Sonder

A year ago, if you had told me I'd have the best time of my life living in Japan for six weeks, I would have laughed in your face. But now? Consider me driving the Japan bandwagon. In this episode, you guessed it - I finally recap Block 2 in Kyoto! From my favorite foods (as a girl who used to hate rice) to the philosophy of Kodawari, no stone is left unturned. I also talk about how I ended up in Tokyo every other weekend, my horror story of feeding the Nara deer, and the one sunrise that changed my life. Oh, and did I mention how my nervous system reset here? For a block that almost didn't happen, there's a lot to unpack. Kanpai!

Did someone say quadruple feature? Meet Reilly Baker, Leo Zanotti, Bret Williams, and Blake Podewils; four students from Indiana University spending their semester studying abroad in Kyoto, Japan. In this episode, we talk about our biggest culture shocks, what we miss from home, and how we all ended up in Kyoto. Later, we debate Greek mythology and reflect on the ways living in Japan has and will continue to change us. If you don't laugh at least once, just wait until you hear Bret's freestyle. This episode is not sponsored by Sushiro.

What better way to kick off a semester than with a beer class and some of the world's most beautiful beaches? In the long-overdue first solo episode of Sonder, I recap Block 1 in Sydney, Australia! I talk about the underwhelming culture shock, Yo-Chi, the highs and lows of a six-week vacation, and everything I would have done differently if I were to study there again. From the coastal walks to trying kangaroo meat, it was the perfect start to Open Campus. What I wouldn't give for one more bottle of chocolate coconut water. The Sydney Sonder Setlist is coming soon, cheers!

In the second episode of Sonder, I sit down with Sydney native Jessie Ramsey to learn all about life down under! In addition to Australian culture and Jessie's positive and negative experiences in America, we discuss the universal post-grad identity crisis and how finding the right friends can change your life. If you've ever debated taking a live (and nude) drawing class, this is your sign to do so - it might just change your life.

In the first episode of Sonder, Anthony Makhlouf joins me to talk about study abroad expectations, transfer origin stories, and why his nickname is affectionately "Dr. Miami". We laugh, reminisce, and look to the future before analyzing the roles our friends play in our lives and dissecting our relationships with our siblings. It's fun, lively, and the perfect way to kick off the season.