Finding The True Meaning Behind Study Abroad

Classmates and me in Piazza Navona, located in the city center of Rome.

Embrace Your Curiosity

When I moved into the dorms at the University of California, Riverside for my freshman year of college, it was the first time that I was in close proximity to people from varying backgrounds. There were students from the West Coast, East Coast, Canada, France, Norway, and Spain.

I overheard conversations that  flowed from English to French without skipping a beat. I was exposed to slang from various regions and introduced to delicious food that I now cannot imagine living without. After learning that the international students were here via an exchange program, I was curious as to how I could have a similar experience.

Make An Informed Decision

After speaking with a study abroad advisor, I was filled with motivation to apply to a program by the end of the year. I finally chose a study abroad program that matched my academic goals and submitted my application.

At the end of the school year, I received the good news: I had been accepted into a program in Rome, Italy for the following school year! This program would be the single most transformative experience of my college career.

The World Becomes Your Classroom

The ceiling of the Sistine Chapel. This was painted by Michelangelo at the turn of the 16th century.

When I first arrived in Rome, it was an exhilarating sensory overload of foreign sights and sounds. Before I knew it, I was attending courses in Italian art, architecture, history, and film.

My favorite course was structured like an interactive walking tour and the professor guided us through iconic sites such as the Colosseum, Vatican, Roman Forum, as well as over 30 basilicas. All of my academic courses piqued my curiosity for Italian culture and reinforced my learning experiences outside of the classroom.

Program Takeaways

This program taught me various lessons that have been beneficial throughout my college career and beyond. After overcoming various language barriers, I am now a stronger communicator.

Travel mishaps and emergencies only made me more resourceful when things failed to go as planned. Additionally, my interactions with people from all walks of life made me more tolerant and understanding.

Most importantly, my entire perception of travel changed. Before studying abroad, I believed travel consisted of resorts, guided tours, and pre-packaged experiences. I now realize that travel is about making connections, gaining new perspectives, and overcoming challenges.

My host sister and I wearing traditional yukatas in Osaka, Japan.

Keeping Study Abroad Alive

When I returned to university, I became inspired to work for my campus’ Education Abroad Office as a Study Abroad Ambassador to help other students have experiences like mine. I worked directly with students to help them choose an appropriate program, offer advice, and provide application assistance. I benefited tremendously from the guidance I received when applying for my program in Rome, so I wanted to provide similar insight to others.

I was inspired to continue working in international education so I took on an internship in Japan teaching English at various high schools throughout the country. I believe that when students are exposed to native speakers, it provides a necessary linguistic and cultural context to the language learning process. I lived with different host families during this experience, and as a result, had the wonderful privilege of cultural immersion in another part of the world.

Combining My Professional Life & Study Abroad

I am a huge advocate for educational, meaningful, and immersive travel experiences because travel has been a catalyst for self-development. My study abroad experience in Rome was the perfect balance of academics and real-life experience. I overcame culture shock and navigated a new and foreign language. My internship in Japan allowed me to join families, friend groups, and school staff who were all eager to show me their culture and learn about mine.

These international experiences presented me with challenges and hardships that transformed me into a more resourceful and resilient human being. After each trip I’ve completed, I’ve felt equipped with new knowledge and skills that I’ve added my toolkit and it is empowering to know that I can pull from it if a challenging situation should arise

Have you ever wanted to step outside of your comfort zone? Check out our custom programs page to discover how EdOdyssey can help make that happen!

Three Ways Immersion Develops Language

My classmates and I in Madrid, Spain.

On my first day of Spanish class in Madrid, my fellow students and I came prepared with pens and notebooks. When my professor arrived, the first piece of instruction she gave us was to put our materials away. She said,

“The only thing we will be using today are our eyes, ears, and mouths.”

The feeling of panic was palpable in the room. None of us were accustomed to language classes that placed an emphasis on speaking. Although I learned so much about vocabulary and grammar in my high school and college Spanish courses, they didn’t do much to improve my speaking skills.

Total Immersion Keeps You on Your Toes

She proceeded to address the students randomly, asking them questions about what they like and dislike about Spain. She often used colloquial Spanish terms, which was a refreshing yet difficult departure from my classes in the States. The majority of us struggled with formulating sentences on the spot, but were able to answer her after a moment of reflection. When she addressed my friend and I, we looked at each other and immediately froze. With the combination of her unfamiliar accent and use of vosotros, we were at a loss for words.

