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Every day in Cape Town is different, which makes it super exciting. Spontaneity has been very important in this experience but I have found it necessary to establish a routine while I am here. Creating a routine while traveling long term has provided me with a sense of normalcy and comfort even when things are a little uncomfortable. Some things I have tried to imbed into my spontaneous days to make my time here more sustainable/meaningful include going to the grocery store, going to the gym, journaling/reflecting on my experience, and leaving room for myself to just relax when needed.

Enjoying some journal time at Camps Bay

On the weekdays (Mon, Tues, Thurs) my day begins with class at 9:00 a.m. I usually meet up with some of my friends around 8:30 to walk to the study center together. The walk is usually nice and starting my day with some fresh air always makes me feel good. Class finishes at 11:30 and by then I am usually starving so I head back to make food or I go next store to Prashad (a vegan Indian restaurant) for a cup of tea and my favorite meal, Aloo Gobi. During this break is when I will usually hit the gym or exercise outside on the rooftop green space. Then if I have time I do some homework before my next class at 4:00 which goes until 6:30. Afterwards I head back to have a chill evening, usually meeting up with friends or ending the night talking on the phone with my family.

My View Leaving the CIEE Center at 6:30

Casual Evening with Friends

Sunset From the Roof Top Green Space

My days off are packed with adventure! On Wednesdays we usually have a CIEE coordinated co-cirricular activity and Friday through Sunday is up to us to plan. Coming into this experience I did not expect to make the connections I have, however, the friends I have made have had a real impact on my time here. They are friends I will have for a lifetime. We have done so many amazing activities ranging from hiking to wine tours. Sharing these experiences with like minded people is something truly spectacular. Below I have attached some photos our favorite adventures thus far, as I feel like words could never do them justice.

Waiting for an Uber after a Sunset Hike

Safari Selfie

Sandboarding at Atlantis Sand Dunes

Wine Tour in Stellenbosch

Climbing Waterfalls at Jonkershoek Nature Reserve

I have found my schedule to be the perfect balance between being a part of the community in Cape Town and adventuring! As I write this I only have two and a half weeks left of living this way, then I will move on to experience something new. Until then I will enjoy each and every day I have.

As much as I wish being here was all play and no work, I am here in London to study and focus on school (at least a little bit). So, today I will be sharing what it is like to actually study while being abroad!

My class schedule is actually pretty ideal considering each class only occurs once a week. Because I am also doing an internship while being abroad, which takes place on Mondays and Thursdays, I only have classes two days a week. As a Humanities major with a business minor, I am receiving three total credits for my degree while taking classes abroad – two for Humanities and one for business. With that being said, here is a little breakdown of my schedule:

On Tuesdays, I start my mornings with a literature class focused on Shakespeare the Dramatist. One might find his work to be difficult to get through, and maybe even a bit tedious, but it has actually been a very interesting course so far as we have brought his plays into a modern context and studied them through non-typical lenses. Tuesday afternoons are spent in an Architecture of London class, where we travel all over London to learn about different architectural styles and the contrast between modern architecture and styles dating all the way back to Roman and Greek periods.

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Wednesdays start off with a Film Production class where we are working towards creating a five-minute short film while learning about different film and production styles. In the afternoon, I have International Marketing and Management where we discuss global marketing strategies and brand efficiency. Every other Wednesday evening I have an Internship Seminar. There are only about twenty or so students who are also participating in an internship on top of their studies, and we are receiving class credit with the attached seminar portion.

There are no classes on Fridays, which are reserved for field trips, make-up days, and – my favorite use of a Friday – travel. This is one of the biggest academic differences between studying here and at Wofford. With no classes on Fridays, we are able to spend more time exploring London or have opportunities to travel other places. Another difference between my classes abroad in comparison to Wofford is the duration. Classes here are longer, as they only occur once a week, and they are about two and a half hours each with a break in the middle.

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To be completely honest, the workload of the courses here is very different in comparison to what it is at Wofford. At Wofford, my classes typically involve some level of multiple tests/essays/assignments throughout the semester on top of midterms, finals, and weekly homework. Being abroad, however, is almost the opposite. For most of the courses offered here, at least for all of the ones I am taking, there is one assignment for midterms and one assignment as a final. Midterms are coming up in the next week, and all of my midterms are essays, which is just fine with the Humanities major in me. Because of this seemingly reduced workload, I found it quite easy to adjust to the academic expectations and rigor while being abroad. I have also found it easy, and very refreshing, to maintain a balance between school and exploring London and the surrounding areas.

