Visiting a Jailau in Kazakhstan
Now, many Kazakhs go to jailau, or summer pastures high in the mountains, for purposes other than pastoralism. This summer, I was lucky enough to follow along.
Memories of Murmansk
Erin, Shayna, Charles, Martin and I decided to celebrate the long weekend by going to Murmansk for an an ice fishing trip. A small city of less than 300,000 residents, Murmansk is home to the northernmost McDonald’s in the world and is the largest city north of the Arctic Circle.
Four Days in Taraz
During my internship this summer, I had the opportunity to visit a smaller town to work with high school students who might apply to U.S. universities. I only had four days in Taraz, but it was an unforgettable experience.
Duality of Kazakhstan
Since my previous blog post about my initial impressions of Almaty, my life has drastically changed. I’ve forged friendships with some of the language partners, mastered public transportation and developed a daily academic routine (although the 6:30am alarm clock has certainly not gotten any easier).
A Day in Tula, Russia
Last Friday I traveled to the city of Tula for a daytrip with other American Councils participants. Because Tula is about a three-hour bus ride from Moscow, we had to leave super early in the morning.
Kazbegi and Khinkali: Places to visit and things to eat in Georgia
From traditional dance concerts to live music on the streets, Tbilisi is a hub for social activity. However, if you are like me – someone who absolutely adores nature and hiking – this country will not fail to provide you with ample opportunities to explore the terrain.
Dan Davidson Fellowship Essay: Darius Carter
This story was originally shared on February 4, 2020. In many ways, the Tradition and Modernity in Taiwan study abroad experience was transformative. The program provided insight into a culture of which I previously had no exposure apart from secondhand, anecdotal information received from my Chinese teacher and videos online. Captivated by the Mandarin language […]
Dan Davidson Fellowship Essay: Mikhala Gittens
This story was originally shared on February 5, 2020. This summer, while in Tainan, I spent a lot of my time at church. I attended the Mandarin language services and when I wanted to do homework, I would sit in the cafe owned by the church. This was a good experience for me because it […]
Dan Davidson Fellowship Essay: Genevieve Madigan
This story was originally shared on February 7, 2020. During the summer of 2019, I had the privilege of studying at National Chengchi University in Taipei, Taiwan through the American Councils Tradition and Modernity in Taiwan program. This month-long program focused on the history, culture, and politics of Taiwan. While my time spent there was […]
Gardens of Dushanbe
The closeness to nature that is experienced throughout Tajikistan is also reflected in the multitude of gardens that the capital, Dushanbe, contains. Many of them originate from the Soviet era, but the Tajik government has also clearly placed a lot of effort in constructing new ones, especially those surrounding the Nowruz Palace.