Europe Short Term Programs Winter Session

LONDON: NEW CITY, NEW FRIENDS

Submitted by Christine Eliassen on the 2016 winter session program in London, England sponsored by the Department of Sociology and Criminal Justice…

Before traveling to London with the Criminal Justice department, I was nervous beyond belief. As an accounting major, I wanted to branch out and have a completely different experience outside of the business world. Now that I have been here for a week, it has been one of the best decisions I’ve made. It seems almost impossible that seven days ago, I didn’t know anyone in the program.

So far, I could not have asked for a better time here in London. The culture here is truly unbelievable; anyone and everyone along the streets have gone out of their way to talk to us. The amount of knowledge and understanding I have gained, along with all of our activities already completed, has amazed me. We kicked off the program by taking a boat tour down the Thames River with some of the most breathtaking sights I have ever seen in my life.

I have very quickly realized how much history is placed in and around London. Going to the Tower of London was an incredible experience- just being able to stand in the exact place where so many were executed really opened my eyes. Our group also took a day trip to Dover, Kent (about 2 hours outside of London) to visit the famous Secret War Tunnels that were used during WWII. It was pretty astounding how I was able to transform back into time and experience what the soldiers and others would have gone through on a daily basis. The sights, scents, and overall feeling I had were more than I could have imagined.

As much as I have loved every learning experience thus far, nothing compares to the unforgettable times I have had with each individual on the trip. Our group does just about everything together. We go from class, to excursion, to exploring the city, to dinner, to getting lost on the London Tube Station. And I wouldn’t want it any other way. I am still amazed at how close we have all gotten in just one week, and cannot wait to see what the following three weeks have in store for us!

Getting to Know Athens, Greece

Submitted by Jacquelyn Agliata on the 2016 winter session program in Athens, Greece sponsored by the Department of English…

Our first week in Athens has been nothing short of breathtaking. From the moment we exited the airport, everyone in our group was in complete awe of the views surrounding us. There’s almost no way to describe the beauty of this country, and staying in Athens is one of the best ways to take it all in. As we settled into our apartments on the first day, we got a brief walking tour of the square which our neighborhood surrounds. Local coffee shops, bakeries and tavernas (small restaurants serving traditional Greek food) have already become familiar go-to spots for us every day. The past two days have been full of hiking up and down the hilly streets in order to travel into the heart of Athens – a surprisingly busy yet very clean city. There are flea markets, eateries and small shops lining the streets with enthusiastic owners ready and willing to explain their culture. We just went up to the Acropolis, where we stood on some of the most ancient ruins in the world. Standing atop the mountain along the Parthenon provided the most awe-inspiring views one could imagine. Mountains, houses, trees, hills, water – everything from the top was breathtaking.

After making our descent down, a few of us let ourselves get lost in Plaka, where we stumbled upon a salon that offers a trial of the Greek tradition of soaking your feet in a small tub filled with fish who eat the dead skin off of your feet. A strange sensation, but one that was completely worth doing.

As we continue to find our footing in this very heavily cultured city, we are all excited for the next two and a half weeks remaining. There is so much to see and do and we hope that we get the chance to embrace it all!

Animal Spirit in New Zealand

Submitted by Katherine Heller on the 2016 winter session program in New Zealand sponsored by the Department of Kinesiology and Applied Physiology…

On our first weekend in the land of the Kiwis, we went to a beach carved into the cliffs just south of Dunedin as well as a tour of the natural life found in the Otago Peninsula. Tunnel Beach was beautiful and insane. It amazed me what variety of people I saw hiking down/up to the beach like it was no big deal while us young, relatively fit and loud Americans could barely keep it together. I was able to appreciate the lifestyle that New Zealand makes possible for people who live in its “leg day every day” terrain. Thanks to Brad’s driving tour afterward, I learned and saw just how much Scottish influence the settlers brought with them, especially to Dunedin. Since then, walking around the city, I’ve noticed it more in the people, goods and buildings than I had before. It also opened my eyes to the diversity of other immigrants in Dunedin, including the fairly strong Asian influence on cuisine that is evident when walking down George Street, for example.

The Elm’s Wildlife Tour opened my eyes further to understand what influence these foreign settlers had/have on the wildlife and plant life of New Zealand. The islands lost about half of their bird species since people began to populate New Zealand. That is an insanely large and shameful loss of biodiversity. Learning this helped me to understand why it is so important to protect the albatross and penguins that Elm focuses so strongly on. Invasive species, diseases and the introduction of hunting greatly damaged New Zealand’s unique ecosystem. The land and environment was over-hunted and under-protected by both large groups of settlers (Polynesian/Maori and Scottish). It was interesting to learn how few land mammals are indigenous to the region, and I really noticed this the next day when we hiked Mt. Cargill. The lush, natural undergrowth that I saw during that hike also made me realize how different of an environment Otago has compared to many parts of the world and anything I’ve ever seen before. In a place that went so long untouched by nature, I found myself really appreciating what comes naturally over time and our human responsibility to preserve it to the best of our abilities.

