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JuliaGrace Walker

JuliaGrace is passionate about international policy/relations and human rights. She is involved in Model United Nations, JROTC, and track, swim, and cross country. Her goals for the year are becoming fluent in Spanish and learning all about Ecuador. She would like to return to Ecuador as a diplomat or as an ambassador for the State Department later in life. My favorite quote is "In my nervousness for this speech and my moments of doubt, I’ve told myself firmly, ‘If not me, who? If not now, when?’" -Emma Watson

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Capstone Reflection Blog

JuliaGrace Walker

2018-06-06

Dear Readers, Family, and Friends, Thank you for welcoming me back with open arms. Thank you for asking about my year and for listening to me excitedly explain my adventures in 30 seconds or for some of you as long as 4 hours. Thank you to the two schools, TMI Episcopal and San Antonio Academy,...

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My Open Letter to My English Students

JuliaGrace Walker

2018-03-31

Mis estudiantes chistosos, locos, amables, risueños, divertidos, pacientes, y sonrientes,             Estos siete meses han sido… No puedo creer que hace siete meses yo estaba parada, nerviosa, en frente de sus salas alistándome a presentarme por primera vez con ustedes.             El entusiasmo para aprender inglés que ustedes tienen ha mejorado...

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A Three Day Waterfight

JuliaGrace Walker

2018-02-27

Welcome to Carnaval! My host family began counting down the days  in October. Every time we wash our clothes (by hand in the cement sink), someone in my family would throw water on me and scream “Carnaval”.  I honestly dreaded it and I thought I would hate it. The idea of strangers randomly soaking you...

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HOW MANY WAYS CAN YOU PREPARE PLANTAINS?

JuliaGrace Walker

2017-12-06

When I came to Ecuador, I came with the preconceived notion that platano meant banana in all Spanish-speaking countries.  I did not realize a simple fruit’s name could change based on the country you are in. I assumed platano was a universal word in Spanish. Ecuador does not take their produce lightly. They harvest at...

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TOP 10 THINGS UNIQUE TO MY LIFE IN ECUADOR

JuliaGrace Walker

2017-10-28

1. The School Bell The school bell here is like a bomb siren from a WWII movie.  Every 40 minutes, the deafening alarm wails across campus from numerous megaphones.  The siren is not for the students.  The teachers leave and rotate to their next classroom.  All students stay in the same room.  The class erupts...

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An Early Morning Discovery

JuliaGrace Walker

2017-09-27

From Friday, September 22, 2017…   I can now say I have been to the largest market in the region of Azuay: Feria Libre. It’s where bulk produce, fish, and meat are sold, like Costco on steroids.  Visualize shopping on a football field packed with merchants.   I have been living with my host family...

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What are the TOP 10 things I should pack in my carry-on?

JuliaGrace Walker

2017-08-27

Welcome to my first blog post! I leave today on the first of many post-high school adventures.  I will be living at Stanford for the next 6 days attending the Global Citizen Pre-Departure Training. In one week, I fly to Quito and will be living with a temporary host family for three weeks.  We will...

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