By: Donna Jalosjos I have been a student for as long as I can remember. Before doing this internship, I had some past experience working with high school students in tutoring, but I had never worked as a teacher with students from the ages of 3-10. When I first started at my internship, I was…
By: Riya Nandakumar One of my favorite views in Vietnam of the boats in Hoi An! It’s obvious to anyone that I don’t exactly look like a “local.” Over the past weeks, I’ve grown accustomed to walking down the street and getting a few stares or curious glances. Occasionally, cute kids or surprised adults will…
By: Ruth Oyerokun Waiheke Island Now that I have spent two weeks in New Zealand, I feel more confident in this new environment and grateful for memories that have made my time here meaningful. I want to share with you the people and places that I appreciate most. First, my host mom, Deborah, has…
By: Helena Saven Picture of Helena with the tūī mural described in Queenstown Having now spent two months living in Aotearoa New Zealand, I have fallen in love with so much of the local fauna, especially the native bird populations. I’m someone who has always felt a connection to wildlife and an appreciation for seeing…
By: Jackson Eli Ford Temple outside of Bangkok Having moved across the country from the only city I knew and knowing no one, I was able to find a home in Philadelphia. After a school year that was more than high school me could have ever imagined, it was time to once again pack my…
By: Kidist Belew I was overcome with many feelings when my 22-hour journey from Atlanta to The Gambia had come to an end. Excitement for the experiences I would soon realize would alter the course of my life for the better. Anxiety about being in a region of the world I had never seen myself…
By: Kedi Belew During my time in Bwiam, I had the opportunity to participate in Bwiam General Hospital’s annual Walk for Health and Sports Tournament. This event involves a lively 5k walk around the community with music and dancing. The afternoon and evening conclude with a series of competitive games and various races. The goal…
By: Kennedy Smihula This internship was able to exceed any expectations that I had and I have learned more than I could have ever imagined. The first week was a little daunting on what the work for the duration of our time here would entail. However, I quickly realized that my education at Penn had…
By: Amanda He The Trinity Centre for Ageing and Intellectual Disability! During my weeks researching at the Trinity Center for Aging and Intellectual Disability (TCAID), I’ve been able to learn quite a bit about the different ways that research is conducted. One such aspect of research that I’ve been able to learn about and see…
By: Amanda Moore Amanda at the Cliffs of Moher When faced with the decision on housing in Dublin for my summer GRIP research placement, I weighed the options of independent living vs. a homestay. I originally preferred the idea of living on my own, but I warmed to the idea of a homestay after my…