Submitted by Noah Burchard on the 2017 spring semester program in Rome, Italy…
The first week of the study abroad program has been unbelievable. On the plane to Italy, I sat next to a nice woman from Italy who was bilingual and told me all about Italy and her story of studying in the U.S. in college. She gave me many tips, like that a lot of museums are free on Monday . When I got to the airport terminal, I was so struck by the different architecture and different languages throughout the terminal. I have never been out of the United States. Looking out the window driving to the apartments in Trastevere was my favorite experience because it was the first time I really got to see in person some of the amazing parts of Rome. When I got to the apartment, I was struck by the breathtaking balcony in our apartment. On the first night, I went out to a restaurant and got my first pasta from Italy, and it was the best I’ve ever had by far. It was interesting how the waiter never came to our table to check on us, and we soon found out that we didn’t have to tip him which was also very interesting. I did learn ,however, that you are supposed to tip for coffee if it is around .90 euros. I’m excited to learn more customs and traditions of Rome as I become more familiar to the city. Overall, the experience has been amazing and I have already learned a lot.
Submitted by Kristen Dempsey on the 2012 spring semester program in London, England…
This week hasn’t been all that exciting, except for the fabulous boat cruise we took to Greenwich which included a walking tour to the Greenwich Meridian! You can imagine my excitement when I realized I could have one foot on the Eastern Hemisphere, and one foot on the Western Hemisphere. I was completely ecstatic of course! It’s the little things in life that give me pleasure, and being in two places at once (get it?) has always been something I’ve wanted to do, and this makes it possible.
It was a beautiful day, and the boat ride was so much fun. It included a commentary about the various sites we passed, and once we entered Greenwich we could either take a walking tour or travel to whatever places we wanted. We took the tour and passed through various sites including the Greenwich Meridian. I was just so excited about that!
Submitted by Stephanie Adams on the 2017 winter session program in the British Virgin Islands sponsored by the College of Health Sciences…
Concluding Week 3 at Peebles Hospital in the British Virgin Islands, I have gotten to work with an amazing group of nurses who have taught me a tremendous amount about their culture from various islands in the Caribbean. I have gotten to work with a various severity of patients. I have been able to care for a baby who had been diagnosed with brain death to elderly patients diagnosed with metastatic cancers. Earlier this week, we went to an island called Anegada and they have a population of 250. They only have a clinic that is staffed by one nurse and the doctor only comes on Mondays. That one nurse is responsible for the entire island’s healthcare needs. I could not imagine being all alone and having all those lives in my hands. All I could think about was the safety issue and how it would never pass in the United States. This program has made me appreciate our healthcare system back home much more!
Submitted by Caitlin Baker on the 2012 spring semester program in Granada, Spain…
This week has been a little rough as we have all had to navigate through our midterms and we weren’t really sure what to expect. Unfortunately, I got a stomach bug right in the middle of the week so that also made things a little more difficult! Nothing will make you miss home more than when you are stressed and not feeling good! I just finished up my last exam today though and it feels great to have made it through.
The wrapping up of midterms also reminds us that we are now a few days past our halfway point here. It is a great time to look back and reflect on all that we have done and experienced, but to also be look forward to all there is still to enjoy, like Spring Break which starts next week! I’m also hoping for a few beach days now that the weather has become so nice. There are a few beaches pretty close to Granada. This weekend some of us may venture down to Almuñecar, a beach that is a little over an hour away from here. In my history class we learned that the city was created by the Phoenicians and it used to be called Sexi!
Submitted by Alexander Kulyk on the 2017 winter session program in London, England sponsored by the Department of Electrical & Computer Engineering…
Now that the second week of my study abroad is over, I have already experienced so many incredible things. Today, I just got back from a visit to Windsor Castle which was stunning. The castle itself was massive and nonchalantly integrated into the main town of Windsor. The cathedral inside was beautiful. In fact, I have never seen anything as incredible as the inside of the cathedral (we couldn’t take pictures,however). The cathedral also contained many of England’s past kings, as well as an incredibly rich history.
Last week, we visited the Tower of London and it’s infamous Bloody Tower. The Crown Jewels were also incredible, however, once again pictures were not allowed. We saw Stonehenge as well, which was truly an awesome site. The history and mystery behind it is baffling.
Submitted by Jaclyn Roman on the 2012 spring semester program in Granada, Spain….
Regrettably, I’ve been reminded more times than not that I am left with only two more months of my Granada adventure. A change in the group’s return flight in addition to already completing midterms have only highlighted that the end isn’t so far off. Having said that, my head is filled with thoughts and plans of what I want to accomplish in the little time that’s left.
