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
Homesickness
Alexandra Lines
2013-11-21
“Talking about our problems is our greatest addiction. Break the habit. Talk about your joys.” -Rita Schiano Homesickness is an interesting beast. It makes you realize how much you appreciate where you are from, your family and friends, and how comfortable you feel in your home. Sometimes you can be happy just checking in with those...
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My Life So Far!
Conner Evans
2013-11-20
Hey Everyone! So it’s been a little while since I last blogged. I apologize about that! While in Quito, I decided that I wanted to apply to college again and it took up quite a bit of my time during my first few weeks here in Pedro Vicente Maldonado. But now that’s over and I have been pushing...
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El Camino
Madeline Lisaius
2013-11-20
So there’s this book called “Wild.” It found it’s way to me through another fellow; to her I owe much thanks. The author, Sheryl Strayed, discusses her 1,100 mile hike on the Pacific Crest Trail (a path that transverses the western U.S. mountain ranges between Mexico and Canada) with no backpacking experience prior. The memoir chronicles not just her...
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The Birthday Party
Lauren Guido
2013-11-20
Today I went to my 7 year old cousin’s birthday party in Santa Rosa, a 1K walk from my house. As I walked to my aunt’s house with my grandma I tried making conversation by asking how old my cousin was turning. She thought 8 or 9 but honestly had no idea. I wasn’t surprised that she didn’t...
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Living Day-to-Day
Claire Wohlers
2013-11-19
Some days here are harder than others. Some days I cry at work, frustrated that the kids make fun of my Spanish or won’t listen to my lessons. Some days, my little brother scares me, and that sets me off in an angry rage of yelling in English. Some days, it’s simply that my dad...
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Une Lettre pour Mon Ami
Mouna Algahaithi
2013-11-18
Written on October 2, 2013 Dear Friend, I know you’ve been asking me for an update, so here it is. The anxiety is deepening. By the end of this week, I’ll be officially moved to my house in Mboro, which is on the coast of northern Senegal, about 2 hours from Dakar. I...
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Bibimbap
Chan Mi Joo
2013-11-18
This was the response I usually got when a Global Citizen Year Fellow of mine found out about my ethnicity: “You’re Korean?! Oh my gosh, I love bibimbap!” “Bibimbap?” I would respond. “Yeah! Bibimbap!” Bibimbap is a Korean dish well-known for its symphony of flavors. It is made with rice, a variety of Korean side-dishes...
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Contradictions
Alexandra Lines
2013-11-16
I live in a relatively small house, made up of three bedrooms, a kitchen, a bathroom, and a living/dining room. Four people live here, including me, and my aunt and my grandma share a bed. We live in a neighborhood where many of the houses are still being constructed, so they are currently empty shells...
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A long awaited update on my life in Senegal
Lillian Wells
2013-11-15
There is no real way to even come close to describing every facet of my experience in Senegal thus far, so I will just say that I’ve never felt more alive than I have felt in these last couple months. Since my arrival in Dakar many weeks ago, I have experienced the highest of highs and...
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