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Abroad Correspondent

I Spent a Night in a Train Station: How I Learned From Being Uncomfortable

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Art by Peau PorotesanoWhen I first applied to Pepperdine, I was already thinking about where I wanted to study abroad. I knew I wanted to go somewhere that was a completely different environment than what I was accustomed to, a place where I could explore and be outside of my comfort zone. For me, that place was Shanghai, China.Now that I've been here for a few months, being … [Read more...] about I Spent a Night in a Train Station: How I Learned From Being Uncomfortable

I Dropped My Toothbrush on a Hostel Bedroom Floor: Lessons I Learned While Traveling Between Semesters

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Art by Peau PorotesanoThere are some moments in life you can’t change; like the time I dropped my toothbrush on the floor of a hostel in Bern, Switzerland. That toothbrush, which I should have burned on the spot, but instead discarded as quickly as possible, is a good metaphor for all the disastrous events and situations I encountered throughout my travels. Before … [Read more...] about I Dropped My Toothbrush on a Hostel Bedroom Floor: Lessons I Learned While Traveling Between Semesters

There Must Be Some Misunderstanding: Why Language Barriers Are Good For You

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Photos by Kelly RodriguezOne of my favorite things about walking around in Shanghai is being surrounded by spoken and written Chinese. Now having studied in China for three semesters, I have become fairly familiar with the language. No longer do I hear locals speak and not understand one word. However, “ting bu dong” — the equivalent of "I did not understand … [Read more...] about There Must Be Some Misunderstanding: Why Language Barriers Are Good For You

There Must Be Some Misunderstanding: Why Language Barriers Are Good For You

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Photos by Kelly RodriguezOne of my favorite things about walking around in Shanghai is being surrounded by spoken and written Chinese. Now having studied in China for three semesters, I have become fairly familiar with the language. No longer do I hear locals speak and not understand one word. However, “ting bu dong” — the equivalent of "I did not understand … [Read more...] about There Must Be Some Misunderstanding: Why Language Barriers Are Good For You

Defining ‘Home’

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Art by Peau PorotesanoDuring my travels over Christmas break, I was faced with a rather vexing problem: the Airbnb I was staying at while exploring Rome was the definition of terrible. My previous experiences with the private property-renting website were great, but this house had a distinct lack of heat, a constant threat of burglars, a horrendous shower that flooded the … [Read more...] about Defining ‘Home’