Q&A Spotlight With New Employee - Carrie!

Meet Carrie Anderson, our new Program Enrollment Coordinator for Spain & Costa Rica!

Originally from Fremont, NE, Carrie currently resides in Madrid with her husband that she met while working abroad in Spain. She spends her time between Madrid, with him and their dog Lucy, and Nebraska with her family. Her passion for traveling jump started with her experience studying abroad in Alicante, Spain in college. She's very excited to be sharing that passion with all of our students that she'll be coordinating at CIS Abroad!

Why are you excited to work for CIS Abroad?

I'm so excited to work for CIS Abroad because I've wanted to enter into the study abroad world since I was a student in Alicante, Spain back in 2003! My site director there was amazing, and I was always so envious of his job! He opened my eyes to so many new things, and I've always wanted to be able to do the same for students!

Describe a memorable moment from abroad

My all time favorite travel memory is when I was traveling in Cinque Terre in Italy.  It is a stunning small stretch of Mediterranean coast made up of 5 different villages built into the cliff sides. I always like to do a food tour when I travel, and this one has been my favorite one yet.  I signed up for a pesto making class at a restaurant on a cliff overlooking the tiny town of Manarola.  We used local ingredients to make traditional Italian pesto served with a charcuterie board of your dreams and an Aperol Spritz, all while having the sun shine on our face and the waves crashing in the background.  It was the definition of magical. 

What has your career path looked like? How did you end up in the field of International Education?

I have a very interesting/diverse career path. I started out as a Spanish/Secondary Education major and taught high school Spanish for one year directly after graduating when I was 22. I knew after one semester, I loved speaking Spanish, but I did not love teaching it…so back to school I went.  My whole family is in the medical field and I thought that was where I might be happy. I ended up picking dental hygiene, went to school and was a dental hygienist for almost 10 years in Omaha, NE. I still always felt like something was missing. So 4 years ago, I sold my house, my car, all of my furniture to take a leap and go back to Spain for a one year program to teach Business English and travel. 

But really, I think I knew deep down, I was never going to leave. I met my husband a few months after moving to Madrid and that led me to this job! After being a tourist, a teacher, a resident here in Madrid, I knew I had so much knowledge that I wanted to share with others about studying/living abroad. It made me think of my site director Alvaro in Alicante, and so began my journey to try and enter into the international education world.  I'm very excited for this journey with you all and this awesome opportunity to work for a company that really feels like a small family.

What does a typical weekend look like for you?

A typical weekend for me is…either sitting at home relaxing with my husband and dog, or maybe having a glass of wine on a terrace with girlfriends, or traveling.  I try to go somewhere new once a month! I just went to Berlin with my husband last weekend for two days.  I just feel so lucky that I get to live here and there are so many places I want to see while we are here, so I try to take advantage of cheap/short flights and go see more of the world!

What are 5 words that describe yourself?

• Outgoing
• Sarcastic
• Adventurous
• Friendly
• Open-minded 

What's your best travel tip?

Always do a small food tour with a local! It’s the best way to find hidden gems/see different neighborhoods outside of the typical tourist traps!

Why do you think students should choose to study abroad in Spain or Costa Rica?

Students should choose Spain because it is one of the most beautiful countries in the world! There's everything from mountains, beach, desert, and everything in between. The people are beautiful and lively, the food is delicious, and the proximity to most other major European cities allows for easy weekend travel.  

Students should choose Costa Rica if they want more of a laid back, Pura Vida lifestyle. If you love monkeys, sloths, and jungles and the most beautiful sunsets you’ve ever seen, then Costa Rica is the country for you!