When I first arrived in Japan I had a strong desire to strengthen my connection to my Japanese heritage. Despite many challenges, I feel as though I am striving to meet that goal more with each passing day. As I approach the halfway mark of my study abroad at Waseda University, I would like to…

Image I have noticed that Ecuadorians love to be tourists in their own country. Foreign tourism exists but isn’t a massive industry here, so when you visit a town known for its tourism, I estimate that it’s 90% Ecuadorians, 10% international…

Image Bio: Lena Wehn is an undergraduate at University of Oregon, Clark Honors College in her senior year of study. She is pursuing a multidisciplinary science degree, with concentrations in chemistry and psychology, and a minor in chemistry.…

What a ride, the life of an individual who lives in South Korea is very intense. As a Latina and an Americana I am astonished at the type of lifestyle you live in this country, it is so hard and admirable. My time abroad has been full of lessons and experiences that I am so grateful to be learning…

Hola! Hello! Bonjour! 아녕아세요!! My name is Julia Jazmin Hernandez-Espinoza and I am Latina-Americana. A born and raised Oregonian but definitely not a natural hiker! Currently at the University of Oregon, I am in my fourth year and this fall term I am studying abroad at Korea University which is a…

Image Day 1: Here I am a middle aged woman going back to school obtaining concurrent masters degrees and participating in GEO study aboard program for SE Asia NGOs. I attended this class for two reasons: the first is to get a deeper look…

Image   My study abroad program, NGOs of SE Asia, has exceeded any expectations I may have had for the program. When I started the study abroad program, I had few expectations, to ensure that I did not get disappointed if things did not…

Coming home from such large experiences always trigger a period of required rest for me. I tend to return and collapse into a minimum of a week of recuperation, sometimes longer. This adjustment period is a mix of many things: recovery from burnout, culture shift, and just the sheer need to process…

Image   Image My study abroad experience in Querétaro, México, was an incredible and humbling experience. There was so much to learn and love, with, at times, an overwhelming number…

Image   Image I have been back in the U.S. for five days after traveling Europe for seven weeks. Before my program ended and my additional travel began, one of our teachers briefed us…