All posts by Gloria Parrott

SPC Galápagos Islands: One word, breathtaking!

Galápagos Islands, Scholarships, Study Abroad, Study Abroad in Japan, Travel

My experience in the Galapagos can really be summed up by one word, breathtaking. Going to the islands has been a dream of mine since I was a child watching Animal Planet and The Discovery channel. Everything I hoped and dreamed it would be was exceeded by what it actually was, from the luscious highlands all the way to the rocky basalt basin towards the water. It was my first experience traveling without my family so I was cautious for the beginning of the trip but after a couple days with the amazing group I had I began to make connections and open up more. The professors (Dr. Palomino and Dr. Gaskill) 1000% made the trip a true and authentic experience because it wasn’t just our trip it was there’s too and seeing everyone geek out about the same thing was amazing and a realization that this trip was so special.

The activities we did were body testing but we got through them in one piece (some of us at least). We hiked a volcano, biked a trail up and down what felt like endless hills, snorkeled with sharks and rays all within 72hrs of each other. We saw many different endemic species that many people in the world dream of seeing. Even though we were all exhausted by the end of each activity we still all were there for each other for support and reassurance that we got each other’s back. (The photo I attached is what I like to call the homeless population of the Galapagos islands)

– Destin, SPC Galápagos Islands Study Abroad Program, May 2026

SPC Japan 2026: An Amazing Experience Unlike Any Other!

Japan 2024, Japan 2025, Japan 2026, Student Resources, Study Abroad, Study Abroad in Japan, Travel

Visiting Japan has been one of the things I have wanted to do since I was very little. When I got the acceptance notification from Professor Newsom, I was super excited! I had previously been out of the country in another SPC study abroad program, so I was prepared for everything related to packing and the plane trip. Visiting Japan was nothing like visiting Europe, as the culture and language were very different. In fact, a traveler’s worst nightmare happened to me the first night I was there, when I lost my wallet! However, our tour guide was very helpful in speaking with the police, and I was able to get my wallet back within about 12 hours, with everything in it! I feel as if that wouldn’t happen in any other country than Japan.


The people I went on this trip with were also amazing. We all hung out and did so many things. We visited many shrines and ate lots of great food, and a small group of us went to Tokyo DisneySea on our last day in Japan. The rides and food they served there were super thrilling and tasty. My all-time favorite experience, however, was on the last day for dinner: we ate at a camping-style restaurant at Tokyo Tower, where we grilled hot dogs and pork while sitting in tents or camping chairs. The restaurant was outside and offered amazing views of the surrounding city.


Where we stayed was also nice. In Tokyo, we stayed near Asakusa, which had plenty to see, places to eat, and activities to do. The second night I was there, I saw a street performance of two people fighting with wooden katanas. I also liked that the public transit was very punctual and connected all the places seamlessly. It allowed me to visit Akihabara, which had lots of cool vintage manga and video games, and Harajuku, which had plenty of interesting food places and fashion shops. The bullet trains were amazing and very fast, and they were smooth enough to play solitaire on the tray tables. Kyoto was also nice, with my favorite thing there being the Uzumasa Kyoto Village, which was themed after an old Kyoto village (similar to Heritage Village in Largo). They had a store that sold Neon Genesis Evangelion merch, and they even had a cool ninja show! Another thing I enjoyed visiting was the Itsukushima Shrine, which was very picturesque. My favorite thing on that island was all of the friendly deer, but you had to be careful so they wouldn’t go poking around in your bag and stealing your food!


Overall, this study abroad trip was amazing, and I would highly recommend it to anyone who is currently on the fence about it! The sights were amazing, the food was delicious, and the company was super nice. I walked away from this trip feeling more knowledgeable about the world at large, and it made me ask one specific question: “When can I go back?”

-Logan, SPC Study Abroad Japan Program, May 2026

SPC Japan: Truly an amazing experience.

Japan 2024, Japan 2025, Japan 2026, Scholarships, Study Abroad, Study Abroad in Japan, Travel

Traveling to Japan this summer was truly an amazing experience. I do not think I would have ever made the trip on my own, but SPC made it possible. This has been my first SPC Study Abroad trip, and I have nothing but good things to say. Our itinerary was wonderfully made, and Professor Newsom and our tour guide did a phenomenal job. It was nice to have a group of people to go with and I am excited for the friends I have made through it. It was such a fun adventure, and I am so glad I was given this opportunity.


