Spending eight weeks in Paris, France as a website development intern was one of the most rewarding and challenging experiences of my life. While I was excited to live in one of the world's most famous cities, I quickly realized that working abroad would require me to adapt in ways I had never expected.
This was my third GEO program, and it easily set itself apart. Beyond the beautiful excursions, our Professors Karen and Casey Walker stand out for their dedication, carefully structured curriculum, and insightful feedback during workshops and discussions. In just four weeks, this coursework helped me complete my creative writing minor and grow immensely as a writer, both in sharpening my craft and learning to embrace constructive critique.
-Lola Tagwerker, Creative Writing in Oviedo
It’s hard to believe that my study abroad trip is already over. I’m back in Burgos with my family, where it feels like I’ve stepped back into summer (my last week in Asturias was overcast and drizzly). It felt like an early start to autumn weather in Oviedo, but the people there don’t seem to mind, saying it’s what keeps the city green. Oviedo is green, literally and figuratively. Beyond the weather, what really struck me was how environmentally conscious daily life is there.
My time in Barcelona, Spain, is officially over, and looking back, I don't think I realized how much I would change until I started seeing pieces of home again. During my last few weeks, I got to explore more of Barcelona's architecture, including Casa Batlló and finally seeing the Sagrada Família. Getting to see the Sagrada Família with my mom made the experience even more special because it was something I had wanted to see since arriving.
We're now in our third and final week in Singapore, and I'm not gonna lie to you: I’m ready to go home. You know how toward the end of your leg day gym session, when your quads are wobbly, sweat is rolling down your back, and you're just ready to go home? That's how I normally feel toward the end of a school term, but this summer it feels different. I've had other architecture terms (albeit, in my first year, when I was still learning time management for this field) where every other day, I'm up until 2 am, working a part-time job, and taking an extra class than I should. That's hard.
After returning to the US after spending two months in Shanghai, a lot of what I’ve been doing is just resting! I just had a busy two months, so I’ve spent time at my family’s house in Oregon dealing with post-trip fatigue. Coming back to the US was, truthfully, sad. Life in China was incredibly convenient: walkable cities, great public transportation, many things to do, and affordable activities and meals.
Coming back to the USA felt like an easy readjustment. Life in Japan felt whimsical in a way: where public transportation worked, my own funds didn't feel like a limit to my life, and the temples all over the country were a reminder of the rich history of the Japanese nation. It almost made sense that I would go back to my life before, where things felt ubiquitous. I found that the people I'm closest to really enjoyed listening to my adventures in Japan, which was really nice.
I'm writing this in a cafe (not interesting), rushing before I have to go meet a man on his balcony in 1.5 hours (more interesting) while in the second week of the month-long Building-Integrated Agriculture study abroad program in Singapore (very interesting).
