agliwa | UD Abroad Blog

Argentina: Recoleta Cemetery

Submitted by Regan Pavlock on the 2020 winter session study abroad program in Argentina sponsored by the Department of Languages, Literatures & Cultures…

After a few days of settling into my host family’s house, my classmates and I were taken on a tour of Recoleta, an upper class neighborhood in Buenos Aires. All of the students in the program are living with host families in the Recoleta neighborhood, so I was eager to see more about the place where we are staying for a month. Our first stop on the tour was to El Cementerio de La Recoleta, which is a well known cemetery in which affluent and influential Argentinians were buried. Entering the cemetery, I was taken aback by the large and ornate mausoleums that lined in rows inside the gates of the cemetery. Walking through the rows, our tour guide stopped and explained the importance of especially famous Argentines with incredible displays to hold their tombs. However, in between the notable mausoleums that our tour guide told us about, I was impacted by just how many unique mausoleums were created in order to pay respects to family and friends who had passed. Every tomb was different in style, and a mausoleum that seemed modern and new could be sitting directly next to one that was crumbling away after tens or hundreds of years in the cemetery. In American culture, many people opt to be cremated after their deaths, as opposed to having a large memorial build to house their coffin. Even if a person is buried in a cemetery, usually a simple gravestone serves to mark their grave. I was impacted at how much effort went into creating the mausoleums for the dead, and couldn’t help but think about an American cemetery in comparison. However, seeing each and every individual plaque or gravestone in El Cementerio de La Recoleta reminded me that in the end, all cemeteries serve the same purpose, even if they are displayed in wildly different ways.

France: Elie Saab Couture House

Submitted by Aliza Vacca on the 2020 winter session study abroad program in Paris, France sponsored by the Department of Fashion and Apparel Studies…

Arriving in Paris was no doubt a culture shock. My first day here lasted over 30 hours because of the time difference. Everything I saw, I was seeing with fresh, open eyes. The people, buildings, signs, sidewalks, and of course the Eiffel Tower all were breathtaking. The hum and movement of the city is very distinct and unlike any American city. In our first week here, we traveled and walked around a great deal. A big part of the metro system is down due to labor strikes that have been occurring for about a month. However, that only means I get to see more of the city by walking the streets.

One particular stop that I truly appreciated was the opportunity to visit the Elie Saab couture house. Elie Saab is a couture designer that will be showing a new collection this coming Paris Fashion Week. We were taken into the building which is located on Champs-Élysées, a very famous street housing some of the most famous fashion brands in the world. To get into the building you must enter a gate and be let in by a worker who has their own code. To shop at his couture house you must make an appointment, so the fact they let in 20 students on the floor with couture dresses was truly amazing. The elegant gowns were draped on mannequins and seeing them in person you can really see the expert craftsmanship used to construct and embellish these pieces. Our visit was brief, but while there, we were able to present ourselves to the worker who will read our resumes and select six students to work with Elie Saab during fashion week. Being in a Parisian couture house was truly a once in a lifetime experience. Going to Paris I knew I would want to experience what it would be like to be in a city surrounded by luxury and couture brands. I am grateful to take back this experience with me and to have such a unique memory of this wonderful city.

South Africa: “Ubuntu”

Submitted by Allison Fitzgerald on the 2020 winter session program in South Africa sponsored by the Department of Human Development and Family Studies and the Department of Hotel, Restaurant and Institutional Management…

I have been in South Africa for a week. I absolutely love it here, and it is everything I imagined it would be and more. At the same time, it is completely different than what I expected. When I previously pictured South Africa in my mind, I conjured up images of flat grassland and lots of dryness. In reality, South Africa is quite green and there is a lot of elevation in the land. Because I am a native Delawarean, I would even go as far as to say the landscape contains mountains (similar to the Appalachians in the United States).

Another thing that I am completely shocked about is how genuinely nice the people are here in South Africa. One thing I was continually warned about before I left the States was the crime here. While that is a completely valid concern because South Africa has a very high rate of violent crime, I have never been surrounded by such kindhearted, warm, and welcoming people. The individuals working in the hotel I am staying at are always eager to have a conversation. I can even walk past someone on the street, smile and wave, and have the same actions reciprocated. Unfortunately, that energy cannot be duplicated in the United States. I think the U.S. has much to learn from South Africa with respect to humanity and how to treat one another with kindness and respect. Ubuntu is a word I learned in preparation of this trip, and it has gotten even more important during my time here. Ubuntu is the spirit of human kindness, or “I am because we are”. If the United States tried applying more collectivist ideas to the way we live, I truly believe there would be improvements in societal functioning in America. We should learn to look out for not only ourselves, but everyone around us.

