“I sometimes think drivers don’t know what grass is, or flowers, because they never see them slowly” (Fahrenheit 451) I love my planner. It keeps my life organized; it reminds me of birthdays, holidays, and party plans. I can simultaneously manage countdowns, due dates, and daily to-do lists. I feel… read more
Peer Notes
Night Running In London
One of the cooler things that I did when I was in London were the night runs I went on before it got too cold and rainy. It started out of necessity, since I had promised myself that I would work out everyday during my time abroad, but I would… read more
Dieciocho in Chile
Almost two months into my year as an exchange student at the Pontificia Universidad Catolica in Santiago, Chile, I had the chance to experience the Chilean National Holidays or the Fiestas Patrias. The 18th of September, or El Dieciocho, celebrates the formation of Chile’s first military government and the beginning… read more
A Snitch in England
When many people think of England, they immediately think of Harry Potter and it’s iconic sport: Quidditch. I play the real-world version of quidditch at UT so I had already experienced how separated the fast-growing sport has become from it’s original source material. Even so, when I went on a semester… read more
Rome for the Holidays
So, what is Thanksgiving? This may seem like a strange question, but Thanksgiving, as you know, is a holiday exclusive to the United States the same way July 4 isn’t everyone’s Independence Day. Why does this matter? Well, first of all, you may be asked “So, what is Thanksgiving?” while abroad and it’s… read more
Faculty Led vs. Exchange: Which is Best for You?
They say that if you are hesitant about studying abroad, your first trip should be a faculty-led maymester or summer program. After that trip, your feet would be wet enough in the traveling field that you will then want to participate in an exchange program of your choice. My journey… read more
Fitting in, in Freiburg, Germany
PRE-DEPARTURE STATS Anyone preparing to study abroad is familiar with this question: Where should I go? In response, people such as myself, other peer advisors, and your program coordinator will help guide you to your decision based on a variety of factors including financial, academic, language, etc. Friends will offer… read more
Shark Attack? A Sharkophobe Takes the Great Barrier Reef.
I have a huge fear of sharks. Some might call it irrational, and honestly, I would probably agree. But somehow, despite the strong (and valid) association between Australia and sharks, I ended up studying abroad in Sydney. You see, I absolutely loved Australia. And I absolutely loved the beach. I… read more
‘United Nations’ Gather in Brazil by Maria Roque
Before setting out to Brazil to enjoy a semester abroad, I looked forward most to living the Brazilian culture. I was not aware that I was about to embark on a journey through which I would learn about other cultures, too. This semester, I am studying abroad in Fortaleza, Brazil with SIT’s Brazil: Social… read more
Valentine’s Day and the Lock Bridge
The week before Valentine’s Day 2013, my closest friend in Paris got an interesting email from a professor who was back in Austin. He asked us to find the love lock that he and his wife had fastened to one of 11 locked-bridges in Paris the previous summer. However, the… read more
