Global Observer

A quarantine location in Vietnam.

Vietnamese students abroad find refuge at home amid coronavirus outbreak

Ha Ta April 4, 2020

As universities around the world move classes online and send out advisories for students to leave campuses, international students are faced with the tough decision of whether to stay in their host...

Semana Santa celebration.

Semana Santa: The sacred holiday of a devoted Spaniard

Beatriz Guerrero April 3, 2020

Growing up, my heritage has always been a bit hard to explain. I was born in Madrid, Spain like my mother, but was raised in Levittown, Puerto Rico, like my father. To my parents, our heritage was always...

Political unrest in Brazil.

[Video] Coronavirus brings political unrest and educational challenges to Brazil

Luiza Loyo March 21, 2020

As the number of coronavirus cases rises in Brazil, many citizens have protested against President Jair Bolsonaro, saying he has ignored the seriousness of the crisis.  On Wednesday, March 18,...

People in Wuhan talk about the coronavirus.

[Video] Wuhan diary: Coping with a crisis

Yushu Tian March 12, 2020

The number of coronavirus cases in the U.S. as of today has surpassed 1,000. President Trump on Wednesday announced travel restrictions on 26 European countries over the next 30 days amid the growing...

A green hat and green accessories.

Why Chinese people don’t wear green hats on St. Patrick’s Day

Yushu Tian March 9, 2020

In Boston, everything turns green on St. Patrick’s Day, March 17. People drink green beer, green milkshakes and wear green clothes too.  This means that many people will celebrate the day by...

A sign in Wuhan.

In Wuhan, lockdown challenges business and individual’s livelihoods

Yushu Tian February 28, 2020

Food prices are on the rise. Money is short. Employees are required to alert their companies daily about their body temperature. Students are taking all their classes online. This is the grim...

White Day

White Day in Asia – the gift that keeps on giving, literally

Mihiro Shimano February 25, 2020

With Valentine’s Day just passed, in the West, many women are still enjoying the chocolates and gifts they were given on the occasion . But in Japan and some other Asian countries, where the norm is...

People in Wuhan talk about the coronavirus pandemic.

[Video] Wuhan residents express hope for return of a bustling Wuhan

Yushu Tian February 11, 2020

Two Wuhan residents, Tony Wang and Ziyi Wu, spoke out about their situation being stuck in the center of the coronavirus. They expressed fear, boredom and hope for the end of the epidemic and the return...

A view of a road in Wuhan.

At the epicenter of the coronavirus: A mix of fear and boredom

Yushu Tian February 8, 2020

The Spring Festival has always been  the biggest holiday and the happiest time of year in China , when families reunite and friends get together. The city of Wuhan, the most populous city in Central...

A view of Taiwan.

Growing up Taiwanese in a Chinese sea

Szu Yu Chen January 20, 2020

As someone from Taiwan, I’ve always had mixed feelings toward China.  I had worked in Shanghai, China, for two years when met a lot of great people whom I  became close friends with, just...

Lanterns during Halloween.

How Halloween is celebrated around the globe

Maria Aguirre October 27, 2019

"What Star Wars character are you going to be this year?" a student asks his study partner at the library.  "Really, Boba Fett again?"  These are very common conversations happening at schools...

Load More Stories