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My Birthday Abroad in France and other Amazing Memories

This was the first time I celebrated my birthday in France, but definitely not the last! Valérie, my host mom, spent her Friday afternoon making this cheesecake for me and it was the best one I’ve ever had in my 17 years (exactly, as of today) of life. One of my friends from school came over for dinner and we had jambon de Bayonne, which was a first for me, and a version of caprese salad before the cheesecake.

My host mom is one of the most kind people I’ve ever met. My best memories in France were all with her and I’m probably going to miss her more than anyone else. She made the most delicious dinners and wasn’t even mad when I told her that I lost one of her spoons in the park. In the morning she would always ask if I slept well, wanted to know about my day when we came back from school, and drove Hannes and I to get ice cream and to watch the sun set (which was my favorite memory from this trip). Like I mentioned in my previous blog, she also asked what I wanted for lunch everyday.

For two weeks straight, I wanted the same lunch: a salami, cheese, and arugula sandwich. Valérie said that she gets her salami from a local butchery and they make all their products there, which is probably why it is SO GOOD. Their cheese is also to die for, and arugula just happens to be my second favorite leafy green.

Le bassin des ostréiculteurs, Oyster Farm

My host family is friends with an oyster farmer who owns a small restaurant right on the bay. We went there on Thursday night and I finally got to try French oysters!

Valérie taught Hannes and I how to properly eat oysters, which I thought was fascinating. First, you pick up the oyster with one hand and get a knife in the other to separate the body from the shell. Then you squeeze a lemon into it and drink the oyster’s bodily liquids mixed with the lemon juice. Lastly, you take a fork, stab the thing, and eat it. Easy, right? Not for me. I think I butchered the French oyster consuming routine because I nearly scrambled the poor animal in its own shell and most of the liquid spilled out in the process. They were not my favorite, but I had two anyway. It was a beautiful night and it was a great way to spend one of my last nights in France.

Bordeaux, France

The one day it rained was the day we went to Bordeaux. One of the great things about the program is that we get to experience French school, Arcachonian activities, touristy shenanigans, and also spend time with a French family every day. It’s a really nicely balanced schedule in my opinion. Sometimes the activities in the afternoon are playing volleyball at the beach or badminton in the park, and sometimes they’re more fun and exciting like going to Aqualand (a dihydrogen monoxide park) or Bordeaux, or canoeing 10 kilometers up and downstream.

Bordeaux was by far my favorite afternoon activity. Some of my friends were disappointed that it rained, but I happen to love the rain a good bit, as I don’t get to experience it very often (thanks a lot, California drought). Bordeaux is a beautiful city, rich with history, and the architecture is incredible. I’m glad I got to see the city aside from just the airport, but one day I would like to visit the outer parts of Bordeaux. I was told that there are old houses and other neighborhoods outside the square that are worth visiting.

La dune du Pilat, Pilat Sand Dune

La Dune du Pilat, or Pyla is supposedly the biggest sand dune in Europe! This was one of our afternoon activities and it surely was an arduous walk up to the top! Although I only counted 135 steps, they felt incessant. I was so exhausted when I finally got to the end, but the view was well worth it.

It was hot that day, but there was a fair amount of wind at the dune. One of my friends told me it was 32 degrees which I was really confused about until I realized that the rest of the world uses the metric system. This past week, I was the only American at school and it was very interesting. We had another debate in class, this one on “le peine du mort”, the death penalty, and a lot of students were surprised that the United States still practices it. I’ve had friends ask me about Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump, and some that have asked me to help them speak English with an American accent. Fatima, one of the students in the avancé class with me studies in Paris at an American school. I originally thought she was from the U.S. because she speaks with a Californian accent and even said “hella” a few times.

Les amies, Friends

During my first week, I met so many amazing people and felt blue the minute they left. Luckily, everyone at the school is friendly, and it wasn’t hard to make new friends. Pictured below from left to right is: Mar from Spain, Swantje from Germany, me, Alaitz from Basque Country, and Paula from Spain. I miss them already. It’s crazy how close you can get to some you’ve only known for a week or two.

