A few weeks in and I am quite fascinated by Jordan, much more so than I ever had anticipated. Traveling somewhere new always brings with it an initial feeling of elation. Being in a new place is exciting! However, I have been in Jordan for several weeks now and still, the feeling has not worn…
Category: SIT Study Abroad
Armando Abroad: “But they kill Christians there!”
While I never thought I would face physical danger for not being Muslim, I admit I was unsure about how to identify religiously while on this trip: would it be better to identify as “Catholic” since I was raised as one or frankly express my atheism? Maybe I should just stay as far away from…
Armando Abroad: “Isn’t it dangerous!?”
I spent a lot of time pre-departure ensuring friends and family that Jordan is a safe and stable part of the Middle East and that they needn’t worry excessively about my safety. The staff here spent almost as much time convincing us of the same thing during our Day 1 orientation. All the pre-departure research…
Note-to-self: don’t lose your passport.
I’ve never left the country, never been in an airplane over open water and I’ve definitely never been so far away from home. In one day I won’t be able to say that anymore. In twenty-four hours, I’m about to do something that I didn’t know I was brave enough to do. I know that…
First Week of Adventure
I have only been away from home for two weeks but it feels like I have been living in Samoa for two months. Our campus looks like an old summer camp surrounded by trees and mountains. In the mornings I can hear my friends waking up and getting ready for class. The campus feels like…
Week One in Samoa
Our first week in Samoa has been busy and adventurous enough to last the whole month. When we first arrived, we all received leis as a welcome and ate a traditional Sammoan breakfast with bananas, breadfruit, bread with peanuts, coconuts, and a local orange juice. I met my roommate for the semester, Ashauna, a indo-Fijian…
Dust in the Eastward Wind
As I brace myself for the immensity of the journey ahead, I look back to my roots; I was born in Germany, with Parents both from Former Yugoslavia. I had the privilege of growing up both in Germany, and the USA, however only visiting the Former Yugoslav region a few times. As I get ready…
Armando Abroad: Pre-Departure
It still hasn’t hit me. I keep saying and explaining to people that “I’m leaving for Jordan in a couple of weeks…yeah, I’ll be there for 3 1/2 months studying Arabic…” but I haven’t yet assimilated that I’m little over a week away from going thousands of miles away to learn a language I know…
Destination #1: Honolulu
Today marks day 1 of travels with two days to go before orientation begins. After traveling about 11 hours to arrive in Honolulu, we have made it to our hostel. Having a few days to get adjusted to the time change and settle in, it did not really feel like leaving when I left. Also…