A cultural observation I made during my time in Australia that was more complicated than I initially thought was Australian attitudes towards their Aboriginal population. Before every class lecture and in most places I visited or ate there was an acknowledgment of the country and the traditional owners of the land. This acknowledgment talked about…
Final Blog Post
One day when I was waiting for the bus, a man heard my American accent and started asking me a lot of questions about American politics. He was ranting for about 15-20 minutes about how bad things are in America and what not. It was very interesting to me because this is very different from…
Minding the (Cultural) Gap: Transit Culture in Japan
This past week, I traveled down to New York City to visit a friend. A good majority of this trip was spent riding on trains—from the Amtrak Empire Line that I rode into the city to the L train I took to grab noodles for lunch. Ask any United States American and they’ll tell you…
Final Blog Post
My time abroad in Newcastle, Australia I experienced a cultural experience of a welcome or bark burning ceremony which first welcomed us into the area where we had our orientation in being Cairns, and I thought it was exciting and informative about the culture and generations of storytelling that has carried this knowledge to me….
Post-Australia
The cultural value of mateship was prevalent throughout my time in Australia. This value is based on a sense of unity and companionship among Australian people. I saw it to be reflected by personal relationships as well as by community interactions. I noticed this in many public spaces, such as restaurants and shops, as servers…
London Spring Semester 2024
Studying abroad in London was the best decision and experience of my life. One cultural observation that I made while I was abroad in London was that people in general are a lot more respectful of other people’s time. One example of this that I experienced everyday while there was that on escalators or moving…
It has come to an end :(
During my study abroad at the University of Newcastle, I participated in a course focused on Aboriginal Studies, which included a field trip to a local Aboriginal community. The trip involved spending a weekend with the community, learning about their traditions, history, and contemporary challenges. We attended storytelling sessions and engaged in discussions about land…
Final Blog Post — ISA Rome
Before I began my journey to Italy, I was a bit worried about how I would adjust to speaking a new language, and how easy it would be for me to communicate with others/get around. These concerns were easily mediated as I soon realized that many Italians also speak English and if you have difficulty…
Rome Spring 2024
I studied abroad in Rome in the Spring of 2024, and I believe this experience is an excellent means of developing into a stronger person, especially as a young adult. By taking a semester in a foreign country, you’re not only changing scenery but also your way of life and the customs that you are…
malaysia blog
After visiting Malaysia and having a few days to explore the city and various landmarks, I have gotten to learn more about the multicultural and multiethnic aspects that the country offers. From my observations, I noticed a large mix of Indians, Malays, and Chinese people just walking on the street. Additionally, having learned that Malaysia…