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
Status Report: Anecdotes from Azuay
Henry Duerr
2016-12-21
With my mind turned home to during this holiday season, I would like to share a few stories with you all about my new home. Many of you, I am sure, are gearing up for the seasonal festivities that come every December. As am I, albeit against my will. I enjoy the holiday season, I’m...
Read MoreDetails.
Holly Jacobson
2016-12-20
There are two ridiculously large dogs that live at the end of my street. They seem to be the “watchers” of this side of town, with both eyes closed fast asleep. When I go to Hindi class three days a week, there’s always the sweetest man who greets me with the most genuine smile. When...
Read MoreThe Struggles of Being Bili….Trilingual(ish?)
Fernanda Tornell
2016-12-20
Ever since I moved from Mexico to the United States I began to struggle to juggle two languages. Now that I am in the process of learning a third, these struggles are adding up everyday. I could go ahead and write a full blog post about all my feelings and frustrations, buuuut we all...
Read More
Making it to December
Amelia Wohlers
2016-12-06
I’ve finally made it to December. I always thought the time here would go much slower than it has. While the days can sometimes feel like they last an eternity, the weeks here fly by. I live in a community outside of the small town of Cotacachi. My family is indigenous and everyone is fluent...
Read MoreA Blessing
Isabel Najjar
2016-11-29
One practice that fellows are encouraged to adopt on their bridge year is one of gratitude. Each day, writing down three moments we’ve found gratitude, training our brains to scan the world for positives. It’s a practice that I’ve really latched on to, and grown to love: especially in the difficult first few months of...
Read More
How to Live with Cats
Christopher Iba
2016-11-21
When I first got the profile of my permanent host family, I was surprised to see that they had 5 cats. I have never lived with cats nor have I ever been a big fan of them, but my bridge year is about adapting and stretching the boundaries of my comfort. When I first arrived,...
Read MoreImmersion, Not Submersion
Julia Shankin
2016-11-19
Before I came to Brazil, and even during my early days in my community, I was convinced that the best way to immerse myself here was to give up all aspects of my former way of life and adopt all of the routines and values of my community. I was prepared to go with the...
Read MoreMinha Avó
Alondra Quiles
2016-11-19
I've never been good with receiving news. I’ve never understood what the correct way to react is. So imagine my luck when I walk into my living room on my way downstairs to the garage when suddenly my host dad says, “A mãe de Maria Jose faleceu 30 minutos atrás” (Maria Jose’s mother passed away...
Read More“Ellos son como una familia real.”
Abi Bethke
2016-11-18
This will sound incredibly cheesy, but I never could’ve imagined finding another family I feel so comfortable with when I initially signed up for Global Citizen Year. Yes, I definitely had hopeful expectations of really getting close with these people, especially considering I’d be staying with them for 7 months…but after only 2 months of...
Read More