SUMMER 2023 ALUMNI

SHERRY CHEN

How would you describe your EP to someone who has never heard of it before? 

My EP was a traveling EP to Japan and I am prepared to learn and practice Takio a lot because for the first week, we learn to play Taiko and learn a song in a short amount of time. Although it was tough but it was really fun, the process of learning and playing Takio was amazing. It was the first time I thought this is a sport I want to continue to do in NY if possible because it was fun from learning the song to playing Taiko together with the group. We will be exploring a lot of Japan and I would say someday will be busier than other days, although, at the end of the day, you will be tired I assure you that it will be worth it and you will have fun at the end. You will meet a lot of new people, they are all nice people that I am glad to meet and talk to. In the third week of the program, we will get to meet our host family and at the beginning, it will be nervous and awkward but you will quickly feel like you are part of their family because that’s what happened to me. Throughout the program you will learn the traditional culture and language of Japan, this will make you like Japan more! 

What is a typical day like during your EP? 

During EP, a typical day would be during, depending on the place we are staying at because the first week we start at Sado island which is a really beautiful place. In Sado, each day we wake up early and eat breakfast together at a restaurant at the hotel. Since it’s an island restaurant they are not used to big groups of people so most of the time we eat at the hotel. Afterward, we went to Taiko place to play Taiko and met people who aim to be Takio masters or elder masters who play Takio. But, after leaving Sado island we went to Sapporo and there we had the same morning but we did different activities such as meeting college students. So in different places we did different activities, so every week was something new.

What was the biggest challenge of your EP?

During my EP, there were moments I had to get out of my comfort zone because there were activities that I never did before such as climbing volcanoes and canoeing which is something that I don’t think I will ever do if not for this program. Although, I am glad I got to experience it because if it was not for this program I would never have thought about those activities. But, at the moment when I was doing the activities, I felt very uncomfortable because, during hiking, my legs hurt a lot because I was not used to walking upward but I was able to meet a very nice grandpa that gave me his climbing tool for climbing. So I think the experience was worth it. Similar to canoeing because although I was very afraid of getting wet with the water and I did get splashed by the water so right afterward I was feeling upset. However, I was able to let my feelings out at dinner time with my friend. So in the end I felt glad I got to canoe, even though I wasn’t exactly able to enjoy it but it was an experience that made me less scared of canoeing. 

What was the biggest reward of your EP? 

The biggest reward from my EP was that I was able to meet so many new people and make connections with them. In different places we went we met new people and they were nice and showed excitement to know about me and my group. They show curiosity about us and America. I am happy I got to meet with different people, people in Sado, Sapporo, Tomakomai, Nanae, and Tokyo. I was able to learn a lot about Japanese culture and language. Especially, I got to have a host family that I felt respected and made me feel like I was part of their family. Each day was something different, I got to gain many experiences that I never thought I would ever do if it was not for SDC. I am truly grateful for this opportunity in Japan. 

What do you wish you had known before you went on your EP?

 I felt that I was told the basics of what will happen each week but I felt I could have been more prepared because although I did read through what our schedule will look like, I wasn’t prepared for what will happen in terms of transportation by ferry. So those small details matter, it could have made my experience better but I was still having fun with my groups. Additionally, I definitely should have brought some kind of games to entertain myself during the flight because those long hours were hard physically and mentally. I think SDC has given us a good amount of detail of what will happen throughout the week because if they were to tell us in close detail then what would be the fun the day it happens? 

What advice do you have for future SEO scholars who are considering your EP?

My advice for future SEO scholars who will apply to SDC is to have fun every day because time will go back fast. Enjoy each activity and people you meet because it is a once-in-time opportunity so why not. Towards the end of the trip, I felt that I wanted to have more time in Japan, to spend more time learning Taiko, and to be with my host family. So don’t regret at the end of the program, think you could have done something more. Also, remember you will have times where you will feel uncomfortable because it might be your first time or you are not used to it but know that all it matters is you did your best and you will feel accomplished and fun at the end of the day. Uncomfortably isn’t always a bad thing, in life, there will always be moments you will feel uncomfortable but you can still try to have fun because that’s how you will grow. I know that making a mistake or new things can be scary but remember that it’s okay to make mistakes, it’s not the end of the day. You can still have fun even if you make mistakes, that is one significant lesson I learned during the first week in Japan. This is a unique opportunity, so I hope you guys can grab it!

