Oxford Thoughts — Upon Return to UA
Most of Oxford’s old city wall has been absorbed into New College, and outside of it runs a street that’s named Longwall. Names and titles throughout the rest of the city are just as uncreative. There’s a coffee house called Queen’s Lane that sits on Queen’s Lane; the widest street in the city is called Broad Street; St. Mary’s Passage borders St. Mary’s Church, and the most magnificent university buildings are named after their...
Getting to Kyoto from Miami
It’s a little difficult to explain what it’s like to leave the country for a year. At first, you can’t be more excited for it, but then the reality starts to sink in. Suddenly, you’re looking at your wallet wondering how you’re going to survive on more than pasta and rice. That’s about how it felt when I was in the airport in Miami. Though, having stayed up all night unable to sleep, I also just...
Reflection Upon Returning Home
Having spent a few weeks since returning from my study abroad program, I have definitely had time to reflect upon my experiences. During my six weeks in Roatan, Honduras, I learned so much in regards to marine science and field research. It has truly broadened my understanding of the subject and has allowed me to form real world connections to information I all ready learned. Studying the reef systems there has provided me a...
Coming Home
I still can’t believe it’s over. It almost doesn’t feel real that I’m home, like I’m in a dream I’m about to wake up from. I already miss being in Germany and I’ve only been home for a few days. Sure, I did miss my family and friends but I feel like I left part of myself in Germany. Having to readjust to what my life was prior to leaving for Germany has been very hard. I almost didn’t...
Tschuss, Europa!
My journey home was, to say the least, arduous. A long and tiring time-zone-hopping, people-dodging endeavor. I left my Amsterdam hostel (I travelled around Europe a bit after my study abroad program ended) at 3:25 A.M. local time to catch a 3:45 train to the airport. My flight was to Lisbon and left at 6:15, only for me to catch my flight to Boston at 10 Lisbon time. I arrived in Boston at 3 P.M. EST, but my body thought it was 8 or...
Exhausted Expedition (STEM Path Abroad in India)
The reverse culture shock was real. After spending over twenty-four hours in the air and only twelve hours having gone by on my watch, I was finally walking back onto American soil. The smells, sights, and sounds were all familiar to me. It was hard to look back on my experiences right away. It was almost like I needed time for them to soak in before I could honestly reflect on my experiences and expeditions. India is truly a special...