I enjoyed every day of the trip, but some of the highlights include learning about the culture and history of Quito, going on hikes in the jungle, and playing pick-up soccer games with locals. While in Quito, we were able to immerse ourselves in the city and learn about its history of the city. We went into one of the oldest catholic churches and saw the immaculate architecture inside and…
Hello, my name is Kayli Paterson. I’m in my final year as a graduate student in the concurrent Environmental Studies and Sustainability and Public Administration master’s program. This summer, I will be visiting Ecuador for two weeks to study the diverse cultures and how they utilize sustainability in their everyday lives. We will explore different techniques of sustainability and how it, along with outside factors, impacts the local water quality…
Honestly, I don’t think I can pinpoint one or even a couple best days abroad. Every day in Germany was incredible and I learned so much each day. However, some of the most notable days I can recount would be within the first two weeks of being in Berlin and attending the language course at the school from 9:00 am to 1:30 and then going to find somewhere to eat…
With my time abroad, I experienced many incredible events. In Berlin, Germany, there was the weekly festival at Mauer Park every Sunday where they have local vendors that are selling art and clothing, and food trucks that sell all kinds of international cuisines. There is also a large grass space that is filled with people playing instruments, singing and dancing. It is a great atmosphere and I enjoyed attending this…
While in Ecuador have tried so many varieties of foods and juices, and my favorites of those are the empanadas and papaya juice. The empanadas are made a little different depending on where you are. Some can be fluffy with cheese in the middle or more like a bread texture with or without the cheese. The papaya juice is freshly squeezed and served with any meal of the day, and…
I arrived in Quito with excitement and nervousness since this was my first ever trip outside the United States. The weather was a little chilly, but so refreshing compared to the humidity in Charleston, SC. The first excursion was a trip up to a lookout on the east side of the Pichincha Volcano via the teleférico, which is a gondola lift. After we arrived, we were able to take in…
I feel as though I really grew and learned from my four weeks in Lisbon, Portugal. This experience gave me knowledge of a different culture and healthcare system which is important for making changes and new implementations to the healthcare system at home. As a public health major, this trip also was my first interaction with research. I learned every part of the research process, from article readings to data…
On a typical day in Germany, I would take the train or bus to work or school, finish my tasks there, then walk around the city for an hour or so and return home. This day is quite similar to a typical day in the US. That may seem to defeat the purpose of studying abroad, but I found the familiarity comforting. While there are many similarities between the 2…
A typical weekday in Lisbon, Portugal consisted of school, work, and exploration. I woke up every day around 7:30 AM in order to get ready for class. I was usually downstairs at our hotel’s complimentary breakfast cafe around 8:00 AM for a meal of fruit, toast, beans, coffee, and pastries. Around 8:50 AM, I would start the five minute walk from our hotel to the Universidade NOVA de Lisboa, where…
My name is Kayla Squiggins, and I am a third-year graduate student in the Environmental and Sustainability Master’s Program. I chose my program to learn more about water quality and sustainability in a different country and to understand how the people continue to be sustainable. I also wanted to collect water samples in different locations, such as waterfalls at higher altitudes to study the water qualities in different regions. My…
