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.
On November 9, 1989, the Berlin Wall fell. We’ve all read about it. People from the East and West rushed across the border, hugging and kissing and celebrating with anyone and everyone in sight. The Peaceful Revolution had worked: the German Democratic Republic had crumbled. Earlier this month, as people celebrated the 30th anniversary of German Reunification, emotions were high for many Berliners as they reflected on the anniversary and the time since.
Yesterday at dinner, my host mom asked me if I had faced any discrimination during my semester in Buenos Aires. At first, I was a bit surprised that she asked, and then I immediately started thinking through the list of experiences I’ve had here because of my race. The answer I gave her was that I had not faced outright discrimination, but there has been a lot of curiosity.
The amazing thing about being abroad is that you’re still able to achieve your goals and follow your dreams. I’m a portrait and fashion photographer based in Los Angeles. The people I have photographed have always been friends or people I reach out to on Instagram. I have always wanted to work with signed models and modeling agencies, but despite my desire, I have always been self-conscious about my work. I didn’t think my work was good enough to send to agencies and always compared my work to others.
I’ve taken six international trips this semester, and have plans for two more; that being said, leaving Amsterdam doesn’t necessarily mean having to leave the Netherlands. For a country only slightly larger in area than West Virginia, there is an incredible amount to see past windmills and tulips (which, because it’s fall, are only found in souvenir shops). Because of its comparatively-minuscule size next to the massive country that I come from, the longest possible train ride from Amsterdam is less than two-and-a-half hours.
A few weeks ago, I had the honor of joining the Humboldt University Symphonic Orchestra for the Info-Probe (first info-rehearsal). And I would like to share with you some things I would suggest noticing if you are ever in this situation.
Hello again! (but mostly hello to my parents because I think they’re some of the only ones that read this!) Barcelona has been so busy between midterm exams, papers, and presentations, but I have also been traveling and taking a lot of pictures that I’ve been excited to share. This set of pictures is from my trip to the Amalfi Coast, where we explored Sorrento, Capri, Anacapri, Positano, and Pompeii.