Introducing Namugga Nakayiza

Pictures were captured in Buenos Aires, Argentina. I took an interterm course abroad during my Spring Break in 2023 where I studied Social Justice & Photography.

What is/are your major(s)?

International Studies & Sociology

What is/are your minor(s)?

Spanish

What is the name of your study abroad program?

MSID: International Development in Thailand

In what city & country is your study abroad program located?

Chiang Mai, Thailand

What is something you would like the blog readers to know about you that they wouldn’t know by just looking at you?

Something I’d like the blog readers to know about me that they wouldn’t know by just looking at me is that I am someone who comes from a family that settled in the U.S. My family migrated to the U.S. from Uganda and I previously lived abroad when I was younger. I have also travelled to several countries throughout my lifetime. I really enjoy traveling and aspire to see the entire world.

What is one thing that you are most anticipating about your study abroad experience?

One thing I am most anticipating about my study abroad experience is observing the similarities and differences between Thai culture and my own personal culture. I can’t wait to indulge in a community with different foods, ways of communication, and forms of respect. It’s also going to be really interesting to see how media and society influence how they perceive me.

Why did you decide to study abroad? or What inspired you to study abroad?

I decided to study abroad because I want to explore the world. I chose Thailand as my country to visit because I’ve never been to the continent of Asia and I’ve always been intrigued with Thai culture. Thailand is really fascinating to me because there’s a huge influence it has on American restaurant culture and yet its history is not talked about often. I was inspired by my mother’s love for traveling to study abroad. As an International Studies major, this program would also be beneficial for me considering I aspire to work for a Non-Governmental Organization. Studying abroad will allow me the chance to further understand my studies and broaden my perspective.

Pictures were captured in Buenos Aires, Argentina. I took an interterm course abroad during my Spring Break in 2023 where I studied Social Justice & Photography.

Introducing Stefanie Paik

Photo is of me in the mountain, somewhere in Colorado.

What is/are your major(s)?

Marketing

What is/are your minor(s)?

Media Film Journalism Studies (MFJS)

What is the name of your study abroad program?

TEAN: Korea University

In what city & country is your study abroad program located?

Seoul, South Korea

What is something you would like the blog readers to know about you that they wouldn’t know by just looking at you?

I love to explore and learn about entertainment from various countries like the UK, France, and India. So many counties have their own style and formula of entertainment; so it is interesting to see why people enjoy those media. Like many East Asian t.v. show use a mix of slapstick and talk show to entertain viewers. 

What is one thing that you are most anticipating about your study abroad experience?

The one thing I am most anticipating about my study abroad experience is life in a different country’s education system. Everything from the cafeteria food to studying will be different. So in the new environment, I hope I will be able to learn new behaviors that I can then use when I come back to DU.

Why did you decide to study abroad? or What inspired you to study abroad?

I chose to study abroad because of personal and professional reasons. My main personal reason is to connect with my heritage. Both of my parents immigrated to the US. So for me, this is an opportunity to see the world my parents grew up in and how that world has changed for them. My professional reason is to enrich my career possibilities. As Korea grows in international business, there are many job opportunities for me to explore.

Photo is of the Han River, in Seoul, South Korea.