By: Grace Carballo ‘17

During my last few days in Managua, I had the absolute privilege of celebrating La Gritería with my amazing host family, our last hurrah. The holiday was described to us by our program director, Anita, as a mix between Fourth of July, Halloween, and Christmas, so my expectations were obviously high

By: Grace Carballo ‘17

For all those who have studied abroad and those who are welcoming home loved ones who were abroad, it is important to recognize that reverse culture shock is a very real phenomenon; it takes time and patience to readjust to life back in the U.S.

By: Lauren Brose ‘15

It all started when my dad got his first teaching job in Oahu back in the 70′s. He was 22 and had $2,000 to his name. The simple life was all that interested him and the surf in Hawaii was spectacular enough to make my dad move out there for a year. He suggested that his mother check out Hawaii for herself. She fell in love instantly and today, over 30 years later, my grandma and her husband retired from teaching and live in Hawaii permanently. Naturally, I escape the Southern California “cold” (in my defense, it was pretty cold the days leading up to my departure) and spend my Christmas’s in Hawaii. This isn’t the most traditional form of Christmas considering Hawaii is the polar (pun totally intended) opposite of how Christmas is normally imagined.

By: Judy Lee ‘17

If you’re studying abroad, you’ve got to be strategic this holiday season! Here are some things you can keep in mind in case someone asks you what you’d like this year:

By: Samantha Romero ‘16

1. Portland: This past Thanksgiving my friends and I planned a quick getaway to Portland. The breweries and lush hikes are totally worth the 15-hour drive. I recommend going with a group friends to split the driving time…

By: Grace Carballo ‘17

Some say do what you love and you’ll never work in your life. Others like to take it farther and ruin things by adding “because that field probably isn’t hiring.” Usually about this point I interject and tell them how Global Studies is an up- and-coming field and literally the entire world is my oyster, but that’s not the direction I’m heading with this post. As finals begin to affect your sleep schedule and maybe even your hygiene, I want to encourage you to take a short, well-deserved break to ask yourself why you’re doing all this in the first place.

By: Grace Carballo ‘17

I’m in Matagalpa now which is super cool compared to Managua, both in terms of climate and also just in terms of the general vibes it projects. I’m working on my ISP which stands for Independent Study Project, emphasis on the independent.

By: Samantha Romero ‘16

My daily French diet consisted of at least one if not all of the following: baguettes, croissants, and crepes. Everyday as I would walk to class I made it a ritual to stop by our corner bakery for a croissant au chocolat. It feels like it was just yesterday that I was savoring the freshly baked layers of buttery goodness. Croissants will never taste the same…

By: Grace Carballo ‘17

I would just like to take the time to thank all the great inventors and big dreamers out there who made the world what it is today. Without you folks, I would have no choice but to continuously be at a loss for words with my host family’s hairless cats as my only companions.

By: Grace Carballo ‘17

A recap of the Study Abroad fair: I’m genuinely sorry you missed it; I had an awesome time. As did my dear friend, Kathleen, despite her rather indifferent expression (pictured above).