Allegheny College Study Abroad Fall 2007

The room where I sit is cold, uninviting. It is not made for comfort and an overwhelming sense of boredom festers within the cubicle walls. No, I'm not in Israel yet. I'm waiting patiently to leave, working for my father's company and doing administrative work. I have been waiting for over five years to leave on this adventure, and I don't think much, especially not office work, will prepare me for my trip.

But to be honest? I'm not expecting much. Sure, I hope to have a fantastic time in an incredible country. I'm sure what will take place there will be life changing. I have no idea what it will be like; how it will smell, feel, sound. So I've taken the stance of no expectations. I am going into this trip with as few preconceptions as possible, so when I arrive, I can fully be in the moment.

And that is what I hope to gain with my entire experience abroad. I want to learn the ability (and I believe it is a learned skill) to enjoy something as is. Since grade school, my life has been fairly mapped out. Private high school, AP classes to get into a good college, go to that good college, decide major, don't flunk out, GET JOB. I don't want the rest of my life to be a map that I haven't drawn myself.

It is an amazing opportunity to travel abroad as a young adult, and I thank Allegheny for making it so easy. I don't expect everything in the coming months to be as simple. Along with being "in the moment" I hope to gain some focus on how I want to spend my last year and a half at Allegheny when I return. Who I want to surround myself with, what classes I take, how hard I try, and how I use the plentiful resources provided.

I leave in less than two weeks. Then hopefully I can begin to sketch out my new map.

Posted by Caitlin McClusky at 10:48 AM | Permalink

I tried as hard as I could to start this experience without any expectations. I wanted to figure things out as I went and be open to new ideas that were not necessarily what I would expect. I am still trying to think that way and have found that I am constantly learning new things. However, now that I have been here a few weeks I do agree I should start to set goals for myself.

Academically:

I hope to improve my Spanish skills and be able to easily have a conversation with a native Spanish speaker. I would like for people to now know I am American by the way I speak.

I hope to gain a new perspective that will help me in my studies and in my future as well. I would like to see how people in a different culture view environmental problems. I think that they will have a very different point of view than we do because their economy and their way of life are different from ours. Since I want to help solve environmental problems and also help people in the future, I feel it is important to know what people need before I can really do this. Americans so often think that they can impose their way of life on other countries, when in reality what works for us is not always beneficial for others.

Since my program has an internship portion, I feel that I will learn the most out of that. I hope to take as much as I can from this internship and gain valuable job experience in my field.

Personally:

I hope to establish a lasting relationship with my host family as well as make friends here.

I hope to become more confident, outgoing and adventurous. I am already trying things that I never would at home and plan to continue doing this. I feel that I need to work on confidence because I am hesitant to talk to people, especially with the language barrier.

Lastly, I hope to not only see but also adapt a different way of living and of viewing life. I think that going abroad is essential to personal development because it shows us that our way of thinking and living is not the only way or the right way. It is really important for me to learn and grow as a person by first understanding that I have so much to learn about the culture and the people here.

Posted by Nikki Cash at 10:40 AM | Permalink

“Oh…why?” was my mother’s response when I told her I wanted to study abroad in India, as a look of obvious horror formed upon her face. While the concept of other cultures existing and flourishing is not particularly foreign to me, I hadn’t actually experienced any of it firsthand. Up until my departure for Delhi, I’d only read about the pressing political, environmental, and societal issues affecting the majority of the world’s population, all from the safety of the Allegheny bubble. Surely, this is no way to learn. A doctor at the Barefoot College NGO in Tilonia recently put it best when he said “Learning is experiencing.” He didn’t mean that we can’t share in one another’s knowledge, but that to truly understand something, it’s necessary to jump right in—to personally take in the colorful sights, the constant blaring sounds, even the rather distinctive smells of foreign lands.

My academic and personal goals during this semester are intertwined. Academically, I want to learn passable Hindi, catch a glimpse of both the plight and pleasure of living in an Indian city which combines the modern with the antiquated, as well as take in the inner workings of NGOs. I have no preconceived notions of eliminating poverty or solving the problem of unsafe drinking water. I understand that I’m here as merely an observer, and am only attempting to understand the motivations of the people with which I come into contact. On a more personal level, I wanted to see if I could handle the lifestyle experienced by 2/3 of the world, away from the creature comforts of a hot running shower, relatively pest-and-rodent-free homes, and familiar foods. I suppose I wanted to push my limits a bit, as I was told by a fellow student here, “If you can travel in India, you can travel anywhere.”

Posted by Brandi Shaffer at 3:04 AM | Permalink

When most Americans think of Africa they think Disney's Lion king or a slew of images brought upon by HIV/AIDS campaigns. To be completely honest this is where any of my pre-departure expectations came from if I could say I had any. When the group of students and I arrived in Kenya we immediately set out for Nakuru Lake National park. I was able to fulfill my expectation of seeing great wild life and the beauty of the famous rift valley. I have learned from some previous travel that the only thing you should expect from a new city or country is the unexpected. It is impossible to prepare 100% and over saturation of the brain is inevitable. Leave your expectations behind and it becomes easier to adapt and remain flexible, while not setting yourself up for disapointment.
After a week in Nakuru, we quickly left our honeymoon stage as we arrived in Nairobi, the capital and largest city of Kenya. The first few days in Nairobi were still relatively care-free while getting adjusted to our host families. I would like to sit here and easily explain the unraveling of feelings and emotions after entering Nairobi, but this will be boring and confusing for any reader. Instead, I will try and physically explain in a summarized manner.
Everyday is like a roller coaster ride. You meet people that make you day and run into people that can make you miserable. Five kenyans smile and the one who throws "the finger" in your face carries a heavy presence. Yesterday, I got into a staring contest with a matatu worker (small van transport) and was nearly kicked off the ride because I refused to pay more than all other passengers for being white. A few days earlier a random lower-class man on the city hoppa (a larger bus) offered to pay my fare, which I refused. 56% of the people in Kenya live on less than a dollar a day and Nairobi holds one of the largest slums in the world (Kibera). Oddly enough, my host family seems more American than Americans themselves, at least when it comes to entertainment. They have asked me if we put domes over cities like the Simpson's portrayal and if we get married and divorced six or seven times in a lifetime like the celebrities. Less than a five minute walk from Kibera, my home has hot running water, a house maid, a son in higher education, multiple televisions and a membership at the local health club. This living arrangement makes my awareness of the income gap fully apparent. It costs around 300 Ksh ($5) to take a cab ride and around 5000 Ksh monthly for my family's health club membership yet 1000's of families within 1 km are living on garbage heaps without clean water, no shelter, and maybe one meal a day.
I know that academic and personal goals can be summed up by my desire for new perspectives, new faces and a new language. Although it is obvious, it becomes especially noticeable when you leave the United States that the majority of people in the world live very different lives socially, morally, ethically, etc. and it is easy to forget that most people in the world live below the poverty line. Classes in Kenya are similar with a more relaxed teaching style. Jama, the development teacher has been able to offer students a feeling of reality as he shares stories of growing up in Africa under British colonialism and fighting hard for personal and professional success while losing half of his brothers and sisters along the way. Overall I have definitely not come to Africa for the books...

