Student Stories: Studying Abroad During COVID-19
(Vol. 2)

Spanish Studies Abroad appreciates the feedback we have received from students who have remained onsite during their study abroad experiences this spring. We thank them for sharing these honest words of encouragement and positivity for others during this difficult period. We also want to commend our dedicated host families, onsite staff, faculty and partners who have helped ensure the safety and wellbeing of our students who remain abroad.  

In this series “Student Stories: Studying Abroad During COVID-19,” we’ll be sharing Q&As from students and how the quarantine affected their study abroad experience. If you studied abroad this spring with SSA and would like to share your experience, please email us at [email protected]. 

Mackenzie Martinez | Elon University 

2020 Córdoba Integrated Studies Spring Semester

Where are you currently quarantining and with whom?

At the moment I am quarantining with my host mom in Argentina, but I am actually returning to the US tomorrow

How are you spending your time most days and how have your study habits been impacted?

I have been trying to maintain some sort of routine while in quarantine, doing exercise a few times a week, playing music, and knitting. Study wise, I luckily have my own room here where I am able to have my classes via video chat and study, but it is obviously a much different experience than in person classes.

What has been the most challenging aspect of this experience?

Obviously the most challenging has been to lose all of the social interaction and trips I had hoped to have while here.

What has been the most rewarding?

I have gotten to spend a lot of quality time with my wonderful host family

What new things have you learned?

I have learned a lot of new songs on the guitar and about myself, I have learned that I can make the best of a difficult situation by leaning on my support system and focusing on things that make me happy.

Any advice for other students finishing their spring semester in quarantine right now? (at home or abroad)

The situation sucks for everyone, but the only thing we can do is try to see the bright side. With everything that is out of our control, we do have control over ourselves and how we chose to react to this situation.

Photos below: One of Mackenzie’s quarantine knitting projects (courtesy of Instagram)