Elyse Timothy: Thessaloniki, Greece

Elyse Timothy is a senior at the University of Utah studying Psychology. She spent 6 months in Greece last year.

With a few suitcases and a one-way ticket to Greece, I was ready to start my 6-month adventure! I had looked forward to studying abroad in Greece for so long and was ecstatic that the time had finally come! After spending the summer in a small village in the southern part of Greece, I went to Athens (the capital of Greece) for a few weeks and then headed up north to Thessaloniki (the second largest city in Greece) to study. I attended both the American College of Thessaloniki and the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki. I enjoyed all of my classes (Traditional and Contemporary Greek Music, Politics of the European Union, and two Greek language classes- one at each school), but my favorite class by far was my 3-month intensive Greek language class at the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki. I enjoyed every bit of my time in Greece and it was great to travel around the beautiful country and visit so many wonderful places with such rich history. I have become friends with some incredible people and I eagerly wait for the next time that I am in Greece hanging out at a café, enjoying a frappe and sharing stories again with my friends.

Pictures 1 and 2: These are pictures taken at the ancient site of Olympia, the birthplace of the Olympic Games. The stadium is where the competitions were held and the spectators would sit on the surrounding grass. Temples filled the rest of the site and columns were topped with capitols such as this one. The detail is amazing!

Pictures 3 and 4: I took a sailing trip one weekend and sailed around the Thermaikos Gulf of Thessaloniki. Each night we stopped at a different town and during the day we set sail. This was most definitely one of the highlights of my trip and it was wonderful to sit on the front of the boat while watching the dolphins play and swim around us.

Pictures 5 and 6: The White Tower is one of the famous symbols of Thessaloniki and as you can see it proudly stands right on the waterfront. It is now a museum and it is beautiful to climb to the top of the tower and in one direction look out over the sea and Mt. Olympus, and in the other direction look out over the city.

Pictures 7 and 8: The first picture is of the Parthenon, which sits atop the Acropolis in Athens, the capital of Greece. The Parthenon was built as a temple to the goddess Athena, for whom the city of Athens is named after. The second picture shows some of the marbles that decorate and portray a story at the top of the Parthenon.

Picture 9: This boat is lit up with lights and is proudly displayed along with an enormous decorated tree and a nativity scene in the main square of Thessaloniki during the Christmas season. The boat represents the significant importance of the sea for the city that encompasses both the greatness of the sea and the mountains all in one.

Ellie Chamberland: Berlin, Germany

I have been in Berlin on my study abroad for two weeks. This has been one of the best experiences of my life! The city is incredible - there are so many different people and so much to see and do.  I am only in class two days a week, leaving the other five to study and explore the city.  This was definitely the right choice for me.  There are some people in class everyday and they are so overwhelmed. And they haven't gotten a chance to see much of the city.

The class I'm taking is the history of the Third Reich - the events that brought the Nazi party into power, the policies they put into place, and finally the crumbling of the regime.  We are at midterms right now so we have just covered the early years after Hitler came into power.  The class is incredibly interesting and each afternoon we go on an excursion to a museum or historical site related to the discussion from the morning. It is so helpful to be able to actually see history unfold in front of us on these excursions. It helps emphasize the reality of what was happening much more then just reading it from a book.

Even when I'm not in class, I can't walk five minutes down a street without running into a monument or museum related to the world wars or the holocaust.  It's amazing to see this history constantly.  One of my favorite monuments is one in the square outside of the opera house.  There was a huge boom burning that took place in this square, destroying books the Nazis thought were inappropriate.  To commemorate the site, a hole was dug out underneath the plaza. Empty bookshelves were installed into a completely white room.  A piece of plexiglass was placed over the hole so when you are walking through the plaza you can walk right over this room or look down and see it below you.  There are lots of similar creative concepts for monuments all across the city.  Sometimes you will see a block of concrete or a piece of art and not even realize it is a monument until someone tells you what it is there for.  

Yesterday our class went to a concentration camp just outside of Berlin. It was hard to grasp the atrocities that took place on that site.  A trench had been dug out and prisoners of the camp were put into the trench and shot, then their bodies were taken to the crematorium in the camp and destroyed.  Horrible things happened at the camp and the town adjacent to the camp ignored what was happening.  It's hard to imagine living in such a place. 

We have two more weeks of classes.  I'm looking forward to our class discussions and the excursions that are coming up. It's a lot to learn in such a short time!! 

