Story and Photo by Samantha Greig, Global Co-op In Hawaii, Aloha is more than just a greeting. Aloha is a way of life and a symbol of love and acceptance that creates the beautiful island spirit. The spirit of Aloha manifests itself in the Hawaiian culture in a plethora of subtle ways that breathe even…
Category: Narratives
Tourists Like Me
Story and Photo by Raina Levin, Study Abroad “When do you cease to be a tourist?” I had this conversation with a couple of friends in the months before I left for Peru. The three of us, who lived on the same hall our freshman year, would spend a year and a half dispersed on…
An Unexpected New Home
Story by Sherilyn Gautama, Study Abroad⎜Photo by Victoria Romulo As an international student who moved out when I was 15, I am used to adapting to new places and shifting homes. It’s interesting as a teenager to have changing definitions of what a home is, and I felt that the most when I was in…
The Enigmatic Russian Soul
Story and Photo by Rintaro Nishimura, Dialogue of Civilizations Exploration comes with surprises and discovery. My summer escapade to explore a new culture led me to discover the enigmatic Russian soul. Culture is the values, beliefs, and traditions of a group of people. We delved into the enigma through four main topics: architecture, food, society, and…
Get Outside
Story by Amelia Aldrich, Study Abroad ⎜ Photo by Margaret Sweeden There are few places in this world that embrace nature so effortlessly and without hesitation. Whether it be simply taking a moment to appreciate the clear blue skies and favorable surfing conditions, or disregarding responsibilities for the day and heading out on a hike instead, the…
The Barefoot Philosophy
Story by Chelsey Harmer, Dialogue of Civilizations ⎜ Photo by Maria Virginia Sitting on the ground in a circle, barefoot, metal trays in front of us, watching the locals skillfully eat a heaping plate of dal, rice, and roti without using any silverware. Children from a nearby village wandering over to play, learning their names…
Mt. Kilimanjaro Reflection
Story and Photo by Tova Lenchner, Personal Travel Every morning, 80-some odd people summit Mt. Kilimanjaro; on the morning of July 19, 2017 at about 7:08 A.M., I was one of them. When I tell people this, they are impressed, but to be honest, this was one of the easiest accomplishments of my life. Six…
A New Approach to Trust
Story by Erin Burba ⎜ Photo by Ashna Singh When I decided to move to Tanzania for my second co-op, I had very little foundation for and understanding of what was ahead. I knew next to nothing about the country. My new boss couldn’t tell me exactly what kind of projects I would be working…
Right to the City
Story and Photo by Noa Dalzell, Dialogue of Civilizations Last summer, I embarked on the “Right to the City” Dialogue of Civilization in South Africa, led by Professor Liza Weinstein. We visited the country’s three largest and most politically significant cities — Johannesburg, Durban, and Cape Town — and I hate to embrace the Northeastern…
Poverty and Education in Kisumu Slums
Story by Madeleine Hahn-Smith ⎜ Photo by Aneri Shah Karibu Kenya! “Karibu” – meaning welcome, is one of the first Kiswahili words I learned when I arrived in Kisumu and is a central theme of this community and its culture. Each new person I met welcomed me into their home— offering food, tea, and conversation. These…
