Junior Year Abroad Network 2009/2010

SHANGHAI Perhaps the most acclaimed Westerner to ever live in China was Father Matteo Ricci, S.J. A sixteenth-century Italian who led the first Jesuit mission into...

Spain has a strong Catholic tradition. Religion is splattered across her history, ranging from the Inquisition to the forced conversions of conquered civilizations in...

The Japanese take great pride in having the most punctual train system in the world. If there is a delay on the Tokyo metro, more often than not it means that a...

For the past week I have been traipsing about the southern region of South America. This epic excursion began on Wednesday March 31st as I spent an entire day flying...

Dear President Obama,

Freundliche Gruße aus Berlin, Mr. President. My name is Ellen and I am a fellow U.S. citizen, studying abroad in Berlin, Germany. You may...

To an American student studying abroad in Germany, many rudiments of religious practice resemble those in the United States. The majority of religious Germans belong...

Spending time in Kribi doing research on the Bakola-Bagyeli, Ive had a lot of time sitting on the back of a motorcycle watching the jungle pass by to think about the...

Last night, I could tell that my host mother was in a depressed mood. She wasnt playing with her grandson or humming a song like she usually does in the evenings,...

The strength of Catholic practices varies among the different regions of Argentina. While Argentine Catholicism is not marked by the fervency noted in some other Latin...

One of the hardest parts about being abroad is missing out on some really great events on the Hilltopmost recently, I was excited to find out that Nobel Laureate...

One of the unique things about the Catholic mass is that it has the same structure all over the world. On any day of the year, people in India will hear the same...

The University of New South Wales is located just twenty minutes south of Sydney. Australians frequently use the term uni to describe their university, campus,...

Having just celebrated Easter, religion is a fitting topic for this JYAN reflection. For the first time ever, I did not spend this holiday in a church, but instead was...

Back in January, I was walking down la Avenida Independencia to my first day of class when I heard something that sounded like a hiss.

Psssssssst. Chica.

I turned...

Obviously, a big part of study abroad is the actual studying part, but it is also one of the parts that I feel most people sort of take for granted as not being all...

One of the most salient differences Ive observed between American and Spanish way of life is the university culture. It has been a challenge getting used to the...

I felt a sense of foreboding approaching Robben Island. It was a beautiful summer day, and the breeze made the ferry ride across Table Bay very pleasant. However, as...

New Zealand is known for its stunning physical beauty and environmental awareness. This perception influenced my decision to take environment-related courses at the...

Every northern Italian Ive talked to has told me, DONT go to Naples. But if you do go, travel with a big group, stay away from the area near the train station, and don...

Before arriving in Spain, my only knowledge of gypsies came from Disney movies, specifically the female lead of The Hunchback of Notre Dame, Esmerelda. My first week...

Since coming to the United Kingdom, I periodically ask my British counterparts a simple question, Who are you? Fully realizing the latent pejorative and ambiguity of...

I answer the phone for the fourteenth time today, not as nervous as the first time but still realizing Im in over my head. Hiya, LGF how are you today?

The first day...

Ive been in Yaounde for two months. In my Contemporary Cameroon class one of our professors asked us to briefly summarize our thoughts, feelings, and responses of our...

The Dive:

A lesson that I painfully learned from my diving experience in Oman is to make sure that your entry point is generally free of jellyfish. Still, despite the...

About two weeks ago my university in Stellenbosch, South Africa went on March Holiday, which lasted for about ten days. I planned to fly to Johannesburg and take a...

Religious identities tend to also imply familial structures. Growing up, I can recall many families being dubbed as Irish Catholic because there were a lot of...

In my travels throughout the past four years, I have lived with four Muslim families. In Mali, I spent ten months in a Muslim household; in Senegal, four months with...

A large part of the appeal of going abroad is the opportunity for new and radically different experiences. For me, attending the gay and lesbian Mardi Gras in Sydney...