Ginger Riggs: Tours, France

In June 2011 I participated in the Tours, France Study Abroad for 4 weeks. It was incredible! (c'était incroyable). The U really prepared us well. We had all the information we needed to be successful and the Professors and Alison (study abroad advisor) were very supportive. I noticed that other University's did not have the same support that we were given. 

I came back understanding French so much better that when I left. If you remember that everything you experience is normal then you'll do just fine. The instructors at the Institut de Touraine are wonderful and the class size was perfect. Be prepared to climb a lot of stairs! There are no elevators in France. :)  If you study and really try you'll do well. 

Participating in home stay was another highlight. My host was so gracious and such a great cook. It was wonderful to experience the French way of eating.  I have adopted that here in the states. The conversations I had at night with my host really helped my french the most. She was great. If you adapt to their lifestyle and way of eating from the start and keep an open mind you will really enjoy it!

Finally, Tours is such a wonderful city. I loved walking around and meeting the shop owners (be sure to say bonjour and au revoir when you enter and exit). When they see how hard you are trying to communicate in French they are very helpful and kind. You can walk everywhere there and market day was always a treat. I highly recommend this program. It's an experience I will always cherish.

Whitney O'Bannon Reports from Australia

Learning abroad has endless opportunities! Whitney O’Bannon is a U student doing her internship in Dunedin, New Zealand, through AustraLearn. Here is a link to her first news story that she did from start to finish, including attending the event, interviewing, editing, and voiceovers. Check out the report here.

http://www.ch9.co.nz/content/forsyth-barr-stadium-construction-nearing-its-end

Rachel Spotts: My Adventures in Oviedo, Spain!

Rachel Spotts

My Adventures in Oviedo, Spain!

I had the amazing opportunity to study abroad in Oviedo, Spain during the summer of 2011. One of the greatest things I learned during my time overseas was that diversity in cultural immersion is of vast importance for people in today’s globalized world. Not only was I able to learn Spanish at a much faster pace than I otherwise would have, but I also was exposed to the ways of life and rich cultural history of a beautiful area in Spain.

I left for the study abroad program with the hopes

of learning to read, write, and speak Spanish better, but I left with so much more. In addition to the skills I learned with the language, I left with a deeper understanding and appreciation of the culture and people. The classes were very effective and overall were a great learning environment. The homework provided more help for me to practice the materials, and then I would apply everything that I learned on a daily basis with my host family and everyone that I spent time with after class. I met many new people in Oviedo, and it was great to speak Spanish everyday and be able to hold conversations with everyone. The language barrier was less and less of an issue as the program went on. I am so grateful to have had this incredible experience in Oviedo, Spain. I learned so much from an international perspective, and I can now speak Spanish with more confidence and ease. I will always remember my adventures in Spain, including the excursions and group activities, as well as the experiences that each day brought. This study abroad program was a lot of fun, and it was also very informative and a great way to learn Spanish.

Patricia Qualheim: Grenoble, France

Patricia Qualheim is a Junior in French at the University of Utah. She spent the 2010-2011 academic year on an exchange program in Grenoble, France.

I spent the last school year in Grenoble – a mid-sized southeastern French city surrounded by the Alps. I really loved the program and have progressed so much since coming here. I came with so many hopes and ambitions and feel that Grenoble was the perfect environment for helping me accomplish my goals. The campus was really beautiful and, much like the University of Utah, surrounded by mountains.  The view from my apartment is gorgeous. It definitely makes up for the small size. Grenoble is about the same size as Salt Lake City and the tram system is fairly reliable, except for when the French have one of those strikes or rallies that they're so famous for. The first rally that I saw was really cool to watch. It was basically a parade. Communists, socialists, human rights activists, and a marching band interrupted public transportation as they waved their banners and flaming torches through the city's center. 

There were several great programs on campus for integrating students. One of which was the Cuef, who did a really great job of organizing trips to important landmarks and events in the Rhone-Alps region.  One of my favorites was a trip to the nearby village of Annecy for the festival of cows. Venders and artisans lined the cobbled streets to sell various traditional foods and art –usually handmade- from the region. I chatted for a minute with a group of ladies who sat on the street making lace by hand to sell and watched a painter making ornaments for Christmas, putting great detail into each one. Later my friends and I filled up on tartiflette, a traditional Rhone-Alps dish made from potatoes, cheese, and bacon, while listening to a live band dressed in a customary celebratory costume in the street.

