Pre-Trip

I am currently an International Studies Undergraduate at Gannon University. As my curriculum requires twelve credits (one semester) of international experience, I chose to study in Central America. Upon traveling with Gannon University on Spring Break Service trips to the region, I realized my passion for the people and culture in Latin America. I saw the great need for attention and advocacy the region needs. As it has some of the highest poverty rates in the world, suffers from high illiteracy rates and its indigenous populations face huge discriminations by the country’s Mestizo minority.

I chose a program that is unlike many other study abroad programs. Center for Global Education is a program that focus on community based learning. Myself and nine other students will attempt to learn and understand the complicated past of Central America through a combination of homestays, in-class and hands on learning experiences.

This semester I wish to invite friends, family and everyone in between to follow my fellow class mates and I on our endeavors.  Throughout the semester we will be traveling quite a bit. The first five weeks of our program we will spend in rural Guatemala, we will then be traveling, and spending five weeks in San Salvador, El Salvador. The last five weeks of our program will be spent in Managua, Nicaragua.  As the departure date nears (one week) I am finding myself increasingly nervous, but also very excited to get started.  Though I have traveled to the region before this time will be very different for me; it is a much longer stay, with people I have never met before. There will be many challenges to face this semester with class work, assimilating to the culture, trying to speak the language all while being very far away from my supportive networks.   I am very excited though and cannot wait to get started!

P.S. Ideally I will have the opportunity to update the blog every week, but internet access in Guatemala will be limited for the first five weeks. Don't give up on me though! I will post ASAP (: