By Quin Severo
Staff Writer
Students who travel over the summer might go to places to visit family but freshman Kiera Isgrig is spending part of her summer abroad in Spain through an organization called the Youth for Understanding.
Kiera Isgrig, a Mira Costa freshman will be staying in Madrid, Spain for several weeks this summer as a foreign exchange student. She be staying with a family of four, two children and two adults.
“I have to take all my finals early because I am scheduled to depart on June 12,” Isgrig said. “I will be staying in Spain for a total of six weeks. I’ve only been away for two weeks at the longest.”
The application procedure for Isgrig involved writing five essays on very specific prompts. There were many teenagers who applied for the scholarship, however Isgrig was one of only two students who were fortunate enough to get the opportunity to travel abroad.
“My parents and I entered me in a chance to win a travel abroad scholarship through Youth For Understanding,” Isgrig said. “We entered knowing it would be an unforgettable experience that would also look good on college applications.”
Aside from looking good on college applications, Isgrig has many personal reasons for applying for this trip. She has many individual interests that she hopes to focus on while she experiences an entirely new culture.
“I hope to visit art galleries, learn new soccer skills, expand my guitar skills, and learn more about Spain’s culture and language,” Isgrig said.
Isgrig has also been preparing for the trip for a while now. From taking Spanish every day in school to looking over other sources, it seems that she will be well prepared for the trip when she leaves in a on Jun 12.
“To prepare for the trip I’m taking Rosetta Stone and reading some books that include [Spanish] history and good tourist attractions in Spain,” Isgrig said.
According to Isgrig and her parents, the trip will be very beneficial to her. They think that experience will most likely teach her a lot about independence and will educate her on how to live by the culture of another country.
“Kiera will be immersed in the language and culture, which will give her a first-hand learning experience,” Isgrig’s mother Cyndi Isgrig said.
Madrid is known for its rich Spanish art, music and literature that Isgrig will be exposed to while on her trip. According to her and her parents, she looks forward to the experience.
“Kiera will gain independence [through] first-hand knowledge of other cultures to better understand the world she lives in,” Isgrig said.
Another factor that inspired Isgrig to look into the trip was her dad’s previous foreign exchange experience. Her father traveled to France and stated that he expects Kiera’s trip to be similar to his.
“My dad had always told me really cool stories about when he went to France and so when I received the opportunity I was excited to have the ability to have a great experience like he did,” Isgrig said.
According to the Isgrigs, there will be many upsides to the trip, but there are also a few concerns that her and her parents have since she has never been away for such an extended period of time.
“I am concerned about Kiera being away for so long and worrying about her,” Cyndi Isgrig said. “I’m worried about her being homesick, but I think she will be having one of the best experiences of her life”
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