¡Hola hola! It’s week three of my program in Querétaro, and I don’t want to leave in only three more weeks! I’ve really settled into my daily routine, and I’m finally getting the hang of balancing schoolwork with family time and exploring the city by myself or with friends. Before I left for México, I had not anticipated how exhausted I would be just from speaking and listening to Spanish all day every day; I have never been so tired (and so fulfilled).

When I first arrived in Japan, I expected to feel more connected to my Japanese identity. In some ways, that has happened. Being able to speak Japanese, spend time with family, and live in Japan has made me feel closer to that side of myself than I have in years. At the same time, I wasn't prepared for how differently people would see me. 

I'm now officially halfway through my program! It's certainly been a wild trip so far — we're currently in Mexico City, and we'll be here for three days. Today, we went to the ancient pyramids at Teotihuacan and to the Palacio de Bellas Artes to view historically significant murals — I'm currently writing this from my hotel in the middle of Mexico City.

Hello!  

My name is Jasmine. I am a 1st gen Mexican American. Third year global studies major at the UO. I am currently in Seoul for the new geo program “K-Pop and Beyond in Seoul”. I mainly chose this program due to my interest in Korean culture and the hands-on experience of the program. In our faculty led class we have some days in the class and some out and about exploring and analyzing the city of Seoul.  

My name is Emely. I am about to go into my fourth year as a Global Studies and Spanish major. This will be the fourth year I navigate higher education without guidance from my family, as I am the first to have the opportunity to take this path. I am Mexican, I am American, and I am a woman. My identities are on my mind at home, and even more so abroad as I navigate social expectations and attempt to respectfully conform to the norm in Japan.

Hello! My name is Andrea Rivera, and I am a first-generation student at the University of Oregon. One of the biggest reasons I chose the University of Oregon was because of the opportunity to study abroad. Even though I was excited, I was also nervous because I am the first person in my family to have an experience like this. Spending two months away from my family is something I have never done before, so choosing Barcelona, Spain, felt like the right decision.

My name is Bailey, and I am currently doing a legal studies program in Wales. My major is sociology, and my minors are legal studies and criminology. I come from a single-mother household and have always struggled financially. Throughout my experience as a Diverse Duck ambassador, I want to highlight that people from all families and financial backgrounds can study abroad and have an amazing experience.

When I chose the Psychology in Kyoto program through UO GEO, I had two goals in mind. Academically, I wanted to earn psychology credits that will help me pursue physical therapy at school. Personally, I wanted to spend time in Japan, a country that is deeply connected to my future goals and identity. As someone who is half Japanese and half White, I've always wanted to strengthen my connection to Japan, especially because I hope to one day play professional basketball here.

At a young age, I was never interested in geography. I remember playing with the world globe and never bothering to learn the names of the countries, as I told myself, "You're never going to leave the USA." Now I'm in Singapore, exploring areas where my physical appearance is unique. Hi, my name is Jesus, and this is my story about being LGBT and Hispanic within Singapore, which has been proven to be the melting pot of Asia. As someone who is always pushing for growth educationally and interpersonally, this opportunity was exciting to me.