The last late summer blackberries were still clinging to the roadside brambles when I arrived in Oxford this September. Apple season has come and gone; I’ve planted bulbs that I’ll only see blooming through a computer screen. My first week in the city felt like three months of summer heat arriving all at once, but […]
Month: December 2023
Final Reflections
My experience this semester can be likened to a bus ride. Before coming to Belgrade, I had almost no experience navigating public transit independently, having grown up in suburban Massachusetts, where public transportation is practically nonexistent. My host family lived in Zemun, an outer district of Belgrade easily accessible by bus but farther than I […]
8(Finale). Capturing Cultural Threads: Reflections on My Semester Abroad and the Unifying Power of Art
As the end of my semester abroad draws near, I find myself reflecting on the incredible journey of the semester. The multitude of perspectives I’ve encountered has woven a rich tapestry of learning—about the world and about myself. From savoring new cuisines to navigating unfamiliar languages and customs, each experience has contributed to my personal […]
7. Navigating the Environment: Initiatives in Seoul, South Korea
In recent times, the global discourse on environmental sustainability has gained momentum, prompting individuals and nations to reflect on their roles in combating climate change. Seoul, the bustling capital of South Korea, is no exception to this growing awareness. Legislation and Government Initiatives: South Korea has been actively shaping its environmental policies to align with […]
7: A Long Way from the Industrial Revolution
Paper straws tend to dissolve on me before I’m even halfway through a drink, but as England banned single-use plastic straws and drink stirrers in 2020, they seem to be here to stay. Several laws have been passed in England to target plastic pollution, from the straw ban to a minimum 10-pence levy on single-use […]
6: Springtime, in Oil on Canvas
With the Ashmolean Museum just down the street, I never need to go far from campus to be immersed in art. Nature and the environment feature in many of the pieces, from oil paintings of rugged seascapes to delicate botanical watercolors. One of my favorite paintings occupies a wall in the third-floor Pre-Raphaelite gallery. With […]
Sore Throats and Thick Air
This week we were asked to reflect on our carbon footprints- and immediately my mind jumped to the 16+ hours on a commercial jet it took me to get here. I have a friend from Norway in my Agroecology class who is opposed to airline travel from a climate perspective so he t0ok a boat […]
Final Post: Leaving the Sea Behind
Being here in Cyprus has been an unforgettable experience that I will forever be grateful for. I’ve learned so much about the rich history of Cyprus and the cultural heritage that makes Cyprus so special. Something I will carry with me is the enjoyment and passion for the environment; people enjoy sitting outside even in […]
6: The Nation & Climate Change
In my fourth blog post, I wrote about local protests against air pollution in Belgrade. On a national level, another source of protests is the government’s plan to expand mining, specifically lithium mining with the foreign company Rio Tinto. Protesters manages to delay the project in 2022, but the war has not been won yet. […]
5: Ode to the Community Garden
I made a wrong turn on the way to the OxGrow community garden and showed up to the work session with my boots already muddy. After the session, some fellow volunteers kindly showed me the correct route — one that did not involve slogging through two rain-soaked sports fields — but by then, I had […]