Going home

OK so I have to admit that I haven't done a great job of blogging while in BA. I apologize to all those eager readers out there.
Well...it's my last day in BA. My plane leaves at 11pm tonight. It seems unreal that I have been away from home for four months already. As I reflect on my time here in BA there have been so many great memories...so many new experiences. It has been a really intense semester-academically, emotionally, physically. I'm sure I will look back at this semester in a few months and realize how much I've grown.
There are so many things I am going to miss about BA: flagging down the 132 bus each morning, paying 90 centavos for a ride, watching passengers cross themselves when we drive past a church, hearing castellano every day, seeing portenos relaxing at the park, the many outdoor cafes, seeing Christmas decorations in a bathing suit boutique, eating dulce de leche with my toast each morning, going out till 5am on weekends, and so much more.
What I won't miss is smelling smoke at restaurants, clubs, bars, seeing couples make out excessively on street corners, and stepping in dog poop. But who knows...maybe in a few weeks those are the things I'll remember about BA. :)
Last night the group presented our final presentation to the faculty. I think it went really well. After the presentation was finished I realized how much we have learned this semester. I was really impressed by all my classmates, and really proud of the group as a whole.
I'm not really sure what to expect when I go home tomorrow. I hope to keep in touch with my friends from IHP, especially if I have difficulty dealing with the reentry process. I have a feeling I will be overwhelmed by the holiday craziness in New York. I don't think I'm ready for the cold weather. I've been wearing flip flops and tank tops for 8 months straight. It's gonna be a difficult transition to start wearing hats, gloves, scarves, coats, and boots all of a sudden.
I'm excited to see friends and family this weekend. I have a lot of catching up to do. I still haven't quite figured out how I'm gonna share my stories with them. I know people will ask "How was your trip? Was it amazing? What was the best/worst part?" I'm not sure if I'm ready to answer all those questions. To be honest, the past semester has been more than just a trip..it's been a pretty life-altering experience. I've gained so many new perspectives and I'm leaving with so many new questions. I think the most difficult part about studying abroad is what to do when I go back home. I guess I'll just have to wait and see.

Buenos Aires: Week 2 and 3

Things I need to write about when I have a chance:
Tango night
La Plata
Weekend at Ranch-gauchos, rural school
San Isidro neighborhood day
Plaza de Mayo
Riding public transportation
Nightlife and eating out
Plans for Thanksgiving
Retiro, Puerto Madero, La Boca

Pictures from Vacation and Kruger National Park

Elephant blocking traffic

Swaziland´s rolling hills

Herd of elephants

Warthogs at the lodge

Zebras next to my room

View from top of Table Mountain

Giraffe in Kruger Park

Me and my mom in Cape Town' sunset cruise

Buenos Aires: Week 1

Hola! I am now in Buenos Aires. I just moved into my new homestay family and I am so happy. I am living with a 21 year old sister, 13 year old brother, mother, and 5 other foreign students from the U.S. and Holland. It´s an international mad house.

The weather here is lovely. It is spring time but unusually hot. I am excited to go out and see the beautiful city. I am practicing my spanish daily so hopefully it improves by the time i leave in a month.

I just returned from a week vacation with my mom in Kruger Park. We spent 4 nights in a lodge in marloth park. We met a lot of interesting people from France, Germany, Italy, and Belgium. It was really nice and relaxing. It was amazing to be so close to nature and to see so many wild animals in their natural habitat. We were lucky enough to see the famous big 5-buffalo, rhinos, lions, leopards, and elephants. We even got to see giraffe, hippos, wild dogs, zebras, kudu, bushbabies, and more more. I even got to feed zebra and kudu from my own hands!!! I will be sure to put up pictures soon. We spent two days on a safari in an open vehicle (just like the movies) and then a whole day driving to Swaziland, a neighboring country. We saw the rolling hills and beautiful scenery as we drove all across the country. It was wonderful.

I was lucky enough to here the good news about the election while at Kruger Park. I was so surprised to see the emotional reactions by people in SA. Even when I went to swaziland the man at the immigration desk congratulated me on obama´s victory. the election has a tremendous impact on my status as an american traveler. I will keep you updated on people´s reactions but so far it seems to be overwhelmingly positive in the international community. People are very excited and hopeful to see what happens next.

I will try to keep you updated while I am in BA. I am having a great time so far. Tomorrow is the first day of our classes here. Hope all is well in NYC. Please feel free to leave comments!