Japan is truly a must-see country with so much to offer. I had the best food during my trip as well as my new favorite drink, their McDonalds mango smoothie. Culture and tradition alone are beautiful, but the sights are on another level. Temples and shrines are each uniquely serene and breath taking and the natural landscape is like nothing I have seen before. One experience that I loved was being able to see Mount Fuji from the bullet train to Kyoto. Also, the Kimono wearing experience at the Asakusa Sensoji Temple was definitely my favorite thing we did. Japan is one of those places you have to go to so you can truly appreciate it. The picture is of Tokyo Tower, which we were able to visit during our free time.

– Sydney, SPC Japan Study Abroad Program, May 2026

SPC Japan: Gave me memories that I will never forget!

Japan 2024, Japan 2025, Japan 2026, Scholarships, Study Abroad, Travel

Japan was an incredible experience and gave me the opportunity to see places and learn things that I never could have learned in a classroom. Throughout the trip, we explored Tokyo, Kyoto, and Hiroshima. We visited historic temples and shrines, participated in a tea ceremony and calligraphy workshop, and walked through the famous bamboo forest. Seeing these places in person made me appreciate Japanese culture and history in a way that reading about them never could. One part of Japan I already miss is the change of pace. One day we were standing in the middle of the world’s busiest crosswalk in Shibuya, and another day we were sitting along a quiet Zen garden. Being able to experience both sides of Japan made the trip feel unique and gave me a greater appreciation for the country.


My favorite part of the trip was visiting Miyajima Island and seeing Itsukushima Shrine. The floating torii gate was beautiful and seeing it in person was even more impressive than I expected. Another experience that stood out to me was visiting the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum and the Atomic Bomb Dome. Seeing these sites in person was eye-opening and helped me better understand the impact of the events that took place there. Reading about it in a textbook is nothing compared to walking through the museum and seeing it for yourself. This trip taught me a lot about Japanese culture and history and gave me memories that I will never forget.

– Morgan, SPC Japan Study Abroad Program, May 2026

SPC Galápagos Islands: Childhood Dream Come True!

Galápagos Islands, Scholarships, Study Abroad, Travel

The Galapagos Island is known for its rich historical ties with evolution and its dense biodiversity. Ever since I was a little girl, I would read countless books and studies and dreamed of witnessing the science behind it all firsthand. This trip was a life-changing experience from the cultural shocks to the various ecosystems. During our time on Isabella Island, I got the once in a lifetime opportunity to hike the Sierra Negra, one of the most active volcanoes of the Galapagos. Standing on the top at roughly 3,688ft peering over the span of 10 miles, it felt like being transported to a different planet. Especially when I got to observe the hardened volcanic rock that erupted over 20 years ago in 2005. The wildlife on the surface was equally matched to what was below with the bountiful life that thrived in the marine ecosystems at Los Túneles. I can officially say I have swum with wild black tip sharks, green sea turtles, sea lions, and several endemic fish species.


The amount of research and knowledge I have gained on this one-week trip could never be compared to the classroom. The passion that radiated from my peers and the communities on the island for protecting and preserving their native species is like nothing seen before. As an aspiring biologist, this trip provided further motivation that this planet is our home and the need to advocate for conservation should be taken more seriously around the world. My experience at the Galapagos Islands will forever have an impact on my life and how I will view our home and advocate for Florida’s conservation of wildlife. Everyone should get the chance to experience the beauty the islands had to offer; I will forever be grateful to SPC for their assistance in financial and educational support for this trip.

– Laurel, SPC Galápagos Islands Study Abroad Program, May 2026

SPC Galápagos Islands an experience that I will never forget!

Galápagos Islands, Scholarships, Study Abroad, Travel

When the plane first landed in the Galapagos, it was such a surreal moment. I just remember looking out of the window and thinking, is this real? My classmates and I were all so excited. The environment was unlike anything I had ever seen before. It was truly a living laboratory complete with rich biodiversity from species such as Darwin’s finches, iguanas, Galapagos tortoises, etc. Being from Florida, it was amazing to see elevation (volcanoes) and an environment full of endemic species. As a biology major, I’ve spent semesters learning about evolution, adaptation, and of course, Darwin’s finches. Seeing lessons learned in the classroom firsthand put things into perspective. At a first glance, the Darwin finches may look the same, but they are completely different species that evolved to fill different niches. Upon arrival, just outside the Baltra airport there were already different species of finches spotted.

