Ghana as a graduate student
By Sarah A.
Published Sept. 10, 2021
I am so thankful to have the opportunity to go to Ghana in West Africa, a part of the world I would never have been able to visit on my own, let alone during a global pandemic! That fact required more extensive pre-planning than normal for visas, vaccines, malaria prophylaxis and a very anxious 48…
Accessibility for mobility devices in Kyrgyzstan
By Kobi H.
Published Aug. 16, 2021
During my time in Kyrgyzstan, I witnessed an interesting phenomenon that I did not feel was commonplace in the United States. There are many ramps throughout the larger cities of Bishkek, Jalal-Abad and Osh leading into restaurants, stores and even just along uneven parts of the sidewalk. At face value, these ramps feel like an…
Language barriers
By An V.
Published Aug. 10, 2021
The language barrier I experienced in Kyrgyzstan initially made me feel quite alienated. On the first day, when I visited the supermarket and asked if they had a certain item, the cashier did not understand me. She neither understood nor could speak English, so I stood there struggling to communicate until she pulled out her…
My summer abroad in Kyrgyzstan
By Hannah T.
Published Aug. 2, 2021
I am having such a wonderful time here in Kyrgyzstan. So far we have been to three different cities, including multiple road trips through the beautiful mountains. We have learned so much about politics and society in Central Asia, including culture and etiquette, anti-corruption efforts, economic development, key gender issues, election observation, ethnic diversity and…
Mi experiencia en España
By Christi K.
Published July 30, 2021
I don't think I was prepared for Spain to be so different from the United States. Maybe I hadn't really formed an actual image of what I thought it would be; I'm not sure. It's odd walking down the street and only hearing people speaking Spanish. It's weird going to a restaurant and not actually…
Adapting to Spanish Culture
By Brenden L.
Published July 29, 2021
Hola from Oviedo, Spain! I am currently about three weeks into my study abroad experience and I have to say that it has been one of the most enriching times of my life. Starting the trip, it was actually my first time ever flying in a plane. It was really exciting and I can honestly…
Day in my life in Oviedo, Spain
By Shanley S.
Published July 28, 2021
The sound of my iPhone alarm wakes me up around a reasonable 8:30 a.m. Spaniard's and I share a common hatred of early mornings. I eat a small breakfast at my house consisting of Kellogg cereal with milk. I grab my mask and I am off on my 10-minute walk through the city of Oviedo.…
Experiencing Spain
By Margot R.
Published July 27, 2021
Hello! My name is Margot and I am currently in Oviedo, Spain. I am here for the month of July studying Spanish and living with a host family. I have loved Spain; however, there have been many cultural and custom changes that I have just started to adjust to. Food-wise, it is great. I love…
Experiencing a new culture
By Ellie L.
Published July 26, 2021
My study abroad program in Spain has been astonishing! It didn't hit me that I was going to be staying in a different country across the world for a month until I got off the bus I took to Oviedo from where my flight landed in Madrid. My host mom picked me up from the…
When emergencies happen abroad
By Sydney M.
Published June 2, 2021
Leaving for study abroad was a particularly hard moment for me. Leaving my family behind was hard, but what was even harder was that one of my dogs, Tator Tot, had been diagnosed with terminal cancer a month prior and was given a few days to a few weeks to live. He had been actually…