Europe Short Term Programs Winter Session

Ancient and Modern Athens, Greece

Submitted by Shelby Switzer on the 2016 winter session program in Athens, Greece sponsored by the Department of Philosophy…

Today marks the end of the first week of an amazing three week program in Athens, Greece! I feel like we’ve already done and seen so much and we still have so much left to do! After the long, but relatively painless flight here, we started our first night by getting a walking tour of the neighborhood in which our apartments are located (Pangrati) and were treated to dinner at a local taverna. The food here isn’t as different as I initially thought it would be, but one thing that was noticeably different from night one is the salads. A lot of them just don’t have lettuce in them! Most are tomato based with a lot of cheese and various vegetables. Most of the fruit and vegetables we’ve had while eating out are fantastic so it’s great!

The rest of the week we’ve been having classes and taking excursions to the various ancient ruin sites that are within walking distance of our apartments. We spent a good deal of time on the Acropolis and had a guided tour of the Parthenon, various other buildings on the site, and the Acropolis Museum nearby. The Museum is one of the most well constructed museums I personally have been in. The architect designed the glass floor so that visitors can see the ancient ruins below their feet as they walk. They also have the various artwork taken down from the Parthenon displayed in a way that is parallel to the nearby site. Standing in the Museum with the various artifacts and being able to look out the window and see where they came from is something that most museums simply can’t offer and the entire experience was breathtaking.

In addition to visiting ancient ruins, one of my favorite aspects of the past week was the few days of modern Greek language lessons we had. It’s amazing to be in a place where most of the citizens speak both Greek and English, but I loved learning some simple everyday phrases so that we can speak to our guides and various shop owners in their native language instead of expecting them to know ours.

This entire program has been an amazing learning experience both inside the classroom and culturally outside the classroom. I’m really excited to continue exploring modern and ancient sites in Athens!

Feeling Better in Panama

Submitted by Nicholas Napoletano on the 2016 winter session program in Panama sponsored by the Department of Languages, Literatures and Cultures…

The first week did not go as I expected. Between not having luggage and being sick the first few days of the program, I was off to a rough start. Despite these challenges, the week ended on a very high note, as I had the opportunity over the weekend to attend a National Panamanian soccer game, to visit the beach at Coronado, visit the local town of Casco Viejo and hike in the National Park Metropolitano. The variety of excursions that we took made for a very well-rounded cultural experience. I am very thrilled to be doing service in the local orphanage in the week to come, and I anticipate a very rewarding and adventurous study abroad experience.

Culture Shock and a Friendly Face in Rome, Italy

Submitted by Justin Morello on the 2016 spring semester program in Rome, Italy…

I felt the University of Delaware did an excellent job setting us up for the inevitable culture shock that we would face going abroad to Rome, Italy. However nothing really prepares you for your first time of experiencing it. My roommates and I were looking for a taxi to get us home for the night and did not want to overpay. We asked the taxi driver to roll down his window, showed him our address and asked him, “How much?” He stared at us blankly for a second before speaking a couple seconds in full Italian, ending with the only phrase I could understand, “…no English.” My roommates and I were perplexed about what to do and were going to the next cab when I thought of an idea. I pulled out my wallet, showed the taxi driver a 20 euro bill and asked again, “How much?” Finally understanding my question and laughing, he proceeds to pull out his wallet, pulls out a 10 euro bill and replies “How much!”

To see a taxi driver be fair to us even though we couldn’t speak the same language struck me as one of my first lasting memories here in a new country. I’ve only been here for five days and I have a lot to learn, but I found comfort in a taxi driver.

Fragility of Life in Dominica

Submitted by Abigail Vanover on the 2016 winter session program in Dominica sponsored by the Department of Geography…

This week in Dominica taught me about the fragility of the little things.

Thursday afternoon, we drove out to a village hit hard by Tropical Storm Erika back in August. We drove through mountains and on the coast, winding our way through the country. The farther we got away from the capital, the worse conditions became. One bridge we drove over was wooden logs over a river. At one point we drove through water because the roads were flooded. Close to our destination, we even found our way barred by a landslide.

When we arrived at the village, it looked like the storm had hit just a few weeks ago, rather than months. I remember vividly standing on a huge chunk of concrete and rock, then looking down and seeing one shoe stuck partially underneath. We were told the official death toll for Erika, but the harsh reality was that in areas like this village- there were many people missing who were not counted in the official death tolls. For many of those people, their villages had become their graves.

It was a grim experience, but it refocused me, and I think all of us on the program. It’s easy to get lost in nature, dwelling on how beautiful the mountains, forests and water can be. Here in Dominica, the people live by the mountains, forests and water. They also die by them. There is nothing to make a person humble like being forcibly reminded how easily nature can overpower us.

