An ocean away: Yangchun, Guangzhou

Riley Kerns • March 16, 2020

When I was only a few days old, my birth parents abandoned me. They left me in hopes a passerby would find me and place me in an orphanage. 

An ocean away: Guilin, Yangshuo

Riley Kerns • February 21, 2020

There was something about Guilin and Yangshuo that intrigued me, maybe it was the people, or the scenery or the ambiance of it all; I don’t know. What I did know was that I didn’t want to leave.

Hi from HI

Audrey Snyder • February 4, 2020

“Aloha and welcome to Maui,” shouted a group of cheerful Hawaiians, waving my family toward them as they awaited our arrival just outside the Kahului airport. Greeting us with wide smiles and bright...

An ocean away: Chengdu, Xi’an

Riley Kerns • January 28, 2020

Chengdu and Xi’an were a great change from the hustle and bustle of Beijing. I learned the importance of slowing down and actually taking in my surroundings instead of rushing through an itinerary like a checklist.

An ocean away: Beijing

Riley Kerns • December 18, 2019

With Beijing as our first stop, our introduction to China was less “dipping a toe in” and more “falling head first into the deep end.”

An ocean away: Bali

Riley Kerns • November 12, 2019

Only after visiting for myself did I understand what all the hullabaloo of Bali was about. Although our stay only lasted two days, everything we did made it feel like a week. I was given a taste of a variety of opportunities the island had to offer and experienced the culture in multiple ways.

Moving on: the challenges of relocation

Anjali Noel Ramesh • October 17, 2019

I doubt I’ll be the first to admit that Columbia’s weather is quite frightening at times. I have yet to find another city where the sun will filter through from the north side of the sky while blackened...

An ocean away: Komodo National Park

Riley Kerns • October 11, 2019

Everyone has his or her own vision of what paradise looks like, from a sunny Florida beach to the snow-capped Rocky Mountains and everywhere in between. For me, paradise is Pulau Sebayur Besar, Indonesia. 

An ocean away: Singapore

Riley Kerns • September 13, 2019

Two summers ago, I took my first big trip. Every year my family traveled within the country to different national parks and landmarks. As exciting as all of those adventures had been, however, I knew none...

Columbia Regional Airport struggles, but what can we do?

George Frey • January 21, 2019

COU will see more demand, but unless the city makes changes, the issues will force residents to drive two hours to other airports.

Families welcome students from abroad

Ji-Sung Lee • March 28, 2018

The local Rotary group is Rotary District 6080. There are individual clubs who sponsor outbound exchange students and host inbound students.

Students travel abroad, acquire cultural understanding

Emily Oba • November 8, 2017

Studying abroad helps a person learn a language and also give students a larger cultural understanding.