Hola! My name is April Skillings, and I am a sophomore at Loyola.  I am a finance major and Spanish language and literature minor, and a month ago as of yesterday I left O’hare Airport for Costa Rica,  This is my first time out of the country for more than a week, and the first time I have been away from my family for more than a month.  I was understandably a little nervous, and yet unbelievably excited. I opted to take a group flight with other USAC (University Studies Abroad Consortium) students to Costa Rica, this meant that I had the opportunity to meet future classmates and friends prior to orientation. Upon my arrival, I was met at the airport by my host family, who I have since discovered are some of the nicest people you could hope to live with.  They have helped make my transition to a new country and culture as smooth as possible.

I originally chose to study abroad, because I am a Spanish Language and Literature Minor and there is a limit to classroom learning in regards to languages.  I wanted to study Spanish in a sink or swim environment. So, I requested a host family that does not speak English. Being able to talk to them everyday is a struggle and a blessing. Practicing Spanish at all hours of the day has expanded my vocabulary greatly, “Como se dice… everything”. I chose to study through USAC specifically, because they teach languages in a high intensity track system.  What this means is that I will be able take 3 levels of Spanish in just over 3 months, and I have my final for my first level on Monday. Lastly, I chose Costa Rica, because it’s beautiful here.

In the month that has past I have learned so much. I have seen how proud they are of their cultural through the two parades I have attended in the past month.  Costa Rica has a rich and beautiful culture, but the most amazing part of the country is the land itself.  Costa Rica cares a great deal about the environment and the state of their wildlife preserves, since about six percent of their GDP comes from tourism. As a result of this, when I visited Manuel Antonio National Park three weeks ago it was stunning. I saw a few monkeys, several sloths, and dozens of iguanas, I only wish I had some binoculars on hand.  The beach I swam in had unbelievably warm water, and after floating out a bit we discovered a sunken ship near the coast. Some locals let us borrow their goggles so we could see fish swimming in and out of the metal skeleton of the boat.

Last weekend, I visited Jacu Beach to try surfing for the first time. The waves were much larger than those at Manuel Antonio, which is perfect for surfing but dangerous for swimming.  I was so proud that I managed to stand up during my first day of surfing, but I was using a ten foot board. For those unfamiliar with surfing, a ten foot board is the equivalent of a small pier. It’s perfect for standing, but impossible to move where you want to go. Later in the day, we hiked up a mountain, one side of which touched the ocean.  On our hike we saw at least five monkeys, none of whom looked very happy to see us.  When we reached the top, we could look down on the whole beach; it’s a sight I hope I’ll never forget.

That was the first month of my travels. I’m sure I will have some more fun stories soon. If you have any questions for me, or want to learn more about studying abroad through Loyola or USAC, please let me know. I would be happy to help.

 

Hola!

I boarded the plane with much anticipation to meet my host family, whom had contacted me just days before my arrival date of August 15, 2014. I was heading to a country that I’ve only seen in pictures and videos (I did a lot of research ahead of time, which I recommend!), a country in which I knew no one, a country which spoke its own language and a place I didn’t call home.

On the day of my flight, I had a layover in Dallas, TX, where I have never been before. During my 3 hours layover I couldn’t help but think about all the what ifs; what if my Spanish isn’t sufficient, what if my family doesn’t like me, what if I get lost, what if…. Within the next hour I met a handful of girls from my program, whom I am happy to call friends today.

My host mom and little brother were waiting for me right outside of the airport with a sign with my name on it, just like in the movies! I loved this! I took it all in as we drove to the house. The host family was making small talk with me and when I got home I met my sisters and then got a tour of the house and ate my first Costa Rican meal.

I live in a providence of Costa Rica called Heredia. This is where my school, Universidad Nacional de Costa Rica (UNA), is located. To be more exact, I live in a little city-town called San Rafael and I take a bus that costs 230 Colones (about 45 cents) to and from school everyday. The buses remind me of school buses back home.