Cape Town: Week 4

This will be my last post from Cape Town. Tomorrow is the start of my weeklong vacation. My mom is flying in tonight so we can travel together. We plan to go to Kruger Park near Johannesburg to do a safari for a week. I am so excited to see her. After everything I have been through in the last two months it will be great to see a familiar face .
The last few weeks have been so amazing. I have experienced such a mix of emotions: excited, enthusiastic, happy, depressed, frustrated, angry, helpless, empowered, and confused. Cape Town is an amazing place with a history of inequality, poverty, reconciliation, change, growth and uncertainty. It isn't a place that is easy to convey in words. I have met some amazing people from extremely diverse backgrounds who are so open to communication and dialogue. At the same time, I have encountered a lot of racism, hate, violence and anger during my time here. These are the things that are hardest to deal with. It is very difficult to encounter poverty, illness (HIV/AIDS, TB), and violence at such a personal level with people who suffer each day. But out of these encounters i have been inspired by people's courage, strength and resilience. Being in Cape Town has opened my eyes to a new world of possibilities where people can rise out of amazing struggles and grow. I hope I can bring the inspiration and hope I have witnessed here with me when I return home.
I am sad to be leaving the Bo-Kaap because I have grown so close to my family. I will miss my host sister so much. I can't image what it will be like to say bye to everyone who I have grown so close to and who have been so supportive of me the past few weeks. I am dreading the good byes but at the same time I am relieved to be starting my vacation. After next week I will be on a plane yet again to go to Buenos Aires. I wonder what adventures await me there.
This is a bittersweet good bye to Cape Town. I have had so many amazing memories: the food, shopping, weather, beaches, mountains, children, friends and family. It will be hard to say bye but I know I will be back again some time. Sorry for being so sappy but I am realizing that the first half of my semester is over. I am starting a new chapter after today. I hope you have enjoyed reading my blog so far. I will try to put up more pictures (especially of the safari) when I return.
Take care!! keep reading!!

Cape Town Photos

sea point, cape town (near the hostel, day 1)






host brother, cousin, mom, dad at the waterfront on our way to robben island




beautiful mountains






u.s. consulate in cape town. I cast my first presidential vote!

Cape Town: Week 3

It is already halfway into the semester. I don't know where the time has gone. I am starting to feel the stress of deadlines. I have so much I have to do by the time I get back in December. I am trying not to let the stress of school work and fellowships distract me from my experiences here. I am really enjoying my homestay and the city as a whole. I just need to manage my time well.
I went to a Sami Yussef concert with my host sister and Corrine last night. It was great. Quite a unique experience. He is a Muslim singer who is world famous for his religious music. The entire stadium (with thousands of people) was full of mostly Muslims. Corrine and I stood out to say the least. He is really talented. I am glad I had a chance to share the experience with my host sister.
Tomorrow is Robben Island. I hope it doesn't rain.

