A letter to IES Santiago Spring 2023, Thank you.

As my time in Santiago reached its end, I found myself very sentimental.  Upon going to Chile, I had a lot of doubts and questions for myself. I wasn’t sure how I was going to make friends when naturally I am more of an introvert who only has a handful of very close friends. But …

Discovering Marilyn.

Spring 2023 participants: students and professors What can I expect from studying abroad?  Expect the unexpected. Go with an open mind. Have a goal or two to accomplish. Be willing to change your perspective and be surprised.  I knew that studying abroad, I would participate in a program that was well-suited for me, but I …

The Activity That Lives Rent Free in My Memories

Images of street art seen during walks in the city: What are some things to do while abroad? Would I get bored or will I see it all quickly?  You will definitely not get bored or see it all quickly. You will have a lot to explore and will find many things to do during …

Involvement and Immersion with the Local Community!

What are ways to be immersed in the local community? Can you be involved?  The answer to both questions is yes for my study abroad program. Right off the bat, the Spring 2023 students were introduced to “Club Chileno” during our orientation. Club Chileno were local university students who would plan activities, accompany us during …

An insight into the Health Studies Program!

So what is the health studies program?  As I’ve mentioned many times, I studied abroad with IES, specifically participating in their health studies program. I knew that if I got the chance to study abroad, then it would be somewhere in South America. I also wanted to go on a program that felt unique and …

Being a student abroad

So what are classes like abroad? What is the difference to the classrooms at Hope? How will I be able to manage everything that may come with studying abroad while also being a student?  To those who are thinking about studying abroad or preparing for their study abroad program, don’t worry – you can do …

Ma’a Salama

I was walking down a slope and thinking to myself: How do the narrators disagree over what light said about a stone? Is it from a dimly lit stone that wars flare up? Darwish, Mahmoud. “In Jerusalem.” Translated by Fady Joudah, The Butterfly’s Burden, Copper Canyon Press, 2008. Ma’a salama is a way of saying goodbye …

Thoughts on Failure

You are good when you walk to your goal firmly and with bold steps. Yet you are not evil when you go thither limping. Even those who limp go not backward. Gibran, Khalil. “On Good and Evil” from The Prophet. Albatross Publishers, 2015. Time in Jordan seems to be speeding up as I enter the …

Goals

I want to talk about something that I feel like isn’t normally touched on when people talk about going abroad: Setting goals. Actually more importantly, “doing” goals. It is easy to go abroad with the goal being, well, going abroad. However, having goals to achieve while you are abroad is what grounds you where you’re …

Cats, Hummus, and One Month Left

I have just about a month left in Jordan, and return has been on my mind a lot lately. I’m looking forward to going home, seeing my family, and catching up with my friends. But I’m also already missing so many aspects of Jordan that I won’t get to experience in the states. Here’s a …