Discovering Community Abroad

Hello everyone! My name is Meredith Sullivan, and I am a senior at Wofford College. One of the reasons I chose to attend Wofford was for the numerous study abroad opportunities. When junior year came along, I had no doubt that I wanted to go abroad for a semester. Despite being the only Wofford student choosing Milan, I knew that was where I needed to go because of their business program. While I was nervous about living alone in a foreign country for five months, I was very excited and couldn’t wait to meet new people.

Upon arriving in Milan, I was thrilled to meet all the other students in my program. I was sure it would be easy to connect with these individuals who seemed to have so much in common with me; we liked to travel, had similar academic backgrounds, and were embarking on this daunting experience together. In my attempt to make connections, I attended every meet-and-greet, orientation, and welcome event. However, in a program of over 300 students in one of the largest cities in Europe, building a large group of friends and maintaining a busy schedule proved much more challenging than I expected. I found myself spending most of my time exploring the city by myself, feeling lonelier than ever.

I knew I needed to find a sense of community. That's when one of my teachers abroad introduced me to the Centro Sant’Antonio Mensa. The Mensa is a soup kitchen that provides free meals to the homeless in downtown Milan. It is located within a Catholic church and led by the friars residing in the nearby monastery. I started volunteering at the Mensa in early September and immediately FELL IN LOVE. I knew I had found "my sense of community" that seemed to be missing. Everyone was so kind and welcomed me with open arms. This was the first place during my study abroad experience where I found something I looked forward to each day.

Most of the volunteers at Mensa were born and raised in Italy, so Italian was their first language. About half spoke relatively fluent English, and conversing with them was easy. However, since my Italian was at best broken, it proved difficult to socialize with those who didn't speak my language. The other half were in the same boat as me—attempting to speak English but struggling with the language barrier. When we realized that we couldn't understand each other, we would smile, laugh, and continue with our duties.

Every day, we prepared substantial lunches for 40-60 people, depending on the day's needs. Meals and table setups were completed each morning; then we would say a prayer led by the friars, and the meal would commence. My typical task was to serve each person their main course, allowing me to interact with every guest daily. This gave me the chance to become acquainted with all our regulars and learn about their lives. Engaging with the soup kitchen guests daily was one of the greatest opportunities my time abroad provided—I was right in the heart of Italian culture, without any restrictions!

While serving our guests was a high priority, the leaders and volunteers also valued togetherness and the close-knit community that Mensa had fostered. Each morning, the volunteers and the friars would gather in the café for cappuccinos and panettone before the guests arrived. This was my favorite part of the day, where I was able to interact with everyone and learn about their families and lives.

Spending time with the volunteers and friars during each visit allowed me to get to know many of them very well. Frate Luca, Rosie, Roberto, Hattoman, and Maria-Grazia were just a few of the individuals who were so intentional and never failed to make me smile. We exchanged stories about our hometowns, discussed Milan and upcoming trips we had planned, observed the differences between American and Italian culture, and much more. My relationships with these people became so strong that Roberto invited me to his ski house, I helped celebrate Maria-Grazia’s birthday party, and Frate Luca invited me over for dinner (and gave an amazing guitar performance). I would have never predicted that my Milan adventure would include sharing wine with a group of friars in the monastery.

Everyone has a unique experience when studying abroad, and it's okay if yours doesn't align with your expectations. I was fortunate enough to find a place where I discovered everything I felt was missing by volunteering at the Mensa. If you find yourself in a similar situation, are enthusiastic about serving the community you're living in, or are simply seeking companionship, I encourage you to locate a food bank or soup kitchen and volunteer while studying abroad!

Xoxo,

Meredith

Frances Noll: Zadar, Croatia

Friends and strangers, Hello! If you are reading this I can only wish and hope you are planning a trip or just dreaming of an incredible escape. My name is Frances, I am a senior at Wofford College. I am an English major, and a business minor. Last fall I spent a dream of a semester in Rome, Italy. Rome as it has been for thousands of years is a cultural and artistic mecca, bursting at slightly crooked (sometimes smelly) seams with millions of people each day. While I could not have loved a place more, there are a few places only a plane ride away I didn't even know to love, until I was head over heels for places I couldn't have placed on a map. One of these hidden heart sparkles is Zadar, Croatia. Bring a good book, a better friend and easy attitude to explore and you will not have a better weekend in Europe.

