I sit here on my couch in my new Sontag suite, back on Pomona's campus, stumped as I try to organize my thoughts into a sort of summary of my experiences abroad in Melbourne. Should I mention the differences between our cultures? The prevalence of amazing Chinese and Thai restaurants? The various hilarious, crazy, and fascinating interactions with people from all over the world...
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study abroad
Why I Actually Studied Abroad
Hi everyone! Maybe it’s the winter weather, or my fear of losing track of my thoughts, but I finally managed to huddle inside and finish writing this post. Here it is: the “Why I Studied Abroad” post that you’ve been waiting for. Kind of.
Back in August, before I left Vermont for Paris, I jotted down a few questions in my very first post. Questions like: What will I learn ab...
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Saving Money While Abroad
Hi, everyone! Today, I’m writing from a cozy coffee shop in the 10th arrondissement. Yes, Paris is slowly coming around to the idea of coffee shops, though café terraces are still, and will always be, the norm. I’ve been thinking a lot lately about money’s role in study abroad, especially as I stare at the €5 drinks being offered at this particular coffee shop. As a complement ...
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Studying Abroad in Melbourne, Australia: Being an Athlete Abroad
One of my main/only concerns with going abroad initially was my sport. Swimming has been such an integral aspect of my college experience, from the exercise worked into my daily schedule to the close bonds I developed with my team. I was nervous about leaving the comfort, support, and structure of my friend group and of the daily routine swimming provided me. I wondered, would ...
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To Those Who Wander
Flâner (v.): To stroll, wander, or roam without an end goal in mind.
How appropriate it seems that this verb should be one of the first I encounter upon arriving in Paris. Appropriate? No no, that feels too… formal. Serendipitous, there we go. How serendipitous… that one of the first verbs I learned during orientation would come to define countless afternoons, would reveal t...
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Five Things I Never Thought I’d Miss While Abroad
Monday’s commute was the most typical commute I’ve had yet. Almost got nailed by a motorcycle on the way to the metro (classic Monday).
Took the longer, scenic route to class, but the metro was backed up and I ended up late (classic Monday). But when the metro stopped unexpectedly over the Seine, instead of groaning, I snapped this picture.
Yep, classic Monday. Paris co...
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Studying Abroad in Melbourne, Australia: The Australian Michael Scott (and Other Cultural Differences)
For my time at the University of Melbourne, I am required to take one course focused on Australian culture. Most students opt for the supposedly easy Australia Now! course, but my love for the moving picture pushed me towards Australian Film and Television. This was probably one of the best decisions I have made upon arriving here (second only to eating chocolate-dipped churros...
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Anonymity Abroad: Discovering a Sense of Place
Hey everyone! Happy autumn! Definitely my favorite season, autumn in Paris features strange weather, scarves, and sighs of relief as hordes of tourists return home. For me, this time of year always includes time for reflection. Maybe it’s the coming of winter or the start of a new school year, but I always find myself thinking about how my year has gone, what I want for the upc...
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Studying Abroad in Melbourne, Australia: Finding Nemo (and Losing Time)
Hello, hello and g'day, g'day! It has dawned upon me recently that I have 9 weeks left in Australia and 5 weeks left of classes.
What.
WHAT.
Regardless, I am trying my best to bestow my presence upon every inch of Australia that I can. And where better than Ozzie's not-capital-but-still-most-well-known city? After the stress of midterms--and by stress I mean I ...
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A Study in Bread: My First Weeks in Paris
A few days ago, I was eating lunch in the local boulangerie when a man came in and yelled, “Five baguettes, s’il vous plait!” Needless to say, we were all impressed. At that moment, I decided to dedicate my second blog post to my first impressions of France, using my handy-dandy baguette experience scale. One baguette: This could totally be America. Five baguettes: Vive la Fran...
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