La Carta Category: Living Abroad

Rachael Cohen, an AMIGOS alum and former project supervisor, shares her most impactful experiences, the importance of cultural immersion, and how AMIGOS encouraged her to pursue global health in college. What AMIGOS programs have you joined? My first AMIGOS experience was in 2015 as a summer volunteer in Oaxaca, Mexico. Since then I have served … Read More

Everyday, we spend hours glued to screen. But what happens if you put the phone away and take a break from technology? Many students who travel with AMIGOS get a chance to unplug and enjoy life beyond a screen. Here are some benefits you can find from unplugging: Improved Quality of Life The less time … Read More

You’ve probably seen the colorful skulls and flowers that surface around Halloween every year, but did you know there’s much more to them than candy? They are a part of Día de los Muertos. Día de los Muertos, or Day of the Dead, is a multi-day holiday from November 1–2 that celebrates life and death. … Read More

Imagine yourself hiking through the snowy peaks of Mt. Chimborazo, Ecuador during an excursion break on your AMIGOS Gap Year. You’re taking in the beautiful views when you see something move out of the corner of your eye. Is it an alpaca? Maybe a llama? It’s probably a vicuña! But… What’s that? Vicuñas are members … Read More

It’s one thing to experience tourist spots when you travel, but it’s a completely different adventure when you go beyond the beaten path and explore something entirely new! Latin America is filled with a ton of hidden gems, and AMIGOS will take you there. Here are five fantastic excursions you could take during your AMIGOS … Read More

There are a million ways you could spend your summer break: sleeping all day, getting a part time job, making a YouTube channel, eating as much ice cream as possible…   But what if you could do something totally different? Something out of your comfort zone that could broaden your personal, professional, and educational horizons?  … Read More

Like an idiot, I came to Ecuador carrying expectations. Last August I looked ahead and saw “cool traveler adventurer Audrey,” the girl that could solve any problem. The girl that could speak fluent Spanish, change the world with her art, maybe even has a cool haircut. Independent, strong, and a citizen of the world: I … Read More

Are you or your child considering a summer or gap program in another country? Here are some questions to ask providers (and our answers!) to help you find the right program.   How long have you been running programs? More than 53 years! AMIGOS was founded in 1965 by a group of students who traveled … Read More

Audrey is among the first cohort of AMIGOS gap participants in Ecuador. Permanent staff and AMIGOS participants throughout the year increase project sustainability and build stronger relationships in local communities. “You need to speak slowly to Audrey please, she is not stupid, only learning Spanish. We are very proud of her.” This note, scribbled in … Read More

Start to a Gap Year in Nicaragua Thank you to Nicaragua gap participants Brenna and Nadia for writing about the beginning of their gap year in Leon!     The first and most noticeable difference between my home and León are the sounds. The city wakes up early in the morning and makes itself known … Read More