University of Utah Students Blogging Abroad

Brady Lenz, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China

2011-12-15T10:09:00.000-08:00

Choosing to go to Tsinghua University in Beijing, China was one of my best choices I made during my whole college career. I choose classes within their Business and Chinese departments so I could learn more about doing business and also more about their language and culture. During this time I made many friends from all over the world, and we also had many opportunities to travel to large corporations and learn from Chief Executives how they run companies within China.

Although school was a big part of my learning, taking trips to famous places such as the Great Wall helped to further my learning and increase my knowledge of the culture. They have a saying in Chinese, “ 不到長城非好漢” (Bu dao chang cheng fei hao han). This phrase translated is, “Who never climbed the Great Wall cannot be deemed a Man.” This is somewhat of a true statement because if you get beyond the tourist areas, you will be amazed at the work it takes to get far on the wall. As you can see however, the work it worth the view.

Being able to learn about Chinese culture and religion was very helpful for me by finding special objects that I could then talk about and relate to through my experience. Buddha is a well known spiritual leader throughout all of China which made seeing this statue that much cooler.

On the bustling streets of Beijing you will find many tourest attractions. These stands have thousands flocking to them everyday. Are you daring enough to try one of these special delights?

By the time I was acclimated in the places we lived, I was able to make many friends and meet some very influential people. With my increased speaking level I was given opportunities to discuss business opportunities with CEO’s of large firms.

Once my semester was over I took an opportunity to go to Southern China and see differences in geography as well as people. I found amazing Karst topography in remote areas of Yunnan and had the chance to learn about Southern Chinas land. Once in Southern China I realized the gap between the wealthy city areas and the humble towns of a 3rd world country were quite large. When in Beijing one would never think of China as 3rd world, but once in the rural areas it is easy to see why the clasification is there.

Kailee Lee- Global Health in Uganda

2011-11-28T09:57:00.000-08:00

Uganda

Uganda touched my my heart. I assumed before leaving for Uganda that I was about to have a life changing experience, but the experience I had there was even more profound than I imagined. Uganda is a beautiful country with beautiful people. I may sound a little sappy but my study abroad experience in Uganda really made me feel like I was in touch with human beings in an entirely new way.

The purpose of this particular study abroad trip was to do water testing, community assessments, to survey women, teaching women about hygiene kits and helping some of the towns with brick making and micro loans. The first and second day of the trip were two of the most amazing days I have every had in my life. After a bumpy drive through pineapple fields and viewing beautiful Lake Victoria we arrived at our first water testing site. The site was across from a elementary age school yard and when we arrived it was lunch time. Within a few short minutes of arriving at the water site our car was swarmed with children yelling “muzungu muzungu!” (Muzungu means white person). Everywhere we went the swarm of about 200 kids followed us, watching our every move. Basically every time we encountered children throughout the entire month we were swarmed by curious and beautiful kids that wanted to touch us and watch us.

The second day in Uganda was really an eye opening day for all of us. We had the opportunity to work with a school called Gods Grace. When we arrived the children sang some songs and did a skit they had prepared for us. While singing the songs the children were extremely happy and energetic. It was refreshing to be in such a happy atmosphere. The skit the children performed was about HIV in Africa and the hardships that many of the children had gone through. About 8 of the children stood up and told stories of how they had lost their loved ones. One girl told us how she had lost her uncle to HIV, a boy told of how his mother had been killed by a wild animal, two twins stood up and told us how both of their parents had left one day and never came back. I don’t think one person in that tent had a dry eye. It made me extremely grateful to have a safe home and two parents.

My month long experience in Africa was full of eye opening and life changing experiences. From playing duck duck goose with children that have nothing, to bungee jumping over the Victoria Nile, Uganda is a beautiful place that I will not soon forget.

Photo Essay Contest Winner, 1st Place, Vincent Bath, Siena, Italy Study Abroad

2011-11-28T00:00:00.000-08:00

"Passage through Time"

Study abroad fills the "gap" between past and future; history and present. Study Abroad is the ultimate passage to hands-on learning. You are living and seeing what you have been studying about, while touching tangible artifacts of the past and taking pictures of it with your gadgets of today. Each person through this passage carries a different load, some heavy and some light. No matter the weight of the load you may carry, study abroad lifts you up and propels you forward, while changing your life forever.

"Learning like a lemon"
To me, education is like a lemon in Sorrento, Italy. Education needs to be instilled early into our lives so that we may be fruitful throughout the rest of our lives. Most lemon trees will begin bearing fruit within two to five years of planting. Lemon trees can survive and continue to bear fruit regularly for more than 50 years if they are planted right and continue to be cultivated. Just like a lemon may need artificial sweetners to enhave the powerful lemon flavor, education may need diversity to sweeten the overall educational experience. Study abroad is that sweetener and I recommend it for everyone.

