Category Stories: Faith Communities
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A Surreal Season of Growth: My Study Abroad Experience in Seville
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Studying abroad in Seville with IFSA was truly one of the best time periods of my life. I honestly didn’t think I’d ever be able to do something like this—but with God’s help, hard work, and the support of amazing people, I made it happen. Experiencing Spanish culture One of the first moments that stood…
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Finding a Faith Community in a Secular Country
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If you’re like me, you spend an awful lot of time worrying about the state of your immortal soul. And as a first-generation college student—at that, one whose parents had never left the country—it was a source of some anxiety for me, whether I’d be able to practice my religion to a sufficiently neurotic extent…
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What Am I Doing Here? One Student’s Faith Journey Abroad
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Some people plan on studying abroad before entering college, some want to go to a particular country to study a particular subject, some go to visit a country that they’ve always wanted to live in. Perhaps you fell in one of those categories or maybe none at all. But if you’re anything like me, this…
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Reconnecting with Religion in Northern Ireland
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I’d describe myself as a fairly religious person. I’ve been baptized and confirmed, I go to church when I’m home with my family, attend holiday services, and participate in church group activities. However, in my three years at UVM, I have never gone to a church service at school. Sure, I’ve thought about it, but…
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A Night of Terror
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An amazing experience, discovering the world and new cultures, broadening your horizons; these are all expressions you hear when you go to study abroad. Before you leave, you are full of excitement and think of little else besides all the wonderful things that are to come. I was no different. For the first time in…
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Being Jewish in a Catholic Country
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I used to joke that I was Jew-ish, but my faith is important to me. Even if I don’t believe every word of the Torah, having a larger sense of something to believe in is a doctrine I do subscribe to. Judaism is not only a religion to me, but also a cultural identity, which…
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Predominantly Catholic Ireland Faces a Controversial Vote on Abortion
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As I watched the festive St. Patrick’s Day parade jubilantly marching through the streets, I learned that 2018 marks the 100th year of the women’s right to vote. Many of the groups in the parade chose to display a reflection of women taking action and gaining rights; many enthusiastically shouted that a woman’s place is in…
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Being Black and Muslim in London
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Studying in a foreign environment, as exciting as it is, can be a little daunting. For students who identify as members of marginalized groups, transitioning can be even more difficult. As I was preparing to study abroad, I remember hearing that only 5% of Black students travelled abroad, and I found this statistic to be…
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Leap of Faith: Finding a Place of Worship Abroad
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More than 5,000 miles from her home in Colorado, Jessica Saffold walked around a nondescript glass office building in the business district of Santiago, Chile. She was looking for The Life Church, a house of worship recommended to her by a new friend she met at university orientation. Not knowing what to expect, Jessica stepped…
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The Invisible Identity Survival Guide
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There’s always a lot on students’ minds when studying abroad, from general worries to specific.I want to keep in touch with family…but will people judge me if my calls home are in Spanish?I’m worried about getting lost…what happens if I have a sensory meltdown?I hope I make friends here… but what if they ask me…
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