Latin America Short Term Programs Summer Session

The Artisan Capitol

Submitted by Kat Severson on the 2024 Winter SPAN program in Costa Rica …

Sarchí – The Artisan Capitol of Costa Rica

Art is a big component of showing one’s culture. In our final week in Costa Rica, we visited Sarchí, which is known as Costa Rica’s artisan capitol. Though the town itself is colorfully painted, the main attraction here in Sarchí is the elaborately painted ox carts. These “carretas” as they’re called, symbolize hard work throughout Costa Rica, thus being decreed as the country’s National Symbol in 1988. Ox carts were used throughout Costa Rican history, and still today to aid farmers and other laborers in transporting and hauling their products throughout the rough terrain.

Each carreta is carefully made and painted by these artisans, each unique. As you can see in the picture below, as the years progressed, so did the artistry of the wheels. During our excursion we had a great opportunity to put our artistic skills to work, we took an ox cart wheel painting class! We were guided by Guillermo, who has been painting since he was 12, over 50 years of experience! Though my wheel does not rival the wheels of the professionals, it was fun to learn and to try!

After our painting class, we explored around town. We saw more amazing artwork painted on pavilions, parks, walls, pots, pretty much everything! In the central park we stopped to look at the world’s largest oxcart, named in the Guinness Book of World Records in 2006. Across from the oxcart, there is the famous “wedding cake” church, named for its pastel color and decorative ornaments. It was amazing to be in a town with this much art. As someone who is a Global Studies: World Cultures major, seeing a place with this much expression and culture is incredibly wonderful. (Submitted February 3, 2024)

Study Abroad in Paris

Submitted by Francesca Crawley on the 2024 Winter BUAD Micro program in Paris…

Second week in Paris!

After exploring Paris for the first time last week, I became more familiar with the city. This week started off with a visit to one of the most famous sites in the world, right outside of the city of Paris, Versailles. Versailles was magnificent, and the architecture was just unbelievable. During this trip we walked through the palace with a tour guide who shared so much interesting information about its history with us. We were also able to see the gardens which were remarkable.

Throughout the week we visited multiple cool locations like Bastille, the Paris basketball stadium, and the American Chamber of Commerce in France. It was great to immerse myself into Parisian culture and walk around the Bastille market, learning about the different types of food, and cheese, that most people in the city eat.

This week we also had one of my favorite activities on this trip, we got to see the Louvre. The Louvre is a must see when coming to Paris, and now I know why. The amount of art in this museum is unbelievable, and it includes some of the most famous paintings in the world. With the tour guide I learned so much about the various works of art, as well as the history of the Louvre itself.

Ending the week, on Saturday we took a trip to Épernay, the champagne region of France. Seeing a different part of the country, outside of Paris, helped to better understand French culture in general. I learned all about how champagne is made and even got to go on a tour of a champagne house.

Overall week two included some of my favorite events, and each day I learn more and more about Paris and its culture. Can’t wait to see what else Paris had in store for me!.

Au Revoir Paris!

Embarking on my final week in Paris I was continuing to enjoy all that the city has to offer. This week was full of activities rich in history and culture.

One of my favorites from this week was the French Revolution walking tour. Walking through the city, seeing all the monuments, and learning all about how Paris became the city we know and love today. On this day it was raining, and seeing Paris in the rain was magical!

This week we also dove deeper into the culture through food. I tried various cheeses and wines, and got to learn about where they come from! In addition to that, we had a group dinner at Bouillon. This is a traditional French restaurant offering popular French foods modeled after the Industrial period. This was a fun experience, and brought me out of my traditional food comfort zone.

Lastly during this week we got to visit the Loire Valley. During this trip we visited Blois which is a small town in the Loire valley. Seeing the medieval architecture and the castle and countryside was so beautiful. After Blois we headed over to the chateau de chambord. This castle was breathtaking. There was a double helix staircase inside, and on the roof it looked like a city in the sky. With our tour guides again, I learned so much about the history of the region and the chateau.

My time in Paris is something that I will never forget, and I am forever grateful for this amazing opportunity. After these 3 weeks I have a newfound appreciation for this beautiful city, and I hope to return in the future. But for now, au revoir Paris, je t’aime!

