During my stay in Switzerland, I noticed the incredibly diversity within the country. For context, there are 4 main languages in Switzerland: German, French, Italian, and Romansh. These linguistic traditions reflect the nation’s harmonious blend with its neighboring countries (France, Italy, Germany). I found Swiss German are typically hard workers and straight forward, Swiss Italian…
Category: SIT Study Abroad
SIT Australia: Final Blog Post!
My semester in Australia was packed with wonderful new experiences and lots of travel! I learned about the reality of sustainable practices and have gained countless skills and techniques to reduce impacts on our environment, that I plan to implement and share with those in my life. The time I spent in Byron Bay, Sydney,…
Final Reflection – Ecuador
While I was in Ecuador, we traveled to many different “habitats” in the environmental sense (the Andean highlands, the cloud forest, the Amazon, the coast, etc.). The culture was equally rich and diverse in each of these ecologically diverse regions. Thinking back to my experience in coastal Ecuador, I had traveled to the small town…
Cultural Reflection On My Semester Abroad in Oaxaca, México
One cultural observation I made during my time in Oaxaca, México is the difference in the conception of “time” for Mexicans. In México, people operate on a more relaxed schedule and at a slower pace of life than in the United States. I noticed that people were much more laid-back, relaxed, and less “in a…
Return from the Land of Fire and Ice (blog post #3)
Ironically enough, Icelanders are a very cold people; they tend to be a bit blunt and standoffish. Which I found presented a few interesting interactions that put me and my peers into situations that could’ve been resolved with little explanation and conversation. I think it made for very confrontational moments. Especially with the culture of…
Australia SIT: Blog #2
Our immersive Aboriginal Studies camping trip along the rocky banks of the Clarence River, coupled with the insightful introduction to Aboriginal culture from the supplied readings from the program, initiated a personal decampment of the boundaries of conventional education. This journey led me to the very heart of Aboriginal doctrine, giving me the chance to…
Blog Post #2 Icelandic Culture
The biggest thing I’ve learned about the culture is that it’s much more socially progressive than the US. Especially considering that I was warned about the “whiteness” of the country, but when I landed, I was struck by the amount of diversity amongst advertisement and people that I simply wasn’t prepared for. When talking to…
SIT Australia Blog Prompt 2
Since being in Australia one of the biggest things I have noticed and loved is the public transportation system. Right now I am staying in Melbourne Victoria with the program in a hostel located in the Central Business District (CBD). Everyday to get to class my friends and I take the free tram to the…
Australia SIT: Pre-Departure Blog, The American Dream
If you were brought up within the boundaries of the U.S. education system, you were most likely required to analyze a painting from 1872 of a woman in a white dress floating west, as your teacher explained to you what the American Dream is. Or was. Or is supposed to be. The American Dream was…
Letters to America: Australia
William Luckettt While studying abroad in Australia, I learned about many different customs specific to Australia. I found that getting used to cars and pedestrians travelling on the left side rather than the right. That only really affected me when I was crossing the road, but I still had to pay very close attention to…