"Majesty of the Past"
Study Abroad invites us to sit down and appreciate the work of otheres, millions of others that have gone before us. Everything from smells in the air from artisan bread, infamous marble statues, and churches that tower toward the heavens remind us of the others who have walked before us. Works of others show us that through education (craft or trade) that the world learns from each other and inspires us to leave our mark on history.

"Io Sono Sempre Qui"
Mount Vesuvius overlooks Pompei and reminds us that he is still there and he isn't going anywhere. Just like Mount Vesuvius there are several objects as well as events in history that teach valuable lessons for the future. Mount Vesuvius leveled Pompeii and killed hundreds of thousands of people. Tribulation and tragedy may have passed of be quaking nearby, but as time goes on we mend and heal. Throughout time most disasters are causation for improvement and it's when we learn the most.....

Just as the old lady in Pompeii mentioned "It is not just the power of the sun or the curative drops of Amalfi rain that spring forth the poppies, but it is the soil in which they grow!" And what soil would that be I ask here? The soil caused by Vesuvius! And what makes the soil great, I ask? The soil has "ash" in it so the poppies grow redder! Whether or not her folklore serves well, I know that the educational experience in the Siena 2011 Study Abroad was indeed the best soil and educational seed could have been planted it.

Photo Essay Contest Winner, 2nd place, Kayla Kilpatrick, Sustainable Tourism in Fiji

2011-11-21T14:54:00.000-08:00

Namosi Valley (Nakavika village)
We traveled up to the village of Nakavika in the highlands of Viti Levu (the largest island of Fiji) in order to spend the night in the village, drink kava with the locals, and to learn more about Fijian culture. Our bus driver was actually from Namosi Valley, so we were able to learn about his life experiences throughout our travels on Viti Levu. Every time we had to go somewhere, he would bring us the most delicious banana bread that I have ever tasted. When we arrived in Nakavika, we did presentations at the local school to explain where we were from and our culture.

After our presentations, the children performed a meke (dance) for us. It was the cutest thing ever. One of the little boys in the picture above lost his grass skirt and kept trying to put it back on while still dancing. Later in the evening, we performed a kava ceremony with the locals and drank kava into the late hours of the night. For those of you who have never tried kava, it pretty much tastes exactly like muddy, peppery water.

Kula Eco Park
On the way to Nadi (pronounced Nandi), we stopped at the Kula Eco Park to look at some of the local flora and fauna. Pictured here with me are Fijian banded and Fijian crested iguanas. We were able to see these iguanas, Pacific Boas, Fijian flying foxes, and many local birds. During the trip, we saw many of these animals in the wild. For instance, when we river rafted the Navua River, I actually helped bag a wild boar and Nate Bricker (one of the U’s faculty who came with us) caught a Pacific Boa. We also kayaked by a small island populated by a ton of bats at one point in the trip.

Sri Siva Subramaniya Temple
In Nadi, we stopped at this Hindu temple in order to experience the Indo‐Fijian aspect of Fijian
culture. We avoided eating meat that day so that we could adhere to the policies of the Hindu temple. We had to walk around the outside of the temple three times before going inside the main area. When we were inside, we performed a ceremony offering some bananas and a coconut to the Hindu gods in order to gain experiences learning this part of Indo‐ Fijian culture. The priest was very impressed because the coconut split extremely evenly, therefore indicating that we were pure of heart.

Yasawa Islands
During the study abroad, we stayed at three different places. This picture was taken at the last place we stayed in the Yasawa Islands. One afternoon, there was a “local games” activity that included spear‐throwing and the ever classic egg throw. Megan (from WVU) and I are wearing our sulus (sarongs) since we had become quite attached to them during our stay in Fiji and sulus are an extremely important aspect of Fijian dress.

Yasawa Islands
This group picture was taken during our stay at the island of Nanuya Lailai. They filmed part of The Blue Lagoon where we stayed and went scuba diving! Brian (from Texas State) and I obtained our Advanced Open Water Diving certifications, while the others on the trip got their Open Water Diving certifications. We even went on a shark feeding dive and we saw many dolphins during a few of our snorkeling adventures as well. I was the only student from the University of Utah, so I was rather nervous about meeting the other students going on the trip. There was one guy from Texas State, and the remaining six girls were from West Virginia University. Despite our differences, we formed a tight bond throughout this study abroad, and I will treasure this experience for the rest of my life.

Theater in London, England, Katie Stansfield

2011-11-17T00:00:00.000-08:00

The Theatre in London Study Abroad Program was flexible enough in the schedule that I could plan my own trip to one of England’s other cities. Jane, one of the trip leaders gave me websites I could go to to buy train tickets and find a cheap yet comfortable place to stay. With that help I was able to plan my own mini-trip to Bath for a weekend.

