If time flies, then time abroad is like an Andean Condor. Time has a ten-foot wingspan, time glides at 125 miles per hour. Time doesn’t land to rest.

My second and third days in New Zealand were spent at Piritahi Marae on the beautiful Waiheke Island. Staying on the marae was a very welcoming experiencing for me. Before visiting, I didn’t know a lot about maraes or their significance in Māori culture. This post will explain a little bit of what I’ve learned, and what to expect if you ever visit a marae.

Five weeks in Ecuador has taken me to more ecosystems than 20 years in the States. Whether its planning a weekend adventure with my friends or spending hours on a bus with my classmates, I have welcomed the ever-changing landscapes and wildlife.

I was walking with (female, American) friends last weekend when we passed a club that is popular among University students. We had talked about possibly going dancing that night, so we stopped to ask the bouncer what the cover was.

“For you?” he said in Spanish. “Nothing.” (I’ve been told that the entrance fee is typically seven dollars).

My first month abroad has been incredible. I’ve gotten to see so much more than I imagined and I still have 3 more months here. Last week our program took us to Berlin and Prague to talk about the history and creation of the EU. After a 6 or so hour train ride, we arrived at our hostel, which turned out to be really nice and in the middle of Berlin. While there, we got to watch a pretty intense soccer game and met people from all over Europe.

When I thought about the Great Wall before I came to China, I pictured a giant sturdy wall at least ten feet wide, lots of people, and lots of steps. Though that’s certainly an accurate description of many tourist-heavy sections of the Wall, the section we visited on our IES Abroad trip was so-called “unrestored.” It hasn’t been touched up and reinforced to support tourism, it’s just still standing from the time it was built.

Anxiety abroad is not the same as anxiety in one’s home country. Anxiety abroad can often be similar but there is an undertone of much bigger consequences than usual. You’re in an unusual place doing unusual things and occasionally there is an unusual language surrounding you. If you get lost, you’re far from home in a somewhat scary new place. If you get sick, Mom isn’t right nearby to make you feel better. If you don’t make new friends, your existing one aren’t just around the corner.