South Africa: Week 1 and 2

Cape Town is amazing! I am living in Langa, a township outside of the city with an amazing family. My roommate is Lexi from Wesleyan. We get along so well with our family. We live with our host mother, father and their grandson, Kangelani. Our parents are retired so they stay at home and run errands all day.
Our classroom is at the community center, Guga Sthebe. People in Langa are very friendly and open to conversation. We are trying to practice our Xhosa but the clicks are very hard for us. Of course, we all stick out a lot but no one really makes us feel uncomfortable. I have been taking really great pictures lately, which i hope to upload soon. I have been really lucky so far because I spent a lot of time with my friends in Cape Town, who I know from Face to Face camp.
Last week we stayed at Seapoint in CT (Cape Town) in a hostel for two nights before moving in to our home stays. During the day I went to the waterfront to go to the shopping mall and enjoy the beautiful scenery. Table Mountain can be seen from practically anywhere in Cape Town. On Sunday, I met up with my friend Orli and she drove me around the mountain. We had lunch at a cute little place off the beach where we had fish and chips. Then we got ice cream and walked around the beach for a while.
On Sunday evening Lexi and I moved into our homestay. We were so tired that we ate a delicious meal and went to be before 9pm. The food here is great-a lot like American Southern food.
From Monday to Friday we had classes, guest lecturers, films, a music and drumming session, and discussions. We have been focusing a lot on South Africa's history of apartheid, racial relations, urbanization, sustainable development, recent xenophobic attacks, and national politics. It is an interesting time to be in SA because of the president just stepped down and the ANC political party is splitting. The currency (Rand) has dropped significantly in the one week we have been here so for Americans it's good but many SA are suffering. I have learned so much about race and politics during the last week-especially outside the classroom. So many people are knowledgeable about politics and willing to engage me in conversation. I have random convos on the street with people about race, poverty and politics. It's pretty amazing.
This weekend, I slept over at Orli's house and celebrated Shabbat with her family. I had time to meet up with friends at night and made our way to Long Street to check out the night life.
On Saturday, Orli and I went to Kirstenbosch botanical garden and had a nice leisurely day. We packed a picnic and took a nap in the sun. Then at night our family threw a braai (BBQ) for our friends and family. The house was full of great food, lots of kids running around, dancing, conversation and laughter. It was so much fun!
Yesterday Lexi and I took our parents to the waterfront to go to Robben Island but unfortunately, we missed the boat. So we rescheduled for next Sunday. We spent the day with our parents, Kangelani (6yrs) and his 2 year old cousin. Lexi and I were exhausted from babysitting!
Today, after class Lexi and I went grocery shopping. We are cooking dinner for our family tonight- pasta and chicken p. I hope it turns out well.
I am missing my friends and family very much! But I am also having a wonderful time here. The weather is great (70 degrees) and the city is just beautiful!!!! I can't wait until my mom comes to visit me during my vacation on October 30th.
I hope everyone is doing well at home. Good luck on midterms to all of you!

As requsted...more photos

The family at the BBQ
Relaxing on the rooftop
Group picture of IHP Students from wedding
Enjoying the view from the top of the mountain.
My neighborhood at sunset.

Meg and I at the farewell dinner party.
Nick, Benito, Me, Kate
Meg, Anjali, Corrine, Abbie in our sarees

Week 4.5: Farewell India

So already it is my last day in Bangalore. I leave with the group at 9pm tonight. We are flying on Emirates to Dubai at 4am and then to Capetown.

I can't believe it's already been a month. I have learned so much, met so many new people and found out so many things about myself in such a short amount of time. As I get ready to leave I am a little overwhelmed by all the things I have to do and all of the thoughts and emotions that rush through me. I am starting to think about my senior thesis and how I will incorporate my abroad experiences into it, which classes I want to register for next semester, fellowships and jobs I want to apply to, essays to write, postcards to send to friends and family, souveneirs to buy, things to pack, people to call in South Africa, etc. My brain feels so cloudy with things I need to worry about in the coming weeks. Hopefully, I will get everything done in time with very little stress.

Enough about my worries. Here are some updates on what I've done for the past week or so.

Last week we went on an overnight field visit to Navadarshanam, an alternative community living outside the city. It is a community of 7 families that have decided to live sustainable lives--growing their own food, producing their own energy through solar, wind and biogas power, building eco friendly homes, and conserving as much as possible. It was an incredible visit. We stayed in beautiful houses in the middle of the forest. We ate delicious organic food and took a morning hike. It was great being able to escape the chaos of the city for a little while.

Also this week we presented our case studies to the class. My group-waste management, focused on what we learned about recycling, segregating waste, how to treat hazardous waste, and government policies addressing the problem. I learned that each day Bangalore produces 3000 tons of garbage! It was very interesting learning about waste management and how urban garbage negatively impacts rural farmlands.

For Politics and Development, my group conducted a debate on approaches to counter-terrorism in India. Given recent bombings and other tragic events, this issue seemed important to discuss. We presented arguments about how the government should respond to the attacks- allocate resources to intelligence and security or tackle some of the roots of the problem ie: marginalized Muslim communities? It was a fascinating topic and I learned a lot about the complexities of national security and political interests.

So overall, it was an academically rigorous and exhausting week. Thankfully, on the weekend I had a chance to relax and unwind. I visited the Bannerghatta National Park and went on a safari where I saw lions, tigers, bears, and more. I rode an elephant too!!! It was amazing to be so close to these animals. Then, the next day our host family threw a bbq party on our roof. We invited the whole family-cousins, aunts, uncles and close friends. It was wonderful- full of Bollywood dancing, delicious food, lots of pictures and laughing. I am really going to miss my host family. I think I was so lucky that I had such a caring, open minded, loving, and funny homestay. I will definitely try to visit them again in the near future. My host parents joke that when I get engaged I have to bring my fiance back to India for their approval. I think it is so sweet of them to say such things because it makes Meg and I feel like their real daughters. I can't imagine what my next host families will be like in South Africa. I guess I will have to wait and see.