Posted by Matt Spriegel at 8:32 AM | Permalink

I know Washington, D.C. isn't technically in a foreign country...
but when you compare it with Meadville, PA, it might as well be.
This city is a lot of fun; there's so so many places to explore and events to go to. A big personal goal I have for myself this fall is to really take advantage of all the things to do in this city. I have already been to some great restaurants, a political rally (Barack Obama!!), a jazz festival, an international fair, a few museums, and found the coolest bookstore/cafe ever, among other things. I love that there's always something going on here. As much as I love Allegheny, there's just not much to in Meadville.
Besides how great the city is, the program I'm enrolled in at American University is pretty incredible. I'm in the Peace and Conflict Resolution program, and I've already learned so much. The coolest part is that much of what I've learned hasn't been from books or articles -- it's been from first-hand accounts of experts in this field of study. My class has listened to some amazing guest speakers that have come to talk with us, as well as attending various forums and panel discussions around D.C. and visiting 2 foreign embassies. As my class is traveling to the Balkans (Croatia, Serbia, and Bosnia) in 16 days, we are now focusing on the wars that occured there in the 90s. My academic goal for the semester is to make the most of all this experiential learning; I want to learn everything I'm studying as in-depth as I possibly can.
All in all, my semester has been amazing so far, and I think it'll just keep getting better.

Posted by Rachel Jurkowski at 9:22 PM | Permalink

Last Sunday, I went to my first bullfight or "corrida", and it was not an easy thing for me to watch. Although I would say the majority of spainards oppose bullfights now, they do have a historical cultural significance. I would have to say my over-arching goal for myself while in Sevilla, is to find the balance between being open minded enough to assume a new culture without forgetting my personal opinions. The bullfight although I will probably never go to one again, was an example of this. However, the best way, I think, to acheive this equilibrium between cultures is to find native friends in an attempt to blend in. I have already begun to do so, and I hope that this will not only prove to be rewarding personally (that is to be accepted by those of another culture), but academically will prove to be the best venue to practice or discuss what I have learned in my classes so far.

Posted by Jessica Johnson at 2:41 PM | Permalink

It is hard to believe that I have already been living in Germany for 3 weeks now and I already feel at home. Although I had lived with a host family before in Germany it is a whole different experience this time. The first week was a difficult for me to not only adapt to the language, to the time change, but also going through the awkward first conversations with my new family to get know to everyone. I am very happy living here and feel very grown up. Even though I live with a host family and everything I am very much on my own and I really feel that this experience will help me realize that its almost time for me to be out in the real world. I have also quickly learned many cultural differences such as waiting for crossing signs to cross busy roads, using water minimally, eating bread at practically every meal, and not saying hi to everyone you pass by.

Throughout this semester abroad I have already discovered some of the many things I will learn. My ultimate hope in being in Germany is to develop more language skills as I hope to one day become fluent in German. In being here I also hope to learn more about myself and what I want out of life/ want to do with the rest of my life. Through my classes here I have certainly discovered that I am heading down the right path in pursuing a career in science and I strangely enough miss my science classes. (Although im sure once im back at allegheny i will be taking that statement back) Overall Im not sure exactly what I expect from thsi experience but I do know already that this is one of the best decisions I could have made in my life.

Posted by Alaina Smith at 10:05 AM | Permalink

Before I arrived in Spain I can't say that I really had specific expectations for this semester. I wanted to improve my speaking and learn about a new culture, but for the most part I just wanted to come into this with an open mind and learn from the experience. I've never traveled outside of the US and Canada, so I knew living in Spain for a semester would be the experience of a lifetime. When I first arrived I definitely experienced some degree of culture shock; everything was different and I was out of my comfort zone. Even though I've been here for 3 weeks now I am still out of my comfort zone. I have adjusted to the Spanish lifestyle, but everything is still different than what I'm used to in the US. I know that I would experience culture shock in terms of the language, and I definitely have. The Spaniards speak so much faster and with a stronger accent than I have ever been exposed to, which makes it so much harder, if not impossible, to understand them. However, I was surprised at how quickly I've improved my ability to have a conversation in Spanish and be understood.

My main academic reason for studying abroad was to finish my minor. However, since I only need one more class to fulfill my minor, I really hope to just enjoy the experience without worrying excessively about classes and grades. I had hoped that coming to Spain would help me figure out what I want to do with my life, but I'm actually more confused now than I was before I arrived. I'm no longer as interested in my major as I used to be, and that scares me. As the semester progresses, I hope that the people I meet and the places I travel to inspire me to realize my potential and what I am meant to do with my life after Allegheny.

