Ana Villagran is a graduate of Baylor University and is currently studying at the London School of Economics. She is working towards a MS in International Development and Humanitarian Emergencies. Her scholarship was funded by Texas Rotary District 5890 and by her host club, Sidcup in London, England and International partner Rotary Club of Richmond in Houston, Texas.
Ana Villagran is a graduate of Baylor University and is currently studying at the London School of Economics. She is working towards a MS in International Development and Humanitarian Emergencies.
Her scholarship was funded by Texas Rotary District 5890 and by her host club, Sidcup in London, England and International partner Rotary Club of Richmond in Houston, Texas.
She sent the following letter to Bill Davis and we’ve reprinted here for you.
December 2021
Hello friends!
A Merry Christmas, happy holidays and a healthy, blessed 2022 to you all.
To pick up where we left off last month, the Thanksgiving dinner with the Rotary scholars in my cohort took place on Thanksgiving Day. We were kindly hosted by one of the scholars and his partner and had all the traditional foods plus delicious Japanese dishes—it was a fun time!
I cannot believe the year is coming to a close, but overall, it has been a good one. The first term is now over and I was able to take a few days off to travel to France in mid-December.
My mom and sister were also able to visit me in London for Christmas. I gave them a 'local' tour and we explored other regions of the UK. It is amazing how you can find bits of Rotary almost everywhere you go. In Keswick, we came across a donation collection wishing well for one of their projects. It was lovely to spend time with my family and to share a bit of my life here with them.
Now, the focus is exams in early January and the start of the Lent term. It will be a busy few weeks, but I feel recharged and like I have a better handle on things with school and life in London going into the new year. I am looking forward to my new courses as we move from core classes into elective ones.
As always, thank you for following and sharing this journey with me! Wishing you a happy new year. More updates in 2022.
-Ana Lucia