El Cubañol

Lauren LaLonde Major: Political Science and Spanish CIEE: Cuban Studies-University of Havana, Fall 2018. Today marks exactly one week that I have been in Cuba, but it sure feels like longer (in a good way)! I have already had some amazing experiences, met great people, and begun to look at Cuba through a new lense….

Things to know about Scotland

Madison Liebler English and Art Major Non-WMU Program- The University of Edinburgh, Scotland, Summer I, 2018 Though I am by no means an expert, here are a few things I learned in my month on the other side of the pond. Do a little research before you leave to find out if you have any…

N.ever E.nd P.eace A.nd L.ove

Carly Baldwin Majors: Early Childhood Professional & Spanish Education, Service, and International Development in Nepal, Summer I, 2018 My name is Carly Baldwin and in the Fall of 2018 I will be a fifth year senior.  I am studying Early Childhood Education and Spanish.  I recently went on a sixteen-day study abroad program to Nepal…

Childhood Poverty: We Shouldn’t be Complaining

Evelia Bautista Communication Studies Major Non-WMU Program- Universidad Latina De America, Mexico, Spring 2018 Poverty in the United States is different to poverty in Mexico. A lower class family in the United States, in most cases, has access to basic life needs; food, education and healthcare. Not here. The disparity between high class and lower…

Guatemala 2018: The Final Day

Lauren Brya Social Work and Nonprofit Leadership Majors Community Health and Permaculture in Guatemala, Spring break 2018 Alas, the final day of our trip has come to a close. As the sun situated itself in the sky we ate our last breakfast in Panajachel and lugged our suitcases to be piled up on the top…

The Places Shape the People

Hanna Fussman Tourism and Travel Major Bonn University, Spring 2018 There’s something about the world that I truly love. I don’t quite know how to pinpoint it, but I think it’s the places. The places shape the people. It shapes the culture, the languages and dialects, the politics, living conditions, everything. And each place is…

Understanding Life In Other Cultures

Samantha Lessard Occupational Therapy Major International Perspectives on Aging-Spring break, Spring 2017 While in Ireland, we go to experience how the geriatric population is treated by healthcare workers, their families, community and how they view themselves. As a soon to be occupational therapist, it was very informative to see how different geriatrics are treated in…

110 Arabian Nights

Morgan McCullough Global & International Studies / Spanish Major, Arabic Minor Non-WMU Program: IES Rabat, Morocco At the beginning of my semester, I wrote 5 questions that I hoped I would be able to answer by the end of the semester. Naturally, nothing went as planned. The streets looked nothing like how I pictured them, and I…

Mint Tea, Tajine, & Moroccan Cuisine

-Morgan McCullough Global & International Studies / Spanish Major, Arabic Minor Non-WMU Program: IES Rabat, Morocco Moroccan food is carb and meat-heavy and laden in unique spices and oils. At home, many families eat with their hands from one giant, round plate. Various types of bread or cous-cous is served with each meal to use…

Learning New Cultures And Experiences In China

Jessica Chin Accountancy Major Chinese Language and Culture, Summer II 2017 I am a Chinese American student attending Western. I have visited my mothers’ home town in Taiwan but I had never been to mainland China before. I felt as though I was missing a part of my culture and experiences. I sometimes feel as…

From Santander To Burgos

Irene Kivinen Spanish Major Universidad de Burgos, Fall 2017 I have been in Spain for a little over two months now, and have experienced the unique opportunity of doing both Spain programs that Western offers: the summer program in Santander and the fall program in Burgos. Although the two programs overlap by about a week,…

You Wont Regret It

Amber Burbon Major: Marketing Summer II Lyon Program, 2017 I’ve had a lot of people ask me how my time was abroad and to describe it them. I find these difficult questions to answer because how do I sum up the new life I found abroad? How could I possibly do it justice in only…