During the first two weeks we did so much! I started class and felt very welcome by the overwhelmingly friendly and supportive professors. I will post more about the classrooms and etiquette later. On our first weekend in Costa Rica, we went on two field trips; one to the capital, San Jose and another to Volcano Poas and La Paz cataratas (Peace waterfalls).

The nature in Costa Rica is abundant and it’s beautiful. Of course both Friday at the volcano and Saturday at the waterfalls included a lot of hiking and a lot of rain! We are in Costa Rica’s “winter” these next few months and although they don’t see snow here, they have tremendous rainstorms! It’s very important to leave the house with an umbrella, or else you will come home drenched, and I learned that the hard way.

That is all for this first blog, but check back often to learn more about hermosa Costa Rica!

Pura Vida!

 

 

I really love France. It’s at first glance straight out of a Disney film. Take your pick: The Hunchback of Notre Dame, Beauty and the Beast, the streets, buildings, and people of France are practically unchangeable and stand the test of centuries. It’s not at all shocking to see people, places, and things directly out of a Jules Verne novel, a Victor Hugo poem, an Edith Piaf song, or a Charlie Chaplin film. The only change that you will definitely notice at first is the addition of certain more modern advancements: neon flashing signs, expensive cars, iPhones as far as the eye can see.

 

Social life and young culture seems to be pretty healthy here in Nantes. Still, it is an affluent environment with very good security and opportunities for children to attend church services, community get-togethers, picnics, and the perfect weather to play, go to the beach, be active outdoors and safe every day of the year.

 

This city is incredible. I will report more on my beautiful new hometown soon. I hope you will consider joining me on my blogging adventure as I explore a foreign city with only my imagination and curiosity.

 

-R.

 

 

The fact of the matter is that no one likes to fail.

But studying in a foreign country where I barely speak the language means I fail at everyday things. And deep down, that hurts.

As a writer, I take pride in my language. I know it inside and out, reveling in my ability to mold it into whatever shape I choose. Yet I forget I’m still learning it. I often have to correct myself when using “I” or “me;” “well” and “good” are just as tricky. Don’t get me started on “who” and “whom.” But for every issue I have with English, French presents tenfold. I stutter, lose focus, forget vocabulary – all the usual trappings of a novice.

So when I read this article on Huffington Post, my awkward, hulking French problem came into focus: I know how to speak English so well that making a mistake in French is painful. And that’s ok.

Before I came to Aix, I thought that three weeks would be plenty of time to really immerse myself in the language. With one week left, I see I still have many years of French ahead of me. Rather than dreading them, however, I’m looking forward to the challenge. I’ve always oriented my life around goals, and the cause of learning a second language seems like a worthy one.

Speaking two languages gives you the ability to see the world through two different lens. It opens doors to a world full of new music, films and novels – people too. I can see the progress I’ve made since I came to Aix. In fact, learning and speaking in English seems too easy now. But more importantly, I’ve shaken off that fear of failure. So what if I use the wrong verb tense? It’s better to try (and possibly fail!) to make that connection than to keep the words inside my head.

These past few days have gone by so fast! Trying to take it all in at the same time is exhausting–combine that with classes, homework, excursions, and jet lag and you’ve got one tired puppy… but–of course–it’s an exhaustion I wouldn’t give up in a million years. Being here in the south of France is not only beautiful but it’s like a breath of fresh air. Everything here really does move at a slower pace, that’s not just some silly exaggeration Americans made up. People move slower, enjoy life more, and it’s so easy to see. There’s just so much to enjoy here, you have to take your time to be able to capture it all–and not on film, but in your memories. That’s what I’ve been trying to do these past couple of days. Breathe, look, and listen. It’s amazing what you see when you do.

And yes, the answer everyone is looking for… The food is incredible ;] The first meal I had was incredible (of course followed by every meal after that as well)–3 full crawdads on a bed of deliciousness. No, I really had no idea how to go about eating them but all concerns went out the window when we arrived…

Honestly, this experience is amazing and and unforgettable and I’m not even half way through! Oh Provence, you have stolen my heart! A bientôt!