The neighborhood I lived in was quaint and very French. There was a giant fountain in the center of the neighborhood and we had several fresh food markets just down the street that sold goods grown by local farmers. The atmosphere was always lively, with locals rushing in and out during breaks from work to get their fixings for supper. But my favorite local spot for grocery shopping was a little local bakery who sold the best baguettes in all of France. I became quite the bread connoisseur by the end of the year. I can’t say I had quite the same success with picking out produce, but I had fun miming the locals who sniffed, squeezed, and searched over their veggies with expertise before heading home. It’s the little things like that that really make a study abroad experience. My morning was very French. I went to a nearby boulangerie to buy a baguette for my lunch and then to a little street market to buy fresh vegetables for dinner. It was so cute, and I felt so French when I had mornings like that. Sometimes I got carried away with pretending to be a french shopper and came home with weird vegetables that I don't know how to cook, but I bought because they were pretty. The more vegetables & colors I had in my little red basket, the more I felt that shopping at the market was a legitimate French experience.

Grenoble is a rather sporty city in general, and thanks to mountainous surroundings is a famous skiing and hiking spot. While I’ve never been skiing, I took advantage of several amazing hiking trails. The photo I took at left is a picture from one of my favorite trails, overlooking a small village in the mountains. It was so beautiful. But my very favorite trail is one found just at the end of the tram line. About two miles after the start of the trail, there are amazing waterfalls.  Additionally, there are several amazing lakes the surrounding areas that are fairly easy to reach with public transportation.

Throughout the month of December there are Christmas markets in nearly every European city. Cute little shops selling handmade little goods line Victor Hugo Park and one can really feel Christmas in the air. Food vendors were selling nutella covered waffles and hot chocolate to warm up freezing customers as they browsed the goods from local artisans. Shelves were overflowing with toys for children, nativities, hand painted Russian nesting dolls, a hundred different perfumes from homemade soaps, and candies. The light covering of snow gave me the impression of really being in a winter wonderland. Spending the holidays in Europe is a really a unique experience and though I missed my family and friends, I’m really glad that I got the chance to be there.

Taryn Young: Gijón, Spain

Taryn Young is a sophomore studying Biomedical Engineering and Spanish at the U of U. This summer she participated in the Advanced Spanish Language study abroad program in Gijón, Spain.

Two nights before my study abroad came to an end, the city of Gijón celebrated El Festival de San Juan.  This is observed throughout Spain on the day of the summer solstice, which is also the shortest night of the year.  My host mom told me that I would be able to find small bonfires scattered along the beach in addition to the enormous bonfire that was created by the city.  She explained that it was one of the ways which summer was welcomed.  The fire symbolized the cleansing and burning of the old and the incoming of the new and fruitful.

That night I began my walk from my host family’s house to Poniente Beach, where the main celebration was taking place.  As I started the hour-long journey towards the other side of town, I began to reflect upon the past five weeks and all of the memories I had made.  Among the first things I thought about were the many experiences that I had with my seven-year-old host sister, Inés. 

It was unbelievable that everything was coming to an end, and that I would soon be leaving my host sister, who by that time felt more like an actual family member.  Yes, at times I would arrive home, exhausted from the day’s activities and ready to relax, when she was a ball of pure energy, and other times when she would want nothing more than to play while I was pressed to complete my essays for class.  Yet, there were so many more times that I could not help but love this little girl that gave me all of the affection that she had.



Me and my host sister, Inés



The night that I arrived, she was watching a dubbed episode of Hannah Montana.  I was still nervous about how she would react to me, so I sat on the couch next to the one she was on.  A few minutes later, I found her right at my side, staring at me with a curious, yet sincere smile on her face.  Before long, she had her arms around me and was talking, almost too quickly for me to comprehend, about nearly everything.  To top it off, right before going to bed, she brought down a keychain of her favorite animal, an octopus, to give to me, showing how caring she was by first night.

Then, one week earlier, it was a typical day where I had just sat down at the kitchen table to eat lunch after four hours of classes.  Inés, who had already eaten, came into the kitchen and asked if I knew how to do division.  I answered yes, and told her that if she brought her homework into the kitchen I would help her, even though I was unsure if my Spanish skills were up to the test.  As I saw the frustration with the numbers build in her face, I knew that my plans to go to the beach that afternoon had been changed.  As much as I initially wanted to spend the day under the warm sun, nothing could have been more rewarding than the moment when, two and a half hours later, her frustrated and confused expression turned into one of joy because she could complete her homework problems without any help from me.

