One of the best memories of this incredible study abroad actually occurred at the very end of the trip, during my flight to visit my grandparents in China. The brief interaction that I had summarized and symbolized all of the great things that I had done, seen, and learned.
Tag: conniezhanger
European Dreams
Back at home in America, there are always so many things to worry about, from exams, to papers, to outfits for social gatherings. It's so easy to get caught up in the hurry, rush, and struggle of things that it is easy to forget that most of these problems are not as big as they are. Coming to Europe has really opened me eyes to how expansive our world is, was, and will always be. It's made me even more open-minded than I ever was, and even more determined to pursue my dreams (when I find out what they are). More importantly, it's made me realize that I am the only one who controls my destiny. ...continue reading "European Dreams"
How my European Community Effects Me
In what ways has your host community supported your identity? In what ways has your host community challenged or altered how you identify yourself? Please share examples of conversations, photographs or situations that can bring your entry to life.
Living abroad really affects you. I’ve come to appreciate many of the American luxuries that I cannot find in my host country of Germany, such as free public restrooms or free tap water in restaurants. At the same time, there are many things in Germany that I appreciate, such as the focus on recycling and timeliness. One of the best things about my study abroad is that it is also a multi-country EU program, so I am able to travel to many places. We have had field trips to Brussels, Paris, Prague, Berlin, Athens, Bucharest, and Budapest. ...continue reading "How my European Community Effects Me"
My Multi-Country Program Communitie
1.) This first picture shows my American IES Program friends on a weekend trip to Munich, Germany. Although I am living in a foreign country, there is a safe American community for me at school. Although most of our core values and customs are similar, we come from many different schools and places in the USA, and in that regard, it is also very diverse. I travel with many of my friends to other place, and it is always nice to share a beautiful experience with friends. ...continue reading "My Multi-Country Program Communitie"
My Background as an Asian American
As a kid, I thought that being an American meant that you went to the diner after school every day to pop open glass bottles of Coca-Cola, and licked your sticky fingers after eating cotton candy at a summer carnival.The thought never occurred to me how I looked as an Asian girl, because I was always taught that I could be whoever I wanted to be, and do whatever I dreamed of.
You could say that I noticed that I would only eat rice at dinner--never mashed potatoes or roast chicken like I saw in the pictures on the bright, glaring lights of my old 1990 television set. Or that, I guess I wasn't blonde like the Barbie dolls at Toyrs R Us, and in fact, I had extremely dark hair. Christmas time was different too. When I asked my parents if we were making a gingerbread house, they looked surprised and asked me what that even was.