Ok, well I guess you will hear from me again when I get to Capetown! Thanks for reading!

India- Week 3

Professor Gross wrote me this email and posed some really interesting questions I wanted to reflect on and share.

Dear Jessica,

Just finished reading your blog and it sounds as though you are experiencing India in many real ways! The power outages are a common phenomenon across the larger urban centers (so get used to it). The bombing are also, unfortunately an increasingly common phenomenon, due to the ongoing religious and political tensions within and between India and neighbors (though I believe Bangalore has for the most part remained unscathed). Wondering what you think of the contrasts and extremes in this amazing country. Bangalore as the center of India's booming IT sector is growing in leaps and bounds, and yet their remains incredible poverty alongside. I have always been struck by Thomas Friedman's assertion that "The World is Flat" -- but am led to question this when exploring cities such as the ones you are visiting -- is the world really "flat"?

On a side note, you indicated in your blog that you were about to explore public transportation... to get you from your host to classes every day...

I am curious to hear your experiences and thoughts on all of the above, as you continue along on this wonderful adventure!

Best wishes,
Prof. Jill Gross

So since I've been here the one reoccuring theme that I've noticed is the startling contrasts. Bangalore is known as the IT hub in India and so many up and coming companies are based in Bangalore. But at the same time, I live in a house that uses as little electricity as possible, I don't have access to the Internet everyday, the power goes out frequently and so many people don't have access to technology. We studied the IT sector for my class and we discussed how it has changed urban life in B. I think it's interesting that there are such polar views on the IT boom: some think it's done amazing things for the economy and for Bangalore's image but others think that the IT sector is to blame for all the waste, pollution and marginalization of people. I've done some readings, gone on field trips to Electronic City and talked to a lot of people and it's amazing what a big discussion it is. Even for example, last night I went out to dinner and drinks with our host parents' nephew (aka our host cousin) and almost all of his 20-something year old friends work at Dell, Infosys or another IT company.

As far as the bombings, in my Politics and Development class we are conducting debates in groups about issues that are important to Bangalore. Our group will be debating the role of the government (national and local) in addressing the terrorist attacks. We will talk about individual rights, grassroots organizing and investment in intelligence. I hope to learn more about how people here feel about the govt's reaction to the bombings.

Finally, public transportation. BIG SIGH. hehe. Well the bus at 8am every morning is quite and experience. I can only describe it as similar to rush hour on the 6 train in NYC. It is absolutely PACKED with people. If you dont jump on quickly enough the driver will leave you. Women sit in the front and men sit in the back, which actually makes me feel more comfortable, especially when we are packed in like sardines! There is a ticket man who distributes tickets. Meg and I get cheated out of 1 or 2 extra rupees once in a while. Traffic is crazy here. It flows like sidewalk traffic-there are no rules except dont run into anyone else. Currently, B is building a metro that will be both underground and above ground. It is a contentious issue because it will displace many residents and shopkeepers.

Aside from all that I am experiencing, I do miss NYC a lot. I am getting accustomed to the city and feel more and more comfortable in it. I can't believe I will be leaving in two weeks! Time goes by so quickly.

This week we will be presenting on our contemporary issues: mine is waste management. I have learned a lot about governance, corruption, environmental justice, and much more. I will share more once I have finished my research.

Thanks for reading as always! I will post more personal stories next time.

Our hut in Pondicherry

India week 2

Wow. so much to write about. i am at an internet cafe now and some of the keys dont work so please dont mind the spelling and grammar.

this weekend a group of 22 students went to Pondicherry, a former french colony. we drove 6 hours from bangalore and stayed in tiny huts on the beach. i stayed in a room with 3 other people and slept on a small mattress meant for 2 people. we arrived at pondi at 1am and got settled in and went right to bed. then on saturday we spent the entire day on the beach, getting sunburned, riding waves and laying around. after lunch i went with a small group of girls into town and visited museums and galleries. we went to one historic museum with artifacts and sculptures and one modern art gallery. at the gallery we saw a photo exhibit on the beijing olympics. the photographer was there so we met him. he invited us to tour the guest rooms and the view of the ocean. the view was breathtaking! it looked like greece or paris.