Posted by Wendy Paddock at 9:44 AM | Permalink

It has been two weeks since I am here; let me recapitulate a little what I have learned so far: Not all French wear a white t-shirt with black stripes, not all French wear berets, none of the French I have met smells, all the French girls I have met had shaved legs, the texture of a food does not mean it is not delicious, not every French ride a bicycle, not every French drink wine, and not every French smoke. Well I am taking back the last three things I said, cause too many French actually do those things. For the last two weeks I have been here, I have learned to go beyond the stereotypes and see, hear, taste, and touch with my own senses.
Coming to France have showed me so far how little I knew about the French culture and the French language, despite I have been speaking French and learning about the French culture since I started preschool. Though I have no problem when a French native is speaking to me, it has always been a challenge for me to use proper grammar and proper words when I am speaking. It is therefore my goal to ameliorate my grammar and improve my list of French vocabulary while living in the land of Voltaire. As a political science major living in France will give me a better understanding of the Europe, since France these days is equal to Europe (in some ways). Personnally during this semester it is my goal to get a better sense of direction, cause I don’t know how many times I got lost in Angers cause I had problem reading the map.
Through my previous travel I have learned that the best way to learn about a place is by visiting it. Having the chance to live inn france has opened the window of opportunity to learn not just from books and lectures, but from everyday life.

Posted by Emerson Leroy at 9:15 AM | Permalink

Great Expectations:
Since I am reflecting more than two weeks into my abroad experience I would like to discuss “shattered expectations.” Generally, what I hoped to get out of my semester abroad was a sense of a world quite different than mine. Forcing myself to move outside of a set comfort zone is what I needed to continue my academic career in a self fulfilling manner. Gaining a sense of the how the rest of the world (especially the developing world) operates is going to be the corner-stone of my political science education. More specifically before I left I expected that my stay in Kenya would have emotional highs and lows. I am happy to report that academically I feel like I am in the perfect place with perfect professors, classes and peers. Covering third world development from an afro-centric point of view is eye-opening and beneficial to the forming of my worldview. As far as the culture is concerned, I expected to be a minority, but never really sat down and thought about what this meant. While there are areas in Kenya where people are used to seeing “mazungus” (white people), the home-stays in and around Nairobi are in neighborhoods where I stick out more than I could have ever imagined. If there is one expectation that has been shattered it is the un-anticipated stress that comes from living in a very dangerous city where you are a target. While this is indeed nerve-racking it is providing the most intense experiential learning experience of my life. I can see things from a completely different view point and often sit down to reflect on why I am feeling the way I am. I did not expect to be received with angry sets of eyes everywhere I walk, but this is the environment I am in and find myself learning more about people, politics, poverty and most importantly myself through it all. Once again, my academic expectations have been fulfilled thus far and this is what is keeping me busy and my spirits high. Cultural expectations have been shattered and it is hard to put into words what I feel, but can guarantee that this is a life changing experience that will further my education. The main goal of moving outside my American comfort bubble has definitely been fulfilled. Showering with a bucket, and frequent power failures make you realize that the Kenyan middle class is not what an American thinks of when middle class comes to mind. It is hard to center myself because there is so much to take in and write about, but overall, there are highs and there are lows. The key to survival here is to act like you know what you are doing and to not allow yourself to become caged by the intimidation that a third world culture poses. I could never have expected what I have already experienced.

Posted by Michael Rooney at 8:53 AM | Permalink

Continue reading "Great Expectations" »

Posted by Tiffany Truong at 8:20 AM | Permalink

Before I traveled abroad, I never gave too much thought about what living with another family would be like. The only way I can describe it is being back in high school (except not having a curfew), but this time you are much more matured. My first week in Germany was very much a struggle. There was an exact moment where I really felt a part of my German Family. After that point every day is still an adventure, but I feel like I have a place where I can turn to when things are rough. Having this feeling was not something that I expected prior to this trip so it is almost a bonus for me.

As far as adjusting to the culture goes there was also a definite point where I no longer felt like an separate part of society. I was walking down the busy streets of Cologne and someone stopped me and asked for directions. Me knowing where many of the Kneipes and Discos were had accumulated a keen sense of direction in that part of town. Without thinking, I answered the lost traveler in German and for once they did not ask if I was an American. Adapting to the culture was something I thought would take more time than 3 weeks. I have no expectations for the rest of the trip because I have found that without a preconceived notion of things, you enter each situation with an open mind. I have many things I want to accomplish but I plan on taking everything in stride and see how much, in excess, I can

Posted by Anthony Briggs at 7:15 AM | Permalink

Before coming to the Marine Lab, I didn't think I'd really have to adjust. It would still be the U.S., and it would still be a college setting. The past few weeks have taught me that no matter where you go, if it's not home, you'll have to adjust. The Lab's wonderful: the resources, the people, the location all make it incredibly easy for me to learn. The lifestyle is something I'm learning to appreciate. Everything's more relaxed here. I don't call any of my professors by their titles, and the few times I have they've laughed. There are, so far, no all-nighters, no huge tests (although eventually there must be some). This atmosphere is not familiar at all but makes it very easy to just sit back and learn without worrying about the small stuff. Classes are extremely small and the small size of the campus makes for a very small community. Only around 15 undergraduates are in our program and along with a few students studying at UNC's campus nearby make up the 25 or so people here overnight. I have often been surprised at how being on a small island with a tiny group of people can make me feel more separated from the rest of the world than foreign travel ever has. It's been a learning experience, so far. I remind myself to get off the island, to talk to people who aren't from the Lab, and to return determined to learn how to relax and move at the pace people do here. The relaxed atmosphere, I've noticed, is not impeding my learning: I'm still studying and I'm doing more field and lab work than ever before. My independent study is taking up an incredible amount of time right now and is making me learn from experience, particularly mistakes, rather than lectures. The mistakes, things like temporarily misplacing a hermit crab or picking up a stone crab in a net before realizing that I don't know how to get it out without getting a finger crushed, have become jokes rather than serious problems. As long as I don't make the same mistake twice, everything works out. There's been work to do, but all of the work I've done has been incredibily enjoyable, and when I'm not working I have a wonderful group of people to relax with who have similar interests. I've never spent this much time with so many people who want to go into marine science, and it's useful to hear what they've done, what they know, and what they plan on doing. We're all learning from each other as we try and figure out how things work around here, since there's an incredible emphasis on independence, particularly in field and lab work. There have been some points where I've stumbled in the past few weeks, and this is certainly more of a foreign experience than I expected, but I am enjoying it more than I thought I could or would.

