Moving to a new country brings exciting challenges and changes to your life. I am only two weeks into my two-month journey, 5000 miles away from home, and already, the experiences I've had are shaping me in profound ways. Landing in Chile just 12 days ago, I was filled with anxiety and fear. However, when I knocked on the door of my new home, I was warmly welcomed by the most beautiful family imaginable. I have become a part of their family and doing life with them is such a beautiful gift. My 1 year old host brother has stolen my heart.

Hallöchen, Junge! Are you planning on traveling to or studying abroad in Germany, and you’d like to say “moin” to the cool kids, or is it “egal” to you? Even if your answer is “jein,” I’d like to briefly explain a few German slang words to help you navigate the more informal parts of your time in the country.

Asakusa is a wonderful city to visit in Japan. There are shopping streets, Tokyo Skytree, and many shrines. There’s a lot of history there and it is a great place to immerse yourself in Japanese culture. It’s a great day trip, but you could really spend multiple days exploring all there is to do! I spent a Sunday in Asakusa, and here is everything I did! 

If you're seriously considering going abroad, you've probably done a little bit of research on your destination country.