It's dusk. I'm lying beneath a large, swaying tree in a park in north Dushanbe. A sudden, cool October breeze shakes leaves onto the grass beside me. Two 15-story apartment buildings enclose the park – heights as close as you’ll get to skyscrapers in Dushanbe. A row of brick and steel structures jut into the …
A couple times every week, locals will ask me why I came to Almaty and I often reply: “I came here to study Russian.” Short and simple. I most recently said it to a taxi driver as part of our small talk while driving through pre-rush hour traffic. Occasionally I try to be more specific, …
On July 22, I had the incredible opportunity to visit the beautiful city of Mostar, the historic capital of Herzegovina. Situated on the stunning blue waters of the Neretva River, the city is named after the bridge keepers (mostari) who watched over the Old Bridge (Stari Most), one of the most iconic architectural landmarks in …
So far the most memorable weekend of my program in Almaty was the two-night and three-day excursion we took to experience the wonderful nature surrounding the city. Waking up extra early, I packed a bag and made my way to the meeting point, our university, where the other students and language partners had begun to …
I’ve been keeping busy here in Tajikistan! The program is still amazing and my language proficiency is improving every week. Although I haven’t been able to explore the city that much since my last post, I have been able to take a few trips around the country. Even though I don’t have a lot of …
In the summer of 2020, I was supposed to study abroad in St. Petersburg, Russia after completing my first year of college. Unfortunately, due to the start of the Covid Pandemic at the beginning of that year, the program was cancelled. From that point, I believed I had lost the opportunity to study abroad due …
Although my first time visiting Taiwan was in 2019, I never really connected with the island as much as I hoped to, as my Mandarin skills were subpar at best. When I learned that I could return as part of an intensive language program during the summer of 2023, I was quite excited, as I …
I had a challenge ahead of me while I was wondering what I should write this blog post about. It could be about the food (how delicious and fresh the produce is here) or the beauty of the mountains of Almaty (Medeu is absolutely gorgeous). As I was thinking about it, I was sitting in …
Continue reading Almaty: A Mix of Everything, Everywhere, All the Time
Taiwan seamlessly blends ancient traditions with modern innovations, exemplified by its vibrant night markets, diverse shopping districts, and numerous cultural museums. My summer immersion language program allowed me to immerse myself in Taiwan's rich culture. Freshly graduated with a degree in Global Business and Asian Studies, I was keen to pursue advanced Chinese language studies …
Continue reading Navigating Taiwan: A First-Gen Student’s Study Abroad Adventure
This is a typical view on my walk home from Ilia State University. Tbilisi has a mix of post-soviet, modern, and traditional Georgian architecture. This photo was taken about a block away from my home, and the buildings here are within walking distance of a modern shopping mall, an open-market bazar, and a row of …
AC Study Abroad 