Choosing to study in a different country that you’ve never been to is already stressing enough, so choosing a country that’s literally on the other side of the earth just adds even more. Luckily, I have some pretty good roommates and teachers who understand and empathize with the everyday struggles we go through. Because of this, I’ve been able to find a couple of ways to clear my mind when days get monotonous.

Taipei is a very large city that was built for walking, so my first and favorite way to de-stress is to go on walks. Whether that’s with my friends or alone, I feel much better after getting some fresh air and seeing all the stores and restaurants near my apartment that I can eventually visit. There are also plenty of temples in and around Taipei that offer me plenty of opportunities to get in some steps. Most are in the mountains with hilly terrain and have hundreds of stairs inside, so they are the perfect areas to visit for exercise if hitting the gym isn’t your cup of tea.

Another plus of living in Taipei that helps to alleviate some stress, is seeing all of the adorable pets that people have. Pet culture here is very different than where I’m from in America. Most people here tend to have smaller dogs, but every now and then their are some large dogs that you don’t expect to see. Because of Taiwan’s hot and humid weather, most people tend to buy carriages for their dogs to ride in and get fresh air instead of letting them walk on the hot asphalt. This means my roommates and I get to regularly ask people to pet their pups. Not only are pets abundant in the city, but it is also very common to see temple dogs, which are just random dogs who do not belong to anyone, but the community around the temple tends to the dog and they occasionally live in the temple.

The natural beauty of Cape Town was undeniable as I drove into the city from the airport. Table Mountain greeted me through the window of my apartment building as I began to get settled in. The size of the city was overwhelming as I drove in and I began to feel anxious about all of the possibilities of living in a “big city”. What if I get lost? What If there are too many people to form connections? What if this isn’t the place I thought it would be? Staring up at Table Mountain though I felt oriented and this one peak would become somewhat of of a focal point during my time in Cape Town.

Settling in continued to be somewhat difficult for me, I felt lonely the first couple of days and nervous for my experience ahead. It wasn’t until myself and some of my new friends decided to take a hike to watch the sunset that I felt like I belonged here. The view from the top of the hike was marvelous. I could see the whole city and somehow it felt smaller. The sky began to fade into deep oranges and swollen purples and with the deepening of each color I began to feel myself relax. With the (surprisingly cold) wind hitting my face and the view of the endless ocean I remembered what this experience was all about. Moments like these. I was ready to begin my journey.

Although the sunset hike helped me get over the mental hurdle I struggled with during the first couple of days of my trip there have been some things that have certainly been tough getting used to! The number one challenge I have faced in Cape Town is having to work around loadshedding (periods of no power). South Africa is in the midst of an energy crisis which leads to widespread power outages that are often planned but have been occurring twice a day for roughly two and a half hours each time since I arrived. This means no charging electronics, poor wifi connectivity (if any), closed stores, dark rooms, and no refrigeration. This makes grocery shopping particularly difficult because meat/produce/dairy will go bad quickly. Alternatively eating out is a good value for your money, usually ranging between $7-$30 USD for an entire meal! I have done more eating out then I initially thought I would, however, it has been a great way to insert myself into South African culture and try new things.

Additionally another challenge I have been struggling with is adjusting to the immense inequality that I see on a daily basis. Learning about the apartheid rule has been extremely difficult and seeing the effects even in a post-apartheid society has been emotional to say the least. While above I highlight the beauty of Cape Town it is also worth noting that while driving in from the airport I passed multiple townships, which are communities where Black Africans were forced into under the apartheid rule and still live in great poverty today. Cape Town remains one of the most unequal places in the world and understanding how to navigate a society where there is this amount of racial and economic inequality is something that I will probably never adjust to. It is one of my goals while I am here to learn about Cape Town’s history and how that history translates into today.

So far this experience has been full of beauty I could have never imagined and people who are unforgettable. I feel welcomed in the city of Cape Town and ready to soak up every ray of sunshine I can.

Welcome to a day in the life of a London student! I am living in a flat with four other students, one of whom is my friend from Wofford. Each person has a private bedroom and bathroom, and we share a kitchen and living space which looks out onto a courtyard. My flat is right across the street from the tube station where the Victoria line takes me into Central London. I ride this line for three stops before having to switch to the Piccadilly line, which I ride for six stops to the closest station to my classes. After getting off the tube, I walk roughly seven minutes to my school, making the total commute about thirty minutes.