From the outside, Belgium seems to be a country in a perpetual state of tension. The differences between the North and the South are constantly highlighted in the...

For nearly five hours, I sat on an upcountry bus and watched out the window as the scenery gradually morphed from the bustling streets of Nairobi, Kenya to the rural...

Family, both immediate and extended, plays a central role in Jordanian culture and societymuch more so than in the United States. Islamic tradition emphasizes the...

After waiting almost an hour, having been twice boiled and endlessly poured through cups, the bitter foamy liquid touches my lips. Drinking attayathe traditional...

Considering the variations in language, the methods of transportation, the system of government, or the cultural norms, London presents many contrasts to the status...

Since arriving in Buenos Aires, Argentina, there have been many things throughout the city that have both caught my eye and piqued my curiosity. Trying to learn as...

Graffiti and hand-painted posters screaming out against governmental policies and announcing upcoming protests colored the walls and hung from the ceilings. I squeezed...

European countries are small. That was one of the first things that hit me when I started more extensive travels around Europe, wondering how they so successfully...

If I had to choose one word to describe modern Chinese people, it would probably be pragmatic. A concern for practical outcomes over lofty ideals informs all manner of...

During an Environmental Law lecture earlier this semester, my Kenyan professor asked the class, Raise your hand if youre a Christian. I paused for a moment and put my...

Last week, on March 8, it was International Womens day. In Cameroon, its an enormous holiday with about two months of lead-up and preparation. Theres a special fabric...

While there may be no official religion in China, there is certainly no lack of spirituality here. Since I arrived in February, I have encountered a surprising level...

Before coming to Madrid, the directors and coordinators of the Georgetown program in Spain talked to us about what to expect culturally when we arrived. The Spanish...

I knew that going to church once a week was a bit more religious than many of my peers, but I never expected to be considered a saint. Before arriving in Sydney, I had...

Upon my arrival in France, I was more afraid of doing something impolite than anything else. The French have always been known to be on the colder, unwelcoming side,...

Although historically a Christian nation, religion does not seem to hold a prominent position in British politics or culture. I came to the UK expecting a country...

Many Americans talk about the importance of separation of church and state. The French, however, commit themselves to the concept. The debate over the law that would...

After an interesting discussion in a class called Sociology of the Islamic World in which we talked about the integration of Muslim immigrants in Spain, I began to see...

At my high school, all students were required to complete a total of 40 community service hours prior to graduation. I spent the majority of my volunteer hours working...

James Joyces A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man terrified me.

Well, at least the middle section. Everyone out there who has read it, Im sure that you know the...

Lent began on February 17th this year. Carnaval in Santo Domingo was officially celebrated on March 7th. Is something wrong with this picture? This past Sunday, I...

I received my first impression of Jacob Zuma, current president of South Africa, from a BBC online article the week before I left for Cape Town. The title read, South...

Pray before you drive off, and dont forget to ask God to protect you! my host mom yells as my Ecuadorian brother and I sprint out the door. Its just the typical start...

One of the first things I did upon arriving in Seville was study the map, both in my home stay and as I walked the streets. I wanted to get my bearings on the city,...

After being raised Muslim and joining the Muslim Student Association at Georgetown, I was curious to see how Muslim communities live in England. I conclude that...

My experience in Lyon has been far from anything that I had expected. Before arriving, I was sent a piece of paper describing my host family. I knew that upon arrival...

Dear Intensely Interested Readers,

When I opened the email that told me that I was accepted into a study abroad program in South Africa, my mind was filled with images...

After taking a class on the Quran and Islamic literature at Georgetown, I expected to arrive in Senegal with a fairly clear understanding of the pillars and associated...

In a country as religiously homogenous as Spain where 94% of the population self-report as Catholic, religious minorities are not be able to survive without adapting...

In my family, religion means that my dad says grace at the beginning of dinner while my sister and I munch on the baguette. It means a Christmas tree and carols in...