Mar and Alaitz made a song about the most common phrases they heard in France at school from the teachers and monitors, and they taught me the dance that goes along with it. The lyrics are, “Allez, allez, on y va, dépêchez-vous, nous sommes en retard”, which essentially means come on, let’s go, hurry up, we’re late! I found it really funny and laughed for probably 3 days because of it.

I do wish I had purchased a French SIM card or paid for international service with my carrier prior to coming to France. Don’t get me wrong, I had a wonderful time without it, and I survived two weeks without service (crazy, right?!), but convenience wise, I think it’s a good idea to have it.

I tried to buy a SIM card during my first week in France, but you legally have to be 18 to get it yourself! Luckily, my host brother had service, but we didn’t spend every waking moment together and sometimes it was hard to coordinate plans that worked for both of our schedules.

Despite the minor inconvenience of not having a working phone, my couple of weeks in France were probably the most memorable and best 14 days I’ve experienced. Things started to become easier for me the second week and everything felt more comfortable. The language became more and more familiar and I fell in love with the culture.

Autumn Lee is 16 years old and lives in Alameda, California. Her goal during her language program in France is to “improve my French vocabulary and understand in more depth the French culture and people.” Follow Autumn’s adventures in France on her weekly blog post updates.

August 15, 2016
What I’ve Been Eating in Costa Rica

I have been in Costa Rica to study abroad for over two weeks, and of course, I have eaten many Costa Rican dishes in this time! I enjoy mostly everything I eat here in Costa Rica and have grown to appreciate the fact that it is much more natural and healthy than food in the United States. I decided to share what I ate in a day in Costa Rica to show an example of what is eaten in Costa Rica… I promise it isn’t always Gallo Pinto!

Breakfast:

On this day, my breakfast included coffee, five little pieces of toast, butter, some avocado, and some fried plantains. Also, in the little container pictured in the photo above, there is some delicious homemade jelly!

Lunch:

My lunch was fried chicken, tortillas, and fries from a fast food place. Also, with it, I had cabbage and tomato salad with lemon juice. The buffalo sauce is not Costa Rican, but I’ve been loving it! I found it at the supermarket here and my host mom loves it too!

Dinner:

My dinner consisted of rice with meat, peas, and corn, beans with chicken, cabbage and tomato salad with lemon juice, and crunchy corn sticks (kind of like a cheese curl.) I also, of course, had to add buffalo sauce. To drink, shown in the blue pitcher, I had a “cas” (a type of fruit) drink, which is very popular in Costa Rica!

Snacks:

I forgot to take a picture, but as a snack I had a Coca-Cola and a little bag of chips similar to Doritos, made in Costa Rica. They actually have a Guacamole flavor, which I love!

Cassidy Bopp is 16 years old and lives in Saltsburg, Pennsylvania . Her goal during her study abroad program is to “gain a better understanding of the culture in Costa Rica and to see more of the world, and really take it in and appreciate it to the fullest.” Follow Cassidy’s adventure in Costa Rica on her blog post updates throughout her program.

August 12, 2016
Student Spotlight on Morgan Tucker; Greenheart Travel’s Correspondent in Germany

Greenheart Travel is excited to send a group of amazing high school students to study abroad as part of our 2016 Travel Correspondent 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 study abroad.

Read on to meet 16-year-old, Morgan Tucker, our Greenheart Travel Correspondent from Greenfield, Indiana who’ll be traveling abroad to study in Germany!

Favorite thing to do in your free time?

Read and Sing. This photo of me and my friend was taken the night of our last concert. We were both in our school’s Pop Swing choir.

Have you traveled abroad before?

Yes, I went to Italy the summer before my freshman year of high school.

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

I really like being in another country and being able to see how other parts of the world are.

What are you most excited about experiencing or seeing during your high school abroad program?

I’m excited to see the different parts of Germany and experiencing what it’s like to live over there.

Why do you feel it’s important to travel to a new place and experience a different culture?