Pictures nor words can do this smallish town on the northern dalmatian coast justice but I will attempt to describe its serenity. It's like the quiet cuteness of a sally rooney character personified meet the actual filming location of Mamma mia. Slightly understated at first, then charming, then flat out the most beautiful place you have ever been.

Friday:

From most major cities you will be able to book a direct flight into Zadar airport, which is firstly the easiest European airport you will experience. After the undoubtedly uncomfortable ryanair flight fortified with some cheap champagne, you will likely be tired as we were. If you are only in town for a weekend like me and my friend Janie were, the first night is for elevated lazy living. While Zadar does have hotels and airbnb, I strongly recommend doing a hostel. Zadar is a small town, and while there is some nightlife and the locals are extremely kind, the recommendations of other travelers or hostel workers are invaluable here. Zadar is special in that it was the safest city I have ever been to, US or abroad. It is also 100% walkable even outside of the city walls, the “suburbs” are still lively late. We personally stayed a mile and a half out of the city in a residential hostel.

Diklo beach is a public beach less than half a mile out of the city walls right next to many of the hostels. You can either go out to eat at one of the restaurants near it or pick up charcuterie and wine from the bodega immediately adjacent to it, and have a picnic on the dock or surprisingly comfortable rocky beach. A dip in the adriatic is heaven itself, and so is the fact that it is open carrying alcohol on the water.

Saturday:

The old town of Zadar deserves its own day to explore. It truly feels as if it is a hidden city as you cross the bridge over the water to see white sparkling stone that is both the walls and road of the entire peninsula.

While not not even a mile to the end, the town is just dense enough to explore for hours without being overwhelmed. Pickup breakfast or coffee on the way to enjoy the old town square. The Tower of Anastasia next to the church of St.Donat is a must see, a steep climb to the top of its tower allows you to see the entire town from a birds eye view.

Once your eyes and limbs adjust from the spins of the circular staircase, you can see the old roman forum next to the church. This town was heaven for anyone who appreciates history and almost incomprehensible ideas of how present and visible the past still is there. Wandering the streets you will come across the cutest cafes, bars and galleries. Inside an unnamed church local artists and artisans display their work and unique handmade jewelry.

The temporary gallery is called Galerija Izlozba Keramike. Across from the Kavana Sv. Love an 11th century church home to a bar using sarcophagus as space dividers is another gallery of which I don't know the name but is home to stunning rotating artists in residence.

The sea organ is what Zadar is known for, a permanent modern art audio exhibit is unlike anything you’ve ever heard. The walls of the stone dock are an instrument itself, played by the waves and currents of the water. It is halfway haunting and 100% beautiful.

From here you can walk the length of the town along the water, stopping in to swim right off the walls if you like. Map to Five Wells Square and there is a garden oasis seemingly out of nowhere, Janie and I explored this with the extremely well cared for city cats, wandering around for at least an hour. This will also be a good chance to see the park before it turns into the hub of nightlife later on. After eating at whatever delicious place you find yourself in, come back to the garden more specifically the Lounge and Bar Ledanca which is a permanent tent lit up with strobe lights though the garden and couches amongst the ancient statues and crumbling fortifications.

Have fun,

Franny

Volunteering Abroad: Galápagos Islands

Alright, let's catch up. I can't help but feel sentimental as I wait at the airport for my flight home. Knowing myself, this isn't my typical city trip filled with museums, bars, shopping, and so on. There was something that I needed to redirect my soul from the bustle and intensity of city life. While researching volunteer abroad opportunities on IVHQ, I stumbled upon the Intercultural Outreach Initiative social media volunteer position on Isabela Island in the Galapagos.

This promised to be a great adventure for me, especially since I had previously visited the Galapagos before, on a different island. I took care of all the arrangements independently – emailing the company, applying, obtaining visa information, arranging flights, and more. Despite my parents' doubts, and the uncertainty of whether this was a legitimate company with proper living accommodations, they trusted my judgment. When it came to packing, I limited myself to a single carry-on duffle bag and a backpack – quite a challenge for someone who tends to overpack, as you might have gathered from my article on packing tips for overpackers.

From there, my mom drove me to Atlanta, where I boarded my flight to Guayaquil, Ecuador. I spent the night there and departed early the next morning for Baltra Island. From Baltra, I took a small airhopper to reach Isabela Island. Upon arrival, a member of the IOI staff greeted me and guided me to my living accommodations. We had the option to stay in the volunteer house or with a host family.

