Returning to Pepperdine for the fall 2021 semester is exciting for all students, but international students especially expressed a sense of gratitude. International students shared their perspective on the social, academic and personal importance of being on campus while also appreciating the lessons they learned from the challenges of remote classes.
Language Barriers
Abroad in South Korea: Sharing a Space With a Language Barrier
Living in a share house with Korean natives made me question whether I would be able to form strong friendships, but my house mates showed me that it is possible. This is the fifth installment of the “Abroad in South Korea” series.
I Dropped My Toothbrush on a Hostel Bedroom Floor: Lessons I Learned While Traveling Between Semesters
Art by Peau Porotesano There 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 […]
There Must Be Some Misunderstanding: Why Language Barriers Are Good For You
Photos by Kelly Rodriguez One 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” — […]
There Must Be Some Misunderstanding: Why Language Barriers Are Good For You
Photos by Kelly Rodriguez One 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” — […]