Fellow Stories
True gap year stories from Fellows abroad!
Check out the latest blogs from Global Citizen Year Fellows in Brazil, Ecuador, and India!
Category
Class Year
Country
Live From The Field
Allison Vaught
2017-12-12
Losing my grandfather while in Ecuador My grandfather was quite a character and was part of what made my family so much fun. He had the best stories, and was immediately accepting of my decision to take a gap year, since he understood; right out of high school he enrolled in the army and served...
Read MoreAmigo Especial
Rujen Amatya
2017-12-11
My road to Brazil was filled with struggles. From persuading my parents into participation in the program to obtaining a US tourist visa during Trump’s foreign policy period, I had to experience it all. I am an international student from Nepal and only after my second attempt to obtain a Brazilian visa (I was rejected...
Read MoreBottling Up the Small Moments
Elizabeth Ollila
2017-12-11
As my half point approaches (SATURDAY!!) I can’t help but have this sudden feeling that I’m not soaking up every moment the way that I should. I have this intense desire to be able to bottle up everything that I’m experiencing so that I can have it forever. I’ve started making lists of things...
Read More“R.I.P Queso” or “Wherever you are, come home”
Toluwani Roberts
2017-12-11
This blog post is way overdue. It’s about time I told y’all a lil about my host family and apprenticeship. I’m a new member of the Andrango family. The family consists of Yauri, my 21 year old brother who is currently studying in the capital of Quito; Yarina, my 18 year old sister...
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Too Good at Goodbyes
Trevor Hall
2017-12-10
Tchau Tchau Besides abacaxi, muito, and beleza, these words are the most common I speak in Portuguese. I like the feeling the farewell has as it rolls around in a rhythmic circle in my mouth. No, I do not enjoy saying goodbyes to everyone I meet here in this welcoming country. I am actually thrilled to...
Read More10 Reasons Why a Taking a Bridge Year is the Right Choice
Sarah Candee
2017-12-09
Trying to make a university decision at only eighteen years old is difficult — even more difficult if you don’t know what you want to do yet (and if you do, chances are it will change). The popularity of bridge years — also known as gap years — is growing amongst high school seniors. ...
Read MoreWhy Am I In Senegal?
Isabel Munoz Beaulieu
2017-12-08
“Oh Isa, you have such a good heart.” “You are so brave, I admire you so much.” “You have such a caring heart, going to help the ones that need it the most.” “I am so proud of you, I couldn’t go to Africa to volunteer.” These are comments I have constantly...
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Serendipity and Obama
Phuong Nguyen
2017-12-08
This blog post is a little about two things I already knew intersecting to create a new lesson. Serendipity and Obama. Serendipity is a fortunate happenstance. I like to think of it as when you find a dollar on the street. Something good happens to you by chance, without you putting the effort...
Read MoreHOW MANY WAYS CAN YOU PREPARE PLANTAINS?
JuliaGrace Walker
2017-12-06
When I came to Ecuador, I came with the preconceived notion that platano meant banana in all Spanish-speaking countries. I did not realize a simple fruit’s name could change based on the country you are in. I assumed platano was a universal word in Spanish. Ecuador does not take their produce lightly. They harvest at...
Read MoreDia de los Difuntos – A Photo Essay
Maya Wilcox
2017-12-05
A photo essay about November 2nd, Día de los Difuntos, also known as Day of the Dead, not to be confused with the similar, but distinct, Mexican holiday, Día de los Muertos. At 10:30am, we arrive at cemetery #1 in Ilumán, my host community. My host sister, Laymi, posing with flowers for the dead. My...
Read MoreThe Adventure of the Apprenticeship
Zoe Ward
2017-12-05
I was quite surprised when I found out my apprenticeship would be at a local daycare or creche. I thought, what I did I know about working with kids, given the little to no experience I had with them. But as I always tend to do here in Brasil, I accepted and embraced the...
Read MoreThe Good, The Bad, The Ugly
Allison Vaught
2017-12-05
As the days turn into weeks and the weeks turn into months, time has felt like an unknown concept I feel as though every time I blink and turn around twice it’s a new month which means April creeps closer and closer, these past three months I feel that I have experienced the good, the...
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