I’ve been in Dublin for three days now after what felt like an endless travel day. Most of the people in my program flew directly to Dublin. Not me though–I took three separate flights, each with a hefty layover in between. In a way, this travel day scared me. I’d known about it for months and been counting down the days since August. My bags were packed and I was ready.
At the same time, nothing really prepared me for that alarm to tick down to zero. It’s one thing to go to college a ten-hour drive from home, but another thing entirely when there’s an ocean in the way.
Walking through security, I didn’t look back. Keeping busy, going forward–nothing could stop me from living my dreams.
Hours later, I stared out my airplane window, watching the sea and Ireland’s coast appear before my eyes, illuminated in the glow of the rising sun. All I could think was I’m home. I still don’t understand the feeling or where it came from but Dublin has become home. I still look like a tourist and rely on Google Maps to navigate but I’ve stepped out of a dream and into reality.
Descending into DublinBeginning my 17+ hr travel dayFirst Dublin Sunrise
Our first week in Dublin is dedicated to orientation: learning our way around the city and to the IES center where we’ll be taking classes, getting to know each other, and experimenting with shopping and cooking for ourselves. So far, I’ve stayed in a relatively small radius, in part because my public transportation pass hasn’t arrived yet. That said, I’ve been shocked at how quickly I’ve learned landmarks to orient myself around. I guess it doesn’t matter where I am; I navigate based on the buildings I like. Ancient trees, churches, pubs, coffee shops, bookstores… there’s beauty even in the smallest places. And somehow there are flowers, poking up from the dirt, searching out the sun despite the rain.
The resilience of these flowers reminds me of the bookshop I popped into today, a small building near Temple Bar called The Gutter Bookshop. At first a bit off-putting, the name quickly earned significance. Pressed against the window, on tote bags, on journals, reads
“We are all in the gutter, but some of us are looking at the stars.”
Oscar Wilde
Coffee and the SunriseIveagh GardensThe Gutter BookshopStreets of DublinRiver LiffeyTemple Bar
I think, at present, that’s the point of it all. I know I’m riding a wave of adrenaline, nestled firmly in the honeymoon phase where everything is new and exciting. At some point, either sooner or later, chances are I’ll get homesick, be in the proverbial gutter. But it’s not the gutter that matters; it’s what we do with the gutter. We could let the water and debris wash over us, drown us, or we could look up at the stars. We are not invincible nor are we hopeless. To be human is to get up every time, to acknowledge the gutter and move beyond it. To be human is to dream and to make those dreams reality.
Welcome to Dublin, friends. A place of dreams and stars where the gutter is not the end of the story.
My first thought when I stepped out of the airport in Vilnius, Lithuania, was, “It’s cold.” Indeed, no amount of internet research and mental pep talks could have sufficiently prepared me for the frigid weather that greeted me. After the shock of the weather had left my system, however, I realized that my research also had not prepared me for the beautiful city of Vilnius.
View of Vilnius from a towerView of Vilnius from a tower
White Christmas lights twinkled from lamp posts like antlers laden with snow, bordering streets of ancient and modern architecture that melded into a collage of eras and history. Cobblestone pathways led to cafes, bookstores, and ancient castle towers. For a few moments, snow fell and blanketed the city in a serene mist before morphing into a powerful, whitening downfall.
Christmas lights in VilniusGiant Christmas tree with presents in Vilnius town square
Despite Vilnius’s inherent beauty, there were also darker elements to the city that showcased Lithuania’s difficult history like the Jewish ghetto, KGB headquarters, and mass graves. Lithuania lost approximately 90% of its Jewish inhabitants, 7% of the total population of Lithuania, and 40% of the population in Vilnius. This reminded me that every country in the world has a story — a guiding force behind some of the customs, traditions, and cuisine that set it apart in the modern world. It also humbled me.
Onto Klaipeda!
After orientation in Vilnius, my group explored the deep history of Lithuania with a journey to Taraki to see a castle where the Grand Dukes of Lithuania presided.
One four-hour bus ride later, I arrived in Klaipeda where LCC International University is located. Like the weather here, my emotions for the first week came in waves of anxiety and excitement.
Me and my sister in front of the LCC University signExploring Klaipeda old town!Sunset over Klaipeda
I got to learn how to navigate grocery stores in a foreign language, apply for a Visa, learn a new campus, start classes, discover a foreign city, and meet my roommates. During this time, I learned what was important to me (winter gear) and what mattered to me less than I thought it would (time difference from friends and family).
