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Running into a New Adventure: Two cross-country student-athletes on running and identity
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Quiet, runner: In middle and high school, I was often summed up in these two words. In the eyes of those who didn’t know me well, my reserved disposition and passion for running cross-country defined me. Throughout my first years of college, both of those identifiers have evolved. In my time abroad, I look forward…
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Studying Abroad…in China? It’s More Likely Than You Think
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“How can you be okay with living in a communist country?” “The language is so hard, how are you going to be able to find your way around?” “But it’s just so…different.” These are definitely the most common questions I heard after I told people I was going to study abroad in China. Based on…
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Thriving Abroad Despite Adversity at Home
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I’m used to moving around. I grew up in London and then left for college in California when I was 18, at which point my parents moved to the east coast of the US. It was a difficult transition and the situation at home (wherever that was) wasn’t always easy, but I adapted and grew…
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From Scottish Reeling to the Oxford Union
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From Scottish Reeling to the Oxford Union My Cultural Immersion into Oxford Student Life The Oxford Union The Oxford Union is one of Britain’s oldest unions, and is one of the world’s most prestigious debating chambers. Year after year it invites countless prominent celebrities, activists and politicians for intellectually stimulating (and sometimes controversial) talks and…
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7 Reasons Why STEM Majors Should Study Abroad
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“Only liberal arts majors study abroad.” “Most programs don’t have classes that count towards my major.” “I might not graduate on time if I study abroad.” “The academic rigor of courses offered abroad falls short of the classes I would take in America.” “There are no benefits for STEM majors who study abroad.” … The…
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Finding a Home Away From My Greek House: Studying Abroad as a Student Involved in Greek Life
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As a freshman, I went through formal recruitment at the University of Mississippi and I have been very involved in my sorority since. I held positions on recruitment team and was involved in multiple committees. Other members in my sorority were very helpful and encouraging when I decided to study abroad, but it was also…
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Understanding the Culture of Protesting In Chile
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Overview: Protesting in Chile In my first few weeks of classes, one of the universities in Santiago went on “toma,” meaning that students had taken over the school and barricaded the doors, so classes were canceled. The next week, another university went on “paro,” meaning that the faculty and students went on strike. This, I…
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Grad School Prep Abroad: 5 months at one of the best research institutions in the world
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Going into my year abroad, I felt very split on my post-grad plans. I had been half-considering applying to medical school due to the encouragement of many adults in my life who had taken my interest in science to equate a career in medicine; but had also just come off of a summer of doing…
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Redefining Study Abroad for First-Gen Ethnic Minorities
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As the airport’s sliding doors opened and I felt the chill breeze caress my exhausted, yet excited self after a nonstop 14 hour flight, I began to think about the once-in-a-lifetime journey that was ahead of me. While I was admiring the scenery and imagining all of the thrilling experiences I would soon encounter, I…
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Living and Learning History in the UK OR Learning When There is No Right Answer (OR: the true story of an I, the village idiot, survived two terms Oxford)
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Studying abroad entails so many things: meeting new people, trying new things, travelling to new places, and, of course, studying! Now I understand what you’re thinking – I‘m flying halfway around the world for the experiences, not to study something that I can learn right here at college. And you’re right! And also, wrong. When you go…