Life After London
After an unforgettable six weeks in London, I was ready to come back to the States. The UK is similar enough to the US that I didn’t experience too much reverse culture shock. But of course, I find myself missing certain aspects of my study abroad experience nearly every day. To anyone who is considering studying abroad, it is the kind of opportunity that you will never regret or forget. My two months in London not only gave me...
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...
Around and Back Again
Well, I’ve come full circle. I have traveled to China and returned home all in one piece. I honestly missed the United States. Breakfast food, potato chips in certain flavors, driving, trees, and the sky are all things as aspects of life at home that I missed. My first stop after getting back from the airport was the nearest Waffle House. My experience abroad definitely changed me in a positive way. I am more confident and...
My Excursions in Portugal
I have been taking classes in Portugal this summer. I am located in Cascais a beach town about 30 minutes outside of Lisbon. I have had a great time exploring these cities after I get out of class during the week. I have traveled to the local beach and small town with lots of shopping and delicious food in Cascais. There is a summer market that is open every evening. I love spending time here because there is live music and great...
Vegetables and Dessert in Shanghai
Wow. That’s one word I can use to sum up my time so far in Shanghai. I’ll give you the vegetables first: You’re going to read that the air quality in Shanghai, and most major cities in China, sucks. You’d be right about that. It takes getting used to. You walk around the city and randomly smell excrement, tobacco smoke, or exhaust in any combination, at all times. So that’s fun. I’m only in Shanghai for 8 weeks. This unfortunate fact...
Here We Go: Shanghai
Hi! I’m traveling to Shanghai, China in a couple of weeks. I’ll be there for 8 weeks. When I thought about studying abroad, I never imagined that I would be going to China, let alone Asia. When I was trying to figure out where I wanted to study, I realized I had never been to Asia. I’ve traveled to the United Kingdom and Australia. So I thought “I’ve never been to Asia before, let’s go to a new place with a very different culture.”...