But the best moment was earlier that evening when my host mother had asked us to take the garbage to the trashcan that would be collected by the city.  Carrying trash to the dumpster may not sound like the magical moment that somebody would normally imagine, but as we walked towards our destination, the wind was calm, the weather was warm, and the orange sun set the tone perfectly for a nice stroll down the street.  We talked about the flowers we saw, skipped along the sidewalks, and laughed at each other for no good reason.  On the way back, we took turns acting as if we were going to touch each other with our germy hands and ended our short adventure with a big, handless hug.  I couldn’t have asked for a more memorable way to spend the little time I had left with her.

After some more reminiscing, I arrived at the celebration, and found my friends within the sea of people that had come out to celebrate the night.  Upon arriving, I learned about one last tradition: one was supposed to write down a wish or desire and throw it into the fire.  So, I borrowed a pen and some paper from a classmate, scribbled down some words, and approached the community bonfire.

The hoguera, or bonfire

When I threw my crumpled-up scrap of notebook paper into the city bonfire, I also burned all sad feelings that I had related to leaving.  It was true that there was so much that I would miss.  From visiting different cities across Spain to taking out the trash with my host sister, there were numerous memories that I would take home with me.  However, as cheesy as it may sound, it was just as my host mom had said.  That night was the burning of the old.  It was the end of the old me that had existed five weeks earlier—the one that had not overcome countless language barriers, had not experienced the Spanish culture, and had no idea that she would create such a unique bond with an amazing little girl.  However, room was made for the new—the future to come that could be better created thanks to the experiences I had during the previous five weeks in Spain.

Mark Barnard: Tours, France

Mark Barnard is a sophomore in Sociology and Gender Studies at the U of U. This past summer he participated in the Intensive French Language in Tours, France, study abroad program.

It seems that most people in the United States have a romanticized idea of France. When we think of France we imagine a country of wine, cheese, and romance. We imagine France like we see it in the movies; beautiful and enchanting. While France is still an extraordinary nation, the thing that I learned most while studying in Tours is that France, as we imagine it, does not exist. The wonder of France is found in many other ways that our silly dreams simply do not explore.

Most importantly Paris, France, is often presented as a gleaming city of romance and awe. The name Paris seems to bring about ideas and dreams in the minds of people that no other city in the world does. Paris is often the sole vision people have of France. But does anyone truly know why? Prior to my arrival in Tours I spent two nights in Paris and following my stay in Tours I spent another five nights in Paris. I made a point of comparing the ideas of Paris that we as Americans seem to dote upon and what I really witnessed in Paris. What did I find? The city has amazing history, there is no denying that. The evidence of Napoleon’s self idolization is still evident in almost every corner of the city, protests are still traditionally being held at the famous Place de la Bastille and the graves of many outstanding writers who lived and died in Paris can be found there. But I have to ask, do most who dream of Paris even know these things? Or do they dream of the Eiffel Tower and the Mona Lisa? Things the movies tend to popularize. What I really found in Paris modern life is that it is no different than any other large city in the world. It is crowded, it is dirty and it is certainly screaming with the sounds of busy streets and honking horns. To see the Paris we tend to dream of one would have to ignore the begging women, the drunks on the metro and the crowds that fill the streets. This is Paris.

Paris, in my opinion, is not France. I truly discovered France during my time in Tours. Tours is a “small” French town, although if it were in Utah it would be considered quite large. Tours has an amazing history; the kings of France surrounded this small town with elaborately decorated chateaus in the middle ages, the city saw great expansion in the 1800s and the evidence of World War Two is visible in the difference between the ages of buildings in different neighborhoods of the city. One neighborhood has ancient 500 year old buildings that are so old they appear to be leaning into the street, another neighborhood has architecture from the 1860s and the center of town, after being completely rebuilt because of its total destruction during WWII, has buildings that are only 70 years old. Tours contains essence of the history of France within its architecture alone.

