Andrea Perez Escujuri is a senior majoring in elementary education, double-minoring in psychology and disabilities studies, and pursuing concentrations in human development and Spanish for Global Professions & Translation. She is from a small town near Pamplona, Spain, called Oloriz. Andrea is a member of Alpha Sigma Alpha, the International Club, and the Historian for Roanoke College Botanical. She works for Stage Tech and the Advancement Office.
“I came to Roanoke College in the spring semester of 2023 as an exchange student, and I was supposed to just be here for the semester and then go back to Spain. But there was one day when I went to a school to observe and see what an American school is, and the international coordinator asked me if I liked it or not. Then she asked me if I wanted to transfer here and apply as an international student and graduate from Roanoke College. I really thought about it, and in the very last two weeks of my spring semester of that year, I decided to transfer. So, yeah, I’ve been here for about two and a half years. I would say that this college was for me like the movies.”
“I have struggled a little bit with the food times because, for example, eating at 12/noon. For us, it’s like so weird, because we usually get lunch at 2 pm-3 pm, and then dinner pretty late. So it was crazy getting used to like the schedules here.”
“I was placed in Chalmers, the multicultural international floor, and I have met people from all over the world and it’s been really nice. They say that Chalmers for many of the internationals is our home away from home. The common areas serve as a gathering space where we study, cook, and share our cultures. I wasn’t expecting at all to meet this many international people. I get homesick sometimes and I wish I could be in Spain, but then this is a great opportunity for me like this wasn’t in my plans at all.”
Her hobbies include traveling, skiing, hiking, and basketball. “I used to play basketball until high school, and I like skiing with my family and my friends back home. We’re close to the mountains, so I usually try to go. Also, I love traveling so much, and I think that was one of the reasons that I came here, and then decided to stay on. It’s been really nice because during the breaks I have been able to save money from working, and I have been able to travel around the states.”
“In Spain, Christmas is pretty big, and we gather so many times. For example, on the 24th night, we have a big dinner, on the 25th we have a big lunch, and the same on the 31st to celebrate the last day of the year. On the 31st at midnight when the new year comes, we eat 12 grapes. I think it’s like, in less than a minute, it goes extremely fast. I’m never able to finish them. We also do a big lunch on the 1st of the year. And then finally, what we do in my city, after you celebrate with your family, you go dressed in a costume and go out with your friends, spending the night out in the streets in a costume, while drinking, partying, and all that stuff.”
“I’m really thankful for this opportunity and extremely thankful for my parents, who were the ones that really supported me. I’m also thankful for my professors, people around campus, and especially my Chalmers family. And I would like to mention my sisters from Alpha Sigma Alpha, which I just joined and I love them.”
Juniper Rogers
Section Editor
