This semester, I am studying abroad in Panama as part of the Ecology and Evolutionary Biology (EEB) department. This program is wonderful in that it is designed specifically for EEB students at Princeton. I don’t have to worry about credits transferring, figuring out travel logistics, and nearly all of my classes count as departmental. However, the best part of this experience is that I am learning what it means to do real scientific research. Our first class, was about tropical ecology. For this class, we went into the rainforest every day and collected data for an independent project that we designed. At first it was quite daunting. How was I going to come up with a project that would be intriguing but also doable in a short time frame? I had never done anything like this before and didn’t have a clue as to where to begin. However, after some guidance from our wonderful professor and TA, I figured things out and came up with a really cool experiment.

For my project, I looked at something called the resource concentration hypothesis. This hypothesis predicts that with greater resource abundance (in my case more flowers on a plant), the greater the rate of insect visitation. To determine if the rainforests in Panama supported this idea, I sat in front of flowers all day and counted the number of insects that visited them. It was long and oftentimes hard (especially when there were bugs crawling all over me), but the occasional monkey and sloth sightings always kept me entertained and in high spirits.

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After collecting data in the field, I went back to the lab and analyzed my results. Compared to other classes at Princeton where I’ve done statistical analysis on data sets professors have provided me, for the first time, I did analysis on my own research. It was really exciting, and it gave me a chance to see how complicated research actually is.

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Since I am considering graduate school after graduating from Princeton, this was a wonderful opportunity to get a taste for what the research life is like. Plus, the hands-on field experience taught me so much more than I ever thought possible in just a few weeks.

Whether biology is your thing or not, Princeton has many great study abroad opportunities. Spending time in a foreign country and doing non-traditional schooling is an incredible opportunity that I believe everyone should take advantage of.

As an English major, pages have always been my portal to faraway lands. This summer, however, the journey was real—having commenced with the stamping of a passport in lieu of the opening of a spine. By transporting me to an island Far, Far Away, Princeton’s International Internship Program placed me in a blank storybook and granted me free reign to write my very own tale (fittingly enough, in a country with no shortage of castles).

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Traveling makes you see the world anew. All at once, you are spiraled into a time warp—simultaneously child and adult, stumbling upon wonder in every nook and cranny yet maturing rapidly by the moment.

During my two months in Ireland, I scaled mountains and sea cliffs only to gaze down upon villages whose populations boasted more sheep than people. I biked to medieval ruins in the pouring rain—speeding past donkeys, cows and horses until the puddles in my sneakers rivaled those on the road beneath me. I swam underneath cliff-side waterfalls, sheep-speckled emerald towering above me as far as the eye could see. Every weekend, I left behind pieces of myself in landscapes that put the “wild” in Ireland’s Wild Atlantic Way—because what story is complete without a dash of adventure? 

The changes that I noticed in myself last summer were infinite—from the minute to the monumental. My tea intake skyrocketed. I grew more independent than ever before—there was inimitable satisfaction in every supermarket receipt, every “Table for one, please,” every successfully executed solo journey. I was the truest version of myself—more adventurous and connected to nature than ever before. There wasn’t anything that could stop me from shimmying through caves, scaling subterranean waterfalls, or rising with the sun to ascend a 2,500-foot mountain. As a solo traveler, I heeded nothing but my own two feet.

When faced with the prospect of solo travel, many wonder, “What would I do with myself?”

What will you do with yourself?

You will climb mountains. You will wander. You will wonder. You will daydream. You will adventure. You will laugh. You will learn. You will grow—more than you ever imagined possible. You will face the world with perpetually glimmering eyes, an unshakeable skip in your step, and the knowledge that you alone are the author of your life story.

You will not be the same.

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Society oftentimes associates solitude with loneliness. But being alone is anything but lonely. It is freeing. It is calming. It is invigorating, inspiring, profound and unmatched. It gives you the chance to see aspects of the world that you would have missed with others in your periphery. There is something so sacred—so serene—about moments when it is just you, the trees, the sky, and the sea. When you’re alone, every bird’s chirp, rustling branch, crashing wave and fluttering leaf catches your attention. All at once, you realize that some can go their whole life without ever truly listening.

