I knew that food would be cheap. I knew that restaurants would keep strange hours. I understood there would be a language barrier. I was not prepared for this. I was standing in the middle of a train station, surrounded by hundreds of people, and I could not understand any of them. I knew that if I had a question – if I missed my train, if I got…
Studying abroad in Granada, Spain was an insane experience throughout its entirety. Not only was I able to develop my language abilities, expand my values as they extend to culture and politics, and communicate effectively with others, but I was also able to find a part of myself I had previously lost. Spain was an experience in which I never completely experienced “culture shock”. Upon arrival and first encounters,…
Going to Japan was a realized pipe dream. Growing up as a child of small-town America, the fact that I made it all the way from Columbia, Tennessee to Tokyo, Japan still amazes me after my trip has ended. Seeing life in a different culture made me appreciate that, even though we live completely different lives, everyone is, at their core, the same. While in Japan, we stayed at…
I studied abroad in Nairobi, Kenya and it was truly a once in a lifetime experience. I spent 3 month (99 days) becoming intimate with the Kenyan culture. One of the most prominent aspects on this trip was “Kenyan time”. Over and over I hear this phrase and it is 100% true; there is no rush in Kenya. If someone were to tell you to meet them somewhere it…
I was fortunate enough to spend 2 months in one of the most rapidly developing city/states in the world, Singapore. This was made possible by the UTC Featured Scholarship program, as I was able to intern with a Social Services NGO providing resources and advocacy to low income families of Singapore. Paired with this internship, I was enrolled in a class in which we were able to receive professional…
Studying abroad has become one of the most interesting stories I have to tell about myself now. Considering I have done it twice; Last year to China, and this past summer to Spain. I find it amazing how an experience becomes a part of your whole being. That is what traveling is, telling a story and learning other ones along the way. Your story is what you get to…
I can’t believe it’s already over! The past three months in Cusco, Peru, have flown by. I look back on how much I have done, the friends I made, the family I gained, the places I’ve seen, and I realize that I am so infinitely blessed to have been able to have this opportunity. From just exploring the streets, to attending class, to hiking mountains, this has truly been…
Here’s what I expected spending a month in a half in Costa Rica: I expected to learn a lot about a new country and culture. I expected to see and experience new things. I expected to improve my Spanish. I expected to meet new people. And I really did expect to enjoy most of these things. All of these experiences took place, but, here’s what I did not expect:…
The week before I left for Paris, I didn’t want to go anymore. I had no idea what to expect; I was nervous. I didn’t know if I could survive the airports on my own, much less the city of Paris. A few days later, I got on the plane by myself and looked out the window like I was looking fear straight in the face. The pressure from…
I stepped off the plane, red-eyed and exhausted, but excited nonetheless. The only thing separating me from Tokyo was an incredibly long customs and immigration line. I stood in line, passport in hand, for nearly an hour taking in as much of my limited surroundings as possible. People from all over the world stood in line with me, with the same goal in mind: get through this line as…
