Starting Life in Japan

by Josie Losh

The temple near my apartment

It's been a week already since I left America, but it already seems like ages ago. Life has been so busy day-to-day, there's no time to think about slowing down! However, for the time being, I'm done with errands like registering my residence at the city hall and with the national government, setting up a Japanese bank account, obtaining the national health insurance, and paying my first month's rent at my apartment! Sadly, this also means that I have completely exhausted my Japanese cash! Especially after paying for groceries and household items! However, so far, I love life in Japan.

La Gringa Goes to Baños

by Devan Bey

Baños from above.

We reached Baños after a hysterically long seven and a half hour bus ride. It was one of those where trips that should last maybe six hours at the most, but then every minute after that simply increases the misery. Six other international students and myself fell off that dreaded bus, exhausted but pleased to have arrived in Baños, a town in the Sierra (in Ecuador, that refers to the mountains). We had heard of its healing powers and after a tremendously long week, we decided it was necessary to have some adventures and refresh ourselves before exams the following week.

Majestic Banff

by Matt Dela Peña

As I stood on the thirty-third floor balcony of a Downtown Calgary condo unit looking out towards the horizon, I was completely astonished by the sheer flatness of the Canadian Prairies. It really didn't depict the stereotypical image I had of the True North: no majestic, snow-capped peaks, thousand lakes, igloos, or even free-ranging moose.

The Waffle Window

by Matt Dela Peña

Portland has a treasure trove's worth of shimmering gems hidden within its ninety-five neighborhoods that even some of its own residents don’t quite know about. Because that’s just the thing about this hipster-run metropolis: the locals don’t really want you to know about them.

La Gringa Is Cleansed

by Devan Bey

Beautiful city of Otavalo at night.

Most days I don't take off my clothes in front of people. Most days I don't allow small women to spit alcohol on me and rub eggs on my hair. Most days I don't worry that I'll have to stand over a fire with additional flames being shot at me from all angles. But Wednesday, August 28th was a different kind of day. It was completely wild, new, and amazing. I experienced something new, something special. I allowed myself to take an adventurous step, which was the idea behind my trip to this beautiful country. I'm so proud of the experience and it'll be a tough one to forget.

This voyage began in the small town of Otavalo, a charming and historical city northeast of Quito. The city is known for its indigenous market place, which boasts a mass of stalls and colorful people and objects. Several dozen vendors convene in the Plaza de los Ponchos to sell (usually) handcrafted wares; alpaca clothing, dolls, belts, jewelry, textiles, and much, much more. The city offers the buyer a variety of items and the chance to bargain for them (a skill which I admittedly lack. I was able to talk a lady down on a pair of earrings by $2.00.)

A Very Asian Non-Asian

by Josie Losh

An aerial view of Saga University (picture obviously not mine). [INTERCOH]

In a little less than a month, I'll be studying abroad Pacific University's only science-based exchange university in Japan: Saga University （佐賀大学）located on Kyushu. I have been studying the Japanese language and culture for 6 years and I just recently made the decision to make Japanese my second major (my first being Biology).

La Gringa Makes (International) Friends

by Devan Bey

Wow, that's a lot of people. Credit to UEES Abroad Facebook page.

After more than a week in Ecuador, I've got some serious reporting to do. I'll start somewhat lightly. On the first night, after 20 or so hours of traveling, I arrived to the Quito to greet my new (only) best friends in the nation, the estudiantes de intercambio (exchange students). Exhausted and reeling from the altitude and the trip, I stumbled into the Hotel Tambo Real, a modern outfit located conveniently across the street from the local McDonald's and KFC.