(Summitted February 3. 2024)

Cooking In Granada

Submitted by Meghan Rydell on the 2024 Summer SPAN Intermediate program in Granada, Spain…

As someone who loves cooking and baking, I was delighted to attend a cooking class this week! We made four dishes: gazpacho (a cold tomato soup), chicken paella, vegetable paella, and a fruit salad. I was surprised by the simplicity of most of the recipes; granted that quite a bit of ingredients were required for the paella (spices and vegetables wise), I could easily see myself replicating these recipes in my kitchen at home. One thing I love about the food in Spain in general is the freshness of the food. When making the gazpacho, for example, the vegetables were ripe, the olive oil was locally sourced, and the bread I had dipped the finished product in was from a local bakery down the street. It tasted so much better because the ingredients were organic. Throughout the class, it was evident that our cooking professor, Annabel, saw cooking as a love language, a common theme I have experienced around Granada, especially with my host mom. I loved the atmosphere of the class and that cooking was not necessarily about how the food tasted (though it was excellent) but about the process of using what you have around you (in terms of vegetables and spices that are native to the climate), trying new flavors, and having fun! I was horrible at identifying the different olive oils and their unique features, but I had yet to learn there was a proper way to eat the bread sample and that there were so many different types of olive oil. Additionally, I loved our dance party between cooking and our olive oil tasting, which made the kitchen even more lively. Overall, I had so much fun trying new foods and practicing my cooking skills and vocabulary while spending quality time with an incredible group of people! I will definitely make paella for my family and incorporate my appreciation for locally sourced fresh ingredients when I return to the States! (Summitted June 2, 2024)

Study Abroad in Tanzania

Submitted by Karla Dann on the 2024 Winter ENWC program in Tanzania …

Week 1

Tanzania has been an adventure from the very start, upon arrival we found out that our bags had not made it from our layover in Amsterdam. This was a major problem since most of our camping gear we needed for the next eight days was in those bags. Being flexible and staying positive really helped us all get to know each other and bond as a group. We have had the privilege of observing dozens of beautiful birds and many incredible mammals in their natural environments. We visited Arusha National Park, where we saw Jackals, Mongoose, Zebra, Monkeys, Gazelle, Giraffes, and Elephants. It’s been incredible to have the opportunity to travel to such an amazing location with twenty-one like-minded people. We had the honor of joining our Maasai hosts as they slaughtered, processed, and prepared us a traditional goat dinner. The highlights so far have been the amazing food that has been prepared by our hosts and seeing elephants up close for the first time.

Week 2

This has been a week that I will never forget. Tarangire National Park was everything I hoped it would be and more. We saw so many incredible animals that I never imagined I would get the privilege to see in person, in their natural environment. It was fascinating to see how they went about their day and interacted with both the environment and the other animals they share it with. Next, we traveled to the Nou Forrest Reserve in the highlands of Tanzania. The drive to Nou was beautiful, and winding our way into the mountains was a view of Africa that I was not expecting. It is pretty chilly and very wet; it has been raining quite a bit and most of our belongings are soaked. Our hosts were from the Iraqw tribe. They could not have been more kind and inviting. We took a gorgeous, challenging hike with one of the villages former rangers, and got to visit his village. We met with some of the village elders, who answered our questions and showed us many aspects of their daily life. A few of the girls in our group taught some of the Iraqw kids how to do the Cotton Eye Joe dance, which was quite the feat considering none of them spoke English. It is incredible how a silly dance can bring so much laughter and joy to a group of complete strangers.

Week 3

Coming into this study abroad, I thought the wildlife was going to be the biggest highlight. After spending the last few days with the Hadza tribe, I can confidently say that this has been one of the biggest highlights of the trip thus far. The Hadza people have been so incredibly welcoming and open with us. Unlike some people we have met while in country, they do not seem intimidated by our differences. They acknowledge the differences, make some jokes, and then continue with what they are showing us. As a group, they seem to be incredibly well humored and family-oriented people. They showed us their homes and took us out gathering with their families. The next day we went hunting with them and harvested wild honey; it was amazing to see how quickly and quietly they moved through the bush. Sadly, we were not quick or quiet, therefore our hunting trip was unsuccessful. They also showed us how they make their arrows for hunting and let us shoot their bows; it was a lot of fun. For the first time, we were not the only ones asking questions. They had many very entertaining questions for us. Most of them revolved around dating, marriage, and our lifestyle. This proved to be a very funny and shocking conversation for both sides. After dinner on our last evening in Yaeda, they sang and danced with us around the fire. I am incredibly thankful to have had the privilege to meet and learn about their way of life.

(Submitted February 3, 2024)

Last week in Paris!

