Posts

Showing posts from December, 2021

Christopher Vito: Arrival In Bioko (Pt 1)

Image
cre: Christopher Vito: Arrival In Bioko (Pt 1) I have been in Malabo, on the island of Bioko, in Equatorial Guinea for almost a week now. I have to do two a week, but our internet has not been reliable enough. Our router is a tiny little box that magically connects to the satellite internet – sometimes. It was out the first few days, but hey, it’s Africa and if you’re expecting anything better than that, you’re kidding yourself. So anyway, I guess I’ll start from the beginning. After a 20 hour journey, I arrived with a group of 9 other students at Malabo airport and crammed a ton of luggage into a van – we each had 2 check-in bags of about 50 pounds and two hand luggage. (Note: the photo I attached was taken while landing in Abuja, Nigeria, the last stop before Malabo, where it was too dark to take good photos of the arrival) From the moment we got off the plane, it was pretty very clear that this is an entirely different world. The baggage claim area was swarming with people offer

Bike Trippin across the Netherlands

Image
cre: Bike Trippin across the Netherlands It’s official. The scorching heat weeks are over and the cool fall weather has arrived! This change of seasons created perfect weather for biking, so naturally my friends and I must have taken advantage of it! This weekend consisted of two bike trips: one to nearby Broek at Waterland and one to the island of Texel (which involved more transport than just a bicycle!). Biking in Broek was one of my favorite day trips so far! The weather was perfect and the bike ride to this quaint little town was arguably my favorite part of the day. We cycled through lush green fields dotted with cows, horses and goats. The path we took took us straight to the center of these fields so it was nice not to be on a crowded street full of cars. We also passed the coolest houses along the way! They were located along a canal and each one was so unique that we struggled to catch all the details as we cycle past. After about an hour, we reached the town of Broek and d

Homestead Experience

Image
cre: Homestead Experience For me the farm experience is what you make of it. If you want to bond with your family, hang out with them after dinner. I think spending time sitting with your host family also allows you to practice your Spanish and really learn a lot about what it’s like to live in Costa Rica. I am truly grateful for my host family here. It is truly a blessing that so many families here have opened their homes to allow international students to live with them. I think it’s admirable because not only do these families open their homes to students they’ve never met, but they open their homes to students who are learning their language. Of course, the language barrier has been a challenge at times, but I really think it really demonstrates how even without all the words you can build a strong relationship with someone. To be honest, I was pretty nervous about living with a host family at first. Before coming to Costa Rica, students told me that host families have rules an

Being a Cinema Production Major in Paris

Image
cre: Being a Cinema Production Major in Paris People from all over the world flock to Paris for its rich history in art, architecture and intellectual achievement: its expansive avenues and manicured gardens inspire people in these fields to innovate. It’s the same for me. I felt drawn to Paris’s penchant for self-reflection and I felt more motivated than ever to practice my art. Paris has kept me on my toes. I spent my free time trying to see this magnificent city ​​with a cinematic eye, while remaining true to my personal aesthetic. These are a few of my favorite attempts to see it cinematically – all in an anamorphic report. A foyer in the Palais Garnier, framed by two royal busts. Classic Parisian mansions juxtaposed with the ultra-modern Center Pompidou. A picturesque afternoon in the Jardin du Luxembourg. Rows of chandeliers at Notre-Dame. A view of the Cathedral of the Holy Trinity from below. Urban development in the Clichy-Batignoll

Prevailing in Portugal

Image
cre: Prevailing in Portugal I finally ventured outside of Spain !! Ever since I decided to go abroad, I knew I wanted to see as many countries as possible in the four short months I spent in Europe. As soon as I heard that my friends Cynthia and Emily had signed up for a half marathon in Lisbon, I knew I had to participate. I expected this to be a normal, relaxing trip to another country where I would visit sites and have fun and although most of my trip was that way there were still some not so good times . Most of those bad times revolved around the trip. Aka the nine hour bus ride we voluntarily signed up for to go from Salamanca to Lisbon. On this bus ride we made frequent stops and had to change buses three times. I’m sure you can imagine the frustration and exhaustion we felt after arriving in Lisbon at nine in the evening. Not to mention that some mean ladies also told us to shut up, obnoxious people had moved their seats completely back, so that they were almost lying on o

It’s Always Tea Time

Image
cre: It’s Always Tea Time “Do you want to go on an adventure now or do we have to have tea first?” “-Lewis Carrol, Alice in Wonderland As I already mentioned in another post, I LOVE TEA . I’m not a coffee lover at all, so tea is the one thing that will wake me up in the morning and keep me sane throughout the day. The British are notorious for drinking tea and its importance to them is laughed at, but I see no problem with drinking more tea than water. I was able to attend two afternoon snacks as they are no longer a regular meal. First of all, I want to get into the context of tea a bit. Don’t worry, this isn’t going to be a boring essay. I just want to share some of the story I learned about this tradition because of its importance and how many different meanings it has. So, tea doesn’t just refer to a cup of tea. Tea can also mean the dinner meal, as the lower class would call it, or afternoon tea or afternoon tea, as the upper classes would call their midday snack. ‘Afternoon s

This Little Piggy Went to Market

Image
cre: This Little Piggy Went to Market Sunday may be for the boys, but it’s also for the markets! There is always a market ready to be explored in London. And the best part? Most of them are open on weekdays. I have visited some really good markets here that are worth exploring. Neighborhood market The first market we went to was the Borough Market, located in Southwark, London. This market is only open from Thursday to Saturday and comes alive very quickly. For our class, we drove through the Southwark area (and surrounding boroughs) to learn about the history of food in Britain. It was actually very interesting to learn that a lot of British food was imported and fruits, like pineapples, were considered exotic and showed wealth status. Pineapples were even praised for dinner parties as they not only showed wealth but were also a symbol for welcoming guests. The Borough Market is one of the oldest and largest food markets in London, home to all kinds of food vendors. From meats to

In Awe with Jordanian Cuisine: The “Must-Trys”.