Posted by Leslie Rieck at 11:10 PM | Permalink

My dream was always to study abroad in Italy, but when I found about the American University Washington Semester Program I couldn’t resist the experiences and opportunities I would gain in our nation’s capital. As an aspiring journalist, a lengthy and impressive resume is vital in getting your foot into the door, not to mention connections. Whether you go into print or broadcasting journalism, writing clips and on camera exposure are key to landing your first job. While my English major and political science minor at Allegheny has made me an analytical thinker and writer, to make it in the real world you need real world experience. This means internships! I recently got an internship at The McLaughlin Group helping research and write for their weekly talk news show. So far, it is a lot of research and fact checking but I am learning a lot about international and national events. Plus, I am getting the chance to meet politicians and prestigious international and national journalists.
As a Washington Semester Journalism student I am given the opportunity to work on my journalism skills, whether it is print or TV, and gain experience out on the field. The best way to learn how to “become” a journalist is by practicing and getting as much field time as possible. This means, actually going out onto the streets and interviewing people or calling up a government official to get a statement. There are so many unknown jobs in the journalism industry and my goal this semester is to meet as many journalism professionals as possible and narrow my interests down.
Besides my internship experience, I hope to take in as much of DC as possible. Yesterday, I went to hear Barrack Obama speak and it was such an exhilarating experience! I doubt I will ever get the chance to hear him speak in person again. He was so charismatic, funny and personable. Last week I attended my first protest at the White House and watched an anti-war march take place on the capitol. Back in my home town, opportunities such as this are not offered, so I am trying to expand my experiences as much as I possible can while I am here. I have made it my personal goal to visit a Smithsonian museum or national monument every week so that I can become better-rounded and educated on American history. Before I know it I will be back at home and I do not want to regret missing out on all the opportunities that are right outside my doorstep.

Posted by Elizabeth Andrews at 10:56 PM | Permalink

I had many expectations when I came down to the Duke Marine Lab. The main reason I came down here was for the academics. I wanted to know if marine biology was something I wanted to pursue after graduation. I also was looking to gain experience in the lab. I knew this place offered many field trips and opportunities to expand my knowledge in the marine field.
Another expectation of mine was to get a feel for how graduate schools run. Megan McConnell was here last year and she talked a lot about how the classes here have a graduate level feel. So far they have been. Classes here are very independent, as are the labs. It’s a lot of finding out why something is on your own. We do a lot of canoing out to a neighboring island to collect crabs and snails for experiments.
I also wanted to meet people who were interested in the same things as I was. Knowing I was going to be living on the beach wasn’t that bad either!
So far, the lab has lived up to my expectations. The work really hasn't picked up yet, not compared to what I would be doing at Allegheny. I do a lot of independent projects, some smaller than others. My biggest one is over at NOAA tagging sea turtles to track their surface intervals. It's kind of like a mini comp. It'll be good to have experience presenting my data before I have to do it next year. Going out in the field for that has been my favorite experience so far, even though I have to get up at 5:30 am.
The lifestyle down here is a lot different than I thought it would be. More than ½ the students (which is only 7 people) are from Duke University. Because of this I thought people would be really driven and working long hours. While there are some people like that, people for the most part are very laid back here. It’s a very different feeling. People don’t really wear shoes or change out of their swimsuit. But I like it. It really does feel like I’m going to school on a beach.
I’m leaving for Panama in 2 weeks to do some research. A bunch of us are going as well as my closest friends here. That I think will be the highlight of my semester abroad!

Continue reading "Duke Marine Lab" »

Posted by Katherine Kump at 9:28 PM | Permalink

I decided to come to Costa Rica with hopes of better finding out who I am. I know this sounds kinda corny, but honestly, I want to leave here with a stronger sense of place. Being so far away from my friends and family is just as much a learning experience, if not more, than my actual classes are. Not only that, but it's extremely difficult being in a situation where I have an extremely difficult time decoding what these Spanish-speakers are saying, and they seem to be having just as difficult time understanding me. It is helping my Spanish skills quickly improve though. I am becoming more independent, more confident in myself, and I am learning that I am capable of living my life on my own. I don't have to be a follower, I can lead my own life, and control my own destiny. Along with that, I am hoping that all these environmental classes and experiences here will help guide me in what I want to do in the environmental arena. There are so many fields that I have the option to lean towards, but I haven't made that decision yet. Whenever I tell someone that I'm an Environmental Science major, they usually answer with a "Oh, and what are you planning on doing with that?" Right now, I don't have an answer for them. By the end of the semester I'm hoping that I will have more of an idea. Already I feel like I am a different person from the girl I arrived as a week and a half ago. I can only imagine the person I will emerge as when I return home at the end of the semester.

Posted by Eliza Czolowski at 9:15 PM | Permalink

As a Biology major and aspiring Veterinarian, the whole idea of studying in a foreign country seems irrelevant and pointless to many. Why not attend a marine biology program or spend the summer working on a wildlife reserve? Out of all the places to further my education in science, why choose England? Personally, prior to arriving in England, I found it very difficult to answer these questions. Akin to everyone else, I found my choice to study abroad little more than whimsical and adventurous.

