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Study Abroad Highlights from Shanghai
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After studying in Beijing last summer, I knew I wanted to return for a full semester abroad in China. Still, I worried that the experience might not live up to last summer. Did I enjoy living in China or was it friends who made it special? Would I be able to form connections as deep…
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Staying in Touch as a First-Time Study Abroad Traveler
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Like me, many students attend college in their home state, for financial reasons, convenience, specific programs, or to stay close to home. I go to an in-state school that’s ten minutes from home. Fortunately, I live on campus and stay away from home as much as possible to develop independence. Still, I’ve felt that my…
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Staying Culturally Connected During Study Abroad
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It’s so exciting to get to know the culture of another country when you’re studying abroad—new food, new music, new people, new landscapes, new everything! But sometimes a wave of homesickness can hit you unexpectedly hard. Here are a few things I’ve been doing over the past year to feel more connected to home and…
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How Studying Abroad in Australia Gave Me a New Appreciation for Sharks
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Surrounded by deep-blue water for miles, the other seven snorkelers in my tour group and I stay completely still and wait. Through our diving masks, all eyes are trained on one spot in the water. I gasp underwater as I finally see it. Emerging out of the deep is the ocean’s biggest fish, a whale…
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How Māori Language Showed Me the Best of New Zealand
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Aotearoa means land of the long white cloud in Te Reo Māori, the language spoken by the indigenous Māori (mau-ree) in New Zealand for the last 700 years. It’s called this because when the first Māori explorers, Kupe and Kuramārōtini, found these islands, they saw a giant cloud over it, signaling a new land. This…
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Creating a Home When You Study Abroad, Wherever You Go
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My initial worries The nerves did not hit me until I was driving to the airport. Just days before, I was texting in the WhatsApp group chat how excited I was to see everyone in Houston. About half the group had a layover in my hometown, and I was ready to take advantage of those…
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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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Hello, London: Studying Abroad as an International Student
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What I loved about my program Joining this IFSA program was one of the best parts of my undergraduate studies. From the welcoming IFSA staff to the student body at large, everyone was super nice and always there to help. Through IFSA, I joined thoughtfully curated excursions that truly enriched my experience. My favorite was…
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Five Ways to Make the Best of Study Abroad at Oxford University
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Studying abroad in Oxford is tough, but a great choice. I hope these tips from my experience here this year help you maximize your time here. 1. Embrace the tutorial system. Here’s how it works: You’re assigned two tutorials per term, one primary and one secondary. You write six to eight essays for your primary,…
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Study Abroad Strategies: How to See Australia on a Budget
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Options for public transportation in Australia Coming to the University of Melbourne with IFSA, I knew I wanted to travel without spending hundreds of dollars. After researching transportation passes in Australia, I found three options: the Queensland Pass, the Queensland Coastal Pass, and the Discovery Pass. Since I was based in Melbourne, the Discovery Pass…