Unfortunately, my first blog will not be a very happy one.  A strong message presented itself on August 4th and I felt compelled to share it with all of you.

The 2015 Global Health Conference, "Contagion: causes, costs, containment," will be held from Nov. 6-8, at the University of Iowa. Registration tables open at 3:00 p.m. on the 2nd floor ballroom of the Iowa Memorial Union. The conference acts as a course for students to earn credit and engage with a range of speakers featured from on and off campus.

Living in another country is definitely an experience that plummets you into the unknown. Everything you’re used to is completely turned upside down. It’s a scary, yet freeing feeling that creates independence at a whole new level.

Moving to Africa is a big enough change all on its own, but the day-to-day differences are definitely the ones that are the hardest to get used to. Here are a few differences I have really noticed in my daily life here in South Africa...

Recently, I got a phone call from one of my best friends since high school. She lives in China and attends university in Beijing. After our chat, I started thinking about the differences between college life for a Chinese student here and in China. As an international student, I love my life in Iowa City and the American opportunities I have to experience. Still, I embrace my Chinese roots.