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
Meet My Regional Cohort: Rosé All Day!
Marissa Emerson
2017-10-07
Get to know my Ecuador Regional Cohort, Rosè All Day, in this quirky video inspired by questions found at: http://4hatsandfrugal.com/2014/05/100-questions-no-one-ever-asks.html [vc_video link=’ https://youtu.be/pMD7IdxrMmI’] (Filmed and edited on the iPhone 7 with iMovie) •Donate to the Global Citizen Year scholarship fund here: https://donate.globalcitizenyear.org/fundraise?fcid=978608 Click the links below to subscribe to the individual Ecuador Blogs of the fellows...
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You’re Not in Oregon Anymore
Sophie Winter
2017-10-04
As my mosquito bites grow in number, so does my inept ability to sit through an entire conversation acting as if I understand. As my first month of being immersed comes to an end, I realize all of the subtle, yet different changes I have made in my life with the Bento family. We always have on...
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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 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...
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...
Read MoreWe Are the Ones We’ve Been Waiting For
Miniya Ali
2017-09-29
It is nightime in the funky Sahara town of Touba Toul and like most nights it is significantly cooler than the day. My host family sits under a neem tree to discuss the highlights of the day. They passionately gossip about about un-married women and crazy men and of course me. I am a new...
Read Morejournal entry #003- it’ll be okay
Stephanie Sanchez-Aguilar
2017-09-28
“Sometimes, the most healing thing we can do is remind ourselves over and over and over… other people feel this too. ” –– Andrea Gibson The hour is 21:30, the muffled voices of my friends are drowned out by the sound of my own beating heart. I float aimlessly in the hotel pool, eyes closed,...
Read MoreWho knew…
Elizabeth Ollila
2017-09-26
Who knew it was rude not to hug everyone in the room every time you came and left? Turns out I’ve left bad impressions more times than I can count. However, now I know, and I’ve come to love the way Ecuadorians tell you they love you with a cheek kiss at every hello and...
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