Category Stories: Alumni Reflections
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Q&A: Life at the University of Otago
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Interested in University of Otago in Dunedin, New Zealand? Spring 2023 alum Gracie Mathis has you covered! Watch her info-packed Q&A to learn about student life, where to see tiny penguins, can’t miss hikes, the best jazz night, how to meet locals, and more! https://youtu.be/LiGs0gWgt-Q Gracie Mathis | University of Puget Sound | IFSA University of…
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Learning To Slow down in the Midst of Adventure in Valparaiso, Chile
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During my first week in Valparaiso, after months of backpacking around South America, I was eager to explore and fit as much of the city as I could. My stomach had other plans. An unidentified source—maybe the tap water at my workaway, the eggs in the carbonara I’d so lovingly made as a departure meal,…
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A Foodie’s Dream Experience
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Food has always been an interesting topic for me. It was one of the driving factors of my decision to study abroad. The opportunity to experience new cultural diets and tastes all over Europe was hard to pass up. While I knew that I would be able to further my learning and interest on my…
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My Time in Aotearoa and the Legend of Māui
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If there’s anything I learned in New Zealand, it was the importance of telling and listening to people’s stories. In Aotearoa (another name for New Zealand, meaning “land of the long white cloud”), indigenous Māori have legends that have been passed down faithfully from generation to generation. To honor my short time on their land,…
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From Molecules to Metropolis: A Pre-Med Journey in London’s Unique Ecosystem
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For me, however, I saw the perfect backdrop for my quest to understand the complexities of life through the lens of biology by being in the heart of one of the world’s most dynamic and historic cities, where history intertwines with cutting-edge science. As a pre-med student, I didn’t know if studying abroad would be possible for…
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Never Stop Dreaming
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Moving from the city of Boston to St Andrews, a town with a population of just over 17,000, was certainly a shock. Arriving in Fife in January around 3 p.m., the sun had already begun to set. By the time I had wheeled my bag into my dorm, the light had fully disappeared from the…
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Just Say ‘Yes!’
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Once upon a time (well, just three months ago), I was a shy, overly cautious girl my friends used to tease for being laser-focused on my career path. I meticulously planned my life around things that aligned with my interests, waving away anything that seemed even remotely off-topic. It was as if I had…
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Five Favorite Words I Learned in Buenos Aires
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A common response I got from other Spanish-speakers when I told them I would be studying abroad in Argentina was some approximation of “wow, how brave.” Argentina is notorious for its specific dialect of Spanish and distinct accent. With this came a wealth of new vocabulary, far beyond the Spanish I learned in school in…
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Do It, Go Abroad
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Do it, go abroad. That’s what everybody I talked to about going abroad told me whenever I brought it up. No matter if they went themselves or if it was their biggest college regret, they all said it would be the time of my life and a unique experience. I am 100% happy I listened.…
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The Difference Between Visiting London and Living in London
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With a short time frame of only three months, I thought I would never be able to call London “home”. Upon first arriving in London it felt as if I was on a quick vacation. With my IFSA orientation group, we hit all the major tourist attractions. We explored Borough Market, where I got to…
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