even though I do not like bananas by themselves. Ha! I like to try new desserts in different places and then recreate them in my kitchen. It's a tasty way to experience more of the world! I'm excited to share my global experiences with you.
Want to know more about how you can study or intern abroad when you are a college student? The Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship Program is a program of the U.S. Department of State with funding provided by the U.S. Government and supported in its implementation by the Institute of International Education (IIE). Learn more about the scholarship by clicking here!
