My top five food places in Amsterdam
By Lauren K.
Published Jan. 10, 2018
1. Winkel 43 The best Dutch apple pie in Amsterdam. And probably the world. Make sure you get a slice with whipped cream (slagroom)! 2. The Brunchroom Great place for brunch (duh) with a creative menu and unique dishes to choose from. The owner, Steven, is the sweetest…
Let It Snow
By Daryn F.
Published Jan. 8, 2018
Coming from the cold tundra of the north in the suburbs of Chicago, snow is nearly essential to a proper winter. It is the only thing that keeps the spirits up throughout the sad dreariness of the cold months. I was beyond delighted when I found out that it would snow in Korea. However, the…
Christmas in Korea
By Daryn F.
Published Jan. 4, 2018
The biggest decision I made this year was not to come to Korea — that was easy — but not to go home for Christmas. Christmas in my family is the most festive three months of the year. My mom sets up trees well before Thanksgiving, though we do not add the decorations until after…
My last five days abroad
By Lauren K.
Published Dec. 21, 2017
It's currently my last Sunday night in Amsterdam. Sunday nights are often accompanied by a feeling of sadness because the weekend is over and it's time to get down to business. Tonight, though, my Sunday night blues aren't because of my long to-do list for the week (which, yes, includes studying for finals and writing…
Three (almost) day trips to take from Shanghai
By Megan C.
Published Dec. 20, 2017
If you find yourself with a free day (or weekend) while in Shanghai, make sure to check out these neat spots. Happy travels! 1. 黄山 Huangshan Mountain A trip to Huangshan will take a little more than a day, since it takes 6-8 hours of travel time depending on if you go for a train…
Homecoming
By Garren W.
Published Dec. 11, 2017
After 258 days abroad, it was finally time to come home. I was ready, and had been for a while, but it was no less sad to say goodbye to my friends and host family. I had become a member of the family. My younger cousins asked me not to go and my host mom…
Creating Kimchi: a Korean tradition
By Daryn F.
Published Nov. 16, 2017
This past Saturday was a very popular couple's holiday in Korea called Pepero day. It was basically created by the candy company to sell a ton of the Pepero snacks. I originally thought I would write more about this holiday when my wonderful Korean mum asked me to come home and spend that holiday in…
What happens while you’re away
By Garren W.
Published Nov. 3, 2017
When you get ready to go abroad, especially for a semester or even a year like I did, you have to consider the fact that time doesn't stop while you're gone. It can be a hard process to make sure you're ready, and it's even harder to recognize that just as you're changing and evolving,…
Getting cultured and confused in Gyeongsangdo
By Megan I.
Published Oct. 6, 2017
It's Chuseok break out here in Korea — which we foreigners all seem to have collectively agreed is "Korean Thanksgiving" — and you know what that means! It means nothing is open and you're all alone because you, lonely foreigner, do not have a Korean family to cook you amazing Korean food or Korean grandparents…
Costa Rica: El día de la virgen de los ángeles, roosters, saints, clowns and… cow bladders?
By Garren W.
Published Sept. 21, 2017
When you hear of Costa Rica, you probably imagine beautiful beaches, tropical rainforests and tons of tourists. All of that is here (Costa Rica is a beautiful country), but you probably don't think of what happens in the rainy season from roughly March to October. I've on an IFSA-Butler calendar year program here since February,…