Writing in Paradise: Checking in with Anna Šverclová

by Zoë Roos Scheuerman

As the semester winds down and many students consider leaving campus for a homecoming, internships, or other travels, other students are already enjoying travel because they’ve spent the semester abroad! This is true for Anna Šverclová, a junior creative writing major who’s studying abroad in the Galápagos and Ecuador. During their study away, Anna was hired as a blogger by IES Abroad, a group which provides international learning experiences such as internships and study away programs. For this edition of The Words, I reached out to Anna about their experiences! This is what they said: 

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In my blog, I have been documenting my experience living here through poetry and creative essay, as well as investigating some of the holes in the popular narrative of the Galápagos Islands and wilderness at large. In a place so dominated with scientific discourse and ecotourism, there is a surprisingly active community of people and a deeper, darker history of colonization and capture than you glean from first internet search. If you’re interested in following along in my discoveries abroad, come check it out!

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If you want to explore Anna’s blog, you can check it out here. The Words staff hopes that Anna enjoys the rest of their time abroad and has a safe return home. We’re excited to see them back in the department next year! 

Anna’s statement has been edited for clarity.