agliwa | UD Abroad Blog

Ireland: Coming Home Early

Submitted by Cooper Rothman on the 2020 spring semester program in Limerick, Ireland…

As you all already may know, the COVID-19 situation rapidly changed and at the time the President restricted travel to or from the United States, the Center for Disease Control raised Ireland’s danger level in relation to the pandemic. This forced my program to end, and for myself and my classmates to board the first flight home. The first affordable flight after hearing this news was three days away, so I spent my last days getting ready and taking everything in. I was very disappointed that I couldn’t travel to other countries on trips I had already planned, and even more so to leave the friends that I had made during my time abroad.

After the technicalities were worked out on how I would get home, my roommates and I took trips to Dublin and Limerick City to get gifts for our families and friends. It was surreal seeing everything for the last time, but to also see the lack of people in the streets. We had been to both these places just a few weeks ago, but now the streets were empty and the lights were out. Luckily, I was able to get everyone gifts as stores remained open before we left.

My final night at the University of Limerick, I took a walk on the living bridge and reflected on my entire experience. I was glad to have visited most places in Ireland and to have made such amazing friends during my time abroad. Even though the program was cut short, at least I can say I was in Europe during the COVID-19 pandemic. I’m still in contact with everyone I met abroad, and while we aren’t together at the moment, I’m sure they are all happy to be home with their families during this difficult time.

My last walk on the campus of the University of Limerick as the sun sets on a great journey.

Spain: From Madrid to Heaven

Submitted by Emma Straw on the 2020 spring semester study abroad program in Madrid, Spain…

They have a saying here in Madrid, “De Madrid al cielo”. It means, from Madrid to heaven and for the locals here, it means that once you’ve been to Madrid, the only place that tops it is heaven. Now whether you’re religious or not, this saying truly encompasses the nature of the city and its people. Madrid is one of a kind, with its variety of quiet neighborhoods, bustling parks and streets, collection of museums, and amazing nightlife. There’s something for everyone in this walkable and livable city.

Now, everyone’s probably wondering how we’re doing with COVID-19. For the next 15 days, Madrid’s government has closed all schools and universities so my classmates and I will be watching video recordings and emailing professors for the next two weeks. While this isn’t what I expected would happen during my time abroad, I am so thankful to have had three amazing months here before this pandemic hit. Keep your fingers crossed that we’ll still be in Madrid after the two weeks are up!

Now while I go catch up on some textbook readings, enjoy these pictures from my weekend trip to London!

Australia: Sunrise on the Harbour

Submitted by Olivia Szefer on the 2020 spring semester study abroad program in Sydney, Australia…

The iconic sites of Sydney are of course the Sydney Opera House and the Harbour Bridge which can be seen from every angle of the Harbour. After two months of living and studying in Sydney, I had plenty of time to admire them at different times of day and at different angles throughout the Harbour. However, I have never had a view from them on the actual water even though I had taken ferries before to Barangaroo. A major catalyst in finding a unique way to experience the two Australian landmarks was that my sister was visiting from Texas A&M on her spring break and I wanted to have a memorable time with her. After searching the web, I finally found the perfect adventure for us: Sydney by Kayak.

This program takes individuals and groups out into the harbour on kayaks to learn about the waterway, but also to witness the glorious sunrise come up upon the bridge and opera house. We were both able to appreciate where we were in the world and how lucky we both were to be in such a beautiful place as the colors appeared across the sky. Once we took some posed photos, we journeyed on around Lavender Bay then we kayaked to various wharfs. Throughout this experience, we learned about the origins of Luna Park, how ferries use their horns and about various convicts from the beginning of the colony. I am thankful to have seen the beautiful sunrise and to have hadquality time with my sister whom I don’t get to see often.

