Colombia wasn't BA Languages student Alpha Shaw's first choice for his Year Abroad, but the diversity of the country drew him in. His blog reflects on the country, community and the challenge of living in a different language during his exchange year at Universidad de Los Andes. Prior to relocating to Bogotá, Colombia, I experienced considerable nervousness … Continue reading My Bogotá Journal: Culture, Change, and Self-Discovery
Queen Mary University of London Business and Management student, Bousse, has just completed a year abroad at Nanyang Technological University (NTU) in Singapore and reflects on a year full of growth. Top Tips for future students provided at the end! When I first found out I’d be spending a year abroad in Singapore, I felt … Continue reading From London to Singapore: Lessons, Life, and Laksa
Mia studies English at Queen Mary University of London and this summer took part in our Spelman College (USA) Summer Exchange in collaboration with Spelman College and London (UK) Chapter of The Links, Incorporated. Below, Mia reflects on her experiences participating in this funded short-term ‘immersion’ mobility opportunity for female-identifying students who self-identify as part … Continue reading Empowered Journeys: My Transformative Exchange Experience at Spelman College
The custom surrounding accents in Spanish are quite similar to those of English in the UK: the way you speak gives nearly all the information someone needs to place you, from where you grew up, to your economic class to your education level. When I was working this past summer at a local burger restaurant … Continue reading Being “Sort-of” but “Not Quite” in London – Sharon Hammer, Hamilton College (Sep-Dec 2019)
London has a large population of immigrants from the continent of Africa as well as the Caribbean. As such, it can be easy to make yourself feel at home as an Afro-Caribbean person in London. Nigeria, Somalia and Jamaica are just a few countries a part of the African diaspora that have a noticeable presence … Continue reading Easy Ways to Connect to the Caribbean in London
I always knew that I was an introverted person, but I did not know that I have social anxiety until the second year of college. I realized that had felt stressed and anxious in almost all social settings: from a theater rehearsal room, a Friday night party, or the cafeteria resounded with American small talks, … Continue reading Living with Social Anxiety Abroad
In my experience, I have experienced similar difficulties with microaggressions, also known as “casual racism” in London, Like the United States, the UK has its own set of racial tensions that inhabit college campuses and the greater London community. In the conversations that I have had with other students of color, similar sentiments about the development of … Continue reading Discussing Race and Identity – Rachel Godfrey
Studying in a foreign environment, as exciting as it is, can be a little daunting. For students who identify as members of marginalized groups, transitioning can be even more difficult. As I was preparing to study abroad, I remember hearing that only 5% of Black students travelled abroad, and I found this statistic to be … Continue reading Being Black and Muslim in London – Rachel Godfrey
Queen Mary Global Bloggers 