In Photos: It’s a sports world


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Sports, whether it’s a casual hobby for you or a game fraught with high stakes, transcends national and cultural borders. A part of humanity since the earliest chapters of history, the celebration of athletics is a shared experience that people all over the world revel in. From the Olympics to the World Cup, that point is […]

An ode to the Underground


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Londoners are big fans of silence. As a devotee myself, I’ve quickly adapted to the expected quiet on public transportation. In fact, I’ve begun to relish it. And while buses are nice to sit back and look out the window, I’ve found that the London Underground, usually just called the Tube here, is the best […]

Goodbye Tokyo, Hello Seoul


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The amount of camaraderie you can build with people within a little over two weeks is surprisingly great, especially when considering that your group was initially divided by cultural barriers and backgrounds. My two weeks at Keio University were a special time, as demonstrated by the farewells that flowed between the Japanese students and the […]

C’est la vie: Paris after Jan. 7


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“So, what’s like Paris…now?” Of all the questions I get from my friends and family back home about my study abroad experience, this one is undoubtedly the most common — and I don’t blame them. From the large displays of flowers and pens to the occasional “Paris est Charlie” poster hanging from the city’s walls, […]

Surviving in Florence 101: Narrow streets and angry Italian taxi drivers


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Before arriving in Italy, I didn’t quite know what to expect, aside from the beaming opinions of previous travelers. Whenever I’d tell people I was about to study abroad in Florence, they would always gush things like, “Oh, you’re going to love it!” or “Florence was my favorite city when I visited Europe. The people […]

Communication, the key to navigating familial relationships


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I was incredibly nervous when I started last semester in Santiago because I was required to live with a host family and I had not lived with any form of parents whatsoever in over four years. I like to think of myself as an easygoing person who can live with most people in most situations, […]

In Photos: Sweet treats around the world


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Fellow Trojans currently studying abroad managed to snap these SCrumptious photos of confections from all around the world. Here’s a peek into sweets from the United Kingdom to Jordan. From Belgian chocolate to mochi ice cream, this is how dessert-lovers in different parts of the globe indulge. United Kingdom:  Cupcake from Hummingbird Bakery (Kensington Gardens, London) Chocolates at Harrods (Knightsbridge, London) Sundae […]

Exhibition: The Art of Japan


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On Tuesday, I sat on a bench in Ueno Park, sipping on a “Caramelly Sakura Latte” from Starbucks (delicious!) and watching dusk settle on the bare branches around me. I had spent the day at the Ueno no Mori Museum of Art, wandering the halls of 「日本の美術」 or “The Art of Japan.” The exhibition had […]

A one-of-a-kind Valentine’s spent in Japan


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As far as Valentine’s Day is concerned in the United States, I consider it to be the day mostly manufactured by Hallmark and Hershey’s, the day when I can expect to see at least one embarrassed girl carrying around a teddy bear bigger than herself. Surprisingly enough, Valentine’s Day is also a hit in Japan, […]

Madrid: Getting used to getting lost


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Hi! My name is Emily, and I’m directionally challenged. I’m the girl whose eyes are constantly glued to my phone turning in circles trying to orient Google Maps. As a passenger in the car I’ll arrive at a destination with no idea how to return back to my starting point if I was asked to […]