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By jfbarszcz

Greetings to you, Dear Reader. Unfortunately, I don't really have much to say this week about Prague, because I'm not there yet! (Hence the "Week 0" title.) However, it turns out that there's a good deal to say about NOT being abroad, because of how absurdly involved getting ready to leave is.

Obviously, there's a lot to do to prepare for spending a semester a continent away from home. First of all, there's all the paperwork, most notably my Czech visa. While the Czech Republic is part of the European Union and the Schengen Area, as an American I still need a visa for an extended stay in the country. Of course, the process of acquiring a visa, no matter what country, is only slightly more pleasant than waiting at the DMV. Actually, it might be even worse, because of all the time you need to spend on prep. I had to compile, let's see... ...continue reading "Prague: Week 0"

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By shivaniinsingapore

After having been in classes for three weeks, I can safely say that there is a lot of curiosity amongst my classmates as to what exactly constitutes American culture. In classes, I always get asked several questions about US perspectives on various topics; the most discussion of US culture comes from my Gender and Society of South Asia course. While in this class, I am pushed to think critically about how the US/Western mindset is different than the Eastern mindset. Most of the time, I don't know how to answer. Culturally, there are numerous things that are different between the US and Southeast Asia; however, I have enjoyed every last bit of the learning process!

...continue reading "Foreign Perceptions of Americans"

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By quericolavida

When I first arrived here in Buenos Aires, it was the height of the Olympics. In fact, the United States had just surpassed China and became the country with the most gold medals in this year's Games. I went to a bar with a fellow American student on the IBUS in Argentina program to watch the USA vs. Argentina basketball game. I asked the waiter if he could put the game on and if we could sit down and watch it. He could tell we were gringos from my accent and replied jokingly in Spanish,

"Sure! You guys are rooting for Argentina, right?"

"Claro!" We laughed with him and ordered a drink. After half-time USA pulled away form Argentina with a ten point lead. We said to the waiter,

"If we win the drinks are on the house, right?"    He wasn't super amused.

USA Basketball Olympic Team

...continue reading "Ex-Patriotism and the Olympics in a Far-Away Land"

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By littlemisadventures

Cairo is unlike any city I have ever experienced. It is sprawling and dusty and friendly and hectic. I love it already. This week, AUC organized some outings for international students, which was a great way to become familiar with the city. On our very first day, we saw ancient Coptic churches and the mosque of Amr ibn al-As. The soft carpet and serene atmosphere were a welcome respite from the sun and heat.

I was completely overwhelmed by the pyramids. I went inside the third, smallest one, which involves walking downward at about a 45-degree angle, bent double in sweltering heat and dust, with the passage ceiling scraping your head. The passage opens up to a series of chambers, which long ago held everything that royalty could possibly need for a comfortable afterlife. After crawling back out of the pyramid, the desert wind feels like a cool breeze. ...continue reading "Hello from Cairo!"

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By rlubitz

I haven’t even stepped on the plane for London yet. In fact, I’m exactly two weeks from leaving but I still wake up every night thinking that I should have gotten a visa even though a student visa is only necessary, that my computer isn’t going to work there because my adapter is going to spontaneously combust and most of all, they’re just not going to let me into their country because I’m gonna be a hot, nervous mess upon arrival. I know none of that is true but really though, I have anxiety about everything.

...continue reading "I Have Anxiety about Everything: The Study Abroad Edition"

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By tierneybb

I felt guilty about demanding this woman move, we had no language in common and it would have been easy enough for me it sidle in and bear the next four hours in the purgatory of the middle seat. But I had held that spot on the twelve hour flight to Qatar, and after thirty hours in transit I was going to claim the comfort I had reserved for myself this last leg into Kathmandu. As we headed East the pitch black of night was nearly uninterrupted by any city lights until a piercing sunrise revealed glimpses of rolling hills under the low clouds. I kept tearing my eyes away from the Disney classics I had pulled up on the entertainment system to check if any of the mountains I was so desperate to see were visible. Finally, as we began our descent cold grey faces of sheer rock were tearing through the clouds in the distance. These Himalayan peaks were like nothing else I had ever seen: not only did they ascend so much faster and further than my native Rockies, but the sharp angles and uniform grey made for an austere beauty I am hoping to get closer to over the course of my semester here in Nepal. ...continue reading "Pharping Village, Nepal"

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By hwscott

Right now, I am sitting in a hotel that was built in the 1600s, in one of the craziest (and highest) cities in the world, La Paz, Bolivia. In the past 24 hours, I've had about 3 hours sleep, traveled almost 4000 miles, ascended 13,000 feet, walked through a street fair, encountered a huge demonstration, and seen countless amazing political graffiti. This morning after we landed, the sun came up on Mt. Illimani in the distance, and as we drove away, we came up to the edge of the altiplano and looked down more than 5000 feet to the bottom of the city. We all couldn’t keep our mouths shut as we looked upon row after row of colorful houses and shacks clinging to the slopes, descending to the colonial/ modern skyscraper city center below.

...continue reading "Las Investigaciones en La Paz"

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By hfirlein

Hi blog readers! I am a senior at GW, spending the fall semester in Cape Town, South Africa with the Council for International Educational Exchange (CIEE). I knew I wanted to come to Africa, and when I started looking for programs, CIEE immediately jumped out because of their curriculum flexibility (no specific class requirements) and their commitment to engagement in local communities. I narrowed down my options to Legon, Ghana, and Cape Town. The classes offered at the University of Cape Town fit better with my academic plans, and the social and economic problems associated with the aftermath of apartheid really intrigued me, so I decided on Cape Town!

...continue reading "Hello from Cape Town!!"

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By ecirrincione

Hello everyone! My name is Elizabeth Cione and I am currently spending the fall semester abroad in Amman, Jordan. I am participating in the Language and Culture program at CIEE, who hosts various programs all over the world. I have chosen to study abroad in Jordan specifically with CIEE for several reasons. I am majoring in Middle East studies at the Elliott school; therefore it is only fitting that I will be studying in the Middle East. There were several Middle Eastern countries offered, but I chose Jordan because it is an emerging Middle Eastern power that still holds true to its traditions and cultures. I was searching for a country that would welcome me as a foreigner, but would also have a lot to teach me about the rest of the world. Out of all of the programs, the Jordan program seemed to be the best match for me because of the focus on the language that was essential to learn. In addition to the language, the CIEE program focused strongly on providing a great cultural immersion, which was also very important to me.

...continue reading "Hello from Amman!"

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By tokyostyle101

Tomodachi

 

I've had a lot of people ask me why I'm returning to Japan to study abroad. Is it really abroad when I hold citizenship to the country I'm studying in? Does it count? Will it be a true cultural experience?

I don't think I have the answer to any of these questions. Except for the question Why did I return to Japan.

I haven't lived here my whole life, but I've been here long enough to feel that it is as much of a home to me as America is. Although one problem is language...I speak colloquially but not fluently. I cannot express my personality as well in Japanese as I can in English and it has put up some barriers. I am never considered Japanese by Japanese people because I don't look it. I want to be able to function here as any citizen can so that A. I can surprise people by bustin' out my language skills and B. Because of the March 11th 2011 Earthquake and Tsunami in Northeastern Japan. (further referred to as 3.11) ...continue reading "We are all TOMODACHI"

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