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
Dear High School Class of 2018
Marissa Emerson
2017-09-25
Dear High School Class of 2018…You Got This!!! Here’s some advice from graduates from the Class of 2017 that are taking bridge years around the world through Global Citizen Year! [vc_video link=’ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A6MBpIV9C1c&feature=youtu.be’] •Subscribe to my blog below! •Donate to my Fellowship Fund fundraising page here: https://donate.globalcitizenyear.org/fundraise?fcid=978608 Special thanks to all the fellows that participated in...
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First days in Bella Union
Leila Merzenich
2017-09-25
I have now spent under a week in my host community, and I have had such an interesting time full of learning and new experiences. My village in reality is a tiny suburb of a town called Santa Ana. There is a tiny store that sells basic groceries, a panadería or bakery, and two small...
Read MoreAwkward Silences, Beautiful Scenery, and Just Diving In
Christopher Maloney
2017-09-25
On Sunday my family and I journeyed to a cousin’s house about an hour and a half away. On the ride I learned dozens of games in Spanish from my two host sisters. I was so focused on the games that I hardly noticed the rapid changes in the flora around me. Mountains went from...
Read MoreToo Much Sauce
Alexandra Moreno
2017-09-25
So on Friday night, I came home from a Southern Hub reunion at our Spanish placement exam geeked. I didn’t realize how much I missed everyone and I think it recharged my soul (as cheesy as that sounds). I was very happy coming home on the bus with my neighbor, Shukura- while at one point...
Read MoreLost in Translation
Jordan Kendall
2017-09-25
Since embarking on my journey with Global Citizen Year, language became one of the things I thought about most often. Part of me was absolutely shaken to the core, knowing that I would be forced into a new culture without my primary form of expression. Whenever these thoughts came into my mind, I could feel...
Read MoreSunday
Alexandra Moreno
2017-09-25
So Sunday is the only day of the week the restaurant is closed and my host family has a day off. Saturday night, they asked me if I wanted to go to church with them and I said yeah because I felt like if I ever needed to refocus my spiritually, seven months in Ecuador...
Read MoreRewind
Alexandra Moreno
2017-09-25
So I have like a week of information to stuff into one blog post. It might seem sporadic and all over the place but it’s important to me and you’re choosing to keep up with me so it’s about to be important to you. I’m going to start off with immediately after my speak up....
Read MoreSpeak Up
Alexandra Moreno
2017-09-25
On our last night together in Quito, September 15th, we had a final dinner and group time. During the group time following dinner, I gave this speak up (which is basically like a speech) to the entire group. I’m posting it on my blog as a reminder of what has been going on and because...
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My Promises
Shukura Babirye
2017-09-25
As I am currently staying in my host family finally starting the adventure that I have waited over 160 days for, it still somehow feels surreal for me. However, I thought it would be nice to make a post on how I am able to cope with homesickness, or actual sickness to make sure that...
Read MoreWhy I’m Such a Bus Advocate
Sunghoon Kwak
2017-09-25
Last year, my main mode of relaxation was driving to some of my favorite music. I would plug in my phone, turn the volume knob up to a comfortable position, and cruise down the highway everyday to school. This year, it's not much different. I find myself racing down the bumpy roads of Pune, but...
Read MoreA letter to my parents
Avinash Jagroo
2017-09-24
Mum and Dad, Where to start. A measly three weeks here has opened eyes more than I could have ever imagined before. The beauty of this country is mind boggling. Every where I turn there's a goat baobab tree proving shade for dozens of people, people who are smiling at me, greeting me, asking...
Read MoreMonkeys, Portuguese, and Lots of Love
Sophie von Muench
2017-09-24
Hello all! I have been told that I am very behind on the blog, so here are Sophie’s updates in one long swoop. On my host family: They’re the cutest! I have a mom (Lorena), dad (Vicente), a little sister (Dainara), and a younger brother (Manuel). Also a very cuddly and patient cat named Memo....
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