New Zealand: Thoughts on a Plane

Submitted by Ilana Shmukler on the 2020 winter session program in New Zealand sponsored by the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering…

2:46 PM

Rarely, do I see such beautiful shades of blue, as I look out my airplane window. The ocean is a deep rich blue, but soft, almost tired looking. It’s a sight that, even after looking away for a moment, starts to slip my memory, until all that I have left is the feeling of a color that once was.

3:05 PM

I am unable to grasp the sheer magnitude of what was just done. On the opposite side of the world- there isn’t a word worthy enough to describe it in my vocabulary. I am the furthest that I’ve ever been from home. What’s next, the moon?

3:24 PM

Just got my meal and it looks disgusting. I am sick of meat and rice and I’m checking pescetarian on the ride home.

4:11 PM

I’ve been struggling internally as to whether or not I’ve made the right choice- to study abroad, to do it in New Zealand, but seeing it for the first time, where land meets water, dotted with what can be described as stuffed animal fluff clouds… oh wait, that’s not New Zealand. From the airplane map I’m over Noumea, New Caledonia. Two more hours to go.

5:54 PM

Update: I made the right choice.

The blue sky outside my airplane window, as described at 2:46 PM.

My airplane food meal, as described at 3:24 PM.

Argentina: Victoria Ocampo

Submitted by Sara Bixler on the 2020 winter session study abroad program in Argentina sponsored by the Department of Languages, Literatures & Cultures…

We have been in Argentina for 5 days now, and we have already been to so many different places around Buenos Aires! I feel like I have learned so many new things about this place in such a short time and it makes me excited to think about what is to come in the next few weeks! On January 9th, our entire group took a day trip to El Tigre and San Isidro, both important historical towns in Argentina. We took a boat through the Tigre Delta to the town of El Tigre in the morning. We had the opportunity to walk through the “Puerto de Frutos” (Port of Fruits), which was originally a major trading port for fruit and other products when the town was first established. In the afternoon, we took a bus tour through the rest of El Tigre and then made our way to San Isidro.

In San Isidro, we visited a beautiful historic house that was owned by a very influential Argentine woman named Victoria Ocampo. This part of the day caught my attention the most because I really enjoyed learning about Victoria and her contribution to Argentine culture. We learned that Victoria was an editor for a magazine called El Sur, which featured the work of many famous writers like Jorge Luis Borges. Victoria was very influential in the Latin American community during the 20th century, and she became a powerful symbol for feminism and women’s rights during her time. I thought it was really interesting to learn about a woman who made a large impact in the culture of this country! Not to mention, her house was absolutely stunning.

Australia: Koala Encounter

Submitted by Sydney Berkey on the 2020 winter session program in Australia sponsored by the Department of English…

Throughout my whole encounter, Luca, my favorite koala featured below, didn’t stop eating eucalyptus; Luca’s ranger explained to our group that these koalas eat anywhere between 200 to 500 grams of leaves a day. In order to feed ONLY seven koalas, they need leaves from about 1,000 trees a week! The sanctuaries go to elaborate lengths to ensure their koalas are fed. They decrease the amount of leaves they have to buy by growing eucalyptus trees of their own. Not only did it blow my mind that these tiny animals eat so much, but it also enlightened me to the growing problem here in Australia. As the bush fires continue to run rampant throughout the country, these koalas, as well as many other species, are not only getting physically hurt, but their habitats and food sources are also being destroyed. This species, deemed functionally extinct, is fighting for its survival and has done so with human help. Fundraising money has gone to the installation of drinking stations and medical help in burnt areas and the donation of knitted blankets and pouches have given affected animals temporary homes. It’s astonishing to see how the Australian community has come together to help fight the fires either through physical help, monetary donations, prayers, and/or spreading awareness to help, not only the koalas and their sanctuaries, but the country overall as well.