Day One: I found a tour company online called Mad Max who planned tours of the sites around Bath, the most exciting of which was Stonehenge at the end. The tour began at a village called Castle Comb, one of the most beautiful villages I’ve ever seen. It’s also quite famous. Steven Speilburg just finished filming his new movie Warhorse there.

Castle Comb

Next we visited the Avebury Henge, a place far less well know but far more impressive than Stonehenge. In fact, you could fit several Stonehenges inside Avebury. Also, at Avebury people were free to walk through and around and actually touch the stones.

Avebury Henge

The village he took us to for lunch was called Lacock. It’s another very famous village, a few segments of the Harry Potter movies were actually filmed there, such as Professor Slughorn’s house in movie six, which I was able to see up close.

Professor Slughorn's House

Then finally, we got to Stonehenge. Before I went up to look at it I purchased a pastry the British folk call a Rock Cake (a dense piece of dough with chocolate chips inside and sprinkled with sugar and baked) I found it to be appropriate and amusing. It was truly an amazing thing to see up close. I walked around it twice, despite how chilly it was that day.

Stonehenge

Though I had planned to visit more restaurants while I was in Bath, I kept going back to Sally Lunn’s. I first visited this place after my Stonehenge Tour, they had a special deal for afternoon tea that day. I ordered the Bath Cream Tea which was accompanied by a bun with cinnamon sugar butter. The atmosphere mixed with the tea and bun made me feel completely at ease and relaxed and genuinely happy. I looked outside at the architecture of Bath and instantly felt like I was in one of Jane Austin’s stories.

Later that night I was walking around the town and discovered that I was there during the weekend of Bath’s International Music Festival. There were live bands playing absolutely everywhere. As soon as I was out of earshot of one venue, another would take it’s place. One of the happier accidents of my trip. Not caring how cold it was at night, I wondered around for several hours listening and watching different bands play.

Day Two: This was my day to really explore Bath. The town was small enough that I was able to see all the sites I wanted to. I started at the Royal Crescent, a very beautiful piece of architecture. After admiring it for awhile I visited the Jane Austin Museum and Fashion Museums, both of which were very interesting for me; but I noticed the looks on the faces of some men who were clearly dragged there by their girlfriends were less than enthusiastic. The Roman Baths was a site absolutely packed with tourists, the baths may have been more interesting if I had been able to approach them.

Royal Crescent

However, all was not lost because I did go on a wonderful tour of Bath Abbey; a tour that required you to climb over 200 steps to get to the top and see the bells. However, I cannot say it wasn’t completely worth it. The view from the top of the Abbey was breathtaking.

That was my own planned tour of Bath, the next day I got back on the train and made my way back home......to London that is.

Photo Essay Contest Winner, 3rd Place, Garrett Norris, Japan Exchange

2011-11-14T00:00:00.000-08:00

Fall sets fire to the greenery of Japan. Maple forests are engulfed in a blaze of colors, which ignite emotion and wonder within viewers participating in a time-honored ceremony know as momiji gari : the autumn leaf viewing. Last fall, I found myself blanketed under canopies of red, climbing sacred mountains and exploring serene temples near Kyoto.

I arrived in Japan a year ago this week. My four seasons in Japan marked changes in my life that I am just beginning to understand. Winter saw snow in Tokyo. A novelty for many within the metropolis. Trains stopped, taxis spin, and time seemed to stand still on the streets next to businessmen complaining of meetings missed and children playing in merriment. Flurries laced this five-story pagoda at Senso-ji, Tokyo’s oldest temple, which was originally established in 645 and rebuilt after World War II as a symbol of peace.

Spring brings Sakura: the cherry-blossom season. Philosophically, the fragile and transitory beauty of Sakura represents the preciousness of life. Shortly after the moment of full bloom, the wind gently stirs the blossoms from their branches in swirls of pink.

Summer is welcomed across Japan with the bon lantern festival. Celebrants dressed in traditional, beautifully decorated yukata dance, sing, drum, and drink to honr the spirits of those passed. At this festival I attended in Tokyo, a special service was held for those lost in the March 11th Tsunami. Between dances, the music would stop, smiles would face and eyes would close in prayer.

In four seasons, I learned a language, experienced a rich culture deeply rooted in tradition and respect, and made a strong connection with a kind and welcoming people. I was asked if I was Tom Cruise when this picture was taken. I may not be the last samurai, but I feel a connection with Japan that is rooted within my soul. Our lives are made of many seasons, but the red leaves, snowflakes, and Sakura blossoms that fell on me last year mark the seasons that the passage of time will never take from my memory.

