Category Stories: Wellness, Health, and Safety
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Living with Social Anxiety Abroad
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I always knew that I was an introverted person, but I did not know that I have social anxiety until the second year of college. I realized that had felt stressed and anxious in almost all social settings: from a theater rehearsal room, a Friday night party, or the cafeteria resounded with American small talks,…
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Why I Decided to Study Abroad in Cuba Despite the Travel Warning
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When I first considered my options for study abroad programs, the idea of living in Havana, Cuba for a semester was exciting but slightly nerve-racking. Would the already stressful process of studying abroad be harder with less access to communication back home? How would the tense and constantly-shifting relationship between the United States and Cuba…
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What鈥檚 It Like Being Queer in London?
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What is the experience of being queer abroad like? It鈥檚 about understanding the nuances of your sexual identity and finding a community for yourself. This is what I learned from my friend Julianna, a junior from Wesleyan University studying at Queen Mary, University of London. In the busy coffee shop on Queen Mary鈥檚 campus we talked…
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Engaging in Uncomfortable Discussions about Race
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In London, I鈥檝e experienced similar challenges with micro-aggressions (aka 鈥渃asual racism鈥) as I have in the U.S. Like the United States, the UK has its own set of racial tensions that inhabit college campuses and the greater London community. In the conversations that I have had with other students of color, similar sentiments about the…
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Facing Disabilities Abroad: A Few Steps
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In high school, I decided that I was going to study abroad. Besides Canada, I had never traveled outside of the United States, so I was determined to make it happen in college. I picked a college that prided itself on their study abroad experience and organized my graduation and major requirements to work with…
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Coming Out: The Abroad Edition
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I have always felt uncomfortable about the phrase 鈥渃oming out鈥 because of the inherent implication about there being a 鈥渘ormal鈥 or 鈥渟tandard鈥 sexuality, while others are regarded as 鈥渙ther鈥 or 鈥渟trange.鈥 This past summer, I had to wrestle with this concept. I spent a lot of time thinking about my own sexuality. After many conversations…
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The Invisible Identity Survival Guide
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There鈥檚 always a lot on students鈥 minds when studying abroad, from general worries to specific.I want to keep in touch with family鈥ut will people judge me if my calls home are in Spanish?I鈥檓 worried about getting lost鈥hat happens if I have a sensory meltdown?I hope I make friends here鈥 but what if they ask me…
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Coping with Recent Media Attention to Sexual Assault, and other Title IX Issues Abroad
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Please note: While this story was written by a student studying in London and offer London-specific resources at the end, the content is relevant for all students, regardless of program location.Recently I have noticed a lot of media attention to issues related to sexual harassment. Each time I visit a social media platform, I see…
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Coping with Recent Terrorist Threats in the U.K.
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This summer, I began to grow nervous about my decision to study abroad in the U.K. A few terrorist attacks occurred at the beginning of the summer, and I was worried I made the wrong choice. Three days after I arrived, there was another attack on the tube at Parson鈥檚 Green. While normally at home…
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Cell Phones in the U.K. : A Beginner’s Guide
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IFSA-Butler has a new policy that students must have a cell phone which can send and receive local calls and texts while they are abroad, because it is important to be able to reach them in case of emergency. In the U.K., there are a few options for this. Different plans work for different people,…
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