This semester I’m going to be diving deep into Ecuadorian culture. I’ve directly enrolled in a South American university called La Universidad San Francisco de Quito—where I am taking a mix of classes in Spanish with Ecuadorian and other international students. I’m living in the country’s capital, Quito, with an Ecuadorian friend of mine who lived at my house for a year while I was in high school. I plan on exploring what this country has to offer and taking advantage of new opportunities. I expect to make cultural mistakes and struggle with my Spanish, but I am here to learn, grow and take on my world. 

— Shelby Sementelli