It shows how big our world is and how diverse humans are. Traveling abroad really shows people that there is more to life than just what happens in their home town.

What are you nervous about?

I’m nervous about not being able to understand what people are saying. I’m not fluent in German. In fact, I’ve taken Spanish the past two years of high school instead of German.

This is my dog Koda. He is one of my best friends and will be missed while I’m studying abroad!

How have you prepared for your time living and studying abroad?

Yes I am trying my hardest to learn at least enough German to get around.

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

I think I’ll become more independent and confident. I will know that if I can go to another country that speaks a language that I don’t know and have the time of my life then I can make it through high school.

Morgan Tucker is 16 years old and lives in Greenfield, Indiana. Her goal during her study abroad program is to “make friends that I will keep for the rest of my life. I also hope to learn about the Germans, and in turn, learn about my heritage.” Follow Morgan’s adventure in Germany on her blog post updates throughout her program.

August 11, 2016
After a Week in Berlin, It’s the Short but Impactful Moments that Stand Out
The first time I spoke German face to face with someone was when I hopped on the plane to Berlin and asked for water, soaring high in the clouds in a Lufthansa airplane, a midway point between the familiarity I was departing from and the novelty I was arriving to. I ended up ordering sparkling water by accident, but it was alright. I was just excited to be able to use my German in a real life environment, one outside the Skype application on my phone where I had spent countless hours practicing with native speakers, but never seen a German in my city of Los Angeles.

To step outside of the comfortable realm of Skype was a daunting task, I’d have the perfect system for my weekly chats:
- Grab a glass of water at 8:26AM.
- Take out my German notes at 8:28.
- Talk for an hour and then write down new vocabulary
I learned until 10. It was all a system, a game that definitely ended the second I stepped onto my ten hour flight. I can’t speak with locals for an hour on the street here in Berlin. My conversations are shorter, more formal, more foreign to the informal slang I’ve learned to love over the past ten months of my language learning adventure.

The Reality of Learning and Speaking German in Berlin

I learned how to use the formal tense on the long plane ride here, as a self learner of German I’ve had the freedom to choose what to learn from the language, and I’ve always had a simple goal in mind. I want to connect with people in the language I’m learning. I’d rather make a native speaker laugh than memorize all fifteen tenses of his language. One could say I’m a linguistic wanderer, going through the motions not for the destination but for the journey instead.

I’ve learned that mistakes in a language are an amazing thing. I’ll never forget the time I called a book a “bush” by accident in German, and asked my friend if she would please lend me her bush because I had lost mine. Let’s just say I won’t make that mistake again. But this type of attitude has allowed me to see Berlin in a whole different light, and appreciate it for what it really is.

One week into my stay in Berlin, I can comfortably say that it’s challenged me at every turn, helping me grow in the progress. Leaving the small subsidiary of Los Angeles that I live in, I knew I was in for an interesting time when my dad labeled it “a real city.” Having grown up in the Bronx, only a coveted handful of cities have merited this prestigious title from him, Los Angeles not included.

Week 1 of My German Language Classes

“Wir fangen in Deutsch an?” “We’ll start in German?”

Those were the first words I heard when I arrived at my language institute, and I loved it. Far from the Ameri-centric environment I was expecting, I was immediately thrust into an environment that rivaled Berlin itself for diversity, with only three Americans present and the other sixty students coming from across the world.

Perhaps that has been the most rewarding aspect of this trip for me so far, not necessarily all the monuments and memorials (Which are still important) but the melting pot of cultures and languages I find myself in today. Travel has an amazing way of rewarding you with what you least expect, and for me it was allowing me to speak endless hours in French with my new Swiss and Parisian friends. I came to Germany to speak German, but even from my first day I was able to speak French and Spanish with other students from France and Venezuela. I’ve learned a handful of Russian words, mostly bad ones, from my Estonian and Ukrainian roommates. These short linguistic snapshots have added meaning to a place I previously only knew in name only.