Not until I arrived on campus and rushed head first into a four week intensive science course did I come to terms with my goals. In the UK, academics are approached in a very liberal, independent manner. The students are taught to rely upon and challenge themselves, as well as to get engaged with studies. The professors do not guide you in your learning, but rather share with you the knowledge that they have. Assigned reading and lengthy lectures have no place here. As students, we alone are responsible for maintaining motivation and gaining knowledge from the resources available. No one is there to remind us to focus or to soak up every bit of information. Here, the only way to progress academically is to develop a sense of independence.

Ultimately, I find that being in such an independence-oriented learning environment is extremely challenging. I am learning not to take the opportunities extended to me for granted and to appreciate my freedom to shape my own future. Overall, I expect my semester abroad to teach me how to achieve my ultimate academic goal of becoming a veterinarian without the constant prodding and reminders to focus. In learning to arrive at this goal by means of my own determination and conscious actions, I hope to develop a new sense of self and to gain an appreciation for the driving forces that I possess.

Posted by Caroline Hilty at 4:25 PM | Permalink

I have been dreaming of studying abroad since I was thirteen and it is surreal that I have been in France for a little over two weeks now. This experience has been amazing, eye-opening, and difficult all at the same time. Even for a girl, I didn't know that it was possible to have this many emotions running through you at the same time. I for sure never thought thought that it was possible to learn so much of any language in the short time that I have been here. But as the saying goes-its survival of the fittest, and no matter how hard the situation, you will and must adjust to survive; or suffer the dire consequences.
For this semester abroad I have to say that I have many goals but that since I have been here they have changed a little, since this experience has made me be a little more realistic in my goals. Since I have wanted to study abroad since middle school, I feel that before this trip I set my goals rediculously high. I idolized the trip and it was hard to accept the flaws that come with studying abroad. I knew that not everything could be perfect, but I still in the back of my mind hoped that everything would be. And while in all actuality nothing catastrophic actually happened, as there is no such thing as a perfect trip, or a perfect world.
I hope that this semester brings a new experience every day as it has so far. I find myself adjusting and immersing myself into this new and slightly bizzare culture everyday. I hope to be able to immerse myself into the French culture completely and by the end of my experience, to not find the culture bizzare, but interesting and different. I also hope to accept and embrace it for what it is, no matter how different it is from the "normal" American culture that I am accustomed to. I have realized how immersed I already am because last night my housemate Lindsay and I were talking about how much we were going to miss the daily fresh baguettes and french cheese when we went home.
Academically, like most other study abroad students, I hope to really excel and learn the French language. And though I ovbiously do not think that I will become fluent in four months, but it would be nice to see how far I have come at the end of this experience. I hope to find and solidify my idea(s) for my international studies senior comp. That way I can really start my junior sem and pre-comp on the right foot. I also am interested in learning and exploring the different ways that classes are taught in Europe and how they differ from language classes taught in the US. Because after all this whole experience is about learning, accepting, and enjoying the difference in these two immensely different cultures....and oh, yeah, learning french...

Posted by Erin Geiser at 2:38 PM | Permalink

Before coming to Spain I had many preset thoughts and goals of what I wanted to accomplish. I wanted to better my language skills, learn about a new culture, and travel. Now its not that I still do not want to do those, it's just that my concept of Spain and studying abroad has changed. I had no idea how different, uncomfortable, and amazing things could be here in Spain.
Now that I am in my third week, I feel that I have finally set in; well, at least to a comfortable point. I realized here that if I want to have a Spanish experience that I cannot guard and schedule my life. I cannot set timetables for when I will be comfortable with the language or the culture. I guess my main goal now is to dive into the culture. For the first two weeks I held back, sometimes watching from a distance, allowing myself to keep things under control. My goal now is to break that, and just let Spain happen. I don't know exactly what will happen, but that is what is exciting. If I just let the time pass, scheduling everything, then all I am is a traveler, and on this trip I hope to be more. Its difficult but within only three weeks here I have discovered how truly dynamic and exciting the culture is, and by the end of the program I would love to take a piece of that culture home with me to Allegheny. In my desired career, this will be important. I aspire to be a doctor and I hope that this experience will not only help me with Spanish, but also help me to better understand other cultures and traditions.
Of course, I have other academic goals. I hope to do well in my classes, but to be honest; my main concern is that they will aid me in learning the language and understanding the culture. I understand that becoming fluent in only 4 months will be impossible, but it will be rewarding at the end of the program to see how far I have come. I also hope that in the next few weeks I will meet more Spanish speaking people to better understand the life of people my age in Spain.
In the end I hope to have learned a great deal, but most importantly had a truly Spanish experience, whatever that may end up being.

Posted by Thomas Rodgers at 11:18 AM | Permalink

What expectations do I have for Australia huh? Well, my time here is almost half over so I suppose it's strange to talk about my expectations now. I can say that two months ago I could never have imagined the person who is sitting here writing "what I expect to get out of my time here." Academically, as a history major I expected to gain some knowledge about both Australia as well as Indigenous Australia, because I had none. Well two months later, I am no expert-but I have definitley learned heaps (yep Australian term) of things I know I never could have at home. Especially visiting Aboriginal sites of importance for a class-that was awesome. I am so interested in Aboriginal culture and I can't even begin to describe how many amazing things I've seen and learned about it.

But sure, I came here (as I know we all did) for the academic as well as the cultural experience. I know I know...I'm only in Australia...how much culturally different could it be right? Wrong. I never imagined the differences that I would find here. I can honestly say that the first day I took the bus into town and went on a quest for supplies at the "mall"(that is not what they call it here)-I was in culture shock. This is not something I ever expected to experience here, but there are just so many little unexpected things (too many to write about here) that make you go "hmmm? ok...this is def. different at home".

I expected exactly what is portrayed in my photo. I knew Australia was going to have some pretty awesome beaches...and I couldn't wait for that-and believe me my expectations have not been let down-but I did not expect that my life was going to do a complete 180 here. The entire lifestyle is probably as opposite to home as it gets. "No Worries." I hear that 50 times a day-and believe me they really live by it. I am a highstrung person and back at Allegheny I always have to have a plan or be doing something, and am always stressed out. Here, I have become so much more relaxed. I have literally almost zero stress in my life, and I've found that this is the norm for almost everyone here.

