“¡Buen provecho!” exclaimed Doña Dilia, my homestay mom, as she served us a steaming bowl of vegetable soup and a plate of tamales. The genuine warmth in her voice and the twinkle in her eyes encapsulated the essence of Guatemalan hospitality. “Buen provecho,” I replied, grateful for the delicious meal… read more
Shanghai Serenade
After six long years and a global pandemic, I was back in China. I arrived in Shanghai two days before my academic program began to get adjusted to the city that I would call home for the summer. East China Normal University is in the Putou District of Shanghai, so… read more
Chilean Connections
I had never been outside the U.S. before my current Education Abroad program in Santiago, Chile. While I’ve taken some trips around the country, most of my experiences stem from the same Texas suburb. Therefore, when family or friends asked what I was looking forward to before embarking, I had… read more
Shifting Expectations
Part of me has always known that I wanted a different study abroad experience than most people. I wanted to integrate completely into a society that was so different from my life back home in Texas. That’s why I originally wanted to go to mainland China: so I could practice… read more
What Immersion Does To Your Brain
In two days, it will be three weeks since I arrived here in Mexico City for the first time. Two years ago, I would have never thought I’d be here. It’s funny to me because in the first semester of my freshman year, when UT Austin was heavily promoting study… read more
Familiar but Distinct
As a Chinese international student at UT Austin, I am familiar with how studying abroad feels. I can’t recall exactly how I felt when I arrived at the airport wearing a long-sleeved shirt and pushing two large suitcases out of Changi Airport at 3 p.m. That’s because the heat and… read more
Bajo el Sol de Mexico (Under the Mexican Sun)
The golden light from the setting sun illuminated the city built on the mountains, and I fell in love. I have to admit, even though it was a short flight from Texas to Mexico, I was nervous about traveling alone for the first time in my life. The thought… read more
Time Is A Circle
A few months ago, I finished reading Gabriel García Márquez’s novel “One Hundred Years of Solitude.” A recurring theme throughout the book is the idea that time is a circle. The events and actions that happen throughout an individual’s life happen over and over again. Not just the individual, but… read more
Adjusting to Living And Thinking Abroad
You know when there’s a popular TV show, and everyone’s talking about it, so you know the characters, basic plotline, and random spoilers, but then you actually watch the show, and everything starts to mean something to you? That’s what studying abroad feels like. I knew where I was going… read more
My French Dispatch
Living in Paris has been my dream since I was a toddler learning how to read with the “Madeline” picture book. (My mom can still recite the first few lines, and I’m nearly 21 years old—if that gives you an idea of how much I loved it!) I can genuinely… read more
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
- Next Page »