There was never a dull moment when studying abroad. We saw giant Galapagos tortoises roaming around and went down into the Lava Tunnels, which felt like a journey to the center of the earth on Santa Cruz Island. On lsabela Island, we biked along uphill coastal trails, hiked the second largest volcanic caldera in the world, and snorkeled with green sea turtles and reef sharks! We also made sugarcane syrup at a farm and did a night patrol to monitor sea turtle nests. During my free time I was lucky enough to snorkel with a playful sea lion. Galapagos was such an incredible place, and their conservation efforts really did show. There was no liter laying around, and the locals had respect for the land. It was almost like being in an exotic zoo every day, except the animals were thriving in their natural habitats. The food was also really good! I learned from my time there to put popcorn in soup, which was surprisingly good. It was an experience that I will never forget, and I am very grateful for the opportunity to explore such an amazing place!

– Summer, SPC Galápagos Islands Study Abroad Program, May 2026

SPC Galápagos Islands: Offered truly eye-opening experiences!

Galápagos Islands, Scholarships, Study Abroad, Travel

If I could have told 10-year-old me that one day she would visit the Galapagos Islands, Ecuador, she would have lost her mind. After years of obsession with the endemic species of the Galapagos and countless nature documentaries, I grew up on, seeing everything in person changed my life. From the famous giant tortoises to the playful sea lions, all the species seen in the Galapagos did not cease to amaze and ignite overwhelming happiness with every encounter. Words cannot truly describe the incredible experience I had on the islands with my professors and classmates.

The islands of Santa Cruz and Isabella offered incredibly diverse landscapes, ranging from recent hardened lava flow coastlines to rainforest with daisy trees in the highlands within a short 30-minute drive. We had an amazing journey hiking Volcán Chico on  Isabella that gave us astonishing views of how lava shaped the land and coast. All our incredible tour guides taught us everything they knew about the land and its endemic species found nowhere else in the world.

The people of the Galapagos offered truly eye-opening experiences for the love and dedication they have to their islands and nature, offering true lessons of sustainability and conservation. I will carry all the amazing memories of wildlife encounters, vast landscapes, and cultural experiences alive in my memory and my everyday life! What an incredible opportunity!

– Reese, SPC Galápagos Islands Study Abroad Program, May 2026

SPC Costa Rica (ASL): Living PURA VIDA

Costa Rica (ASL) 2026, Scholarships, Travel

Growing up I always watched shows and movies such as Dora the Explorer, Moana, and Adventure time. All of these have one similar overarching storyline and that is to see what lies beyond the comfort of your home and neighborhood and see what adventures await. Ever since I can remember I have loved to see and experience different cultures and languages. There has only been one true thing that held me back from seeing the world and that was fear of the unknown and going alone. The study abroad program gave me the safety and security I needed in order to travel for the first time without my family. Boy was it worth it, in the words of Moana “there is so much more beyond the reef”. I experienced culture, I spoke with locals, I ate the local cuisine, I learned more ASL and LESCO then I thought possible in one week, I made a friendship that I know will follow us through the interpreting program and far into the future, and last but definitely not least I learned the meaning and beauty of living PURA VIDA.

Not only did this program give me the opportunity to immerse myself in ASL and strengthen my signing skills but it also helped to bring my past learned Spanish back into use. Alongside Spanish and ASL I also learned the beautiful language of LESCO which is the sign language of Costa Rica. Unfortunately with all good and beauty there has to be some ugly and that rule applies even in Costa Rica. Speaking with the local Deaf individuals I learned how little opportunities they have in comparison to hearing people. Costa Rica does not have any video services to facilitate communication for Deaf individuals, this includes at home needs and emergencies such as hospital visits. Even if there were relay services in Costa Rica there are only 45 interpreters in the country which is not nearly enough. When asked what a women does in case of and national or person emergency and how she stays in formed she replied with “I cannot live alone”. The idea that an adult that is completely capable of living alone and taking care of herself can not due so because the country does not have the technology or resources to allow and aide in her communication was eye opening.

