The home stretch
By Alex B.
Published June 2, 2025
May has been quite the month for me, with a handful of cultural events and an increase in my studying as the last of my finals are finally coming around. While I did go through a Norwegian exam season last fall, this semester has felt a little weirder to me since I have gone from…
My first week in Spain: Discovering Barcelona
By Brooklyn W.
Published June 2, 2025
Travel day Leaving my small hometown, Nauvoo, Illinois, was a mix of nerves and excitement. Going from spending my past 20 summers in a town of 2,000 people to spending it in a city with 1.6 million people was scary, exciting, sad and awesome all at the same time. The travel day was nine hours…
Settling in
By Jordan M.
Published May 29, 2025
This month, I finally feel like I've settled in socially. It's only taken about three months. I met a large amount of people when I first got here. It was overwhelming and wonderful. They're all lovely and were in the same position as me, since we met in a preparatory German course. Everyone was new…
When a foreign language begins to feel like home
By Indeeera G.
Published May 29, 2025
As my studies are coming to an end and all my friends prepare to pack up and leave Lyon, I sit in my room and reflect upon what this experience has brought to me. I had never even been on a family vacation before, and now I've traveled alone in multiple countries. It's allowed me…
Class on the reef: Heron Island Research Station
By Riley V.
Published May 12, 2025
https://flic.kr/p/2r4jjkA Coral surveying on the Great Barrier Reef. This blog post is extra special because this month, my biggest dream came true: I traveled to the Great Barrier Reef for the first time. In my coral reef ecosystems class, we are given the opportunity to spend a week at Heron Island Research Station, a very…
April’s adventures
By Alex B.
Published May 9, 2025
https://flic.kr/p/2r3D1rx A beautiful beach at sunset. I would say that April officially marked the beginning of spring this year here in Bergen. The weather was fantastic, the flowers were planted in the city center, adventures were had and my classes are winding down as I approach exam season yet again. Luckily, I still have a…
Semana Santa: Easter in Spain
By Isabelle B.
Published May 8, 2025
In Spain, April holds one of the most solemn yet joyous traditions: Semana Santa, which translates to Holy Week. This entire week before Easter Sunday is about Jesus, how he suffered, those who mourned for him, our sins and his triumphant resurrection. During Semana Santa, I traveled to multiple cities to see the different celebrations…
Two months in Seoul
By Purity K.
Published May 1, 2025
As of about a week ago, it’s officially been two months since I arrived in Seoul. It’s been a fun two months. I’ve gone to more karaoke rooms than I can count and somehow, I’m surprised when I wake up with a sore throat. I’ve visited my friend’s university and learned about her school’s traditions…
International dinner
By Jordan M.
Published April 29, 2025
https://flic.kr/p/2r1DnpM A group photo from the international dinner. One of the most fun things I've done while I've been in Germany was the International Dinner. In the first week of the START course (one of two options for required German prep courses to study in Tübingen), they set up a dinner where everyone brought a…
Reflecting on my journey through goshuin stamps
By Georgia K.
Published April 28, 2025
https://flic.kr/p/2r1qKUC Kiyomizu-dera Buddhist temple in Kyoto, where I bought my goshuincho (goshuin book) and received my first stamp. As my time in Japan wraps up, I’m left reflecting on my experience so far. Where I’ve been, what I’ve done. Although I’ve kept a journal of my time here, one thing that’s helped me chart my…