On July 15, I found myself scrambling up the slippery rocks of Killarney National Park’s aptly named Cardiac Hill in the middle of a downpour. Finally, having hoisted myself higher than the pines, I reached the summit. All at once, the rain petered out as the sun filtered through the treetops. I stood there, basking in the double rainbow that arched its way over the park’s valley of verdant green, and not a single word was necessary.

I urge you: At least once in your life, be that party of one alone on the mountaintop.

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As I flew west over the Atlantic at summer’s end, it occurred to me that I hadn’t purchased a single souvenir during my two months in Ireland. I don’t need anything to remember what this summer gifted me.

Because when I look in the mirror, she’s right here.

As I reflect on my experience at Princeton in 2016, I have three short anecdotes that speak to my pride and gratitude for this school ...

This past spring semester, I decided to study abroad at the University of Edinburgh in Scotland. I had a great time, and I wanted to share some photos and tell you a little bit about my time abroad!

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At the University of Edinburgh, I was enrolled in the School of Informatics. For the first time ever, I had not one, but two(!) female Computer Science professors. Prior to studying abroad, I’d never had any female Computer Science professors at Princeton and had never given it much thought. However, it was quite inspiring to have women who were young, smart and clearly passionate about their research as my Computer Science professors. I certainly left Edinburgh with more positive view toward research and academia.

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Speaking of research: Since I’m an A.B. Computer Science major, I have to do independent work every semester during my junior and senior years. For my independent work while I was abroad, I worked with a professor at the University of Edinburgh in Human-Computer Interface (HCI) research. That was exciting academic opportunity for me, for Princeton’s Computer Science department doesn’t have a major research focus on HCI.

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Outside of school, I loved living in the city of Edinburgh – “a lovely place to take a stroll,” as I remember it being described somewhere. All of the architecture seemed so foreign and charming to my American eyes: medieval castles, Gothic churches, Georgian townhouses, cobblestone streets, and cute, colorful coffee shops and pubs, which lined the streets. Walking around Edinburgh was always a visual feast for the eyes.

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My favorite place in Edinburgh was Arthur’s Seat, a former volcano vent (Edinburgh was built on a former volcano!) and mini-mountain in the center of the city. Every Thursday after my last class, I would celebrate the end of the week by hiking up to the top of Arthur’s Seat and admiring the view.

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Beyond Edinburgh, I also got to travel around Europe and visit friends from Princeton and high school who were studying abroad. I not only got to catch up with friends, but I also got a free place to stay and a free tour guide who knew the local language, history and culture. :)

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Aside from visiting friends in Europe, the hallmark of my time abroad was definitely the two weeks I spent backpacking across Scotland. During spring break, my friend Anna and I decided that we would travel to the northwest corner of Scotland, to a small island called Skye, and then walk all the way back to Edinburgh. It was many, many miles of hills, bogs, sheep, rain, wind, and hail, but we came out hardier, saw so much of the country and had an adventure backpacking across Scotland! 

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Overall, I had a fantastic experience and would highly recommend taking the opportunity to study abroad, if given the chance. Adventure, travels, and learning await!

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This past summer I had the unique opportunity to intern at a penguin rehabilitation center in South Africa through Princeton’s international internship program. As crazy as it sounds, I got to medicate, feed, and clean up after African penguins for two months. My days started when I walked into work welcomed by the wonderful aroma of penguins. After getting my assignment for the day, the first job I had was to give the penguins their medications and darrows, which is a mixture of water and electrolytes used to help them regain their strength.

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Then, I let the birds swim while I cleaned their mats. Before working with the penguins, I had always envied firemen since they got to use power hoses, but I can say now that I think I’ve had my fill of spraying penguin poop off mats for quite some time. After finishing cleaning, my next task was to prepare fish. This process involved sticking my hand into an ice-cold bucket of frozen water, trying to collect about 50 fish before my hand became too numb.

