Chan

[gffa]

Star Wars - Rogue One Adaptation covers

[gffa]

Star Wars Illustrations by Phil Noto

[yiqing]

"Who am I? Do you mean where I'm from? What I one day might become? What I do? What I've done? What I dream? Do you mean ... what you see or what I've seen? What I fear or what I dream? Do you mean who I love? Do you mean who I've lost? Who am I? I guess who I am is exactly the same as who you are. Not better than, not less than. Because there is no one who has been or will ever be exactly the same as either you or me." - Sense8

Sense8, Who am I?

[globalugrad]

Han Shang, University of the Ozarks

It was the moment that I arrived at the University of the Ozarks. I was really surprised because everyone here welcomed me and treated me like their family member with a great smile and sweet words. It was the time that I started to feel the love of the Ozarks.

[globalugrad]

May Myat Noe. Minnesota State University Mankato

I keep playing video games and watching movies all the way to Minnesota State University Mankato.I have to wait the bus shuttle for 4hr to travel from the airport to Minnesota State University Mankato. But luckily I met two other Ugraders while waiting for the bus. This trip is the most memorable trip ever.

[globalugrad]

May Myat Noe (Burma), Minnesota State University Mankato 

Siti, Lourdes and me at Hubbard House Museum backyard. 

[globalugrad]

Xin Zhao (China), Maryville College.

I’m doing community service here in Public Library, it is so fun! I shelve books and help with children’s program. I can also read when I shelve the books, which I think is really good, and I’m shelving my favorite book catalogue-fiction.

[globalugrad]

Luis Hernández (Venezuela) - Humboldt State University

True friendship knows no distance. From Venezuela, Mozambique and Indonesia.

Let’s celebrate diversity that enriches our lives!

[globalugrad]

Yitzel Estela

Greetings from the University of the Incarnate Word (UIW) at San Antonio, TX! 

In two days it’ll mean I’ve been here for two months, and I can’t be more grateful to everyone that made this possible. I’ve made awesome friends, met people from around the globe, laughed and screamed and painted and played and had the best of times here. Texas is a place not only with a warm weather, but also with warm people: kind, lovely and polite people. I thank Texans so much for stopping me in the hallways just to tell me I’m pretty (my self-esteem needed it!), my UIW Int'l Ambassadors for showing me the beauty of this place and both God and World Learning for letting me be here. I sat in the biggest chair ever! I drank my first PSL. I ate LOTS of food. I learned korean, poetry writing, the history of US presidency, and the complexity of genders in my classes with wonderful teachers.

I’m definitely having a great time. Thank you, World Learning!!

[globalugrad]

Moris Deri (Malaysia), University of Minnesota- Twin Cities

Spent an afternoon on the banks of Mississippi (I actually spelled that right, yay me!) overlooking the majestic Saint Anthony Falls volunteering with the Mill Ruins Park Rangers to remove an invasive herb species called crown vetch. Made new friends along the way as I savored the beautiful scenery along the arched bridge. I love Minnesota already, all of you should come visit this state!

[globalugrad]

Martina Dimoska (Macedonia), Kent State College

A Challenge with a twist!  We had an amazing time at the Homecoming supporting our girlfriend Myrna and Honduras! It was lovely listening her talk about her culture, explain, feed us with traditional food and preform in her traditional dress! We felt so proud!  Every country had a booth showcasing the amazing stuff from their history, language and culture accompanied with small workshops. It was so overwhelming and I felt so connected! What a fascinating way to explore new cultures! My soul was exploding from joy! I was smiling on every photo!  Anyhow, this post is purposely done because of the challenge. And the twist is the girl love motive. I intentionally took photos of the UGRAD girls at Kent State University because I wanted to emphasize our girl love culture we developed here. Girl love in some parts of life while communicating with people with a rather different sanity or mindset than yours can be quite challenging. So the first week when we arrived here we made a pledge: Although we are different, different is beautiful. Different is you. We support and love our differences. We are there for each other. To reach out through the pain and the suffering. To hug the worst parts out and to laugh at the best ones. To spread girl love and empowerment. So spread the girl love!  We ended this promise with the signature hug and our favorite thing to say:  Sisters forever, never apart,  maybe in distance, but never in heart <3 

[globalugrad]

Luis Hernández (Venezuela) - Humboldt State University

This is my first time experiencing Halloween in the U.S. so I wanted to do it properly. Pumpkin Patch + Pumpkin carving today made feel like in the movies. I can only say how thankful I am that I have the opportunity to go on adventures every single day. What I am living here is just precious.

