TTS35 Semester Blog

While this semester unexpectedly switched from all experiential to virtual, our goal to make classes engaging and creative remains. Teachers have worked to bring costumes, videos, games and relevant material to class. Students have taken the lead and are researching...

Day 1 We started this day with an early morning, leaving Latacunga at 8am and beginning the windy bus ride through the mountains with our friend Humberto. The landscape outside caught my eye – it was a sunny day and and the green Andes mountains were glowing. We made...

Spanish Immersion When we first arrived to Otavalo, we were all filled with nerves as to what was looming ahead of us: homestays! However, we had many hours of Spanish immersion classes ahead of us to help us prepare. We were split up into our Spanish classes and each...

Global Studies: Global Studies has begun the semester by developing a lens for critical thinking as students, travelers, and global citizens. Our classes have included discussions and assignments related to how our own experiences have created the means by which we...

Chocolate Making -- our first activity!  Upon our arrival in Mindo, we jumped into activities with a chocolate making tour. We gathered around the fire while the music of drums beating around us filled the air. We threw the cacao beans into a clay pot that had been...

While many in the states were focused on the Super Bowl, TTS35 strutted into their semester full of curiosity, intention and open minds, ready to receive their first passport stamp of the semester. After a long day of travel, with a quick hop over in Bogota, the...

A new semester begins! After months of preparation and anticipation the young women of TTS35 made their way to Washington, DC  for US Orientation. Teetering between nervousness and excitement, students participated in name games, duffle checks, their first group...

Carolyn Hamilton is an alumna parent. Her daughter, Frances, was on the 2018 semester in southern Africa. As the next adventurous and curious band of young women embark on their own adventure, she wanted to share some advice and perspective. On this winter morning, I...