RILEY-PAIGE BELISLE

How would you describe your EP to someone who has never heard of it before? 

My EP program was a pre-college program in North Adams, Massachusetts. We shared a campus with Massachusetts college for liberal arts and each took various classes. My class was an anthropology course that focused on indigenous rap to address topics of nationalism, linguistics, race, and identity. The class ran like a college course and everyone had assigned readings and assignments. Every assignment was necessary to complete the final assignment, which was an essay. Also, we had a separate project where we had to make a beat for another course in the program that had to rap over a beat. This assignment was separate from the essay, but it was meant to keep on theme with the indigenous hip-hop aspect of our class.

What is a typical day like during your EP? 

Everyday we had a morning class, lunch, and then the afternoon class. After class there were usually planned trips that we went on as a group. Professors could take a lot of liberties and some professors took their classes on trips or even canceled classes in the morning or afternoon for various reasons. Whenever there weren’t trips planned my friends and I would go to the town to hangout or we would go to the gym to play volleyball or just hangout on campus and watch a movie. In the night is when most people fit in any homework they had to do for the course.

What was the biggest challenge of your EP?

The biggest challenge of my EP was probably balancing the work. I don’t think I had that bad of a workload, but oftentimes I found myself getting distracted by my new environment, so I would put the homework off in order to experience my surroundings. I also think eating was really difficult for me, because the food on the campus wasn’t the best so I had a lot of stomach pain. I definitely ate out a lot more than I had planned to, but it was worth it.l

What was the biggest reward of your EP? 

The biggest reward of my EP was probably seeing the friendships I had created during the trip. There were a lot of times during the trip that I was just really happy to have all these nice people surrounding me. I think what made my experience such a positive one was the community that I had created there. Everyone on the trip was super nice and it was easy to get along with everyone, so leaving the trip and being able to talk to all of these people after the trip was very rewarding for me.

What do you wish you had known before you went on your EP?

I wish I had known more about the course before I went to my EP. At first I was very pessimistic of the program I was placed in, because it wasn’t abroad. However, I think that what made it great was the people. I know that I can't expect to know the type of people in my class before the trip starts, but I think if I knew the contents of the class, I would’ve been more excited from the beginning. I also wish I knew that I didn’t need bed risers, because I brought them and it ended up taking up extra space, because I didn’t use them.

What advice do you have for future SEO scholars who are considering your EP?

If you get into the EP go into it with an open mind. I think even though I wasn’t too thrilled about it at first, I was open minded and didn't hinder myself from having fun. Also, make sure you’re giving the staff suggestions on where you want to go. A lot of the best trips were requested from students, so be active in the community. Also, if you play volleyball or basketball bring athletics wear to play in, because I had to ask my mom to mail my volleyball stuff, because someone at SDC made a mistake and said there wasn’t an indoor gym.

FATIMA CHEEMA

How would you describe your EP to someone who has never heard of it before?

• I explored southern Italy ( started off in Rome, went to naples, amalfi coast)  where we engaged in tours ( saw pompeii) and workshops (bread/pasta making)

• Practiced our Italian 

• Stayed with a host Family for a week 

What is a typical day like during your EP? 

• Wake about early in the morning around 7 

• Have hotel breakfast and get ready to leave the hotel around 8:30

• Go on tours or museum 

• Have lunch around 12/1 

• Maybe some time to shop (given an hour at most)

• More tours/ planned activities 

• Have dinner around 7-9

• End the night with Gelato 

• have nighty meeting majority of the time took place at the hotel 

• The latest we would get back to hotel was 12 

• Freshen up/get ready for bed 

• Majority of the time go to bed late (~2)  because we would hangout in each others rooms/ get ready for the next day 

What was the biggest challenge of your EP?

• People in my group were  very disrespectful about others' race and religion even after we would have a group meeting about their disrespectful behavior. 

• My group leader had moments where he struggled to consider our feelings, but he was super young (23) and was really trying and apologized for it.

