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By mlopez97

When I first arrived in Barcelona I scrambled to find a new sense of community, worried that I would feel isolated and far too uncomfortable throughout the semester. Two months into my stay, I am more than thrilled to have settled into this temporary host community composed of new friends, places, and food that have enriched my experience.

...continue reading "Finding Spanish Community"

By mhaimbodi

The concept of community becomes more important than ever when you are traveling/living  abroad. While total integration is not really possible within the first few months (or ever), there are certain people and places that can definitely make you feel more at ease amidst new surroundings. I have attached a couple of mine:

One of the first things that I wanted to do upon my arrival in Dakar was find a running route. At home I run everyday, and before coming I was a little anxious as to whether or not I would be able to do the same here. It turns out that the neighborhood I live in, Ouakam, is right next to one of the longest roads in Dakar (Route de la Corniche) that literally borders the Atlantic Ocean.  I have made it a habit to run around 6:30/7 most evenings after getting home from school, as the sun is setting then and it is much cooler. For the first couple of weeks I had to adjust to the unfamiliarity of where I was, and all of the car exhaust as I am not used to running right next to main roads, but now the ease of finding my way and knowing where I am going is really comforting. Every day I feel more and more acclimated to my surroundings, and the euphoria that accompanies running is something that makes me feel even more at home.

...continue reading "Defining Community"

By neerjapatel

Having grown up in Vermont, I have always been exposed to a sense of community. I was nervous when I first came to Barcelona, as it was a new city with a different culture. Although I knew a few people who were in the same program as me, I forced myself to go outside of my comfort zone by picking a random roommate and living in a homestay. This was extremely difficult at first because for the first time since freshman year of college, I was faced with a lack of familiarity. But, I quickly found my sense of community in Barcelona in a variety of different ways.

Picture 1: My roommate Emma has become one of my closest friends here abroad. With similar interests and personalities, we’ve been able to explore a lot of Barcelona together. Emma, as well as my host mom, have really made me feel like I’m at home in Barcelona.

...continue reading "Mi Familia"

By mahaliasmith

When deciding to study abroad, the most significant challenge I have come across is being racially stereotyped for what I look like on the outside, rather than who I truly am on the inside. For the first time, while living and studying in Shanghai, I am technically a part of the majority, while simultaneously remaining a part of the minority, for I do not speak Mandarin but I appear ethnically Chinese or South East Asian. It is quite an interesting feeling being surrounded by people who all look familiar, all the while constantly being reminded that I am still an "outsider" of sorts.
Nevertheless, Shanghai has already been an amazing, fascinating, concurrently exhausting journey. So far, I have been sick once, gotten lost twice on campus, attended three classes, been harassed by four Chinese "fake market" vendors, and eaten about 18 million bowls of noodles and rice.

——

Aside from one time in the past five or so years, following my grandfather passing away while abroad in high school, I cannot remember the last time I was homesick. Put in other words, I don't tend to miss anyone—even the people closest to my heart, such as my family and best friends—when I am away from them. I believe this is due to two specific reasons: first, I always feel connected to the people I love no matter how far away I am from them, and no matter how long it has been since last seeing them; second, I find I tend to acclimate to new environments with relative ease and speed.

—— ...continue reading "Home is … where YOU are."

By Raman Mama

One of the most important parts of my abroad experience has been my growth with the art form of comedy. When I went to Shanghai last year, I began to perform. I took it with me to New York, and spent time on stages there, and even did some time in Washington.

However, the most interesting scene for me in comedy has been the London one. Here, I’ve done around 15 shows, each of which has taught me about the form, and made me a better comedian. I’ve performed in some pretty big clubs such as the Rising Star Comedy night in Holborn, and the Cavendish arms, which hosts a very popular evening. Before I leave, I’ll be taking the stage at the Top Secret Comedy Club in central London.

I’ve loved performing here, and it’s taught me a lot about how people view certain material. Whenever I tried to tell a joke about a more serious American topic like police brutality or gun violence, the crowd would listen, but it wouldn’t be something that they found funny because the topic is foreign as well as sensitive. However, here, I’ve done well talking about my experiences growing up as an African American, as well as reflections on other less tragic parts of American culture.

People here love learning about cultures that they don't interact with everyday, which is a large reason I feel like I've done okay here.

The comedy circuit here is interconnected. People love to help each other out, and will give a hand as often as they can. This has taught me about helping your fellow creative, and how the global community of artists is a very unique one.

Some of the best performers I know in London have been all over the world, but still have close ties to the city which they love so dearly. I’m glad to have been able to play a small part in this cities comedy circuit.

By Teniola Balogun

There are so many things to do in Gaborone. Whether you are in art buff or a foodie, there is differently something for you in Gabs! While I do try my best to not be super touristy, hitting all the sights is just something you have to do. When I first became acquainted with the city, I made sure to throw in a few local spots here and there.

Here is the Teni-approved guide of local yet touristy things to do in Gabs:

  1. No. 1 Ladies Coffee House's Naked Soul Sessions
    • If you are a fan of the No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency mystery book series, you have to come here. It is a coffee shop based off of/dedicated to the mystery book series based in Gabs. The vibe is calming and relaxing. You are guaranteed to have a great time here. The people and the atmosphere really draw you in. Every first Thursday of the month, they have live music/spoken word called "Naked Soul Sessions". It is so great to hear Batswana showcase their talent and talk about their experience with artistic expression.
  2. Go on a game drive
    • One can never get over the thrill of spotting a giraffe or rhino in the distance. Game drives are my absolute favorite. There are a lot of reserves in Botswana. The animals you see will differ amongst all the Botswana game drives. My two favorites have to be the game drives taken in Nata and Mokolodi. Spoiler: you might see some elephants!!
  3. Visit I-Tower
    • I-Tower is located in the central business district. Here we can find great frozen yogurt shops, a movie theatre, Italian restaurant and many more. Best of all, if you climb to the top of I-Tower, you can get the best view of the city. I was able to venture up there one night and see the lights light of the sky. Hopefully, before I leave, I will be able to catch the wonderful Botswana sunsets from the great vantage point. 
  4. Hawkers 
    • Hawkers are the vendors who sell food right along the streets. I usually buy from the hawkers right across from the UB campus. When I'm not feeling the on-campus food, I would usually go to the hawkers for dinner. For 10 pula ($1), I can get a whole meal that will leave me full for what feels like forever. Most hawkers will often all sell the same things like beans, beets, drinks, hotdogs, and braii meat. You gotta pick a special vendor and stick with her for the entire semester. She will probably keep track of the times that you come and make sure the food you get is hot and delicious!
  5. Braii
    • Braii (or BBQs) are quintessential to the Botswana lifestyle. They are usually potluck style where the host provides and BBQs the meat and the guests will bring a dish. They are always very entertaining. My program has had two braiis so far. We great getting the chance to bond more with some of the homestay families as well as the volunteers in a more informal setting.