In the face of all this, it’s pretty easy to put your own life in perspective. For me, it’s finding that balance of holding on and letting go. Want to watch that sunset? Please go do so. Worry about what that one boy told you weeks ago that still bothers you? Please don’t let it because it’s not worth it. What I learned this week was a little cliche, but all in all it was an experience that I would not wish, nor should I, to trade in for anything else. Having experiences like visiting the village makes seeing a beautiful sunset all the more sweeter, because it makes you realize just how lucky you are to be seeing it.

Natural Beauty of Australia

Submitted by Alexandra Mlkvy on the 2016 winter session program in Australia sponsored by the Department of English …

On Wednesday, our program headed to the Grampians, a national park also known as Gariwerd by local Aboriginals. We spent two days in Halls Gap, hiking and learning about Aboriginal culture. Kangaroos casually grazed on the lawn outside of my hotel window. It seems that kangaroos are the deer of Australia – they are everywhere. When we were eating dinner at a restaurant in town, we spotted kangaroos hopping across the street. During our hikes, we made it to Mackenzie Falls and the Balconies lookout. The Grampians were very green – covered in vegetation. While at the Balconies, we were able to see the rain across the way. It was a surreal experience. The next day we visited the Aboriginal Culture Center. There we learned about Aboriginal art, artifacts and history. Our guide also taught us how to throw a boomerang. Everyone, even Professor Yagoda, gave it a try. Some of us were actually good!
My favorite part of the excursion was the second half when we got to explore The Great Ocean Road, which is registered on the Australian National Heritage list. The road stretches for around 150 miles along the southeastern coast of Australia. The view from the bus was incredible – infinite cerulean water meeting the rocky coast. We made stops along the way at outlooks our bus driver felt were essential – Bay of Islands, 12 Apostles, Bells Beach and the Grotto. The 12 Apostles was one of my favorite stops. I learned about these famous rock stacks in my Life’s a Beach Course with Dr. Trembanis during my sophomore year. Never did I think I would get to see them in person! We stayed in Apollo Bay that night, a small town with a beautiful beach along the Great Ocean Road. We were thankful for the opportunity to travel along the road because in months prior bush fires were destroying acres of land and many houses. Just a few days before we were scheduled to leave, the fires were controlled and they opened the portions of the road that were previously closed. As we drove along the coast, the black charred remnants of the trees were striking against the blue waters. Our bus driver did reassure us, however, that soon new vegetation would grow in place of the old.

Visit to Westminster Abbey in London, England

Submitted by Jacquelyn Seals on the 2016 winter session program in London, England sponsored by the Department of English and the Department of Theater…

The best thing about this program is that we have the privilege to see and experience things that the general population may not be able to experience. My favorite excursion from this week would have to be Westminster Abbey. My classmates and I were in complete amazement that we were in the same church where Princess Kate and Prince William were married. They are such an amazing couple and Princess Kate is a great role model for any young lady. I also admired the British monarch history and the tombs in the abbey. Many people can not locate relatives who passed away 60 years, however Prince William or Prince Harry can visit the abbey and see the resting place of their ancestors from the 15^th century. It was such a remarkable place and it makes me want to go home and research the ancestors in my family tree. I can not wait for the many more excursions that are coming in these next couple of weeks.

Public Transportation in Italy

Submitted by Jessica Weber on the 2016 winter session program in Italy sponsored by the Department of Philosophy…

This past week was the last of our adventures in Rome, including trips to the Ancient Roman city of Ostia Antica. As we’ve become more comfortable with the city, we have begun to truly do as the Romans do. One of the biggest parts of that is realizing the importance and efficiency of public transportation. Much like New York City, walking is one of the easiest methods of transportation, but Rome is too large of a city to get everywhere by walking. We’ve become accustomed to taking the metro. At first, the metro was empty, most likely due to the occurrence of Epiphany Mass and the holiday. This week, however, was the first week after the holiday and it was extremely crowded. We actually had to wait for a second car because the first was too stuffed to enter. We began taking longer trips on public transportation. On our free day this Monday, we took a metro to a train station and bought tickets to Orvieto, Italy, which was about an hour train ride away. Easily one of my favorite excursions on this trip, Orvieto greatly contrasted the busy city of Rome. The town was very quiet, and upon talking to some locals, we found out that only about 500 people live in the quaint town. There were many small handmade ceramics and leather shops owned by people in the town. This trip, however, was the only time we had trouble using public transportation. Our train to Orvieto left the station almost a half hour late and picked us up from Orvieto another half hour late. Regardless, we have become much more appreciative of the availability of public transportation here. This week was also filled with service opportunities. We visited the community of Sant’Egidio in Rome, where we were guided through a soup kitchen and attended a prayer service. The next day, we spent time in a refugee center and talked with refugees, mostly from Afghanistan and Africa. The entire experience was extremely humbling, and later that night, we went back to Sant’Egidio to eat in a restaurant that provides job opportunities for people with disabilities. These last few days in Rome have been an incredible learning experience, and I am excited to see what our next city, Sorrento, has to offer.