What’s more is that Tours modern life is also representative of a modern France. The people come in every size, shape and color. There are Arabs, Africans, and traditional French people all in great number. There are the elderly, the working adults and the large student youth population. Paris, even if it is not like Tours, has these same populations, and I have discovered that all of France is this diverse. There is no one idea of a “French person”. France is a nation of many cultures. The unifying factor is that each and every one of them; old, young, black, white, brown, poor or rich, belongs to the French Republic. They are French.

Exploring the streets of Tours, I never met two people who were alike. The only thing I could see that they all had in common was the reason I came to Tours; the French language. In Paris, in my experience, the Parisians will rarely speak French with a student. They do not have time to work with imperfect French and their English often is better than a student’s French. In Tours they are delighted to speak French with a student. On any occasion I found people smiling and trying to have full conversations with me in French. I could even tell that they were attempting to speak more clearly with me so I would understand. They knew I was a student, and they knew it was important for me to learn their language. The people of Tours welcome students in a way that I feel represents the real France, they invite them to share and explore the many things France has to offer. I discovered many foods, traditions, home lives and most importantly I learned a great deal of French. I don’t think any of this would be possible in Paris. 

When I returned home I was bombarded with questions; “How was France?” “Did you go to Paris?” “Did you see a castle?” These questions were always followed or preceded by the phrase “I’m so jealous!” My response to this is generally something like this; “France was amazing, but not for the reasons you may think. Paris and castles are cool, and I saw my share of them, but you can see those things in pictures. The real awe of France is in its history, its diversity, its people, and its language. Without learning and exploring these things, castles and Paris are meaningless.” I finish with something that I hope lets them get the point, “France was great because I was a student there.” This is the honest truth. I had the opportunity to see and learn things I never would have if I came to France expecting to be awed by the Eiffel Tower. In Tours I was given the chance to see the real France, a real nation, not the dreamy idea of France. France was great because I was a student there.  

Sky Bennett: Oviedo, Spain

Sky Bennett is a senior in Film and Media Arts at the University of Utah. She particiated in the 2011 Intensive Spanish Language in Oviedo, Spain, study abroad program.

The process through which I decided to study abroad was complicated and hesitant, with my brain bouncing back and forth for several months between the obvious pros and supposed cons of dropping real life and shipping myself to Europe. If I had known then what I know now, I would have turned in my application on day one. Experiencing Spain as the Spaniards do -- that is to say, walking their streets, eating their food, speaking their language and in many ways adopting their culture -- completely changed my life, and I wouldn't exchange that unique personal development for anything.

For that reason, opting to participate in the five-week intensive Spanish program offered by the University of Utah in Oviedo, Spain, was the best decision of my life. Not only was my capacity for understanding the language improved upon tenfold by consistent exposure, but I also fell in love with the city and its inhabitants. Classes followed an easy schedule: nine-thirty to two, with a half hour break a part of the way through. The rest of your day is yours for the taking, usually spent exploring, learning, loving, meeting, touching, smelling, tasting, being in Spain. Oviedo is a wonderfully relaxed city; everything seems to move at a healthier, slower pace than what is usual back home. My friends and I would often meet up at Gascona, a street dedicated to the famous Asturian sidra served there, and make friends with locals as the hours passed us by. Said "sidra" is a bubbly, low-alcohol apple cider that needs to be poured several feet above the glass for proper aeration. Drinking or no, the best way to practice the language by far was to communicate with strangers in the bars and restaurants. The friendships I made in Spain were invaluable to me, and I know that I will have familiar faces waiting for me in the future when I return.

The fun factor for visiting Europe is already high by default, but the program directors make a deliberate effort to provide exciting weekend excursions for everyone. The tone for awesome was set first at the "espicha," a celebration-like event where we were fed traditional dishes, wine, and sidra from Asturias. We were accompanied by bagpipers and dancing in a beautiful, dark lit room. There wasn't a face in the room without a smile creeping at its corners by the end of the night.

Between excursion events and some additional traveling, I visited over ten cities in Spain during my European adventures. For our "free weekend," I went with a large group of students from both Oviedo and Gijon to a town called Bilbao. On our way, we made the silly mistake of taking the 1 a.m. bus, which arrived at 5 a.m. and left us with nothing to do for several hours. Even with the mishap, we had a great time. All of the students camped out in a park until the sun came out, at which point we went on a grand hunt for our hotel. That afternoon, I visited the famous Guggenheim museum, which was the most remarkable museum I've experienced in my entire life. Experienced: You don't simply view the Guggenheim, but rather, you are subjected to each exhibit on a personal and moving level, often walking into the presentation and left feeling humbled by the piece. I would fly into Bilbao for the museum alone, though the rest of the city is pleasant and approachable in its own right and also worth a look. The next day, we continued to coastal San Sebastian, where we were met with beautiful beaches and lovely cafes.

