I am writing this blog on my first day back from my time abroad in Dublin, and it honestly feels so surreal. I am incredibly grateful for the experience, as well as all the help I have received along the way, which made this whole program possible. Study abroad has challenged me in ways that…
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Exploring Tokyo: My Study Abroad Life with CIEE
CIEE Summer Japanese Studies program – Tokyo, Japan Hello again, my name is Ethan Tran, and I am currently participating in the CIEE Summer Japanese Studies program in Tokyo, Japan, which is run by CIEE, a non-profit organization that promotes international education and exchange programs for students and educators. I take classes at J. F….
Closing this Chapter… for Now
Studying abroad in Seoul, South Korea, was a life-changing experience. On the surface, it gave me amazing friendships and a different academic environment. But on a deeper level, it gave me back my spark for learning, struggling with changing my educational path, and burning out. School felt like nothing more than a chore that needed…
Wow, leaving so soon…
Ahh, it has finally happened! All that hard work and preparation has paid off. I’m finally studying abroad in Seoul, South Korea. Though I knew this day was coming, even before I took the flight to Seoul, it still feels weird seeing the days count down to the single digits of how long I have…
Friendship <3
Especially during this current political climate, it was interesting studying and living in South Korea as an American. With two historic presidential administrations happening in both countries, the US seeing Trump’s second term and South Korea impeaching and prosecuting their former president, and having a rushed election. Due to these two events, I was asked…
Adjusting to Seoul
When I first came to Seoul, everything felt both completely foreign and somewhat familiar. Constantly researching and planning for my time abroad gave me some leeway, not completely feeling like a fish out of water, but like anyone else, I did experience culture shock. Whether it was different public transportation etiquette (such as almost complete…
Adapting to Ireland’s Culture
Fresh off the plane, my roommates and I marched confidently into our local Dublin Lidl to do our grocery shopping. “What could go wrong?” we had thought. While walking up and down the aisles and picking out my weekly ingredients felt very familiar, it was what happened afterwards that will continue to stick with me…
Tokyo Bound!
Introduction Hi everyone! My name is Ethan Tran, and I’m a rising sophomore at the University of Pittsburgh’s College of Business Administration, where I’m pursuing a triple major in Business Information Systems, Business Analytics, and Finance. This summer, I’m incredibly excited to be heading to Tokyo, Japan, to participate in CIEE’s Summer Japanese Studies program,…
First Impressions of Dublin
I have officially been in Dublin for a week and a half, and it is safe to say that it is already starting to feel like home! My program focuses on History, Politics, and Social Change, where I am taking both a literature course and a film course. I was particularly drawn to these and…
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