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
Waoh September’s gone!
Ploypailin Thapthimphet
2017-10-03
On September 1, I was so pumped to pack and hop on airplanes to Quito the next morning but we were told that our flights from San Francisco to Houston were canceled due to the flood in Texas. It was only the Ecuadorian cohort whose flight was canceled though. “Well, that means I don’t really have to pack...
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Quito Host Family (10/9 – 17/9)
Natalie Choi
2017-10-02
I have been looking forward to stay with my Quito host family ever since I’ve arrived to Ecuador because I really wanted to experience the culture like a local would. Apprehension did not find its way to me until I received the page of information about my host family. Unlike most of the fellows, who...
Read MoreTaking Note: SEEN, FELT, DONE…
Kara Esplin
2017-10-02
It's been a month now since I've left my cozy home tucked in the mouth of the Ogden canyon. At times I find myself reflecting on my year abroad in Germany, and slipping into a mindset of "Oh- I've experienced this before. I've lived with a host family before, I've struggled with a...
Read MoreSweet Home, India!
Gemma Kelton
2017-10-02
Namaste mera dost, Pune, Bharat se! Aap kaise hain? Mein kush aur aacha hun. (Hello friends from Pune, India. Long time no see! How are you? I am quite happy!) I know you’re wondering how I’ve been getting along in India, and let’s just say that words won’t do India any justice in capturing how...
Read MoreThe Rich Love of India
Sydney Scanlon
2017-10-02
It had been 22 hours of traveling, three different flights, four different sleeping pills through 12 different time zones. I was a little dazed to say the least. As I walked out of the plane and followed the signs to the exit all alone, I tried to determine whether I was supposed to go through...
Read MoreDear Class of 2018
Trevor Hall
2017-10-02
I was stuck under an endless rainy cloud, with no idea of the intentions for my education.In high school, I was rarely learning lessons applicable to my future. I was memorizing information, not retaining it.I felt like I learned more about how to study the structure of the standardized mess rather than the proper why...
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Bem Vindo au Brasil!
Zoe Ward
2017-10-01
Today completes my first month in Brasil. What a journey it has been so far. I met so many incredible people and greatly enjoyed listening to their stories. I feel so fortunate to have landed where I am. This beautiful island is my home for the next six months and I can’t wait to see...
Read MoreWhy I am taking a bridge year
Summer Khan
2017-10-01
Hello everyone! I’m so excited for my bridge year in India! I have been anticipating for months about the food culture, and what my daily life is going to look like. Oh wait, just kidding!! I am actually going to Ecuador, I switched countries about two weeks before program launch because my Indian visa...
Read MoreThe S(h)ituation on my First Day
Bryan Fang
2017-10-01
Sábado, 30 de Septiembre de 2017 Hello, welcome to my first blog! My name is Bryan and I currently in Ecuador. After the split of the Cohort of 51, I am now a part of Rosé all Day, my Regional Group. Global Citizen Year started a month ago and so much has happened, but...
Read MoreBefore I forget my English…
Elise Steenburgh
2017-10-01
There's no word for it. The feeling is… awkward. But it's mind-blowing. It's uncomfortable, but exciting. It's all these words that I need to look up (thesaurus.com!)… because I've forgotten them. It's exhilarating, inspiring, invigorating, uplifting, and also, unfortunately, exhausting. My heart races when I feel words form in Portuguese on my tongue. It stops...
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What Ecuador has Taught Me: My Collection of Experiences
Sadie Troup
2017-09-30
I’ve been in Ecuador for almost three weeks, (to be honest time is a lost construct for me right now so that could be entirely inaccurate) and I’ve learned quite a lot! For as much as I’ve learned about Ecuador, I’ve discovered the same amount about myself. Here’s my ongoing list of experiences and new...
Read MoreThe Unknowing Gringo
Sophie Winter
2017-09-30
In the month I have lived in Brazil I have had a few “oops” and “oh shit” moments, a few more than I care to admit. My limited Spanish vocabulary has changed my language to a blurry mess between English, Spanish, Português, and a few wild hand gestures. Most likely the reason my conversations with...
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