On the first day of this year, I hopped on a plane (actually, three planes) to come to Hong Kong. My fervent packing the night before had been interrupted by New York’s, then New Orleans’ ball drop to ring in 2023. The motivation, enthusiasm for personal growth, and anticipation that… read more
College of Liberal Arts
A Semester to Remember
With just a week left in my semester exchange program at University College London, I am already starting to reminisce about my time here in the United Kingdom. In London, I’ve studied under some of Europe’s most esteemed academics and lecturers, visited some of the greatest art and history museums… read more
Changes, Distractions and Speaking You
A lot can change in a month. My last post was in early October, a time I’d choose in an instant over my current affairs, several weeks later. Back in October, I claimed that when studying abroad, you need to get comfortable with the idea of being alone. I realize… read more
The Learning Curve of London
My experience studying abroad in London has been the epitome of a learning curve. When I first got here, I didn’t know how the London Underground Metro system worked, so I couldn’t go anywhere without navigation from my maps app. I struggled to understand how my class schedule worked, and… read more
British Food: It’s Not That Bad
Before coming to London, I counted myself lucky for never having tasted “mushy peas.” I recoiled at pictures of beans on toast and something called “black pudding,” a type of blood sausage originating from the U.K. and Ireland. There’s a sort of universally accepted stereotype that British food has less… read more
Finding Solace in the Unknown
Tomorrow marks exactly two months since I left Texas for Scotland, and it’s so hard to come up with the words to accurately describe this experience. I feel like I’ve been living in a fever dream, and I think I’ll need at least another year to process everything. Honestly, if… read more
Romancing My Solitude, the Parisian Way
I must admit: My last blog post was written in the thick of my Parisian honeymoon phase. Three months in, I now have a more grounded perspective on living abroad and the challenges associated with it. One challenge that I’ve been facing lately is feeling lonely. My boyfriend and I… read more
Instant Asia
The Lion City. The Garden City. Instant Asia. Instant Asia. This modern nickname for Singapore stood out to me more than any of the others. A country smaller in size than Dallas houses a population of nearly six million people from various ethnic and religious backgrounds, as well as an… read more
Wishing for a Fig in Winter
Still life has been my favorite genre of art since childhood. I’d like to think it was the first time I deeply resonated with the power of metaphor in art. However, at the time, I hadn’t entirely pieced together why I was so fascinated by an unassuming, gilded-framed depiction of… read more
Rekindling the Old and Igniting the New: Reflecting on Connections
Connections between people and places bring the world together. Especially in a place like Brussels, creating and maintaining connections is incredibly important. The way the city itself is connected, as well as how it’s connected to the rest of the world, has inspired me to reflect on the connections I’ve… read more