Living My Dream

Gulsanam Abasova, Azerbaijan I had a dream to experience life in the U.S. I was searching and applying for different programs and finally I got accepted to the Global UGRAD Program. That was the best day of my life! I was looking for it for so many years and, after failing a few times, I was even about to give up. But I still had a dim …

Snapshots from #EOPinDC

During the two End of Program Workshops there was fun, reflection, humor, sadness, hope, strength, understanding, and a variety of other emotions and themes. While it is impossible to capture the variety of experiences that the students, speakers, UGRAD Staff, and U.S. Department of State officials had, we can nonetheless try to provide a snapshot to help capture these moments. Below is …

End of Program Workshop: Concurrent Sessions

The Global UGRAD End of Program Workshop brought speakers to present on a variety of topics during the scheduled concurrent sessions. Students chose two of six programs to participate in on the Thursday of each workshop. Themes for the concurrent sessions included Public Speaking, Finding a Job, Inclusion, Advocacy, Conflict Transformation, and Social Entrepreneurship. Each presentation was given by an expert in the …

Semester Snapshot: What have the Global UGRADs been up to?

From serving their communities to sharing their cultures to traveling across the country, our Global UGRAD participants have kept busy and engaged this semester. Here is a snippet of what the Global UGRAD experience has brought to our students during the spring 2016 term thus far. Service. University Pride. Travel. Culture Exchange. Wonder. Wonder: a feeling of surprise mingled with admiration, caused …

Earth Day 2016

April 22nd marks this year’s annual Earth Day, a holiday started by environmental activists in 1970. We take this time to celebrate the planet and our role as human beings in its amazing ecosystem. This year, the World Learning team has made a pledge to use less paper and go ‘green’, and plans to dedicate more community service hours to planting trees …

"Dimensions" – A Global UGRAD Poem

“Dimensions” by Xena Amro (Lebanon), Barnard College -dedicated to mama- the world is so big and i am so small to the world that it kills me when i think how i might not live long enough to see how big the world is it kills me when i think how i might be missing out on something somewhere my ambition …

Starting Small and Creating a Better World

Elias Ottoniel Ibarra Estrada, who studied at the University of Wyoming during 2014-2015 Global UGRAD Program, hit the ground running upon his return to Guatemala. He noticed that there was a need in his community: there were no programs that offered English to the poor in and around his hometown. In his own words: Recently, the ongoing crisis of Guatemala moved me …

Student Spotlight: Yaman Khtoom

Yaman Khtoom, Jordan, Kent State University All of my goals are set in accordance to this quote: “Develop an attitude of gratitude, and give thanks for everything that happens to you, knowing that every step forward is a step toward achieving something bigger and better than your current situation.” – Brian Tracy My goals are to constantly keep talking to people …

Thai students reflect on U.S. Culture

Attakorn Wannawet, Minnesota State University-Mankato, Minnesota “I really enjoyed the moment a cashier or any staff in a supermarket or a department store started a friendly conversation with me. He/she would always ask me, “Is there anything I can help you with?” or “What are you looking for, sir?” These friendly questions make me feel cozy. When I reach a …

My Life after the Global UGRAD program

Sathabora Mana Kheang, Global UGRAD 2011-2012, Minnesota State University – Mankato   When I was placed at the Minnesota State University Mankato, my friends asked why I chose one of the coldest places in the United States for my exchange program. I answered, “I do not know, maybe it is for the best.”  It was indeed for the best. The Global …