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But despite the pain of gathering the fish, feeding was probably the most exciting part of my day. When I went into the pen with my bucket of fish, the little chicks would crowd by my feet, begging me for food, always bringing a smile to my face. I mean, how adorable is it when you have penguins at your feet begging you for food, while you have one in your arms already anxiously awaiting its fish.  After feeding, the rest of my obligations typically consisted of cleaning buckets, syringes, and towels since we went through hundreds of each every day. That part was sometimes dull, but the times I got to play with the penguins definitely made up for it.

The staff also gave me the special opportunity to shadow the veterinarian a few times, assisting in both surgeries and necropsies. Listening to the heartbeat of a penguin (did you know they have incredibly fast heart rates?) was probably one of the greatest moments of the summer. Additionally, I got to assist with fieldwork in a wild penguin colony, where we put microchips into the penguins so that researches can track their migration and feeding patterns. Watching the sunrise from a penguin colony followed by holding baby penguins all afternoon made for the recipe for the perfect day.

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Now that I’m back on campus, my experience with the penguins lives with me every day (and not just because I have the scars on my hands to prove it). My friends call me the penguin girl and with all the posters and photos up in my room I kind of see why. My experience last summer has confirmed my decision to concentrate in EEB and has convinced me that I might want to attend veterinary school after I graduate. As a freshman, I learned very quickly about Princeton’s resources and how eager the university is to send students out into the world to do incredible things. I am already looking forward to this summer’s exotic adventure, wherever that may be.

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My six fellow Bridge Year Brazil participants and I have spent the past seven months living with homestay families in a community in Salvador called Candeal.

In all the heat, Brazilian culture often comes across as hyper hygienic. And while I have adapted to the 2-3 daily shower standard, I just can’t seem to get the dirt from underneath my fingernails. Perhaps because Canteiros Coletivos, the urban gardening organization where I have spent the past several months working, has left an indelible mark on not only Salvador but also on myself.

About five years ago, Debora Didonê saw potential in a trash-filled but unoccupied space just down the road from her apartment. Recognizing that the destitute and unaesthetic block could be greatly enhanced by some green, she brought together a group of volunteers willing to clean up the space and begin planting; Canteiros Coletivos was born. Since this initial spatial transformation in 2012, Debora has united members of a few other communities throughout the city and inspired the collaborative creation of various artistic gardens that not only beautify the city but also rekindle the relationship between Salvadorians and the residual rainforest of their roots. And as a Canteiros Coletivos volunteer, I have had the opportunity to engage with this meaningful work in a number of different ways:

Mondays and Tuesdays are spent at the nursery – the space in central Salvador that is not only Debora and Thiago (her partner)’s home, but also where seeds sprout before their grown up selves are planted in other gardens throughout the city. My time here is spent taking care of the seedlings by watering them, weeding them, and planting then in new vases when they have outgrown their old ones. I also am beginning to catalogue the plants in the nursery and have written a few blog posts about the space (in both English and Portuguese) for the Canteiros website.

And on Wednesdays and Fridays, I help with the distribution of the nursery’s plants in two of Canteiros’ urban gardens. The group of volunteers begins by cleaning up some of the (seemingly magnetic) trash in and around the green space. We then take care of the old timers (some beautiful banana, mango and other fruit-bearing trees have taken root over the course of the past few years) before planting the new seedlings. Finally, we attempt to aesthetically enhance the space by creating a border with old tiles and rocks or even at times painting a small mural. Above all, we always try to engage the local inhabitants who are the inspiration for this project and are a lot of the times excited to lend a hand.

Thursday, often times my favorite day of the week, is when English classes with Yuri (17) and Hugo (14) take place in Gantois. These motivated and enthusiastic two boys were some of the first to get their hands dirty when Canteiros began gardening within their community a few years ago, and some of the first to jump on the opportunity to learn English with Canteiros’ newest American volunteer. In addition to taking care of their local garden, we spend a couple of hours every Thursday morning chatting in English, exchanging the idiosyncrasies of our respective cultures, and just having a good time getting to know each other. And our lessons are always made complete by one of Yuri’s mom’s delicious lunches.

Needless to say, the work that I have done with Canteiros Coletivos has greatly enhanced my time here in Brazil. First of all, my volunteering experience has been spatially orienting: I am not only constantly navigating from one place to another (nailing down public transportation), but am also really learning about the city’s biodiversity. It feels pretty good walking down the street and being able to identify the passion fruit or papaya tree.

