Submitted by Ashley Ward on the 2022 winter session program in Hawaii sponsored by the Department of Biological Sciences…
Studying abroad offers many different experiences. During our program, we have a lot of free time to explore the island. To see really interesting places on the island, the only way is to know someone local. By making friends with local people of the island, I was able to travel out to one of the little islands only accessible by boat. This place is called The Mokes. This place is protected for monk seals and I was fortunate to see one.
Submitted by Heather O’Connor on the 2022 winter session program in the British Virgin Islands sponsored by the School of Nursing…
During my second week in the British Virgin Islands, I truly felt more immersed in the culture. The people are extremely polite, always making sure to greet hello, good morning, etc.. I found that they are very particular — if it is not past noon and you say “good afternoon,” some people will laugh at you and look at you funny. Additionally, I learned that people honk their car horns as a way to greet people or warn people that they’re coming around the corner. Since the island is very hilly and has lots of winding streets, the drivers will sometimes honk to let other cars know they’re coming. This is very different compared to how I’ve seen car horns used. In the United States, honking is often used in an aggressive manner, for example if someone cuts their car in front of you.
Besides this, I am basking in the absolute beauty of these islands. The other day, we visited the Baths in Virgin Gorda. It is a system of winding and tight caves with beautifully clear and blue water, as you can see in the picture below. It was an incredible culture- and nature-oriented day trip, one that I will never forget!
Submitted by Kyle Betti on the 2022 winter session program in Hawaii sponsored by the Alfred Lerner College of Business & Economics…
I love this picture because not only does it show the beauty of the island of Oahu, but it also is a testimony to the payoff of a physically demanding hike. It isn’t the toughest hike, but it does take effort. Standing at the summit, I felt pride in my accomplishments, but I could also understand why the people of Hawaii care so deeply about their islands. Something I noticed instantly since landing in Honolulu was how much pride the people of Hawaii have for their home and standing atop Diamond Head I was able to relate to that feeling for the first time.
View from the top of the Diamond Head Trail that I hiked alongside some of my other classmates on Friday, January 7th.
Submitted by Nicholas Kayatta on the 2022 winter session program in Greece sponsored by the Department of Languages, Literatures and Cultures…
Since arriving in Greece, I have found Athens exciting and beautiful. The bus ride from the airport to our apartment allowed us to get an overview of Athens and the surrounding neighborhoods with a view that totally captured me. Seeing the city from above with the mixing of ancient and modern housing was truly a sight to see. One of the things that surprised me the most getting off the bus was all of the orange trees found in the city. I never knew that Greece produced oranges and I was shocked to see them lined up everywhere on the streets. Another difference I did not expect was navigating the city. There are no real street signs or maps to follow so we have to rely on memory or asking strangers where to go. Although it is scary at first, it becomes natural and makes exploring more fun in my opinion.
View of Athens from the Acropolis
Perhaps the best part of my program so far has been the local cuisine. There has not been a bad dish so far and the level of freshness in each meal amazes me each time. In Greece, there are usually appetizers before meals such as a Greek salad and tzatziki served with French fries or pita. The addition of those appetizers before meals is something I really appreciate since in America that is something that usually costs extra.
Lastly, I consider myself very fortunate to have toured the Acropolis yesterday. The Acropolis is something that I have waited to see my entire life and it took my breath away climbing the last steps to the top and seeing the Parthenon with my own eyes. The view was other worldly from the top and is something I will never forget.
My sister Sophia Kayatta and I sitting in front of the Acropolis.The Parthenon
Submitted by Lauren Suero on the 2022 winter session program in Hawaii sponsored by the College of Health Sciences…
During the first week of my study abroad program in Hawaii, I was able to experience a multitude of new things including visits to historical sites, new foods, and various excursions. On January 6th, my group had the opportunity to visit the Bishop Museum. We were given around two hours to roam through each part and floor of the museum and read about Hawaiian history, culture, and lifestyle. The Bishop Museum was founded in 1889 by Charles Reed Bishop. He actually created this museum in honor of his wife Princess Bernice Pauahi Bishop, who was the last descendant of the royal Kamehameha dynasty. This museum exhibits the largest collection of Hawaiian and Pacific cultural artifacts, as well as natural history specimens in the entire world.