Schnitzeljagd in Lübeck, Germany, Justin Abbott, Kiel, Germany

2011-11-10T10:04:00.001-08:00

My entire experience as a study abroad student in the northern, Baltic coast city of Kiel, Germany was amazing. The things I learned, the friends I made, and the foods I ate will never be forgotten. As part of the program we went on several different excursions that lasted anywhere from a single day to a long weekend. We had a chance to see Berlin, Sylt (a favorite vacation island of Germany’s rich and famous), Oslo, Norway (a beautiful, Troll inhabited Scandinavian capital), and Lübeck.

Lübeck is a wonderful little city in northern Germany which is famous for its marzipan (almond paste), and for being the capital of the Hanseatic League - the most powerful trade network in northern Europe during the late middle ages and early modern period. To help us discover this beautiful city, known as the “Queen of the Hanse” we broke into teams and went on a Schnitzeljagd, or scavenger hunt.

Back in medieval Europe, cities were often engaged in war with neighboring cities and towns. To help protect itself, Lübeck, like many cities in northern Germany, was completely surrounded by water. One of the city’s most enduring landmarks is the Holstentor, which is a gate that guarded a bridge into the old town. The gate is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. This gate was our first stop on our scavenger hunt.

Another stop along our route was St. Mary’s Church (Marienkirche). This beautiful, gothic church was first built between 1250 and 1350. It is the third tallest church in Germany, and has the highest brick vault in the world. The church contains many memorials; one of its most poignant was created by the 1942 Palm Sunday Air Raid. The Allies’ air raid created a draft that made the church bells ring just before they went plummeting to the ground. When the church was reconstructed, following the war, the bells were left where they had fallen.

Our Schnitzeljagd ended at the Schiffergesellschaft. This was constructed in 1535 as the home of the Brotherhood of Captains. This brotherhood, who still owns the building today, is a guild of ship captains who used to come together to create the rules of the sea, and to further seafaring enterprise. In 1868 the Schiffergesellschaft was opened to the public as a restaurant. The tables and benches are part of the original, 500 year old décor, which is complemented with all sorts of interesting ship models, hanging from the ceiling.

After lunch we all went to the Willy Brandt Museum. Wily Brandt is one of Germany’s most famous politicians. He was born and raised in Lübeck, and later went on to become the mayor of West Berlin, and the chancellor of West Germany. He is accredited with creating what is known as Ostpolitik, which was a new West German stance that respected East Germany’s right to exist and cooled tensions with Poland and the USSR. His policies were controversial in West Germany at the time, but won him the 1971 Nobel Peace Prize, and later aided in the fall of the Berlin Wall.

Lübeck is world renowned for its Niederegger marzipan (almond paste). Marzipan is a wonderful treat. It can be eaten plain, or covered in chocolate, or baked into cakes, cookies, and other pastries. They often mold it into fun shapes, such as bread, carrots, pigs, cows, birds, ladybugs, and even cityscapes and sculptural busts.

I wish I had saved the marzipan bar I received as a prize when my team won the scavenger hunt, then I could be eating it right now; mmm… marizipan. But even if I have depleted my supply of marzipan, at least I will always have the fond memories of Lübeck, and the many other enriching people and places I experienced on my study abroad in Kiel, Germany.

Photo Essay Contest Winner, Best Story, Jozef Mitchell, Siena, Italy

2011-11-07T00:00:00.000-08:00

ITALIA

Nature has an innate strength.
The closer we get to it the more we
learn from it.

There is much to say about
perspective. It is best to look at
things in every way possible. In
focus, out of focus, up close, from
far away, as a native, and as an
outsider. Perspective changes
everything.

A good walk is like a good kiss. You
can share a short one with friends,
or a long one with a lover.
Walk where you’ve been before,
walk where you haven’t. It can be
done in the morning, evening, or at
night.
Refreshing. I suppose you could
take a walk alone, but I don’t
recommend giving yourself a kiss.

Italy is full of walls and fortresses. I
immediately asked myself what they
were protecting. Although the
threats of barbarians, invasions, and
other old world dangers had long
since passed I imagined they were
left standing to protect the Italians
way of life.

How could Dante Alghieri write
about the depths of hell in a
countryside as breathtaking as
Tuscany? With its endless rolling
hills and vineyards, perhaps he was
moved to imagine something that
contrasted with this eternal
paradise.

There are small details in life that
people often fly past. Italy’s beauty
taught me to slow down and admire
the small and unnoticed places. I
learned that putting pride and
passion into the details is what
separates ordinary work from
masterpieces in any facet of life.

Photo Essay Contest Winner, Best Photos, Corey Shurtleff, Spain

2011-10-31T00:00:00.000-07:00

Viaje There is no possible way to capture the entirety of a life experience, such as one created by a Study Abroad Program. I participated in the University of Utah’s summer language Study Abroad program in Oviedo, Spain. I was enrolled in classes that fulfilled my 2010 and 2020 language requirement. Going into the program with only one previous semester of language experience, I was fairly overwhelmed and nervous. I truly had no idea how this program would impact my life and the perspective I would gain on the world and other cultures.