[globalugrad]

Myrna Landa (Honduras) - Kent State University

Small Acts Changing our Community

Community service is a good way to give back just a few of all the blessings that we get every day. Volunteering allows me to know more about Kent community, institutions and the most important part: people. Knowing that my work helps them to have a better day is priceless. Volunteering also makes me aware of my skills and expands my perceptions about life. During this time I helped with activities such as cooking, packing food, planting trees, sorting clothes, delivering food for others and spending time with ladies from a retirement village. The experience was amazing and motivated me to keep helping.

“We make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give” -Churchill

[globalugrad]

Luis Hernández (Venezuela) - Humboldt State University

Today, I found snow in California! You can’t imagine my happiness when I saw this place full of snow. It was my first time building a snowman and being part of a snowball fight. What can I say? Dreams do come true! 

[globalugrad]

Christine Grace Catindig (Philippines), Utica College

It felt like a movie. That’s how I could best describe my experience of seeing snow for the first time. 

I’m from the Philippines, which is a tropical country. And so, whenever the temperature reaches 44-48°F there, people get SO shocked by the sudden cold breeze and crisp weather they get to experience. That said, I did not know how cold New York could actually get ‘til snow finally fell from the perfectly uninterrupted blue sky of Utica. 

Knowing that I have never experienced seeing snow before, my friends took it upon themselves to check up on me the first morning this gorgeous thick blanket of white covered Utica College. All my friends and professors were very eager to see my reaction to say the least; and my best friend immediately had his camera ready and asked me if I want pictures with the snow after I finish reviewing for my exams. 

To their resounding question “What do you feel now that you’ve seen snow?!”, I had one answer I phrased differently every time - I felt like I was inside a snow globe. 

Now, perhaps, that answer may not make a lot of sense but, you see, snow is not just snow in the Philippines. It’s a symbol of the American dream. It’s what makes all the American Christmas songs sound so enticing for Filipinos. It’s what makes the theme White Christmas seem so prestigious and wonderful. It’s what businessmen thrive on as they open their winter wonderland-themed stores with fake snow falling from the ceiling to attract people. It’s what my cousin and I, when we were kids, would pretend would be falling from our balcony as we’d crush the styrofoams meant to protect our remote-controlled toy cars inside our parents’ wrapped Christmas presents and take turns in enjoying as one crushes the foam on the balcony while the other one rejoices at the first floor of our Filipino home. 

Words cannot describe how amazing this experience has been. Like what I’ve said a number of times all throughout the program, it’s impossible to be a #GlobalUGrad and not be in awe of the overflowing amount of blessings that come with being an international student. 

Thank you U.S. Dept. of State and World Learning! :) 

#GlobalUGrad16 #Winter #WorldLearning #ExchangeOurWorld #Exchange #ExchangeUSA #InternationalStudent #Fulbright 

[globalugrad]

Christine Grace Catindig (Philippines), Utica College

History, lobster, harbor, and doughnut - these are the things that I will always remember as I look back on my trip to Boston, MA. 

The minute I stepped foot in the U.S. I’ve always felt like there are places where I just felt right at home. Boston is one of them. The narrow streets were just so full of history that I felt like I was a part of even though I am not and, for some reason, I felt like Boston is where a writer can keep on penning to make the world a better place and inspire other artists. It’s a very youthful city and words cannot describe how thankful I am to have seen it. 

Also, seeing the freedom of trail was amazing! I can’t help but wonder how incredible it would be to see all UGrads’ red-lined routes that will lead a person to all the places that have inspired UGrads and made their dreams a reality. 

#GlobalUGrad #WorldLearning #Exchange #ExchangeOurWorld #Scholarship #Fulbright #Travel

[globalugrad]

Fredy Gomez (Panama), Troy University

This is our Troy Spirit! We had a fun time taking this picture!.

Panama—Vietnam—Russia—Myanmar

It is amazing to get to know people from other countries and their way of living, their view of the world and culture. I am so lucky to have three wonderful women sharing with me the US experience. I thankful for them!

#challenge #TroyU #UGRAD

Gooooooo Trojannnnnns

Gooooo Trooyyyyyy!!!