And that’s not to discount German in anyway either. Just like with the sparkling water I accidentally ordered on my way to Berlin, I’ve made plenty of mistakes in the brief period of time I’ve been here for. Even culturally, it has been quite bizarre for me, from having to remember not to tip waiters to stumbling upon a nude beach and regretting my life choices for the rest of the day. But German has been beautiful, an imperfect representation of the perfection I haven’t reached and the practicality I strive for.

It’s produced wonderfully impactful but short moments, like perusing a bookstore and talking about literature in German with the shopkeeper for a memorable fifteen minutes. And the icing on the cake, I remembered not to call a book in German a “bush” this time as well.

Learning German in the heart of Berlin has been a fascinating experience to say the least. The people here, whether German or not, have made this city one near and dear to my heart and one I know I’ll travel to again in the future. Thankfully, I still have one week left. I don’t know what adventures I’ll have gone on by then. I just know one thing. You’ll be finding out with me soon!

Sam Gorman is 17 years old and lives in Los Angeles, California. His goal during his language program in Berlin, Germany is to “make as many international friends as I can and to speak as much German as humanly possible! The only way to really improve in a language is by speaking it, and I plan to put that into practice by using the city as my classroom and by getting out of my comfort zone to improve my language skills. ” Follow Sam’s adventures in Germany on his weekly blog post updates.
August 10, 2016
New Family, Friends and Food in Arcachon, France

Le quartier d’Arcachon, Arcachon Neighborhood

Wow there are a lot of roundabouts in France! On the car ride home from the airport, my curiosity was a solid 10/10 and I had my nose pressed up against the glass the whole time, looking out the window to the city. Bordeaux and Arcachon are both very different from each other, as Arcachon is right on the water and has a pleasant breeze, while in Bordeaux, it’s crazy hot because the square doesn’t get much wind. Bordeaux is also much busier and touristy. Arcachon is probably the size of the town I live in in California and it’s so small, that it’s pretty difficult to get lost in. The French language school is only 5 or 10 minutes away from the train station and there is always a monitor waiting for us there to walk all the students to school.

I tested into the most advanced class at school and I was surrounded by kids who were nearly fluent from Northern France, Belgium and Germany. Our teacher, Jerôme speaks only French and incredibly fast; I only fully understand him maybe 50% of the time. In class we learned about tenses I had never heard about like the “plus que parfait” and the “futur antérieur”. There’s a lot of speaking in class and on Friday I had my first debate in French. Every day is challenging at school and sometimes I feel like it’s too difficult, but I know that I’m learning so much and absorbing the language like a sponge.

It took me too long to realize this, but it’s okay and actually beneficial to make mistakes, especially while speaking. How do you learn from yourself if you don’t make mistakes?

La maison et Hannes, the House and Hannes

My host family is extremely nice and considerate. The mother, Valérie, asks me what I want for lunch every day and always wants to know how my day was and what I did. She is fluent in English, but we only speak French to each other. Hannes, another student staying with the same host family is from Germany and he loves playing with the family cat, Simba, who is just 6 months old. He has big green eyes and is a brat most of the time, but makes up for his attitude with his looks (the cat, not the boy btw). I really love the house I’m in because I get my own room with a see through door that overlooks the beautiful garden and opens up to the deck. The sink and shower are separate from the toilets, and this took some time getting used to.

Les crevettes géantes, Giant prawns

“Les crevettes géantes du Piment Noir” (black pepper prawns) was the first meal I ordered by myself in French and has definitely been one of my favorites since. Arcachon Bay is famous for their seafood and I can understand why! Their “moules frites” (muscles and fries) are spot on as well and very inexpensive. I’m a huge fan of seafood and tomorrow I’m trying oysters! For the first couple of days, I would get really nervous before ordering and ask the waiter/ waitress questions in English or have a friend order for me, but I was determined to get those prawns even if it meant stepping out of my comfort zone and utilizing basic first year French skills: ordering food in a restaurant. But the reward is worth it. I mean how could you wrong with giant pepper prawns covered in butter and lemons?