Chile: After the Turmoil

Submitted by Michael Irwin on the 2020 winter session study abroad program in Chile sponsored by the Department of Languages, Literatures & Cultures…

I arrived this week in Santiago, the capital of Chile. I was a bit nervous because I would be living with a host family, but as soon as I arrived my nerves were calmed. Throughout the past couple of months, the country has been in a period of turmoil. There have been various protests that have broken out in major cities, especially Santiago. The protests started for various reasons, but from what I was able to gather, it was a protest about the injustice towards many citizens in the country. These protests went from being peaceful, to quickly out of hand and violent. They began to die down before I arrived, but I was still able to see the damage that had been done in various areas of the city.

Curious about the why the protests began, I asked a few locals that I was comfortable speaking with about their opinion. From what I gathered; the protesters believe that the government needs a big change which begins with the constitution. The constitution was written in a time when Chile was ruled under a dictatorship. Many people want this to be revised to help alleviate the injustice and due to the protests, there will be a vote in April to have it rewritten.

The protests have caused a great deal of destruction to parts of the city. I have encountered people who believe that this was necessary for a change and some who think it is a shame. It was very interesting to hear both aspects.

Sunset photo taken from the tallest building in South America.

Tanzania: Unique Cultures

Submitted by Cameron Vanderwolf on the 2020 winter session program in Tanzania sponsored by the Department of Entomology and Wildlife Ecology…

My time in Tanzania is shaping up to become one of the biggest adventures of my life. In a country full of so many unique and beautiful cultures, it’s exciting to learn to understand the differences between them and my own, but to also recognize how much I can still share and relate to them. My first day here, we walked around the village of Olasiti and heard from villagers about how they came to live here. The Arusha-Maasai are a group of people that value nature and include it in their traditional religion and origin story. They hold the acacia tree to be a sacred symbol because it brought peace to the two warring tribes, the Arusha and the Maasai, and they merged into one people. As a wildlife major, nature and the natural environment are especially important to me, so it was such a special experience to bond with these people over a shared passion for the Earth. Even though there was a language barrier at some points, I was able to connect with the people I met through our interest in the bird calls being heard and the beautiful mountain scenery surrounding us. This is very comforting to think about, how there is more that connects us than divides, especially in as much unrest is happening throughout the world right now. Tanzania is such a beautiful and diverse country, and I’m excited to explore more of it. This week has been one of the most unexpected, but also most fulfilling weeks yet, and I can’t wait to see all of the things I learn and where they will take me.

England: Immersed in the Culture

Submitted by Michaela Matteo on the 2020 winter session study abroad program in London, England sponsored by the Department of Communication…

During my first week in London, I was extremely shocked by everything that I have learned in such a short amount of time. I was completely immersed into the culture and feel like it helped me to ease into the city. One of my favorite parts of this past week was our group’s visit to Hampton Court Palace. While we were there, we spent some time doing an audience profile, which was in coordination with our Public Relations course. I found myself not only enjoying the historical site, but also being able to apply the different types of examples we had learned in class. For example, some tactics that most Americans would simply regard as advertisements are actually specific public relations moves by the companies to support their business. I’m now easily picking up on certain things that once went unnoticed by me. I have also discovered an extreme interest in the history of London, which seems to be woven throughout London, even in the most metropolitan areas. Overall, I have learned and am applying so much information, sometimes unconsciously, after my first week in London.

One of the main gardens within Hampton Court Palace, where Henry the VIII resided.

Thailand: The Grand Palace

Submitted by a student on the 2020 winter session program in Australia and Thailand sponsored by the Alfred Lerner College of Business and Economics…

It has been almost a full week since I arrived in Bangkok, Thailand. Over this past week, I have participated in various activities that introduced me to the Thai culture and customs. Upon my arrival, I didn’t really know what to expect from Thailand because I didn’t really know much about it, but it definitely exceeded my expectations. In the beginning of the week, we visited the Grand Palace where we were shown 16 different temples, ones honoring Buddha himself as well as others that value the current and past kings. We learned the history behind the architecture of the buildings, facts about the kings themselves, as well as developed a deeper understanding of Buddha and how he impacts the Thai culture. The most interesting thing I realized was that within this Grand Palace, if you wanted to step foot in the temple and pray to Buddha, your shoes would have to be taken off in respect to the god. I am so excited to see what the rest of this program has in store.