CALI, Colombia — A 2025 graduate of Bethel University, Andrew Carpenter recently returned to Cali, Colombia, not as a tourist, but as a resident and teacher. The Business Management major with a minor in Global Studies is now building a life overseas, continuing a passion for international travel first sparked during his time in McKenzie at Bethel University.
Carpenter always envisioned a career that would allow him to see the world. That desire took shape through three formative experiences with Bethel’s Global Studies program—each one stretching his perspective and deepening his sense of purpose. “Travel, you won’t regret it,” Carpenter encourages current Bethel students. “Traveling changes your perspective and turns you into a storyteller.”
Global Experiences That Changed Direction
Carpenter’s international journey began in 2023 with a service-learning trip to Guatemala with Bethel in partnership with GCAC Travel. He remembers it as “one of my favorite places I’ve been,” highlighting a boat ride across Lake Atitlán surrounded by volcanoes and a visit to a coffee farm that offered insight into local agriculture and global commerce.
Later that year, he traveled to Honduras. A mountain hike with Global Studies Director Stacie Freeman and Dr. Ray Compton became an unforgettable adventure when a sudden downpour forced the group to navigate their way down before dark—a moment that blended challenge, laughter, and camaraderie.
In May 2025, his final Bethel trip took him to Cali, Colombia, where he volunteered at a local school, Colegio Americano, a sister Cumberland Presbyterian school to Bethel University. That experience ultimately reshaped his post-graduation plans.
“The opportunity presented itself, and I couldn’t pass it up,” Carpenter said of his decision to return to Colombia to live and teach after graduation.
A New Rhythm of Life in Cali
Carpenter’s weekdays begin at 7 a.m. and follow the familiar structure of a school day, but life outside the classroom feels entirely different from the fast pace of American university culture. After 2:30 p.m., he heads to the gym, meets friends for coffee, and practices salsa dancing. He frequently visits a local hostel/coffee shop that hosts a language café, where Colombians and foreigners gather to practice English and Spanish together.
The tropical climate—steady between 70 and 85 degrees—was one of the first things he noticed as different from the four-season climate in Tennessee. And as someone who enjoys strong coffee, he has embraced Colombia’s rich coffee culture. While the family he lives with prefers a lighter brew with milk and sugar, Carpenter now prepares his own strong, black cup each morning.
“The coffee is better here,” Carpenter said.
Embracing Challenge and Perspective
Teaching abroad presents familiar classroom challenges, but the language barrier has been the most demanding part of daily life. Though he knows basic Spanish and relies on translation tools when needed, the constant effort to communicate across languages requires focus and stamina. “It’s more mentally tiring than the physical labor I did landscaping last summer,” Carpenter reflected.
He is also quick to address misconceptions about safety in Colombia. “I think people have a really dated and unrealistic idea of the dangers,” he said. He regularly uses Uber and walks around the city comfortably, noting that awareness and common sense are key—just as they are in any major U.S. city. “I don’t believe Cali is any more dangerous than Memphis or New York.”
Global Studies in Action
For Bethel faculty, Carpenter’s story represents the deeper purpose of international education.
“Andrew is exactly why we do this work,” said Stacie Freeman, Director of Global Studies at Bethel University. “Global Studies isn’t about collecting passport stamps; it’s about shaping perspective and purpose. Watching him return to Colombia not as a visitor, but as a teacher and resident, is a powerful example of what transformative education looks like.”
Bethel’s Global Studies has been making trips to Colegio Americano in Cali, Colombia since 2015. It offers an enriching experience for Bethel students, some of whom return again and again. Looking ahead, Carpenter’s experience in Cali has only reinforced his ambition to build a career that allows him to continue exploring the world. “This journey has just reinforced my goal of traveling the world as my career,” he said.
For now, he is focused on teaching, strengthening his Spanish, building friendships, and immersing himself in the culture of his new home. What he misses most from the United States are his family, friends, and a few favorite American snacks.
But if his path so far is any indication, the world remains wide open—and Andrew Carpenter is just getting started.
Students, parents, and community members interested in traveling to Colombia with BU Global Studies and GCAC Travel in May, 2026 are encouraged to contact Stacie Freeman, Director of Global Studies and GCAC Travel co-founder, at freemans@bethelu.edu to learn more. Scholarships and college credit are available for student travelers. Freeman said, “The world is our classroom – and there’s almost always room for one more.”