Rewarding
By Shelby D.
Published Jan. 15, 2020
If I had to pick one word to describe my experience in Costa Rica thus far it would be "rewarding". I came expecting to learn about healthcare abroad and am leaving with so much more. Living with my host family has allowed me to become submerged in the culture while also working on my Spanish…
Interesting facts about Sevilla
By Sarai V.
Published Jan. 12, 2020
One of the fascinating things about studying in Sevilla is that you happen to find yourself learning about history day to day. In my first two weeks living here, I took a Spanish intensive course about the cultural history of Spain. I learned a lot about the different cultures that reigned the Iberian Peninsula throughout…
On living in the open air
By Tessi R.
Published Jan. 8, 2020
Jan. 5, 2020: I'm in a bus in Costa Rica, watching banana plantations flash by out the window. I’m fascinated by how outside everyone lives here. I remember it from Ecuador, and Southern Spain, and France. The doors and windows are open all the time, and even when you’re in a building, the building isn’t…
Building bonds in a foreign country
By Priyanka C.
Published Jan. 7, 2020
There's something about traveling abroad for a long period of time that opens up parts of you that you may not have been previously acquainted with. As any of my friends in the United States will attest to, I am, by nature, an introvert. I frequently feel nervous around new people and don't know how…
The bars that divide us
By Tessi R.
Published Jan. 6, 2020
The issue of security is fascinating me as I travel around Costa Rica. The foundation for our visit is "the alternative way” of Costa Rica, a country that disbanded their military 71 years ago and now rely only on negotiations and the courts and their police force for safety and security of the country and…
Shinjuku Station: Good Luck
By Evelyn S.
Published Dec. 20, 2019
Hi all! It’s now November in Japan and luckily, Tokyo actually has four seasons, so it has been a beautiful last two months with highs consistently in and around the upper 60’s F/low 20’s C. That being said, I abhor the cold and I hate going out in the winter, but when I’m trying to…
Native Spanish speaker in Spain (it’s surprisingly not easy)
By Sarai V.
Published Dec. 7, 2019
As a Mexican American, speaking Spanish is something I’ve always been proud of. Being able to communicate with my loved ones in my native tongue has been a blessing. Spanish is my mother tongue, but English is considered my first language since it’s what I naturally communicate without any effort. But here’s the thing, ever…
One month down abroad: Pre-departure to now
By Sarai V.
Published Nov. 1, 2019
I am studying abroad in Seville, Spain, with CIEE in the Liberal Arts program. It’s been one month since I’ve been here and that feels really weird to say! It’s weird how time moves so fast and I feel like I have no time left (even though I have two months to go). I think…
Navigating the rocky terrain: Studying abroad while in a long-distance relationship
By Maddie S.
Published Oct. 31, 2019
Before coming to Paris, my biggest anxiety wasn’t the language barrier that I’d surely encounter with my mediocre French-speaking skills, nor was it the fact that I was moving 6,000 miles away from my family and friends at my home university. Rather, my biggest apprehension surrounded my relationship — fearful that studying abroad and moving…
Money, banking and saving in Japan
By Evelyn S.
Published Oct. 9, 2019
Hey there! My name is Evie. I am a junior currently studying in Tokyo, Japan for an academic year! I arrived in Japan in mid-September and only started classes this week, so you might be wondering what I have been doing with my time these past few carefree weeks. Well, as a student majoring in…