Tomorrow I am leaving for spring break. We are taking a 10 day trek down the east coast. We rented a car and are camping, staying in hostels and driving unbelievable amounts of hours a day. We have no plan. We are stopping wherever we feel like. I have never done anything like this in my life and you know what? I think it's going to be awesome. After all, as the saying goes, "No worries, mate."

Posted by Casey Pagano at 10:04 AM | Permalink

Academically, I wanted to be challenged - in a different way. My four week intensive course was just that! Each week was a different subject - the History of Science, Physics, Ecology, and Geology of Britain. Academics are completely different over here. It is much less focused and guided with professors telling you to read pages 1-50 for the next class discussion. It is very independent, and a lot of the learning is up to the student. Growing up in a very focused and guided academic environment provides for quite the challenge in gettng motivated to be a more independent learner. It is an interesting challenge however! I think experiencing as much as one can is the best tool for learning and for being a well-rounded, open-minded person, and I am excited to experience this challenge in the upcoming fall term!

As far as personal expectations, it's much more broad. Everything, including us, is constantly changing, and most of the time we don't even realize it. No matter what environment one is in, they change. Putting myself in a challenging or different situation makes for an experience that allows me to really see how and why I'm changing. Like I said, experience is the best tool for life and having any type of new experience allows me to understand more about myself. You really don't need to leave your backyard to have new experiences. To me, life itself is a constant experience - it's just what you make of it, I just chose to come to a different country. As I live a mere four months in this new place and situation I plan on just living, and I expect great things to come out of it.

Posted by Ashton Kohler at 7:04 AM | Permalink

There is a difference between what one expects in any situation and what actually happens. Most of the time, you find that whats happening to you isn't exactly what you planned, and it turns out to be the best thing for you. Sure, I have had and have many expectations for this great country, but to be honest, I hope that Spain just happens to me, without my trying to figure it out before hand. I want to break away from my expectations!

Its obvious that I hope to gain a lot from being here in Spain, and yes, it is true that I have many goals. I want to become fluent in Spanish, I want to assimilate into a different culture, and I want to really learn about a different place. I want to become a better person based on the knowledge I gain here. I want to be able to understand things that were once confusing about the language, and I want to be able to "fit in" in Spain, like I was meant to be here. I want to be Spanish, essentially.

These seem like reasonable goals, and like the true hardworking goal-oriented American, I have been taught to persue these goals and expectations relentlessly until they come true. I have, however, been aquainted with a different attitude that I have seen and have talked about with many Spainiards. Sometimes, its not always about plans and the red-hot persuit. My senora here has asked me many times when I go out with friends, "Why are you going so early? You have plenty of time."

I do have plenty of time to realize these goals. I feel I have acquired a new attitude on how exactly to realize them, which essentially equates to letting it happen, and trusting myself to to the best I can in every without so much rush and worry. I have learned that they will perhaps be met in a different way than I expected. Based on my last sentence, it seems I have come back to the beginning of my entry It is almost impossible to escape our expectations in any situation! =)

Posted by Margaret Hiestand at 6:51 AM | Permalink

Who was I to say what I wanted to get out of studying abroad, or what I will even get out of this experience. I think that I was so naive before coming here that my preconceptions about studying abroad don't even matter anymore. I did want to come here to learn....to better my Spanish, and even to experience a culture that wasn't American. But here I am in Spain, and having been here for three weeks, and it seems to me that I have been here forever already. Today I was walking to school mumbling to myself that I had wished there weren't so many tourists because I was in a hurry to get to school.

Because I am here to study, I guess I should have some academic expectations. AND, certainly my greatest academic expectation is to become more fluent in Spanish, which I am quite surprised at my confidence to approach people in the streets, mostly to ask for directions because this city is so confusing. Besides, I am certainly not hesitant to approach people in the bars...mostly because on Calle Betis the beers are 1 Euro...and enough said. I have an intercambio, with whom I practice my Spanish and his English. He has even noticed the rate at which I have caught on to Spanish usage. I guess these classes are paying off.

The greatest personal experiences I have learned so far is that America is just another country...and Yet!, "America" is just a country on one of the American Continents. I hate seeing so many Americans in this city, and I hate all the stupid American tee shirts here that Spainards are wearing: You're Lucky in Kentucky. If this is our greatest contribution to Spanish society, I wish I were German. Which brings me to - every time I meet a Spainard in a club, they think i am from Germany. It is great. I don't have to lie that I come from a country that enjoys invading foreign countries (all politics aside...yeah yeah). After this happened about 6 times, I had the chance to tell the director of my program how amused I was. She told me that I have a very European accent when I speak Spanish. Good for me, right? Back to personal experiences, by the time I leave here, I will have met numerous Spanish people, had a great time in Europe, met Americans with similar interests (Spanish of course), traveled all over Europe, and spent thousands of dollars (which are significanlty less that the Euro). Who could ask for more?

But I am asking for more. It will be interesting to see how my opinions and impressions about studyin abroad change as I continue through this semester. In Spanish, they say "vamos a ver."