It was also sad to hear the stories about the lives of the children before they entered the Deaf school and how they were bullied and viewed as less than by not only their peers but also their parents. This fact was largely contradicted by the absolute joy and excitement that could be seen by the students using LESCO to communicate and no one being disabled in the eyes of one another. The students were also elated to see us so open and willing to learn their language and try our hardest to communicate because in that moment they got to be the smartest person in the room teaching their language to the Americans and that is a sight I will never forget. While there were some sad times on this trip they were things that I needed to see to understand what the Deaf community experiences on a daily basis as well as how deafness is viewed outside of America.

– Ashley, SPC Costa Rica (ASL) Study Abroad Program, May 2026

SPC Costa Rica: I’m so grateful that I had the opportunity to go!

Costa Rica (ASL) 2026, News, Study Abroad, Travel

Studying abroad in Costa Rica has been one of the greatest experiences of my life. The trip wasn’t just fun, but educational! I got to learn Costa Rican Sign Language (LESCO) and used what I learned to converse with the local Deaf community there. It was a very interesting experience as we were using four different languages to communicate; English, Spanish, ASL, and LESCO. Learning LESCO and being able to talk with the Deaf community there was an eye opener as they shared their experiences of growing up Deaf in Costa Rica with us.

As for the fun adventures, we went on a lot! First, we went to the La Paz Waterfall which was gorgeous! Then we went on a hike in the Monteverde Cloud Forest, I got to see various species of birds that we do not have in Florida. The most adventurous thing we did was zip lining… I almost let my anxiety keep me from doing it, but I did it anyway; and I don’t regret it! Zip lining was the highlight of the trip for me, as I could see the vast green mountains of Monteverde. Costa Rica is known for their beautiful scenery and I now see why. I’m so grateful that I had the opportunity to go on this study abroad with the ASL program at SPC and I hope there’s another one in the future!

– Zoe, SPC Costa Rica (ASL) Study Abroad Program, May 2026

SPC Costa Rica: One of the most meaningful experiences of my life!

Costa Rica (ASL) 2026, News, Scholarships, Study Abroad, Travel

Visiting Costa Rica was more than a study abroad experience… it was a reminder to my soul of what is possible. A few years ago, after losing everything I owned, I wrote “La Fortuna Waterfall” in my journal as a place I hoped to visit one day. I had no idea how I would get there, but I trusted that somehow it would happen. A year later, I re-enrolled in school to start my bachelor’s program. When the opportunity to study abroad in Costa Rica was presented to me, I applied for a scholarship just to see what was possible. I was notified that I wasn’t chosen to receive the scholarship, but to my surprise a day or two later I received a phone call saying that the original candidate was no longer going, and I was awarded one! Without this scholarship, I believe I would have missed out on one of the most meaningful experiences of my life. Standing at La Fortuna Waterfall after making the trek down all 550 steps, feeling the mist on my skin, hearing the roar of the water all around me, then plunging into the waters cool embrace; I couldn’t help but think about that journal entry and how life unfolds in ways greater than we can ever imagine.


What I cherish most from this experience were the connections I made. My classmates Ezria, Jillian and Nora quickly became like little sisters to me, and somewhere between throwing up on the winding bus rides, sharing laughs and meals together, and falling asleep with late night chats in our room, we became friends. As someone still in the beginning stages of learning sign language, there were moments when I felt confused and somewhat left out because I could not fully understand the conversations happening around me. Yet those moments gave me a glimpse into the communication barriers that Deaf and hard-of-hearing individuals face every day, and it helped me to become more patient, observant, and understanding. Beyond the classroom, I connected with local community members, shared stories with people whose lives looked very different from my own and was reminded that “our way of living” is not the only way. Costa Rica opened my eyes not only to new cultures and perspectives, but also to the ways I hope to serve others as a future Human Services professional. Surrounded by nature, fresh food, clean rushing waterfalls, and genuine human connection, I remembered that community, accessibility, and caring for one another are universal needs. This trip reignited something within me; a sense of wonder, purpose, and possibility. And I know now, more than ever, that when we follow the things that truly set our souls on fire, life has a beautiful way of meeting us halfway, as long as we choose to show up!

– Kayla, SPC Costa Rica (ASL) Study Abroad Program, May 2026