These two experiences helped me become more culturally competent because I understand not only that vastly different cultures that were brought here and mixed by different settlers, but their effects on the natural environment that have remained hundreds of years later.

Oh, and I finally discovered my spirit animal. I’m really “finding myself “on this trip!

Getting Lost in Venice, Italy

Submitted by Mary Quinn on the 2016 winter session program in Italy sponsored by the Department of Linguistics and Cognitive Science…

Arriving in Italy was a shock from the beginning. I was jet-lagged, confused about the time difference and already facing a language barrier. My program flew into Marco Polo Airport in Venice, and immediately we hopped on a boat. This was the first of many boat rides I would encounter in Venice. When we arrived on the island which I learned is really a series of 118 tiny islands, I immediately noticed there were no roads and no roads meant no cars. The tour guide explained that in Venice, there are no cars, bikes or scooters. Everyone here travels by foot or by boat. Even the public transportation system in Venice is by boat. This was a real shock to me, as I am used to working in Philadelphia, where a Septa bus passes by every two minutes and impatient cars are constantly honking.

Our guide, Fredericka, explained that in Venice, there are over 400 bridges connecting the 118 islands in Venice which made things very confusing. Our group was constantly lost while in Venice, but at the same time knew we were never too far from home. Of course, the lack of street signs and straight roads made directions difficult, but we were lucky to be staying right next to St. Mark’s Basilica, a huge public square in Venice. When we would ask for directions back to St. Mark’s though, the locals would tell us to keep walking straight and cross over two bridges. These directions seemed simple enough, however in Venice nothing is straight! To head straight in Venice really meant to make a series of three rights, two lefts and then cross over a bridge or two. If it weren’t for our hotel being right next to St. Mark’s, who knows were we would have ended up. At the same time though, we found some of the prettiest canals and delicious restaurants all while lost throughout Venice.

Great Host Family in Granada, Spain

Submitted by Janine Burdette on the 2016 winter session program in Granada, Spain sponsored by the Department of Languages, Literatures and Cultures…

As our flight descended, I could already tell that Granada, Spain was absolutely breathtaking. I was nervous to meet my host family, or in Spanish, “familia de acogida,” because I was not sure how much English they would know or what our living situation would be like. However, there was no reason to worry because the second I saw Ana as I stepped off of the bus, I knew she would be an amazing host mom during my stay here. Our family lives in the cutest house! It has many levels, and all the rooms have individual character and decorations. I am fortunate enough to have the loft room which has the most beautiful view through the window. I am high enough up to see a clear view of Granada and the Sierra Nevada Mountains! The cobblestone streets and the beautiful architecture everywhere also add to the cultural experience, especially on the walk to the University of Granada for class. Spaniards eat so much bread! It is served with every meal of the day, including toast for breakfast. I have also learned that lunch is the biggest meal of the day here. Lunch is served around 2-3 in the afternoon and it’s called “siesta,” which means “rest” in Spanish. Most of the shops close down and people go home to eat a big meal and relax. People in Granada have been very patient with my Spanish. In restaurants and in public places, the people are always very friendly and understand that I am making the effort to speak their language, which I really appreciate because Americans are not always so patient with foreigners in the United States. One of the first nights, my roommates and I went out for “tapas,” more or less mini appetizers, with our host brother and his friends. It was one of the best decisions because it forced me to talk completely in Spanish and understand more the cultural interactions, especially with people in my age group.

Exploring Panama City

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

Over the past week, I have had several unforgettable experiences. In particular, I have thoroughly enjoyed the opportunities to learn more about Panamanian culture. During the school week, I have learned about the culture of Panama and about the Spanish language through my interactions with my host family, professors and classmates. However, the most interesting and formative experiences I have had have occurred during the weekend. Up to this moment, my favorite experience was attending a soccer game played by Panama’s national team. Even though I am not a big soccer fan, I was very impressed to see the passion that the people of Panama have for the sport of soccer and for their country. One Panamanian tradition took me by surprise: after a goal, everyone throws their beers directly into the air. While I didn’t expect to experience these beer showers, I was lucky enough to experience them four times during the course of the game!