at night we all went to dinner and drinks- all 22 people! we had french food and enjoyed each others' company. at night we were invited to a party near our hotel by some indian locals. after the party i went down to the beach (i had to hop a fence) and laid out under the stars for a while. the weather was gorgeous at night...breezy but still warm.

the next day, unfortunately, there was news that bombs went off in delhi. our host parents and facutly were worried about us being far from home so we ended our trip early. we returned to bangalore by 9pm and had dinner with our host parents at the cafe.

meg and i went to bed so early because we were exhausted from our trip.

on monday we visited two agencies that work with children's rights. i went to the concerned for working children (CWC) an organization that empowers children to represent themlesves. they work with policy and advocate for fair representation of children's voices in government. they work with the UN and other intl NGOs that help protect against child abuse at home and work. they were an amazing place to visit.

today instead of our anthro class we went to the high courts (supreme court of kanartaka) to witness what hearings are like. the security was tight due to the recent terrorist attacks but we managed to get in. it was a beautiful courthouse with lush green gardens.

tonight i will go to the theatre to see a show "the magic drum". i must go because it starts soon.

sorry to be so abrupt but that's all i can say for now. i will try to upload pictures :)

India Week 2- Sunday

I am exhausted to I will have to keep this short.

This weekend we attended a wedding. It was wonderful. We went to the mehendi party where the bride's friends get henna and bangles. There was lots of dancing and eating. Everyone looked beautiful in their Indian clothing. All my classmates and I got dressed up as well.

Today was the wedding ceremony. My friends and I wore beautiful sarees that we borrowed from our host mothers. I will try to post pictures when I get to an internet cafe later this week! The ceremony was lovely. It was a celebration of two families getting together. There were hundreds of people who attended. I really learned a lot about the culture of marriage in India. It's inspired me to have an Indian-themed wedding or bridal shower when I get married :) I am missing home a lot but I am also growing more comfortable with my homestay.
Tomorrow I have class at 9am and then in the afternoon we will take a trip to the IT sector. We will learn about how the IT sector has affected urban life in Bangalore. We will hear from policy makers, economists and academics.
I am glad that people are commenting on the blog. It shows me that people are actually reading it. I apologize for not writing more frequently. It's not so easy to access the internet. I will check my email once a week so feel free to write to me!

I hope everyhing in NY is well. I heard there is a hurricane on its way. I hope it's nothing too serious. Please keep me informed. Thinking of you all!!!

write me letter while I am in India!

Jessica Lee
Environment Support Group
105 East End B Main Road,
Jayanagar 9th Block East,
Bangalore-69, India

India Week 1- Tuesday

At last! I have stepped foot on Indian soil. I arrived on Sunday morning at 4am into Bangalore Intl Airport. It's been nonstop since then. The group is definitely exhausted! For the first day and night we stayed at a hostel in the center of the city. As soon as I got to my room I took a cold shower from a bucket (very refreshing and old school). Then we ate breakfast and a group of us went for a walk. The streets of Bangalore are hectic! Being from NYC I thought I could handle it but it's nothing like Manhattan. There are thousands of distractions at once-- honking horns, speeding cars, swirving scooters, pedestrians, stray dogs, potholes, debris, garbage, and more! It's pretty dangerous walking around if you dont pay attention. Luckily, no one got hurt. We all walked around and found a Sikh temple. We were lucky because we met a Sikh man who has lived in the US for 25 years and took the time to explain the religion to us and show us around. We sat with him and hundreds of other people after the service and ate lunch and drank tea. It was wonderful.

Afterwards, we had lunch at the hostel and slept for hours. I woke up in time for dinner and did some reading. It was difficult for me to go to sleep because of jet lag but I managed to get a few hours.

The next day I wasn't feeling so well because of the lack of sleep and my body wasn't used to the new environment. I stayed in bed and rested. People around me took such good care of me so I was fine. I woke up for lunch and got ready to go to my homestay family.

I am now rooming with Meg, a girl from Westchester who goes to Wake Forest. I am glad to be with her because she seems very easy going. I think our personalities match nicely :) We are staying in a family with a married couple, a grandmother, and uncle. We call our host parents Uncle Sudhi and Aunti Anju. They are so nice and accomodating. He works for an engineering company and she owns a cafe at a theatre near our classroom. Their son, Rohit, works in Delhi training in the restaurant/hotel business. We live in a small village-type community in the south of Bangalore where it is very quiet. We are about a 20 min drive from our classes. Starting Thursday Meg and I will have to learn to walk to and ride the bus to school. EEk.