One of the reasons I chose Yaounde, Cameroon as my study abroad society is its incredible diversity. Known as Africa in Miniature, Cameroon is home to a variety of...

As a Catholic, I always try to make it to mass on Holy Days of Obligationunless, that is, I have more pressing obligations such as school, a dentist appointment, a new...

As I approach the five month mark for my time spent in England, I appreciate my familiar surroundings. I am oriented to London-living. I get around on the Underground...

Although ancient churches dot practically every street corner in the city of Brussels, it is much more common to see a tourist wandering inside than it is to see a...

London appears to be in the middle of Europes spectrum of practicing Christians. On the one hand, England has long had the natural intersection of religion and state,...

The most notable difference between Scotland and America is one that I still struggle to fully understand. A student of class relations in America (a study that...

One would normally associate adjectives such as graceful, gleaming, majestic, magnificent, and powerful with the finest thoroughbred Arabian stallions or camels. In...

The word Carnevale instantly signifies fun. And this definitely was true for opening weekend of Carnevale in Venice. The festival starts two weeks before Ash...

My final days in Thailand were spent in collaboration with a small, rural community in the northeastern province of Loei in Thailand. The village I worked with, Na...

When I first arrived in Italy I was not sure exactly what to expect in terms of Religion. I assumed Italy was an overwhelmingly Catholic country and was aware of the...

For seven weeks of my stay in China I lived with a Chinese roommate. She was a twenty two year old Biology major with a minor economics. She was doing research on...

Buenos Aires, much like New York City and other global ports, has always been a melting pot for a diverse group of cultures. From 1869-1914, the population of Buenos...

Conflict, violence, and repression are all undeniable and significant aspects of South Africas political history. Apartheid legally divided the nation, repressing the...

This past weekend was the FC Barcelona v. Real Madrid soccer game, which was not only an important game in terms of the soccer league, but also in the sentiments it...

My host family in Santiago technically consists of my mother and my two host brothers, aged 22 and 26. Sometimes, though, it feels like Carolina, the 22-year-old's...

With less than two weeks left in Ireland, now is a perfect time to reflect on what I have learned over the past three and a half months here. I arrived with many...

Across all cultural boundaries, politics has varying levels of importance in peoples lives. From the greatly invested to the intensely apathetic, people find a...

Beards and hijabs, skirts and niqabs: the symbols of devotion, freedom, culture, oppression, or fashion, depending on which Op-Ed youre reading. What one can and...

The Catholic Church has long played a very important role in South American politics. From the conquests in the 1500s to Liberation Theology during the late 20th...

As a part of our program at the McGhee Center for Eastern Mediterranean Studies here in Turkey, we are given the privilege of traveling to Syria for a fall study tour...

Even though Australia is not the most religiously-active nation in the world, it still prides itself on welcoming all religions and cultures. Australia continues to...

It was not the first time in my life I heard the sentence, I dont believe in womens rights. But for the first time in my life, it was not a joke. Last week our Arabic...

Before coming to Shanghai, my knowledge of Muslim religion and culture in China was very limited. I often associated Uighur lamb shashliks as a cultural cachet of...

My days in Ireland are slowly coming to an end with classes ending next Friday and exams winding down in less than a month. With little time left, I am scrambling to...

The spring semester at the University of Cape Town is over and, with classes and exams done, I figured it was time to do a little more exploring. A couple weeks ago,...

Thirteen hours: the time it took eight of my friends and me to cycle from Edinburgh to St. Andrews for the G20 meeting. Protesting followed the day after our Friday...

A few weeks ago, after friends returned from Syria with rave travel reviews, I decided I must venture out of Cairo to see it for myself. Syria is possibly the Middle...

Browse through the current affairs section of any bookstore in the U.S., and youre guaranteed to come across numerous books hailing China as the emerging global...