Italy: Three Cities in Three Days

Submitted by Jacob Leinenbach on the 2020 spring semester study abroad program in Rome, Italy…

John Cabot University in Rome is a great destination to study abroad because classes do not meet on Fridays. This gives students the opportunity to travel for an extra day each weekend and take full advantage of our time abroad. This week, my friend and I decided to take on three cities in three days. It was an ambitious plan, involving lots of logistical coordination, but having done it, I’m glad that I got to see three new cities. We started out on Thursday evening traveling by train from Rome to Perugia, a medieval city in central Italy. There, we walked the town, explored underground streets, and tried a local restaurant. The following afternoon, we caught a train to Milan, and by early evening, we were standing in the Piazza del Duomo taking in the beauty of Milan. After 24 hours seeing Milan, meeting other American students, and sleeping a little bit, we were on our next train to Turin. With just over 24 hours in Turin, we had enough time to see the Royal Palace, Shroud of Turin, and Mole Antonellina and try a traditional coffee and chocolate drink, Bicherin, before we were on our final train back to Rome. Visiting three cities in three days was exhausting and ambitious, but it was a wonderful experience and I would do it again with three new cities!

Australia: A Night at the Taronga Zoo

Submitted by Harrison Crum on the 2020 spring semester study abroad program in Sydney, Australia…

This past Monday, I traveled to the Taronga Zoo to participate in their roar & snore overnight event. I had the opportunity to stay overnight at the zoo and experience the nightlife of all the animals and participate in the morning duties that the staff go through. We watched as possums climbed into trees and penguins nestled their eggs. Our guides allowed us to touch numerous animals, including a Children’s Python, bearded dragon, and a possum that was only just recently welcomed to the zoo. During the cool of the night, many animals that are not usually out and about were exploring their enclosures. One such creature was the Bongo, which typically confines itself to a corner of its enclosure during the daytime. We saw this animal grazing on the various foods around it and scratching its back with its large horns. It was truly amazing to watch, especially given that there are only about 80 more of these creatures in the world. Back at our tents, there was an incredible view. We could see the Sydney Harbour Bridge, the Sydney Opera House, and the rest of the city.

In the morning, we were treated to a few behind the scenes events throughout the zoo. The most notable was when we traveled to see the giraffes. We were given the rare opportunity to feed the two giraffes lettuce. I held out my hand with the lettuce and each of the giraffes bent their long necks down and used their tongues to grab it. We learned more about the giraffe, including how the brown patches on their fur help to keep them warm during the cool nights, whereas the white stripes around their bodies travel along their blood vessels to keep their blood cool during the extreme heat. This was such a surreal experience, and an extremely unique opportunity given that the Taronga Zoo is home to many animals that are not seen anywhere else, either in the wild or in other zoos. I have seen so many new and fascinating animals since I’ve been in Australia and I’ve had an extraordinary time.

Washington, D.C. : Staying in Charge

Submitted by Kelly Read on the 2019 spring semester program in Washington, D.C. …

This week, I was able to really connect with my policy team at work and that was the best part of the entire week. I started to feel a little bit homesick, but the warm weather and positive work week really helped me push through! I have been here for about seven weeks now and I have about ten left so the halfway point was bound to bring some stress with it. That being said, I am really embracing the city and exploring everything that I possibly can! In addition to that, I am staying very active and getting ahead on my assignments so I can get ahead of the potential stressers!

Constitutional Monarchy in Denmark

Submitted by Clara Hernandez on the 2020 spring semester DIS program in Copenhagen, Denmark…

In comparison to the United States, Denmark has a queen. She has no political responsibilities and merely functions as a face to the Danish State. Why is this and what is her purpose? This was the topic of my recent field study to Christiansborg Palace with my Danish Language and Culture class.

Christiansborg Palace is comprised of the Parliament, the Supreme Court, and Ministry of State. The Royal Family does not live in this palace, but a few minutes north in Amalienborg Palace. They mainly use Christianborg for receiving foreign ambassadors, hosting events, the stables, and their private use of the chapel. The palace is one of the most recent palaces built in Europe, with the current addition being completed in the late 20’s. The other two parts of the palace suffered damage in the Copenhagen fires in the years 1794 and 1884. That being said, the current palace is a mixture of the previous two castles’ architecture (Neo-classical and Baroque) as well as the Neo-baroque style of the most recent addition.

Much like the Queen of England, Queen Margrethe II has no “real” powers. She is sworn to remain an impartial party and not comment on anything political. That being said, she still holds a great deal of social power. The Queen is responsible with connecting to the country by way of charity, volunteering, and forming relationships with other foreign leaders. Without Queen Margrethe, Denmark would not have a face, and that is very important for a country.