Me and my sister at a petting zoo in Palanga!Forest near LCC University after it snowed
Overall, I am still settling into my life here in Lithuania, the daily differences mixing with astounding similarities and interesting novelties. I know that the next 99 days will be both wonderful and challenging, and I cannot wait to see what relationships, life lessons, and self-growth the rest of the semester will bring!
It’s been two weeks now since the program ended, and I write this final post back at my house, surrounded by my family, my cats, and a roaring fire to fight the Illinois cold. The program ended in a blur after arriving to Baños for our final retreat. While there, we took some time to reflect on our time in Ecuador as well as on the program as a whole together as a group. We also hit the highlights of the area, including taking early morning dips in the hot springs (twice), hiking to the Pailon del Diablo waterfall, and exploring the town of Baños. Of course, we also made to have lots of last-minute fun, including karaoke, Ecuadorian dance lessons from one of our faculty, many rounds of cards, and reminiscing on our time together with some slideshows and videos.
exploring the townafter successfully completing the 7 dips back and forth between the hot springs and cold poolspailon del diablo waterfalll
When it came time to say goodbye on the final night of the program, it was a hard farewell, knowing the 22 of us would never be all together again (since we live so spread out across the country and even the globe). Fortunately for me though, my time in Ecuador wasn’t up just yet. My parents, brother, and sister had made the trip down to Quito, and after reuniting we spent the next week continuing to explore Ecuador! Highlights of this week include:
Touring the Amazon rainforest where we swam in waterfalls, canoed down a river, were shown the traditional medicinal uses of wild plants, learned how chocolate is made at a cocoa farm, and saw loads of wild animals unlike anything I’d seen before
Going to the hot springs in Baños yet again (still felt just as nice)
Taking a day trip into the Mindo Cloud Forest where we saw and held many hummingbirds and butterflies, took a cable car across the valley, hiked to and swam in another incredible waterfall, zip lined over the tree tops, and explored the town on Mindo
Seeing my host family one last time
holding butterflies!waterfall dip in the Amazonholding a hummingbird!view over Bañosview over the cloud forest
At the end of the week, finally, after nearly four straight months of traveling across four different continents, it was time to return home. I’ve had a few weeks now to reflect on my time and begin to tell loved ones back home what the adventure was like. It’s been hard to sum up my time this semester in words, so for my blog here I’ll start with a compilation of snippets from each day across the semester.
While I do think this compilation does a good job of showing what SIT’s IHP Climate Change program can look like in brief, I’d be remiss not to mention all it leaves out. My video is just the highlight reel and leaves out all the hard moments, tears shed, and sicknesses endured. This semester was one of major growth for me (I was even voted most changed during our superlative award night during the retreat!), and serious change is never easy, but I certainly don’t regret a second of it.
There’s been a lot that I’ve learned, most of which I can barely scratch the surface of in this post. The program has taught me so much about climate change, environmental justice, capitalist systems, and my place in making change. I’ve learned to push myself like never before, embracing discomfort and fear and as a result come to trust myself in a whole new way. I’ve gotten to understand much better the value of nature, art, and connection as sources of strength and comfort. Stepping away from campus has also made me realize a need to shift my priorities away from being endlessly busy and towards a balanced life that values taking time for myself and having adventures (big or small). The last thing I have to mention is how much I’ve realized I don’t know. I have a lot to learn, many stories to hear, and a huge world to explore, and there’s not much that excites me more than that.
Finally, if you’ve read my blogs up until this point, I want to say a huge thank you! Thank you for following along on my journey and listening to my musings, and thank you to my family and friends for supporting me along the way. I hope my words have been a source of inspiration for us all to want to get to know our world and our selves just a bit better.
One goal I had for my time here in Japan was to embark on a weekend solo trip. Thanks to Japan’s transportation system, agreeable prices, and the normalcy of being alone, this trip was easily made possible. I wanted to share an overview of my experience!
Planning
I’d actually picked Nara as my travel destination before arriving to Japan. It’s smaller and quieter compared to cities like Tokyo and Osaka, so I knew navigating and creating an itinerary wouldn’t be difficult. Once upon a time the capital of Japan, Nara is known for its rich history, beautiful temples and shrines, and something unexpected: deer! More on that in a moment. Nara’s main attractions can be covered in a day, but I wanted to enjoy my weekend at a slower pace.
There are different ways to get around Japan; the fastest, most convenient is the Shinkansen. I planned to take a highway bus there and the Shinkansen back, but on the day of, I overslept my early bus. Thus sealed my fate for taking the bullet train both ways. Tickets can be pricey, but luckily, Nanzan’s Center for Japanese Studies office offers train ticket discounts at no extra cost which are worth taking advantage of!
