Harwood student prepares for 10 months in Ecuador

May 26, 2026  |  By Claire Pomer  |  Correspondent

Silas Gulley will study abroad in Ecuador next school year . Photo by Claire Pomer

Harwood Union High School frequently hosts exchange students from around the world, but next year, one of its students will study abroad.

Silas Gulley, currently a sophomore from Waitsfield, will spend 10 months in Ecuador through the Rotary Youth Exchange program, where he will live with an Ecuadorian host family and attend school. 

His contact with the exchange program began earlier this school year, when Harwood hosted a meeting with Rotary members introducing students to the concept of studying abroad.

“I thought, oh, that seems cool. I was interested in the differences and similarities between cultures and the way that people live,” Gulley said. He later joined Harwood’s branch of Rotary Interact, the Rotary high school club. 

The application process began by contacting a Rotary liaison and setting up a meeting along sigh Superintendent Mike Leichliter, where Gulley explained his reasons for wanting to study abroad. Afterward, he began filling out Rotary forms “to get in the books” and attended several retreats for outbound exchange students aimed at preparing them for their experiences abroad.

Considering five countries

Rotary requires exchange students to rank five countries where they would like to go. In late autumn, Gulley ranked five South American countries, with Ecuador at the top. He said he mainly wanted to be placed in a Spanish-speaking country, but he also considered “which ones are the most culturally diverse and beautiful in terms of the landscape. Safety was a secondary concern… I wouldn’t really want to be in Venezuela or Colombia right now,” he said. 

Placements are released in waves based on when students submit their applications, similar to college admissions. Gulley received his placement in February, though he has not yet been matched with a host family. He will likely learn more specific details, such as his host family and exact town, in the coming weeks. 

The application continues as Gulley is in the midst of visa applications and completing forms for the travel agency, both of which require extensive documentation. He is also coordinating academic logistics with his school counselor. He will not learn which school he will attend until July, and it is not yet certain whether his credits will transfer back to Harwood when he returns. 

“It’s all kind of hit or miss,” he said. 

The “biggest factor” in Gulley’s preparation for his study abroad experience is continuing his Spanish studies. He is also doing more research about Ecuador to become more knowledgeable about the country where he will live for 10 months. 

He said he is most excited to visit historical sites and he’s looking forward to meeting his host family. He’s expecting he will be “living with a new family in what will probably be a bigger town” than Waitsfield. 

Gulley admits he’s concerned about some aspects of the school year ahead, such as “making friends and not knowing my way around.”