Another great experience I had on Sunday, was while exploring the historical section of Panama City. In particular, I was looking for two very old Churches La Iglesia San Jóse and la Catedral Basílica de Santa Maria la Antigua. The former is famous for its golden altar, which was supposedly almost stolen by the famous pirate Henry Morgan. The other church is even more significant, however, since it is the church of the patron of Panama. Because the majority of Panama is Catholic, these sites have an enormous historical and cultural importance. The majority of my navigation to these churches was done on foot, and so I had to stop and ask for directions several times (in Spanish, of course!). The people that I stopped to ask for directions were very eager to help, and happy to share their historical treasures with me. I came away from this experience very impressed by the cultural treasures of Panama, as well as the amiability of its people.

Catedral Basílica de Santa Maria la Antigua

Petroglyphs in Hawaii

Submitted by Alexandra Orlan on the 2016 winter session program in Hawaii sponsored by the Department of Behavioral Health and Nutrition…

So far, the part of the program that stuck out to me the most was visiting the Hawaii Volcanoes National Park. While we were at the park, we visited the petroglyphs, which are images carved into the lava rock by the early Hawaiian people. Earlier in the week, when we visited the ‘Imilioa Astronomy Center, the tour guides were telling us about the piko, or center, and how the umbilicus is considered a piko on the human body. They continued to tell us how the parents would often bury the umbilicus to represent a long, meaningful life for their child. At the petroglyphs, we saw the exact spots in the lava rock where the early Hawaiian people buried the piko; it was truly an amazing sight. I just wish we were able to translate the drawings in the rock, but visiting the petroglyphs is definitely worth the trek.

Recoleta Cemetary in Argentina

Submitted by Tyler Nolley on the 2016 winter session program in Argentina sponsored by the Department of Languages, Literatures and Cultures…

Today we went to the Recoleta Cemetary where many famous and rich families of Argentina are buried in intricate graves. The infamous Evita Peron is buried here along with many of her family member. I found this experience particularly to be very humbling, because of all that I have learned about her in my previous classes. The grave was very big, decorated with flowers placed by the citizens of the town and was definitely the most visited. I really appreciated this experience, because many people only get to hear about these things in textbooks, but seeing them in person is a lot more rewarding.

New Friends in Orvieto, Italy

Submitted by Courtney Mainwaring on the 2016 winter session program in Italy sponsored by the Department of Philosophy…

This morning, the group and I traveled to the beautiful town of Orvieto. Sitting atop a cliff in the Italian countryside, Orvieto was a welcomed change from the bustling, tourist city of Rome. I also felt a strong desire to go as my grandparents (who are Double Dels!) suggested it. Not only were the views astonishing and the shops quaint, but the people we met were also particularly impactful. Upon arriving at the train station, we met a couple who has traveled to Orvieto in three month intervals five times. They encouraged us to let our curiosity guide us as we explored the city. Following the couple’s advice, we made a fortuitous stop to a shoemaker. Here, we met Federico and Hannah. Federico is the owner who makes handcrafted leather pieces and Hannah is his wife. Sincerely welcoming and interested in our travels, they spent an hour of their day speaking with us. Hannah is from Ohio and met Federico while studying abroad. She writes poetry and truly enjoys the Italian culture (although, she does miss Thai and Mexican food). Federico was born in Rome and opened his business when he was just 17 years old! Our conversations left us feeling grateful for the opportunity to connect with others despite the cultural barriers. I look forward to my next few weeks in this incredible country!

Working Together in China

Submitted by Mengzheng Yao on the 2016 winter session program in China sponsored by the Department of Sociology and Criminal Justice..

As I mentioned in my application, although I’m Chinese myself, it is still vitally important for me to maintain a strong bond with it through all kinds of opportunities such as this study abroad program led by Dr. Sun. Last week was an intense week. We basically had classes in the morning and field trips in the afternoon and during the night time. We went to Tiananmen Square, which is the largest outdoor square in the world on the third day after arrival. It is also a great criminal justice field trip since we saw and experienced almost all kinds of law enforcement agents both on the ground and in the subway including army officers, police officers, people’s armed police officers and many others. It’s extremely beneficial for us to get an experience to apply what we have learned in the morning to real world situations. Besides Tiananmen Square, we also went to the Palace Museum, Wangfujin Commercial District and Silk Street Market where lots of famous politicians worldwide have visited.

The most impressive experience I had during the last week is how my American peers reacted to an ordinary event in the subway. When we arrived at the nearest subway station one day, we saw many subway workers lined up along the stairs and they were like this because there were a stack of supplies they needed to transport downstairs. They used the armrest of the stairs as a channel for supplies to flow downstairs. However, those supplies don’t always go down as expected, so there were many others along the way to make sure that the flow of transportation was as smooth as possible. After seeing that, one of my American peers said that’s why China is the No.2 economy in the world. If American workers faced similar problems, they might just carry one or two boxes downstairs by themselves and it would take a considerable amount of time and energy. I think as time proceeds, all of us will learn more about China.