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How My Semester in Chile Made Me a Better Historian
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Before I arrived in Valparaíso, Chile, I had never thought about how history is taught. I never considered how many sides there were to an event, how many opinions there could be about a figure, who and what affected my own learning and finally, how alive so much of history still is. I am a…
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Engaging with Cuba Beyond the Walls of the Classroom
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As is such with many study abroad experiences, many of the highlights of my semester in Cuba were captured outside the classroom. While enrolling in interesting and major-related courses at the University of Havana was a major goal of mine, participating in extra-curricular activities made my four month stay in Cuba much more profound and…
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Growing Pains
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Growing Pains I can still remember, with absolute clarity, the emotions that surged through my body as the airplane descended through the lush mountains and billowing clouds into the Juan Santamaria International Airport. Joy, excitement, and a hint of anxiety were accompanied by this overwhelming feeling of peace. I had never set foot in Costa…
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Study Abroad in England: The British Marmite Shortage of 2016
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Starting Off After telling my friends and family I would be spending the next year of my life studying abroad in York, England, the first words out of their mouth were, “Congratulations!” closely followed by, “You better pack some food because I’ve heard it’s not so good over there….” Although they were almost always joking,…
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Pyramids, Plazas, and Plant Materials: Experiences Volunteering at the Huaca Pucllana
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This semester, I decided to volunteer at the Huaca Pucllana, a pre-Inca archaeological site in Miraflores. The word “huaca” is a Quechua word meaning “sacred.” While working at the huaca, I’ve spent time with graduate students from other universities in Lima, in large part the University of San Marcos (the most prestigious public university in…
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The Daily Voyage
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Growing up in Nigeria, I passed through a British education system. I wanted to study in the U.K. for University because I knew the transition would be easier; besides, most of my friends were studying in the U.K. so I wanted to be where they were. I ended up coming to the U.S to study…
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From Risk-Taking Freshman to Irish Adventurer: The Challenges and Rewards of Being Your University’s First Freshman Abroad
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At 18-years-old, I did not cry when I said goodbye to my parents at 6:00 am at the Tulsa International Airport before I would leave them for four months. No, I stayed strong and waited until they were out of my sight before I booked it to the airport bathroom to let out all the…
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Making Your Host University a Home: How Women’s Soccer Transformed My Study Abroad Experience
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As I prepared to go abroad in the fall of 2016, one question continued to worry me about my upcoming studies: how was I going to get involved in a community that I only got to spend half a year with?After all, one of the most significant reasons that had motivated me to study abroad…
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A Passion for Global Politics Culminating in Meeting the Taoiseach of Ireland
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I’m a nerd. I’ll admit it, I love following international politics. Back home, I indulge my fascination and love for politics on the international stage by participating in Mizzou’s Model United Nations club. Going abroad presents a golden opportunity to pick up all sorts of cool new hobbies as well as help reinforce the love…
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My Greatest Accomplishment in Ecuador was Failure
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It was nightfall when I first stepped off the bus in Salasaca, a Kichwa town of the Ecuadorian Andes. Kichwa is an indigenous nationality and language. By invitation of the young adult leadership program, I would visit for the weekend and assist in English classes. Midnight of the first night, sharing Monopoly and a large…