Throughout the first two weeks of studying abroad I have had so many different experiences throughout the city of London. Being able to experience so many variations of museums, attractions, and for me architecture especially has been the most special aspect of studying abroad. There is never a dull day with the amount of exploration that is possible. For me it has been difficult to navigate the amount of exploration alone because it is hard to understand what is easily accessible and affordable while entertaining at the same time.

I got depressed a few days before leaving San Cristobal. I didn’t want to leave. I didn’t feel like I had seen enough, experienced enough, or done enough research. My trip passed in a dream like state and the assignments were so time consuming that I didn’t have the opportunity to process enough. On the equator the days are divided in half with sunlight: 12 hours of sun, 12 hours of darkness all year round. This lends itself to a dreamy, out-of-time feeling.

My name is Elise O’Brien and I am a multidisciplinary scholar, a masters student in two programs: Folklore studies and Landscape Architecture. I am also a nontraditional student and a student parent. I love to work internationally and I am involved in global research: one of my student jobs has been as a student worker working for APRU Sustainable Cities and Landscapes.

Hey everyone! I'm about halfway through my study abroad in Japan, and I just had to share the incredible adventure I'm having. From the moment I landed in Tokyo, I knew I was in for something special. 

First off, let's talk about the food. I thought I knew Japanese cuisine from sushi nights back home, but I was not prepared for this flavor explosion. Slurping up authentic ramen in tiny, hidden shops, savoring melt-in-your-mouth sashimi, and don't even get me started on the convenience store snacks – I've probably tried every flavor of Kit Kat in existence! 

I have been in Ghana for over a month now and time is really flying by. I am having an incredible time. We have visited the Central, Ashanti and Northern regions of Ghana, learning about cultural practices in each one. Central Region, home of Cape Coast, was especially interesting, as our Aya Centre program director grew up there, so she was able to tell us things we would not have known otherwise. It is also home to Kakum National Park, with massive canopy bridges we got to walk on, Elmina and Cape Coast slave castles and a beach we got to swim in.

While in Spain, I had the opportunity to shadow physicians in Obstetrics and Gynecology, Neurology, Cardiology, and the ICU. Each week I was assigned a new specialty, and each week the entire team made sure to make me feel welcomed, included, and valued every step of the way. I was shadowing at Hospital Arquitecto Marcide in Ferrol, Spain. This is a teaching hospital, with approximately 500 beds, and a multitude of both surgical and clinical specialties.

When applying to this internship I was not exactly sure what I was going to get myself into. All I knew was going to go to Saudi Arabia to do research in a new lab run by Dr. Leena Ibrahim that works with mice and neuroscience. I was nervous but excited. This was going to be an eye-opening experience as it was my first time leaving the country without my family. I wanted to make the most of the experience and learn as much as possible about research at very renowned research campus such as KAUST.

My responsibilities at Seen in the City consisted of pitching articles, writing press releases, listicles, and writing product reviews from items I tested. I attended restaurant reviews a few times a week and many times was able to interview chefs and get a behind the scenes look at the London restaurant industry. I also produced copywriting for various companies. Managing relationships and maintaining clear communication was crucial in my job as well. I spent a lot of time on my email, contacting various PR agencies and creating strong relationships with them.

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My name is Elise O’Brien and I am a multidisciplinary scholar, a masters student in two programs: Folklore studie

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Hey Ducks!