•  The heat and dehydration 

What was the biggest reward of your EP? 

The friendships and connections that I made. I now have friends from different states in America and a host family turned family back in Italy. 

What do you wish you had known before you went on your EP?

• To be prepared to have some difficult conversations about respecting boundaries, other people's religion and race 

• I will be dehydrated, bring my water bottle everywhere 

• Bring enough sunscreen for 2 months

• Forgive but don't forget, don't let other people drain your experience 

What advice do you have for future SEO scholars who are considering your EP?

• Be super open minded and open to adjustment in schedule/lifestyle (you will be rooming with people who may live completely different from you but it is a SHARED space, respect boundaries) 

• Reusable water bottle will be your best friend

• Euro coins are really annoying but don't be ashamed to pay with them, just don't let them stack up 

• You will meet very ignorant people in the country you visit or even your group mates but stay cordial with them and hold you head high but don't let them think they cant get away with it 

• Don't be shy to ask your group leader for something or even call them out for something 

• Be ready to constantly move around/switch hotel rooms 

• A language barrier is hard but be patient with yourself as you are learning a new culture & language 

• Have a good head on your shoulder, don't be disrespectful to others, the space your sharing, and the culture 

Jawaad Choudhary

How would you describe your EP to someone who has never heard of it before? 

Student Diplomacy Corps or SDC was a travel program that visited a ton of nations worldwide, They provided the participant with anything they would need from housing to food and transportation. I traveled to Mexico and learnt the history and culture of the Mayan people as well as some of their language. As well as learning Spanish. I lived with a host family for a total of 10 days and that was an amazing experience. They loved me and I loved them as they were such kind people who truly cared. We had to interact with locals and learn things they wanted to teach us.

What is a typical day like during your EP? 

Due to being in Mexico we would wake up from around 6-8 and then get ready have breakfast then get on our group van and go on an often long drive to our activity and go on till around 12-3 and have lunch and then go to another activity and arrive back to our hotels at around 5-6 and have dinner at around 8-9 then either have another activity walk through the city we stayed in or went to bed. 

What was the biggest challenge of your EP?

The biggest challenge would have to be getting to Mexico because of all the issues we faced on our travels there and terrible weather conditions so we had to struggle and manage and lack of communication with the program and us with all the issues and having to rough it after landing and having no luggage.

What was the biggest reward of your EP? 

The connections I built with the people. I made so many friends while in Mexico and strongly feel I have three families now, one in New York, the group I stayed with and my host family because of how close we all got. As well as strengthening my Spanish as it's gotten much better.

What do you wish you had known before you went on your EP?

I wish i knew that we would be in for a lot because mentally I was not ready for the thick of the program all the activities and hard work we went through and Now I'm glad I did it all I just wish I knew what was coming.

What advice do you have for future SEO scholars who are considering your EP?

DO IT. Don't be scared and think bad about the possible countries because it's gonna be fun and you'll love every second of it! I personally eat only halal and in Mexico that was difficult and I went on a vegetarian diet for the month but even that wasn't bad and I managed fine. I loved every that I ate and I grew so much as a person - I'll never regret this month!

JAYLEEN GARCIA

How would you describe your EP to someone who has never heard of it before?

I went to Spain and we learned about Spain Instituto liberó Picasso y Flamenco, we learned about Picasso's art work and message and how Flameco helped shape Spain. We didn’t have a host family, we basically moved around to different hotels in each city but i think i liked it more because i think with all the classes we did and the host family would’ve been a mix up.For most of our classes they weren’t in. Classroom setting they were mainly in museums or in parks and monuments.

What is a typical day like during your EP? 

A typical day in my EP was waking up around 8 and getting ready for classes. At 9 or 10 or sometimes even  11 , class was always 2 hours and they weren’t your typical class. We were mainly in museums, monuments, or visiting the cities as work. Then we would have lunch around 2, we would sometimes have lunch together or we would each get euros and split into groups and eat on our own . Then we had  free time from 3 to 7 or 8. During our free time everyone in my EP would come together and work on homework and then go shopping or if the city had one we would all go to the beach together, we often spent the whole day at the beach just swimming or just talking and playing volleyball or soccer for hours. Around 8 to 10 we would have dinner and reflect on the day we had, then we often got boba or ice cream after dinner and took a long way to our  hotel because we wouldn’t be tired and all we wanted to do was play games and talk. We would go to the beach and sit and talk or we would go  to playgrounds and just play as if we were kids. 