The Freedom to Make Mistakes

After some laughs from the class, my natural instinct was to open up my notebook and look for the correct answer. In that moment, I realized that this exact situation is what I hoped to experience when I enrolled in the study abroad program.

I wanted to be linguistically challenged. Although I was grateful for the ability to decently express myself through written Spanish, it is not nearly as useful as speaking the language. I knew I would have to speak Spanish whenever entering a store or restaurant, so what better way to practice than in a classroom setting?

Language exchanges are a great way for students to practice Spanish in a casual, real-life setting.

Consistency Creates Confidence

I embraced the moment and answered my professor’s questions to the best of my ability. Later, I completed a difficult speaking exercise with my classmates. The more we practiced speaking, the easier it became Although the 6-week course was challenging, I gained so much clarity and confidence with the language. During my program, I attended numerous intercambios, or language exchanges with Madrileños seeking to learn English.

Each day in Madrid, I made a conscious effort to use Spanish whenever possible that helped strengthen and reinforce knowledge from my classes. During my fifth week in Spain, I finally felt comfortable using the vosotros tense and began to overcome my fear of making mistakes. After this valuable experience, I have full confidence that total immersion is the best way to fully develop speaking skills in the language.

Have you ever wanted to strengthen your Spanish speaking abilities and connect with another culture?

We offer 80 hours of intensive Spanish classes to any student who participates in our study abroad program in Lima, Peru. Check out our study abroad page to learn more!

Three Life Lessons Learned Through Travel

Author Joe Meringolo, Director of Program Development, leads a group reflection in Madrid’s Parque Oeste (West Park).

Whether we’re students or teachers, our knowledge of both content and beliefs gets tested when we go abroad. As we step into the unknown and travel, we begin to understand more about other cultures, but at the same time, we start to process and gain more insight into our own individual personality and values.  

When we immerse ourselves in another culture we learn a lot about that culture. In that time abroad, we may learn even more about ourselves. 

Here are three life lessons that we have the opportunity to learn through travel:

1. Perfection Doesn’t Mean Perfect

All trip itineraries can look and seem flawless. Although there are always challenges, a few bumps in the road doesn’t ruin the entire journey. 

At some point, you’ll be tired, hungry, thirsty, or all of the above as you get over jet lag. You’re probably shattering your normal routine with increased amounts of exercise, eating new foods, and you’re spending more time with a lot of people who you may or may not know well. 

Whatever obstacle you face in the moment, you’ll look at your trip with fond memories and these small expected changes will fade away.  

2. Sometimes We Need Perspective 

In school, sometimes we think that one exam or one project is going to dictate the outcome of our lives and we get anxious and nervous about the future based on the short term. 

Along those same lines with travel, we can get nervous or frustrated thinking that a delay or unexpected change will ruin the trip. In both cases, we have to step back and look at what’s important on a larger scale.

When we have the perspective and ability to have to step back and look at any experience on a more macro level, we realize that the strength of overall mentality controls the outcome. One rainy day doesn’t ruin an entire trip the same way that one exam or project doesn’t destroy our academic careers. 

In fact, sometimes it’s when we need to improvise that we learn the most about ourselves and the people around us. 

3. Your Perspective Means More Than Right or Wrong

As all of us have gone through school, or to continue to be involved in the academic world as students or teachers, we’re constantly trying to answer questions or solve problems that may or may not have clear answers. As we continue through life, we realize that right and wrong depends on our perspective as much as it does on the answer itself. 

Our visit to Madrid’s Thyssen-Bornemisza Museum that explored themes, such as reality and perception.

We have to embrace activities that pull us toward love or hate, yes or no, etc and look at how and why we feel the way that we do toward these activities. Whether we do museum visits or hiking, all of us either fall into the camps of “like” or “don’t like” but it’s understanding our reasoning that helps us grow to become stronger and more empathic individuals. 

At EdOdyssey, we consider ourselves both teachers and students. We want to help you gain your own life lessons.  What does travel mean for you now and how do you think it’ll continue to adapt and change as you continue to grow as a person? 

We enjoy asking these questions and learning about teachers want their students to gain from an experience abroad. If you want to learn more about how you can have a life-changing experience with your students, we encourage you to start planning your trip today with us!

Five Cafes in Miraflores You Must Visit

One of my favorite spots to visit, no matter where in the world, are cafes.  Cafes have an authentic and local feeling to them that chain restaurants cannot offer.  When visiting cafes in Lima , it is a local experience. During my time in Lima, I never visited Starbucks.  