URBAN BILBAO: During my semester in Spain, I had the opportunity for travel during a free weekend scheduled in the middle of the program (opposed to the scheduled excursions during other weekends). A group of students and I planned a trip from Oviedo to Bilbao, and from Bilbao to San Sebastian. This gave us an opportunity to venture out and travel independently. Traveling by foot enabled us to see parts of cities rarely seen otherwise. Both in Bilbao and in San Sebastian we were able to explore, connect with locals, and learn a diverse set of cultures within Spain. GRAINS OF HISTORY This photo was taken at the Santa Maria del Naranco on Mount Naranco in Oviedo. Oviedo is a historical focal point in the mountain region of Asturias. The aged brick and rich wood is a nostalgic characterization of the cuidad antigua of Oviedo. The street life and community in the city is like nothing I have ever seen before. At all times of the day, in all parts of the city there is always life and action. The way that the modern culture fits into the historical city breeds a dynamic and unique culture, perfect for students to explore and learn.

PARADICE IN THE PICOS: Voluntary excursions are also available during the Study Abroad. Even though participation sometimes required getting up at 5 in the morning, the benefits were incredible. This photo was taken 12 km into the Picos de Europas of northern Spain.

BACK ALLEYS OF BARCA: After the graduation of the program, students were free to travel and explore other areas of Spain and Europe. During a few days in Barcelona, we were able to visit La Sagrada Familia, la cuidad antigua, the Mediterranean Sea, popular nightclubs and fantastic back alleys such as this one. WHERE

CITY MEETS SKY: Near the end of our experience, we spent time in Valencia. This destination was among my favorite during my study abroad. This beautiful city has many things to offer in terms of architecture and site seeing, unique cuisine, beach, and city life. Valencia was the perfect city to end an incredible adventure in Spain. Through all of the places and cities visited, we were able to appreciate the various Spanish cultures – individual cultures that thrived brightly within the Spanish culture, ranging from northern, to eastern, to southern, to central.

Photo Essay Contest Winner, Student Choice, Ashley Glenn "Go a Roving: Summer in Tianjin, China"

2011-10-24T10:25:00.000-07:00

Characters Written in Water
In China, in and out of the classroom, I was always learning. Walking around the city, I mumbled to myself the characters I was able to read, my eyes always looking for new words, trying to figure out the relationship between the characters placed together on signs. In a small park in Tianjin, I watched a woman write characters, slowly, with a large calligraphy brush. Another reminder that learning is everywhere, sometimes right at your feet.

Forever Shanghai
My classmates on the trip would tease me because I would stop anywhere on a street to take a picture. Things they had overlooked would catch my eye, and I needed to capture it. Sure, in China, you will have the opportunity to see famous temples, to stand behind rows of tourists waiting to get a look at ancient relics. For some, they remember China through pictures of The Forbidden City and the Great Wall; however, to me, I remember China through bicycles. They are everywhere, distinct and colorful and practical, reflective of China itself.

Splish Splash
Spend your weekdays in a classroom and weekends creating lessons of your own. On a free weekend, my roommate and decided to combat the craziness of Chinese train stations and head to southern China, home of clear water, rice fields, and bamboo groves along the river. A reminder of what waits outside the packed cities of China, that it is possible to slow down and enjoy the warmth of the sun and the wonder of where you are, on the other side of the world.

Color to Your Life
The beauty of travelling is the people you meet. Travelling creates stressful situations but also creates a space for trust and intimacy. Your study abroad classmates are your battle buddies. You share notecards, classroom snacks, and photographs because you can’t bear the thought of snapping that picture without them in it too.

A Closer Look

There is that trite saying that beauty is in the details. Normally, I like to mock clichés, but this is one that cannot be overlooked because when it is acts of discovery and moments of appreciation go unnoticed. With travelling, people tend to gravitate toward Lonely Planet counsel and away from their own instinct. Everywhere, there are minute things people overlook, the muscles of the lions’ legs, the curves in his hair, the bold yellow background and the contrast of colors created. Studying abroad is about awareness; it is not just reading and repeating but also seeing, opening your eyes and opening your mind to the beauty of details.

'Herzlichen Glückwunsch zum Geburtstag- Aneisha Reed. Kiel, Germany.

