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I stepped off the plane and into el Aeropuerto Internacional de Quito only five days ago. Five days ago, I left the States to participate in the most unique and incredible experience of my life. Each morning I wake up here, look at the endless mountains, and remain in awe of how magnificent the world is.

While I have not settled in my homestay, yet (that starts tomorrow), I have found delight and comfort in a number of wonderful people, places, and, of course, food.

Something I did not mention in my pre-departure post was how nervous I was to meet my classmates. I went through the typical, “Will they like me, are we all going to get along, and will we have anything in common?” The answer to all these questions has been, “Yes!” Everyone in my cohort has been marvelous. There are eight of us, and we are all unique. However, by respecting everyone’s backgrounds and participating in amazing “sobremesas,” we have formed connections. These bonds are what really helped me transition to Ecuador.

Keeping busy over the last five days has also prevented much of my expected homesickness. My programs started with an orientation period and part of it was exploring the cities and towns around us. Just yesterday, a groups of us were tasked with going to El Quinche. This is a town very close to Quito. It was like no place I had seen before. In the center of town was a gorgeous church of cultural significance and surrounding it were vendors and businesses selling everything from pan flutes to hand sanitizer, both of which I bought. While we were in town, a friend of mine got a haircut, and that just added to the adventure. We also had lunch in town which was experience of its own.

When I was in El Quinche, I tried seco de chivo (goat stew). It is a traditional meal in Ecuador and one of my new favorites. It was prepared on a stove in the middle of the dining area. We also went to an ice cream shop, and I tried a sundae that has shredded cheese on it. I have had about 22 meals over the last five days. I have also had so many types of freshly squeezed juice. I do not think a flavor has been repeated, yet. In Ecuador, it is common to have a snack between breakfast and lunch and another between lunch and dinner. It has been enjoyable and filling.

From here on out, I will not be counting the days that passed or the ones left to come. Instead, I will be enjoying my time in Ecuador friendship by friendship, trip by trip, bite by bite, and lesson by lesson.

Excitedly,

Lillian Smith

My name is Caroline Monroe, and for my Fall 2023 semester I will be abroad in Nice, France studying International Business, Finance, and Marketing in the IES NICE – Business, Sustainability, and Immigration program. I chose this program to complete the electives required for my business minor, and to take a breather from my biology major – then of course who wouldn’t choose to live on the French Mediterranean coast for 4 months.

For writing this blog post the day I leave the country, I’m very calm about my impending trip with little worry. I’m sure I’ll experience all of the natural side effects of doing something so foreign – homesickness, missing friends, etc. But for the most part I am incredibly excited to participate in such a unique adventure.

The only reservation I have, is that I virtually speak no French and only remember how to ask “If I may go to the bathroom” from my one year of high school French. But from what I remember from visiting Europe (France and Italy) when I was younger, is that everyone can speak some level of English. But I’ll keep y’all posted on my language barrier issue.

But either way, I’m absolutely ready to get over there to travel and experience as much as I possibly can!

See you later America.

See you soon! Nice!

Caroline Monroe

Hello, my name is Lillian! During the 2023 Fall semester, I will be in Ecuador, and I am so elated that you have decided to join me on this journey!

I use the word “elated” because that is how I feel, and also, I have been using the word “excited” exhaustively over the last few weeks. Just about everyone I have talked to recently asked, “Are you excited?” Of course, I am excited, and I would like to share with you why I am.

I chose the School for International Training (SIT) Ecuador: Development, Politics, and Languages because it excited me more than any other program I looked into. I initially started looking into study abroad programs because as a Spanish major, I have to spend a semester abroad in a Spanish-speaking country and my language of instruction has to be in Spanish. I loved the idea of going to South America. Probably the biggest goal of mine abroad is to improve my Spanish speaking skills, and I knew a country with the fewest number of English speakers possible would benefit me. That is why I ruled out Spain.

I am also an International Affairs major and Economics minor who loves environmental science. To my glee, this program will cover all these subjects. Experiential learning is greatly encouraged by SIT. Therefore, outside of the classroom, I will be learning through my homestays and the excursions my program planned. I have the pleasure of staying with at least two different host families while I am in Ecuador which will support the growth of my ability to speak Spanish. My excursions will be geared more towards development and politics. While we start in the capital city Quito, we will travel to the Upper Amazon Basin, the Andean Chocó Reserve, and the Galápagos. The final exciting component of my program is the Independent Study Project (ISP). This is essentially a large research project conducted independently during my final month in Ecuador. I will be sure to keep you updated on my ISP as it develops.

