CEDEI – CEDEI

Augustana College and CEDEI Partnership: Cuenca, Ecuador

March 19, 2018

Augustana College in Rock Island, Illinois was the original partner and collaborator of CEDEI. The concept of CEDEI began over twenty-five years ago when two of the Augustana professors, Tom Brown and Steve Wille, began to travel with students to Cuenca. These experiences were the seeds that grew into CEDEI, an institution of education and bridge-building that has worked with students from around the world for decades. This interview with Dr. Araceli Masterson, Associate Professor of Spanish and Director of the…

Now and Then: The Cycle of Studying Abroad

November 23, 2017

Kristen Sawyer

CEDEI, Study Abroad

Two international programs students who are here for the Fall Semester in the Andes shared their thoughts two months ago, in their first week at CEDEI. We looped back now, as they’re approaching their final weeks here, to see what moments have stood out and what they’re grateful for about this experience. Out of all the countries to study abroad, why did you choose Ecuador and why did you choose the CEDEI program in Cuenca? Kayla: The program was approved…

Reflecting on Arriving in Ecuador

November 22, 2017

Martina Maya-Callen

CEDEI, Ecuador

As with any journey, it officially starts with a packed suitcase, a passport, and a ticket. I arrived to Dulles Airport with heightened awareness of the fact that this would be my first official time stepping on an airplane and not knowing anyone. The whole car ride I was filled with butterflies of excitement and the nervousness of not fulling knowing what I was getting myself into. What I would soon come to realize is that I got myself into…

Cuenca-Loving Program Coordinator: Janae Knipp

November 9, 2017

Kristen Sawyer

Cuenca

Cuenca is Calling! Nearly four years ago I walked through Cuenca for the first time and felt enchanted. The river! The mountains! The cobblestone streets! I was under the spell of its South American charm. As I started my teaching contract, my feelings didn’t change too much. Sure, there were the normal frustrations. On rainy days, I really wished I had my car. I missed almond butter and Ben & Jerry’s ice cream. I got frustrated when the Cuencanos’ strolling pace…

Settling Into Cuenca

November 7, 2017

Martina Maya-Callen

CEDEI, Cuenca

On a bus after the first week of adventures in Ecuador there were small bits of anxiety in the pit of my stomach as we are heading to Cuenca, Ecuador, the city in which I will be living for the next semester. We arrive at CEDEI and all of the students line up to meet their families for the first time and I am kindly greeted by my host mother. We swiftly leave CEDEI so that I can get acquainted…

Interview with Teresa Clare: Biologist, Conservationist and Filmmaker

October 18, 2017

Kristen Sawyer

CEDEI

Teresa Clare: CEDEI Environmental Science Professor Where are you from and how did you end up in teaching? I am from England (born in Huntingdon but mostly grew up in Leicestershire). I took my first degree in Zoology at the University of Leeds (with subsidiary subjects botany, biochemistry and environmental science), then my PhD on behaviour and ecology of cichlid fishes based at the University of Wales, Aberystwyth (now Aberystwyth University). For my PhD I spent about 10 months doing…

Our Innate Creativity: Nuestro Creatividad Implícito

October 18, 2017

Kristen Sawyer

CEDEI

Our Innate Creativity: Nuestro Creatividad Implícito– An Interview with Jobita Anguisaca, Art Professor at CEDEI “…because art is creativity and expression, which are innate in every human being.” “…porque el arte es creatividad y expresión y eso va implícito en cada ser humano.” Where are you from and how did you begin this work as an art professor? I was born in Cuenca and studied in la Escuela de Artes de la Universidad Estatal de Cuenca; I received my degree in…

Badger-Loving Program Director

October 16, 2017

Kristen Sawyer

CEDEI

A recent interview with Diana Rosales, the new Director of CEDEI International Programs. She joined the team a few months ago, and has had lots of experience traveling the world and living abroad. What does your position as Director of International Programs entail? As Director of International Programs I oversee the Office of International Programs at CEDEI. I organize all the components of our study abroad programs and coordinate with our partner institutions to ensure that the programs fulfill their…