Submitted by Christie Giammarino on the 2024 Winter BISC program in Paris …

My last week in Paris was so amazing! This trip was the most fulfilling experience of my life. Having the opportunity to study abroad was a once in a lifetime opportunity and I had a blast! During my last week in Paris we discovered my favorite town called Montmartre. It is a cute town with the Sacre Coeur which translates to Sacred Heart, a very large and famous church. It has so many gift shops, people walking around, artists and singers, etc. It is such a cute town I loved it! On our last day we went to the Eiffel Tower, Arc de Triomphe, did some shopping on the Champs Elysees and got a great dinner to end off our trip. I went with the friends I made while abroad and it was a great way to finish off the trip! I loved the classes I took and would do this all again! (Submitted February 3, 2024)

A Social Week

Submitted by Keegan McKelligan on the 2024 Winter LLCU program in Leipzig, Germany …

This week had a ton of new experiences in the German nightlife, which I had heard so much about prior to this trip. Firstly, at the beginning of the week, our school program had a party in which all students and faculty were invited. It took place in a sort of underground club area and had a bar as well. It was a very interesting experience, as the music that was played was great, however our professors were there, which honestly made it a lot better as we could get to know them socially, as people instead of as teachers. The fact that it was a school sponsored event was somewhat off putting before, but they managed to pull it off extremely well, or at least much better than expected. This week also was home to the exciting free weekend, an entire week where we could decide what to do. Me, and many of my friends from the program chose to attend the soccer game of the team from the city we were studying in. This was both the first soccer game I’ve been to and the first soccer games that I’ve watched all the way through. Therefore, I was a bit apprehensive, but I wanted to try something new and so I gave it a shot. And I’m glad I did! The stadium was massive, and the game was sold out. The atmosphere was electric, and by the end, when our team lost, I felt despair as if I had been routing for them all my life. It was devastating to see them lose, and it felt that way even after I left the arena. Afterwards, my friends and I went to discover the German nightlife, and I went to the first real club that I’ve ever been to, which is something that I’ve been interested in because of how much it’s talked about. When we got there, it was just as good as I’ve heard about! The music was loud, so you could forget everything and just dance. It truly was something that I want to experience again. I used the next day of the free weekend as a recovery day, and got some work done for my classes. Overall, I have felt tremendous improvement in my German at this point, even though it’s only been three short weeks. I can only imagine how far I can go. (Submitted February 3, 2024)

Farewell to Barbados

Submitted by Michael Rimbey on the 2024 Winter HDFS program in Barbados …

In my final week in one of the most beautiful places I have ever been to, we finished up our placements in the Primary schools and took a few more trips as a group to fully maximize our time in Barbados. In the last two days of placements, I led many more classes as a teacher and also spent more time with the rest of the students during recess after lunch. This was one of my favorite parts of the day because it allowed me to see all of the students and connect with them, doing things that different people enjoyed and wanted me to do with them. Some of these things included throwing American football, kicking around a soccer ball, playing netball, hide and seek, and running races against other students. This truly made me feel like a kid again, and it took me back to when I was younger playing games in Elementary school. I used my experiences in Elementary school to also teach the kids some games we used to play back then in class. It was very hard to say goodbye to the teachers and students I have worked with throughout January, and they thanked us by giving each of us a gift bag from the school which included a polo shirt, mug, and a pen. I had never thought I would meet these people just a few short months ago, but I am so glad that I stepped out of my comfort zone and did because I will remember them for the rest of my life. Some of the last trips that we took as a group included a catamaran tour around the South side of the island and also an inflatable waterpark day in Saint James. Both of these trips brought us even closer together as a group and gave us even more memories that we can take back home with us to the United States. Now that I have had the opportunity to reflect on this experience, I am so incredibly grateful for the time I have had and meeting new people from both UD and the island of Barbados. The community in Saint James, where we stayed, has been extremely welcoming and I am leaving the island feeling as though it is my home away from home. I feel I have grown both personally and professionally from this winter study abroad trip and I am leaving telling myself that I will most definitely be back one day. I want to thank everyone that has helped me in this journey abroad and will be officially saying farewell to this study abroad trip of 2024. It is not a goodbye, but a see you later. (Submitted February 2, 2024)

Final Week: Home

Submitted by Hayden Atkinson on the 2024 Winter MSEG/PHYS/HIST program in Porto, Portugal …

Finally home! It feels like it’s been a year since I’ve seen my friends and family back here, even though it’s only been a month. To be honest, at first I was nervous about going on this study abroad trip. I had never been away from my family for that long, and I was worried that I wouldn’t be able to handle it. But after seeing the things I saw, going to the places I went, and doing the things I did, I can safely say that registering for this program has been one of the best decisions I’ve ever made. I’ve had more “firsts” on this trip than any other. I made new friends, ate amazing local foods, and had the opportunity to experience different cultures in their purest forms.

