During my first week studying abroad in Cape Town, I asked someone for directions to class. They told me, “Just turn right at the robot.” I looked around, completely confused, expecting an actual robot standing on the corner. By the time I realized “robot” means traffic light here, I had walked two blocks in the…
Countries
Keeping Cantonese Alive: At Wes and in the World
By Charlotte Li ’27 歡迎來到我哋嘅家，香港。 Welcome to our home, Hong Kong. As the plane landed, those words in Cantonese filled the cabin, a simple greeting that suddenly felt like a warm embrace. It struck me how long it had been since I’d heard my mother tongue spoken all around me. Living in the United States,…
Crossing Borders: A Story of Survival and Courage
By anonymous The majority of people who are at Wesleyan are there because they have the privilege to be in an elite university. There is also a minority who have the privilege to be at Wesleyan, but they have a different story, and here is the story of one of them. They tried twice to…
Finding Madagascar on Campus: Stories from Less Common Study Abroad Destinations
Although studying abroad gives students a chance to step into a world completely different from their own, Wesleyan students can connect to so many world regions here on campus beyond those that are most commonly visited and studied. Part of the Office for Intercultural Learning’s mission is to increase visibility of all the rich and varied…
My First Ball in the City of Fury
By Ryan Wong ’27 On October 11th, I walked a little over five minutes from my apartment to Maquinal, an underground cultural center that frequently hosts drag shows, balls, and indie rock concerts, to attend the “Into the Mirage” ball hosted by the House of Raksha, a house formed in Buenos Aires in 2022. From…
Call for Applications: Study Abroad in Scotland
The Saint Andrew’s Society of New York is seeking nominations for their scholarship for graduate studies in Scotland. To be eligible to apply, a Wesleyan student must be: (1) a senior, graduating in May 2026, (2) a US citizen, (3) of “some Scottish descent.” Selection criteria include: academic achievement, extracurricular activities, financial need, and clarity…
Calling all STEM Majors: Discover the University of Bristol
by Caroline Mancini Founded in 1876, the University of Bristol is a public research university located in the city of Bristol, England. Around 25% of its students come from abroad, creating a welcoming, global campus community where international students can thrive. The university is renowned for its undergraduate research opportunities in STEM fields, including Physiology,…
Taking a Break: How University Students Rest Around the World
by Zaynah Almasri As we pack our bags for Fall Break—whether heading home, exploring New England, catchingup on sleep, or studying for the remaining midterms—it’s worth taking a look at how collegebreaks unfold around the world. While the rhythm of mid-semester pauses may seem universal,the ways students rest and recharge often reflect deep cultural differences…
Critical Language Scholarship Application is Now OPEN!
The Fries Center for Global Studies is excited to inform you that, the application is now open for the 2026 Critical Language Scholarship Program! The Critical Language Scholarship (CLS) Program is an intensive language and cultural immersion summer study abroad opportunity for American college and university students to learn languages essential to America’s engagement with the world. Students spend eight to ten weeks over the summer studying one…
Anecdote from Abroad
A few weeks after I arrived in Buenos Aires, I found myself really missing food from home. Besides my dad’s cooking, I thought about a specific Chinese takeout store in my city I used to frequent. A few days later, I was looking for a place to get lunch when I stumbled upon a store…