Saying Hello Again
Coming Home You come home and everyone is happy to see you and exclaim how much they loved seeing your pictures. They ask a few questions, which will seem like strange questions to you since you’ve found so much more than stereotypes on the other side of the world. So you start telling them about the little things that warmed your heart, be it the street musicians or that shop owner you passed everyday on your way to class....
Ireland, Pre-Departure
My name is Darci Bevan, a rising Senior at the University of Alabama. I am about to embark on the journey of a lifetime, to Dublin, Ireland for my summer internship. I will be working at Sutton Lawn and Tennis Club during my time there. The farthest out of the country I have ever been was Peru, in South America. I had always wanted to study abroad, but I did not want to leave school to do so. Through the program called CISAbroad,...
A European Nostalgic Slump
Wow. I have fallen in love with the city of Dublin, feeling more like a local here than I do in my hometown. I’m accustomed to the daily life, from the bus system to the food trucks and city trends; it all feels so comfortable, so normal. But after all, this is one of the main reasons I came abroad: to experience raw cultural immersion and adapt to unfamiliar surroundings until they became familiar. I’m in disbelief...
Ghana-Pre-departure
As the time for my departure is winding down, the only thing I can think about is how far I have come as a student and as an individual. Never would I have thought I would have the opportunity to study abroad. I chose to study abroad because my goal is to challenge myself to step outside my comfort zone and grow as a person. I often get comfortable with staying in one spot and not realizing there is more to the world ,but I overcame...
Home Sweet Home: Little Changes
I’ve been back in the states for almost three weeks now. It feels like far longer. It feels like I just got back. Reverse culture shock, despite the large differences in Thai and American culture hasn’t been as bad as I was expecting. I’m often disappointed when I see there are no hoses/bidets in the bathroom anymore (America needs to hurry up and get with it). I definitely miss the cheap food stalls, fresh fruit & meals...
honey, i’m home
Sadly, my journey abroad has come to an end, and after a long eleven hour flight home, it still doesn’t even feel real. Initially, the first thoughts going through my head were all positive and I could not wait to be home, see my friends, and eat the food that I had been missing for four months. Of course, I missed Florence and all of the incredible people that I met there, but I am sure that I will be back and definitely stay...