Now, not everything about studying abroad can be exciting. I am certainly nervous to be leaving. In fact, it will be my first time out of the country. I expect to be homesick and sick sick at times. While I am excited to try new food (I am a very adventurous eater), I have been warned to be cautious about where my food comes from and what water it is washed with because it can make me sick. There are also diseases like malaria that I have not had to be concerned about before. However, despite the nerves, I cannot help but be filled with joy at the prospect of going to a country as beautiful as this one. I do not know if this tip will help everyone, but one way I have settled my nerves is by looking at pictures of the places I will be going. I do not want to miss out on the big wide world.

So, let’s get out into the big wide world together!

Excitedly,

Lillian Smith

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Studying abroad truly has been one of the most incredible experiences of my life. I cannot speak enough about how special my program is, between the staff, my peers, and the beautiful city of Granada. I have made some of my favorite memories here that I will carry with me forever- from the craziness that is landing in a new country and immediately having to change my brain to Spanish-mode, to orientation and meeting my host mom and roommate, to traveling with my friends and program to Dublin, Lisbon, Sevilla, and more, and of course, to our farewell cocktail, dancing in the rain with all my amazing friends and professors. 

Being abroad has changed me in so many ways, some that I am even still discovering. I’ve grown so much in confidence and learned so much about myself and what I’m capable of. I am excited to return to Wofford in the fall and see how my perspective post being abroad influences my life there. I’ve learned social skills that I will carry with me long after graduation. I’ve learned about balancing a social life with school work. The biggest thing I’ve learned by far though is the importance of taking chances and making the most of every opportunity. I took a chance in coming here and met some of the most special people in my life. I took a chance and pushed myself outside of my comfort zone with each day I was here. And I can definitively say that I made the most of my time in Granada. 

When I arrived in Spain, one of the first things my host mom told me was that I looked very Spanish. I have darker hair, I’m relatively tan, and pretty short- very similar to her and the general physical traits of a stereotypical Spanish woman. My roommate, on the other hand, is much taller and blonde with blue eyes, and my host mom immediately commented on how different we look and how “not-Spanish” she looked. My roommate and other friends who share similar physical traits to her have said that they definitely notice how people look at them differently and talk to them differently because they don’t look Spanish at all. It’s taken us all some time to get used to the way we are talked about as people who are clearly not from Spain, who Spaniards automatically assume don’t speak Spanish or understand it very well, when in reality, we understand the majority of what they are saying. 

After being here for several months, I also feel like I’m able to identify fairly easily when a person is a tourist, an abroad student like me, or if they are from here. Granada is home to a lot of students and study abroad programs, especially near the area where I live, so I always see students and hear English being spoken to and from classes. There’s a certain way Spaniards dress and carry themselves that is so different from Americans, that makes us so easily identifiable. Waiters will come up and speak English to us before Spanish and won’t speak to us in Spanish even when we say we understand. The couple of times I’ve been stopped for advice has been by tourists who don’t speak Spanish and need someone to direct them somewhere in English.  

That being said, my program has done a great job in encouraging us to have open conversations about stereotypes and the way we are perceived amongst students in our program as well as with local students and professors. We’ve talked about the stereotypes surrounding Americans and the way Americans perceive Spainiards versus the reality of the culture and people now that we’re here and experiencing everything firsthand. I am lucky because I haven’t experienced as many problems as a member of my identity group, however I have heard stories and seen firsthand how people of other groups have experienced issues and haven’t been as accepted. I think these conversations are so important and it’s so great that my program encourages these because it has helped me be more aware of the way I am perceived and the way I perceive others of different identity groups while here. 

I’ve learned a lot over the course of my time abroad and of all the tips, tricks, and advice I got before leaving, these were some of my favorites and some of the most helpful;

1. Keep a journal or sketchbook.

Bring a small journal to record some of your favorite memories while abroad. It’s easy to forget some of the special little moments, so having something to look back on later to remind you of all the amazing memories you made is the perfect little keepsake. I have a little sketchbook where I draw some of the places I’ve visited, write song lyrics I listened to that day, and keep ticket stubs and plane tickets in between the pages. 