Image
cre: In Awe with Jordanian Cuisine: The “Must-Trys”. Jordanian food is the best I have eaten in my life. Growing up around Mediterranean cuisine, I realized that Jordanian cuisine was a perfect match for my taste buds. Although Jordanian cuisine is very different from the Greek and Italian cuisine I grew up with, it had very similar elements and also very different. Right now in Arabic we have just completed our Jordanian catering unit so what better time to tell you and show you what to try when you get here. Not only is there a plethora of absolutely amazing restaurants, but if you choose to live with a host family, they will introduce you to the must-sees of Jordanian cuisine. There are so many foods that there’s no way for me to have enough time or space to explain them all, but I’m going to name a few of my favorites and what I would consider them to be. Jordan’s “must-sees”. My first taste of Jordan was through Falafel. I have eaten falafel in the US and Ireland and let me te

Tips for Traveling Outside of Paris

Image
cre: Tips for Traveling Outside of Paris Studying abroad in Paris is the first step. Second step ? Discover as much of Europe as you can! Because Paris is centrally located, it is an excellent starting point for your international adventures. During my stay in Paris, I was able to travel to the United Kingdom, Germany, Belgium and the Netherlands. 3 of these trips out of 4 were at my expense and really affordable! I was able to see the German Black Forest through an incredible trip organized by the CEA. On top of that, I explored six French cities. It all happened in the space of 3.5 months, and I want to share with you some tips on how to maximize your time abroad. Baden-Baden, Germany Buses are your friends! If you are ready to give up the luxury and the speed of the flight, there are several bus companies in Paris that can get you to the destinations of your dreams. More importantly, it will cost you a fraction of a plane ticket. I traveled to London with Ouibus fo

How Coffee is Made

Image
cre: How Coffee is Made I am a heavy coffee drinker so when I found out I was going to have the chance to learn how coffee is made I was more than happy. Costa Rica has a large market for coffee and there are coffee plantations in many parts of the country. The place where the richest coffee is said to come from an area called Los Santos. Los Santos is in the highlands, which is much cooler than the lowlands. In Los Santos, around 90% of the population depends on income from coffee production, so coffee is very important to the community here. The cooler air allows the coffee to grow better than when the coffee plants are in constant heat. As the lowlands are warmer, everything happens faster, and you could say that the process is almost rushed. Another reason why the highlands are better is that climate change affects the flowering process of coffee plants where it is too hot. We took a coffee tour this week to learn about different methods of growing and brewing coffee. It was re

九 | Thailand Part 1

Image
cre: 九 | Thailand Part 1 October 1, 2016 I’m not sure the next time I get to this hemisphere, so I’ll try to maximize my travel here. Sounds pretty expensive, yes I’m far from rich, but the trips are surprisingly really manageable. Well, for my part, I’m closer to places like Thailand, Mainland China, Japan (all on my wishlist) so the flights are cheaper than what you’ll see from the US. Second, I use my student status and take advantage of websites like Student Universe that offer student discounted fares for flights. Third, the accommodation is not expensive either. Whether you are a heavy Airbnb user or prefer the comfort of a hotel, the rates are quite reasonable in the places I have visited. It’s even better if you’re traveling with a friend or two to share that cost. You just need to plan well and stick to your budget. In short, yes I am currently in Thailand! To be exact, I’m writing this sitting on a tour bus with a group of travelers, headphones listening to “A Seat at the

5 benefits of solving previous year question papers

Image
cre: 5 benefits of solving previous year question papers The best way to familiarize yourself with an exam is to refer to the subjects of the previous year. They not only help you understand the test pattern, but also the type of questions you need to prepare for. Read on to find out more! Taking a major exam without sifting through the previous year’s questions on the subject is often the formula for failure. Although you can end up passing the exam, this is usually a pretty risky strategy. Therefore, it is best to explore the questions from previous years and familiarize yourself with the exam template. While some of the questions may seem quite dynamic, there is always a pattern you can research and find. The need for old questionnaires Studying and practicing are two of the most effective ways to excel in competitions. And solving old papers is one of them. Almost all students attempt to solve the previous year’s questions in the form of mock tests before taking the actual ex

Top 10 Australian universities for international students

Image
cre: Top 10 Australian universities for international students Australia is recognized as one of the best countries to study abroad. With several courses and significant placement opportunities, these 10 Australian universities have a lot to offer international students! Read on to find out more! According to QS University Rankings 2021, Australia is home to 36 top, world-class universities. With several of these colleges receiving higher rankings compared to previous years, the country is gaining more and more recognition among international students. These Australian universities are known for the programs they offer, their faculty and their research contributions to society. Below are the top 10 universities you need to consider if Australia is on your study abroad list! 1. University of Melbourne The university offers a large average starting salary of 65,500 AUD. The University of Melbourne is Australia’s top ranked university. Founded in 1853, the university began with