CAPA WORLD

In this week's post, Rachel Epp takes a final excursion to the city of Xi'an and spend the day trekking up Mt. Huashan, one of the the most treacherous but rewarding hikes in China! Watch more for some breathtaking views! 

Today is the 81st anniversary of an event that horrified the world. On December 13, 1937, during the 2nd Sino-Japanese War, Japanese troops attacked the then capital of China, Nanking (Nanjing) - the government already having relocated - and over six weeks, according to records and reports, murdered around 300,000 Nanjing citizens, including women and children. Today fewer than 400 survivors are still alive to tell the tale.

The story of the Nanjing Massacre has been well told in Iris Chang's 1997 book The Rape of Nanking and in several movies in recent years including "Nanking" ,"City of Life and Death", "John Rabe" and most recently "The Flowers of War". It was perhaps fitting that, along with my students, we watched the showing of "The City of Life and Death" in a large movie theater in Nanjing in 2009. We were a small Western group in a cinema packed with locals and it was impossible not to feel the tears of the audience that night. I wondered how many in that very audience had lost grandparents and other kin in that massacre.

In this week's vlog, Daniel explores the beautiful lakes and temples of Hangzhou, China. From experiencing the beautiful sculptures and serenity of the Lingyin temple to wandering the islands and bridges of the West Lake, follow along on his mystical adventure!

What better way to learn about Florence than by turning to the locals? In this week's post, Payton interviews Giacomo, Sabrina, and Bianca from her Ganzo! family in Florence and gets their perspective on Florentine culture, food, things to do in the city, and cultural insights.

At this point in the semester, I feel like I’ve gotten to know my Ganzo! family pretty well, and, since they speak such good English, I thought I’d ask them a few questions for my blog this week and get some perspective on things from the locals here. To jog your memory: Giacomo and Sabrina, the parents, are both journalists, and Bianca is their 16-year-old daughter. Gregorio, the 13-year old son, decided to sit this one out. Here are some of the things we discussed during my last visit, over a huge pan of tiramisu that Sabrina made (she may have caught on that it’s my favorite!)

In this week's post, Connor explains the alluring charm of being a flâneur and exploring your own city. He also suggests how to learn more about your environment while studying abroad and shares how he discovered the local Florentine lifestyle.

The word flâneur refers to someone who saunters around observing society. It means to stroll, to lounge, or to loaf. A flâneur is someone who has no place that they need go, so they simply walk around observing their surroundings. This semester I have often felt that I need to go to certain places or that I have to see specific sites. I have not taken much time to simply wander through Florence and observe the culture and the landscape. I decided on Sunday that I need to get lost within Florence to help learn more about the city.

In this week's post, Ellen Anderson discusses a My Global Cities event she attended by Dr. Fiona McEwen on the effect of war and displacement on the mental health of Syrian refugee children living in Lebanon, and discusses how learning more about this topic impacts her own perspectives.

What you get out of your study abroad experience is solely based on your expectations. As Martyn reflects on a semester abroad in Sydney, he encourages students to consider these 2 important points: understanding the pros/cons and doing your research for a great semester abroad.

Studying abroad in Sydney has been an incredibly interesting experience, and one that has gifted me memories I will do well to never forget. I’ve spent the last few months describing my own journey through a semester abroad, and I have really tried my best to get my personal journey across in 500-1000 words. The only thing that I can offer now that I’ve returned home is not personal tales, but advice for the next wave of students considering a study abroad program. As someone who was a little cautious about going abroad, I completely understand the hesitation to make such a commitment. Everyone’s process of deciding to go abroad is different, so I’ve tried to whittle mine down to a few personal thoughts into two broad points.

Here are some thoughts that I’ve grown into throughout this semester.

In this week's post, Genevieve gets into the holiday spirit and shows us London's yuletide joy and Christmas trees! Check out what it's like in the city during this season, how the markets are decked out, and why having a community in London makes this all so much special.

As winter closes around London, the sun seems to disappear for days at a time. The buildings are cloaked in clouds and fog, and a light misting rain constantly settles on my cheeks and eyelashes. Sunset officially begins before I leave my internship or class for the day. These last weeks, I have found myself walking down the streets in the dark more than in the daylight. All of these things, from the rain to the short days are characteristic of the winter season. It’s actually one of the reasons that I chose to study abroad in the fall and not the spring. I love the beginning of winter and all that the changing season means. Since it's officially December, I can be frank: it’s Christmas season!

On the topic of personal change, realizations, and music, Maisie takes a moment to tell us what she has learned about herself over the course of her semester in London. 

There is no doubt in my mind that I will return home a changed person. This is what is called a "cliché", but it is also what is called the truth. In a mock interview for my internship class, I was asked if other people might notice these changes. I said I didn’t want to think about that.

Whether you're studying abroad in Barcelona now, making your bucket  list and traveling there soon, or just back in the United States and reminiscing about the food in Spain, here are 10 resources you'll appreciate.