Every place has different housing, the most common ones are homestay or living in the residence hall. So, when it came towards choosing my housing option for this Fall semester, I just had to choose between those two options, it was difficult because you have the option of a more authentic feel of your new home country if you did a homestay and meals included, while in the residence it wouldn’t be as much, but I had more privacy. Although sometimes I wish I did homestay, I don’t regret my decision to be in the dorms.

My study abroad semester in Japan was fantastic, and it was made so amazing mostly due to the Japanese people. Japanese people are some of the nicest, funniest, and humblest people I know, and spending time with them—or simply noticing the differences between them and Americans in public settings—was one of my favorite takeaways from studying abroad. 

After weeks of classes, it was finally time for our group of IES Abroad students to band together and strut our stuff for the rest of the school. While we spent the rest of our term in combined classes with the rest of the students, it is a yearly practice at the end of term for the IES Abroad students to prepare a showcase separate from the other students.

Before returning home to the U.S., IES Abroad staff warned my group to expect reverse culture shock. However, I was not concerned. I knew I would be sad to leave all my new friends I made in Chile and all my love for Chilean food and culture, but I figured that any yearning with Chile would be distracted by reuniting with my friends and family at home. I thought that I would quickly readjust to my regular life in the U.S. of speaking English, driving most days instead of using public transportation, and eating bland fruit.

Studying in Chile for the fall semester (or the Chilean spring semester) may have its downfalls as you enter Chile in the middle of winter. Nonetheless, a major highlight is you get to experience diceciocho. Dieciocho is a fiesta patria (homeland holiday) on the 18^th of September that celebrates Chile’s independence from Spain. From the name it may seem that the celebration of independence only lasts one day—the 18^th. However, it usually lasts for an entire week.

Disclaimer: This is just my experience! Class expectations may shift yearly, or if a professor changes. A general piece of advice is that on the first week, you should be on your best behavior and be in dress code. As the term goes on, you may become more comfortable, but it is best to begin with as much professionalism as you can until you learn tutors' expectations.

I am one of the few IES Abroad students spending a year abroad as opposed to just one semester (which, if you ask me, is what every student should do), so I have the luxury of doing some things differently when I touch down in Amsterdam again at the end of January. After an exhilarating and exhausting semester, here are some things I wish to differently for my second semester.

Create a routine:

It's the Little Things 

Hello Hello~! I hope everyone is doing well and ready for yet another edition of me ranting about Japan and what that has been like! Today my focus is on the little things that I wish to highlight since I want to immortalize these moments in writing before I forget them and it all becomes a nice dream.  One thing (who knows how obvious it is) is that I enjoy writing! I've enjoyed it most of my life, but it is also apart of how I process things mentally sometimes.

Happy Birthday~!

Hello, Hola and こにちは～！So! It is November and that means that its time for Scorpio season! Although I'm not really into zodiacs, every morning the news gives little blurbs about all of the astrological sign's luck for the day and what to do to turn your luck around if its not so good. With the new month also means that my birthday was coming up, and I very quickly learned a friend I had made here in Japan had hers the day after mine.