Glee Club this week has been bitter sweet. On one hand we have not been singing as much as I’d like to but on the other we have been learning about what we are going to be doing while in Ecuador for the month. Learning about our host families, the geography, and the culture and people of Ecuador is making extremely excited about this trip. What I am amazed about as well is that this time last year I would have never guessed that I would be going to Ecuador as a freshman.

Today I was interviewed to be  an orientation leader in August for incoming freshman and a question I was asked was “What study abroad opportunities are available?” among other questions. This was an easy one for because I know of upper clansmen who are in the process of applying and others that are currently studying abroad. Study abroad opportunities are very common and you can take advantage of them as a freshman. There are immersion trips where you can travel to Germany, Cuba, Washington DC during Thanksgiving break or spring break. These trips area available depending on what classes you take and when you take them. There is also your typical semester long study abroad programs that you apply for as sophomores and then travel as second or first juniors.

What is great about this is that you could even study in Ecuador as a freshman like I am. I get to be in Ecuador for a month, study about Ecuadorian culture, have the music director teach us Ecuadorian songs, and then travel with the Glee Club and sing in churches and schools. The best part is that the first two weeks of this trip are free except for lunch and the next two weeks are a very low subsidized amount.

The point is, traveling opportunities at Wabash are plentiful but to get to them you are going to have to look for them. Opportunities are not going to seek you out, you must find them, apply and want them.