One of the exhibits was entitled “Two Hawaiian Olympic Champions: The First and The Latest”. This was made to honor two Hawaiian Olympic gold medalists: Duke Paoa Kahanamoku and Carissa Kainani Moore. Duke happened to be the first winner in 1912 in swimming, while Carissa is the most recent winner in 2021 in surfing.
Descriptions of Duke Paoa Kahanamoku and Carissa Kainani Moore. It talks a little bit about their upbringings and what made them into the Olympians they became.
The last picture is of a piece of artwork I found and really liked, while getting the chance to walk around the museum. It is a shell painting, and the painting is of a small beachfront shack and its surroundings. This includes multiple palm trees, mountains, and a body of water. I found this painting to be very intricate and well done. I have enjoyed all of the artwork we have been able to see so far.
Submitted by Natalie Sorlin on the 2022 winter session program in Hungary sponsored by the Joseph R. Biden, Jr. School of Public Policy and Administration…
Throughout my first week in Budapest, I began to get accustomed to the culture. On Sunday, the first day we arrived, we had a three course meal for dinner at a Magyar inspired restaurant. The culture of the Magyar tribes played an essential role in Hungary’s history, so it was interesting to try some of their dishes, like chicken and potatoes for example. Following class on Monday, we took a walking tour of Castle Hill on the Buda side of the city. This was my favorite excursion we have taken so far as the views from Castle Hill were beautiful and we learned a lot about the political history of Hungary. I found it very interesting to learn about the political unrest that has taken place in this country for centuries, until Hungary was liberated from Soviet control. I also learned that Budapest is split into two sides, Buda and Pest, by the Danube River. The excursion that our group went on this week that was the most impactful to me was the Museum of Terror. Here, we learned of the terrors that the citizens of Hungary, particularly the Jewish population, experienced during World War II and when the Soviets took over. It has been very interesting to me to learn about the history of the city while experiencing it in today’s modern society where much has changed in a short amount of time. I am excited to continue to gain an understanding of the complex history of the country while experiencing life in the city.
Photo taken on top of Castle Hill in Budapest during our walking tour. The photo was taken on the Buda side of the city and Pest is across the Danube River.
Submitted by Alyssa Stagnitti on the 2022 winter session program in Hawaii sponsored by the Joseph R. Biden, Jr. School of Public Policy and Administration…
After meeting with a man named Paulo Feleafine during our first week of classes, he offered to meet us at his local church in Lahaina, where he gave us a brief lesson on Hawaiian history. Paulo is a native Hawaiian, and he explained to us the struggles that he and many other natives face about feeling disconnected from their culture. We have learned about how many natives cannot afford to live on Maui with a teacher’s salary, so many school teachers are white people from the Mainland. The combination of this, with inaccurate history textbooks that were written by people who are not native has caused many natives to not be fully aware of, or feel fully connected to their culture. He explained that with the percentage of Hawaiian speakers declining, and the influx of tourism to Maui, it feels as though the culture is disappearing. He explained that this is why educating people on Hawaiian history and culture is one of his passions. He also reminded us that if the culture is not kept alive, Hawaii will lose its magic, becoming just another tourist destination. I found our time with Paulo to be extremely eye opening as he was so knowledgeable about his culture and history. If I were to put myself in his shoes, I believe I would feel a sense of resentment towards tourists, as tourism has been known to cause so many issues to the Hawaiian way of life. For this reason, I was especially thankful that Paulo took the time to meet with our group not just once, but twice, to teach us all that he did.
Another highlight of our first week was having the opportunity to take a tour of the Hua Momona Farm, and speak with John Taube, who is the head chef at a restaurant called Waicoco, here in Maui. Hua Momona Farms specializes in growing micro sprouts that are sold to many local restaurants. John Taube shared with us his belief of the importance of farm-to-table dining, and expressed his gratitude to the farm for providing their produce to Waicoco. During the farm tour, we were able to go inside one of the greenhouses where the micro sprouts were being grown, as well as walk around the property outside. Some of the produce that was currently being harvested included carrots, kale, tomatoes, and bananas. There are just five people who run and manage all of the farming that takes place on roughly six acres of land, as well as manage all of their sales to the thirty five restaurants they work with.
