Study Abroad Stories: Megan in Venezuela
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For this installment of Study Abroad Stories, Megan of Beyond the Photos is sharing her story of studying immersive Spanish for a year in Merida, Venezuela.
I’m Megan, current teacher and traveler, and you can check out my travelogues at Beyond the Photos. I’m currently living and working in Guadalajara, Mexico, a move I would never have had the skills or courage to make without my previous experience studying abroad in Venezuela.
My study abroad story dates back to the early 2000s when I was an undergraduate at the University of Minnesota, Twin Cities, majoring in Education and eventually also Spanish Studies. I spent a year studying in Merida, Venezuela, from 2004 – 2005. This was back when Chavez was still the president, way before the current crisis. Today, my heart goes out to Venezuela, those still in the country and those focused to migrate around the world. The people of Venezuela were so kind, welcoming, and helpful. I appreciated their deep connections to friends and families and their love of life.
Choosing the Program
My university had a huge list of potential international opportunities – everything from small language schools to exchanges at major universities around the world. Some programs were pre-approved and others required students to submit their paperwork upon return to be evaluated for credit. Since I was new to international travel and new to the Spanish language I opted for a smaller language program, with pre-approval on the course credits, and that provided the most hand-holding along the way.
I chose the year-long program because I knew how important really mastering the Spanish language would be for my future career. Since I was little, I knew I would be an elementary classroom teacher, and the Spanish language certainly helps in the profession. I quickly dove into another semester of Spanish in Minnesota before departing, knowing that having a higher level of language when I arrived would help me get the most out of the program
My Experience
Our small plane landed in the Andes mountains and my knees were shaking as I stepped off the stairs. That night, with my overtired limited Spanish, I met Carmen Luisa and her son, Francisco, who would be my host family for the next year. They welcomed me into their home, an apartment a ten-minute bus ride from the school. Carmen Luisa became a close friend, a second mother, and a supportive language coach during our time together. And, she made the most delicious arepas, the typical food in the region. Arepas are corn or flour patties stuffed with cheese, various meats or a fried egg and are eaten daily in Venezuela.
At school, I took classes with two to ten other foreign students learning Spanish at the school. We usually had morning or afternoon classes with a midday break to go home for lunch. I had some really amazing classes; learning botany while hiking through the cloud forests, learning pedagogy while visiting schools, practicing Spanish and learning about the culture walking through the markets and museums.
A great perk of studying abroad is that you’re always learning, all day, every day. Sometimes it would be language-learning over a coffee date or lesson about Chavismo or soccer at the bar, or even getting lost on the bus. I had the opportunity to travel around the country; trips to the busy capital of Caracas, relaxing weekends at the beach of Choroní, camping and watching the lightning on Lake Maracaibo, and exploring the plains with piranhas and anacondas.
What I Gained from the Experience
I cried all the way home on the airplane; both excited to get home and devastated to leave the life I enjoyed so much in Venezuela. I gained life-long friends from Venezuela and around the world. The Spanish skills that I learned and have continued to develop have led to jobs, travel and volunteer opportunities.
I gained patience, empathy, and cultural competencies. In Venezuela, I was so often frustrated by the lack of punctuality and planning. Now, I find that I’m much more go-with-the-flow, controlling what I can but more understanding of the bigger picture and varying cultural norms. I connect better with others, communicate more clearly, and I have more confidence in myself.
I have a fuller understanding of the world. Immersing myself in another culture, learning to live in a different country, understanding the privilege I have and the systems that run our world. Because of studying abroad, I am a stronger member of my own community and work to change unjust systems.
Studying abroad opened a whole world of travel. After teaching in Minneapolis Public Schools for eight years, I took a leap to international teaching. Almost four years ago, I moved to Guadalajara, Mexico. Now, in addition to teaching full time, I’m a volunteer at a shelter for migrants in transit and refugees. Without the language, cultural and communication skills, and international experience from my year in Venezuela, I would never be here today.
Advice for Students
- Find a balance that fits your goals. For me, I wanted to both learn the language and travel the country. I learned more language around Merida, with my Venezuelan friends, boyfriend and host family. Most of the traveling I did was with other foreign students, so mostly in English.
- Go for longer. If you can work it out financially, do it. Years later it won’t matter if you graduated on time.
- Live in the moment. I studied abroad in an era before smartphones and social media but today I think it’s even more important to be conscious of putting life back home on pause, putting that phone down, and really connecting with the people that are right in front of you.
- Journal. Write down your experience, what you’re doing, how you’re feeling and what you’re noticing. It’ll help you make the most of your experience and you’ll have a great notebook full of reflections to look back at later.
About the Author: Megan is a teacher, traveler, outdoor enthusiast and a community volunteer. She has been living in sunny Mexico for the past four years. She shares her travel adventures, stories of life abroad and experiences working with migrants and refugees on her blog, Beyond the Photos. Check out more from Megan’s time in Venezuela!
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