What was the biggest challenge of your EP?

For me, and my personal challenge was speaking Spanish 24/7 because although I come from a Spanish-speaking household, Spanish is spoken differently in Spain  and some words are different. I’m personally not as confident in my Spanish but once I got to Spain, I told everyone of my fear, but everyone in my group comforted me, even my professor, and told me to keep on trying, and never give up. By  the end of the trip I felt more confident with my Spanish, speaking abilities, and no matter what, my group always had my back if I was struggling with a word they would help me with whether it was doing presentations or homework.

What was the biggest reward of your EP? 

The biggest reward I took from  my EP was all the friendships I made and the connections I made with my group leader and  professor. Coming into this trip, I didn’t think I was going to be as close with my group. Walking to the airport I was super shy and didn’t even speak to anybody. I was in my own bubble, but once my friend Nichole and Janelly started talking to me I  became more open with the group. Everyone in my group was from different places and from different backgrounds, but we all came together as one. I have learned so many things from people in my group, and also from my professor and group leader, the biggest reward I have taken was their friendship and their kindness. All the funny moments and us even doing homework or crying on the last day will forever be a memory in my heart that I will never lose.

What do you wish you had known before you went on your EP. 

One thing I wish I would have known before going to my EP was how much I was going to like it. Spain was not one of my top three choices, and I wasn’t sure if I was going to like it or not but I absolutely loved it. The cities I went to and the friendships I made, down to the  food from the restaurants, I didn’t know it was going to be so hard to say goodbye at the end. Another thing was to carry light when it comes to clothing and to bring a lot of basics because  you would be souvenir shopping a lot in each city, so I was always scared that not everything was going to fit  in my luggage.

What advice do you have for future SEO scholars who are considering your EP?

The  application process is really intimidating. It is a lot of writing and then down to the interview before this, I have never done a group  interview, so it was my first time, and I was really intimidated by my SEO peers, but at the end of the day I was confident with myself, and what I was presenting to the SDC faculty. Although a lot of people are discouraged, because some programs are college credit and that means you have to be doing a lot of work but it’s really not as much as you might think it is. 

JAYLIN KIM

How would you describe your EP to someone who has never heard of it before? 

The student diplomacy corps program best known as SDC. Which grants young rising seniors and juniors an opportunity to study abroad and learn about new cultures, interests and give them a first glance of how college will be like. I had the opportunity to go to Alaska and learn about its Wildlife biology, oceanography and the impacts climate change has on Alaska. We camped in the wilderness with only a stuff sack and the things we could carry on our backs. We cooked on the low tide shores of Gustavus with a propane stove. Kayaked for hours looking at sea otters, sea lions, seals and so much more. We fell in love with the late sunsets of 12am and the early sun rising just before 4am. We interacted with the Tlingit natives of Alaska that gave us an insight into their culture and how their ancestors have survived for so many years. 

What is a typical day like during your EP? 

A typical day consisted of being up and ready by 9 am the latest and coming together to eat breakfast like a big family. We shared laughs and morning groans of being up after a late night of bonfires and admiration for our surroundings. We later shared appreciation in our opening circles where we started what we wanted to gain from a new day in a new place and what we will contribute to the group in order to make everyone's experience or enjoyable. Later we would go onto our next adventure whether that be tourists in downtown Juneau or taking a hike up Mt. Roberts, or a simple trip in the van to see what forest bears and moose spend their time. While being along the shores of where millions of sockeye salmon call home. We explored and challenged ourselves daily by just being there but overall at the end of the day we expressed our gratitude once again of how grateful we were to have one another and be granted with this opportunity.

What was the biggest challenge of your EP?

The biggest challenge of my EP was getting comfortable with my new surroundings since everything was all new to me coming from the city. I wasn't really exposed to spiders crawling up my pants or seeing big trees as tall as the skyscrapers next to me. Or even seeing mountains everywhere I looked. It was more getting accustomed that I was no longer in the city and the things that I deemed were crazy and scary were normal and harmless here. Also having to cook by the beach with so many flies and basically backpacking through our camping experience. 