One of the biggest challenges facing Maui that I have noticed after spending nearly a week here, is how hard the effects of the pandemic have hit. Unemployment and homelessness were unfortunately common all over the world due to COVID, but here in Maui where the cost of living is already extremely high, the effects were felt that much harder. Zach Laidlaw is a local chef on Maui, who also runs the Hua Momona Farm, explained to us that during the pandemic they had a surplus of produce because there were no longer any tourists coming to the island to eat at restaurants. Rather than throw all of this produce away, he explained that they would host food drives, and create boxes of food to drop off to people in need during the pandemic. Not only was the farm tour beautiful, it was also nice to see that they are giving back to community members in need.
Submitted by Erin Potter on the 2022 winter session program in the United Arab Emirates sponsored by the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering…
Over the past week in Dubai I have been exposed to so many different cultures; what makes Dubai so unique is that it is home to people from all over the world. Only 20% of the population in Dubai are Emiratis, which means that most of the population is made of expatriates (people residing in their non-native country). I was surprised to see the amount of international food in Dubai; it is not uncommon to see Mexican restaurants located next to Chinese restaurants with Arabic restaurants across the street. I have enjoyed getting to talk to people from around the world from countries like Syria, Italy, Great Britain, and many others.
Another amazing part of this experience has been going to the World Expo. The World Expo is a large event held every five years that showcases various countries’ accomplishments and cultures around the world. This year it is being held in Dubai, so we are lucky to be able to attend this amazing event; the next World Expo is in Japan in 2025. I have been stopping in the exhibits of many different countries and have gotten the opportunity to talk to people around the world and learn about their lives. For instance, we went to Nauru which is the smallest island nation in the world. While in their exhibit, I learned a lot about their culture; before attending Expo, I had never even heard of Nauru, but now I know so much about it. I have visited over 25 different countries so far and I look forward to attending even more! I am so excited to see where the rest of this journey will take me and to learn more about Dubai and the rest of the world!
Dome located at the center of the World Expo in DubaiCountry of Oman’s Expo exhibit
Submitted by Quinn Curro on the 2022 winter session program in Hawaii sponsored by the Alfred Lerner College of Business & Economics…
After being in Honolulu for about a week now, I have met new classmates and locals while doing various activities around Oahu. I have already done fun activities like going to a waterfall, going on a boat tour, and climbing Diamond Head. Although, Honolulu is not quite what I had imagined before coming here. Some of the culture shocks that I have been exposed to include the increased strictness of COVID protocol and the abundance of trash left on the streets around the city. Regarding COVID, almost every restaurant I have been in requires ID and proof of vaccination. This was unusual for me at first since back in Delaware no one requires this. The second thing that I never would of expected in Honolulu would be bags of trash and just litter everywhere on the streets of the city. Hawaii is known to promote sustainability and being resourceful in their efforts to help preserve their nature and environment. So, for there to be so much litter everywhere surprises me and makes me wonder why the government of the city hasn’t done anything to help clean it up. Although, once you leave Honolulu and get into Waikiki there is almost no trash anywhere on the streets. This week I am busy with my coursework and getting into the flow of things, while also making plenty of trips to the beach! I’ll update next week!
Submitted by Angela Marra on the 2022 winter session program in Hawaii sponsored by the Joseph R. Biden, Jr. School of Public Policy and Administration…
I am currently studying “abroad” on the island of Maui, which is a part of the Hawaiian Islands. The course I am taking on this program is LEAD 101: Global Contexts for Leadership. This course definitely applies to Maui because we are gaining a new perspective on leadership from a different cultural perspective. I immediately was met with a huge difference in temperature compared to where I live in Delaware. It took a few days to adjust to the weather and living in a place so different from home, but I have been getting more and more adjusted with each passing day. This was my first time having a roommate or staying in a dorm-like situation, but despite this new situation my roommate and I quickly became friends. I am really looking forward to becoming immersed into both the environment and the culture while abroad.
The photos were taken at a place called “Dragon’s Teeth” in West Maui, which is one of the many gorgeous sites to hike and really take in some amazing views of the island and the ocean. This was my first time ever visiting Maui so it was absolutely breathtaking. I really hope to continue to view more of the island’s extensive geography and learn more about the nature and species that inhabit it. Being in Maui is a very surreal experience and I really feel a connection with the island.