Posted by Brandon Tirpak at 2:11 PM | Permalink

Continue reading "Great Expectations" »

Posted by Alexandra Papa at 2:01 PM | Permalink

I was talking to one of my Australian friends last weekend, and bemoaning the fact that I hadn't actually gotten to "see Townsville" yet. So he showed up at my room an hour later and said, "Get your stuff together, we're leaving in 20 minutes". That's Australia.
Coming from America, where you feel the pressure to be doing something every minute of every day, the relaxed attitude here came as quite a surprise. Now that I've been here for two months (time flies!), I really enjoy being able to relax when I want to, and not being busy all the time. Australia is known for its "go with the flow" culture, and as much as I dislike cultural stereotypes, it's true.
In the months preceding my departure, I tried not to predict the type of experience I would have. My adult friends chastised me for choosing a "safe" country in which to study, which made me worry that I wouldn't gain much from this experience. I've seen Australia as a tourist, though, and I wanted to see what it was like to really live here.
I never expected to have a discussion about Australia's TV commercials with a fellow American - they promote social and economic awareness, and I think it really is helping. I never expected to drive to the top of a mountain just for the heck of it. I never expected living in a tropical environment would be this disgustingly humid. I never thought I'd figure out what I want to do with my life while I was here. I never expected to miss Allegheny as much as I do.
But hey, expect the unexpected, right?

Posted by Rachel Clark at 10:01 AM | Permalink

Wow, I can’t believe that I’ve already been here for three weeks! I’m having a wonderful experience living and studying in Cologne, and the time just seems to be flying by. Every second of every day I am presented with the chance to learn something new, and I have been seizing every opportunity to do so. It is a challenge to be constantly forcing myself outside of my comfort zone, but I know that I am growing from this experience. What do I hope to get out of my semester abroad? Why is this experience important to me? From an academic standpoint, I came to Germany in order to advance my German language skills and learn more about the German Culture; both of which have been occurring since I first stepped foot off of my plane. From a personal standpoint, I wanted to see and learn about the country of my heritage. I also wanted to find out not only who I am, but also what makes me who I am, and I have been slowly answering these questions everyday.

Posted by Brandon Goeller at 9:25 AM | Permalink

Continue reading "Great Expectations" »

Posted by Erin Horning at 10:32 PM | Permalink

For as long as I can remember, I have had a list of things I want to do, see, and accomplish at some point in my life. One of my goals has been to become fluent in a second language and this is one of the reasons I decided to study in Germany. During these four months I am able to hear, speak, read, and write German constantly, because I am surrounded by the language. This complete immersion will allow me to get closer to my goal of fluency than I ever could just studying in the classroom. Another reason for coming is the fact that I have also always wanted the chance to live in a foreign country. Studying abroad is an opportunity to live in Germany, become part of a German family, become familiar with the culture, and continue school.
Not only is this semester important to me personally, but also academically. I am a German minor and all the classes in the Köln program transfer directly to Allegheny. Because I will spend this entire semester focused entirely on German courses, when I return to Allegheny in the spring, I will have taken almost all of the necessary courses needed to complete my minor.
As for my development, I think that studying abroad will definitely be an experience that will change me. So much of life in Germany is different from what I am used to and will challenge what I have always thought and known. Because of this, I think that by the end of these four months I will have discovered more of who I am and what I want out of life.

Posted by Lauren W at 10:01 AM | Permalink

There is a saying that man's greatest fear, is the fear of the unknown. This saying is not too far from the truth. Stepping out of one's safety bubble to go and explore the world is always a challenge at first, because it is leaving one's comfort zone to experience new things. I feel as though Allegheny is my safety bubble, and having left it to study in Angers is breaking away from the comfort zone that I know and cherish. This fall almost felt like the fall of my freshman year. There was that same fear of the unknown. I didn't know the other students, the professors, the campus, or even the town. I had the same feeling of nervous excitement. Part of me was feeling really reserved, but the other part of me really wanted to reach out and start to get to know my environment and the people in it. I have only been in Angers for a week, but I already feel like I'm starting to get the hang of things. The best part about living in a town like Angers is that you can walk to everything, and I do! I live about 10 minutes from the school, and about 15 minutes to the train station and the center of town. And while promenading around the town, as opposed to driving, you get a feel for the town and get to interact with the culture and the people one on one.

I hope to gain many things from my stay in Angers, but I also believe I will only get as much out of it as I put in it. Academically, I hope to come back to Allegheny with the strongest French I have ever spoken and the best grammar I have ever written. Personally, I hope to gain other perspectives from some of the international students. I seek to understand their cultures and views and get to know as many of them as possible. CIDEF at the l’Université Catholique de L’Ouest is an interesting and unique place to study. I have really enjoyed meeting students from all over the world. In my class alone there are five nationalities represented, and at lunch you never know who you will sit next to and what country he or she will be from.

I really the love the international vibe the environment produces. It’s so great to walk down the hall any given day and hear a mix of different languages blending together. It’s rather amazing to see international students who are learning French as their 3rd, 4th, or even 5th language. I really admire the Asian students learning French and English, because it is a completely different alphabet and dialect. I have a lot of respect for all the students at CIDEF, especially the beginners in level 1 who have stepped far from what they feel is safe and comfortable and have pushed themselves to come to a strange country to study French because they are so passionate about it. The possibilities are endless, but the best thing about taking classes in a place like this, is that because it is such an international environment, everyone is interested in meeting new people and accepting of others.

Posted by Carolyn Kuzell at 7:10 AM | Permalink

Like many individuals, I have been generally frightened of change all my life. I tend to stick with what is comfortable, what I know. When I go to restaurants, I order the same dish. When I listen to my ipod, I blast the same songs. I surround myself with people I know and who know me. This is all fairly typical of individuals. We want to remain comfortable, safe, loved. Yet, in remaining comfortable in the past, I have realized that I have missed out on so much. So many what ifs, so many unanswered questions.

When I entered Allegheny, I forced myself out of my comfort zone both personally and academically. I decided to study abroad in England because I wanted to further grow and change as a person. I just the 4 weeks that I have been here, I have met really interesting people, climbed a mountain, travelled to London by myself, gone paintballing, learned the basics of pool, laughed with my friends, cried on their shoulders and had them cry on mine. Basically, while I am here, I want to suck the marrow out of life, just as Henry David Thoreau taught us. I want to continue to push myself to explore the world around me, embrace change, and learn more.