Les amies, Friends

One of the best aspects of this travel program is having the opportunity to meet people my age with similar interests and with the shared affinity of the French language and culture. Pictured from left to right is Vera from Switzerland, me, Sara from Italy, Selina from China, and Lale from Germany. I didn’t expect to become such close companions with kids halfway across the globe from the United States, but I am so grateful and happy to have met them. We became inseparable; we share food with each other, lend each other bathroom money practically daily, and compare our cultural differences. I was able to use the “tu” (informal) form with them and practice lots of French, as well as learn words and phrases in Swiss-German, German, Italian, and Chinese. I taught them the word “hella” which they found hilarious, but is actually a very commonly used, colloquial word in California.

Un bateau à Arcachon, a Boat in Arcachon

If I could give advice to someone considering participating in a summer immersion program, it would be to keep your mind open to new and exciting experiences and to remember to always live in the moment. The music they play on the boats are different from what you listen to at home, the public restrooms cost €.50 to use, they’re not free, and the language they speak is not what you’re used to, it’s foreign!

Culture shock is real. Trust me and listen to Megan Arzbaecher when she says it’s unavoidable. Being in a different country by yourself is intense and scary, but that’s what makes it such a great adventure. There’s a lot of delicious food and a lot of food that you will find absolutely disgusting, but it’s a great idea to give everything at least a try, because who knows if you’ll ever have the opportunity to try it again.

I feel like there comes a point in time in your foreign language studies where you no longer feel the need to translate everything you hear into English first in order to understand it, but rather understand the language without filtering it through your mother tongue first. It’s a rewarding feeling and I think that I’m starting to get to this point.

Autumn Lee is 16 years old and lives in Alameda, California. Her goal during her language program in France is to “improve my French vocabulary and understand in more depth the French culture and people.” Follow Autumn’s adventures in France on her weekly blog post updates.

August 8, 2016
Takeaways from My Time in Costa Rica

I returned from my time abroad in Costa Rica a few weeks ago and during my time back in the States, I’ve had time to reflect on my overall experience. Most trips are exciting and maybe even adventurous, but the trips that are set apart are those that leave a lasting impact on your life. The ones that help instill a deeper sense of self, broaden your perspective, and develop skills that will last a lifetime. These are the trips that 20 years down the road you’ll still reflect upon and share about.

My time abroad in Costa Rica was definitely one of these trips. I’ll never forget the things I learned while I was there, and I’ll share these takeaways with you so that you can have an idea of what you may learn in your time abroad! I’ll share some of the experiences I had in my last week abroad!

Takeaway #1: Language Skills

Since my study abroad program was a language camp, my whole trip was centered around learning Spanish. Every morning I had a three-hour class in which I learned grammar and vocab in a conversational method, but I think I learned the most in the times outside of class. In the times at my host home when I’d be describing my life back in the States, in a restaurant when I’m trying to order my food, and in all the moments when I simply needed to communicate in daily life outside the classroom. These moments challenged me the most, and where there is the greatest challenge there is often the greatest reward.

While I was in Costa Rica, I could tell that my lingual abilities had improved a little. I was more confident in speaking and I could say a lot more. By the end of my time abroad, I could communicate much quicker and I could understand more of what was being said to me. My last day of classes I was even able to completely improv my presentation about my time in Manuel Antonio, a feat I wouldn’t have been able to do before my trip. However, it wasn’t until I arrived back home that I realized how much I had improved.

I realized that my vocab was a lot more expansive than it had been, and I could communicate more readily than I had ever been able to. I think this is an important lesson to learn: since learning is often a progressive action, the progress that’s been made isn’t apparent until it’s viewed from an outside perspective. This is like when a child is progressively growing and they don’t quite realize how expansive that growth is until their grandparents, with an outside perspective, comment on how much taller they’ve become. This is the same with learning, so in those times when you get frustrated because you don’t think you’re learning a language fast enough, or anything else for that matter, take a step back and you’ll find that many steps forward have been taken.

