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APP-y Hour: Four Mobile Apps + One Card You Need When Studying Abroad in Shanghai
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After living in Shanghai for three months, I have learned that mobile apps are a huge deal in China. These apps are super convenient and have allowed me to stay within budget while enjoying all the Shanghai has to offer. It is imperative to have working smartphone, especially in a mobile consumerism-driven society like China.…
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Dear First-Generation College Student, You’re Gonna Be Okay
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Studying Abroad as a First Generation College Student Being a first generation college student, studying abroad seemed out of reach at first and a bit terrifying. My decision to study abroad in Buenos Aires is one that I am deeply happy with and wouldn’t change it for anything. One of the hardest decisions before studying…
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Taking STEM Further
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As an Engineering student, it was important to me that my study abroad program was centered around a course that would fit into my degree plan and offer me the opportunity to further my career network. IFSA-Butler’s program at Ulster University: Engineering and Irish Studies offered me just that. Choosing your program One of the main points…
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A Love Letter to the East End
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Online research about the East End would have you thinking that the most significant part about it was Jack the Ripper. However, London’s EastEnders and those such as myself who have had the opportunity to live here would most certainly disagree. As I prepare to leave my home of the last three months, I am…
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Home is Where Your Family Is
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There is a saying that goes ‘home is where the heart is’. I’ve heard this phrase numerous times, however I never really understood what it meant until I studied abroad. The opportunity to study abroad allows you to learn so much about yourself. You are given the chance to gain independence, discover how strong you…
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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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What’s It Like Being Queer in London?
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What is the experience of being queer abroad like? It’s about understanding the nuances of your sexual identity and finding a community for yourself. This is what I learned from my friend Julianna, a junior from Wesleyan University studying at Queen Mary, University of London. In the busy coffee shop on Queen Mary’s campus we talked…
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Engaging in Uncomfortable Discussions about Race
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In London, I’ve experienced similar challenges with micro-aggressions (aka “casual racism”) as I have in the U.S. Like the United States, the UK has its own set of racial tensions that inhabit college campuses and the greater London community. In the conversations that I have had with other students of color, similar sentiments about the…
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Facing Disabilities Abroad: A Few Steps
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In high school, I decided that I was going to study abroad. Besides Canada, I had never traveled outside of the United States, so I was determined to make it happen in college. I picked a college that prided itself on their study abroad experience and organized my graduation and major requirements to work with…