华盛顿, PA(八月五日), 2022)—When COVID-19 threatened rising senior 伊莎贝拉Manzari’s plan to travel to Cuba and re-connect with her culture, 她很有创造力.
西班牙语和性别 & women’s studies double major, 联系导师, 马修·布朗, Student Government Representative, 全能运动员, the challenge served as chance, 在五月, she found herself pursuing a 麦哲伦项目 to study Cuban cuisine in the summer sunshine of Miami, 佛罗里达.
“It was an amazing experience,” Manzari said. “我去了 Calle Ocho, [a popular street in Little Havana], every day and tried various snacks, 饮料, and meals to try to learn as much as I could about the food from my culture.”
Though Cuban cuisine had always been important to Manzari, living in Western Pennsylvania made connecting with the culture difficult. Determined to enhance the relationship to her roots, she took to travel and taste.
“I wanted to learn more about who I am…and bring my culture home with me,” Manzari said. “The best way I could think to do that was through food. One of the most fulfilling ways to study culture is through food. Food is vital to life, and every culture has different recipes that each have a history behind them.”
For Manzari, discovering that history meant overcoming her fears.
“I was really nervous to travel on my own in a big city,”她说。, “but it was so much easier than I thought it would be. I learned the metro routes and within a week I felt like a local.”
Apparently, she seemed like one too.
“Many people asked me about my background and where I had learned Spanish from,” Manzari said. “When I would tell them that my mother is from Cuba they would get very excited. It felt good to be able to connect with other Cubans.”
Planning to travel after graduation, Manzari hopes many more connections are to come and encourages other students to find their own.
“I think the Magellan is an incredible opportunity unique to W&我的学生，”她说. “It gave me the experience and courage I needed to be able to travel and use my language skills without worry, and I think everyone should take advantage of it.”
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华盛顿 & 澳门葡京博彩软件, proudly located in 华盛顿, Pa., is a historic liberal arts college founded in 1781 that values ethical leadership, 职业准备, 以及包容的社区. Our highly customized and intellectually engaging student experience develops professionals of uncommon integrity to lead in an ever-changing world. For more information about W&J,访问 pbt.casabo.net 或致电888-W-AND-J.