Day 1: Saturday
The first thing I did when I arrived in Nara was treat myself to some kitsune udon from a small shop within the Higashimuki shopping arcade. After that, I was ready to go! Within walking distance was Kofuku-ji, a Buddhist temple that was one of the Seven Great Temples in Nara. I couldn’t take photos inside the main hall, but the exterior speaks for itself for how beautiful this place is.
kitsune udonKofuku-ji pagodaKofuku-ji main hallbánh xèo and mango juiceHigashimuki streettatami mat hotel room
I spent the rest of the afternoon wandering around the streets of Nara, and then shopping around the Higashimuki shopping arcade. For dinner I decided to take a break from Japanese cuisine to enjoy some Vietnamese food. I ordered bánh xèo, a savory ‘pancake’ filled with vegetables, shrimp, and pork; I definitely enjoyed every bite.
Day 2: Sunday
The next day I did a lot more proper sightseeing. First I went to Todai-ji, another one of the Seven Great Temples. The main hall hosts three statues of sitting Buddha, as well as other impressive statues and models of the temple grounds.
Todai-ji main hallTodai-ji BuddhaTodai-ji modelkitsune udon (again)Nara deerKasuga Taisha
I spent the remainder of my afternoon sightseeing a few different nearby Shinto shrines, including Kasuga Taisha. I went to Nara at the same time that Shichi-go-san was happening, so there were a ton of families there taking photos and dressed in traditional kimono. After learning about its significance in my Japanese Society class, it was neat to see the tradition being practiced in person.
One of the things I looked forward to the most in Nara were the (in)famous Nara deer. As I walked around, I noticed very quickly that the deer are everywhere, and socialized to the point where they don’t flee around humans like the deer in the States do. They also don’t stop in the middle of the road when a car is approaching, instead waiting to cross. For about $1.40, you can buy a stack of crackers to feed to the deer, after which they’ll ‘bow’ to you. When they’re hungry they can get pushy or aggressive, but I was able to feed them during their down time. Most of them roam around Nara Park, which is a great place to enjoy an open space with close proximity to nearby shops.
Travel Advice
For those who plan to visit Japan, here are few points of advice that I followed whenever I traveled throughout the country!
Always have a (fully charged) portable phone charger on hand!! Outlets are not as common in public places
Choose trustworthy accommodations with reviews and a comprehensible website
Always carry plenty of cash (Some places simply don’t take credit card!)
Invest in an IC card to use for public transportation. They can be used as methods of payment in many stores!
Type / write / learn useful emergency phrases in the local language
Sadly this semester did not grant us CJS students any major breaks, unlike what I’m used to at Hope. Most of my trips spanned two weekend days, with most being cut short in the evenings to travel back to Nagoya. Still, I’ve been able to visit many different locations throughout Japan, and I will definitely be back!
I originally planned to study abroad next semester in the spring, but as this semester comes to an end, I couldn’t be happier I chose the fall semester. Autumn in Japan is beautiful. I’m accustomed to Midwest falls that start in September, followed by a temperature drop in October. Here in Japan, until around mid-to-late October, and the leaves were slow to change, showcasing fall foliage or kouyou. During my time here, I’ve had the privilege to experience fall in a number of different places, all with their own charm and sites. From here, I’ll share some moments of how I’ve been able to enjoy fall in Japan.
Shirakawa and Takayama
On Halloweekend, IES took us on an excursion a few hours north of Nagoya, to the old and quiet towns of Shirakawa-go and Takayama, located in the mountainous region of Gifu. The kouyou had already started here, and as our bus pulled into the lot in Shirakawa-go, I could already see some orange hues. Shirakawa-go’s charm lies in its old, large-roofed gasshō-zukuri style houses, spread throughout the village.
mitarashidango breakwater pudding (tasted like nothing)gasshō-zukuri style house
Takayama’s Hida Village is a small village worth poking around, and we spent part of the afternoon designing our own maneki neko figurines. The one I chose is holding up its right paw, which invites good fortune and money.
I got the full teishoku multi-course set meal experience that evening, which was definitely a tastebud shock for me due to the diverse textures and flavors. For those who are more open-minded and experimental with their food palette than I am, I recommend. But it was safe to say I went right back to my safe-zone of udon, curry rice, and onigiri as soon as I was back in Nagoya. However, I enjoyed seeing the presentation of each course, carefully arranged on each intentionally chosen dish.
