From Jonathan, a worker in Africa
“Sadly, I have attended funerals of three students—very emotionally draining. One in particular, Monamu’s, was heart-breaking, as he literally died from an infection! He died on a dirty bed in a dirty hospital corridor. I traveled hours by public transport to his funeral. Continue reading
From Ashley, a WEC Trekker in Asia
I rode a motorcycle! Note: I was NOT driving, but sitting in the back clutching the bar behind me as tight as is possible with sweaty hands. Navigating the streets was an adventure—dustier and bumpier than those of my city. Continue reading
From Ashley, a WEC Trekker in Asia
So, I’m beginning to speak like a baby. It is ridiculously exciting to understand one word in a conversation or recognize a new letter on street signs! Combined with the English I use with my friends, I understand about ten percent of the words I hear each day. Continue reading
By Laura Phillips
La Bella Figura, which loosely translates as “Italians really care about how they look”, really exists. Before I left on my road trip to visit the other team members, I went to buy a warmer coat. The prices for most everything in Florence are really high, so I found a used down jacket at the outdoor market, took it home and washed it. After it dried, I noticed that some of the feathers tended to come out at the seams, but I didn’t think much about it as it was warm. Continue reading
By laura Phillips
Being here neither as a tourist or short-term student is odd. It’s not like I can’t travel, but my priorities are different than many of my fellow students. Most of them are here for a little study and lots of fun. Falling in love with the idea of Italy is easy; the image we see in movies, the large villa set in a sun-drenched sleepy village, the shopping in local stores and leaving with freshly-baked bread as you walk down a narrow street saying “buon giorno” to your neighbors. The reality is, just like everywhere else, you get up, go to work or school, shop in a big store and fight your way through the crowds—and many times feel like an outsider looking in. Continue reading
