CHARLESTON, S.C. – For some college students, study abroad trips are a once-in-a-lifetime experience that not only helps them gain valuable experience in their fields, but also opens up the entire world to them. For junior Citadel track and field cadet-athlete Logan Miller, study abroad trips have become a once a year experience as he works to gain as much real-world experience as he can before graduation.

Miller has already been to Ecuador and Spain on previous trips, and he is currently in Lithuania with nine others from The Citadel through the Health, Exercise and Sports Science (HESS) department for his third study abroad excursion. The trip, which is a global health experience established by Dr. Sarah Imam, is designed for students interested in the healthcare career fields. Students who attend will receive 100 hours shadowing healthcare professionals, three credit hours for a class, as well as regular volunteer hours. The trip will give the students the chance to learn about global healthcare systems, different treatments and procedures, as well the chance to build global connections.

"I very excited about this trip because I have the opportunity to shadow healthcare professionals in a different country," Miller said. "I will be able to learn about different healthcare systems, different treatments and methodologies, and network with healthcare professionals from around the world. Overall, this trip is a global health experience that will open many doors for me.

"Given that I have studied abroad twice, I already knew how to adjust to a different culture," Miller continued. "For instance, I learned different Lithuanian phrases and gestures before arriving to the country. That is something I had to research before my trips to Ecuador and Spain."

Even with his previous experiences abroad, Miller still had butterflies as he prepared for the trip. Despite the slight nervousness, Miller has thrived in his new setting and has hit the ground running.

"I was very nervous about this trip. Given that Lithuania is an Eastern European country, I had a certain image in my mind," said Miller. "However, I was completely wrong because everything here is great. The architecture is beautiful and the landscape is breathtaking.  The people are generous and the environment is so pure."

While Miller is out of the country, he will be updating a blog with his cross-cultural experiences. To follow his trip, access his blog HERE.

For more information on The Citadel track and field teams, please visit CitadelSports.com or follow @CitadelOlympic or @CitadelSports on twitter.