You don't have to feel obligated to visit San Sebastian for a solid beach experience, however. Less than half hour's bus ride away from Oviedo, the town of Gijon is an easy option for enjoying the ocean. Even more fabulous is the gorgeous Bellota beach in Llanes, to where we were taken during one of the excursions. The beach is delicately housed by rolling green hills and rocky cliffs, as through birthed right from the picture books. There is something very peaceful about watching others sunbathe or play soccer on the beach, free from responsibilities and stress of "real life." I was reminded that no matter what lie for me back in the states, I was in Spain to let it all go, to revolve with the world instead of resisting against it.

Every moment in a foreign country, with its own set of cultural standards and expectations, can be special if you let it. It's important to allow yourself to feel challenged by what is strange or different; that is how growth happens. I had fun kayaking down Rio Sella, venturing about the Picos de Europa and discovering its two hidden lakes, attending the festival Noche de San Juan and so many other excursions during my stay in Oviedo, but the real worth of studying abroad is so much more complex than that. Speaking a second language might make you a more valuable employee, but by experience this program helped me become a more valuable human being. Words cannot describe the gratitude I feel toward everyone who made my participation possible. I couldn't be happier to have taken the plunge and studied abroad. To my instructors, directors, host family and friends: ¡Gracias por todo! 

Kelly McClelland: Gijón. Spain

Kelly McClelland is a senior studying Marketing at the University of Utah. She participated in the 2011 Advanced Spanish Language in Gijón, Spain, study abroad program.

I miss…

The City.

Gijón is like one of those great friends that you instantly connect with. One of those friends where you say “Wow, I feel like I have know you forever.” It doesn’t take you long to get to know it and it is one of those places that you will never forget.

Daily Life: Gijón Spain is located on the Northern coast of Spain. My host mom’s house was a five minute walk to the beach. It was amazing. After class all of my classmates and I would walk to the beach with our bocadillos in hand and enjoy a nice long afternoon of people watching, surfing, tanning, and lots of stories

I miss….

The People.

Spainards were always out and about at all hours of the day, with their children, smiling, laughing, and just enjoying their beautiful city. They were so incredibly friendly. The second we would pull out a map we would have locals coming up to us from all directions asking if we needed help. Then they would graciously walk us safely to our destination. It felt like home.

I miss…

The Food.

There were small cafes on every corner that served the most delicious churros and chocolate. Not to mention coffee and flaky buttery pastries that literally melted in your mouth. Yes, if you must know I did come back a few pounds heavier then I left…but I will not disclose by how much ;).

I miss…

My Friends that became My Family.

We had the most diverse group but everyone was so different, that that is what made it work. We got along effortlessly and it was so funny to see everyone slowly coming out of their shells. We all experienced countless adventures together and now we share some of the most unforgettable memories.

I miss…

The Architecture.

The elaborate details in all of the architecture of the most ancient buildings were breath taking. The pictures can’t even capture the depth and the design of these cathedrals and castles. They were all built with so much history and all had a different story.

I miss...

The Language.

I miss walking down the street and only hearing Spanish banter, I miss the ascent, I miss trying to translate and decipher all of the Spanish advertisements and signs. It was quite a challenge at first and sometimes we failed miserably. Apparently “bonito” which we learned meant beautiful and we were all using to describe our host family’s houses and children…actually meant tuna. Not quite the compliment we were trying to give.

All in all, my Spanish adventure was something I will never forget. I learned so much from it and grew a lot as a person. But there was one crucial lesson that I realized that I think is important enough to share with you. It is about balance.

The Spanish culture is very much different from our American culture. Being in Spain made me realize how much we (as Americans) base our happiness and self worth on our successes, our accomplishments, the numbers in our bank accounts, and the model of car in our driveway. We work tedious hours and spend time away from the people we care about most, for what? At the end of the day you might have a nice fat paycheck but how much is that money worth if you have no one special to share it with?

Family, friends, lovers, partners, those interpersonal connections is what the Spanish culture thrives upon. Spainards know the true value of having strong personal relationships. They would rather spend their time at a café catching up with friends and swapping weekend stories and jokes then staying late at their offices, and rightfully so.