Furthermore, I have through Canteiros made some of my most meaningful Brazilian relationships. Debora and Thiago have taken me under the wing, teaching me not only how to mobilize urban gardening movements but also to be a Baiana (between cooking regional dishes after work to learning some local slang). My English students and their family have also provided a second home – just last week I arrived soaking wet after walking through a rain storm and was greeted with a warm towel and a fresh change of clothes.

Finally, working with Canteiros has really been a service-learning opportunity and has, I believe, prepared me to make the most of the next four years at Princeton. As a prospective environmental engineering major, I can imagine that spending a lot of time nailing down mathematical equations and scientific structures has the potential to become abstract or dull.  But every step I take towards developing technology that not only improves the health of our planet but also the quality of the lives of those who live on it will now be fueled by the thought of Yuri, Hugo, and all of the other incredible people with whom my service work has connected me. I’ve already seen, worked with, and grown to love what all of those numbers have the potential to transform.

I really didn't need to write a blog post about my recent trip to Greece, because this movie clip pretty much sums it up.

In For Your Eyes Only, a 1981 James Bond film starring Roger Moore, the villainous Kristatos sets up his secret headquarters in an abandoned monastery called St. Cyril's at the top of a steep, dangerous rock formation. Bond scales the side of the cliff, defeats Kristatos, and wins back the Ministry of Defense's ATAC Machine (a high tech transmitter that really just looks like a plastic cash register). As it turns out, St. Cyril's is a real monastery right outside Kalabaka, Greece. Its real name is Agios Stefanos, and it and five other mountaintop monasteries make up the second-biggest monastic complex in Greece, known as Meteora. A week ago, I visited the Meteora monasteries to do research for my senior thesis. My trip was essentially the same as James Bond's, only with a little less stained glass-smashing and a little more note-taking.

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The six surviving Meteora monasteries were built between the 14th and 16th centuries, although monks had been living in caves in the rock formations for much longer. The churches in the monasteries are decorated with beautiful wall paintings, and several of the monasteries own impressive collections of sacred icons, relics, codices and documents. In the past, if someone wanted to see these collections, he or she would have to hike to the foot of one of the rocks and wait for the monks to pull him or her up in a net. Now, the monasteries are accessible by roads and staircases, and thousands of tourists visit year-round. My thesis for the Department of Art and Archaeology is about the experience of tourists who visit the Meteora monasteries. I am comparing the experience of viewing Byzantine art in a monastery to viewing art in the more traditional environment of an American museum. Along the way, I am investigating issues of context, Christian pilgrimage and modern monasticism.

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Of course, I couldn't write about the visitor experience without visiting the monasteries myself. Thankfully, I received full funding for my trip from the art and archaeology department and the Center for the Study of Religion. Additionally, the Seeger Center for Hellenic Studies helped me connect with the nuns currently living at one of the monasteries, so I was able to interview them while I was there. Even though senior theses are pieces of undergraduate research, Princeton is committed to giving you all the support it can so that your thesis becomes a piece of legitimate scholarship.

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That said, Princeton didn't have Sheena Easton serenade me with "For Your Eyes Only" as I stepped off the plane. I'll have to talk to someone about that.

During my trip, I stayed in the small town of Kalabaka. Every morning, I donned my full-length black skirt and turtleneck (that outfit got really old really fast) and took a taxi to the one of the monasteries. My daily quad workout consisted of climbing the hundreds of steps up to the top of the rock formation. Then, I walked around the monastery and took notes on every part of the monasteries that were open to the public, paying special attention to the display of icons and other Byzantine artifacts. While a lot of my time was spent with my face buried in a notebook, there were a few moments that took my breath away. One morning, I hiked down from Meteora instead of taking a taxi. It was an incredibly foggy day, so I could not see more than my immediate surroundings. Suddenly, in the midst of a cluster of trees, I heard the monks from one of the monasteries chanting. Because the town and road were completely hidden by fog, I felt as though I had been transported back to the Middle Ages. For one moment, I experienced Meteora just as the original visitors would have, long, long ago.

