Hello! My name is Nathan Rayl. I am preparing to study abroad at the main campus of USFQ (Universidad San Francisco de Quito) in Quito, Ecuador, as well as the extension campus in San Cristobal in the Galapagos! I came upon this opportunity in mid-February while browsing through USC’s direct international programs. I am enrolled in the Marine Ecology track of the GAIAS program, as the credits are relevant and transferable to my Marine Science major at USC.
The first steps involved applying through USC, followed by a longer application process conducted by the host university. This process required some patience to handle all the personal and pre-departure information, vaccine and insurance information, questionnaires about host family matching, academic records, etc. In the past weeks, I have completed my PADI open-water scuba certification, gotten updated vaccines for COVID, yellow fever, rabies, and tetanus, booked my flight to Quito, and begun packing my bags for departure. There is a slight fear in my head that something will go wrong just before departure; however, maintaining contact with Carla, the GAIAS coordinator at the host university, has calmed my fears. I was recently paired with my host family located in the Cumbaya valley of Quito, about a 25-minute walk from campus. There are many unknowns regarding what my house will look like, how the classes are structured, and what the day-to-day experience will be like. Fortunately, the critical details of registration, arrival, and housing are confirmed, and I’m just excited to embark on this incredible, life-changing journey to Ecuador!
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