Ecuador has been a life-changing experience that provided me with unique opportunities for personal growth and a better understanding of Latin American cultures and some of the challenges faced around the world. Although I have traveled internationally a number of times, this was my first time to a Latin American country. With every international experience, I gain a more inclusive and eclectic appreciation of the world as a whole. This…
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…
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 had so much fun during my study abroad experience. I enjoyed my time during adventures on the island of Bocas and sightseeing in Panama City. My favorite activities that we did was exploring all of the beautiful beaches in Bocas, seeing all of the unique wildlife during the night-hikes in the rainforest, and going to the Old Panama City. I was proud of myself for trying new foods and…
After a few days back in the city, in the comfort of my own apartment, I have had some time to reflect on my study abroad experience in Panama. Even while I was still there, I knew that this trip was something I would never forget, and I had already been mentally cataloging the main takeaways. My study abroad trip to Panama reinvigorated my sense of adventure, sparked a desire…
Panama City was a large, populated city with many tourist things to do. We mainly visited the Panama Canal and the Old Panama City. I learned a lot about the Old Panama City. This part of the city is considered the second Panama City and is on the outskirts of the new Panama City. The first was attacked by Europeans and is no longer standing. The new Panama City is…
To get to the ITEC Biological Field Station where the fieldwork for our study abroad program was to take place, the main method of travel is by boat. In fact, the main method of travel in Bocas del Toro seems to be via boat. In Bocas del Toro, a province of Panama off the Caribbean coast, water taxis are ubiquitous, and you can’t forget that you are on an island…
When we flew across the Caribbean sea into Panama City, I already felt a change in the air. I could smell the ocean and the diesel fumes pumping out of cabs, I could feel the heat radiating from the Tropics sun; we were clearly on an island, in a new country. We spent the first night of our study abroad trip in the capital of Panama, staying in a hotel…
