Friends and Memories!

Submitted by Anastacia Johnson on the 2024 Winter HLTH program in Italy…

Being home has been bittersweet, as excited as I was to see my family, dogs, and friends this trip and the people on it have made a lasting impact on my life. The transition back has had its ups and downs, especially going from being surrounded by 20 people everyday. This program has been so rewarding and if given the opportunity to study abroad take it. I have gained so much, knowledge, a new perspective, friendships, and life-long memories that I will cherish for the rest of my life.

Ciao Italia, I’ll be back <3 (Submitted on January 30, 2024)

Week 2: Our three day trip to Florence

Submitted by Sean Glennon on the 2024 Winter FINC/ENGL program in Italy

After enjoying our first week of the session on the SIAF campus in the Tuscany countryside in a small town Volterra, we set off for our visit to Florence on Monady morning. It was different seeing cars passing through a city for the first time in a week, even though it reamined limited. The roads and sidewalk are much tighter than what Americans are used to, as most of the city was built to be walkable during Roman times. 

Most time walking, I used the Duomo located in the heart of the city center tot race where I was. Nearby the Duomo was a large leather market, where merchants sold different products such as wallets, jackets, bags, and coats to those interested. I unfortunately wasn’t aware that you are supposed to bargain with the sellers for a better price and ended up paying 20 euro more than my friend for a wallet. But that didn’t stop me from going ahead and buying a personal flat cap along with other kids in our group in the market that same day. 

I had no reservations booked for dinner my firstnight but that didn’t matter. Our professor recommended a couple of us to a small corner sandwich shop called All’antico Vinaio. The menu was in only Italian with no english translation, but I trusted my gut enough to order a numero 5 sandwich. The workers made each part of the sandwich, even slicing the bread, in front of me to make what was arguably the best sandwich I’ve ever had. I sat on a street corner and savored every last bite with a glass bottle CocaCola in my other hand. 

Being the birthplace of the Renaissance, I couldn’t talk about Florence and not mention the spectacular artwork seen throughout the city. Inside the Duomo, you notice all the little detail that went into creating the Cathedral. The ceiling of the dome especially purely due to the vast color in the painting, and I began to understand the cultural significance of where I was in Europe. This was only furthered when I visited the Accademia Gallery, which is home to Michaelangelos famous Statue. It’s hard to grasp before seeing it how large the marble statue is, and how well-detailed it is without experiencing it first-hand. Michelangelo imfamously believed that he rather freeing bodies from the marble rather than creating something new, which becomes even more fascinating when looking at some of his unfinished works aligned within the museum hallway as well. The detail of some of the unfinished almost impressed me just as much as they told a tale of one of the most influential figures from this time period. (Submitted on January 30, 2024)

My Third and Final Week in Rome

The Colesseum at sunset

Submitted by Bridget Blandi on the 2024 Winter HLTH program in Rome

Although I was sad to be leaving at the end of this week, I made the most out of my final week in Rome.  We had the opportunity to take a cooking class and we made one of Rome’s famous pasta dishes, Tagliatelle all’Amatriciana.  This dish is an amazing pasta sauce, based on guanciale, pecorino romano, tomato sauce and chili pepper.  Making pasta from scratch was a great way to get in touch with Italian culture and assimilate to their way of life.  We also made a delicious Italian dessert with ricotta cheese, cherries and chocolate.  

The rest of the week I spent taking in all of Rome’s beautiful sights and architecture one last time before heading back home and I took the time to appreciate the three weeks I was able to spend abroad.  I reflected on all of the fun excursions, the delicious food, our weekend trip to Florence and the countless memories I have made with the great group of friends I have found on this adventure.  After the pasta making class, we had two last amazing group dinners, where we all appreciated our time spent in Rome and reminisced on our time spent in this beautiful place.  This study abroad experience has inspired me to return to Europe in the future and explore other parts of the world, and I am so excited for the adventure ahead. (Submitted on January 30, 2024)

The cooking class

Sightseeing With Friends

Submitted by Samantha Williamson on the 2024 Winter BISC program in Paris

This week, we had a group excursion to Palais Garnier, the famous opera house. It was an incredible sight to see with all of the intricate details of the building. We had a guided tour of the palace and I loved looking at the bright and colorful paintings on the ceiling of the main opera house, which were a different style from the ceiling paintings in the side rooms which were more pastel. We visited the gift shop on our way out and I bought a The Phantom of the Opera keychain. The next day, my friends and I visited La Galerie Dior together. I was pleased to learn so much about the history behind the designs that I did not know about. When we walked into the building we saw a wall that had miniature replicas of famous Dior designs, which were shown in a rainbow of colors. On Friday, it was a beautiful day outside so my friends and I visited the Galeries Lafayette and went to the rooftop. There was a beautiful view of the city on this sunny day and we could see the Eiffel Tower. We took photos of each other and sat and talked, soaking in the view and reminiscing on one of our last days in Paris. (Submitted on January 30, 2024)

