One small paper rectangle, faded - a blurry, worn image of myself looks back up at me from my palm through a plastic covering that has been tinged with brown. Next to this is another smaller plastic-covered paper - crinkled, bent, and fraying at the edges. While once connected through the plastic slips, these two slips are now split apart under the stress of being shoved into every wallet compartment. Despite their rugged appearance, they are actually integral tickets into an accessible, welcoming, and expansive visit in Nantes.

Studying abroad feels extra abroad because of all the traveling that happens when people go abroad I feel. For example, when students go to Italy for a semester, they book their weekends to be in other countries such as Germany, France, Spain etc because Europe is all so close together and it is easy to travel around it when in the area. In Australia where I am studying, people book breaks or long weekends to go up the gold coast, New Zealand, or even parts of Asia like Bali.

In a blink of an eye, December is already around the corner. November has been a strange month: it feels like August, like the dog days of summer. It’s when the cold finally hits and it seems like overnight Shanghai went from pleasant autumn to frigid winter (not quite frigid in the New England sense, but alas). I spent most of November not realizing how fast time was passing. Besides going to Taiwan, which will eventually get its own blog update, this month was rather uneventful.

This semester, I wanted to really expand my horizons and try some new things outside of my comfort zone. I’m not a film major, but as an elective, I decided to take a class offered by IES Abroad that allows students to create a short film: Lights, Camera, Action! To me, this was an extremely exciting opportunity because I had always been interested in film-making. What better time to give it a try than while studying in ROME, especially considering the fact that we had the opportunity to learn under an experienced professional?

There’s nothing unique about the Molukkenstraat transit stop. Buses and trams continuously collect commuters from its four shelters, one of which hosts a map of the nearby streets. Such maps appear at every transit stop in Amsterdam, but some of the names on this particular map decidedly do not sound Dutch. Balistraat, Sumatrastraat, Tidorestraat. Ceramplein, Javaplein, Timorplein. Ambonstraat, Borneostraat, Halmaheirastraat. And of course, Molukkenstraat itself, located at the centre of the Indische Buurt neighbourhood in Amsterdam-Oost. 

A half-moon brought paper to the poets of the world. 

I scrawl these lines on blank pages with my right hand (the left is occupied with a broom). I haven’t found nearly enough time for writing since being abroad, but there are occasions like these when the UBahn isn’t so full that I have to wait for the next train. During these moments, I sit at the window and watch the U4 twist in its tunnel, following a route similar to my thoughts: on a straight track, then switching abruptly. In darkness, then drenched in light. 

One of the joys I’ve found while studying abroad has been meeting up with friends from home. Although getting to know the IES Abroad and Irish students has been so fun, the few times I’ve been able to meet up with folks from my home college/hometown have been precious. It is always a welcome reminder of home, plus, how cool is it to just casually meet up with your best friend for a weekend in Europe?

Hello readers! I'm writing from an airplane seat as I fly from the east coast of Australia back to Auckland. Now, I've been in Auckland so long that it almost feels like I'm flying back home! When I first arrived in New Zealand, one of my plans was to visit Australia while I was still in the Southern Hemisphere. Thankfully, I was able to plan a trip with a few Auckland friends around the end of finals to travel to a few places on the eastern Australian coast.

For anyone who enjoys fresh air, beautiful scenery, and good chocolate, I highly recommend traveling to Switzerland. As someone who loves the outdoors, going to Switzerland has been a dream of mine since I was a kid. This past weekend, I got to check that off my bucket list. My roommate and I traveled to Interlaken, Switzerland, where we got to experience some breathtaking views. The small city is snuggled in a valley between two lakes and surrounded by the Swiss Alps.

Before coming to Quito, my only experience with public transportation was the D.C. metro. Depending on how familiar you are with the D.C. metro, you would understand when I say that I usually walk to most places and take the metro or bus when it is absolutely necessary. Here in Quito, I quickly realized that the transportation system is essential which is why it is used by a vast majority of citizens and as tourists you’ll become quickly accustomed to the hustle and bustle of daily public transportation.