What was the biggest reward of your EP? 

The biggest reward was coming home with a new and different perspective on life and seeing how I could survive in a whole new environment that I thought was impossible. It made me feel more confident in what I can do and accomplish. And reassured me that with every experience there is something that can be learned, and to not say no to things that I am afraid of because I may not know if they were really meant for me and could have made an impact on me. 

What do you wish you had known before you went on your EP?

I wish I would have known how long we would be without our electronics even though it was. A good experience to be disconnected from our devices it's the only way to communicate back home. Also give us a bit more of what exactly we would do on the trip rather than just an itinerary. I wish they would tell us what we would do every day. I also wish I would have known how fun it would actually be to be away from everything and meet new people because that was one of the best parts of the experience.

What advice do you have for future SEO scholars who are considering your EP?

It is a really fun EP, but do you research thoroughly and make sure you are putting a lot of effort into your applications because this is a great opportunity. And even though you might not get the one you wanted and are scared to try something different that you weren’t expecting. Try it out and you won’t regret it. It is a once in a lifetime opportunity and maybe it'll make you change your views on things and even encourage you to study abroad in college like me. 

Crystal Owusu

How would you describe your EP to someone who has never heard of it before?

My EP focused on the slow food of Italy and how it connects to Italian culture, therefore we did a lot of cooking (at restaurants, in cooking school, and at a college’s culinary class)

What is a typical day like during your EP? 

A typical day at my EP would be we wake up at our hotel, have breakfast for one week, go to cooking school and then have an afternoon activity (making gelato, expressos) and then spend time with our corps group. While we were with our host family I went to the beach quite often then spent the rest of the day with my host family. Last week we were on a farm so we cooked on the farm, played with the pets and spent time with one another. We got gelato quiet often and usually ate dinner together as a corps group.

What was the biggest challenge of your EP?

The biggest challenge during my EP was the time I spent with my host family. My host sister was not very welcoming of me when we were in public or the other SDC students when we were out in public (on the field trips). This put me in an awkward situation oftentimes affected how I enjoyed those trips.

What was the biggest reward of your EP? 

The biggest reward of my EP was getting to prepare and eat so much new food. Since my program was based on the slow food of Italian culture I took a 6 day cooking course and it was so much fun.

What do you wish you had known before you went on your EP?

I wish I would’ve known how hot it was going to be in Italy. I’m a person who doesn’t like the heat and although I looked up the weather before going it was still a shock to me. 

What advice do you have for future SEO scholars who are considering your EP?

Advice I would give to future scholars who are considering my EP is to be open to trying new food, be respectful when it comes to different cultures, and make the best of every day you spend in Italy because this experience is a once in a lifetime thing. 

JUSTIN PAULINO

How would you describe your EP to someone who has never heard of it before? 

My EP program was Student Diplomacy Corps: Canada; How to get to Haida Gwaii. So based on the title it is a travel program where you get to go up the coast of British Columbia immersing yourself in the Indigenous cultures of BC. You explore various museums and landmarks that portray the enriching culture of the First Nations people. The highlight of the trip is going to the island of Haida Gwaii, where you can enjoy the clean air and lovely views of all the flora and fauna there. In a group of ten students or less enjoy other parts of BC like Victoria and Vancouver. Make sure you pack light! You will be wearing less than you actually expect to wear but bring clothes that make you feel like you, a comfy set, and a nice going out outfit. Normal Temperatures were 60s to 70’s but BC can get really wet so follow the packing list that would be provided to you when accepted to the program. You can expect numerous forms of transportation; boats, ferries, taxis, buses, private vans. There is a lot of ground to cover and some days are going to be really tiring. You get to learn so much about ocean life and how they played a role in indigenous culture. 

What is a typical day like during your EP? 