Today we slept in late, had breakfast, walked around, bought a cell phone and toured around the cafe area. We met up with Jamie and Laura from IHP, who are staying with Anju's sister nearby. It was nice to have dinner with them at the cafe. The food in India is so good!

Tomorrow is the Ganesha festival. Meg, Anju and I will join Anju's sister at her house. It is supposed to be a lively festival that celebrates the elephant god, Ganesha, the god of wisdom and remover of obstacles. I am really exicted to see what the festival is like.

AHH the power just went off. Since I've been here the last few days the power has gone off several times each night. Because Bangalore is such a populated city it uses a lot of power and occassionally there is an overload. Thank goodness my entry saved before the computer shut off.

Overall, I am enjoying my time here. I am just trying to take it all in and come to the realization that I am actually in INDIA. I am focused on taking care of my health and appreciating every moment. Classes start on Thursday so I will try to write more when I can.

Please stay in touch and write to me. Leave comments. Email me. Or call. My India cell phone # is 961-143-7500 ( i dont know the country code). I will try to send postcards asap (if i have your address).

Hope NYC is doing well without me! Miss you all.

NYC Week 2

I am exhausted. We've been sitting in classrooms for entire days talking about urban issues and doing group presentations. I am glad that starting tomorrow we will be out exploring the city. We will go on group neighborhood tours tomorrow, explore Battery Park on Wed, and the UN on Thurs. I can't believe we are off to India on Friday evening. 

I have been keeping a personal journal, which helps me collect my emotions and personal thoughts. But I hope that keeping this blog will help me stay connected to all of you. Feel free to post comments. I'd love to hear what you think. 

We have an Alumni dinner tonight so I will have to get ready. We have a couple of readings to finish for tomorrow and our first mapping assignment due. We had to walk around the neighborhood of Morningside Heights and map out the physical and social characteristics and networks. 

I feel myself getting exhausted and burned out already. This is a sign that I need to slow down and take some rest. I hope to write again soon before I leave to Bangalore. Have a great week!

NYC Week 1

It is day 3 in NYC with the group. We have been in class ALL day from 8am to 5pm each day busy with orientation and classes. Today after classes we walked SIX miles from the upper west side to Leonia, NJ!!! We walked through Riverside Park, through Washington Heights, across the GW Bridge and then another few miles in dirty Jersey (haha). It was an amazing walk. Beautiful weather. Gorgeous view. Extremely tiring. We ended at the house of an elderly couple who were the first coordinators of the Cities of the 21st Century program (which I am doing this semester). They were such hospitable guests. We had a BBQ in their backyard and it was delicious. 

I am excited that the next few weeks will be full of field trips, site visits, discussions and personal reflection. I will include more details about our itinerary as soon as I can. We have one more week in NYC. Then on Friday August 29th we leave to India!

Tomorrow...we will go in groups to visit separate agencies and learn about their work. I will be going to Center for Economic Opportunity (CEO). I am very excited to learn about this organization and do some research on their work. 

Thanks for reading! Hope you continue to keep up!

Postcards

If you are interested, please post a comment with your mailing address (or email me at jessica.ylee@yahoo.com) so that I am able to send you postcards if I get the chance.
Also, if you ask me to I can email you my mailing addresses so you can send letters and postcards my way! I love mail :)

Only one more day left until the program begins...

My Itinerary

International Honors Program
Cities in the 21st Century, Fall 2008
Week-by-Week Abbreviated Itinerary

16½ weeks: 15½ weeks programming plus 1 week vacation

New York, NY
August 19-August 29
(1.5 WEEKS)

Bangalore, India
August 31-October 3
(5 WEEKS)

Capetown, South Africa
October 3-November 7
(5 WEEKS: 4 Weeks + 1 Week Vacation)

Buenos Aires, Argentina
November 7- December 12
(5 WEEKS: 4 Weeks + 1 Week Conclusion)

USA
December 13
Depart from Buenos Aires as a group and arrive in Houston, TX the morning of Saturday.

Welcome!

Hello everyone! Welcome to my traveler's blog. As you know, I will be traveling around the world during the fall semester. During the four months I am studying abroad I will be keeping an online blog to keep you all up to date with my adventures. I will start in India, then go to South Africa and finally to Argentina. I hope you enjoy reading. Feel free to leave comments and posts!

Sincerely,
Jessica