OXFORD, Miss. – Leigh Cummins of Clinton, a senior at the University of Mississippi, returns to the Oxford campus this fall after spending the spring semester traveling to several countries, making new friends from around the world, becoming fluent in Spanish and earning 16 credit hours toward her bachelor’s degree. 
Cummins accomplished it all while enrolled at the Universidad Católica de Córdoba in Argentina, made possible through a direct exchange between UCC and UM’s Study Abroad Office. She was among 109 Ole Miss students who studied at various institutions around the world this spring.
Upon her arrival at UCC, Cummins was amazed to learn that while she was a stranger 5,000 miles from home, being from the University of Mississippi gave her a connection.
“Because of the exchange program between (the University of Cordoba) and Ole Miss, many of the students here know so much about Ole Miss and love it!” she said.
A member of UM’s Croft Institute for International Studies and Sally McDonnell Barksdale Honors College, Cummins is majoring in international studies and Spanish.
“My study abroad experience is really helping me become more proficient in Spanish,” she said. “As expected, I have been immersed – sink or swim – in the language. My classes are taught completely in Spanish, even the ones that are not language classes, and they meet for two hours twice a week.”
Cummins has the company of three other Ole Miss students also enrolled at Cordoba: Austin Alexander of Ridgeland, Will Grossenbacher of Madison and Kelsey Phipps of Shelby, N.C. They, along with new student friends from both the U.S. and other countries, including the United Kingdom, Germany, France, Spain, Austria, Syria and Canada, have extended their learning beyond the classroom.
“I’ve loved meeting everyone and being able to converse with them in Spanish, although for many of us, it’s not our native language,” she said.
As for housing, Cummins lives with two other students and a host mother in a fourth-floor apartment, about a 20-minute walk from campus. Cars are not plentiful in Cordoba, and most people either walk or use public transportation.
Seeing the world was a high priority in Cummins’ decision to study abroad. Enroute to Argentina, she spent a week traveling in South American. She flew into Quito, Ecuador, where she visited with several Ole Miss friends who were studying at the Universidad San Francisco de Quito. She then flew into Buenos Aires, Argentina, where she spent a few days sightseeing before boarding a bus for the 10-hour ride to Cordoba.
On school breaks and weekends, she has traveled extensively throughout Argentina and to other countries, often traveling with friends or joining Ole Miss students in other study locations.
“I’ve seen pretty much every square inch of Argentina,” she said. “It’s extremely diverse, and everywhere I go, I meet new people and learn something new. I’ve been through the Patagonian region – to the very southernmost tip of South America – and seen penguins, sea lions and lots of wild animals. I’ve been through the mountains and hiked and seen waterfalls.”
While the fun and excitement of her sojourn have far outweighed adjusting to a different culture, Cummins pointed out a few minor problems, such as the custom of eating dinner at 9 or 10 p.m. and not having numerous food choices.
“I always joke with my friends and ask them if they want pizza, pasta or empanadas for dinner – since that’s pretty much all they eat. I miss Chinese and Indian food so much, and there is very little that I wouldn’t give for some sweet tea!”
She also had to endure back-to-back winters, having left the states toward the end of winter and arriving in Argentina at the beginning of its cold season. “It was weird for me coming here,” she said, “leaving cold weather and home, and getting here only for it to be cold again.”
On the other hand, upon her arrival, Cummins received an unexpected warm greeting unlike any social custom in this country.
“The norm here is greeting others with a kiss on the cheek – that is, when women greet each other and when men and women greet each other,” she said. “This is not only the norm, but it is a customary practice. Even when I greet my teachers or my host mom, I must greet them with a kiss on the cheek. Not that I mind this at all – it’s just different.”
While Cummins’ classes at UCC ended in early July, before returning home, she is spending a few weeks traveling. One destination on her itinerary is Montevideo, Uruguay, where she plans to visit an Ole Miss friend who is studying there.
“My philosophy is, I may not ever be back, so I need to take advantage of my opportunities while I’m here,” she said. “This has been a fantastic experience for me that many people don’t have the opportunity to do. It has also made me more mature and independent, which will be a great help in the long run.”
Cummins expects to complete her undergraduate degree at UM in May or December 2011. While she is undecided about her future career, she plans to attend graduate school.
A 2007 graduate of Clinton High School, Cummins is the daughter of Kelly and Ruth Cummins.
Each year, the UM Study Abroad Office makes it possible for around 600 students to study in more than 80 countries covering Latin America, Europe, Asia, Australia and Africa. For more information, go to http://www.ooutreach.olemiss.
The Croft Institute for International Studies is a privately endowed, selective program for students majoring in international studies to help prepare them for jobs in a global marketplace. For more information, see http://www.croft.olemiss.edu/
The Sally McDonnell Barksdale Honors College provides undergraduate students from all disciplines with a vibrant center of academic excellence, merging intellectual rigor with public service, to help them become outstanding in their fields and engaged citizens of their communities. To learn more, visit http://www.honors.olemiss.edu/