Learning to Serve Well

Quick life update: things have been going great here! Day to day life has become normal and routine but of course there are still moments that are new or challenging all of the time. Classes are going well (yes, I do go to classes much to everyone’s surprise). Friendships are continuing to grow. I am …

Thoughts from a Coffeeshop

As I sit here in one of my favorite coffeeshops near my apartment at 5:51 on a Wednesday afternoon, I’m having a hard time coming up with something to write about. Not because I have nothing to say, but more so that I don’t have the right words to sum up my thoughts about my …

Reflecting

Looking back on my time abroad, it almost doesn’t even feel real. Did that really happen? Did I actually live in Scotland for four months? A brand new country where I didn’t know a soul? Where I wasn’t able to see my family and friends for a whole season? Yeah, I actually did that. I’m …

Reflecting on my time in South Africa: A Changed Person – A Changed Perspective

Almost five months.  I lived in South Africa for almost 5 months. I could hardly imagine so much fun and pain, so many learned lessons  and new perspectives, so many breathtaking and tragic sights all could be crammed into a mere 150 days. Yet I experienced all that and more. The John Luke that stepped onto the …

Island Exploration

  This past weekend, another student teacher and I explored Pulau Ubin, a Singaporean island just off the coast of the mainland.  The island was advertised as rustic and relaxed, which we found it to be. It was enjoyable to take a break from the hustle and bustle of the city for the day.  We …

Combined Christian Ball – The CCB

I wanted to grow. I wanted to be pushed. I wanted to step outside of my comfort zone. Those are a few of the many reasons I chose to study abroad. It’s funny how quickly I forget them on a day-to-day basis…   Several of my friends from Church and Bible study had been bugging …

A Progressive Time – #FeesMustFall

On Thursday, September 15th, I attended a mass meeting led by student and worker protesters declaring that they would be shutting the University of Cape Town down in order to protest some of the stated injustices occurring at UCT. And that they did. Since that Thursday meeting, I have not had classes and UCT has …

Bags are packed, wheels are up, and Allegiant is on!

My study abroad journey has finally begun. After a whole two days of packing, including re-packing one suitcase around 10 times and a few drops of sweat along the way, I am all set to go. My dad helped me put both of the suitcases, one carryon and a personal item (which is really a …

My Freshenior Year

Last year, during the Hope College 201 5 Orientation, I helped move some incoming students into their residential halls, most of whom were freshmen.  As I interacted with students and “people-watched” from afar, I saw many typical “freshmen” occurrences. I saw the awkward interactions of students meeting their roommates for the first time. I saw …

Interning Abroad

Before leaving for Berlin I was made aware that my program offered internships during our time abroad. Like everything else, I knew I had to take advantage of this opportunity. I imagined how much of a truly invaluable experience it would be, so I began the process. While filling out the questionnaire I was torn …