Due to the amount of connection she has with the citizens of Denmark, the Danes absolutely adore their Queen. Every year on her birthday, they hold festivities and parades for her, as well as a weekly parade where she processes down the streets of Copenhagen in her horse drawn carriage. Compared to the United States where our leader is secretly transported in any number of black SUVs, the Queen is out in the open interacting with the people, and that makes a big difference to them. Seeing the face of your leader helps form trust, and this trust is evident all across Denmark.

The above photo was taken in the dining hall inside the palace.

This photo was taken in one of the many sittings rooms in the palace.

Ireland: Rugby and Sports Culture

Submitted by Cooper Rothman on the 2020 spring semester program in Limerick, Ireland…

One thing I’ve noticed from being in Ireland is that when it is finally nice outside, people will often play with rugby balls and hurling sticks. The differentiation in sports culture is really amazing to see, because at home my friends will often play with an American football or a frisbee. Sports have always been a part of my life at home, from being a fan of the Green Bay Packers football team or playing frisbee with my friends at school. When the opportunity came to watch the local Munster Rugby team play in Thomond Park for free this weekend, I knew I had to take advantage and get to know the differences between our sports cultures more. In classic Irish fashion it was a terrible day and Storm Jorge made it rain and pour all the way to the stadium. However, when I got there, it cleared up and made the stadium look beautiful at night. Thomond Park is about 5 kilometers outside of Limerick City, and the fans that came out in the storm were incredible. I was expecting to be one of the only people there, but I was sitting in a crowded row for the whole game.

The game itself was everything I love about sports and sports fans. Despite not knowing a lot about rugby scoring, my friends and I managed to follow along and get very excited for the important plays. At one point, a fight broke out amongst the players and being in the stands for that certainly was an experience. After a Munster team win, I felt more pride about where I was staying in Ireland and the identity that comes with living in Limerick and the surrounding area. I definitely hope to go back in the future, but I have to make sure to get to a hurling game before that.

Norway: Refreshing Fjords

Submitted by Clara Hernandez on the 2020 spring semester DIS program in Copenhagen, Denmark…

As a part of my program here in Denmark, we have two long study tours that alternate between students. While one half of students have their tour this week, the other half have the week off. My long study tour is not until mid-March, so I had this week off! Instead of taking the week off to hang around the house, I made the decision to break out of Denmark and explore a different country!

Keeping with my love for Scandinavia, I decided to travel to Bergen, Norway! I am so glad I chose this location since I completely fell in love with the landscape. Differing from Denmark and Delaware, this area of Norway is filled with forests, fjords, and mountains! I have been in Copenhagen for a little longer than a month now, and I did not realize just how much I missed green spaces and fresh air. Being in Bergen was a nice cleanse for my mentality.

It was nice to experience such grand natural landscapes that I had never been able to see before! You can view pictures of snow capped mountains online, but it really cannot fully depict just how massive they are. You can also look up forests of Norwegian Spruces, but it cannot express how strongly the air smells of them, it nearly knocks you over.

I did not embark on this journey alone, however. I did travel with a recently befriended girl from one of my courses. It was a new experience having to plan excursions with another person, so there was quite a bit of compromising involved. At the end of the week, I could definitely feel myself becoming worn down. I was homesick, but not for the United States, but for my house in Copenhagen. Being in Bergen with my friend was nice, but I craved for the familiarity of “home”. I missed my own bed, my routine, and my host family. It was very intriguing to me that I was not homesick for the United States. I suppose this means that I am settled in Denmark and have finally made Copenhagen my home.

This is a picture I took on the back of the fjord tour boat. In the distance is Bergen and lots of rain we were leaving behind.

Washington, D.C. : Grateful for My Internship

Submitted by Kelly Read on the 2019 spring semester program in Washington, D.C. …

This week! It was crazy at work, but crazy in a good way. I attended a lot of briefings and did a lot of legislative research, which meant A LOT of memos. However, it gave me a chance to dig in and work on my writing and how to make it more concise and clear. The weather was a bit colder which is always harder, but spring is starting to peak through. Little walks around the neighborhood allow me to reflect on the little moments of my week, the ups and downs. I have found myself becoming close with the other interns in the office and our experiences help each other grow and we have also developed our own in-office support system. We celebrate the little victories together and that is what matters! I am loving my time here and am very grateful to have such a wonderful internship placement that allows me to walk away feeling like I did good work almost every day. I cannot wait for warmer weather and more time outside!