I got back from Tibet about a week ago, but its been whirlwind of finishing my program, packing, saying goodbyes, and doing last-moment-in-China activities. A post on this past week to follow! But, TIBET. This trip was the bulk of my final area’s studies class about Tibet. There were 13 of us total, ten students, …
Category Archives: Culture
Nothing says Family Bonding like… PEANUT BUTTER! :)
hey everyone! It’s been awhile I know, but these last few weeks have been CRAZY! To recap what I’ve been up to… I went North, where I lived with an Aymara family for five days and worked in the fields (stay tuned for a separate post on that experience!) and after returning to Viña de …
Continue reading “Nothing says Family Bonding like… PEANUT BUTTER! :)”
Spain Surprises
My parents visited me here in Spain, and there are a few things that surprised/entertained/ shocked them, so I thought all y’all might be interested too: Wee- fee: This is how Spainards say wifi. In the eloquent words of my mother, “It sounds like pee pee!” Table heater: Because of the lack of central heating, …
On Being a Laowai
Whenever I go to any famous landmark in Beijing, there is usually a huge crowd of people, and I almost always hear one of a few things while I’m walking through the crowd. Laowai is a term for foreigners as is waiguoren, and these words follow any non-Asian person through the crowd. The more of us …
Outsiders View (with Insider’s Info)
My parents visited me here in Spain for the Holy Week celebrations here, and there are a few things that surprised/entertained/ shocked them, so I thought all y’all might be interested to hear them: Wee- fee: This is how Spainards say wifi. In the eloquent words of my mother, “It sounds like pee pee!” Table …
Not-So-Everyday Happenings
Time is going so quickly, my mind is perpetually confused in some non-existent and illogical time frame. My french language classes are coming to a close this Wednesday (hooray!) and Thursday I leave for a two week home stay in the mountains!!! Near the ocean!!! And a only a day-hike away from Spain!!! I’ve been …
Cultural Shock..Hurts!
Despite the title of this blog, I am thankful for and LOVING everyday here in Valparaiso! Waking up to my host dad having toast, cheese and coffee all set out for me (breakfast of champions, right?), rounding the corner of my barrio and seeing the sparkling Pacific and the faint shape of Battleship game pieces floating on the horizon. And everyday I get to …
Cultural Differences – By the Numbers
17 minutes – How late my class at University of Granada usually starts. Spain is quite relaxed with their sense of time, and it takes so much of the stress off. 106 people – The capacity of the normal sized bus in Granada that would probably hold 50 or 60 people in the US. Twice – The number …
Exploring Freiburg.
Compared to the big cities I have travelled so far, Freiburg is not as populous or “touristy” but that doesn’t mean there is not much to do here. The past week has been pretty calm but I got to explore Freiburg and I was surprised by how much I could be occupied by the small …
Happy New Year!
Chungjie Sunday was the Chinese New Year, or since China now follows the Roman calendar, Spring Festival (Chunjie). Chunjie in China is like the American holiday season from Thanksgiving to New Year’s all rolled into one. Life in Beijing stops as the migrant labor force (about half the population) returns home to other provinces. We …
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