My next trip was the following weekend; I joined up with my friend to spend the day in Ise, located in the prefecture of Mie, south of Nagoya. Ise is a coastal city and home to the Ise Jingu shrines, which are Japan’s most sacred Shinto shrines. They’re dedicated respectively to the Sun Goddess Amaterasu, and the goddess Toyouke. Additionally, it’s home to some old Edo and Meiji period architecture, and Ise style udon. The last sightseeing stop we made was to the Meoto Iwa, Married Rocks. These rocks represent the union of the creator kami and celebrate the marriage union between man and woman.
Ise grand shrineMeoto Iwa, and frogs
Kyoto
My last IES excursion to Kyoto, which I’d been looking forward to all semester. While Kyoto makes for a great tourist destination year-round, I was most excited to see it in the fall, when the kouyou would be visible, and the historic atmosphere would blend with the fall atmosphere (perfect for history studiers and fall enjoyers, such as myself).
Half our time in Kyoto was spent navigating the streets, lined with people from all over the country and world who’d come for the same reasons as us. Kyoto was packed. Our equally packed schedule took us to several famous shrines and temples, all with their own unique features, such as Kinkakuji’s pavillion gold leaf finish, or Fushimi Inari Taisha’s 10,000 torii gates.
Kiyomizu Dera temple pagodaKinkakuji temple pavillionrickshaw ride in bamboo forestFushimi Inari Taisha torii gates
By now I’ve been able to experience three different falls in Japan. My travels have taken me from the north’s old and quiet villages with a mountainous backdrop, to the south’s slow-paced coastal city, to cultural and religious sites complemented by the kouyou in the west. Japan has so much to offer, and I am so grateful to be experiencing it.
It has been a few crazy months since I have been all over the world.
As a passionate traveler, I’ve had the privilege of exploring various corners of the world, each with its own unique charm. Recently, I embarked on a journey that led me to reminisce about my home of the Philippines destinations: Accra, Ghana. What I discovered was surprising and heartwarming—the interesting similarities that make these two countries incredibly appealing to me. Traveling with the CIEE Legon, Ghana Team, has been a very fulfilling and amazing experience thus far.
1. Warm and Welcoming Locals
One of the first things that struck me in both the Philippines and Accra was the warm and welcoming nature of the locals. Growing up around Filipinos, we are renowned for our own hospitality, often going out of our way to make travelers feel at home. Similarly, Ghanaians in Accra embrace tourists with full open arms as they share their rich culture and traditions. I am currently staying with a host family in Ghana that my program connected me with and has been hosting international students for over seven years. Whether it’s a friendly smile or a helpful gesture, the people in both places make you feel like a cherished guest.
My host Ghanaian family, Mommy Vivian, Brother Joel, and Sister Na.
2. Breathtaking Natural Beauty
The Philippines and Accra boast some of the world’s most stunning natural landscapes I have ever seen. In the Philippines, there are so many pristine white-sand beaches, crystal-clear waters, and lush tropical forests you will find and truly remember. The islands, like Palawan and Boracay, are paradise for beach lovers. Accra also offers its own brand of natural beauty with serene coastal views along the Gulf of Guinea and lush greenery in areas like Aburi Botanical Gardens. As I have visited all of these places, Ghana an the Philippines provide ample opportunities for outdoor enthusiasts to explore and immerse themselves in nature.
My roommate Kobi with our Joel and Na at Boti waterfalls
3. Mouthwatering Cuisine
I personally feel that food is a universal language, and both the Philippines and Accra have a lot to say in this regard and truly did not disappoint. In the Philippines, you can indulge in dishes like adobo, sinigang, the delectable lechon, and so many more. Accra also serves up mouthwatering Ghanaian cuisine with dishes like jollof rice, banku and tilapia, and the irresistible kelewele (spicy fried plantains). As I ate some of these dishes, I was reminded of my Filipino household.
Picnic time at Aburi Botanical Gardens and Park
4. Vibrant Street Markets
If you’re a fan of shopping and immersing yourself in local culture, the Philippines and Accra have vibrant street markets to offer. In the Philippines, Manila’s Divisoria and Baguio’s Night Market are a few of the markets with so many vendors that offer everything from souvenirs to local delicacies. In Accra, the Makola Market and Madina Market are must-visit destinations, where I found local traditional crafts, textiles, and street food, all while experiencing the lively atmosphere of local markets.
Market errands with Mommy Vivian at Madina market.
