Why did you study abroad with IES Abroad in the Galapagos Islands?
Samantha: I decided to study abroad with IES because of the Galapagos program they offered, that connected with my home university Santa Clara University.
When I was trying to decide where I wanted to go abroad, I was having a really tough time. Every day I would change my mind. One day I sat down with the study abroad adviser at Santa Clara, and told her everything I wanted out of my study abroad experience. The main points I was hoping for were
- A program that I could get language practice (preferably Spanish)
- Do a home stay
- Take classes that counted for my major
The Galapagos Program met all of these goals. Although there were other programs that did it too, I decided that living on the Galapagos was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, that I could only imagine myself doing with a study abroad program - while living in Europe I could see myself doing more on my own.
Tell us about a particular highlight from your time in the Galapagos Islands?
Samantha: It is difficult to choose a particular highlight from my trip abroad, because overall the entire four months were incredible. I would have to say that the biggest highlight was on our Island Hopping Tour, where we were able to see some of the major islands in the archipelago. Isabella was so beautiful, and one night we sat on the beach at this hostel with a lit bonfire, and we talked and listened to music around it. We then left to explore down the beach, and just ran, and ran, until we reached the end of a long beach by a lighthouse. It was a beautiful experience and a wonderful end to a great day of snorkeling and exploring Island Isabella with my new best friends.
How has this experience impacted your future?
Samantha: As great as the entire experience was, it was also very challenging. Although I loved life on the islands, it is very different from life in the States. It was hard to get used to not having internet. It was hard to get used to talking in Spanish with everyone. And it was hard to get used to not flushing toilet paper, and not having hot water. I was challenged to live outside of my comfort zone, make new friends, and experience life in a place I have never lived before.
The academics were also challenging, as we were asked to learn about evolution where is was first discovered by Darwin! The courses were incredible, as we learned from first-hand experiences. My best example of this is when I had to do a project on the Sexual Dimorphisms of Marine Iguanas, an endemic species of the islands. As part of my research, I simply went out to the intertidal zone, watched the iguanas, and took pictures of them for my presentation visuals. Although the coursework was intellectually challenging, the hands-on knowledge we gained from living, working, and researching on the islands we were studying made learning both fun, and interesting.