Fulbright is one of the most prestigious fellowship programs in the world. It’s also one of the most competitive. You must have a strong application in order to be competitive. I was awarded a Fulbright ETA to Belarus for the 2019-2020 academic year. I loved it! I’m sharing my...
In my previous Belarus update, I was in Germany celebrating Christmas with my parents. Once they left, I planned on exploring some of Poland on my way back to Belarus, then spend the rest of my January in Belarus. Instead, I realized how deeply I missed familiarity and my friends in...
If you read my previous update, you’ll know that I was greatly anticipating a refresh. While every day is a new day to start again, a new month feels more smashing a reset button in my book. December in Belarus was going to be different for me, and it was. It was filled with...
Are you ready to see the dancing Northern Lights in Iceland? The experience feels magical as you witness the universe’s power before your eyes. How do you get to this moment though? You can hunt for the Northern Lights in Iceland with a tour or DIY. Both are excellent options, but in this...
When my parents decided to take our first family vacation in several years, I told them to pick a destination and I would plan the rest. They picked Iceland to see the Northern Lights, but assumed we would play cards in the hotel the rest of the time. “It’ll be too dark to see...
I was single in Paris, and I had a fantastic time. After a break up, it didn’t take me long to book a flight to Europe in order to celebrate Christmas with my German friends and family, something I had wanted to do my ex for years. What else would a newly single woman do? Not do the...
When my friend told me about a 10K through the biggest wine cellar in the world, I knew I had to go. The Milestii Mici wine run takes runners through the wine cellar at up to 100m depth. They fill you up with wine before and after the run, making this race the perfect combination of...
Do you think I’m fat? Because some Belarusians do and, in November in Belarus, they weren’t afraid to tell me. Positive remnants of Soviet culture remain in Belarus, such as the immaculately clean cities and no one living on the street. It’s so safe here that young...
Time flashed before my eyes this month. I blinked, and my Belarus in October was over. I found my groove in Belarus this month. Naturally, I don’t have everything figured out, but I’m comfortably shopping, navigating, and living out daily life. Here are the defining moments...
I’ve been excited all month to write this post, but now I realize how difficult it is to summarize 30 days of excitement, confusion, friendship, and frustration. Belarus is quickly appearing on travelers’ radars, but they have no idea what this country is about. Hopefully, I...