Expecting Change and New Experiences in Stockholm, Sweden

Let me start by telling you about myself and where I come from. My name is Emily Estrada and I am a senior majoring in public administration at the SDSU Imperial Valley Campus in Calexico.

Some of you may not be familiar with this campus so let me give you a little bit of information on it. It’s located in a rural border-town community with approximately 1,000 students. It is highly populated with Hispanic minority students and primarily serves students that come from the surrounding agricultural towns of Imperial County, that include Brawley, Imperial and El Centro, in addition to the city of Calexico. 

2017 International Photo Contest Tournament: Round 1

It’s time once again for the SDSU International Photo contest, featuring photos submitted by SDSU students! This year we’re choosing our People’s Choice Award through a 40-photo tournament, with winners decided by online voting right here on the Be International blog. Voting is now open for Round 1 below, so pick your favorites! (NOTE: VOTING IS NOW CLOSED)

How Study Abroad Changed Me

My grand adventure officially came to an end just over a week ago and I am back home in Northern California reflecting on everything I just experienced. The more I think back on this trip, the more I realize how much I grew in just four weeks thanks to study abroad. Aside from being an amazing time to see more of the world, it was time to challenge myself and break down anxiety.

American Pancakes vs. Svensk Pannkakor

Pancakes are an American classic; these sweet, cake-like pastries are thick, fluffy and topped with sweet syrup and butter. Swedish pancakes are different. So different in fact, that they aren’t even considered breakfast food. Swedish pancakes have many of the same ingredients as a simple American pancake recipe except they are much thinner.

No Ordinary Trip to IKEA

If you take the train about 45 minutes from Växjö you will reach the town of Älmhult, home of the first IKEA. This past Sunday some friends and I decided to go for a visit.

New Vegan Finds in Växjö, Sweden

As a vegan, there is nothing better than finding the vegetarian/vegan section of a grocery store; I am always pleasantly surprised when I find these sections in Sweden because they are sometimes a little harder to find.  The other day I discovered two amazing places to get vegan food!

‘Fikapaus i Sverige’ – Coffee Break in Sweden

Fika is an inescapable part of daily life in Sweden. Loosely translated it means “coffee break” however, the significance of fika goes way beyond just a cup of coffee.

Living Vegan in Sweden: First Impressions

When I arrived in Sweden, I was a little worried about finding food easily since being vegan doesn’t present you with the most accessible of food options. The first two or three days I was too jet-lagged to wander around my new town in search of a grocery store, so I ate some leftover saltine crackers from my plane ride and drank a lot of water. Once I did manage to locate one of at least four grocery stores, I was pleasantly surprised at the amount of vegan options.

Meet the New Be International Bloggers for Fall 2016

It’s a new semester, which means Be International has a new crop of study abroad bloggers to introduce! We have 13 new bloggers fanning out to four continents this fall. Before you start to follow them on their exciting adventures, let them tell you a little about themselves.

Easing Pre-Departure Worries as a Vegan

I am heading off to Sweden in a few days for a trip that will last me nine months. Like most people traveling to a foreign country I am a little worried: Will I have too much stuff with me? Will I have too little? Will I stick out? Will I make friends? But there is one question I ask myself that may be a little more unique; what will I eat?