2 Week Submission

Submitted by Airym Velazquez on the 2024 Winter CRJU program in South Africa…

Growing up, I always knew I was a part of the lower middle class of Puerto Rico. I was neither rich nor poor; I was normal. Unlike my father, my father had grown up in one of the poorest neighborhoods in Ponce, Puerto Rico. He grew up in extreme poverty and was a part of the lower class of Puerto Rico. His parents earned a few dollars a week, and at only ten years old, he dropped out of school to work to make money for his family and community. When I decided to begin my study abroad, I knew that here, in South Africa, there would be areas with poor neighborhoods. The neighborhood of Soweto reminded me of my dad’s community and of los ” barrios,” which are poor neighborhoods in PR. 

After seeing Soweto, we also visited a traditional South African restaurant. When we arrived, I did not know what to expect. However, I was pleasantly surprised, the food was delicious; it tasted similar to my traditional food, and it pleased me to see how my peers enjoyed it as much as I did. Moreover, it was a pleasure to meet Nicolas’ son James. He was the first person from my same age category that I interacted with in conversation that was born and raised in South Africa. Getting to know him and all his ideals was a pleasure. We may have had playful arguments on the bus. However, it was all for fun, and no real feelings were hurt. I hope he joins us again so we can continue learning about each other as a group. So far, I am happy in South Africa. The people have been fantastic, and the culture has been intriguing. South Africa is one of the best countries I have visited. 

For this week’s readings, we had the opportunity to read Orphanhood and Childcare Patterns in Sub-Saharan Africa: An Analysis of National Surveys from 40 Countries by Roeland Monasch and J. Boerma. This article focused on the number of children who are in the fostercare system in parts of Africa. According to this article, “Overall, the population-based surveys, which cover 97% of the population in sub-Saharan Africa, indicate that on or about the year 2000, 9% of children under 15 years have lost at least one parent, including 1% who have lost both parents (weighted average for all countries). During this week, we began our daily visits to New Beginnings. This center focuses on rehabilitating children, primarily babies, so they can be adopted and have better lives after being abandoned by their parents. Meeting these babies has been an incredible experience filled with highs and lows. The babies have genuinely been the highlights of my days, and I’m glad I have been able to work with them. So far, my favorite baby has been Zipho; she is a 10-month-old baby who was a result of a failed abortion. Because of this, she was born as a premi, and her life has had health challenges because of it. She is a sweet baby, and I’m glad I have met her. However, this brought me back to a discussion I had with the Professor. Harris. We spoke of pregnancy in South Africa and how it was a significant issue for the country’s population and women’s well-being. Harris mentioned how women here in South Africa receive money from the state for the children that they give birth to. Because of this, many women have babies and end up neglecting them. 

Moreover, although I agree that having children like this is wrong, I think it is important to remember the levels of extreme poverty in this country. If birthing babies is going to feed your family, then I can’t blame the mothers and families who chose to do so. Because it is their choice, however, we have cases like this. While at New Beginning, I saw Tony while you all were visiting, and she mentioned how she couldn’t believe a mother could abandon her child like that with no remorse. As much as I agree with Tony’s statement, I want to believe that most of those moms likely did not want to abandon their babies, but because of the emotional and economic situation that these women go through that might have been the best way they could give their children a better life. 

Moreover, the article spoke of how women were the ones who stepped up and took care of the babies and fostered them while they had no home. New Beginnings is an example of this; everyone there is a woman. Seeing and relating to these amazing women who care for such sweet, innocent lives is lively. Monach’s article concluded that “Overall, 9% of children under 15 years have lost at least one parent in sub-Saharan Africa. On average, one in six households with children is caring for orphans. Orphans more frequently live in households that are female-headed, larger, and have a less favorable dependency ratio”. It is unfortunate how many children are homeless or struggling to find a house in South Africa and other parts of the continent. I hope this issue improves, and hopefully, fewer children will have to live through this someday. 

The second article I would like to focus on is, Experiencing De Facto Racial Residential. Segregation in Urban South Africa: An African Refugees Auto ethnography by Amanuel Isak. Isak describes his life as a black person living in South Africa. He mentions how “My experience with racial residential segregation did not occur as a result of state-sanctioned segregation or Collective White mobilization (Boustan, 2013) as such forms of segregation have been outlawed in South Africa. It appears to be due to individual White actions, Black self-segregation, and socioeconomic factors (Izak, 2020). This reading reminded me of Soweto, where people live in extreme poverty like my father once did. While we walked through the community, it reminded me of my father’s community. The shared homes, the illegal electricity, and the lack of water were exactly what my dad dealt with in his everyday early life. However, although all these things were said, I could not help to sense the feeling of community. These people have been ignored and abused by the government. However, they stay where they are and help each other whenever possible. This is similar to my dad’s dad’s situation; although he lived like the poorest of the poor, the community he had within him and his neighborhood kept him going. I believe one of the main reasons these people have stayed where they are is their strong sense of community. Aside from this situation being the only one they knew of, these people understand the meaning of community. I’m happy I got to meet the people of this community and the fact that I could relate to them through my dad. 