5. Rich Cultural Heritage
While the Philippines and Accra come from different corners of the world, they share a rich cultural heritage. The Philippines’ history is marked by a fusion of indigenous, Spanish, and American influences, evident in its architecture and traditions. Accra, with its historical sites like Cape Coast Castle and the Kwame Nkrumah Mausoleum, offers a deep dive into the history of the transatlantic slave trade and Ghana’s path to independence. Both destinations provide opportunities to learn and reflect on their unique historical journeys.
Late night at Cape Coast Castle
My home country of the Philippines and my currently almost four-month trip in Accra have made me more aware of the beauty of unanticipated parallels between two seemingly unrelated locales. A few of the elements that unite a distinctive tapestry of experiences are the friendliness of the people, the beautiful natural scenery, the delectable food, the lively street markets, and the rich cultural history. We typically seek for the unusual as tourists, yet the real joy of seeing the globe lies in these surprising parallels. So, whether you find yourself in Accra or the Philippines, know that you’re in for an incredible trip packed with the magic of discovery and the beauty of human connection.
As a theatre studies student at IES London, the majority of my classes were theater-based, including Playwriting Workshop, Text and Dramatic Imagination, Theatre Industry, and Acting Then and Now. I loved all of these classes and highly recommend them to anyone interested in studying theatre. One of the highlights for me that came with working through this coursework was my time at RADA.
This blog is long overdue, but for the first 6 weeks of the semester, as part of my two-part acting course through IES, I trained at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art. This was such an enriching experience as RADA is one of the best drama schools in London with notable alumni like Alan Rickman, Tom Hiddleston, Ralph Fiennes, and Kenneth Branagh. For the course, we looked at 6 different time periods/types of theatre: Medieval, Elizabethan, Restoration, Victorian, Absurdism, and Immersive. The courses were laid out so that everyday started with a workshop, followed by a lecture, and ending with sight reading and working through course material.
Going into RADA for the first time was really nerve-racking. I saw how renowned the school was and I saw that each class was 10am-5pm, thus leading me to believe that they would be “traditional” in their methods of teaching. I genuinely thought that I was going to get ripped to shreds, ruining my confidence in acting forever. Luckily, this was not what happened at all.
First day at RADA!BeReal with my fellow actor friends.Sage, me, and Paulina in a movement activity. Bri, Aurora, Queenie, and Kiki in a movement activity.
On the first day, the first thing that we did was a vocal workshop. For this, we were led through various movement/vocal activities to help us loosen up to the point of feeling free in our own bodies. When you feel loose, you are able to do a lot more with your voice than when you feel anxious and tense. This was the perfect way to start the class because it allowed us to release the tension that we had going into the course and thus we were able to do our best work. The course at RADA overall was so fun and enriching.
Besides the learning aspects of the class, I also enjoyed getting to know my peers. There were only 7 of us, so the experience was very individualized and so we all grew substantially. And, this group of students was particularly fun because we are all intelligent and compassionate about acting and we all were very supportive of each other.
So, instead of feeling completely overwhelmed by what I was taught and instead of the class stripping away the confidence that I had, I felt built up, with a new tool kit to carry and new friends to support.
On top of the RADA acting class, I also learned so much in my other classes. One of my favorite aspects of my theatre course load was that we went to a different play every week and then discussed them in class. We saw a total of nine plays including God of Carnage, Beautiful Thing, Anthropology, Pygmalion, As You Like It, Guys and Dolls, Owners, Lyonesse, and The House of Bernarda Alba. We also saw a performance from Dance Umbrella at the Barbican. This was such a great way to experience the theatre atmosphere in London and to see a diverse group of plays.
At The House of Bernarda Alba. Lyonesse posterWe took a tour of the National Theatre before their performance of The House of Bernarda Alba. Guys and Dolls at The Bridge TheatreAt The Globe.Dance Umbrella at The Barbican. World Premiere of Anthropology at the Hampstead Theatre.Aurora, Bri, me, Queenie, Sage, and Paulina at The Globe after As You Like It.
Rushing Plays
One of my favorite things that I did in London was rush plays. If you don’t know that this is, this is when you can get tickets for plays the day of for a really reasonable price. The way that I did this was I would go on TodayTix and see what shows were offering rush tickets for that day (this normally opens at 10am the day of) and if they did offer them then you can click “get rush tickets” and this will take you to checkout, where it has pre-selected a seat for you. Rush tickets for me tended to be anywhere from 25 to 30 pounds. You can also enter the lottery for tickets, but it is normally pretty unlikely that you will win these. I saw four shows doing this– Grease, Frozen, The Mousetrap, and Ocean at the End of the Lane.
