I have always felt uncomfortable about the phrase “coming out” because of the inherent implication about there being a “normal” or “standard” sexuality, while others are regarded as “other” or “strange.” This past summer, I had to wrestle with this concept. I spent a lot of time thinking about my own sexuality. After many conversations … Continue reading Coming Out: The Abroad Edition – Rachel Godfrey
“There will never be a place where I can fully belong.” This is what I wrote down on Facebook, right before the plane took off to London, the city where I would stay for the next six months. All kinds of anxieties started to upsurge into my body, and one of them is the fear … Continue reading Embracing Discomfort: Studying the Arts in London as an East Asian – Unique Wenxuan Xue
I would usually write a post about how I’m getting on with lectures and workload at this point in the semester. However, I, like everyone else I know, have been completed distracted by the snow. To be blatantly honest, I’m not sure why I chose now to write about the snow; it was snowing for … Continue reading Snow Day – Shola Lee
When I moved to London in 2014, I was alone with a suitcase and a duvet. By the time I reached the end of the summer term, I was still alone with a suitcase and a duvet. This wasn’t because I hadn’t made any friends, it was because they’d all gleefully abandoned me to travel … Continue reading Summer in the City – Chloe Ratcliffe
Contrary to the title of this post, I won’t try to get into an extensive political discussion about the UK’s decision to leave EU. Rather, I want to address something which has become more apparent as my time abroad has progressed. When one moves to a different country, especially to a university with many other … Continue reading BREXIT – Kyran Penny
Friday, 16th February 2018 Chinese New Year Celebrations Today marks the first day of the Chinese Lunar New Year and as per tradition, it is a day to be spent with family and friends. After our simple reunion dinner (picture below) and 守岁 (shou sui: staying up late to increase longevity of our parents) the … Continue reading Chinese New Year Celebrations – Annabel Shi Min Pang
And just like that, first semester was gone. Four amazing months with amazing people in amazing places. I remember the first time I woke up in Sweden thinking to myself ‘what on earth have you gotten yourself into?’ I didn’t know anybody, I didn’t (and still don’t) speak the language and I certainly didn’t feel … Continue reading Semester Two – Kyran Penny
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
What is the experience of being queer abroad like? It’s about understanding the nuances of your sexual identity and finding a community for yourself. This is what I learned from my friend Julianna, a junior from Wesleyan University studying at Queen Mary, University of London. In the busy coffee shop on Queen Mary’s campus we … Continue reading What’s It Like Being Queer in London? – Tessa Reading
The island, to many, is split into three parts: uptown, midtown, and downtown. This isn’t a geographical separation, there aren’t strict borders and the only sign of change between each place is the decreasing numbers on the subway down to South Ferry. However, there is a separation in the atmosphere, one which becomes heightened during … Continue reading The Holidays in Manhattan – Shola Lee
"I have lived and studied abroad almost my entire life, yet going to Hong Kong was a new adventure for me" When I left London to start my exchange semester in Hong Kong I had no idea that it would so quickly become my favourite place in the world, nor that it would be so … Continue reading A semester abroad from studies abroad – Natasha Peters
Lights up. A hit to the face from my right. Attempt to escape. No -a hit from the left- I fall to the ground. Attempt to get up but they’ve zoned in on me. One last hit and I’m on the ground… And scene. That was my second Broadway debut as an alien in a Western space musical, ‘Written in the … Continue reading Small Town Girl Takes Over The Big City [Part 3]
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