2011-10-03T00:00:00.000-07:00

HALLO!!! This all started when I was about 16. One summer my grandmother and I decided we wanted to go to Europe together. We signed up for a summer tour with a random group, all from Utah, and we went the following summer. This trip was amazing. We got to visit 6 countries. It began in Germany, then we went to Austria, from Austria we went to Switzerland. After that we went Italy. We ended our trip of a lifetime by taking a high speed train from France to England. The week leading up to the trip, all I could think about were pasta, crepes, talking in a British accent and meeting beautiful, rich, smart, European men. When I thought of Germany I really didn’t care. I had never really had an interst in Germany or its culture or anything of the sort. I just wanted to get to the delicious gelato and Spaghetti! The moment I stepped off the plane in Germany, I was in shock. It is a feeling I will never be able to explain and a feeling I got again when I arrived in Germany. This feeling is a feeling of connection, deep love, and home-like belonging. My experience in Germany the first time had my heart broken from returning to the U.S. and I promised myself, “I will get back to Germany some day”. About 4 years later, I found myself packing my bag to leave to Germany, once again. I had kept my promise to myself. This time I was fascinated with the culture, the language, and the history. My experience was like nothing I have ever experienced before. Here is my story.

I have had the most awesome week and weekend EVER!! It all started on Sunday! This is only the second week and I am dreading the last week I will be here. I have to find a way to stay here… FOREVER!
Sunday; in German: Sonnetag. So on Sonntag we had a little opening welcome dinner! It was so good. We ate flounder and we went to the beach which is very cold… not like the beaches in California! We took a boat over to the beach and had dinner there. It was perfect weather, warm and lovely. We had dinner with our host families and the tutors we had met in Germany. It was all so culturally different and so intriguing to me. My German (deutsch) was not so good at first and I struggled talking with those around me. Kiel, the city that I am in, is right by the sea. Fresh fish is plentiful and it rains… a lot!
Monday; in German: Montag. On Montag we had a city tour done by the one and only Silvana. She is Ashley's host mom and she is Italian. She is the sweetest thing ever! She took us to see the old city (Alt stadt) which was very interesting. I learned that the city of Kiel does not have very many historic buildings because during World War II it was heavily bombed and destroyed. I found the stories we learned very interesting. The city holds a lot of history. The city was heavily bombed during WWII because it housed and built huge harbor ships at that time. Tuesday,in German: Dienstag. On Dienstag it was the first day of classes which were fun and we were pumped. During our school lunch break on Tuesday, I headed down to Torben's school and taught English class for the day which was an awesome experience. Torben is my host brother and he does not speak English well, so I get all the practice I can with him. He is in the 5th grade. All the kids were so nice and they told me everything about themselves! I made a cute little PowerPoint about Utah and the seasons and how different life is in the United States. They were all so amazed, as was I, with the cultural differences between my elementary experience and theirs. I had to take the bus to the school and I must applaud Germany’s means of public transportation. It is so convenient and easy to follow. Wherever you want to go the buses, trains, or bikes will take you. It is absolutely incredible.
Wednesday, in German: Mittwoch. On Mittwoch it was just a regular old day. School, lunch... da da da. After school Ryan, Ashley, and I headed down to the shopping strip to see what was going on and found H&M, which was awesome! H&M is a Sweedish clothing store and in Europe you can find them on every corner. Germany, I learned is the primary customer for this huge chain of businesses. Later that day we headed to Martina's sport club and had a BBQ me and Ashley had so much fun we ate, drank, and played volleyball with the boys! Martina is my host mother and she works for a sports club that has 1300 members and counting! Most of the members are younger, like elementary age. It was the first kind of sunny overcast day I had seen since I had been in Germany and so Ashley and I decided to play volleyball and soccer with my host brother Torben and some of his friends. In the middle of the volley ball game, rain poured from everywhere, and when it rains there, it pours. We were drenched and playing Volleyball. Germans never let weather ruin the fun!
Thursday, in German: Donnerstag. Donnerstag was the best day of my life so far. It was my 20th birthday and Martina and Torben threw me a surprise party and all the host family's came. We all had great food and they gave me gifts. We had a barbeque with traditional German sausage (wurst) and potatoe salad (kartoffelsalat). It was very nice of them to throw this party and it made my entire day! I feel so blessed to be surrounded by people filled with love! Thanks for everything! To have an experience like this in a country filled with people you have never met will be one of the most amazing experiences you could ever had. People are so kind and want to tell you about their culture and their traditions on holidays. You will learn a great deal when studying abroad!
Friday, in German: Freitag! We headed to Lübeck which is a Mideavel city filled with churches and lots of other cool stuff. I bought a lot of Marzipan, which is a candy-like substance that I am not quite sure what it is. It comes in every shape and flavor though. Marzipan ice cream was the most delicious thing I had that day! I also saw a fresh flower stand and decided to get a nice big orange daisy for Martina to show her how much I appreciated everything she had done for me!

