Narau and Nara

Submitted by Carolyn Boyser on the 2012 summer session program in Kobe, Japan sponsored by the Department of Foreign Languages and Literatures…

 

Kasugataisha shrine

 

Narau, or 習う, in Japanese, is the verb that means to learn. From our first week here in Kobe, Japan, we have learned a lot. We have had a full week of interesting classes (all in Japanese only!) and lots of trips to interesting places. This weekend we had the chance to go to Nara and participate in a homestay, where our host-families planned activities for us to do and places to take us. My host family, my host-family partner and I went to three famous landmarks in Nara: Todaiji Temple, Kofukuji Temple, and the shrine Kasugataisha. These sacred places are not only rich in History, but also buzzing with current life. I find so far that I have learned that that is a way of expressing the character of Japan itself: History coexists with current culture. Here’s to another exciting week in Japan!

4 Days in Tasmania

Submitted by Thomas Celenza on the 2017 winter session program in Australia sponsored by the Department of Mechanical Engineering and the Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering…

So, we have just arrived back in Melbourne from a 4 day excursion in Tasmania.  The experience was unlike no other. The natural beauty of the area blows away anything I’ve ever seen before. Mountain ranges stretch for miles on end and we got to hike up one. In the United States, you’d never be able to do what we did. We were able to hike numerous trails until arriving at the top where we scaled vertical rock walls to the summit where you could see for what seemed like forever as shown in the pictures. It was remarkable and I wish I could do it 100 more times. We got to feed kangaroos here too, which is something I’d never thought I’d be able to do. Unlike U.S. petting zoos, we were let right into an enclosure with 50 plus kangaroos and interacted directly with them. Tasmania, overall,  was something I couldn’t have imagined doing and I’m glad we crammed so many different adventures into it including a brewery tour, a navy ship simulator and more. The hike and kangaroos were definitely the highlight.

New Friends

Submitted by Christopher Mitchell on the 2012 summer session program in Switzerland and Italy sponsored by the Department of  Hotel, Restaurant, and Institutional Management…

 

The Jungbrunn in Austria was amazing. It is a world class spa resort with state of the art facilities. While staying there I received four treatments: a facial, full body massage, foot massage, and a sports peeling which was the most interesting of the treatments, but I enjoyed all of them very much. We had a six course dinner the first night at the Jungbrunn and a seven course dinner the second night, both of which were absolutely delicious. I don’t know that I will ever be more impressed by another spa resort for the rest of my life. There are European students now staying at the school who are receiving training for their internships. We have made friends with many of them and I will be sad to see them go this coming Saturday.

Our free weekend began Thursday and ended Saturday evening so a group of us decided to go to Munich, Germany. While there, we visited the Dachau concentration camp which was a very moving experience. I now have a new respect for the military and a greater appreciation for everything that I am blessed with. There were three U.S. soldiers staying at the same hotel in Munich and we hung out with them a lot while we were there. One soldier was younger than me and I have an immense respect for what they do. Although I only got to know them for a short time, I know that I made friends for life. They will be in my thoughts and prayers until I see them again. Leaving Munich was very difficult because we had to say goodbye to them. We spent the last two days in Bad Ragaz, Switzerland at the Quellenhof five star resort for a Hotels Bridging Healthcare Conference. It was very informative and we met a lot of industry professionals. Some of which may be able to help us get jobs in the future. This is our last week in Switzerland and I hope it will be even more memorable than the last two. After that, we leave for Italy on the 24th of June.

Spain: Cooking Class

Submitted by Avalon Greene on the 2017 winter session program in Barcelona, Spain sponsored by the Horn Program in Entrepreneurship…

One night during this second week, our guide organized a cooking class for the group. We made pan con tomate (tomato bread), potato and egg quiche, chicken paella, and Crema Catalan (creme brûlée). Asumpta, the cook who helped us, was so warm and friendly and very passionate about the art of cooking. Everything tasted wonderful and we got to learn about all the different spices and ingredients they use, such as fresh tomatoes, olive oil, cumin, garlic, etc. We even got to use a blow torch for each of our creme brûlées! I’m so glad we were able to enjoy this experience and it’s something I would love to do again.

Nihon e youkoso!

Submitted by Megan Czerwinski on the 2012 summer session program in Kobe, Japan sponsored by the Department of Foreign Languages and Literatures…

Our first week in Japan has flown by, and after being asked about my impressions of the country by countless new friends, host families, and teachers, it’s still difficult to explain just how it feels. After years of studying the language and culture, nothing can compare to actually being here and talking (or trying to talk!) to everyone. The idea of Japan being a combination of modern life and tradition is popular, but experiencing it first hand was worlds apart from reading about it. The most striking example so far was during my stay with my homestay family in Nara.