We’d wake up around 9 am after probably going to sleep at 1 am. We always compensated for time. But you had to be on time for breakfast or you’d miss it, no matter where you were, in a town or camping out. Traveling in a city like Victoria or Vancouver, there was always a museum to see. So after exploring the museum and its enriching explanations of the First Nation culture, we would get lunch. All the food is budgeted, usually 15-20 CAD. Heavily encourage anyone to try asian food over there, its a staple. After lunch we would walk around for a bit, split off and shop around and then meet back at a certain time for us to get dinner and make our way back to dorms.

What was the biggest challenge of your EP?

My biggest challenge was camping. I had never done it before so all that was happening was extremely new to me. We were restricted to one shower when we were camping with West Coast Expeditions and had to use the bathroom in the forest. It took some getting used to. But had other great things on the island, like a chef, big tents with sleeping pads and bags, a basketball court, kayaks, amazing views, and a great community. At the time we were also sharing the campsite with another group but they were teachers doing their masters program. It was great that they were out there and we were out there. 

What was the biggest reward of your EP? 

The biggest reward from my program was the friendships and bonding time I got. My group mates and I would literally sleep on top of each other sometimes because we were just that comfortable with each other. If you end up in this program be ready to make relationships that last a lifetime because these people will always be there for you.

What do you wish you had known before you went on your EP?

I wish I knew that we would be going out a lot, since we were in towns a lot and only went hiking occasionally, I did not pack many nicer clothes that I was comfortable in. It was ok for me because I bought clothes there but to avoid doing that pack nice clothes because you will be taking a lot of pictures. 

What advice do you have for future SEO scholars who are considering your EP?

Please do consider it. I didn’t even look at this program but by the graces of Emily and Tyler I got in. For your interview once you get done with the very long application, it will decide where you go. Canada wasn’t on my top 3 choices but I chose to be grateful and accept the opportunity. No matter where you end up, it was chosen for you based on how you responded to their questions. You will have fun no matter where you go, show up, show out, and represent NYC well!

ASHLEE REID

How would you describe your EP to someone who has never heard of it before? 

SDCXO:Massachusetts is a chance to take a college level course and earn 3 college credits. You get to experience what college life is like. During your stay you build bonds with fellow peers and also the teaching assistants. You live on campus so you learn how to be independent. You are responsible for getting up and being in class, eating meals which are provided in the dining hall, doing your own laundry and so much more. When you are not in class you will participate in various activities like exploring North Adams, visiting museums, attending concerts etc. If you are not doing that then you're hanging out with friends, in the gym, the dance room, playing sports. The main point is  you're never bored, there is always something entertaining going on. At the end of the program there is a graduation ceremony held where your accomplishments are recognized.  

What is a typical day like during your EP? 

A typical day at SDC experimental college is Breakfast from 7:30-9:30 am morning class from 9:30-11:30 am. Lunch at 11:30-1:30 p.m. Followed by Afternoon class from 1:30-3:30 pm. Unless there is an activity planned for that day after class the rest of the day is yours. Then dinner from 5-7 pm.

What was the biggest challenge of your EP?

The biggest challenge was juggling the work that needed to be done outside of class and hanging out with friends/activities planned. The experiences really challenge your prioritizing skills. It was challenging because I’m a little antisocial so when was

What was the biggest reward of your EP? 

The biggest reward of my ep was not only earning 3 college credits as a high schooler but the people that I was able to make connections with. During my EP I was able to meet and connect with people from all over. I got to network with people who lived in New York City where I am from, Chicago, Kansas City Missouri, Uganda, Democratic Republic of Congo and so much more. I got to put my networking skills to work.

What do you wish you had known before you went on your EP?

I wish that I knew that I would have enjoyed it as much as I did. I went there thinking that I was going to regret going since it was an academic program and I really wanted to travel. I wished I knew that it was going to be challenging getting the work done since the program was only 1 month.Also the fact that you will get really attached to the environment.

What advice do you have for future SEO scholars who are considering your EP?

Even though you don’t get accepted to your first choice be open. I was very closed minded when accepting the offer because it wasn’t my first choice. I called my family throughout the first week saying that I was ready to go home but after I gave the program a chance it started to grow on me. And I was able to enjoy the experience and now I regret rushing the time and wish that I was there for longer. I miss the community so much.

ANDREW RODRIGUEZ

How would you describe your EP to someone who has never heard of it before? 