It has been quite the adventurous week!!
I never want to leave Germany!!! The cultural experience and differences between Germany and the United States are so amazing to me. I would never trade this experience for anything. I have learned a great deal on this trip and would recommend this to anyone who is wondering about studying abroad. Don’t let your life pass you by, if you want it, go get it. Don’t ever look back. Make history now, so that later in your life you can look back on some of the most unique experiences ever! Not only does this experience teach you culture and Language, but the things people will show you are things you can’t just experience visiting for a week or going on a tour. These places are “secret” and amazing. Study abroad will give you connections to people and places and give you a real feel of what this language or culture is all about. This is by far was the most educational experience of my lifetime. I encourage you and even dare you to not just step off the curb, but jump off the curb and put yourself is this experience. You will believe the things you will learn, when you spring into a new place, and…. Oh the places you’ll go.

Kelli Chatelain; "My Golden Ticket" Gijón, Spain

2011-09-26T00:00:00.000-07:00

When majoring in two languages, studying abroad is almost always expected. However, there were several things that always seemed to be in the way: money was one. But, as Grandpa George said in Charlie and the Chocolate Factory :
“There's plenty of money out there. They print more every day. But this ticket, there's only five of them in the whole world, and that's all there's ever going to be. Only a dummy would give this up for something as common as money. Are you a dummy?”
I didn’t literally have a golden ticket to go to the world’s best chocolate factory, but I did have my own golden ticket: the opportunity to study abroad in my favorite place in the entire world. and I didn’t want to be a dummy. Thankfully I was awarded the student fee scholarship and my parents were willing to help me out. But there was still something big standing in the way : my diabetes. I was diagnosed with type 1 when I was 9, and it is something that never goes away or gives you a break, physically, emotionally and psychologically. Everyone’s diabetes is different, but for me it is a constant struggle, a roller coaster, a see-saw. There are good days and there are horrible days, and every variation in between. When I decided to study abroad, nobody told me that I couldn’t do it. However, I had enough anxiety about traveling alone for the first time, meeting all new people and being in a foreign environment that the worry of a chronic disease almost put me over the edge. I looked at many different programs, of many different lengths and costs. Finally, I found the faculty-led program in Gijón. I felt good about the length of 5 weeks: short enough that I would be able to carry everything I needed and I wouldn’t be overwhelmed, but long enough to get to know the area and get settled. Boy was I wrong about the long enough part...

So, after getting everything set, it finally came. On the plane, I struggled keeping my blood sugar down. When I arrived, I had to change my basal rates (hourly insulin). This was difficult due to the time zone change as every hour in the body is a complex mix of hormones, stress, activity levels, carbohydrates, fat and protein. It was embarrassing to have to carry another bag when I already had too many. However, despite these hiccups, great things started to happen almost as soon as I arrived. I stayed with a family in Madrid for a few days before heading to Gijón, and they were very interested in my diabetes. Talking with them and sharing my struggles was a great way to get my Spanish going and connect with them. The grandson of the couple I stayed with asked me what my OmniPod (insulin pump) was. After answering, I prepared for the worst, but he then declared in his cute little voice, that my plastic pod-shaped little life-saving device was “so cool!”

When I arrived in Gijón, I found two more hidden benefits with my host mom. The first was that, as a diabetic, I could tell her exactly what I wanted to eat. So, when some of my classmates were complaining about the food in their home, I could openly express what I wanted or didn’t want to eat to my host mom without worrying that I would hurt her feelings.

The second is that I was able to relate and discuss in depth with my host mom the challenges of living with a chronic disease, because she had one too. We understood each other very well because of that, and we could respectfully share what is oftentimes hard to share.

Throughout my program, whether on excursions, or in class, or at home, I had plenty of highs and lows. Beyond the specifics of a high or low blood sugar, I sometimes worried or doubted in a more general sense. However I learned how to go from “What if?” to “Why not?” For the most part, I did what everyone else did. Sometimes slower, and sometimes with a different understanding. Because very little with diabetes is guaranteed, it helped me to take everything I did and appreciate it for what it was.

In the end, I think my challenges made my experience sweeter. Sometimes I was mad when I didn’t feel well when everyone else was having fun, but what I gained far outweighs those few instances. For example, I loved Spain so much, that I knew that I would have to come back. When I returned home, this gave me the motivation I needed to find a good job. Another example is the good friend I made through doing an intercambio. I count him among my best friends and treasure our friendship.

Another example is the week I spent with my brother after the program. We got to see my favorite band, Vetusta Morla, in Avilés. We went to Oviedo, and I showed him around Gijón. We went to Bilbao and fell in love with that wonderful city and the Basque Country. While there, we went to San Mamés, the stadium of my favorite soccer team, Athletic Bilbao. I even got to take pictures in the locker room next to my favorite players’ lockers. All things that I can’t put a price on and that I’ll remember forever, not to mention the wonderful cultural and linguistic immersion experience!

I feel like this disease will always be a major part of my life, but it can be more positive than negative. I would encourage anyone who has a chronic disease who wants to study abroad to think about the great things that they can gain. It will be hard sometimes, but you will still have hard times, even if you never leave home. The challenges will make you stronger. If you leave home, you’ll have extraordinary new experiences to cushion those bad patches while abroad, and into the future.

