Beyond the Bubble

Lack of Racial Diversity and its Implications at the University of Oxford

November 20, 2015 Leave a comment

Because there is no affirmative action (or the like) at the University of Oxford, and the fact that the majority of the undergraduate students must be British citizens (the United Kingdom is 87.2% white), the student population is overwhelming white and largely comes from privileged backgrounds. In contrast, approximately sixty percent of University of Oxford graduate students are from outside of Britain, and

Benjamin in England

A Different Approach to Learning

November 13, 2015 Leave a comment

I thought it would be interesting to delve into the school system in Austria, because it differs greatly from its U.S. counterpart. Here there is elementary school from age 6-10, and then at age 10 there comes a big decision that will impact the rest of the child’s life—to go onto the harder middle school and college preparatory high school

Kiana in Austria

Studying in the United Kingdom – A Different Approach to Schoolwork

November 6, 2015 Leave a comment

At Oxford, I have enjoyed learning how to conduct better research and write more quickly. I love having less class time because it encourages me to explore more of campus and study in various places, including the magnificent Bodleian Library, which contains several buildings and was used in the first Harry Potter movie and the film The Golden Compass. Like all of the other colleges at Oxford, the Radcliffe Camera

Benjamin in England

Redefining Home: It’s Where the Heart Is

November 3, 2015 One comment

As I sit outside on the patio on a gorgeous spring day, I am amazed at how fulfilling my three months have been. I look back on how nervous I was as I first met my host family and how slow they spoke as I first arrived. With time, I’ve learned how to make conversation, gained a connection that allows

Sophie in Argentina

A Short Guide to Being Polite in Austria

October 30, 2015 Leave a comment

After spending over two months in Austria and being more than halfway through my study abroad experience, I thought it’d be fitting to describe some of the social norms in Austrian and Viennese society more broadly. The main underlying theme seems to be efficiency—though Austrians claim to be the most “laid-back” of German-speaking countries, and while the stereotype of precise

Kiana in Austria

My Life in the United Kingdom – A New Perspective on College

October 28, 2015 Leave a comment

While great pressure lies upon most United States college students to join extracurricular activities (and seek leadership roles in these organizations), the expectation for students at Oxford to participate in clubs and societies does not exist to nearly the same extent. Because of this difference, people seem to genuinely enjoy the activities that they pursue outside of academics at Oxford. This

Benjamin in England

Fish and Chips, Blood Sausages, and Shepard’s Pie – The Cuisine of the United Kingdom

October 22, 2015 Leave a comment

Though British food has not always been held in the highest esteem, I have not found this reputation to bear much truth. As a vegetarian, I have found it relatively easy to eat in restaurants and at the Oxford dining hall and shop at grocery stores. In 2012, two percent of Britons were vegetarian and less than one percent was vegan (which

Benjamin in England

A City of the Arts

October 12, 2015 Leave a comment

After neglecting to fully dive into the art and music that flourishes in the cultural city of Vienna, the time has come. The arts are simply huge here. Austria spends more money on the arts than its military. In 2015 Vienna alone allocated 231 million euros to the arts, while the entire country of the U.S. allocated 146 million dollars.

Kiana in Austria

Diversity and Culture Shock in the United Kingdom

October 8, 2015 Leave a comment

While I expected to experience many cultural differences in the United Kingdom, Britain’s distinctive culture has continued to shock me since flying over the Atlantic. During my first night in London, I witnessed several inebriated friends wrestling on the street as well as a group of men gleefully cursing at one another right outside an upscale hotel. While these people might have been non-British

Benjamin in England

Leaning In: My First Take on Life in Mendoza

September 24, 2015 3 comments

My decision to study abroad in Latin America came from a desire for a challenge, my love for Spanish, and the need for something new. I took an intermediate Spanish class at Amherst my first semester of college, and waited until the spring semester of my sophomore year to continue with the language. Recently, I began to see study abroad

Sophie in Argentina

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