“Sawadeeka. Kopunka. Chai. Mai chai.” These phrases echoed in my mind as my twenty-four-hour flight landed in Bangkok, Thailand. After months of practice, these were the words I committed to memory before embarking on my six-week research opportunity at Chulalongkorn University. As a first-generation college student, even the thought of… read more
Public Health
Lessons from Brussels
Everyone, of course, says they learned something from being abroad. And of course, I would say the same. I learned to speak French well, and I learned about Belgian culture and the history of the European Union. However, I think my two biggest lessons were learning to travel alone and… read more
Home Away From Home
I do not doubt for a second that I was meant to study in Seville, Spain. Spaniards are proud of their culture, which makes it very powerful. They are very friendly, always willing to help each other, and treat everyone like family. I really like how people always greet each… read more
Beauty and Freedom in Spain
“I’m in love with cities I’ve never been to and people I’ve never met — Melody Truong,” read a square magnet on the filing cabinet of my pre-health advisor’s office. It was my first college advising meeting, where I was beginning my twelve-year plan to become a doctor. Once we… read more
