Hello, everyone! My name is Marco, and I am 21 years old. I was born in Mexico City, Mexico, but my family and I moved to the U.S before I turned one! I grew up in Round Lake Beach, Illinois, a small town about forty minutes away from Chicago. Although I was born in Mexico, I consider Round Lake Beach my hometown.
At home, there is always a language frenzy. My grandmother speaks Náhuatl (a Mexican indigenous language), my mom and dad speak Spanish, and my two siblings and I speak English. It was this mix of languages that helped me decide what I wanted to study in college. I wanted to understand how the brain is smart enough to produce and understand so many different sounds. That's why I study Cognitive Science and Linguistics at the University of Richmond.
As part of my studies, I decided to learn one more language, Portuguese! I loved Portuguese so much that I decided to study abroad in Brazil for two semesters. That's why I'm currently in Rio de Janeiro, known for its beautiful beaches and tropical landscape. Outside of my school life, I play basketball for the university. I also go to local markets to taste delicious foods. Join me in Brazil as we explore its beautiful language, city and culture.
Want to know more about how you can study or intern abroad when you are a college student? The Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship Program is a program of the U.S. Department of State with funding provided by the U.S. Government and supported in its implementation by the Institute of International Education (IIE). Learn more about the scholarship by clicking here!