Melissa :)

I chose the volunteer house, where I had a private bedroom and bathroom, access to laundry facilities, and a shared kitchen/common area with my designated volunteer roommate. And boy, was I fortunate – my roommate Melissa turned out to be the perfect match due to her kindness, intelligence, inviting spirit, and confidence. She became a role model for me, having spent the past 10 months studying female roles in conservation efforts in South America.

After settling in, I began to get a clearer picture of my daily responsibilities. I had a meeting with Emilio, a staff member, who generously granted me considerable creative freedom in my role.

Mayi :)

I decided to focus on interviewing and getting to know the host families, shadowing the English teaching volunteers to document their experiences, documenting efforts at the tortoise breeding center, and spotlighting the restaurants partnered with IOI (where I enjoyed complimentary lunch and dinner from a selection of 15 restaurants). This role allowed me to indulge in one of my favorite activities – truly connecting with people on a deeper level. For instance, Mayi, one of the host moms, invited me to dine with her family after our interview. I ended up visiting her house twice for dinner as we quickly became friends. Although she only spoke Spanish, I discovered that my Spanish was quite proficient during my time on the island. Mayi treated me to my favorite meal – fish, rice, beans, empanadas, and fresh orange juice.

El Dorado

Another meaningful connection was with the owners of my preferred restaurant, El Dorado. It became my go-to dining spot, and I forged a friendship with the charming couple who even surprised me with a farewell cake on my last night, bearing the words "Have a Good Trip!" The warm and generous people of Isabela truly made my experience unforgettable.

During my interviews, I was heartened to learn that the community deeply appreciated the work undertaken by IOI. Their recognition extended to the positive impact on the economy, the local wildlife, and the environment.

Once my fieldwork was completed, I spent time at the IOI office, crafting graphics for various topics while lounging in the cherished hammocks. As my stay came to an end, I compiled a PowerPoint presentation containing all the content I had generated, complete with their intended captions and suggested posting schedule.

Entering the program as a solo participant, I initially had concerns about making friends. However, those worries quickly dissipated after attending my first volunteer meeting (held every Wednesday).

Melissa, Hannah, Lizzie, and Hattie :)

I connected with some amazing individuals who became fast friends – Hannah, Lizzie, Hattie, and Melissa. Thank you all for embracing me so warmly and for being exceptional guides to the island. Hannah, your positivity and occasional clumsiness brought a delightful unpredictability to each day. Lizzie, your humor and willingness for anything made spending time with you an absolute joy. Hattie (I have a feeling you are crying and laughing right now while reading this), your sarcasm and unwavering loyalty will be sorely missed, as your care runs deep. And to my dear Melissa, your vibrant energy and authenticity are truly inspiring.

James and Benthe :)

As their program concluded before mine, I also had the opportunity to befriend the new volunteers who joined. James, though my surroundings are now quieter, I'll genuinely miss your presence. Your optimistic outlook and infectious joy brightened each day. Benthe, your laughter that's impossible not to join and your serene demeanor consistently kept me in stitches. Jodie, your relaxed manner and quick wit always made me look forward to our nights out and dinners. Beau, your style and composure set a remarkable example. And Demi, your confidence and passionate devotion to your loved ones are incredibly admirable. Each of you, in your unique ways, has inspired me to seize every opportunity and not fret over trivial matters. You're all remarkable individuals, and I consider myself extremely fortunate to have crossed paths with each of you.

Benthe and Jodie :)

My weekdays were a blend of work and play, while weekends were reserved solely for play. I spent my days snorkeling at Concha de Perla, reading in the hammocks, savoring breezy outdoor lunches, dozing on the beach, wading through the crystal-clear waves, interacting with the local dogs, enjoying evenings at Pink Iguana and Bar de Beto, sampling ice cream from various mini markets, picnicking with empanadas, and relaxing at Zaroa with games and passion fruit wine.

This blog post ended up becoming more of an ode to my time on Isabela than a traditional guide detailing the best places to eat, things to do, and sights to see. However, I believe this approach makes it more intriguing. I wholeheartedly recommend this program to everyone, and I encourage each person to step out of their comfort zone and embrace the unknown. Such leaps can yield rich experiences and meaningful relationships.

Until next time.

- Lily