Hi, everyone! My name is Maddie McCann-Colvard and I am super excited to be starting this blog to document my time in Ecuador this May! I am a freshman business student at the University of Pittsburgh and I am plan on graduating with a major in finance, minor in economics, and certificate in leadership and ethics. I am from Mount Laurel, New Jersey, but like many other students I tell people I am from outside of Philly (only 30 min away). One of the reasons I picked Pitt was this unique opportunity. On campus, I am a member of the Allocations Committee in Student Government Board and I am also a founding member and Director of Finance for a new student organization on campus called Corporate Connections at Pitt Business.
A little bit about me outside of the classroom is that I love art and I am a big foodie, so stay tuned for pictures of my meals in Ecuador. My favorite type of art to create is hyper-realism in colored pencil, graphite, or pastels. I have also recently been practicing my watercolor skills. I am hoping to get lots of pictures and inspiration for new work, since I focus mostly on nature as my subject.
I have always been interested in exploring different parts of the world and I knew that I wanted to include study abroad during my time in college. The Plus3 Program was the perfect opportunity for me since it is only 2-weeks long which is less daunting than leaving for an entire semester. This particular trip is focused on the supply chain of chocolate and flowers, which is perfect for me since I love chocolate. I mean who doesn’t? In addition, I have always wanted to traveled to South America and now I have the chance. I love traveling and experiencing different cultures, which is definently influenced from my parents. The 3 major areas we will be traveling is Quito, the Andes, and the Amazon. I am particularly excited to stay with the locals in the Amazon, so that I can completely immerse myself in that culture.
Professionally, I am looking forward to meeting the people involved in the different parts of the two industries. The flower industry, specifically, is on a very tight timeline so seeing how they have coped with this factor will be very interesting to learn about. I also find it fascinating how the different fermentation processes produce different flavors in chocolate. I can’t wait to try it all! In addition, I am hoping that we can interview some of the industry professionals for a podcast episode which is what Corporate Connections is all about. I have already learn a lot though our pre-departure lessons and I am excited to dive into the world of chocolate and flowers!
See you in Ecuador!
Maddie