The language skills I acquired in Costa Rica were one of the biggest takeaways for me, as that is the what my program was founded upon. This takeaway has helped me to make major advancements in learning Spanish, and I am certain that this trip will always be a significant step in my Spanish language acquisition.

Takeaway #2: Broadened Horizons

My time in Costa Rica also drastically opened my eyes to the vast opportunities in the world. I feel like too often people from the United States have a one-tracked mindset, or perhaps everyone does, but I think it imperative to look at many different paths of life before choosing the one you want to follow. I know that going to Costa Rica allowed me to see a lot of different opportunities that I could take after high school, that I would never have been exposed to had I not ventured outside of my little world in Missouri.

Not only were my eyes opened to more opportunities for myself, but I also was able to see many different ways of life. I think having this wider perspective allows you to connect to more people and to understand them more deeply than you could have before. This is a vital experience for everyone, and it really helps to know yourself better as you begin to find out what makes you unique when you are with people that live completely different lives and are from a different culture.

Takeaway #3: Meaningful Relationships

During my time in Costa Rica, I got to know some awesome people. People with stories that are so much different than mine, and who have so much to offer to the world. We got to share a little bit of our lives together, and during that time we built friendships that will last long after I left Costa Rica. I’m so thankful for the time I got to spend for those great people and also for the opportunity to virtually meet some pretty awesome people at Greenheart Travel.

I’d like to especially thank Megan and Jill for making my trip possible and being a blast to work with! I think meeting people is one of the best parts of traveling. You may forget the scenery or what you did, but you’ll never forget the moments you spent with friends you’ve met abroad.

My trip to Costa Rica was awesome, and I know I’ll never forget the moments I had there.

Owen Arnall is 17 years old and lives in Springfield, Missouri. His goal during his language program in San Jose, Costa Rica is to “embrace the pura vida of life so that I can be completely submerged into the culture and build meaningful relationships with the Ticos!” Follow Owen’s adventure in Costa Rica on his weekly blog post updates.

August 7, 2016
3 Ways Italy Has Changed Me Forever

So I’ve been home about 2 weeks now after spending the most incredible time of my life in Florence, Italy. I’m glad to be home, but I can’t stop thinking about it and would go back tomorrow if it were possible.

Having time to reflect on my language camp experience I wanted to share a few ways I’ve changed since I’ve returned home.

Never Be Afraid

The number one way that this trip changed me as a person was that it made me braver. Even though I’ve wanted to take this trip since the minute I heard about it, I have to admit that the thought of flying to Europe alone was scary. But getting there and being there helped me realize how easy it was to ask for help, whether it be asking someone how to get somewhere, what a word means or asking for someone to go to the post office with me.

I used to be embarrassed to ask for help with anything because I didn’t want anyone to know I needed it. I know now that that is a silly fear. I mentioned in a previous blog that I got lost in Florence during my first week there. When I found my way home, I felt like a total boss. Knowing that I could be self-reliant and not crumble under pressure was amazing. This will definitely help me in life because suddenly, leaving home, meeting people, college & job interviews, etc. seem way less threatening.

BFFS PT. 2

I can now honestly say that I have friend in Italy, Spain, Argentina, Australia, Austria, Germany, France, the Netherlands, Belgium, Columbia and Great Britain.

Friends from around the world!

When fifteen kids from different cultures meet, it’s a wonderful thing. We couldn’t be more different, each from different corners of the world, but we also couldn’t be more alike. We each share some common world views, ideas, and even senses of humor. Every single one of us wishes to explore the world just like the next one, and we all have the inexplicable need to venture out of our comfort zones.

It feels as though you’ve known each other your whole lives, even though I couldn’t tell you their middle names. We got to know each other so fast that we didn’t really have time to ask questions like that. Saying goodbye to them was actually one of the hardest things I’ve ever done. I am so grateful I got to meet each and every one of them because without each individual sharing their ideas, and teaching the rest of us about their culture, the trip wouldn’t have been complete.

Home Sweet Home

I have to admit that being home since Florence has been a little hard. Although I was glad to see my family, friends and pets, my mind is still whirling with random memories. I find myself smiling often, thinking about a conversation or situation and then I am missing them all.