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But, transcendent experiences aside, what were my scholarly takeaways from this trip to Greece? Those are for my thesis adviser's eyes only.

Hi, friends: 

Finals are over; it's on to intersession.

Tomorrow night, I'll fly to Israel for the first time since before college.  I took a gap year for the 2011-2012 academic calendar to study in Jerusalem.  I was in a program called Nishmat, an all female institute for higher Jewish learning.  The program was a combination of intense Bible/Jewish Law studies and travel.  I lived with Israeli and Ethiopian women in the program, mixing languages and cultures in a unique and exciting experience.

And now I'm going back to visit my sister, who is studying there this year in a similar program.  It's crazy to think that the last time I was there, I lived there and now I'll be somebody's guest. It will definitely feel strange to be a tourist.  I've been to Israel before in that capacity, but only as a little kid.  I wonder if coming in as an visitor will almost feel like culture shock.  Speaking of culture shock, I'm also (hopefully) going to meet up with friends that I haven't seen since I lived there. My friends don't speak English, so I'm super hoping that my Hebrew will come right back.  I grew up learning Hebrew (I went to a Jewish day school), but one thing I learned when I lived in Israel for a year is how different learning a language in a classroom compared with speaking it every day like a native.

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Also, don't even get me started on how old I feel now that my baby sister is living abroad and almost headed off to college.  SO weird.  It will kind of feel like time travel to head back to where I was before college--as the person I am now--and see my sister experience some of the same things.

I should really go pack now, but I'm super excited to fill you in on my travels!

Hello and Happy New Year!

I hope you are all excited for 2016! I'm certainly looking forward to the new year –  I'll be spending the first 5 months studying abroad!

Why, might you ask, would I want to leave Princeton and my beloved friends for an entire semester? 

Well, let me explain, as I have to many questioning family and friends over winter break:

Whenever I talk to alumni or graduating seniors, they always speak fondly of their time at Princeton, and I, seeking advice on how to make the most of the Princeton experience, will ask: “Do you have any regrets?”

Overwhelmingly, almost all of them list not studying abroad among their missed opportunities.

Their regrets are certainly not unfounded, for Princeton offers incredible opportunities for students to go abroad and, even more impressively, supports them financially. Princeton extends full coverage of financial aid for semester study abroad, provides fully-funded opportunities like class field trips and the Bridge Year program, and offers all kinds of grants, fellowships, and special funds for language courses, global seminars, internships and research abroad.

I’ve always wanted to take advantage of these Princeton-funded opportunities to travel abroad, but never got around to doing so. However, this fall, I realized that it had to be now or never; I was more than halfway through my time at Princeton and needed to start taking advantage of these opportunities before they soon disappeared! Not wanting to be regretful, seeking adventure, and mostly longing to escape the stresses and workload of junior year within the Orange Bubble, I decided to apply to study abroad for the spring semester.

My process to choose a study abroad destination was simple: Since I wanted to make sure that I could get credit for COS classes, I googled “top computer science universities” and went down the list to check 1) if I could speak the language of the school and 2) if the application deadline had passed. Voila! The University of Edinburgh was my top choice.

Thankfully, Edinburgh also matched my additional criteria for an ideal location; the university is located in the center of a beautiful, vibrant, international city with plenty of outdoor exploration opportunities in the surrounding area. It’s also a huge school with many departments and a much wider range of classes than Princeton; in many ways, it offers everything that Princeton doesn’t.

I went ahead and applied, and the whole application process was quite straightforward. The Princeton study abroad advisers recommend that you only apply to one school – isn’t that crazy compared to the college admissions process!?

Now, I find myself across the pond, starting a new semester at the University of Edinburgh, where I’ll be a visiting student until the end of May. However, much like my fellow Princeton students, who are returning to campus for Reading Period, I’m still working on projects and studying for Princeton exams. Yep, that means I’m working on two semesters of classes simultaneously – what a way to escape stress, eh?

Nonetheless, I’m so extremely grateful for this opportunity to study abroad, and, once these two weeks of finals are over, I’m excited to live and learn in a different educational environment and have an adventure abroad!