Throughout my travels in Ecuador, I was able to see so many different communities. My academic experience was the furthest thing from classes on campus because I was able to immerse myself in the culture and learn firsthand rather than via PowerPoint or textbook. It was absolutely incredible to witness the ways that people maintain sustainability despite not having as many resources as people in the United States do. This…
While this was not my favorite food I tried while in Ecuador, the most noteworthy was what they call Cuy, we call it Guniea Pig. I did not have an expectation for it so I cannot say it was not what I expected, but it was not bad. They flavored it really well, it was just very tough to chew sometimes. They call it Cuy because of the sound they…
Taking a trip to another country is an amazing opportunity that should be utilized by all college students. I cannot stress how important it is to experience other cultures in order to become aware of such diversity. I would advise other students to take advantage of this time in college to go on a study abroad program, even if for a few weeks rather than a semester because it will…
On my study abroad trip, I completely immersed myself in the Ecuadorian culture. I experienced what it is like to live in the communities we visited and truly connect with the locals, whether it be through food, sports, or simply conversation. I am a pretty picky eater, so I was worried about the types of food I would be eating, but I decided to put that aside and fully enjoy…
Today (7/29/22), we toured the historic district of Quito. We saw many beautiful churches. One was completely gold on the inside, coated with gold leaf. We walked by the Presidential Palace in the Plaza Grande and then a couple of streets down tried lots of different fresh juices. One thing I found very different was how close you could get to their Presidential Palace, and the minimal security around it,…
Hello, my name is Rebecca Davis, and I am a rising senior. I am a Chemistry major and a Psychology minor at the College of Charleston, and this summer I spent two weeks in Ecuador on a study abroad trip with the Water Quality Chemistry for Sustainability program. I chose this program because I wanted to experience chemistry outside of the classroom and in a way that can help those…
Hello, my name is Casey O’Brien and I am a rising junior at the College of Charleston. The program I chose is called CofC in Ecuador: Chemistry and Environmental Studies. I chose this program because it relates to my studies as a biochemistry major and Spanish minor. Also, my grandparents are Ecuadorian and grew up in Quito. They have gone back to visit and I would like to see the…
It is officially my last weekend in Scotland, and I have had the opportunity to attend a variety of arts events in Glasgow and Edinburgh, as well as speak to a number of professionals in the industry. One of my major takeaways from this experience was just how different the arts scene is in Scotland compared to America. These distinctions can be attributed to several key elements: size, cultural/social identity,…
I have been in Scotland for a week now, and this country has blown me away. This is by far the most beautiful place I have ever been. The cities are so historic and beautiful. Even just going out to grab dinner, you feel like you are walking through history. Despite, how wonderful the city is, no trip to Scotland would be complete without visiting the highlands. I had the…
When deciding to apply for study abroad in Scotland, I did not really know what to expect, when it came to the people. It is always hard to know how a community of people will react to outsiders, particularly American tourists (we do not exactly have the best reputation lol). I know many European countries are known for their dislike of us Americans. I was definitely nervous about this going…