Not to mention that Italy is one of the most breathtaking countries in the world. And I wish everyone I know could see Florence just once. I love Nebraska, but now I feel like I need to have more than one ‘home’. And that is how I started to feel after my 2 weeks in Italy; like I was home.

A view of Siena during one of our field trips.

I said it in my last blog and I’ll say it again: if you ever get the opportunity to travel, be a foreign exchange student, do a mission trip, etc., don’t hesitate. It will change your life and you will never view the world in the same way again. All I know is that I miss it so much, and would do it all again in a heartbeat.

Libby Crecco is 14 years old and lives in Clarkson, Nebraska. Her goal during her language program in Florence, Italy is to “learn as much about Italian culture as I hope to learn about the language.” Follow Libby’s adventure in Italy on her weekly blog post updates.

August 6, 2016
VIDEO: Duke Shares 5 Things He’ll Miss (and Not Miss) About Japan

After three weeks of studying Japanese in Fukuoka, Japan our Greenheart Travel student, Duke, shares what he will miss most (and not at all) from his travels abroad.

Check out his video below for this full review!

5 Things I Will Miss Most From Japan

1. My Japanese Host Family

They were so nice to me and allowed me to go and experience so much of Japan.

2. My New International Friends

I’ve met so many new people from all over the world.

3. Going on Field Trips

In Japan there were so many places to go and things to try out, like the Fukuoka Tower and the many shrines. It was just so cool to go to those places and so interesting because I don’t see that in Hawaii.

4. Freedom

Not that my parents are strict about me staying home, but when I was in Japan I had the freedom to go to a lot of places I wanted. That was because of the transportation systems in the country. In Hawaii you either have to take a bus, walk or ask your parents to drive you. In Japan I could meet up with my friends and go where I wanted on the train and that was a very valuable thing to to me.

5. Being Able to Talk to People in Japanese

Now that might sound strange since I’m just a beginner but being able to speak the language every day was a very great learning experience for me. I was able to improve my Japanese as well as to try and figure out what in the world everyone was saying to me.

5 Things I Will Not Miss About Japan

1. The Crowded Subway

I truly, truly do not miss the crowded subway lines. As I said in my first video, it is PACKED. It was so hot, and I don’t miss it; luckily though, I was able to figure out when to avoid the rush hours and go before those times.

2. The Weather

Seriously, it is HOT in Japan and really humid. Every day I was wearing a soaked shirt with sweat; I don’t miss that. I like being dry and not sweaty.

3. The Fact that They Don’t Have Root Beer

I love most of their drinks, but the one thing they don’t have is Root beer, and that is the only soda that I drink. I was looking for it for two, whole weeks before I found out that Japan actually hates Root beer. Apparently, the ingredient in Root beer is the same in some of their medicine and Root beer for them tastes like they are drinking medicine.

4. The Guidelines You Have to Follow

To be honest, I don’t know that much about Japanese courtesy and the guidelines for how they treat each other. So I probably broke, like, two of them. I know you have to be respectful of others but I didn’t know why I got in trouble for using my cell phone and still don’t understand.

5. The Monk Encouragement

If you didn’t see my first week’s blog post, this is a monk hitting me on the back very hard.

These are the five things I will miss and not miss about Japan. Overall, it was a very great experience to be able to speak the Japanese language, immerse myself into its culture and to be able to experience all these new things and make friends along the way. I wouldn’t have traded it for anything in the world.

Duke Takeno is 16 years old and lives in Oahu, Hawaii. His goal during his language program in Fukuoka, Japan is to “learn the language, connect with the other students in the program as well as my host family, and to enjoy what Japan has to offer. I can’t wait to begin my adventure!” Follow Duke’s adventures in Japan on his weekly blog post updates.

August 5, 2016
Student Spotlight on Louise Plever; Greenheart Travel’s Correspondent in Spain

Greenheart Travel is excited to send a group of amazing high school students to study abroad as part of our 2016 Travel Correspondent 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 study abroad.

