Hanrahan returns from Costa Rica internship with new perspective

Jan. 20, 2004

by C.J. Gish
Media and publication writer
University Advancement
541-962-3585 / fax 541-962-3680

Mark Hanrahan spent fall term as an intern at a Costa Rica magazine.

La Grande, Oregon - Mark Hanrahan not only gained language skills, but also an added international perspective on his recent Costa Rica internship.

The Eastern Oregon University graduate spent fall term in Costa Rica reporting for the monthly Mesoamerica magazine.

"It was good to experience a different culture. We're so sheltered in Oregon," said Hanrahan, who found the internship through EOU on an internship page in coordination with Oregon State University.

Hanrahan's duties at Mesoamerica magazine were to look over the newspapers for one of the five Central American countries - El Salvador, Guatemala, Nicaragua, Panama, Honduras - and find topics to cover.

"All the research was done in Spanish," he said. "We would research for two weeks, write for one week and edit the final two days before sending our articles to the magazine."

Hanrahan, 22, received 12 credits for the Aug. 15 through Dec. 15 internship toward his Spanish minor. Now the philosophy, politics and economics major only needs four credits to earn his diploma.

Some of the topics that Hanrahan wrote included illegal baby trafficking, the Guatemalan presidential race, and the Central American Free Trade Agreement controversy.

"Doctors and nurses steal babies in Guatemala and sell them in Costa Rica or Europe for $30,000 to $50,000 each," Hanrahan said. "The U.S. and China - part of the North American Free Trade Agreement - are attempting free trade with Central American countries. But since the U.S. subsidizes ranchers, we can sell meat cheaper. The Central American farmers are going to go out of business if it goes through."

The four months in Costa Rica opened Hanrahan's eyes to life outside the United States.

"I saw a really good political perspective on U.S. foreign policy from a different country and how our news (in the U.S.) is so censored and biased."

It also gave him a chance to experience a new career field he had not thought of before.

"I would like to pursue journalism. I didn't before, but I like it a lot."

While in Costa Rica, Hanrahan stayed with a host family and toured the area.

"I traveled all over the country. You can get a bus ticket to anywhere in the country for $5 and stay night in a motel for $10."

Some of Hanrahan's best memories included, "white-water rafting through the rain forest. And the country is beautiful, outside of San Jose."

While at EOU, Hanrahan, from Newport, played four years on the Mountaineers' football team. He was selected the 2003 Ragsdale Scholar Male Athlete of the Year and the 2003 Economics Student of the Year. He sports a 3.5 GPA and plans on pursing a master's degree.

"Mark possesses all the underlying qualities I expect of EOU's best students - an inquisitive nature towards learning, openmindedness, and respect toward humankind," said Jeff Dense, associate professor in political science. "He is a shining example of a student who was able to combine academic and athletic excellence. The lessons he learned on the playing field and in the classroom will serve him well."

Hanrahan said he would move to Portland after he completes his final paper at EOU.

"I still don't know exactly what I want to do, but this gave me some ideas," he said. "I'm looking for more internships and looking at graduate schools."

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Contact Information

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