American Pueblos

Submitted by Christina Billy on the 2016 winter session program in the American Southwest sponsored by the Department of History…

This past week we traveled a long distance to northern New Mexico with our first stop being the beautiful White Sands National Monument. We invested in a saucer sled and had a great time sliding down the dunes. The next day we visited a firefighting icon, Smokey Bear’s grave site– may he rest in peace. A fifteen minute ride brought us to Lincoln, NM, the site of the Lincoln County War involving the infamous Billy the Kid. A drastic change in topics led us to the Roswell UFO Museum on our way to Bosque Redondo. At Bosque Redondo, we learned a lot about the lives of American Indians being ripped from their homelands and struggling to survive the Long Walk. From there we made our way to New Mexico’s capital, Santa Fe. In front of the Governor’s Palace were many Native Americans from different tribes selling their handmade goods. It was interesting to hear the stories behind their goods and how they are made. While in Santa Fe, we visited a nearby reservation called Taos, a continuing pueblo of many Native Americans today. We saw many adobe built homes and outdoor mud ovens. We even saw underground kivas, a religious place of worship hidden from Spaniards in the 1600’s who were forcing their conversion to Christianity. Tomorrow, we are headed to the Acoma Pueblo, another important pueblo involved in the Pueblo Revolt of 1680.

New Family in Costa Rica

Submitted by Haley Zwier on the 2016 winter session program in Costa Rica sponsored by the Department of Languages, Literatures and Cultures…

Hola! My name is Hayley and I arrived in Heredia, Costa Rica yesterday. I have never been outside of the United States before and when I first arrived with the home-stay family it caused a major culture shock because they are only allowed to speak to us in Spanish and I have not taken or spoken Spanish in about three years. I have learned so much already in the full day that I have been here from walking in Heredia to hiking up the mountains along the city. This country is absolutely beautiful and I can’t wait to see what else it has to offer! Below is a photo of my new family in Costa Rica who are all amazing people.

Daycare in South Africa

Submitted by Sarah Stearns on the 2016 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…

We started placements this past week. They began on Tuesday morning. Anxious was the perfect word to describe my emotion that morning. I adore kids, thus why I want to become a teacher. I love volunteering. I love helping others. Yet, I was nervous because it was a new experience. We were going to a place I’ve never been before in a country I was just adjusting to. They were all new people there and this made me nervous to interact. Of course, it was just because it was a new experience. After the first few minutes, I knew this feeling would pass. I walked off the van and saw the tent with what looked to be many children. The noise inside was rumbling. I saw one kid peek his head out and wave to me; this instantly made me less nervous. We walked into the office where Lindewe, the founder of the Luvuyo Orphanage, stood. She gave us a tour of the center. There were only two bedrooms, one designated for girls, the other for boys. There is a small recreation room, an outside tented area for eating/crafts and three small shed-like structures for classroom use. This area is also used for infants and toddlers to take naps. The center is definitely not designed for a daycare/orphanage setting, but there was a high need in the community so Lindewe did with what she had. She used her resources. I commend her so much for doing all of this. Even though it is not pretty, its functional and it gives the children their daily needs and a safe place to sleep at night.
It’s hard coming from America with much experience in daycare and early learning centers not to compare the two and make judgments. I kind of wish I didn’t have so much experience and thus expectations for places like these. I was utterly shocked by the state of the playground. It had rusted poles coming out of the dirt every time a child swung. The monkey bars were rusting and some were not in their proper sockets. Safety is one of my main concerns and obviously this placement is not up to par. I know I’m judging and maybe their way is the right way in particular situations. But, having equipment like this is just downright unsafe. I feel my heart speed up when all the kids run towards it. I feel like when I am there part of my duty is to supervise the children when they are on the playground. The playground is not age-appropriate for toddler or babies. Yet, the one year olds are teetering on the metal steps barely hanging on. I always try to migrate to the younger ones on the playground to help them. There seem to be no rules when outside. I have seen the rules posted in each bedroom and recreation room, but I don’t know how strict they are about these.

I wish I learned how they deal with conflict resolution. Every time I see kids fighting, it seems to be no big deal. However, I can’t watch and not step in when someone is being hurt. I tried not to step on the Mama’s toes when I am there. When I see hitting, there is an instinct I can’t help. I have to intervene and try to stop it. I am beginning to realize after being there four times that violence might just be something this community grows up with. I want to talk to the Mamas more about violence in this particular community and among the kids. Learning this information will enhance my experience at the orphanage. I can not wait to get back there next week and continue doing what we can to improve the lives of both the Mamas and the children there.