Category Stories: Cultural Immersion
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The Value of Letting Experiences Unfold During Study Abroad
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I am often a victim of the idea that a moment unoccupied is a moment wasted when you’re studying in a foreign country. For a lot of reasons, that narrative makes sense. For many, including me, this is a once in a lifetime opportunity to spend months immersing yourself in a space and culture that…
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Every Moment Is an Opportunity to Grow: Lessons from Study Abroad in Buenos Aires
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When I arrived in Buenos Aires, I knew I was stepping into a new chapter of my life. I felt a lot at once: excited, nervous, and unsure of what to expect. Before arriving, I studied Spanish every day, but living in a new country showed me that learning a language and understanding a culture…
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Sevilla Intercambios: The Key to Improving My Spanish Skills and My Confidence Abroad
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My main goal for study abroad was to improve my Spanish as much as possible. I want to go into translation and interpretation, so it was important to me to talk with people outside of the classroom. Enter los intercambios. Intercambios—which translates literally to exchanges—are events, usually hosted weekly by a bar, where people can get together and practice speaking different languages. They are great opportunities…
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How Edinburgh Art Influenced My Study Abroad Experience
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As a history and art history double major, one of the highlights of my time in Edinburgh was immersing myself in the city’s deeply rooted arts scene. Engaging with a new cultural landscape sharpened my perspective and deepened my commitment to pursuing a career in museum work and public history. Rethinking my U.S.-based assumptions Unsurprisingly, my favorite course this semester…
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Make Local Exploring a Priority When You Study Abroad
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As I prepared to study in Scotland, many people asked me where I planned to travel while I was in Europe. I was more excited to explore my host city, Edinburgh. I had never been to Scotland, and I was focused on seeing the sights within the city. After three months of living here, I have learned so much more about this city and its people. Tips for gaining cultural awareness…
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Want to Make the Most of Study Abroad and Find Home Away from Home? Just Say Yes.
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“Let’s try a salsa class downtown tonight!” “Want to join us for a road trip to hike Tongariro Crossing?” “It’s a game night. Want to join?” When you settle into your new home-away-from-home, it can be tempting to want to stick to your routine. This provides comfort and safety—and that can be helpful. It’s easy to head back from class and sink into the couch to finish up homework. Yet throughout my…
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Exploring the New Zealand Outdoors Through a Māori Lens
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In New Zealand, indigenous Māori culture is well-integrated into everyday life. That’s part of what drew me to study abroad here. I wanted to experience a non-Western way of learning, explore a diverse array of landscapes, and live in a country where indigenous knowledge and culture are included and respected. Learning about my new home through language Here, Te reo Māori, Māori language, is part of everyday conversation and accompanies English words…
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Don’t Spend Your Study Abroad Semester in an Airport
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It is easy to get caught up in the travel flex when you get to London. I’ve done my fair share of travel already, having been to Dublin and Morocco, and writing from Wales, where I am visiting with my IFSA group. I have more trips lined up for the next few months, but I’ve realized if you aren’t careful, you could end up treating London like a glorified base camp instead of the place you live. The…
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Discovering Peru’s Diversity: My Semester Abroad Across Mountains, Deserts, and Rainforests
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When I arrived in Lima, Peru, I was excited for a semester in a big city, improving my Spanish, eating delicious food, and dancing salsa. However, I did not know much about the country I had chosen to live in for the next few months, other than that it is famous for ceviche (a seafood dish) and Machu Picchu. Five months later, my study abroad experience…
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Learning the Language Abroad: One Key to Cultural Understanding
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Everyone says the first weeks of study abroad are the hardest, but I disagree. When I arrived in Mérida, Mexico, I was greeted by a loving host family and found friends I liked early on. Of course, there were struggles. But overall, those first weeks were some of the most exciting of my life as…
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