before leaving the USA...prep work!

My adventures in studying abroad, have started way before even leaving the country. It all started a year ago when I decided that I wanted to study abroad and  knew that doing it in Ecuador was something I wanted to do, so I applied for this specific program through my school. I applied last January, had my meeting/interview in late February and found out I got it in in April. Studying abroad this year meant that I had to turn down some other opportunities of things to do this year at NPU but I knew that nothing could compare to doing this new adventure, plus I still have one more year at North Park to do every and any other opportunity. There is about 7 other students and also my Professor heading down to Ecuador with me and a lot of prep work went into us getting ready. We all took a pre study abroad class, read articles, learned more about Ecuador (as we are only the 2nd group to do this study abroad to Ecuador as NPU usually goes to Mexico, but with the issues in Mexico they made this switch!), got our international cards, made sure we had insurance abroad, booked our tickets through a travel agent, and had to get plenty of specific items for our trip. Over this winter break I have been doing even more prepping for Ecuador. I have been getting the rare items most people don't get in Jan in MN, (though this year it has been a very warm winter, like 40's and 50's) such as suntan lotion, bug spray, rain jackets, rain boots, capris, and so much more. Along with traveling abroad also means extra precaution of safety and health, I received 4 shots (2 in each arm) and a Malaria prescription from a travel clinic the day before Christmas eve, (Typhoid, Yellow Fever, the Flu, and Hep A shots. OUCH! that was painful! but with all that prep work I am not ready to head out of the country!

so in about 1 week, 7 days I will be saying goodbye to the United States and Hola to Ecuador until the middle of March.

Ta ta for now! More to come when I actually get there and experience it a bit!
Nos Vemos!
Allison Gilbert 

(these will be in English for now)