ONEONTA, N.Y. - While most students are ready for summer, rising Oneonta women's basketball senior Lidia Boucher (Delmar, NY/Bethlehem Central High School) jumped into the break by heading to Portugal. In collaboration with SUNY Oneonta's short-term faculty-led programs (FLP). Boucher, a psychology major, participated in the Documentary Photography course from May 20 to June 1 in Lisbon, Portugal, and the Açores Islands. During the trip, the group explored Portuguese culture, festivals, cuisine, history, and architecture.
Why did you attend the study abroad trip?
I attended this FLP to further my knowledge of digital photography through an exploration of another country that I had never been to before. I have been grateful to my family for having traveled to Europe a couple of times beforehand, but my family and I have not explored Portugal before. The vast beauty that this country holds is encapsulating and I wanted nothing but to be able to try to capture its essence.
Going to Portugal was a life-changing experience. Seeing how people live their lives in a way that is so different from how I do on a day-to-day basis makes you change your perspective a bit.
Describe your most memorable experience.
The most immersive and memorable part of this trip was watching the bull run in Terceira, Açores. This three-day long festival is to commemorate Queen Isabel's graciousness and the holy spirit. On the third day of the festival, the day of the bulls 'Touradas a corda' we watched how the Azorean people of Terceira chose the six biggest bulls from a farm, loaded them into vans, and brought them to run on the streets. The people would eat traditional foods throughout the day with family and then attend the bull runs. There were high walls built to keep the citizens safe from these massive bulls, but that didn't stop some from trying to run with the bulls. The bulls were held back on a rope by the pastores, but the bull had some leeway as to where it ran, as long as it did not hit anyone. It was interesting to see how fearless some of these people were as they approached these aggressive beasts so closely.
Do you recommend students and student-athletes study abroad? Is it difficult to study abroad as a student-athlete?
This tradition has been ongoing for centuries, so witnessing it firsthand was very fulfilling and something I won't take for granted moving forward. I recommend studying abroad to other student-athletes because it gives you a sense of perspective that there is so much more to life than just sports. My basketball identity is a part of what makes me, but I am so much more than just an athlete. Yes, I have learned so much about myself through my sport, such as perseverance, selflessness, tenacity, and comradery. Basketball doesn't always give you perspective. Trips like studying abroad do. Having conversations, participating in alternative cultures, and observing others allows you to broaden your horizons.
SUNY Oneonta faculty-led programs are offered during the summer, and more information can be found here.