Through this experience, I have learned the significance of wealth, not material wealth but wealth in family and community. Learning about the people from Soweto and how they embraced their situation made me reflect on my life. I’m genuinely grateful for my life and the person I am today. Although I began this journal talking about how I grew up as a middle class, I acknowledge that I’m rich because of the love I receive from others and my community back home. I am lucky to be in the position that I am in, and I hope that someday, I can help this community and the babies that have been left for adoption in South Africa. (Submitted on January 30, 2024)

A Night With the New Zealand Locals

Submitted by Emma Morandi on the 2024 Winter HOSP program in Australia and New Zealand…

After a short plane ride, we made it to New Zealand! I was surprised to learn there are more differences from Australia to New Zealand than I expected. The geography is mostly mountains, farm land and beautiful sights. We got to have an awesome experience with the locals of Napier. Outside of our hotel, a food truck festival took place. We got to try some really tasty food such as seafood paella, crapes, and donuts. We sat on the lawn of the town square with the locals and listened to live music. This band wrote all their own music and it was amazing to relax and listen to their great songs. The locals are very friendly and have a huge sense of community. Many people were dancing and children were running around playing all night. We got to watch a beautiful sunset after. The next morning, in the same area, they hosted a farmers market. I got some amazing coffee and a croissant. The vendors were very friendly and I loved getting to meet locals.(Submitted on January 30, 2024)

Farewell Rome

Submitted by Madison Troise on the 2024 Winter HLTH program in Rome…

Last week was my final week in Rome, and during that time I felt a whirlwind of emotions. I was so eager to get home because I missed my family and my normal routine. I missed a lot of things that many Italians don’t use such as drying machines, ice in their drinks, and free water. Hanging my laundry to dry drove me insane, and drinking room temperature water always irked me. Also I started getting sick of the food. Don’t get me wrong, all the pasta and pizza dishes in Rome were amazing, but they started to get repetitive. I was craving my normal dinners from home, which usually consist of chicken, a vegetable, and a starch. And what I missed the most was my American breakfast. In Italy, people just eat a pastry for breakfast. A pastry did not fill me up at all, and I got really sick of it quite quickly. All I wanted was eggs or some sort of protein. Although there were many reasons I wanted to go home, the one reason why I was upset to stay reigned supreme. I realized when will I ever get to go to Europe again for three weeks with 14 kids my age? Probably never. The next time I’ll be able to go to Europe will probably be years from now. This made me super upset. I really grew to love the city of Rome, and I began to feel like I belonged there. I finally was able to navigate my way around the city, and I learned about a lot of Italian culture. I wish I was able to just go home for a little and then return back to Italy, but it is not that easy. Traveling back home required a long 9 hour flight. I now have a huge appreciation for this beautiful city and I hope I can return as soon as possible. I’m so grateful that I was able to call this city my home for three weeks. (Submitted on January 30, 2024)

Cacio e pepe- one of the main dishes served in Rome (I can’t even count how many times I ate it)

Australia Has My Heart

Me at the Opera House in Circular Quay

Submitted by Anna Hintz on the 2024 Winter NURS program in Australia

As I wrap up my final week in Sydney, Australia, I reflect on all the amazing experiences that I have had in these past 3 weeks. It is bittersweet to leave this beautiful and lively city to come back home. My favorite place to spend time in the city was Circular Quay, which is home to the famous Sydney Opera House, Sydney Harbour Bridge, and The Historical Rocks. My group had the pleasure of spending Australia Day in this area, where we watched the fireworks above the Opera House. An interesting thing that I learned about on this trip is the complicated history of Australia. Similar to the US, Native people inhabited the land of Australia before it was invaded and taken over by the British. This day is known as Australia Day, but to the Native people of Australia named the Aboriginals, they call it Invasion Day. Although it is called a holiday in Australia, we realized that not many people celebrated it this year, and it was not similar the the American 4th of July. Many celebrations focused on remembering and respecting the Aboriginal people of Australia. My group had the opportunity to go on a guided tour in Circular Quay, led by an Aboriginal tour guide who taught us about the rich history of the Aboriginals called Dreamtime. I learned a lot about Australian history and have gained a lot of respect for the Native people of this country during my trip to Sydney. (Submitted on January 29, 2024)

Final Week of India

Girls trip!

