2024 Fall

Keegan Kennedy: Post 2

Keegan KennedyProvider: AIFSParis, France2024 Fall   I’m settling into Paris well; the city already feels like home to me. There is life on every corner and on top of every cobblestone. The metros, cars, busses, trains, and pedestrians are the lifeblood of Parisien(ne) culture. It is truly an expensive city, meaning I can sneeze and spend money. I would say Parisians are kind people, just impatient, they aren’t going to work with you to figure out your problem, but they sympathize with you. My classes are 3 hours at a time so the whole weeks content is in one session, […]

2024 Fall

Keegan Kennedy: Post 1

  Keegan KennedyProvider: AIFSParis, France2024 Fall It took me 3 days to get here. That sounds like a lot because it is. Last year my mom moved back to Montana and that’s where I left from. I had to make the 2-hour trek to the airport the night before my flight since it left at 7am. The check in desk at the little 6-gate airport in Great Falls, Montana even said “I don’t think I’ve ever seen anyone actually go to Paris” which should tell you the travel habits of Montanans. I felt so nervous at my layovers in Denver […]

2024 Fall, Academic Year

Jeremy Gouteix: Post 1

  Jeremy GouteixProvider: AIFSBerlin, Germany2024 Fall I chose the IES Abroad program in Berlin because I wanted to better my German speaking skills but also, I wanted to immerse myself in the German culture and how it is spoken outside of a classroom. The German language is a difficult one and after gaining a basic understanding of the language at Hampden-Sydney, I wanted to dive head on into it. This specific program suited what I looked for in a program as it allowed to me to take classes in what I intend to major in, Foreign Affairs, whilst also doing […]

2024 Summer

William Wallis

William WallisSummer Internship 2024Pattaya, Thailand Following a family trip to Thailand when I was six years old, I have always hoped to return to the ‘land of smiles.’ Through Hampden-Sydney and specifically the Compass program, the opportunity to gain summer work experience abroad arose. Since May 2024, I have been teaching English as a second language at Oxford Junior School in Pattaya, Thailand, about one hour’s drive from the capital city of Bangkok. My students range from ages four to fourteen, and working with them every day has enabled me to reflect on the similarities and differences between American and […]

2024 Summer

Leland Blanchard: Post 4

Leland BlanchardProvider: Project GOKaohsiung, Taiwan2024 Summer My time in Taiwan has opened my eyes to the privileges we have as Americans. Unlike Taiwan and the Taiwanese people, we don’t live under the constant threat of invasion and the overturning of our way of life. We aren’t reliant upon foreign nations for the preservation of our own security.  The Taiwanese love America, Americans, and American culture — more than certain Americans do. Me and my tutors, along with my classmate Will, at dinner. Typically, we all go to lunch or dinner together twice a week. Being American has its perks: people […]

2024 Summer

Frank West: Post 4

Frank WestProvider: IESDublin, Ireland2024 Summer Greetings from Dublin, Ireland! I would have to say that Ireland has surprised me quite a bit. Dublin is one of the most vibrant cities I have ever been to, and I have become extremely comfortable here. I imagined Ireland as being a mystical and untamed country unlike any other part of the western world, and in certain respects this is true, but Dublin is like any other cosmopolitan city. It is a metropolis in an ancient land that balances its history with modernity. I was correct is assuming that most Irish people speak quickly […]

2024 Fall, Uncategorized

Fall 2024 Bloggers Announced!

We are delighted to have the following students blog for us this fall.  Follow us on Instagram to see when a new post is added. Jeremy GouteixBerlin, GermanyProgram: IES Berlin Security Studies & International AffairsOne of the aspects that enthralls me the most is the opportunity to live amongst locals. It’s a chance to go beyond the tourist experience and delve deep in to the heart of Berlin’s unique lifestyle.  From eating authentic local cuisine to engaging in local traditions, I look forward to forging genuine connections and gaining insights that textbooks cannot provide. Keegan KennedyParis, FranceProgram: AIFS American Business […]

2024 Summer

Frank West: Post 3

Frank WestProvider: IESDublin, Ireland2024 Summer Greetings from Dublin, Ireland! Since arriving I am most proud of representing H-SC while studying in Dublin. As Hampden-Sydney men we are to hold ourselves to high academic and social standards. This does not end when we leave campus. I spend a lot of my free time hunting for records and exploring the city. I also spend time on the weekends in pubs or in cafes doing interviews and chatting withlocals. I have gone out of the city a couple of times because Greystones and Howth are only 40 minutes and a couple of euros […]

2024 Summer

Leland Blanchard: Post 3

Leland BlanchardProvider: Project GOKaohsiung, Taiwan2024 Summer   Much of my time studying abroad is spent studying. Class, (mandatory) tutoring, and homework takes up about 7 hours of my day – all involving some aspect of Mandarin Chinese. Typically, each day’s work involves learning 50-100 new vocabulary terms and various grammatical patterns. The course itself emphasizes spoken Mandarin – so most of our in-class work is conversations between classmates. Even though we’re given a lot of work, my classmates and I still manage to find time for fun. A picture of one of our lessons – we had to role play […]

2024 Summer

Leland Blanchard: Post 2

Leland BlanchardProvider: Project GOKaohsiung, Taiwan2024 Summer Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, the university administering my study abroad program, managed to find a hotel that was equally convenient to our host university, National Kaohsiung Normal University, and Kaohsiung’s MRT/subway system. In total, the walking commute is about half a mile – which can take up to 30 minutes due to the number of crosswalks and curving paths. Leland and one of his tutors, Selena. His program requires daily 30-minute tutoring sessions with graduate students from National Kaohsiung Normal University’s Center for Teaching Chinese as a Second Language. During these sessions, they only communicate […]