Read on to meet 15-year-old, Louise Plever, our Greenheart Travel Correspondent from Asheville, North Carolina who’ll be traveling to study abroad in Spain!

What do you do in your free time?

In my free time I like to play the guitar and hang out with my friends. We go on hikes, bike, and laugh… A lot.

Have you traveled abroad before?

Yes, I have traveled abroad before. I’ve actually been to Spain. We went to Madrid, Barcelona, Zaragoza, and the Pyrenees mountains. Driving through those mountains may have been the scariest moment of my life.

What got you interested in learning Spanish and traveling to Spain?

I’ve always thought it would be so cool to be bilingual and taking Spanish classes inspired me to take next steps in becoming fluent in Spanish. I decided to go to Spain because I’ve been to Europe which will make me feel more comfortable when I arrive. I know it will be totally different but at the same time, familiar.

What are you most excited to experience during your time abroad?

I’m really excited to meet new people and experience new things. I can’t wait to meet my host family!

Why do you feel it’s important to travel to new places and learn new languages?

I think it’s important to travel to new places and learn new languages because it brings our world together. You meet people when you travel and speaking languages will help to make even more connections.

What are you nervous about for your time abroad?

I’m nervous about missing my family and friends. I know I will be fine but it will be hard to be away from everything I know and love for so long.

How well do you speak Spanish at this point?

I’m not the best with my Spanish at this point but I have been practicing. I’ve been in touch with my host sister and it’s a little hard to understand each other, but I have all summer to bring my Spanish up to par!

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

I think I will become more open and understanding of people. I think I will be more confident and independent. I know I’m going to change but I don’t know exactly how yet, which is a-ok with me.

Louise Plever is 15 years old and lives in Asheville, North Carolina. Her goal during her study abroad program in Spain is “to become fluent in Spanish and make friends that will last a lifetime.” Follow Louise’s adventure in Spain on her blog post updates throughout the year.

August 4, 2016
The Rewards of Learning Spanish in Spain

Although I have been studying Spanish in school for four years, learning a language in a different country is completely different. One major difference is that in the U.S. my teachers are fluent in both English and Spanish, which makes translating vocabulary words very easy. However, in Spain, most of the teachers did not have that large of an English vocabulary.

Due to that, you were forced to be creative and speak in Spanish while trying to explain what you mean, which is excellent practice. The biggest challenge of learning Spanish in Spain was forcing myself to use it as much as possible. Obviously, the more you attempt to speak it the better you will get. I reminded myself this when speaking with new people or even my host mom’s nieces, who were fluent in English as well as Spanish.

The biggest reward of learning Spanish abroad was seeing the improvement in my ability to speak and understand the language. One of my favorite moments from the trip is when I was having a conversation with my friend in English, but then I immediately answered a question in Spanish instead, without thinking about it. That was extremely encouraging for me, and pushed me to try even harder during class.

The most common, and also my favorite phrase in Spain, is “vale”. It means like “okay” or “yes” in English, except it’s much more fun to say and comes off less abrupt. Generally, people in Spain say it multiple times in a row, just like saying “yeah yeah yeah”.

One unusual tip I have for people traveling abroad to learn a new language is always be trying to figure out grammatically correct answers to questions you hear, even if they are not directed towards you. For example, during dinner with my host family, questions would be asked to every student. Instead of only trying to answer the ones for me, I would practice in my head trying to answer the ones other people were getting also. This is great review for vocabulary also, depending on the topic.

Overall, I recommend trying to speak, listen to, and think about, as much Spanish as possible. Whether that is watching a movie in Spanish, or having a conversation, it’s all beneficial and rewarding in the end.

Clara Bekeny is 15 years old and lives in San Francisco, California. Her goal during her language program in Salamanca, Spain is to “to broaden my understanding of the Spanish culture and to make new friends during my trip to Salamanca. Additionally, I hope to improve my Spanish language skills.” Follow Clara’s adventure in Spain on her weekly blog post updates.

August 3, 2016