McKell Neff- Tours France Summer 2011

2011-09-22T00:00:00.000-07:00

Each day in Tour something new and exciting happened. My first days in Tour I did not have my luggage because it got lost by the airline. Most would call this a misfortune; however, for me this was not a negative thing. I went to downtown Tours and indulged in French fashion with out feeling guilty because it was a necessity! My first day there I was already soaking in the French culture and being forced to use French. I had to ask for a dressing room, ask for a different size and I even got to share my story of how my luggage got lost with a girl in the dressing room.

My next days proved to be just as exciting as the first. My first weekend when I arrived was a long weekend because it was a French Holiday. Along with a few newly met friends from class, I headed off to explore Paris (45 min. train ride from Tours). Each weekend while I was abroad I had the opportunity to visit somewhere new in Europe. I visited places near and far, relaxing beaches to historical castles.

Not only were my weekends an adventure but it seemed as if every day at school and at my Host family’s house were exciting. Each day at class I learned something new and useful. Each day I progressed noticeably with the French language. At home with my host family we never spoke English and at school we never spoke English. Everyday a group of us would get together for lunch and seek out something new and exciting to eat. Our common language was French. Even on these occasions we would speak French because many of the students that joined us for lunch didn’t speak English. This diversity of languages forced us to communicate only in French.

The school excursions to castles and other famous places made it possible to always have things to do. I was never bored or ever homesick because I was always busy. It was very easy to meet new people and friends because of the way the classes were organized and the way the University of Utah staff was involved with us everywhere we went.

There were so many ways to learn about French culture and language while in Tour; however, the one that made the biggest impact on me was the time that I spent with the women that I stayed with. Every night I could hardly wait to get home to see what she had prepared for dinner. She made it her goal to prepare a very authentic French meal every night so we got to literally indulge in and taste French culture. Sometimes the meals she prepared were 7 course meals and sometimes it took us 2 or more hours before we were finished and cleared the table. I didn’t mind the time we spent at the table because this is where I learned and progressed the most in French and in friendships. She had the most incredible stories. She would tell us about how hard her life was during World War II and how she lived through the war. She would tell us how she used to milk her own goat when she was young and make cheese from the milk. Her life was full of interesting adventures and she would share a new story with us each night. If I were to choose my favorite part about my stay in Tours, it would be without question, the times I spent at dinner talking to our host Mother.

Uganda Global Health - Yvette Young

2011-09-19T00:01:00.000-07:00

While I have been to a number of different countries, my trip to Uganda this summer with the Global Health study abroad program was my first trip with a humanitarian component. I went with a group of seven other U of U students and our program director, Dr. John Shavers. We went with suitcases full of donations for the village schools as well as supplies to conduct several service-oriented project. The entire experience was amazing.

Children with books we brought.

Reading about poverty and deprivation from expensive textbooks or an even more expensive personal computer in the comfort of an air-conditioned library does little to communicate the full reality of living in very poor regions of the world. Our projects brought us face-to-face with these realities. One of the projects, and the one I was most heavily involved with, involved conducting needs assessment surveys of the women in the villages we visited. We questioned the women about their water sources, cooking practices, sanitation, health needs, financial needs and access to light and fuel. Even this was academic compared to actually seeing their homes, water sources and sanitation. The women we interviewed were extremely welcoming and happy to show us their homes and other aspects of their lives in the village.

Women's group in Lumina

In western Uganda most of the homes were brick or cement blocks with corrugated metal or sometimes thatch for roofs. In eastern Uganda we encountered a number of traditional thatched huts. Most homes had no floor except the packed red dirt. Few had glass in their windows. And the size of the homes was often no bigger than my living room. Despite their meager situations they welcomed us warmly, even giving us small gifts of fruit and maize as we toured their land and homes. Some of the tours were social, but others were conducted to evaluate the capacity of their tiny plots of land to support a fruit tree or two. (This was in anticipation of possible receipt of a microloan from the non-profit organization with which Dr. Shavers was affiliated.) Through our interaction with the women we came to understand a bit of the Ugandan culture and “personality.” They were quick to joke, very warm and eager to meet and welcome newcomers. It was amazing to see such a positive culture growing out of such deep poverty.

A girl cooking on rocks.

Our water-testing project was eye-opening. Some of the water sources looked like mud-puddles. Others looked slightly better, with hand pumps or piping and cement platforms. However, nearly all sources we tested were contaminated (with bacteria), and half had e coli. This experience was more salient than any textbook description of the problems of access to clean water. Seeing these sites, testing the water, and witnessing the real implications of living in extreme poverty are experiences that will stay with me forever.

Water source.