As previously stated, the midterm period for me has officially ended. My friends and family would vouch for me when I say that my “over-achiever” quality can get a bit carried away during exam time. I have to be honest and say that although I spent most of my time studying the past week, I wasn’t anywhere near as preoccupied as usual. In fact, although some of my classes lack the same structure I’m accustomed to, the fact that my Spanish professors put less emphasis on exams and more on the actual learning process is quite refreshing.
Of course, the most challenging part of midterm week was simply disciplining myself to sit down and study – such a habitual concept at UD, that, in reality is so foreign to me in Spain.
On a lighter note, last weekend I did give myself a break to attend a Flamenco concert in the Sacromonte neighborhood of Granada. What an experience it truly was. Not only did the musicians perform an incredible assortment of music, but they did so with an emotion and passion that I’d never before witnessed at a concert. The stage had a glass window that overlooked the Alhambra at night, which truly gave me the chills.
All in all, I’m finding myself beginning to lay roots down in Granada. Temporary ones of course, as I depart in just two months. My host Mom, new friends, and the students I help, all are forming such an important part of my life here. I really do feel like I belong, which for me is more than any blessing I’d ever hoped for on this study abroad journey.
Camino del Sacromonte, the location of the Flamenco concert I attended.
Submitted by Jennie Walls on the 2017 winter session program in Australia sponsored by the Department of Behavioral Health & Nutrition…
Monday morning (January 9) was our first community health center visit. We visited the Victorian Aboriginal Health Service (VAHS) medical center. This center provides care specifically to the Aboriginal population. The Aborigines are the indigenous people of Australia.This population is disadvantaged in many aspects particularly related to health. The VAHS organization provides medical, dental and social services for the community. Some services offered include physical activity based programs, as well programs that target specific chronic diseases such as diabetes. Something unique about the care this center provides is the community control. These patients have an opinion and rights to the care they receive, whereas the doctors in the United States choose the care and “best” option for the patients. This center was a strong advocate for community health within the Aboriginal population.
The following day, the group set off to the Grampians. I was not quite sure exactly what this location consisted of, but shortly discovered it was the mountains of Australia. This area held a large population of kangaroos which was super exciting. It’s pretty awesome to experience the different species of wildlife. Our first day there, we split into groups of two. One group was to go abseiling the first day and hike the second day, and vice versa for the other group. I was in the first abseiling group. Abseiling is what we refer to as repelling in the United States. We geared up in helmets, harnesses and gloves to protect our hands from rope burn. We ventured on a short hike to the mountain in which we would abseil from. It was quite frightening to realize that we were about to go down it. I volunteered to be in the first group of 10 students to go down. I did not feel extremely nervous until I went over the edge. Once I went over the edge and conquered my fear, it was smooth sailing from there. I began to jump off of the rocks and enjoy myself. The group was quite encouraging to one another as some struggled with their fear of heights, etc. I learned to not only trust myself, but also the equipment, friction and the guides. Later that evening, we decided to go to the Venus Baths. There, we met two young Australian boys. We asked if they could take a picture of us while we posed on the mountain. As we left, each of us thanked the young men. One of the boys said, “Where are you guys from? You are all so nice!” He went on to mention that if they had taken a photo of an Australian that they would have just walked away afterwards. It goes to show how much Americans value manners.
The second day in the Grampians consisted of an approximate 3 mile hike. The group hiked to the top of the Pinnacle. What a beautiful sight! Our tour guide shared great analogies and a different perspective on life. He played a game with us. He rotated a stick and each time he stopped, he would ask, “How many times did I rotate the stick?” It was not about how many times he really rotated the stick, but he was actually holding the stick with a certain amount of fingers and that indicated the number of turns. The purpose of this game was to get us to open our eyes. He continued to mention that we need to open our eyes to our surroundings and to be observant through all senses sight, hear, touch, smell, etc. An interesting fact about the Grampians is the development of the mountains. Through the collision of Indonesia and Australia, the mountains developed above the water. I learned a lot about the history, land, culture and wildlife in Australia during this experience.
The Pinnacle
Lastly, we visited the Parliament House. This is a legal building located in the State of Victoria, which was beautifully trimmed in 23 karate gold. The tour guide explained many topics that were currently or have been discussed and debated at the Parliament. Some examples of these topics are gay marriage, domestic violence, alcohol/drug abuse, handguns, as well as tanning beds. One particular topic that the tour guide discussed was the alcohol laws. In Australia, the age limit for distribution of alcohol is 18, whereas in the United States it is 21. In America, if an individual under the age of 21 is caught drinking or intoxicated, they would receive a citation for underage drinking. There is a zero tolerance for minors in the United States. In Australia, a minor is able to be served alcohol by another adult if they have written permission from their parents. The laws vary between countries, but the debatable topics are pretty similar.