Submitted by Madeline Greenly on the 2024 Winter ENGL program in India

We have arrived back In Delhi, and finally got to experience the many shops and long winding streets that are Old Delhi. There are many things to see here, and it was pretty overwhelming at first. Very quickly I took to liking it. Old Delhi is exactly how I pictured all of India to look, just from all the stories I have heard from people and the pictures I have seen on the internet. It’s packed, fast paced, exploding with colors, sounds, and speeding rickshaws. We got the opportunity to visit Jama Masjid, which is one of the largest Mosques in India. It was absolutely gorgeous. We had to remove our shoes to enter and don some robes over our clothing. Afterwards we braved the streets, weaving in and out of the crowds and stopping quickly to buy Knick knacks, spices and tea. 

After old Delhi we were off to Agra, where the famous Taj Mahal is located. There is really nothing that could have prepared me for the sight of this thing. Shah Jahan was the emperor that commissioned the Taj Mahal to be built, in honor of his favorite wife. It was built with walls surrounding it so that the building is not visible until you are directly in front of it. It was huge, with stunning white marble inlaid with many precious gems and stones. Flowers were carved into the walls, the petals gleaming with vibrant colors. We took hundreds of pictures, none of them really doing the building justice. Many pictures were taken of us as well. By this time we were accustomed to it, so we told many people to kindly delete them. 

Following this we visited Agra fort, which was bigger than it looked on the outside. Many places were blocked off and were being used by the Indian military. We were shocked to learn what we had only explored about ⅓ of the entire fort. The same flowers and stones that decorated the Taj Mahal also appeared in the craftsmanship of these walls. 

Couple under the archway

Next, we were off to Jaipur. Here we tried many Rajasthani dishes, and watched a bollywood movie called Fighter. It reminds me a ton of Top Gun, except this film had two amazing dance scenes. The whole movie experience felt more like a broadway show than a movie theater. People were cheering, taking videos with their phones, and there was even an intermission. While in Jaipur, we also visited the Amer Fort. This place was massive, located on top of a huge hill. We ran around in the upper levels of the fort, looking down from the fort’s walls at the many tourists below. Many people had come there to take pictures for their engagements. They donned wedding attire, and posed with each other romantically in the beautiful curving archways. We also visited the Monkey temple, Hawa Mahal, and the royal palace. 

Soon we will be leaving India. We are back in Delhi currently, and we will explore more of Old Delhi today for more shopping. I’m going to try and find the oldest perfume shop in Delhi today. Crossing my fingers… 

I have learned and experienced so much while studying in India. Each day has been jam packed with activities and traveling. Being with such a small group, 7 girls total, has been so much fun. I believe the friendships I made on this trip will continue through my lifetime. I am always going to miss the mountains we climbed, the momos we ate, and the people we met. I have had the privilege to explore so many places in India thanks to our amazing professor Dr. Barua. I fully plan on returning to India one day! (Submitted on January 29, 2024)

The women of the monkey temple

First Week Down Under

Submitted by Evan Coy on the 2024 Winter BUAD program in Sydney

When I arrived in Sydney, Australia, I was immediately stunned by the city’s vibrant energy and beautiful natural beauty. After a long 16 flight to Sydney, I had to resist the urge to take a mid-day nap and catch up on some much-needed sleep to avoid jet lag. I decided to visit the iconic Sydney Opera House, known for its stunning architecture and picturesque setting along the harbor. The Opera House perfectly captures the city’s creativity and symbolizes the city’s artistic spirit. When walking through the streets it is very easy to become mesmerized by the diverse blend of modern towers and historic buildings which reflects on Sydney’s rich western roots. Sydney also has an abundance of parks and gardens. The Royal Botanic Garden that leads directly to the Opera House was stunning. I found an abundance of beautiful Australian native flora that I had never even known existed! The following day our group had the chance to visit Walkabout Wildlife Sanctuary, located just outside of Sydney. The sanctuary was home to many native Australian animals that I had always dreamed of seeing. My favorites had to have been the Tasmanian Devils and Arnold the Koala! After completing the tour of the Sanctuary our guide gave us a brief history of the park. I was truly amazed at the amount of hard work, time, and effort that not only the owners put into the park but also local Aussies who continue to financially support and care for the animals. Our guide mentioned that during COVID the park was on the verge of bankruptcy, it was struggling to pay its employees because people were not allowed to visit the park! Nevertheless, local Aussies came together and decided they would volunteer to work at Walkabout in the park for over a year so that it could stay operational. The story was very inspirational and shed light on the people who care for the environment and wildlife throughout Australia. Overall, the first week in Australia has been nothing short of amazing. I am truly grateful to be able to experience something so incredible and eye-opening. I am incredibly excited to see what Australia has to offer in the following weeks! (Submitted on January 29, 2024)