Explore life with our student bloggers through our Blog Journalist postings. Postings from previous bloggers are also available – see where they’ve been on the map on the About page. To learn more about Cornell Abroad, visit our web site.

Gerrit Wissink – Paris, France & Dakar, Senegal
Hi everyone, my name is Gerrit and I am a Government major, International Relations minor in the College of Arts and Sciences. Over the next year, I will be studying political science in the francophone world. In the fall, I will be in Paris, France and in the spring will be Dakar, Senegal. Through exposure to the two education systems, diverse cultural backgrounds, and different modes of political thought, I am excited to grow academically and personally through my study abroad experiences. Thank you for taking the time to share this year with me by reading this blog – it should be quite the time!
Moniek van Rheenan – Sevilla, Spain
¡Saludos a todos! My name is Moniek and I will be spending my junior year in beautiful Seville, Spain. I am pursuing a double-major in English and Spanish, as well as dabbling in linguistics. When not in class, I volunteer with Cornell Elderly Partnership, meet with prospective students as an A&S Ambassador, run with the lightning-fast track club, lector for Cornell Catholic, and work as a TA for a Dutch distance-learning course. While in Spain, I am looking forward to immersing myself in the traditional Andalusian culture and become well-acquainted with the native sevillanos. I believe that both language and culture provide invaluable insight into a person, while at the same time helping me shape a better understanding of myself. I hope you will join me on my journey as I sip café con leche, munch on tapas, celebrate Feria and la Semana Santa, and dance flamenco through the cobbled streets of Sevilla!
Tejal Thakkar – Granada, Spain
Hi everyone! My name is Tejal, and I will be studying in Granada, Spain this semester. I am a junior at the School of Hotel Administration at Cornell, but my second passion is learning about cultures and languages. While in Granada, I hope to soak in the Spanish culture, learn about the history of this impressive city, and improve on my Spanish along the way. Hopefully I will get to contribute a little bit to their community as well! Story telling is one of my favorite things to do, so I am incredibly excited to be able to share my experiences and stories with you through this blog. ¡Un Saludo!
Jasmyn Mimiko – Barcelona, Spain
¿Qué tal? My name is Jasmyn. I’m a junior in CALS studying animal science, and I will be spending my spring semester in the very lovely city of Barcelona, Spain. “Why Spain?” you ask. Well, with the ever growing hispanic population in the United States (and particularly in South Florida, my home), I think it will be imperative to know spanish. Not to mention Spanish is the second most spoken language in the world, so I figure it will come in handy. While in Spain, I’ll be studying Spanish at the Universitat Pompeu Fabra. I’m very excited to submerge myself in the Spanish language and culture (especially food)! I love learning about new cultures and exploring new cities, and I will be sharing my experiences with you. So I hope you’ll join me on my journey!
Monique Hall – London, UK
Hello there! My name is Monique and I’m a junior Human Development major with minors in Creative Writing and Film. I’m excited to be living, learning, and interning abroad in London, UK this semester. I’ll be participating in the Boston University London Internship Program with a concentration in Film, Radio, and Television. In this program, I’ll get to study British media in the classroom and then apply what I’ve learned to the real world through an internship. Although this won’t be my first time in London, I’m excited to be returning for longer than one week and when I’m older than 14. I hope my time in London will provide me with experiences and adventures to last a lifetime. My wish is to return to the US with more than a few great stories to tell and memories to keep.
Celeste Gonzales – London, UK
Hello there! My name is Celeste, and I’m a junior in the College of Arts and Sciences, where I’m majoring in History and minoring in Law & Society. This spring semester I’ll be studying in King’s College London in the United Kingdom. I’m very excited to live in the heart of London and be constantly surrounded by so much history. I’ve always been fascinated by the history of royal families, being particularly interested in the British royal family, and how they have evolved into their present-day form. I’m hoping that studying in London will give me the opportunity to explore this interest of mine. In my spare time I love to read and watch films, so I can’t wait to delve deep into British literature as well as cinema and theater.
Olivia Wittels – Buenos Aires, Argentina
Hola! My name is Olivia and I’ll be spending the spring semester in Buenos Aires, Argentina. I’m an English major, Spanish minor (but potentially major, depending on how the semester abroad goes) in the College of Arts and Sciences. Outside of academics, I’m a member of the club tennis team, the co-chair of Colleges Against Cancer, and a sports writer for the Daily Sun. I’m a really active person who loves the outdoors, which is why South America is the perfect place for me; Patagonia and Machu Picchu are just a two of the many places I hope to explore. I’ll be living in a homestay, and even though it won’t always be easy, eight years of studying Spanish will definitely help me get by. And although I have a terrible sense of direction, I’m genuinely looking forward to all the places I’ll discover while lost in Buenos Aires. Of course, I’m also ready for the vino, steak, partidos de fútbol, and potential sports star sightings (tennis player Juan Martín del Potro, here I come). I’m beyond excited for this semester and I can’t wait to share my experiences with all of you!
Sheniqua Jeffrey – Siena, Italy
Ciao a tutti! My name is Sheniqua and I am a junior majoring in human development and minoring in design and environmental analysis. I currently work two jobs at Cornell; one in dining and another as a research assistant at the Bronfenbrenner Center. When I’m not working, I am volunteering and participating in events with my service fraternity, Alpha Phi Omega (APO). I’ve always wanted to travel and learn about other cultures and I also love volunteering, and this semester I will be doing both in beautiful Siena, Italy. With my program I will be living, sleeping and breathing Italian through my Italian host family, my Italian classes (taught in Italian) , and service-learning projects. So I will be forced to use my Italian skills all the time! Only issue is — I don’t know any Italian. So join me, as I dive (deep!) into Italian culture for the adventure of a lifetime!
Hannah Zalusky & Laura Lumadue – Copenhagen, Denmark
 Hej! We’re Hannah and Laura and we’ll be studying (and co-blogging!) at the Danish Institute of Study Abroad (DIS) in Copenhagen, Denmark. We’re both Design and Environmental Analysis juniors concentrating in Interior Design. We’re very excited to immerse ourselves in Danish culture and learn more about Scandinavian design and the functionality, simplicity, and sustainability that this design entails. We hope to share with you unique details, tidbits, and pictures from our Danish adventures involving architecture, food, language, and our own general silliness. Farvel!
Adrienne Lauchert – Cape Coast, Ghana
Hi there! My name is Adrienne, and I am thrilled to be able to share my experiences in Ghana with you for the next four and a half months. I am studying at the University of Cape Coast through ProWorld, an organization that allows students to combine service learning with their studies. I will be living in a homestay for the duration of my time in Cape Coast, and working with an organization called A Needed Life Foundation. With A Needed Life, I will be participating in community outreach regarding sexual and reproductive health. A Biology and Society major, minoring in Global Health and Nutrition, I have a passion for women’s rights in all areas of the world, with a particular focus on maternal health and nutrition. Join me as I return to the place that has inspired my life’s mission, making memories that will last a lifetime and friends that I will cherish for years to come.