For the past few months, I have scoured the internet looking for a particular type of blog. I wanted to read content about students from the United States currently doing a graduate degree program abroad. Despite spending countless of my lunch hours on google, changing the search terms to encompass every possible combination of “American … Continue reading The Grad Student Blog I Wanted to Find
Tag: travel advice
Reverse Culture Shock… Again
Transitioning back to life in the United States after spending five months in South East Asia presented some challenges. While no longer sweating every second of the day and being able to understand conversations around me was nice, some other aspects shocked me. People talk a lot about culture shock in terms of going to … Continue reading Reverse Culture Shock… Again
What Happened in April?
The emotional roller coaster that has been April presented me with some of the most conflicted and complicated emotions I have had since coming to Cambodia. I felt calm and stressed, exhilarated and defeated, grateful and yet desperate to leave. A lot of enjoyable things took place in April, but I also found myself feeling … Continue reading What Happened in April?
The Elephant in the Room
My heart pounded so hard I thought it would burst out of my chest. I could feel my palms growing cold with sweat, and my feet suddenly refused to move and remained anchored to the jungle floor. A wave of shock and disbelief washed over me, and I tried desperately to grasp hold of some remnant of … Continue reading The Elephant in the Room
A Letter to my Students
Dear Students, Though our time together came to close, the four weeks you gave me will always be unforgettable. From the moment I first met you, all eighty of you, running towards me on that fateful February day, I knew that this would be an incredible experience. Excited but intimidated, I waved and smiled and said … Continue reading A Letter to my Students
Cambodia Weekly Rewind 3
Another week, another blog post. I can hardly believe that I have been in the Kingdom of Wonder for three weeks now. Considering how rocky this adventure began, I am proud, in a slightly arrogant way, of my transformed perspective. Not only do I now have the emotional strength to handle Phnom Penh's bustling lifestyle, but I am also starting … Continue reading Cambodia Weekly Rewind 3
How Scotland Changed Me
Scotland holds a special place in my heart, and I have documented that love here, on this blog. I write about it fondly and often in comparison to my upcoming move to Cambodia, and I also narrated my four month adventure interning for the Scottish parliament. However, I realized that I rarely touch upon how Scotland changed … Continue reading How Scotland Changed Me
Volunteering with IVHQ
For the past two months, I have happily updated my blog with information on Cambodia, my preparations, and personal thoughts on the trip and my life. I have poured my heart out on issues like my struggles with depression, finding myself, and deciding to volunteer abroad. Yet, I have utterly failed to mention anything about the … Continue reading Volunteering with IVHQ
Cambodia will be Different
I leave for Cambodia in a matter of days, and my heart cannot stop racing. I am excited, nervous, confident, and terrified all at the same time. There is no doubt in my mind that this journey I am about to embark on will be challenging, liberating, and life-changing. But despite all of these, more or less, positive … Continue reading Cambodia will be Different
Why I Chose to Volunteer Abroad
When people find out that I am not just going to Cambodia, but will be volunteer teaching and working at an NGO, things go wild. I am swarmed with questions and find myself in a state of constant defense and explanation of my decision. Why are you volunteering? Are you getting paid? Can't you get … Continue reading Why I Chose to Volunteer Abroad
The Traveling Smith 