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Sara Richardson
A Grant Tour of New Zealand’s
South Island Before Coming Home

Auckland, New Zealand, Sept. 22 -- When someone asks me, “How was New Zealand?” the first words that come to mind are beautiful, empty and wet. Beautiful because of the stunning, untouched scenery in almost every direction; empty except for the herds of sheep, cattle and deer in the pastures on the side of the road and the occasional small town; and wet due to the fact that it was, of course, winter there.

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A Rugby Match, a 90-Mile Beach
and a Luge Ride: Sightseeing in New Zealand

Auckland, New Zealand, Aug. 18 -- Six weeks into my trip to New Zealand and I don’t feel like a tourist anymore. I’m familiar with the bus routes in Auckland, the largest city in the country. I buy groceries to cook dinner and make sandwiches for lunch instead of eating out — though I do still eat out at times to try the local cuisine. I work the ol’ 9-5 and I could tell you which TV shows are on which channels in the evenings (granted there’s only four channels here at the hostel). Driving the rental car on the left side of the road while sitting on the right side of the car actually seems normal in my head now (watch out for me when I get back!). And I’ve even picked up a few of the local phrases like “Sweet as” and “Good on ya’ mate.”

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Exploring on the Other Side of the World

Auckland, New Zealand, Jul. 21 -- On a recent June morning, with a tear in my eye, beautifully colorful New Zealand money in my pocket and closed-toe shoes on my feet (I only like to substitute my sandals for soccer cleats), I boarded the 13-hour flight to exchange the hot streets of Los Angeles for the wet streets of Auckland.

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Cindy Tran
Looking Back on Fond Memories of a Summer in Malaysia

Penang, Malaysia, Sept. 22 -- Although Malaysia was amazing, I am glad to be home in beautiful California. The  first difference I noticed was that my common sense keeps telling me we are driving in the oncoming traffic lane! I get a little tense when driving on the right side of the road because I have become so accustomed to the left side. Also, Penang island is so in tune with nature that it now feels a bit strange to be living an urban lifestyle again. I sometimes find myself looking back on my last weeks in Malaysia and some memories stand out.

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PRIME Students Meet Prime Minister

Penang, Malaysia, Aug. 18 -- The international scientific community has never before now come together to prevent a pandemic before the virus is even capable of spreading worldwide. I am currently conducting research on the Avian Flu H5N1 virus in Malaysia as part of UCSD’s Pacific Rim Experiences for Undergraduates program, also known as PRIME. It is exciting to be essentially competing with evolution!

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Advancing Avian Flu Research in Malaysia

Penang, Malaysia, Jul. 21 -- Over the next nine weeks, I hope to influence global health through innovative scientific research. I also will have the opportunity to be immersed in a completely different world and learn about the fascinating fusion of different cultures. I am working with international scientists to identify known drug-resistant avian flu strains at Universiti Sains Malaysia, in Penang, one of Malaysia’s states.

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Michael Wang
The End of a Fulfilling Experience

Beijing, China, Sept. 18 -- As cliché as it may sound, my summer in Beijing flew by in the blink of an eye, drawing to an abrupt close far before I was ready for it to end. I was surprised to find myself culturally shocked when I first got back, my eyes a bit uneasy to discover the roads so unoccupied, the street signs all in English and the air so arid in California. In two-month’s time I had experienced so much, yet I can’t help but feel that there is still so much more left for me to see in Beijing.  It is my hope that I’ll have the opportunity to venture back there in the near future.

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Exploring Beijing’s Different Personalities

Beijing, China, Aug. 18 -- Less than three weeks into my stay in Beijing, it became apparent to me that I will miss this city, and especially the people that I have come to know and call friends. Little had I expected that my favorite cultural experience during my time abroad would in fact be interacting with the graduate students at my host institution. I enjoy having discussions with them on China’s history, politics and society, and observing the similarities and differences between Chinese and American societies. I especially value these conversations, because they inspire me to not judge others and they compel me to be better educated on world issues.

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Blending In in Beijing

Beijing, China, Jul. 21 -- After an entire spring quarter preparing and waiting, I am finally here in Beijing, China, for a much-anticipated summer experience. The prospect of being away from my familiar surroundings for two months had not fully dawned on me, until my parents waved goodbye to me at the airport while I approached the security check point. However, my feelings of apprehension were abated by my fascination and curiosity upon arrival in Beijing, as well as the hospitality of students and staff members at the Computer Network Information Center.

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Trang, Thailand, Aug. 18 -- What I took away from my two weeks at Baan Lang Khao English Camp in Thailand was how much compassion and hospitality could be found within a single meal and smile. In fact, it was almost two dozen meals in two weeks and at least 120 smiles a day at our school. Thai hospitality is legendary, but what we received exceeded all expectations and could only be succinctly captured in the frequently used Thai phrase, “Mai pen rai,” or “no worries.”

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New Delhi , India, Aug. 18 -- When I visited India previously, it has always been on a vacation with my family to visit relatives. This is the first time I have come by myself and for work, instead of leisure. I wanted to do an internship in an international workplace environment, as it is interesting to be a part of a totally different culture and see how things are done in the office. India seemed like an ideal place to do an internship, as it is, along with China, one of the fastest-growing economies in the world today.

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