GEO Blog

The first semester of my year in Svalbard has finished, and I simply cannot believe how fast it has gone by. It feels like I blinked and suddenly the sun set and polar night started, the sky lighting up with the moon and northern lights rather than the sun. But time truly doesn't go by any faster…

Image Hi everyone! This is Ava, updating you with my final blog post. Coming back to the US has been a mix of excitement and heaviness. I was so ready to see my family and friends again, but it honestly hurt to leave behind the people who became…

So, frankly, my perspective has changed quite a bit since my last blog post. My time in Japan previously both traveling and as a student did not prepare me for the Japanese workplace in the way I thought it would. This was to be expected, but here I am. There's been a lot of challenges for me in…

Image I am just over my three month mark living in Norway in Svalbard! I cannot believe how fast the time has gone, and I am so excited to continue during the polar night! The sun set for the last time until February on October 25th, and now we…

Image I will be flying home in less than two weeks, and I am very excited to return to UO and see my family. Although I am not home yet, I want to share my reflections as I close out my time in New Zealand. When I first arrived, I expected to be…

Image Hello! I'm Ava, and this is my second blog post during my time here in Segovia, Spain, where I'm studying Spanish Language and Culture.I've been living in Spain for almost two months now, and my time abroad has been nothing like I could've…

First off, let me establish who I am and my expectations being a Diverse Duck abroad. I’ve actually been to Japan many times now—this would be my third or fourth trip—and the last time I went was for an 8 month study abroad program in Osaka (hence why I want to return there, I fell in love with the…

Image Hi everyone! My name is Ava Momtazi, and I am currently studying Spanish language and culture here in Segovia, Spain.To start off, I must day I've been having an absolute blast. Living in a beautiful, walkable city with cobblestone streets…

Image Hi everyone! As I write this final post, I'm reflecting on how far this journey has taken me. What began as a space for moments, ideas, and reflections has evolved into something much bigger: a record of growth, challenges, and small…

Image Hi everyone! This is Will from the Studio Art in Athens program. I'm officially back home in Oregon after a wonderful month abroad!Unlike some of the other GEO Summer programs, Studio Art was one of the last programs of the summer (we…