The one and only time she sat in the chairQueen Elizabeth’s chair
Submitted by Kristen Dempsey on the 2012 spring semester program in London, England…
Colosseum in Rome by Kristen Dempsey
Visits to Italy, Wales, and Dover have made up my past three weekends! Italy was extremely beautiful and warm which made coming home to London a bit of a wake up call because of the cold and rain. First we traveled to Rome and saw the Colosseum which was my favorite part of Rome! Then we traveled to Venice, which was colder, but still beautiful. I never realized how many people actually travel by boat! Come to think of it, that’s really all they could travel by. Gondolas and glass were the big things in Venice which was so cool. I saw a glass blowing demonstration which was one of the highlights of the Venice trip.
The next weekend we went to Wales and it, too, was warm! I thoroughly enjoyed seeing ruins and a Roman amphitheater. It was beautifully green, and everything smelled of spring and nature. I loved it!
This past Saturday, we traveled to Dover to see the castle and the White Cliffs. It was a fantastic time, although rainy. Dover Castle was huge! The grounds covered 17 acres, and secret tunnels were spread throughout. One of my favorite parts was taking a tour through the tunnels that were used during the Second World War. They had everything set up like what it would have looked like during the war. So interesting!
Submitted by Audrey Sokol on the 2017 winter session program in Granada sponsored by the Department of Languages, Literatures and Cultures…
At the start of my program, the days felt long as I attempted to figure out some sort of routine in a country that I had never been to before. And now as I study for my midterm, I can’t believe that the program is almost halfway over. This second week has flown by. We have learned so much more of the language and are learning so much about the importance of the history of Spain. My favorite part of this past week was our visit to the Alhambra. The Alhambra is an ancient palace in Granada which was built by an Arab king. The palace is filled with detailed decorations and incredible sculpted designs. One of the towers of the Alhambra overlooks all of Granada, where we had an amazing view of the entire city. It is truly amazing to learn so much about the ancient culture of Spain and how all of its history came to be. I can’t wait to see what the last few weeks have in store!
Submitted by Caitlin Baker on the 2012 spring semester program in Granada, Spain…
This past weekend my roommate, Alexandra, and I took an impromptu trip to Valencia. We only decided to go about a week before, but we really wanted to get to see another part of Spain. We had Friday classes last week (we only have four Friday classes the whole semester) so our best option as far as timing was to take the overnight bus there (leave 11:30 pm and arrive 7:00 am the next day) and then the train back. We didn’t really mind though because we were thinking we would just sleep on the bus and then get an early start in Valencia and maximize our time there. But.. it didn’t end up being as smooth as we thought. We barely slept on the bus and arrived in Valencia pretty exhausted. Not to mention it was still cold in the early morning and we weren’t supposed to check into our hostel until 1:30pm! I guess we may have been a bit naive in our planning… but in our defense we didn’t have many other options! 🙂
Our start was rough, but the day ended up turning around. We drank a few cups of coffee and went to our hostel. Researching a good hostel beforehand ended up being our saving grace. The staff there ended up being SO nice and super helpful! They let us check-in early and offered us breakfast. After recouping for an hour or so there, we headed out to explore.
Valencia is a really pretty city and has a very cheerful feel to it. March is the month of their biggest festival, Las Falles, which seemed to make the city especially fun and friendly. People come from all over Europe to see the celebration which starts on the 15th and ends on the 19th. The city really goes all out for it, creating huge, hand-painted dolls (they kind of look like floats from the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade), fireworks, parties, etc. In the days leading up to the Falles they have La Mascletà, which is 5-10 minutes of fireworks held every day at 2:00 pm on the dot in one of the plazas. We went to see it and it was pretty cool, but the part that was most impressive was the amount of people that crowd into the plaza to watch. The plaza itself was packed and every building within it was bursting with people in the windows and balconies. You could barely move!
We were able to explore basically the whole city center and saw some of the famous architecture and historic buildings. We also went to the beach, but only stayed for an hour or two because it was really windy! It was a short trip but we really felt like we saw a lot of Valencia and really had a great time. I think too, that it was a good warm-up traveling experience for our Spring Break that we have coming up at the end of the month. The train home on Sunday was a much smoother ride, not to mention more beautiful!