As part of the trip, we overnighted in not just Porto, but also Lisbon, Geneva, Paris, Barcelona, and Milan. And while we didn’t stay overnight there, while we were in Italy, we also went to Como and even Venice. If someone were to ask me my favorite city we went to, I would probably say Barcelona; the city was drop-dead gorgeous and I had so much fun while I was there. That’s not to say that those places like Paris and Venice weren’t amazing; I also had a lot of fun while I was in those cities, going to places like the Eiffel Tower and St. Mark’s Square in Venice. Unfortunately, however, both Paris and Venice were foggy when we went there, so we were unable to see them in their full beauty. That being said, I still had a lot of fun.

Not to mention the personal growth I went through while I was over there; before the trip, I was shy, and unsure about how to make new friends. But after the trip, I can say that my social skills have noticeably improved, to the point that I have walked away with a few new friends.

I would highly recommend this study abroad program to anyone in a heartbeat, not just engineering and physics majors; through the program I was able to visit places and do things that I might have never been able to otherwise. Depending on what’s available, I would definitely be open to doing another study abroad in the future. (Submitted February 2, 2024)

Discovering Florence’s Street Markets

Submitted by James Stangl on the 2024 Winter ENGL program in Florence …

I discovered the vendors around Florence’s Mercato Centrale (Central Market) on the day of my arrival. While heading to grab dinner, I turned onto a street lined with tall, overhanging carts filled with leather bags and soccer kits. Being the sole person on the street, nearly every salesperson enthusiastically introduced their products as I strolled by. “Wow, they must be desperate for a sale,” I thought, refusing to acknowledge them, as all my focus was directed towards getting my first taste of Italian pasta.

A few days later, I met Kieran and Pat, two friends from school, for coffee near the Duomo. After catching up and relishing our cappuccinos, Kieran suggested, “Hey, we’re heading to the leather market now; would you like to come?” Fortunately, I had extra time before our afternoon class, so I joined them. Walking with Kieran and Pat towards the market I passed by days ago, we spent the next two hours exploring the stalls, attempting to strike deals.

Although each of us had different items in mind, we quickly discovered that most carts offered similar merchandise. Kieran made the first purchase, acquiring a leather wallet from one of the initial stands we encountered. Kieran’s transaction imparted a valuable lesson before I began negotiating for myself – the customer holds all the leverage in negotiations. Because the products from cart to cart are substitutes, customers can easily walk to another seller if dissatisfied with the offered price. After negotiating with five different carts for an AC Milan soccer kit, I managed to secure the kit for fifteen euros, far below the 50 euros most carts initially quoted.

As I headed back to the hotel, I found the dynamics of the market fascinating. While the sellers primarily offered identical products, each experience felt distinct. Some sellers were rigid, others flexible with pricing. Some were overly respectful, making you feel valued, while others attempted to intimidate you into purchasing at a higher price. Some were amicable and conversational, others focused and to-the-point. This diversity, coupled with the continuous negotiation that resembled a game of Monopoly, provided a thrilling adrenaline rush and added to my memories from studying abroad in Florence. (Submitted February 2, 2024)

Exploring Music in Spain

Submitted by Meghan Rydell on the 2024 Summer SPAN Intermediate program in Granada, Spain…

The angel that welcomes visitors into Cordoba, a city in Spain where we took a day trip. The images shows the beautiful view of the city that was only accentuated by the music of an accordion (which is not seen in the picture).

One of my favorite things about Spain so far is the music, which ripples through the narrow streets of Granada. Some afternoons, I take walks to explore parts of the city, and at every turn, I see a guitar or violin player performing palos of Flamenco music. I truly realized the prominence of musicians in Granada when walking through the Plaza de las Pasiegas and shops near the Royal Chapel where Queen Isabella and King Ferdinand are buried. At the beginning of my walk, I ad put my headphones in, but when I saw the first guitar player, I took them out to listen and realized the music of the city was constant, and better than anything I was listening to! There were at least four or five performers whose music echoed through the streets and filled them with rhythmic, passionate songs. In U.S. cities like New York, you often see street performers, but there is something so raw and authentic about the music in Granada. To the artists, playing is about more than just receiving a few pennies or trying to get discovered. Performances are not about using the crowd to advance the art; they are about telling a story of culture, which includes love, triumph, loss, and grief, all within a string of notes and chords. Besides the fact that every musician was so skilled in their ability to play their instruments, the passion of the performance was visible. On a simple walk, I felt the artist’s emotions as the music died down from exciting peaks to quiet solace. (Submitted June 14, 2024)