We visited their family Shinto shrine, which was extremely beautiful and tranquil. To be honest, I couldn’t believe a place with this kind of atmosphere existed outside of films. A couple was undergoing marriage rituals with priests and shrine maidens, the trees were old and covered in moss, and the only sound came from the water of the purification fountain and the crows flying between the trees. But when we turned to leave, through the torii gates outside the shrine, a train sped by against the backdrop of Osaka. After spending most of the week in a very populous area of Kobe, seeing so much green in the trees alone was a shock, but the transition back into modern Japan was jarring.

During our day trip to Nara we visited a park famous for its tame deer.  In the park, and throughout the rest of the city, including outside stores and on the sidewalk, deer walked along, completely calm and not at all scared of people. We bought crackers to feed the deer in the park, and according to my host family they understand gestures and will bow after being fed. Watching the deer in the park was interesting enough, but having them follow us out onto the street felt so strange! Only one week has passed so far, but each and every day is so eventful.

 

 

Disconnecting in Amsterdam

Submitted by Marina Roos on the 2017 winter session program in London, England sponsored by the Department of English and the Department of Theatre…

For the past four days, I was traveling in Amsterdam. A group of my friends and I decided to stay in a hostel. While we were there, we made some Dutch friends. They told us about all the good food places and the attractions we needed to visit. We were told that we had to try this dish called Kibbeling so we went to a Dutch restaurant and ordered it. Kibbeling is battered and deep fried morsels of white fish and it was absolutely delicious. We also took a canal tour around the city and saw some of the Netherlands’ oldest buildings, like one building that was constructed in the 1500’s! It was really interesting to walk around in Amsterdam because everyone is either walking or riding a bike. There are not that many cars and buses on the roads so it is very different than London. Amsterdam is also much quieter and slower than London is, no one is really in any rush. One thing that was very similar to London was that it is very offensive to show up late to something. The people feel that since they are taking time out of their day to do a service for you than it is very rude to keep them waiting. When we signed up for the canal tour, we were told to show up at least ten minutes early so we needed to give ourselves at least 30 minutes to find our way there. In Amsterdam, none of us had cellular data so we couldn’t use our phones as a GPS. We walked around with a map and found everything perfectly fine. It was cool to be disconnected from social media for the day and take in everything around me. Amsterdam was such a good experience!

Greetings from Sorrento, Italy!

Submitted by Alyssa Southard on the 2012 summer session program in Italy sponsored by the Department of Foreign Languages and Literatures…

Upon arrival in Italy, we landed in Rome and from there traveled to Sorrento, where we were introduced to our host families and enjoyed lunch together. Then that evening, we went to dinner with the other students to taste some delicious Italian foods ranging from antipasti to pizza to dolci (sweets). We were shown our school and guided throughout the town to see the main attractions. Our professor is so kind and her name is Nunzia. After our first day of class, we traveled to Pompeii to explore the ruins and see the magnificent culture and history. The city is beautiful and has artifacts that display the lives of the people prior to the eruption of Mount Vesuvius. We then climbed Mount Vesuvius and took many pictures along the way. Later, we visited the Royal Palace of Caserta, which was built to compete with Versailles and is one of the most beautiful royal palaces. The day concluded with visiting Professoressa Fazzone’s  family in Baia e Latina, a small village. This place reflected the true Italian lifestyle without tourists being everywhere. There we listened to the music of a folk group that has members of professoressa’s family in it. We all got to dance with them as well. Our first week in Sorrento has been an incredible experience. Ciao!!

Australia: New Confidence

Submitted by Shannon Emrich on the 2017 winter session program in Australia sponsored by the Department of Mechanical Engineering and the Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering…

I started playing around with the idea of living in a city this past summer when visiting my sister in Astoria, NY. I never saw myself living in a city. I always pictured myself going back to my Southern roots and living in a small town. I was content with that plan throughout high school and the first two years of college. However, that trip to the city really changed my perspective and opened my eyes to what opportunities are present in cities. Despite my budding love for city life, I was absolutely terrified about navigating public transit and the subway. However, this study abroad program has given me so much confidence in this area. I am able to get around the city and surrounding areas without a problem. I no longer feel anxious or fearful when I want to travel. It has been an unexpected surprise and perk that will serve me well back in the United States and in my future.

Penguins, Kangaroos, and Koalas… Oh My!

