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…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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.…

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…

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…

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…

By Sydney M.

Published May 5, 2021

Unlike Mother's Day and Father's Day in America, Korea has it's own set of holidays celebrated known as Children's Day (May 5) and Parent's Day (May 8). Children's Day is like the counterpart to a Mother's or Father's Day in America, and is a national holiday, so I got out of classes today and got…