We’ve all heard that “you don’t know what you have until you lose it” and that “distance makes the heart grow fonder,” two expressions that come to mind when I consider how my travels have affected my identity. I left for Jordan seeking perspective and an appreciation for a different culture than my own, and…
Lisbon, Doha and Paris in 10 days: Part 1
October 29 – 31: Lisbon, Portugal About 2 weeks after I travelled to Prague, it was time for me to make way for Lisbon. Ihe was already supposed to travel to Doha for the WISE Summit to present a project that I was working via the WISE Learners Program. Since Qatar Foundaton was already covering…
The Gothic Beauty of Praha
On October 15th, I made my way to Czech Republic. This was the start of my Euro-trip that I had wished to go on for so long. With a backpack and wanderlust in my viens, I boarded Ryan Air, probably the cheapest airlines ever according to my opinion, to the city of Prague. The first…
There and Back Again
Well, a semester has come and gone, and I’m glad I can say with full confidence that it has been a good one. I know that reading this you all probably can’t imagine how thrilling the experiences were, how kind the friends I’ve made are, or how delicious the food I ate was. It’s hard…
Final Blog: Jordan
Europe is weird. America is weird. These are the first few thoughts I had while on my layover in Europe and upon returning home at the conclusion of my study abroad experience. It did not hit me until I jaywalked across a Frankfurt road and was chastised by a Frenchman. So the next time I…
The End to an Arab Adventure
I sit now in Montage cafe, at the bottom of Rainbow St., right before the steps which lead down to Wasat al-Balad (City Centre), downtowan Amman. A thirty minute walk, this hidden cafe has played host to numerous social and academic endeavours of mine. Here I met Shadi, the soft voiced but endlessly talkative Palestinian waiter…
Eu de Cologne
It’s almost Christmas and I’ve finished most of my projects and completed two finals. I’ve also managed to find an internship for next semester, which is only forty-five minutes away. It was incredibly challenging to juggle my family coming into town whilst studying for some of my finals but now it’s over and we are…
The Perks of Having a Schengen Visa
Have you ever dreamed of travelling the world? I have. Since I was a kid, I always wanted to get out of the 200 mile radius Kathmandu Valley where I spent almost 19 years of my life, waiting patiently for an opportunity. Luckily, I was one of the few from Nepal that “make it”, all…
A Proper Farewell
Culture shock is real- I’ve experienced it firsthand. Stepping into the Boston Logan airport, I hear everyone speaking from what I was used to, an American accent. I feel like I can talk freely and be understood without clarification. At the baggage claim, I strike up a conversation with an individual and they understand every…