SDC is a travel EP that focuses on immersion and perspective. In my specific program I was also taking a college class in Spanish which enhanced the objective of being an SDC scholar. Usually you live with a host family, but with my college program which they call SDCXC (Student Diplomacy Corps Experimental College), we lived in various hotels, and college dorms for a month. Although host families would’ve been fun, being in different hotels and college dorms added their own uniqueness to the experience. For the majority of the program we learned about the 3 cultures that inhabited spain, the history of its descent and how the same rhetoric of its division made its way to the Americas during the invasion of the new world, and how it's still living in today's U.S. After our 45 min classroom instruction we would then go out into the streets of spain and see the living examples of the 3 different cultures that were in spain, how even after so much division, you can still see arabic architecture and jewish towns thriving today. 

What is a typical day like during your EP? 

It depended on what city we were in, but in Toledo, which we were living in the longest, we would wake up and have breakfast at 9. Then go to class at UCLM (universidad, castilla-de la mancha), where Felipe, our professor, would teach us about the history of the three cultures in spain. Then we would do some field activity where we would see actual evidence of the muslim, or jewish history in Spain's buildings. After we would have lunch, then free time where I took some naps, hung out with my peers, shop, and did some general exploring around toledo. Then we would have dinner, and sometimes a night walk, and then do homework/ stay up playing games together or just talking. 

What was the biggest challenge of your EP?

The biggest challenge of my ep was getting more comfortable with speaking spanish. Especially in the classroom to the professor, trying to articulate my ideas, I was thinking about them in English and then translating, which as I spent more time in Spain, I realized was less efficient. Also just getting more confident in my own Spanish, speaking proudly instead of questioning myself was hard to get over.  

What was the biggest reward of your EP? 

My biggest reward was realizing the value of perspective and culture. The things I learned in the classroom weren’t just things that I saw in Spain, but in my own personal life. I thought my dominican culture and language would contradict and hinder my success in america, but I realized that it can only enhance it. And I don't have to pick and choose what I should throw away and what I should keep with me. It's never that black or white and I realized that while seeing just how important culture is to some Spanish businesses but also to museums in Spain and how the “value” of their culture is never compromised or thought of. 

What do you wish you had known before you went on your EP?

I didn’t need to bring as much clothes that I did, and I could’ve brought more stuff to bring with me back home. I went on a shopping spree before leaving to buy clothes for Spain, and I do think that's necessary or I recommend it, but some of the things I brought to Spain with me, I just didn’t use and just took up space and weight. Save more space to get things in your country, because I was nervous about weight the whole trip. 

What advice do you have for future SEO scholars who are considering your EP?

I believe it's worth the process to do it, I recommend travel EP’s because I believe they allow for the most unique experience, and one that will leave you with stories. Also stay on top of your application and its requirements, read emails carefully, don't just skim them but actually take the time to read them. 

Makaris Sarkodie

How would you describe your EP to someone who has never heard of it before? 

I would describe my EP as an immersion experience into an entirely different culture and also as   a real first step into adulthood. I did the Student Diplomacy Corps Mare Splendente program, where I explored Southern Italy and learned about their ways of life. I learned Italian phrases and even got to stay with a host family to get a view of their everyday lives. I would also say that after experiencing  my EP, you won’t be the same person you were before embarking on the journey. You’ll meet tons of new people and experience different things, but you’ll witness a lot of self-growth. Personally, the trip made me more ambitious and it also made me appreciate the things in my life that I overlook. It generally represents a transformative experience.

What is a typical day like during your EP? 

A typical day in my EP could range from a lot of different things, but we typically did a lot of tours of significant places. We toured the Colosseum, Vatican City, Pompeii, Catacombs in Naples, Oil farms, and so much more. We also had a lot of beach days, as Mare Splendente translates to From Sea to Shining Sea. We constantly went to restaurants for lunch and dinner and had the opportunity to try new foods such as Eggplant Parmigiano & Diavola Pizza. We were given a lot of time to explore each town we were in on our own and got souvenirs, gelato, or clothes that we gravitated towards.

What was the biggest challenge of your EP?

