A Tour of Tours
I’ve been in France for a few weeks now, and it has been everything I’ve always dreamed of! I first arrived in Paris, where we stayed for a week and did some sightseeing. I was so excited to see all the signs in French and the bakeries on every corner. Although I’ve studied French for a few years, I was still nervous about not being able to communicate entirely with natives. Luckily in Paris, almost all workers in...
The City of New Beginnings: Shanghai
For the longest time, I always struggled with being true to myself yet I was always subconsciously running away from and ignoring it, scared that maybe what I found when I looked hard enough into myself would be someone I really didn’t like at all. And a lot of that insecurity came at a time when I suddenly felt pressured to lose one identity in place of another. When the Asian upbringing my parents used to raise me conflicted with...
A Thank You to my Italian Family
Before this trip, I had only had the opportunity to travel abroad once. I was in high school and the trip only spanned the length of ten days, so I spent every night in one hotel or another. So when I found out I was going to be staying with a host family during my study abroad program, I was extremely nervous. Not only was I going to be in a different country surrounded by a different language and different culture, but I was also...
Perché Italia?
When I decided to declare a minor in Italian, the first question many people asked was “Why?” And why one decides to do something is rarely followed by a simple answer. However; just this once, the answer was relatively easy. My great grandparents and several other older family members spoke Italian however; it was not passed down. I’ve always felt cheated out of the language so I took things into my own hands. I decided...
Practical Tips to Begin my Study Abroad in France
I am writing this update from the airport, where I am currently sitting as I wait to board a plane that will take me to Paris, France. From there I will travel via bullet train (the TGV) to the town of Tours, where I will spend the next four weeks living with a host family and studying at the Institut de Touraine. I’ve been waiting so long for this trip, and suddenly I am at the cusp. I can’t believe the moment has finally arrived....
Am I Homesick or Just Hot?
I missed very few things as much as I missed this cat. If I could have taken him with me, I would have never left the UK. I’ve been back in the states for almost a week now, and every day I find myself forgetting that I am not, in fact, still in England. I didn’t think I’d miss it quite as much as I do, and I miss very specific things. The things I am very thankful to have back are 1)my cat and 2) air conditioning....