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Because I have my internship on Mondays and Thursdays, I only have classes on Tuesdays and Wednesdays. There are no classes on Fridays, as those days are reserved for field trips and make-up days. Once I arrive to school on Tuesdays, I have my first class of the day, a Shakespeare Literature course, at 9:30 am. I also have an Architecture of London class Tuesday afternoons, which consists of walking tours all around London to see different architectural monuments. On Wednesdays, I start my mornings with a Film Production class, followed by International Marketing and Management. Every other Wednesday evening, I have an internship seminar, as I am receiving class credit for the internship. Every night, I make dinner in my flat and either work on homework or hang out with my friends in one of our flats.

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Although each class is only once a week, they all last roughly two and a half hours, with a short break in the middle. Because of this, I do not have very much free time until the school day is over, but when I do, I spend it either grabbing lunch with friends or trying to do some homework before heading home. Speaking of lunch, I normally have at least an hour for lunch every day, and I typically spend it either in the student lounge or the courtyard if it is a nice day.

I think the biggest difference in my daily routine here versus at Wofford is the commute. At Wofford, I could get from my dorm room to my classes in a five-minute walk. Here in London, I have to ride the tube to get anywhere, especially my classes. The total commute can take up to forty-five minutes, depending on rush hour, delays, or even line closures. Another big difference is the fact that each of my classes are only once a week. At Wofford, one typically has a class either every Monday/Wednesday/Friday, or another class on Tuesdays/Thursdays. I am not sure which structure I prefer, as both are very unique to each school and location. I am really enjoying my classes so far, and I am excited to see how the rest of the semester plays out!

Coming to Taiwan in order to learn Mandarin Chinese is an experience that I never could have imagined for myself when I was younger, but it’s gladly working out in my favor. However, it is admittedly not an easy journey. Back home, I’ve been learning Chinese from a mainland, Beijing perspective. If you know anything about the Chinese spoken in China, you’d know that their are 10 different dialects of Chinese, many that are so different that they have been considered their own languages. The Chinese spoken on Taiwan is arguably just as different. Of course, I can communicate and understand well enough in order to live comfortably day-to-day, and I’ve improved much more since the first week, but it’s quite obvious to local Taiwanese that I was not taught their version of Chinese once I speak and use a Beijing accent and colloquial phrases. Therefore, I believe the most challenging aspect of this language immersion program is the subtle differences between the dialects of Chinese and knowing which ones to use in certain situations.

Despite this minor roadblock, my Chinese has greatly improved and I have gained a better understanding of linguistics and traditional Chinese. Not only do I get the three hour class of spoken Chinese everyday, but I also get the opportunity to have a language exchange partner and practice my Chinese while making a lifelong, local friend. Speaking of the three hour class, the typical class period for most college students at NTU is in fact three hours per period. Multiply that by two or three more classes and you have a workload that is infamous for how stressful it is. In fact, the academic culture here compared to the U.S is rigorous beyond belief. With a high population, competition to get into the best schools and jobs is always at its highest, therefore, it’s rather normal to see junior high and high school kids going to “cram school” right after their regular school for 3+ more hours in order to get better grades.

At first, the classes didn’t seem all that different to the ones in the United States. You do a syllabus day, have assigned homework, show up on time, and take notes. But the minute details of it all really come full force after about a week. There are little trips that are required for each of my classes. An excursion to a museum, a little walk to the feminist library, or a small lecture in the cemetery. I also had the misfortune of taking all my classes in French, so the language barrier can become tiresome during eight hour class days. Homework is the same, generally, and the grading system is somewhat lenient, but it does take time to get used to. Additionally, when there are so many events and places that you want to see, it’s difficult to really engage in the classes when you could be out seeing the sites and making the most of your time in a new place.

But the classes do get easier. The professors are helpful, and they genuinely enjoy what they teach. It’s been an eye opening experience to have access to these classes that I wouldn’t take if I were still at Wofford. And being so close to all the art and food and language that we discuss in class really enhances the experience. I feel as though I’ve learned so much in such a short amount of time, and I don’t feel burdened every day to show up to class and learn something new. It’s all about the balance, and if you keep up with the classwork, there’s plenty of time to explore and learn.

