Student Spotlight on Louise Plever; Greenheart Travel’s Correspondent in Spain
Greenheart Travel is excited to send a group of amazing high school students to study abroad as part of our 2016 Travel Correspondent Scholarship awards. To help introduce our inspiring writers, we are doing a series of spotlight interviews to help you get to know a little more about who they are, where they will be headed and what inspired them to study abroad.
Read on to meet 15-year-old, Louise Plever, our Greenheart Travel Correspondent from Asheville, North Carolina who’ll be traveling to study abroad in Spain!
What do you do in your free time?
In my free time I like to play the guitar and hang out with my friends. We go on hikes, bike, and laugh… A lot.
Have you traveled abroad before?
Yes, I have traveled abroad before. I’ve actually been to Spain. We went to Madrid, Barcelona, Zaragoza, and the Pyrenees mountains. Driving through those mountains may have been the scariest moment of my life.
What got you interested in learning Spanish and traveling to Spain?
I’ve always thought it would be so cool to be bilingual and taking Spanish classes inspired me to take next steps in becoming fluent in Spanish. I decided to go to Spain because I’ve been to Europe which will make me feel more comfortable when I arrive. I know it will be totally different but at the same time, familiar.
What are you most excited to experience during your time abroad?
I’m really excited to meet new people and experience new things. I can’t wait to meet my host family!
Why do you feel it’s important to travel to new places and learn new languages?
I think it’s important to travel to new places and learn new languages because it brings our world together. You meet people when you travel and speaking languages will help to make even more connections.
What are you nervous about for your time abroad?
I’m nervous about missing my family and friends. I know I will be fine but it will be hard to be away from everything I know and love for so long.
How well do you speak Spanish at this point?
I’m not the best with my Spanish at this point but I have been practicing. I’ve been in touch with my host sister and it’s a little hard to understand each other, but I have all summer to bring my Spanish up to par!
How do you think you will change during your time abroad?
I think I will become more open and understanding of people. I think I will be more confident and independent. I know I’m going to change but I don’t know exactly how yet, which is a-ok with me.
Louise Plever is 15 years old and lives in Asheville, North Carolina. Her goal during her study abroad program in Spain is “to become fluent in Spanish and make friends that will last a lifetime.” Follow Louise’s adventure in Spain on her blog post updates throughout the year.