After a 45-minute hike Bria Williams found herself quickly building up speed as she traveled down a steep 41-degree slope. Pebbles were kicked up into her face, though she didn’t feel any pain due to the adrenaline rush of speeding down the side of a volcano!
Williams, a Northwestern State University junior psychology major from Zachary, is currently studying abroad in Nicaragua as part of the International Student Exchange Program (ISEP). ISEP is an international network that encourages student exchanges all around the world.
Williams is one eight NSU students currently studying abroad through the ISEP program. Other students abroad this semester include juniors Emily Fontenot, studying in Northern Ireland, and Drew Crawford, studying in Linz, Austria.
As soon as she discovered the program her freshman year Williams was determined to go abroad.
“I'm not the type to really think things through, so I just made up in my mind that I would go... somewhere... anywhere!” she said. “Being forced to adapt to an unfamiliar situation would enhance my ability overcome adversity in any situation, this opportunity would expose me to different people improving my relations with diverse groups, and living away from my familiar lifestyle would help me discover who I truly am.”
Why Study Abroad
Through the ISEP program students have studied at universities in over 50 countries around the world including Finland, South Africa, Japan, England, Estonia, France, South Korea, Italy and more.
Although he did not study abroad throughout his undergraduate years, Dr. Keith Dromm has traveled to multiple countries for conferences, research and pleasure over the years. His love of traveling is what attracted him to being the coordinator of ISEP at NSU.
“The benefits of studying abroad are many and various,” Dromm said. “They include personal growth, resume-building, learning about another culture and its language, taking courses not available at NSU and simply to satisfy a love of traveling.”
A survey conducted by the Institute for the International Education of Students, or IES Abroad, concluded that students who had studied abroad landed jobs sooner in their related fields and at a higher salary. Compared to 49% of general college graduates, 97% of students who studied abroad secured a job within one year after graduation.
“In this globalized economy, employers are impressed by employees who have experience with other countries and cultures,” Dromm said.
Adapting to the Culture
Eager to merge into Spanish culture, Williams originally wanted to study abroad in Spain. But the problem was, all the universities in Spain only taught classes in Spanish. From there she found her way to Nicaragua, where she got the best of both worlds; Spanish culture plus classes in her native tongue.
Though she admitted the transition has still been hard.
“I'm staying with a host family that only speaks Spanish, so life is more difficult when you don't know how to explain how much you hate ‘sunny side up’ eggs, and how you would much rather have scrambled eggs for breakfast,” she said.
In addition to sunny side up eggs, Williams finds herself eating a hearty helping of beans and rice everyday, and constantly craving Louisiana’s Popeye’s chicken to go along with it.
“The food is very different from Louisiana cooking, but the fruit is the freshest and sweetest I've tasted, she said.”
Studying in a developing country has also had an emotional impact on Williams. She said it’s not uncommon to see children and elderly adults begging for money everywhere you go in Nicaragua.
“This experience is definitely helping me to become more flexible, and definitely more grateful for my life in the US,” she said.
Universidad Americana
Hoping her trip to Nicaragua would be an awesome escape from normal school life, Williams soon realized that "study" was one of the important parts of "study abroad."
Due to the fact that there is no psychology major, she finds herself taking psychology related classes Monday-Thursday. These include research methods and professional ethics. Most of all, Williams was happy to know that her classes would all transfer back to NSU as electives.
But even with the new and exciting classes, she still misses one thing back home.
“The biggest difference between Universidad Americana and NSU are the lack of clubs and organizations here,” she said.
Heavily involved back at NSU, Williams is a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Inc., the Student Government Organization, Helping Hands, Purple Jackets, Blue Key, Alpha Lambda Delta, the African American Caucus and the NAACP. She also served as a freshman orientation leader and a Scholars’ Ambassador.
“Here in Nicaragua there is nothing to get involved in besides class, but on the bright side, I have met a lot of really cool people in all my classes!” she said. “Nicaraguan people are extremely nice.”
Staying Connected
Williams fondly remembers almost giving her dad a heart attack when she told him she wanted to study abroad in Central America.
“I was concerned that she wouldn’t be safe in a place where she didn’t speak the language,” Darian Williams said. “After doing a lot of research I discovered that Nicaragua is said to be the safest country in Central America.”
From there her family became relieved and excited for her cultural immersion, so excited that they even came to visit her a few weeks ago.
“It was great seeing my family again,” she said. “Being away from my everyone is hard because I see all of the fun they have on Instagram and other social media.”
But she notes that she and her friends keep and touch frequently, and absence only makes the heart grow fonder in terms of her boyfriend.
“Being away from my boyfriend for so long has been one of the hardest parts, but we find a way to Videochat every night,” she said. “Thank God for Wi-Fi! I think this is only bringing us closer.”
Williams also stays connected back home through her video blog (vlog).
What inspired her to create a vlog as opposed to a normal blog was the fact that she felt moments could be experienced more vividly through moving pictures with sound.
“I would be bombarded with 100 people asking the same question: ‘So how was Nicaragua?’ Instead of explaining my semester abroad 100 times, I can direct everyone to my YouTube channel instead,” she said.
The Hosts with the Most
When deciding to study abroad, many students wonder with whom and where they will be staying. Fortunately for Williams, her host family has been nothing but nice and welcoming. Anita and Edgar, both in their 70s, make every effort to include Williams and make her feel like part of the family. Despite the language barrier they manage to make it work.
“Every day their children and grandchildren stop by the house to eat lunch as a family,” she said. “It's a very beautiful sight.”
Recently, the granddaughter of her host parents moved into the house, giving Williams someone around her age to hang out and explore with.
“And she speaks English, so we are basically like real sisters!” she said. “I feel like an extension of their family.”
Returning to America
Arriving back on U.S. soil the first week in June, Williams will be welcomed back with what she describes as an “epic” party co-planned between she and her friends.
But even with the excitement of returning to America, she will miss her host family most of all, grateful for their friendly hospitality.
“I’m excited to return home and share stories with my family and friends, but sad to leave what I now consider family too behind,” she said.
In addition to her host family, Williams will also miss the pricing of everything in Nicaragua. Remembering that she could buy a bus ticket to the beach three hours away for less than $3, Williams wonders if she actually wants to come back.
“I’m not going to lie, I could definitely get used to these $1 gas prices,” she said.
Most of all, Williams can’t board down Volcanoes like she did in Nicaragua. Rated by CNN as the second most unusual, yet exhilarating thing to do in the world, people can hike up and slide down the most active cinder cone volcano in Leon, Nicaragua.
“It was awesome, but I was scared to death,” she said. “It was like nothing else I had ever done and I’m going to miss doing thrilling things like this.”
Somehow snowboarding doesn’t quite compare.
For information on the ISEP program, visit isep.nsula.edu or contact Dromm at drommk@nsula.edu.
Bria Williams cutline:
Literally taking the slide of her life, junior Bria Williams poses while volcano boarding down the most active cinder cone volcano in Leon, Nicaragua. Williams is currently studying abroad in Nicaragua through the International Student Exchange Program.