Meet Your Advisor - Laura Conneau
Learn all about USAC Program Advisor, Laura!
Where did you study abroad?
My first experience living abroad was studying for my TESOL certification in Thailand. From then, I taught English in Thailand, Cambodia, Malaysia, and South Korea for work. In between, I spent six months studying Spanish in Ecuador and Columbia. Finally, I lived in Cape Town, South Africa, while completing an internship in grad school.
What is your favorite memory from your time abroad?
One of my favorite memories is taking a riverboat through the jungle in Borneo and spotting wildlife — especially the wild orangutans.
What is your favorite place you have traveled to and why?
Nepal is my favorite place! It has endless trekking opportunities, amazingly friendly people, delicious food (dal bhat!), and the most beautiful Himalayan landscapes I’ve ever seen.
What is your funniest travel memory?
One of my funniest memories from overseas was being harassed by monkeys in Malaysia. It happened so often that it was like the theme of that trip. Camping on the beach in a beautiful, peaceful (and free) spot seemed like a great idea until we woke up to see our camp was overrun by monkeys! They were going through all our bags and weren’t afraid of us at all. One of them even tried to steal my friend’s phone. No trip in Southeast Asia is complete without a monkey run-in and it’s always funny to look back on.
If you could go on any USAC program, what would it be and why?
I would choose to go to La Habana, Cuba. I’ve always been interested in Cuba for its fascinating history, tropical scenery, and of course, delicious food.
What do you like to do outside of work?
Outside of work, I love outdoor adventures like camping, mountain climbing, and hiking. Lake days with my dog are always perfect. I also enjoy a lazy day of cooking, Netflix, or reading a good book.
What is a weird fact about you?
One weird fact about me is that I love to take road trips in my camper truck. In fact, I once spent several months as a “digital nomad,” traveling full-time and exploring western U.S. — all while working online.
What’s on your bucket list?
I love long train journeys. I have always wanted to take the Trans-Siberian Railway across Siberia … it’s the longest train journey in the world!