Submitted by Nicole Latino on the 2012 summer session program in Australia sponsored by the School of Education…

 

Nicole here, reporting back from my second week in memorizing Australia.  Is it horrible that I have only spent 14 days here, but I am already dreading my flight back home? Our week started off with class, and a lecture at Victoria University.  We sat in on an art history/ history of Australia lecture by a man of indigenous decent named Tom. The lecture was really interesting and informative, but I think it was just really cool to be in a setting with people closer to our age. We saw how the Aussies do college. After the class, our group broke up into smaller groups and entered another class.  In the individual classes we were given the opportunity to mingle with some of the student which produced discussions about different things to see in Australia, questions about the States, and for some the low down on Melbourne nightlife. After a long tram ride back to the city, we were all pretty exhausted and called it an early night

The next day we went on another school visit to Eltham College. No not another University, rather a k-12 school. Eltham’s layout is very different to American schools.  The campusconsists of several different buildings, includes a vineyard (where they make their own wine, and where I saw my first wild kangroo!), acres of Australian brush, and a big brown pond.  I really liked the school’s senior years program. Starting around 9th grade, students work with a career counselor to determine what they want to do in their future. In years 10 thru 12, the student’s work focuses specifically on the career choice they selected.  It seems like the school is actually invested in their students’ futures, unlike some American high school systems.

Friday, we had class. (Nothing too interesting to report back about that.) After class, we went shopping in the rain, after postponing a trip to the sky deck (continue reading for more information.) At night, our whole group went to the Crown, a very expensive hotel, club, casino and bar. The Crown was absolutely stunning; with a grand staircase, and a fountain where the water droplets danced to the music. A few people tried the slots and one group member won $20! The casino gave us a free game of poker, and the person in our group who won the game got a free drink. After playing a couple rounds, everyone just went all in to determine a winner. (Some serious poker players in our group!)  After poker, we hit the dance floor to see how the Aussies’ get their groove on.

Saturday was filled with animals! We went on a bus tour to Phillips Island. It was a well needed break from the city. Our first stop was a petting zoo, but unlike America, the animals you pet include kangaroos, and wallabies. We also saw koalas, Emus, Tasmanian devils, dingoes, and peacocks. After the zoo, we went to Panny’s Chocolate Factory; a delicious and quirky stop. We also stopped at a surfing beach, where we interacted with a local surfer, also where my roommate’s camera went for a swim, and never returned. It was our first glimpse of an Australian beach, and it did not disappoint as it was visually impeccable! Our last stop was the Penguin Parade. Before the penguins returned home we walked along a boardwalk on the cliff. The views were so mesmerizing; I actually walked off a bench while taking photos. No serious injuries just a couple of bruises, luckily.  Finally, with the ascent of nightfall we gathered on the grandstands to watch the penguins come home. I have never thought in my life that I would see a wild penguin so close to me. It is something I will never forget!

Sunday was a day off, but a bunch of us went to some local markets at St. Kilda’s beach and the Arts Precinct.  At St. Kilda’s we walked along a pier leading to a marina which had the city as a backdrop. Ascetically it was perfection. We also made a pit stop at Luna Park(all the girls wanted to go because Mary Kate and Ashley filmed a movie there!). Sunday night the group went to the Eureka Sky deck, the tallest building in the southern hemisphere.  On the 88th floor, (top floor) the views were amazing, you could literally see the whole city.

On Monday, we did another bus tour to The Great Ocean Road. Stops included surfing beaches (including world famous Bell’s beach), wild koala hunting, rainforest hiking, 12 Apostles, Loch Gorge, and London Bridge. I don’t think I have ever taken so many pictures in one day. If I had to describe Australia in one word, I would say STUNNING! I mean you think it can’t get any prettier, and then we made another stop at a spot that was more breathtaking. The 12 Apostles are rock formations in the ocean that have been eroded from the mainland.

Tuesday consisted of a school visit to Rossbourne, and Andale, both small special education schools. Everyone at the school was very accommodating and nice. They even hosted a sausage sizzle for us!

Italy: When in Rome…

Submitted by Kayla Baptiste on the 2017 winter session program in Italy sponsored by the Department of English…

Nothing is better than starting off the year in Italy. It’s not enough to study Italian food, culture and history within the confines of a classroom. In 2017, I decided I want to experience what I learn. For the new year, I needed a change. I must admit, the first couple of days in Italy were tough. Italian culture is very different from American culture. I found it particularly difficult to overcome the language barrier, but I managed to learn a couple of Italian words and phrases to help me along the way. I was over being homesick as soon as I started exploring my “home” for the next three weeks.

It’s hard to describe the historical beauty of a city like Rome. Ancient cobbled stone roads coupled with the beautiful architect of the city’s modern buildings comprise some of the initial sights upon entering the city walls. I was most excited to see the history that lives on throughout the city of Rome. Just outside my hotel room, I could see the Colosseum about a block away.

After settling in, I, along with a group of friends, walked around Rome, embracing the cultural differences between Italians and Americans. We grabbed some pizza before making our way to the Spanish Stairs. The view of Rome from the top of the stairs was breathtaking!

Afterwards, we walked to the Pantheon. Walking inside the Pantheon, I was filled with excitement; I was standing in a temple used by the Romans hundreds of years ago. I was surprised to see that it is still used today, as some people were praying when we walked in.

Overall, I know all I have seen, so far, is only the beginning. Rome is a vibrant, culturally diverse city filled with so much history. All I can say is this: When in Rome…