Why would you pay more for an unauthentic cafe experience?

The neighborhood of Miraflores is more touristy and known to be home to more chain restaurants and cafes, and this is something I wish I knew about the neighborhood ahead of time.  It can be tempting to go to these chain places, as they may provide some comfort being abroad. However, you should know that Miraflores has a myriad of options for small, locally owned businesses.

Here are 5 local cafes in Miraflores that you must visit!

1. El Pan de La Chola

This is my favorite cafes in all of Peru.  El Pan de La Chola has a warm atmosphere, with amazing coffee and bread that is fresh every single day.  You can come here to do some work and study or grab some coffee or a meal with friends. I remember that I loved their jamón con queso, or ham with cheese, sandwich and their avocado toast as well. There is also another location in San Isidro that is just as impressive!

2. Dolce Capriccio

If you are looking for something sweet with some coffee, this is the place for you.  Dolce Capriccio has a very homey feeling, as it looks to have been a former residence turned cafe.  I was in love with their chocolate cake paired with an espresso. The atmosphere is more like a restaurant, so it may not be the best study spot, but definitely worth visiting in your free time!

3. Pasteleria El Buen Gusto

If you are in search of some of the best pastries in Miraflores, this bakery is a must-visit.  Pasteleria El Buen Gusto has freshly baked bread daily along with delicious desserts. This bakery was closely located to my homestay so I would often grab a cup of coffee with some bread or pastry to get my morning started!

4. Homemade

This is a cafe that I visited many times when I was in Lima.  Homemade offers a wide range of options, from coffee and desserts to full meals.  I would recommend coming here for a piece tres leches cake and a cortado.

Tres leches is my favorite kind of cake when in Peru, it is a sponge cake consisting of evaporated milk, condensed milk, and heavy cream.  Cortado is an espresso mixed with an equal amount of warm milk. This is more of a sit down type of place, but you will not be disappointed in their sweets and coffee!

5. Coffee Time

When I was studying at the Spanish language school El Sol I stumbled upon a hidden gem in Miraflores. Coffee Time is a very tiny cafe that serves coffee, pastries, and small foods at very reasonable prices.  It is located only a block from El Sol and I would sometimes stop in during breaks for a coffee and an empanada. You may walk pass it and miss it, but it is worth checking out!

When you are abroad, you may be tempted to visit places that you are familiar and comfortable with. However, you should explore more when you are abroad! The good thing about exploring different places is that there are a lot of options for you to choose from.  Enjoy the experiences that are singular and unique to Peru and you will feel even better about the coffee you will be sipping on.

Four Keys For Having The Best Homestay Experience

During study abroad, one of the places where you will spend a considerable amount of time is at your homestay. In order for your experience to be as amazing as possible, it is also important that your homestay experience is an amazing one too.  

Living abroad can be difficult at first, but making a positive connection to your homestay can impact your experience for the better.

From my personal experience in Lima, after having done a homestay through EdOdyssey, here are four keys for you make the most of your homestay:

1. Embracing Common Spaces

In your homestay, you should not feel like a stranger!  You should spend as much time as possible in common spaces with your host family.  Avoid locking yourself in your room all the time!

In a homestay, you are essentially becoming a member of your homestay family.  Therefore, you should want to spend time in common areas, ask your host parent or parents questions, and make conversation.

2. Creating Connections

Creating a social and natural environment in the homestay is what lended to myself enjoying every second of my homestay experience.  I would have long conversations (all in Spanish!) over meals about Peru’s history, my hosts’ lives, and life in general. It was very comforting to me that I could come back after a day of classes to a place that felt so much like home.

Your host family is always there to talk to you!  Let your host family know what is going on in your life.  This could include your plans, travel plans, or anything as personal as you so choose.  It is understandable if you want your own space sometimes, but interaction is encouraged for everyone to have a mutual understanding and respect of one another.

3. Fostering Mutual Respect

Remember that you are staying in another person’s home and you’ll have the best experience if you treat their house that way from the start.  If you had a student from another country staying at your house in the United States, how would you want them to treat your home?

It is completely fine to make yourself comfortable, but not too comfortable.  You should always ask permission if you want to have friends over the house.  It is unreasonable to expect the luxuries and services of somewhere like a hotel. Keep your spaces clean and always be respectful of the home you are living in.  