A Type-A Girl in a Type-B World

It was just a quick trip from Morocco to Paris. My parents were there for the weekend, and I hadnt seen them or the western world in...

To step outside around 2pm on any given Friday in Dakar is to walk into a muted city, because most every citizen on the street has stopped to pray. The roads are lined...

After 28 hours of traveling to Sydney, Australia, I was excited to grab my luggage, find my apartment, and get settled into the Australian lifestyle. Unfortunately, I...

I've been in Chile for almost four entire months now, and only a week ago I just went to visit one of the most well-known sites in Chile. Atop the enormous and...

When I first learned that Barcelona was located in the northeast Spanish region, Cataluña, this geographic location was only a minor location detail to me. However,...

Before I arrived in Buenos Aires over three months ago I had a cursory understanding of Argentine culture, history, and politics. Chaos and corruption was the theme of...

Today is the first day of November and this month brings even more wind to the city streets of Dublin, Ireland. It is hard to believe that two months have already...

Suffering is a universal issue. All people of all colors in all places have endured some type of hindrance to personal, professional, economic, or social success....

I have been living in China for almost five months and I have come to realize, despite the overwhelming traffic jams of people, bikes, and cars, you can manage to find...

It was a dreary day in Dublin. But, then again, what customary day in Dublin was ever complete without gloomy gray clouds and the imminent threat of rain. Teetering...

After two months of Judaic starvation in Cairo, I was desperate for any kind of Jewish contact I could ferret out. If I wanted to make it to Chanukah with my sanity in...

At the University of Buenos Aires (UBA), students interrupt my classes roughly once per hour with announcements about protest marches, club meetings, and panel...

Atatürk has a remarkable fan base. Without fail it seems, there seem to be two ubiquitous symbols that are guaranteed to be on the wall of every store, home, and...

As I sat in a canoe two days ago heading for a small island off the coast of Dakar, Senegal, my life flashed before my eyes for a moment. West Africa is not known for...

In China policy reform related to environmental sustainability is largely bureaucratic. Change starts at the grassroots level, which is then delivered to the...

Galicia, the northwestern province of Spain, is home to the third holiest city in Christendom. After Rome and Jerusalem, Santiago de Compostela has profound religious...

"Dia Duit!" (Classic Irish greeting). The translation is, may God be with you. The appropriate response is, "Dia is Muire duit- May God and Mary be with you." The...

Many Islamic scholars argue that Islam cannot be sufficiently described by the word religion. Islam is more than a religion; it is a way of life. Over the past two...

From the day I first arrived at the University of Glasgow, I have been amazed at the ways in which the past and the present seem so easily fused throughout Scotlands...

I often see statistics or listen to commentators and talk show personalities claiming that the United States is a nation of exceptionally religious character. Perhaps...

In my own mind, words such as diversity, juxtaposition, contradiction, and conflict have become synonymous with that of my new home, Cape Town, South Africa. Having...

Braveheart Led Me Astray

I admit that prior to my arrival, my knowledge of Scotlands history was almost entirely informed by Mel Gibsons Braveheart. Since the Scottish...

Before coming to Egypt, I considered myself to be somewhat aware of the religion of Islam. I knew the name of the prophet Muhammad and the basic succession history. I...

In a country that is 95% Sufi Muslim it is only natural that religion should permeate society and politics. When that same country has experienced only 49 years of...

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(Welcome to Morocco)

As I write this, I am sitting on the purple and gold cushioned sofas that line the walls of traditional salon room found in many...

Religion is poison. It has two great defects: it undermines the race...(and) retards the progress of the country. -Mao Zedong

Although he has been dead for over thirty...

Development and globalization in Thailand has focused on rapid industrialization and urbanization. Large-scale infrastructure projects have dominated the scene. The...

I boarded my Virgin Atlantic flight at six oclock on Saturday night. The pilot spoke English and the habits of my fellow travelers resembled my own. As I was propelled...