Hi everyone : ) My name is Erin Lachance and I am an upcoming Senior this year at Wofford College majoring in English and minoring in environmental studies. This semester I have decided to study abroad in two locations through CIEE’s Open Block Campus program. I will arrive in Cape Town, South Africa this coming week and after six weeks of living there I will be traveling to Rome, Italy for an additional six weeks. I look forward to sharing this journey with you all. Stay tuned for some honest writing, good photos and to hear about so many of my exciting adventures!

Studying Abroad has always been a dream of mine. The excitement I feel when I am visiting a new place and experiencing new things is something that can’t be replicated. Therefore, the idea of studying/living in a place where this excitement could be possible every single day was something I desired to pursue long before the opportunity presented itself. For me studying abroad was a no brainer, a must, and I spent months preparing for this very moment. Why then do I not feel overwhelming excitement as I am about to board my flight to reach my first destination?

The question I pose in the title of this entry is one that I have been grappling with for the last 48 hours. While I prepared for every possible scenario, packed strategically, and am leaving informed nothing could have prepare me for the roller coster of emotions that I feel as I sit here writing this today. While the study abroad experience undoubtedly will be full of highlights I have come to quickly realize that it is extremely important to recognize the challenges that will lie ahead of me. It will also be important for me to be graceful with myself as I work through these emotions, especially when it comes to leaving home and being away from the one’s that I love.

Making the most out of my experience is extremely important but I think that for me this means allowing myself to feel any way I want! From here on out I am not putting any pressure on myself to feel a certain way. If I am feeling sad about leaving home then I am allowed to be sad, if I feel scared I am allowed to be scared, and if some days I just want to pack up and go home that is okay!! For all of those bad days there will be days where I feel liberated, strong, and excited. These emotions are all part of the process and will make up both the highs and lows of my experience. While being comfortable at home feels great it is experiences like this that will ultimately push me to become stronger, more independent, and better educated. Before these past 48 hours I had minimal reservations. Now, however, I am most nervous to be lonely and that adjusting emotionally will be particularly difficult for me without my strong support system that I have at home. That being said, however, I am ready for these challenges because they will make me stronger.

“Life will only change when you become more committed to your dreams than your comfort zone”

I am committed to this dream of mine and this process because it truly will be life changing. I couldn’t be more grateful for the opportunity I have ahead of me and for all the people who have been supporting me through this process. It may be a bumpy ride at times but nonetheless it will be a beautiful one.

As my third week in Rome arrives, I often find myself in awe of all of the ancient histories that surround me. La città eterna or “the eternal city” is timeless. It seems as if I have never seen the same street twice. 

The first couple of days took a considerable amount of adjusting to the new atmosphere. Now, a little over two weeks later, I am starting to fully grasp that I have flown across the globe. Arriving at my new apartment for the semester was like a breath of fresh air. Although fast-paced, there was something about our balcony view overlooking the walls of Vatican city that calls you to be still. Of course, there are miscellaneous characteristics around the apartment that are different from our ways of living in America, but I felt a sense of excitement to explore so many new things. 

Italian culture is something meant to be enjoyed and savored. In my first week, I learned that many locals start apertivo around five to seven, followed by a lengthy dinner that has three to four courses. I found a deep appreciation of how most of the restaurants in Rome have tables on the sidewalk facing out towards the view of the city. You can choose from either acqua naturale (still water) or acqua frizzante (sparkling water), followed by fresh focaccia bread drizzled with fresh and warm olive oil and balsamic dressing. I have found that my favorite dish so far is Amatriciana (spaghetti with tomato and bacon). While simple, the flavor is unmatched. The food is so fresh and has no GMO’s, unlike most American foods. Most of the produce is grown locally which makes the food even more special to eat!

Another stark difference that I have noticed from America to Italy is the frequent use of public transportation and the hustle and bustle of tourism. America is known for notorious tourist locations, but never have I experienced so many historically prevalent monuments, museums, and artifacts. I am left dumbfounded on walks to class, train rides, and the view from my balcony. I have grown up in far more slow-paced environments with the countryside and small towns, so the vastness of the city is a refreshing change of course. In retrospect, most view the city of Rome and Italy as a country as a tourist destination, but in surrounding regions such as Tuscany and in the outskirts of the Lazio region you will find luscious green pastures and stunning vineyards. I tend to find comfort in these sights, as subtle reminders from home!