The biggest challenge of Mare Splendente was definitely the language barrier. I tried to practice my Italian, but it was hard to fully communicate and also understand people in store settings when we had time to venture out by ourselves. I often had to resort to using some Spanish I knew since the languages were similar, but not everyone would always understand. Some advice I would give to others is to make gestures and smile a lot when trying to communicate, because even if they can’t understand you, the mutual friendliness doesn’t go unnoticed and things will start to make sense on both sides.

What was the biggest reward of your EP? 

The biggest reward of my EP were my amazing groupmates. I met people from all across the country that I got super close with in the first two weeks. We resonated with each other deeply because of our identities, morals, and experiences, and it felt amazing to know I had people by my side who genuinely supported me. It was hard being away from home for an entire month, even despite the amount of fun we had. So to have that support system that I knew I could always confide in was truly the best feeling ever. Another big reward was just being able to successfully immerse myself into different habits and experiences. I was always able to adapt and get through things even if I wasn’t used to it, and my willingness to try new things elevated the overall experience.

What do you wish you had known before you went on your EP?

I wish I knew how extreme the heat was in Italy. I anticipated the normal heat I deal with in NYC, but nothing could’ve prepared me for the worst days. Thankfully my group was very big on sunscreen and overall skin protection, but its definitely important to prepare for the consistent heat. I also wish I knew to bring more diverse clothes for different occasions. For example, sometimes we would do hikes, and other times we would go to really prestigious places, so to have that variety was very important.

What advice do you have for future SEO scholars who are considering your EP?

For future SEO Scholars considering Mare Splendente, I would say to come to the experience with an open mind. It might seem scary to be away for so long, and there are gonna be rough moments, but the growth that comes after everything is unmatched. You’ll view life from nuanced perspectives and indulge in so much self discovery along the way. Another piece of advice would be not to be afraid to step out of your comfort zone, be open to new things and embrace change as a positive thing. When you look back on the trip, you’ll be happy that you lived it to the fullest.

JOSEPH BARRANCO 

How would you describe your EP to someone who has never heard of it before? 

My EP was based on traveling almost all of British Columbia, Canada’s west coast to learn about the ecology and First Nations culture. While it was not language based, we did learn a few things about the Haida dialect and a few vocabulary words such as “haawa” which means “thank you”. We did not live with host families but instead we stayed in college dorms, hotels, motels, and you will stay in tents for camping at some point.

What is a typical day like during your EP? 

Towards the beginning of the trip, expect to be out and about in the city a lot since it is to make everyone get to know each other in an environment where there is a lot to do. Towards the second and third week, expect to walk a lot and travel from island to island. You will be spending a lot more time outdoors in nature, in the rain and learning more about indigenous culture. In the fourth week, you will be traveling down the west coast of British Columbia to Vancouver to spend your final days of the trip.

What was the biggest challenge of your EP?

The biggest challenge for me was trying to open up at the beginning of the trip. When I am surrounded by people I don’t know, I become super shy and it takes me a while to open up. That is why the first three days of the trip felt so long for me because I would only have little interactions with the group and I wanted to go back home because it felt like the group just wasn't that interested in me. But by the fourth day I finally decided to open up and just like that the trip became much more enjoyable. 

What was the biggest reward of your EP? 

I feel like my biggest reward was being able to actually step out of my comfort zone not only because I was doing something completely new but also because I was able to show my true personality to complete strangers from all over the US. Not only that but I feel like I was able to create a memorable experience for not only myself but for the peers in my SDC group as well.

What do you wish you had known before you went on your EP?

Something I had wished I knew before I went to my EP is to have been better prepared socially and mentally for the trip because I thought I would be fine but I was not for the first three days of the trip. But eventually I just had to force myself to step out of my comfort zone in order to get over that feeling of being shy and awkward.

What advice do you have for future SEO scholars who are considering your EP?

If you're looking to be in the city while also looking for those beautiful nature shots, then I suggest coming to this program. It may seem lame because it is Canada and it is up north, but trust me it is a completely different place up in British Columbia and I assure you that you will have plenty of new and unforgettable experiences that you thought you would have never done. There is also plenty of walking outdoors and a lot of traveling, especially on the ferries. They take hours so just be ready for that.