October 2014 – Page 5 – GW Blogs from Abroad

Community Abroad

AdminOctober 3, 2014December 14, 2018

I decided to post about 5 places/people that make up my community abroad. The first and arguably most influential destination in Milan is Duomo di Milano. This beautiful cathedral took nearly six centuries to complete. It is the fifth largest cathedral in the world, and the largest in Italy. This religious masterpiece is a testament to the mastery of Italian architecture and engineering. I only wish my iPhone’s camera could capture all of the masterfully carved details of this grand cathedral. The try beauty of Duomo can be seen around midnight, when the square is free of street vendors and tourist. ...continue reading "Community Abroad"

It All Starts Here

AdminOctober 2, 2014December 17, 2018

The ways in which I have spent my first few days are indicative of the benefits of spending an entire year in the same city. Were I to be here for only a semester, I would feel rushed to hit up all of London's tourist traps and to make plans for weekend excursions. Because I know I will be here for nine months instead of three, I feel little pressure to fill my days with multiple museums, walks, shopping and other attractions.
So far, in the way of touristy things, I have been to the Tower of London (to which I will definitely return) and the London Eye (likewise), as well as on a few boat rides down the Thames. Over the duration of the year, I will, of course, explore as many museums, parks, and other attractions that the city has to offer. Having more time to do it just means that I will have a chance to see and appreciate each place more in-depth. I will also have a greater chance to see lesser-known attractions and find the nooks and crannies that have stood the test of time.
I am a creature of habit, and whether I am at school in DC or here in London, I will continue to be myself. One thing I always liked to do in DC was go for walks to clear my head. My friends and I call them "crisis walks." There need not be a crisis in my life to merit a crisis walk, nor has a walk ever turned into a crisis in and of itself. In fact, something good usually comes of it. Today, I went on my first crisis walk as I meandered my way from my dorm down to Covent Garden. One thing I have noticed about London in broad daylight is that it is always bustling, whether you are walking on a busy street or a side alley. It is easy to tell where it is safe to walk.

On my walk down, I found a sort of side plaza that may end up being one of my favorite places in the city. Called Neal's Yard, it is nestled between the buildings that line Neal Street, Shorts Gardens, Endell Street and Shaftesbury Avenue. Shops include a hair salon, a pizzeria, a walk-in back rub establishment, a skate shop, and a few restaurants. Most importantly, it can provide a much-needed splash of color on an otherwise dreary London day (99% of days) and a leafy green oasis in the middle of the urban jungle. Benches surround plantings of tiny trees, and locals and tourists alike continuously pass through it to get from one main street to another. It will be places like these that I hope to find over the next several months.

Road Bike Party

AdminOctober 2, 2014December 14, 2018

By sreyavaidya

This is the first picture that was taken in Morocco. Pictured, are my roommate Brianna (left) and our Host Mother, Aisha, who we call “Hajja” as a term of endearment and respect. This picture was taken with two vastly different people that I never expected to connect with. When I look at it now, I am surprised how drastically our relationships have grown, and how integral they are to my Moroccan community.

This is Haj and Hajja our host mother and father. When Brianna and I were first nervously introduced to our elderly host parents, we assumed to enter a stern patriarchal Moroccan household. But little did we realize Haj and Hajja are the coolest grandparents ever. Haj loves to take walks around the neighborhood in his UVA baseball hat, shades, and shirt that reads “Road Bike Party”. Hajja likes to give him disapproving looks as he reaches for the sugar cubes at breakfast for his mint tea. Little do we realize that some beautiful nuances of relationships and community never change. ...continue reading "Road Bike Party"

How life differs from what I consider normal: DC to Buenos Aires

AdminOctober 1, 2014December 14, 2018

By anuhyabobba

My primary motivation for study abroad was to understand how life differed from what I considered normal. In many ways more than one, Buenos Aires contrasts my lifestyle back in DC and here are a few ways in which it does:

1) In DC, I often find myself speed walking it to place to place, even when I am not in a rush. I have this sense of hurry that is attached to all that I do. In Buenos Aires, a part of the adjustment process was learning how to slow down. Yes, time is a limited resource, but I did not see it being enjoyed when you use it in a context of constantly having to be preoccupied or busy. Buenos Aires has been teaching how to relax and as cheesy as it sounds, how to take each moment at a time rather than needing to rush through it all.

2) A second major difference I have noticed between life in DC and life in Buenos Aires is in the classroom realm. I learn about Latin American politics in courses at GW and while they have provided me immense context to what I further expand upon here, it is an ultimately new experience to hear Latin American history through the perspective of a person from here and also more generally in the region itself. For example, one of my professors' family had to move out Argentina during the Dirty War because they were at the risk of being considered political dissidents in the eyes of the state and would have been harmed soon after. Studying abroad really does expand beyond the "single story" we often are taught by and provides many new perspectives we may miss otherwise to this story.

3) My program is structured in a way where all the students live in home stays. Without a gathering spot like the library or a dorm room, it proves to be difficult to make plans and meet up often times. While that does not mean it is impossible to be done, it does mean that in a lot of my adventuring, I have to take that initiative and head out on my own. This is a lot different from my life in DC, because I always am dependent on having company to make an experience. So when it is harder to gain that company because we are spread out through the city and spontaneous adventuring proves hard to execute, I am learning to deeply value my independence, which has been a quality I take for granted a lot.

4) Of course, a major contrast is the language barrier. Having learned French only throughout most of my life, it was difficult to get by in the beginning. But as soon as classes started, I picked up Spanish very quickly. I was so shy to try out what I had been learning in the start, but now I just go for it. If I mess up, I mess up. I have gained a lot of confidence in my ability to learn and improve here, it makes me grateful. Learning language back in the States lacks only one component, which is the opportunity to practice the language everyday after leaving the classroom. I have that opportunity here, and I am happy to say that I am making the most out of it.