Posted by Erin O'Boyle at 5:18 AM | Permalink

As an English minor, I find no small irony in the fact that I had "great expectations" of traveling to England even before I got here. Now that I've been here for a month, I find my expectations becoming greater by the day. Academically, England is already a challenge, as everything is done so much more independently than back in the states. This fits perfectly for me, though, as one of my overall goals of this experience is to become more independent- both personally and academically. I know that doing more indpendent study while here will only help me when I return to Allegheny to begin work on my dreaded senior comp. Also on a person level, I just want to try as many new things and have as many new experiences as I can. I'm such a creature of habit at home; I go to the same few places with the same few people all the time. I want to branch out and test my limits while I'm here. I'm already having my boundaries pushed. Since I've been here, I've started learning to how rock climb, I've gone paintballing and I've scaled a couple mountains in the Lake District. I never would have done these things at home! I credit the friends I've made here to these and many other new experiences I've tackled since I arrived. There's no better way to bring out something new in you than to meet new people with different backgrounds and interests. To me, that's what studying abroad is all about. I'm learning through classes, of course. I can't wait to delve into my minor when the term starts in October. But so far anyway, it's in the out-of-the-classroom experiences that I've learned the most about myself. And there's still so much to find out.

Posted by Angela Ames at 11:13 AM | Permalink

Change. It’s the only word that I can think of to describe what I expected to find in Australia. Change of scenery, change of faces, change of classes, and change of myself. After already being here for two months, it is hard for me to remember exactly how I was feeling before I came over, because so much change has already occurred. I wanted to leave everything behind, and start over. I wanted to see big mountains that end into the ocean, not just rolling hills with brick roads. I needed to redefine myself with new friends, because after awhile, you become a part of what you are used too. I wanted to break out of the Allegheny bubble I was living in, and see for myself how other people live. Academically, I wanted a break from Allegheny. I wanted to learn things that no one at home would know. And what a perfect opportunity for me to test the knowledge I have learned so far in a new place.
At home, my sister started her first year at high school. It made me think of how far I have come since then. A common phrase that everyone used to write in my high school year book: “I will miss you, don’t ever change.” And it makes me laugh. If they could only see me now.

Posted by Theresa Clem at 10:50 PM | Permalink

Before arriving in Australia, it was difficult for me to come up with specific expectations for this semester; the culture is English speaking, very modern and the land and living conditions are exceptional. My biggest pre-departure goal was that I wanted to arrive here in the mentality of being up for anything, flexible, adventurous and willing to step beyond my comfort zone enough that I could embrace whatever came my way and make the most out of it. In a way, what I wanted to get out of this experience was the ability to really give myself a challenge. I left everything and everyone I knew 10,000 miles behind to test myself. I wanted to see how independent and strong I could be in a brand new college and country - basically, a brand new life. This is a way to enable personal growth and strength in the face of a huge adversary - the unknown. By isolating myself from what I know, I can really pinpoint who I am; my strengths, weaknesses, needs and desires. Academically, I really wanted to learn about another culture as well as another perspective on psychology as a whole. I'm enrolled in an Aboriginal Australia class, as well as various psychology classes so i can meet these goals.
After two months, I can definitely say that I've already grown a lot and become mentally and emotionally stronger. As for the rest of the semester, I can only say that I hope my life continues to change for the better, under this burning hot Queensland sun.

Posted by Bethany Perkins at 2:52 AM | Permalink

Not going home for a full year is more momentous for me than going to college my freshman year. At Allegheny, I have an existing support system, most of which has existed my entire life. Along with this support comes expectations of who I am and what I should do. Angers marks a new era. I’m speaking a new language and learning a new culture, and at the risk of sounding cheesy, I get to re-discover myself. I’m not re-inventing or completely changing my personality, just exploring those sides of it that have hidden themselves over the years. A fine-tuning, if you will.
Yes, there are the obvious scholarly goals; I want to become as fluent in French as possible, and I want to learn more about France and it’s culture and people. I want to study not only in school, but in the real world (where else can you watch a Frenchman eat a baguette, make awkward gestures, and have an intense cell-phone conversation at the same time?)
In taking time to experience a new culture and a new language, I’m taking time to truly experience and uncover who I am. I get to revel and bask in all of my shortcomings and qualities, and find new ones. It may sound unpleasant and pedantic, but it’s what I’m enjoying the most so far. It's at the top of the list of what I hope to get out of this year of studying abroad: a new language, new experiences, and the real “me.” What a souvenir.

Posted by Susannah Bender at 6:41 AM | Permalink

Studying abroad is the opportunity of a lifetime. It gives you the chance to experience new things, meet new people, join a new culture, and become a part of something greater than yourself. So obviously I am a big fan of studying abroad. But why Germany? Again? Academically studying abroad in Germany fulfills some of the requirements for my major. Classes are offered here that aren't available at Allegheny. Living here also gives me the chance to be be surrounded by the language as well as to be embraced by the culture, which will enable me to write a better comp. Most important of my academic expectations is that I return home able to communicate better in German, specifically through my grammar.
My personal reasons are apparently not that personnel since I am displaying them on a blog viewable worldwide. First of all, I wanted to see my family. I stayed with a great host family when I lived here my junior year of high school and I haven't seen them since. Secondly, 5 wanted to experience for myself "Western Germany". When I lived here I lived in "East Germany"; I wanted to experience the difference for myself. Lastly, I want to understand the meaning of being a world citizen and how globalization ties into all of our lives.
And besides, you are only young once.

Posted by Meghan Fatzinger at 11:09 AM | Permalink

Image Credit: www.derekknight.net/travel/travel_ov.php

Great Expectations

So, you've finally taken off for new lands. I want you to reflect here, in not more than two screens of text, on what you hope to get out of your semester abroad -- both academically, and personally. Explain why you feel that study abroad is important to your development.

Any images or photographs of your own are welcome. Please size them down before you upload them. Pictures should be uploaded before you post your text.

DUE DATE: September 20, 2007

Posted by Ishita Sinha Roy at 12:00 PM | Permalink