Tag Archives: Academics

Managing Time

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One of the toughest things to manage while abroad, and in general, is time. Wanting to do various trips, homework for classes, and any responsibilities back at home in a completely new time zone: these have been some of my toughest challenges here so far. Because most of my classes only meet once a week, I feel like I got much time. Also, due to my internship, I am working three times a week while also writing journals. When it comes down to it, time is a very valuable resource that we tend to take for granted.

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Group Projects: Will We Ever Communicate? [Vlog]

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Group Projects have been one on the most challenging and frustrating things here in Paris. I have been trying to adjust to the customs of the students and observe their behavior to get an understanding, but everyone is so different and in their own world at times. My university in particular does a lot of group assignments where as at Marymount University we have a lot of essays and a few group assignments. My key to success and getting through this semester is patience.

Watch Brooke’s video below:

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“Studying Abroad is Basically a Vacation, Right?”

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The typical study abroad student posts beautiful pictures on Instagram of the beach. On their snapchat story they include the geo-tag of the cool location they are visiting that weekend. Friends comment “live your best life”, hyping up each and every picture vicariously living through their experience.This all contributes to the perception that studying abroad is a semester long vacation. As much as I wish I could write about life changing trips to the beach sipping margaritas on a Tuesday afternoon, I can’t. Continue reading →

“Did anybody understand what I just said?”: The Musings of Two Shell-Shocked Irish Girls at Marymount

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Hello or ‘Dia Duit’ as we say in Ireland. As our semester at Marymount University draws to a close, we decided to write a blog detailing the highs, lows often funny moments of our experience. We hope you enjoy! Continue reading →

First Class

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For me, classes started on September 3rd so I was able to have a long summer, but the semester finally arrived and I was ready for classes! My Monday class was cancelled till the 10th of September so my first class was my African American Literature class on Tuesday. I know it seems kind of random to be taking this class abroad and to be honest it wasn’t my first choice to take a class in Korea that has to do with America. I was very interested in how my professor would approach the subject. I always wonder, while trying not to care, how and what other countries learn and know about Americas history & present. I was also curious on what my classmates would get from our readings including what they had to say about them.
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New Zealand Schools

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Although I have been lucky enough to have plenty of leisure time to explore Auckland, my main purpose in coming to New Zealand is to student teach. While I assumed that schools in New Zealand may vary from schools in the United States, it quickly became clear just how different the schools are. Continue reading →

Bilingual Limbo

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Your first instinct on seeing this title was, perhaps, to imagine the fun and popular party game limbo, in which competitors aim to shimmy beneath an increasingly lowered pole without falling. You maybe imagined some kind of allusion to how as time goes on and language skills get better I might be expected to perform more and more complicated linguistic hurdles as fluency improves. You hoped that maybe I’d make some kind of fun allegory out of the game to explain the continued and continuously harder approach to fluency. I’m sad to say this is more the “uncertain and pseudo-hellish waiting room” kind of limbo. (That first idea sounds better, huh? I think I made the wrong commitment on the direction for this entry.) Continue reading →

Aix-en-Vacance, or: The “Study” in Study Abroad

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My first final has come and gone here in Aix, and with it, a large portion of my stress. Because this week has been about the much-longed-for end of my grammar course, I haven’t had the time to do the same brand of over-the-top soul searching you’ve been subjected to in my last posts. I have, however, gotten to enjoy some significant developments and work through some rough spots, and hopefully, my sharing a few specific experiences from this week may enlighten any fellow students contemplating summer language programs and entertain those of you who are just here for the stories. Continue reading →

Recovering from a Long Weekend

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These past few weeks I have been non stop busy. I took my midterms last week and unfortunately caught strep throat. I was so scared at first because I knew something was wrong and it was not just a cold. The medical system here is much different than in the United States and I didn’t have my mom there to comfort me while being sick. Continue reading →

Get Comfortable with being Uncomfortable

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This past week has been filled with firsts. My first week of classes, meeting new people, and even some first time food experiences. Reflecting on this week I have seen how much I am growing from this experience. This study abroad experience has pushed me way out of my comfort zone in every way possible. Continue reading →

Adventure Makes Your Soul Rich

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I have successfully finished my first week of classes here in Firenze at Lorenzo de’ Medici. What an awesome experience it has already been to receive a great education in another country. These classes have already elevated my study abroad experience. I am taking five courses including my italian course at LDM. I simply can’t pick just one specific course as my favorite because they all carry their own unique elements that excite me.

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When Fashion Week Calls You, Go

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Life is filled with once in a life opportunities. Everyday you make the choice to live everyday to its fullest or sit in bed and accomplish nothing. Opportunities come about in a variety of different ways whether for your education, career or just memories. So when I had the chance to go to Milan for Fashion Week I knew this was an opportunity of a lifetime I could not pass up. During the week, my friends and I decided to book a last minute day to trip to Milan. In our heads we were all like when are we ever going to have another chance to sight-see around Milan during Fashion Week the ultimate time to be in the city each year. One of the biggest benefits of studying abroad is both going on adventures and enhancing your education, so what could be more perfect than a fashion major going to Milan Fashion Week. Continue reading →

When It Rains in Roma, It Pours

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Well guys this week I am coming at ya live from a bus. I am on my way back from a place where that I never dreamed I would go, ROMA. I actually still cannot believe that I just said that. This trip has been a dream of mine since I was little. Yes, thank you Lizzie McGuire. It truly was what dreams are made of (come on I had to). Instead of writing this when I returned I could not help but to reflect on my week and weekend while we are stuck in traffic.

Classes are in full swing now; daily readings, and trying to slowly learn Italian. I have learned this week that it is about the little things that I need to cherish while abroad. Continue reading →

The New Norm

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Now that classes have started everything is starting to fall into place. The daily routine of going to class and doing homework has helped my roommates and I feel more at home.  We’ve all been adjusting to the big change in our own way. I personally think that the best way to adjust is by keeping busy. Between school, making new friends, and millions of places to explore, we’ll have plenty to keep us busy for the next 3 months.
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Bertie Bott’s Every Flavour Beans: A Collection of Mixed Feelings

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With the end of the semester so close it seems as if time is moving at twice its regular speed. All of sudden assignments are due, travel dates are approaching, finals are near and all with just under a month left in Melbourne. It is overwhelming mixture of emotions a person can feel all at once and yet I know many international students are feeling the same way.

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