Lost in between Osaka and Hirakata.
This audio recording as well as the image details the events that transpired during my bike to and from Osaka from my University in Hirakata, Japan. As I thoroughly enjoyed my time in Osaka, I was faced with a decision to make regarding my return home with only 15% battery on my phone. All other recourses exhausted, on the outskirts of Hirakata, I made my way back to YUI safely through the kindness of strangers.
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A Day in Morocco: Camel Rides and Camel Burgers
One standout day from my study abroad trip in Morocco involved two unexpected experiences: camel riding and trying camel burgers. The camel ride through the desert provided a unique view of the Moroccan landscape, while trying camel burgers at a local restaurant introduced me to a new culinary adventure. These experiences reminded me of the value of embracing new opportunities while abroad, deepening my appreciation for Moroccan culture and creating lasting memories.
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Benefits of non-English speaking study abroad trips
In this brief story, I will share some experiences I had along with some takeaways I gained through studying abroad in Spain and Morocco, and why going somewhere where English is not the main language was beneficial to truly engaging with the new cultures.
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Meet Cute Abroad
This is a brief story of how I met my current boyfriend while abroad in Copenhagen, Denmark.
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This is a story about a time that I cooked dinner in a different country with my roommates. Everything was going great, until it was time to do the dishes.
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From Hate to Love: My Experience with Parisian Public Transport
This story recounts my experience navigating public transport in Paris. Living in a homestay in the suburbs of Paris, my homestay location had a significant impact on my abroad experience. In this audio, I unpack my feelings toward public transport and its significance throughout the semester.
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Gaining Perspective in Morocco: A Zoo Experience with our Airbnb Driver
This is a story from my time spent on spring break in Morocco, during my spring semester abroad in 2023. I detail the experience of bringing our driver to the zoo and the perspective that his pure joy and thankfulness brought my friend and I.
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During my stay in London, I was able to visit Brighton, which is a coastal town south of London. While our group was there, we were able to freely explore the town. My friends and I decided to explore the unique beaches and the famous Brighton Aquarium. Throughout the trip, I frequently brought my camera with me to document our time in and around London. On this day, I would capture some of my best photos of the trip. As the sun began to set over the horizon, we positioned ourselves to get some great photos on a pier, when a man approached us. He asked us if we were in Brighton for the murmuration. We didn’t know what he was talking about. To our surprise, we had stumbled upon a world famous photography spot. Every day at sundown, starlings start to flock above one of the piers on the water. As the sun sinks lower and lower, the cluster of birds grows. As they dive and soar through the sky they look like water, creating ripple and splashes. It is almost like they are mirroring the water just beneath them. They create amazing shapes as they fly overhead. I was not expecting to see anything like this during my time in London. I captured some of the most amazing images I’ve ever taken. Before we left, I got the old man’s name, Tony. I thanked him for telling us to stick around, and he thanked us in return. As we left he told us “Have a good life.” Hearing him say that had a profound effect on me. It led me to think more about the ways in which people can affect one another. Attached is one of my favorite images from that day.
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Putting the “Home” in “Homestay”
This story is about how I had to self-advocate and change my homestay after only one week in Seville, Spain. This decision ended up being the best and most important decision I made all abroad.
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Navigating a Broken Wrist in Barcelona
This is the story of breaking my wrist in Capri and navigating my travel back to Barcelona and the health care system.
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