Beyond the Bubble

Brazil and Uruguay: International Travel while Studying Abroad

June 5, 2015 Leave a comment

I strongly believe that the first image of study abroad should never be backpacking or vacationing throughout a continent. However, I still think that traveling internationally while studying abroad allows students to become more mindful of the cultural variations and connections between countries. By fitting in one or two international trips during their semester abroad, one’s appreciation and understanding of their “home-base” country can only improve.

Matt in Chile

Sayounara Japan and a Trip to Europe

May 27, 2015 Leave a comment

After traveling through Southeast Asia, I returned to Japan where my host family had held my luggage for me before I headed home. I had one final day to wander through the streets of Kyoto, sit by the kamogawa river that is so central to the city, and eat at my favorite ramen shop. It did feel sort of odd

Omar in Kyoto, Japan

Fitting into Japanese Society

May 21, 2015 One comment

I’m done traveling throughout Southeast Asia and I’m glad I did it as ‘stepping out’ has allowed me to see Japan as more of an outsider once again. I’m not really one for museums but I do make sure to read up a little about a country’s history, demographics, etc. during my visit and this often led me to find

Omar in Kyoto, Japan

Traveling within Chile: Northern Deserts and Southern Lakes

May 21, 2015 Leave a comment

Hey, readers! I’m back from my hiatus from blogging and I’m more than ready to update you on my adventures throughout Chile! April was quite a busy month, full of traveling to new places in this dynamic country and adjusting to the workload here. I find my academic life studying abroad just as challenging and demanding as the classes back

Matt in Chile

On Academics

May 12, 2015 Leave a comment

Spanish grammar book with dessert and coffee

Nearly all my classes this semester have been related to Spain. I’m taking a class on Spanish art history, a class on 20th Century Spanish history, and a Spanish language class. My travel seminar at the beginning of the semester was about the formation of the Spanish empire. Back when I was choosing a study abroad program, I looked for

Raizel in Madrid, Spain

On Making Travel Mistakes

May 8, 2015 Leave a comment

On Travel Mistakes I’ve had plenty of time to make mistakes this semester. It comes with the territory of being a 20 year old in a new country. I was expecting to mess up, but back in January I didn’t know exactly how I’d do it. Now though, after a few months abroad, it’s easy to pick out my top

Raizel in Madrid, Spain

On Cities and Settling In

April 25, 2015 Leave a comment

The other day I was WhatsApping (text via wifi, the best app ever) my mom. I was telling her about my day and mentioned that I was going to go read in the park then head home. She replied that it nice to hear me calling my homestay “home.” I hadn’t noticed my casual use of the term, but her

Raizel in Madrid, Spain

Education in Japan and New Beginnings

April 23, 2015 Leave a comment

Hey everyone! For this week I’ll be writing a bit about what I’ve learned about the Japanese education system. I guess the most logical way to go about it is to go through chronologically, but an important distinction to make from the start is that their school year begins in April and ends in March, so long term breaks like

Omar in Kyoto, Japan

On Essays and Fire in Valencia

April 11, 2015 Leave a comment

Blog honesty moment: I’m writing this post instead of working on my art history paper. The paper that I’ve barely started. The paper that’s due in, approximately 36 hours. Now at Amherst, I’d be gnawing my elbow off with worry about that paper. But here abroad? It’s not bothering me too much. I know I’ll get it done. It probably won’t

Raizel in Madrid, Spain

A Day in the Life

April 11, 2015 Leave a comment

Back after two weeks! For this week’s blog I thought I would make a video showing what a day studying abroad in Japan might be like. This was on a Friday, so I just had Japanese class and then the rest of my day to venture around. Please turn on the subtitles and enjoy! Bear with my translations…I tried to

Omar in Kyoto, Japan

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