My semester at Sophia University in Tokyo was an amazing experience and is now coming to an end. Through language barriers, unique customs, and unfamiliar traditions, I discovered the power of empathy and understanding in bridging the gaps between people from different backgrounds. Among the moments during my semester, a few stood out as true…
Tag: Spring 2023
Final Days in Korea
I can’t believe my time in Seoul is coming to an end. Classes have ended, and I am finishing up my final exams this week. In 10 days, I will be boarding the 12-hour flight back to the States, before my layover to Pittsburgh. I’m very excited to come home, but I am certainly going…
Looking Back
As my semester comes to a close, I’ve been reflecting on how fast time has passed and how I’ve changed through this experience. The past few months have been challenging, confusing and overwhelming but also extremely fun, exciting, and rewarding. I am so glad that I chose to go to Tokyo, an unconventional choice for…
Beyond Tokyo
It’s crazy to thing that I have been in Japan for almost two months and that I am about halfway through my exchange semester. It feels like I just got here but it also feels like forever since I’ve been home. The biggest difference I’ve noticed as I adapt to Japanese culture is how there…
Adapting to the Culture of Seoul
I’ve been in Korea for almost 3 months. I (barely) made it through midterms and as the days are getting warmer, I’m getting closer and closer to my final presentations and exams, and the end of my time studying abroad. I’m trying to savor every moment here in between my time studying and going to…
Another One Bites the Dust
The past few days have been a deep dive into the coursework and practice scenarios required to achieve a Wilderness Advanced First Aid (WAFA) certificate before we embark on the ten day trek. We respond to fake scenarios where we dress wounds, improvise splints, and administer CPR. These scenarios are complimented by lectures jammed full…
Monkeying Around
The first full day of activities for the Leadership in the Himalayas program, we took a hike on a nearby nature reserve. The mountain air was refreshing to the lungs as the surrounding views of the landscape stole that breath right away. This hike included time for us to find a quiet space and meditate…
Pitt -> Delhi -> Mussoorie
(Picture of YWCA where we spent the night before heading to Mussoorie) What cultural norm(s) of the host country do you anticipate being a challenge to learning about leadership? Even before landing in India, I observed a difference in communication styles regarding personal space. As we waited on the tarmac in Newark for our plane…
Farewell Florence!
I can’t believe that I’ve reached the end of my time as a study abroad student in Florence! So much has happened in so little time and I am so grateful to have experienced it all. I came to Florence as a curious, open-minded, and nervous traveler with no idea of what to expect. Met…
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