Hey everyone! I know it may seem like I have been neglecting to post my stories, but for me, my study abroad experience has only just begun. I'll be writing throughout the entire year. For the Fall, I will be studying at the American University Washington Semester for International Law and Organizations and then I'll be heading to the (much anticipated) American University in Cairo, Egypt, for the Spring. As you can see, I still have an exciting year ahead of me.
So far, I've mostly been rooted in Washington, D.C., which isn't too exotic in comparison to the lifestyle regular Americans share on a regular day. However, with a seminar program, an independent research project, and an internship, I would say that this is hardly the Bucknellians' regular semester experience.
Sometimes it's exhausting to juggle all of these responsibilities, but there are moments where I am positive that I am getting the most out of my time and effort. I'm currently interning for the Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service (LIRS as I'll commonly call it) which has given me great exposure to lobbying on the Hill and a better understanding of the advocacy community.
My focus throughout this whole semester is immigration, which, I'm learning is sometimes a challenging field to work in. Some days it is difficult to read about what is going on with illegal immigration in our country in addition to the awful situations refugees are forced into around the world.
However, there have been some great rewards that have resulted out of all of my hard work. Last week, we traveled to NYC to visit the U.N. and speak with some representatives while the General Assembly gathered in New York.
It turned out to be a perfect time to witness the charged atmosphere that comes along with having such a great U.N. presence in one place.
As we walked to the U.N., we saw monks from Myanmar (or Burma) protesting outside of the building. Once we were inside and on the tour, we were able to catch the beginning of the Security Council briefing session concerning the violence that has been going on in their country. It took me back to see how many monks from Myanmar had showed up to the meeting, surely making a statement to the rest of the world that they need change.
Since I have returned from my New York City trip, I have been counting down the days until I leave for Europe (22 days to be exact). From Nov. 3 - 19th, we will be spending time in London, Brussels, The Hague, and Luxembourg in order to meet with various international organizations and, of course, enjoy the beauty of Europe.
I will try to keep you all posted while I am off in Europe.