Journaling

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"We were here; we are human beings; this is how we lived. Let it be known, the earth passed before us. Our details are important. Otherwise, if they are not, we can drop a bomb and it doesn’t matter.” – Natalie Goldberg

One of the most valuable things that you can do while abroad is KEEP A JOURNAL. The School for International Study requires that all its program participants keep a cultural observations journal. How might you record your experiences through journaling to better articulate who it is that you are and what it is that you believe?

Keep in mind that the distinction between a diary and a journal is key. A diary is typically for the recording of events and interactions only. The writing is often very personal and full of reactions and stream of consciousness. It is primarily a private, emotional outlet. A journal, on the other hand, can serve as a worthwhile literary activity and invaluable resource for later writing. It is an act of meditation and reflection; it is a philosophical exercise and a first attempt to use language to articulate and reflect the complexity of human experience. It serves both an emotional and an intellectual function; it documents your observatory and participatory research with an eventual product—the piece written for the public—in mind.

Check out our How-To on blogging if you're interested in turning your journal into a weblog