4. Finding Balance During Your Homestay

During your time abroad, you’ll enjoy your time if you strike a balance between alone time, time with your homestay, and activities outside of the home.  If you constantly are spending time by yourself or locked in your room, you’ll probably develop cabin fever and feel less connected to your new home.

At the same time, you shouldn’t spend all of your time at your homestay, as it is important to go outside and experience the city, but the time that you do spend there should be valuable.

Your homestay family is there for you with whatever you may need and EdOdyssey is there to help you if you have any questions as you get settled in your home away from home.  As you build a good and respectful relationship with your host parents, you’ll find that you’ll always have family in a new part of the world.

In & Around Lima, Peru: Five Fun Day Visits

When in Peru, there are several destinations that are worth visiting, but there are certain areas that can get overlooked. Lima’s history, art and gastronomy is hidden throughout its neighborhoods and smaller cities surrounding the Peruvian capital. Each of these places will expose you to the diversity of Peru and you will without a doubt enjoy your time at these fun and multicultural destinations.

Here are five valuable trips in and around Lima that are worth looking as you look to immerse yourself in Peruvian culture:

1. El Centro (Lima)

When you are in some neighborhoods of Lima, such as Miraflores or San Isidro, they have a very modern and new feeling to them.  In order to gauge and witness the age of Lima, a trip to “El Centro” (the city center of Lima) will give you a sense of the rich history of Lima.

Home to colonial Spain-inspired architecture and the political center of Lima, this area is also constantly buzzing with street performances, parades, and festivals.  Whether you want to eat traditional Peruvian cuisine or Chifa (a mixture of Chinese and Peruvian food) in El Centro’s Chinatown, you will definitely eat well. I have also eaten the best churro in my life in El Centro!

2. Barranco (Lima)

Barranco is Lima’s most artistic neighborhood.  You will be able to visit local art shops, art museums, and exhibitions.  It is super accessible from Miraflores, being only a fifteen to twenty minute car ride.  Barranco’s must-visit spot is El Puente de Suspiros. “Un suspiro” is a sigh or a gasp so you can imagine that this bridge is breath taking!

When you visit for the first time, you must hold your breath for the entire time it takes you to cross the bridge while making a wish.  This site is both romantic and breathtaking, not to mention the awesome views of the Pacific. There are many restaurant options in the area, as well as one of the best ice cream and dessert places in all of Lima called Blu Gelateria right near Plaza Barranco.  Barranco is great for some down-time and you can easily access the beach and take a leisurely walk.

3. Churillos (Lima)

Churillos is known for having many beaches that you can easily get to in Lima without having to travel for hours.  While they are not the most amazing beaches in the world, I found them to be the best that Lima itself has to offer.  

You can do a beach day in Churillos or travel to one of the highest points in Churrillos to take in an amazing panoramic view of all of Lima.  This highest point also has one of the world’s largest statues of Jesus.

4. Callao (Lima)

Want to swim with sea lions? Callao, more specifically El Punto de Callao?  This is the place to visit if you are looking for some adventure locally.  

You can take a boat ride as a part of a tour to have a scenic day out on the water, and also swim with some sea lions if you feeling adventurous!  After a couple hours out at sea, you can treat yourself to some delicious and freshly made chicharron or ceviche that tastes even better by the coast!

5. Ica

A day trip to the city of Ica is a must when in Peru. Unlike Lima, Ica is sunny and warm year-round so you can visit any time of the year!  This trip should be more than one day, as it takes four hours by bus to get to Ica from Lima.  

Once in Ica, you can go sand-boarding while riding in a dune-buggy through the desert. When I was in Ica, I witnessed the most beautiful sunset while in the desert.  Ica is also home to one of South America’s only oasis. Ica is one of Peru’s most beautiful and warm-spirited places, so you will not regret a little trip here!

By traveling to these different destinations in Peru, you can obtain a wider view of what Peru truly has to offer. Even while abroad, it is great to get outside of the neighborhood that you may live in and frequent often. If you do not see these areas you are missing out on absorbing Peru’s regional cultural diversity.  If you find yourself in Lima for most of your time, it is refreshing to expose yourself to different scenery and more nature places. If you find yourself abroad, you must see more than the tourist spots and explore to fully take in all of Peru!  

If you’re interested in learning more about Lima, and Peru in general, definitely read Why Study in Peru! And you can learn more about studying abroad in Peru with EdOdyssey.