Now, I am not saying that one culture is right and the other is wrong. Both have their pros and cons and both have their consequences. What I am saying is that I have learned the importance of balance. If you are constantly on your iPhone emailing or texting while you are supposed to be enjoying a nice family dinner or outing with friends…you are not balanced. If you are constantly late to work or not showing up to classes because you would rather go skiing or go to the pool with a group of friends….you are not balanced. Find a happy medium between your accomplishments and your personal relationships. When you are at work, work hard and for a company and a cause you believe in. Work to achieve something extraordinary, not mediocre. Work to make the world a better place for your children and your children’s children. And when you are not at work, live, laugh and love. Enjoy every moment you spend with your friends and family. Cherish their jokes, their quirks, and their stories. Leave your iPhone 5 (is that out yet?) at home and actually be present, physically and mentally. It is an art to learn to relax and enjoy life moment by moment, but it is something crucial that needs to be mastered in order to live your life to its fullest.

Lauren Bartsch: Chandigarh, India

Lauren Bartsch is a master's student in Public Health at the University of Utah. She recently returned home from Chandigarh, India, with the Global Health in India study abroad program.

Lauren walking through the prayer wheels at the temple in Darmsala, home of the Dalai Lama

A few of the students at the Taj Mahal

Anyone who knows me, knows I have a deep passion for traveling, learning about other cultures and different ways of living… and India has been on my list of places to visit for sometime.  I fortunately had the great opportunity to travel to India this summer with the University of Utah’s Public Health program. We spent four weeks working in nine rural villages in the Fategarh Sahib district. We partnered with the MBCT, also known as Mehar Baba Charitable Trust and PGI-SPH (Post Graduate Institute, School of Public Health).  No real words can truly describe this life-changing experience I had. This is something that I will never forget, especially the things I learned from the amazing people I got to work with and meet. This study abroad is something I will truly cherish.

After three long plane rides and one train ride later we finally made it to Chandigarh (in the northeast area of India) where we spent the majority of our time. Each day we would drive about 45 minutes to the villages. Those car rides were some of the scariest car rides I have ever experienced. The traffic is nothing but crazy! It seems as though there are no rules when it comes to driving and it’s essential to use the horn while driving. I am pretty sure the horn is attached to the breaks. Once we finally weaved our way through traffic and made it to the villages each day, we collected water samples in the different villages testing for total coli form, e-coli and nitrate.  Not only did we collect water samples, we also mapped each village using a GPS. Both of those were great experiences because we had more of an opportunity to walk around the villages and were able to see the different ways people were living. I personally found it hard to hear that a fair number of the people living in the different villages were on government funded water and sometimes would only be allowed to get water from their house for one hour each day.  Just seeing and hearing that made me realize how much I take for granted back at home.

Hard at work testing the water

In conjunction with the other projects we also met with groups of young men and young women and they discussed their way of life. I only had the opportunity to sit in on a few of the discussions, but was amazed to hear the desire among girls for more education as well as the desire to tackle social ills such as drug use. They had also mentioned they want more organized activities for the youth.

One of the villages

The beautiful women in one of the villages

I truly had an amazing and life –changing experience while I was in India. However, there is something that I just can’t seem to grasp nor will I ever be able to understand the logic behind this cultural belief I am about to share. Just a fore warning…it’s a little graphic and if you are as sensitive as I am it will be hard to hear.  Before I say much more I just wanted to say… I understand that communities, cultures and beliefs are very important to people and it makes them who they are. People base their decisions off of what they believe in. I am a firm believer in the things I have been taught and the decisions I have made are based off of my beliefs and culture. However, I have a VERY hard time understanding that when a belief or culture treats another human being like they are the scum of the earth. I just don’t understand.

The rice fields....they were all over on our drive to the villages

This entire experience of hearing, learning and seeing the different ways of life was such an amazing and humbling experience. Truly no words will ever be able to describe the thoughts and feelings that went through me while I was in India. I am truly so impressed by the amazing and generous people of India. I will forever be indebted to them for their willingness to share with us a glimpse of their life. The people are truly amazing and I am so blessed for such an amazing opportunity I was able to have.

Darmsala, this is where the Dali Lama lives. It was beautiful!

All of the girls at the celebration dinner one of our last nights there