UD Abroad Blog

Submitted by Olivia Mann on the 2017 winter session program in Leipzig, Germany sponsored by the Department of Languages, Literatures and Cultures…

No matter if I am sitting in phonetics class at the Herder Institute, spending time atop the Völkerschlachtdenkmal with friends or just walking down the street to a bakery, it still just hits me: the fact that I am blessed to be spending my winter session in Leipzig, Germany.

On top of being continuously thoughtfully and thankfully exhausted, this study abroad program has afforded me not only greater self-awareness, but also enormous cultural appreciation; so far, during this study abroad program, I have realized these two things go hand-in-hand.

It is often that American citizens visit a country with little to no knowledge of the native language; they just expect people, around the globe, to speak and communicate in English. But often, through American citizens’ decision to not acclimate themselves to the native language or because of the accessibility of the English language, people miss out on a huge chunk of the cultural experience. Dining, to me, is one of the most distinctly European cultural experiences. The notion of afternoon tea, cake and just lounging around by a restaurant window is European.

The cultural immersion is an incredibly influential learning experience. Ordering food, whether it be a cappuccino, bratwurst or cheesecake, in German and food shopping are absolutely thrilling and enthralling. Learning a new language rejuvenates and revitalizes, what I consider, some of the most mundane tasks in the United States.

Submitted by Erika Lawrence on the 2019 winter session study abroad program in London, England sponsored by the Department of Music…

As I am finishing up my first week in London, there have been many things I have noticed that are different here than in the United States. From things like what side of the street you walk on to tipping at restaurants, being here is a new way of life. One of the most prominent things I have noticed about being here is the fashion sense of the locals. Coming from a traditional college campus, I am used to seeing students walking to class in baseball caps, sweatpants, and a baggy t-shirt. However, that is definitely not the dress code in London. Bloomsbury is an area where many universities are located so I see many British students every morning on my way to class. Women are typically dressed in skirts, tights, boots, long coats, and a hat while men are typically dressed in dress pants and a collared shirt. Not only have I noticed these trends in students, but I have noticed it nearly everywhere in the city. Everyone here is always dressed to impress and I have loved shopping for European items to wear for the rest of my time here.

Submitted by Marisa O’Connor on the 2019 winter session study abroad program in Italy sponsored by the Department of Art…

It has always been my dream to travel to Italy and I can’t believe I have already spent a week in this beautiful place. Florence is everything I had imagined and so much more. The scenery, architecture, and museums are all incredible and I’ve had so much fun just looking around. I have definitely had some of the most surreal moments here. Including my first glimpse of the Duomo, which is a 5-minute walk from my apartment. The first time I saw this breathtaking cathedral, I couldn’t believe it was real. It almost looked fake against the dark Florentine night sky. Another unforgettable moment that I have had on this program was seeing a view of Florence from Piazzale Michelangelo at sunset. Some friends and I walked all the way up to this cool spot to watch the sunset while listening to live music and taking in a view of the fascinating city we are lucky enough to call home.

Overall, throughout this program, I have enjoyed just sitting and taking in all of the views and things I have seen. It has been so nice to reflect and be present in the moment during this experience in order to get the most out of it. I have had so much fun living and having adventures in this city so far and I can’t wait to see what else is in store. Tomorrow, we will be taking an excursion to Siena and San Gimignano and I am very excited to see some new places in Italy which I’m sure will be equally as beautiful as Florence.

Submitted by Olivia-Jane Haslam on the 2017 winter session program in London, England sponsored by the Department of History…

Wandering around the Imperial War Museum is not generally thought of as something pleasant to do on a Sunday afternoon. However, along with myself there were a multitude of people who had the same idea. The Imperial War Museum, for those who do not know, is a British museum dedicated to the beginning of modern warfare and to continuing to cover modern war even to this day. When arriving at the museum, a large two cannon artillery piece greets visitors. It defines what they will see inside, that of war and the beginning of the change in warfare to what we know of it today.

And yet, it is different from war museums in the United States. To begin with, walking into the museum it is clear that the focus is on the past and how it has influenced the future, unlike in the United States. There is nothing that screams that this is focused exclusively on a British perspective which can also be seen in the inclusion of uniforms from countries such as Russia, France and Germany in their World War I exhibit. While the perspective the museum takes is that of a British one, it is not always painting Britain in a positive light. There are times where Britain can do no wrong and times where all it can do is wrong.

An example would be within their Holocaust exhibit. A beautiful exhibit that chronicles the Holocaust from the troubling period between World War I and World War II with the rise of antisemitism through the Holocaust and even takes a glance at what lies beyond the atrocity of that time. Once I progressed partially through the exhibit,  there were signs of when news began leaking out of the continent into Britain about the undertakings of the Nazis. The curators gave visitors the chance to understand why nothing had been done to stop the Nazis and why the atrocities were not stopped sooner than 1945. In difference to the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum, the British and Allies are not painted in the light of saviors, but the in the light of soldiers who cannot believe what they are seeing. They are not there to save those imprisoned because they knew, they are there because there is war and the camps could hold their people. The horrors of the Holocaust are laid out in such brisk understanding that there is little detail lost in giving visitors the knowledge they need to understand the event and what it still means to this day.

The museum’s focus on World War I is also large. Their exhibit chronicles the war from before it began by explaining the entangled situation on the European continent. It continues its story through the use of propaganda from the time and actual artifacts used in the war. The story weaves through the four long years of war and even includes the chance to walk through a replica of a trench, minus the hell that those brought to the soldiers stationed in them. Detail is everywhere and nothing is missed in detailing what happened during the war. The curators even included videos made by students to explain what the war means to them now, in the 21^st century. All in all, the exhibit brings home the misery of World War I and explains how it began what is today considered modern warfare.

Even war today is considered to be relevant in the museum’s story. The shell of a car used as a bomb in Iraq is on display in the main lobby, a symbol of how war is still very alive in today’s world.