The only downside to rushing is that not every production offers this and also sometimes it is virtually impossible to get them. For instance, I tried to rush SIX at exactly 10am multiple times and every time it said that all seats were currently being held. With that, there were a couple shows that I did spend full price on– Macbeth at The Globe and Peter Pan Goes Wrong.
At The MousetrapFrozen at Theatre Royal Drury LaneOcean at the End of the Lane at Duke of York’s TheatreEmily and I at GreasePeter Pan Goes Wrong at Lyric Theatre
To sum that all up, studying theatre in London for a semester was one of the best decisions that I ever made. I was given the chance to deeply immerse myself in the theatre culture, having seen a total of 15 plays. I was also given an enriching education through my courses and made great new friends!
If you’ve been following me along with the semester so far, you’ve probably noticed a gap in my posts upon arriving to Ecuador. Time (as well as my 15 page research paper) caught up to me, but I’ll do my best to recap the whirlwind of the last month now!
halfway through our 45 hours of travelview coming into Quito
45 straight hours of travel from Nepal to Ecuador left me utterly wiped and badly in need of a mind and body reset, and fortunately the program brought us to just the perfect place: a beautiful resort with everything from three hot tubs to a zipline to wandering alpacas. This, in tandem with the comfiest bed and some killer meals was more than enough to get me feeling both back to normal and incredibly optimistic about the month ahead.
alpacas!!dining at the resortpool time
We spent this month stationed in Quito, living once again with homestay families in the community. I was placed with my incredible friend, Aniela, and the most caring and welcoming couple, Felix and Chari (as well as Gati, their perfect cat). Being able to speak Spanish made all the difference in the world when it came to connecting with our family and sharing our thoughts over delicious, home-cooked dinners about topics such as food and farming, the state of the world, and the value of open communication, among other things. Chari’s cooking was certainly a highlight of the month, since it’s pretty hard to top starting the day with fresh fruit juice and yummy spreads on warm bread and ending it with hearty soups and homegrown veggies. Other special moments with the family included a Thanksgiving Day ceramics class, Felix’s powerful orchestral concert, a potluck with some family friends, and a lovely morning park walk that featured gorgeous flowering trees and so, so many hummingbirds.
gati <3beautiful breakfastceramics classdriving with the fam
I started off my time in Quito by exploring the Old City with a small group of friends, seeing sites such as the Basilica de Voto Nacional and the Iglesia de la Campania de Jesus while snacking on a phenomenal piece of fresh watermelon. Quito was probably my favorite city we visited throughout the semester and had endless things to do, including:
Peddle boating, playing volleyball, and strolling through the beautiful botanical gardens in La Parque Carolina
Visiting the beautiful art museum of Guayasamín
Accidentally stumbling upon a sketchy but incredibly fun amusement park featuring bumper cars, an arcade, a roller coaster, and a slingshot ride
Taking the teleférico cable car up over the city and admiring the view from a swing
Getting daily almond croissants and chai lattes at our go-to cafe, FANKOR (perfect fuel for essay writing, especially with a touch of pumpkin spice)
at the basilicainside the basilicabirds flying over the San Francisco plazain the cable carswinging way upcafe treatspeddle boating crewdwarfed by the museum art
Outside of Quito, we had a variety of excursions, many including some truly unforgettable hikes. Our first field trip was to an organic farm, Chaupi Molino, where we met an incredibly wise and passionate farmer, Pacho, who gave us a farm tour and taught us about the power of organic practices. We also had what was hands down the best meal of the semester: a vegan lunch packed full of just-harvested veggies and rich seasonings, topped off with fresh juice and a wonderfully delicious banana dessert. For our next trip, we headed out to Antisana for a day hike and some more community building. Being at such high altitude, it was more challenging of a hike than I anticipated, but the warm sunny weather coupled with the unique sierra terrain (and I can’t forget the phenomenal tamarind lollipops) made for a lovely trek.
chaupi molinocow!!all together at Antisana
Our next excursion was an overnight trip to the rural village of Yunguilla, which was an inspiring example of how community-based ecotourism can be an alternative economic model. In Yunguilla we toured the town, learned about their local businesses, stayed with homestay families, and had a quasi-Thanksgiving dinner, complete with dancing. We topped everything off by taking a beautiful hike up into the hilltops, through some muddy troughs, and along some winding bends.
trekkin’ through the mudprepping the dinnerready to dig inview from Yunguilla
The next day we took yet another hike, this time up the famous volcano Cotopaxi. The walk — once again fueled by tamarind lollipops — through the snow and ice above the clouds was truly gorgeous. It was the highest I’d ever been at an elevation of nearly 16,000 feet and left me absolutely breathless (but in the best way). We ended it off with a picnic lunch back down at the base of the mountain, before walking around a lagoon dotted with beautiful shrubbery and horses and then busing back home.