2. Don’t spend every weekend traveling. 

This one is hard, especially in a place like Europe where all of these incredible cities and countries are so close and relatively cheap to get to. That being said, all of that travel takes a lot out of you, so set aside weekends where you have no plans other than to relax and be with friends. Make sure to spend time getting to know your city and exploring things you might’ve otherwise never explored. Spend time getting to know as many people as possible in your program too (take advantage of the fact that you are in an incredible place with people from all around the world!). 

3. Don’t be afraid to do things alone. 

This is another hard one. You’re in a new place with a new group of people and obviously you want to get to know them and spend time with them too. But remember that it’s important to take time for yourself too. If that means taking a couple hours to explore a local museum or market or even just treat yourself to some ice cream and a walk around your city, make sure to take time to do the things you want, even if it means doing it solo. Some of my friends have even taken solo trips on the weekends and have said that it was one of their favorite experiences. 

4. Ask questions.

Whether you live in a residence hall or a homestay, ask questions about the culture and the things people like to do. My roommate and I ended up exploring a lot of really cool places near our city because of this! We found some gorgeous beaches that were only 30 minutes away and this incredible hike just outside the city. You can even ask your program staff or people who previously went abroad to the same place as you. We even learned about a lot of things to do just by talking with other students in our program about what they did on their weekends.  

5. Make a budget and try to stick to it, but remember not to stress too much if you don’t. 

I saved up money over the summer and worked the semester before going abroad so that I could be prepared and have money for things like going out with friends, traveling, and clothes and souvenirs. I had an idea in mind of how much I wanted to spend per week and what I thought was important to spend it on. That being said though, if I go slightly over budget one week or spend money on something I didn’t necessarily need, I try to remember that I’m going to remember these experiences more than how much I’ve spent or the guilty feeling I get after going off of my budget. I just adjust for the next week and pick my priorities.

There are several habits I’ve developed to stay physically and mentally healthy while abroad. I’m lucky enough to live near a river, called Rio Genil, with a nice, long flat trail with a beautiful view of the Sierra Nevada mountains. I run there at least two times a week and walk there on other days. When I don’t have time for a run or a long walk to clear my head in between classes, I sit in the sun by the river and either draw, read, or tan. There’s a supermarket right next to where I like to sit, so my friends and I have gone and picked up some snacks there for a picnic before laying by the river to listen to music, relax, and take in the sun on the weekends. That has been one of my favorite things we’ve done on our weekends off in Granada. Being so close to the river is especially great because it reminds me of home. My house in Atlanta is less than ten minutes from the Chattahoochee river, so any time I’m home I go there to run and walk whenever I can. It’s nice to have something so familiar here in Spain too! Another great way to stay physically active are our weekly pick-up soccer games. I haven’t been going to those consistently, but they are a lot of fun and a great way to hang out with and get to know other students in my program. 

For me, staying mentally healthy typically involves some sort of alone time and connecting with family and friends back home. I try to call my family and friends as often as possible, but sometimes it can be hard with the time difference and how busy our lives get. If I don’t call them at least once a week, I make sure to text people to check in and stay connected with life back home. When I’m feeling a little homesick, these calls always make me feel better. I also have a diary that I write in. I started it my sophomore year of high school and try to add to it at least twice a month, if not more than that. If I’m not writing, then I’m either reading somewhere outside or drawing. I also have an amazing balcony in my room, so sometimes even just opening up the doors to the balcony and moving my chair in front is a nice way to change things up while I’m working. It’s definitely taken some time to find things to stay healthy and active and just like at Wofford, it can be hard to balance with everything else going on in my life. At the end of the day though, at the bare minimum, just getting some fresh air makes so much of a difference, even if it means just leaving a couple minutes earlier to get to class so that I can take a longer way to the IES building or staying after class for a couple minutes to sit out on the IES terrace. 

I’ve been taking Spanish classes since sixth grade and have been around the language my whole life. My Mom and her side of the family is from Puerto Rico and everyone speaks Spanish to each other, but I never learned. Coming into this program, I felt I had enough experience to manage the basics in understanding people. I can write Spanish fairly well and understand at a relatively high level, however my ability to speak the language is significantly lower and definitely something I needed to improve. It was an adjustment just flying into the country and immediately having to revert my brain to Spanish mode, but after the first week, it got a lot easier to formulate my initial responses in Spanish, versus wanting to respond immediately in English. 

