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Nathan Zunker in Ecuador Spring 2008
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Spring 2008
Notes from Abroad
Nathan Zunker '08
My first seven weeks in Ecuador have been great. I was tempted to write that my study abroad experience has been “perfect” so far. Actually, I have had many enjoyable experiences and many difficult experiences. My first four weeks were wonderful. I traveled to many new destinations in Ecuador including the Amazon River and the Pacific Ocean. I got to experience real Ecuadorian life outside of the major cities. At times, the world I was living in seemed almost surreal. It was exciting and different.
I also made the basketball team at my school: La Universidad San Francisco de Quito. Basketball has been a great way for me to stay active, and it doesn’t hurt that I’m 6’4” tall (which is very tall in Ecuador). My classes have been challenging, but enjoyable for the most part. My family has provided me with great accommodations and they are very patient with my Spanish.
As time passed, however, I got over the initial “thrill” of being in Ecuador. I began to miss my life at St. Norbert College. I began to miss many aspects of my life that I took for granted. However, this is the primary reason I chose to study abroad in Ecuador. I knew I was going to have to deal with many new challenges of the Ecuadorian culture. Problems I anticipated were the language, the food, the large city, etc. One of the main differences I have had to deal with that I did not expect was the machismo. For me, it has been difficult to understand why many Ecuadorian males act very tough, especially around the opposite sex.
Ecuador has been like a roller coaster ride. I have had many highs and a few lows. I feel, however, that I am growing as a person. Every day I am gaining a new and stronger perspective about a culture that is different than mine. I feel lucky that I am able to participate in this experience and I hope that everyone else abroad from SNC is also having a pleasant experience.
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