Category Stories: Family Matters
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Rediscovering My Chinese American Identity as a Student in Shanghai
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Overcoming doubts When I first decided to come to Shanghai, I was filled with doubt. From everything I had heard about study abroad, I knew I should choose a location that guaranteed constant adventure. But I’d been to Shanghai before, and in fact, to China a couple times. As a Chinese American who spoke fluent…
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Familia: How Moving 2,700 Miles Away from Home Brought Me Closer to My Family
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Marina, ¿por qué viniste a México? ¿Es porque tu familia es de aquí? I smile and nod warmly at my host mom’s question. Yes, I chose to come to Mexico because my family is from here. This answer seemed self-explanatory, the same way it’s simple to say that I’m Mexican when asked what my ethnicity…
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At Home Studying Abroad in Galway, Ireland
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Blackberries and Basalt When I first arrived in Galway, I couldn’t help but compare the landscape to the trees, tidepools, and basalt I knew from my stomping grounds in the Pacific Northwest. Just like in Washington state, blackberries wrap around handrails and riverbanks, and ferns unfurl on a trail near the University of Galway campus.…
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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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Finding Heritage in the Highlands
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I felt a deep connection to Scotland before arriving here. My grandfather was extremely proud of our Scottish heritage and made a point to talk about his love for this country and culture as frequently as possible. I was raised in the Presbyterian Church, the roots of which trace back to Scotland. There was even…
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Six Tips for Studying Abroad While in a Committed Relationship
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Studying abroad comes with a lot of challenges: Navigating a new city and culture, learning a new language. Amidst it all, you might also be trying to maintain a relationship back home. From the moment my boyfriend and I started dating last year, we knew this was coming. I’ve wanted to study abroad since high…
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Exploring My Mexican Identity in Mexico
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I am the child of immigrants and a first-generation student. My parents moved to the United States from México before I was born. They wanted me to live where I would have opportunities they didn’t have growing up, to get a better education and live a better life. My mother believed in my future, so she…
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Exploring Family Roots and Exotification in China
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I have always wanted to come to China. Listening to the stories my grandfather told about his childhood here and wondering about the ones he didn’t share, I felt I owed it to my blood to try and understand some of Chinese culture. What did my Grandpa feel on his way to the Philippines and…
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5 Things You Should Know About Living With a Host
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While the idea of living with an unknown family in a remote country may sound frightening at first, it can become an amazing experience and create a memorable study abroad journey. Like most people, I had nerves about my homestay since I would be living with the family for a long period. These nerves continued…
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5 Ways to Get More From Study Abroad
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IFSA students share their game-changing advice for others heading off for new experiences. Start on the Right Foot “Don’t miss out on the orientation events that will be going on in the first days and weeks of the program,” says Shane C., who studied at London’s University of Westminster. “It’s a great way to learn some important information as…
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