Before Traveling Abroad

I traveled abroad to Florence, Italy this summer to learn more about the Italian language and culture. This was only the second time I had been out of the country and, as such, I had assumed it would be much like when I went to France with my friend and her family, so...

Fast Fertig :(

Naturally, I arrived in Berlin via the airport—the famous Tegel airport. I was expecting to find an airport that met the stereotypes of Germany: clean, efficient, and modern-to-the-point of coldness. Instead, I found an old airport with a poor layout that could barely...

East and West

Despite being home in the United States, my mind often wanders back to the rolling hills of plum orchards and small bustling cities of Serbia. The sweeping cathedrals, delicious food, and friendly people were all and more than I expected. Here at UA, I study Russian...

The First Month

After the first week of coming to Japan, everything became a whir of trying to orientate myself here. There was a lot of paperwork we had to do for both the university and for Japan, not to mention I had to buy more groceries and the store near the bottom of the hill!...

After Abroad

So now you’ve been to some fascinating places, made wonderful friends, learned a lot about yourself, what now? Returning to my home campus was a reality check, that life is a little more simple on a daily basis than the last month I spent in Rome, and a few...

Coming Home

I still can’t believe it’s over. It almost doesn’t feel real that I’m home, like I’m in a dream I’m about to wake up from. I already miss being in Germany and I’ve only been home for a few days. Sure, I did miss my family and...
Tschuss, Europa!

Tschuss, Europa!

My journey home was, to say the least, arduous. A long and tiring time-zone-hopping, people-dodging endeavor. I left my Amsterdam hostel (I travelled around Europe a bit after my study abroad program ended) at 3:25 A.M. local time to catch a 3:45 train to the airport....

I’m home… Now what?

It’s going to sound pathetic, but my first thought upon returning home was being able to switch back to my regular cellular plan. I wouldn’t be charged for international roaming, and wouldn’t need to rely solely on a time limited wifi connection to...

Ich bin ein Berliner?

Ever since I was young I have dreamed of taking a trip to Europe. Maybe it was watching the Cheetah Girls strut down the streets of Barcelona or Lizzie Margurie live her best life in Italy. I can’t be sure but whatever it was I wanted in. I’m here to say...
Transportation in Japan

Transportation in Japan

In America, we usually drive around cars to get from place to place. The same is true for Japan for some people. Except, driving in Japan is extremely expensive. Japanese law mandates people to go to driving school first before they receive their license, which ends...