with Cate and Emilycotopaxiwith my lollipop
Our main excursion for the month was to the Galápagos Islands. Here we learned all sorts about biology, evolution, ecology, and ecotourism while spending tons of time in the sun. The afternoon of our arrival we were taken on some guided tours through twin craters, lava tunnel caves, and a giant tortoise reserve. We spent the next morning swimming and kayaking around Tortuga Bay after a beautiful stroll through a cactus forest, and we spotted creatures such as sharks, turtles, and blue-footed boobies. We also had two separate snorkeling excursions, definitely the highlight for me. I was able to swim through schools of colorful fish, look sea lions in the face underwater, and spot more turtles, sharks, iguanas, and eels. A truly magnificent moment was when we boated to what is considered one of the prettiest beaches in the world and spent an hour wading around and swimming together. During the evenings, we spent several hours dining at a fancy establishment on the waterfront, watching the sun set over the crystal blue water. All in all, an incredible getaway.
giant tortoise!!at the beautiful beachswimming through a school of fishkayaking with Emily
To wrap up classes, we all gave short presentations on our research papers for the semester. For my topic, I had decided to look into the politics surrounding food waste in Morocco and Nepal and how this subsequently affected food sovereignty in these countries. I feel incredibly grateful to have been able to research the food systems of such places so different from the US firsthand, and I ended up gaining a lot of valuable insights into how building agroinfrastructure and incentivizing youth in agriculture can really affect the amount of food loss in a nation.
As I write this, I’m en route to Baños de Agua Santa for our final retreat before we say our farewells and head our separate ways. You can expect to hear from me once more, with one last post featuring my final reflections as well as a video compilation with snippets from each day of the semester.
The places I once called Rome’s havens are now mine too. This morning on the way to class I stopped in with my guy friend at my favorite sweet little Sicilian-style bakery to get an overpriced fluffy cornetto on the walk to our last final (and truthfully treated myself to two cornetti instead of one). Now after completing the last final, I am sitting at my cafe just above the Tiber River staring out at Castel Sant’angelo while I sip on a cup of te caldo (hot tea) and read the book Eat, Pray, Love. These two havens and others as well are attached to memories of my time here in Rome which I will never forget. At Bibliobar, my cafe, I would go once a week after classes to get a beverage and cornetto with one of my friends and at times others would join us on this journey too. This book cafe on the water became the place to decompress after a week of classes, dive into our excitements for the weekend, and open up about the realities of being abroad. It may not be the most authentic Italian joint but it is a slice of paradise to me.
(Left to Right: Sipping tea at Bibliobar, Cutie friends at Bibliobar)
Before I came abroad, I sat in on a student panel at Hope College, and a former study abroad student gave the advice to find a coffee shop to go to every week which every other panelist agreed with almost in unison. They spoke about the benefits of finding a place to call “yours” while abroad. They said it has the opportunity to allow you to grow in a new language because the longer you are there the more you learn so you can track your own progress, you will meet locals in your country (and eventually appear as a local yourself), and create place reinforcement. I may not have met many locals at the book cafe near the water but over time I have learned how to order my beverage by saying “vorrei un…” and say for here “qui” which is more than what I knew 3 months ago. These simple phrases hold more power than I thought they would.
To anyone planning to study abroad, I will give you the same advice I was given before departing to an unfamiliar place: find your country’s havens to turn into your homes. Whether it is a cafe you go to weekly, a tree in a park to paint under, or simply an americanized restaurant that helps you miss home a little less, these tiny meaningless spots to the untrained eye give meaning to your experience abroad.
