Student Spotlight on Angelique Ayoade; Greenheart’s Newest Travel Correspondent in France

Greenheart Travel is excited to send a group of amazing travelers to study and volunteer abroad as part of our 2017 Travel Correspondent and Global Explorer Scholarship awards. To help introduce our inspiring writers, we are doing a series of spotlight interviews to help you get to know a little more about who they are, where they will be headed and what inspired them to travel abroad.

Read on to meet 17-year-old, Angelique Ayoade, our Greenheart Travel Global Explorer Scholarship winner from Asheville, North Carolina, who’ll be traveling to our Teen Summer Language Camp in France!

Favorite thing to do in your free time?

My loves are theatre, dance, writing and playing the violin.

Have you traveled abroad before?

I have never traveled abroad before, so it feels like a dream to have been granted this scholarship and to be visiting Paris this summer.

What got you interested in learning a new language and traveling abroad?

I was always drawn to French culture and thought that their language was beautiful, so I began taking French in my sophomore year. I believe that interacting with people of a different culture and learning their language is a big step in raising up unity and love.

What are you most excited about experiencing or seeing during your language camp?

I’m honestly excited about every aspect of this program, but I would say that I’m the most excited about being able to experience a new culture and the knowledge I will gain. It will be fascinating to see the world from a different perspective, and learn a language with native speakers present.

Why do you feel it’s important to travel to a new place and learn a new language?

I feel that without self awareness and knowledge, compassion is lost. I have discovered that often if people do not understand something, whether it be an aspect of culture, religion, art or a pattern of behavior, they deem it as wrong. Without exploration, one drastically restricts their intelligence and ability to feel empathy towards others.

I believe there is nothing more restrictive and monotonous than being surrounded by the same people with the same experiences and opinions all the time. Why would one want to remain inside their own bubble when they could explore someone else’s?

What are you most nervous about?

I’m excited for the opportunity to converse with native speakers; it is also what I am the most nervous about. I know it’s inevitable that I will pronounce or say something wrong, but I am going to learn to embrace that because I know this program will make me a better French speaker and I am so grateful for that.

How well do you speak a second language at this point?

I have taken two French courses in high school, so I would say I’m beginner to intermediate level.

How do you think you will change the most during your time abroad?

I believe my time abroad will force me to step outside of my comfort zone and be much more willing to approach new people. I also hope it will give me a new outlook on the behaviors and interactions regarding cultural differences and life globally