After several weeks, my confidence in my speaking abilities improved and I felt more comfortable communicating even if I was still making basic mistakes. For me, that’s been one of the most important aspects of the language immersion aspect of the program. At home, if I’m struggling with something, I can change back to English to convey whatever I am trying to say. Here, most people speak only Spanish or have limited understanding of English, which forces me to work to the best of my abilities to say what I want to with the vocabulary I know, regardless of how grammatically accurate it is. I also began to think about my basic routine in Spanish, rather than English. For example, if I needed to go to the store and had a running list in my head of things I needed, I would be running through that list to myself in Spanish rather than English. 

Now, after being over two months into the program, I feel like I talk faster and more confidently, my vocabulary has improved, and my grammatical mistakes are not as frequent. Even when I do make those mistakes, I notice them and, for the most part, am able to correct myself or notice what exactly was wrong grammatically about what I had said. One of the most rewarding moments was when my host mom told me that my Spanish had improved since arriving and that I was beginning to talk as fast as a Spaniard. It was so great to hear from someone who speaks the language fluently that I was doing better and it was noticeable. 

One of my favorite parts about my program are all the excursions we have built in. So far, we’ve taken trips to Ronda, Setenil, Cordoba, and, my favorite of the trips we’ve taken, Seville. We were in Seville for one night with our program and then my friends and I decided to extend our trip an extra night. With our program, we went to the Cathedral, the Royal Alcazar Palace, and Plaza de España. My friends and I loved exploring the Alcazar and Plaza de España especially. It was gorgeous to see the architecture and the enormous size of both. When we were at the Plaza, it was sunset and there were people playing live music. At one point, my friends and I just stood on a terrace overlooking the Plaza and it really made me appreciate everything we had been experiencing and how surreal it was to finally be in Spain after so many months of planning and talking about studying abroad.We also saw a flamenco show in the evening, which was incredible. It was my first time ever seeing a show and it was amazing to sit and have that experience with my program. I also have two Wofford friends who are studying abroad in Seville this semester so I was able to see them and meet their friends from their program. I really enjoyed being able to meet up with them and share stories about our times abroad and connect over the things we miss about Wofford and home. On our extra day, my friends and I went to Las Setas, a famous architectural structure just outside of our hostel. We went to the top for the most amazing views of the city at sunset!

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Honestly though, the best part about this trip was getting to spend time with my new friends here in Spain. I felt like over the course of that trip (with our extra night especially) we were able to really bond and connect and form our group. It was one of the first times we all really hung out together and we all talked about how much closer we felt afterwards. For anyone else studying abroad or thinking about studying abroad, I definitely recommend planning trips with your friends or extending a program trip if you have time. It’s such a great way to really connect with people and have new experiences in incredible new places. 

My day usually starts around 8 and is very similar to my mornings at Wofford. I get up, get dressed, and have a quick breakfast at my homestay. My first class of the day is Spanish. At IES, everyone takes a Spanish class in the morning, four days a week. My class starts at 9 so I leave around 8:45 for a short walk to the IES Center. The buildings along my walk are gorgeous and it’s usually sunny, so it’s been a nice way to wake up and kick off my mornings. I get out of class at 10:40 and then on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays, I don’t have class again until around 4:30. I usually have to be back at my homestay around 2 for lunch with my roommate and host mom, though, so I like to take advantage of this little window by going to cafes to get a small snack or a hot chocolate, going on walks, runs, or going shopping for some necessities. My host mom, roommate, and I usually sit at the dining table for a long time after eating, just catching up and talking about our days. Outside of class, this is probably when I get to practice my Spanish the most.

After lunch, it’s time for a “siesta.” I either take a nap, get some of my homework done, or relax in my room. It’s a good time to reset before my next class. My classes don’t get out until 6:30 on some days and 8:30 on other days. This has been a bit difficult to adjust to because I’m so used to having free time earlier in the evening, rather than in the middle of the day. Once I’m done with my final class of the day, I usually head back to my homestay to eat dinner with my roommate. Dinner is not included in our homestay, but our host mom leaves us lots of space in the fridge and cabinets to store food for dinner. Occasionally, we’ll go out for tapas instead with a small group of friends at a nearby restaurant. After dinner, I go to my room, do a bit more work, then go to sleep around 11:00-11:30.