Leaving Madrid & Coming Home
Now that I am back home in America, the first thought that came to my mind was how excited I was to see my family and dogs. Other than that, I was mostly happy that, because although the program is over, the friends that I made, I will see again in Alabama at school. My first feeling when arriving back home was eagerness to see my family and to catch up with them. I do miss my host family but I was very excited to be reunited with my...
Why Medical Missions in Ghana??
Pre-departure: Why did you choose to study abroad? What factors (year in school, location, etc.) played into your decision? What key things did you have to consider before deciding to go abroad? A brilliant man, my father longed for the expansion of his mind and spirit. Cultures electrified his passions, and he delivered his cultural love through a large red library I called, “Daddy’s Den.” He kept my favorite book on...
Host Locations
Participating in two sessions this summer in Spain means that I get to have the experience of staying in two different host locations: one in the peaceful town of San Lorenzo and one in Spain’s bustling capital, Madrid. These two locations could not be more different which has kept things exciting. In San Lorenzo, things moved at a much slower pace than I’m used to back at UA. The stores in San Lorenzo close at 2:00 in the afternoon...
Checking off the To-Do or To-EAT list and writing a new life’s goal list
I love green tea. Any green tea-flavored deserts impulse my consumer desire so I decided to start my journey of the holy green tea trail and my love for cafés and bakeries. Korea is not the designated green tea heaven, Japan is; however, there were enough or excessive (to explain it correctly) to please my obsession. Additionally, this journey added my love for red bean paste, bean powder, black sesame (heukimja), sweet potato, and...
While Abroad
My first impression while arriving in Spain was that there was more graffiti than I thought there would be! My idea of Spain was that it was a clean and classy country (and it is). While those things are true, I did not expect to see sidewalks and buildings with graffiti on them. A thought that kept coming back to me was: “wow, this is different than I imagined it would be”. I felt homesick at first but anxious to explore...
Pre-Departure Blog: The Hair Conundrum
As I prepare to study abroad, I have constantly been at odds with one question – what should I do with my hair? Should I tame my wild afro with the straightener? Should I go with a nice weave or sew-in? Maybe box braids or micros would be better suited for swimming in the ocean and hiking through forests. Or maybe, I should just own my wild Afro – which would at least keep the heat of the Central American sun off my shoulders. After...