Blog Archives

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What I’m Grateful for So Far

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…

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The Birds of Aotearoa

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…

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Finding Philly in Thailand

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…

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Starry Gambian Nights

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…

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Yellow House

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…

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Cancer Patients with ID

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…

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Surveys and Subtleties

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…

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Home Away from Home

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…

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The Importance of Nursing Research

By: Amanda Moore The view of the Irish Sea   As my time in Dublin comes to a close, I am beginning to reflect back on my internship experience with Trinity College Dublin’s School of Nursing. I had the opportunity to spend 8 weeks supporting a project focused on implementing palliative care into the intensive…

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Stepping outside the Centre

By: Stefan Hatch Most of my weekends this summer were spent on trips to nearby countries or hanging out in the busier, central parts of Singapore. With so many malls and easily accessible attractions, it’s possible to spend weeks in Singapore without leaving the middle part of the city. I realized I was boxing myself…