Here is a list of my places and their meanings for any Rome goers or whom it may interest: 1. Bibliobar Cafe – the book cafe near the water where friendships were deepened and afterschool laughs were had. A calming spot near the water to decompress. 2. The steps in Vatican Square – sitting on these steps with friends while we watched the sunset and ate gelato were personal favorite memories of mine. The Vatican was also my “aha I am in Rome” moment every day I would pass it. 3. Mammo Street Cafe – the food I missed most of all while I was abroad was not pickles or raspberries but bagels. Mammo provided the comfort of home through food and their bagels in my humble opinion are out of this world! When you miss American food, go to Mammo. 4. La Salumeria – a personal favorite lunch spot near school. They have the best sandwiches in Rome! I recommend the Contadino or the Yankee. 5. Nannarella – a must-go-to dinner spot at least once during the semester. A popular and delicious restaurant in Trastevere with a Piazza outside usually playing live music. For the tiramisu connoisseur – like myself – this holds the number 1 spot for the best tiramisu I have had in Rome. 6. Le Altre Farine del Mulino – my sweet little Sicilian cafe I mentioned above. Delicious pastries 10/10! A quick place for an on-the-go snack or a nice spot to sit and read with the Vatican out the window. 7. Scholars Pub and Restaurant – fairly americanized with Monday night trivia, good music to dance to, and classic fries to fill your belly. If you are looking for something to do, they have events here and there so keep up to date with what’s going on. My friends and I started going here for trivia on Mondays and although never winning a single game, we tested our knowledge and came up with goofy names each week. 8. Margot – a restaurant I went to during orientation and had my first three-hour dinner with friends. Good food, good service, good company. Our waiter made us laugh when he tried to teach us Italian and made us feel more comfortable with not speaking the language. 9. Santa Marinella – a beach nearby if there is a nice day and you are craving the water. Bring goggles to see what’s out there and a towel to lay on in the sand! A great place to try a solo trip if you are nervous about traveling alone but want to give it a go. 10. Castel Sant’Angelo – you HAVE to check out the view from the top and if you like history, it has stories associated with each part of the castle too. I went here on a class field study but going on your own or with friends can be just as fun! 11. The Churches – the Vatican and Basilica di Santa Maria di Trastevere are my two personal favorites but there is a wide array of churches to check out around every corner of Rome. The Vatican is where I went my first few weeks in Rome but then I stumbled upon Santa Maria di Trastevere while walking around with my study abroad bestie one afternoon and started going there. 12. Lastly, music – as someone who adores dancing whenever music comes on, I love roaming the streets of Rome discovering the next underground Taylor Swifts. Most commonly found in Piazzas or outside the Roman Forum, from violinists to harp players I am constantly impressed by these musicians. One night in particular, my friends and I were listening to a jazz band in a piazza when these strangers began pulling people into the circle to dance and suddenly there were about 40 of us dancing on the cobblestone streets under the moonlight. It truly felt like a movie moment.
(Left to Right: Friends dancing, At the Vatican, and Margot)
What we need is here. And we pray, not for new earth or heaven, but to be quiet in heart, and in eye, clear. What we need is here. – Wendell Berry
i learned to use a chainsawi made a deski installed a window
I have two short, short weeks left in Oregon, which will be filled with cookie parties, dancing with whole hearts, and lots and lots of love spilled out. I am grappling with the idea that as soon as I go home I will revert to the person that I was before coming to this place. Isn’t that so opposite to the point of studying off-campus? Isn’t the purpose to go, explore, learn, and reflect? I have gone across the country, explored an entirely new ecosystem, learned with abandon, and now it’s time to reflect.
It’s hard not to feel that I need this place. I need this place to be the person that I have grown into here; The person who laughs and cries, who wanders and frolics and sits and listens, who truly thinks and writes in new languages.
To put four months of experience into words is unattainable. I simply don’t have the language to wrap up the experience of confronting nature, community, sustainability, and myself.
my cohort headed to town for the Halloween parade
This week I wrote…
I pushed it away and now I try to grasp it back again. Like the moon changes the tides. The moon. Run in the moon light. A full moon. A heist. A spin in the street. A zoom. A dance. A throw. A scream. A bandage made of dirt and leaves placed over my tender heart, with spoken words to quiet my swirling, my running.
Why did I think I could push a mountain out of my way? Why did I run? Why am I running again? Why am I scared?
I will grasp. I will hold on to anything I can.
I will start the wood stove again. I’ll wash the dishes to wash the dishes. I’ll make a loaf. I will take for granted the only time I have in my life to live intentionally, to live differently.
How can I not be torn apart by this place? My tender heart ripped into strips of newspaper placed in my wood stove. How can I not be put back together? My heart strips used to ignite flame. How can I not chase the sun?
Chase the sun. Run after it. Feel the joy radiating out of it. Fill up on that joy and overflow. Spill it out to the boys across the street. Dump it into the Creek, the Mill Pond, the Trout Pond. Jump it around. Hug with it. Laugh with it. Spill it out in any way you know how.
morning view of cabin 8!
Am I not altered? By the sweet memories around the Thanksgiving table, by the hugs and cuddle puddles in cabin 8, by the smell of the smoke of a warmed up cabin. All of these alter me and they will continue to alter me as I venture back home.
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