Christian M. - Barcelona, Spain - Spring 2013

First Impressions/First Day:

Bievenidos a Barcelona! These are the first words that I saw when I got off the plane and into the beautiful city that I will call my home for the next 6 months. I arrived with my mom to see my sister, as she is in a soccer specific exchange program living in Sant Just dest Vern, Barcelona. I have recently learned this is similar to how the city of Chicago is divided up (i.e. Lincoln Park, Wicker Park, Old town...etc). My mother and I then grabbed our luggage and went to meet my sister at the greeting area outside the baggage claim. We surprisingly did not have to clear customs which was odd. However, the first time we met my sister's host family it was very difficult to communicate because they speak very little english. They are called Mirea (Meer-eh-yah) y Toni. However, even though I could not understand them very well, my first impression of them was amazing. They are some of the most happy people I have met and my sister is beyond lucky! We then were dropped off at our hotel on the beach! The view was immaculate. My sister was then given her Christmas presents from my family back in the US because she was with her Spanish family for the holiday. As I was extremely antsy from the plane ride, my sister and I took what I thought was a short "stroll," which ended up being about a 4 mile walk to the bar and club scene. My sister has not been able to communicate in English unless she's talking to us or our family on Skype, she talked my ear off for the next hour and 15 minutes. I told Liz I needed to go back home because I was dying (haha). When we got back to the hotel at around 3:30, I quickly proceeded to pass out until 8pm due to jet lag (it sucks I know). When my mom and sister got back from shopping, talking, and having dinner, all without me (shocker...NOT), I then woke up when they got back and went downstairs with the two to get myself some dinner as they enjoyed some spicy chocolate (they hated it. bad karma in effect :) ). I believe the spicy chocolate was referred to as Cayenne pepper sprinkled with hershey's chocolate syrup hahaha. After dinner, my sister, mom and I went up to the rooftop, penthouse club which played some loungey-type house music that was groovin! Everyone that knows me knows that I love most types of music and especially electronic music. The club was a very fun atmosphere to start with and my sister, mom and I all ordered some drinks at the bar. I quickly found out that I will not be ordering many drinks at the bar because the bill for 3 drinks was 32 Euros (equivocates to 42 USD). Nonetheless, it was a great time. My sister, mom, and I all had some great talks and it was nice to finally sit down and talk. After a couple hours, at 1 AM, we finally went to bed.

Never in my life would I expect to have this many emotions all at the same time. Emotions such as, happiness, excitement, nervousness, and anxiousness are present almost everyday at the same time. One moment I think how amazing this experience is and the next I think about how I am only able to understand certain things, making it nearly impossible to communicate. In hindsight, looking at immigrants in the United States that cannot speak English very well, I now have such empathy for them. I realized this when I was at a dinner table filled with Spanish people with only a hand full that spoke English. It is incredibly uncomfortable and an extremely awkward feeling when you are not able to express your personality the way you typically do. For example, I would like to say that I am a fairly extroverted person that likes to talk, make people laugh, and have a great time. It is extremely difficult to express these traits when basic conversation is a struggle! All aside though, this last week has been incredible with my beautiful mother – Julie – who I must wish an early birthday now because I will not be able to spend it with her (For those who have a soul, wish her a happy birthday on January 7^th J) Love you mom. Last time, I talked about my first days here and how the city laid its impressions in me from the start.

We got to Mireia and Toni’s home at around 7pm to help them prepare the food and set the table. When we got there everyone was lounging around with not a care in the world; One of the many reasons I love this place so far. Everyone is so understanding and laidback about everything. Anyways, family got there at around 8:30/9 after the table was set beautifully. The unique thing about la cena in Spanish culture is that they set everything out on the table that you are going to eat first (equivalent to a 1^st course) regardless if it’s hot or cold and they let it sit there for a good 30 minutes before anyone touches it. Personally I like my food hot so that will be a slight eating adjustment haha

To all my team mates and coaches back home at Elmhurst: I am trying to get on a team desperately. The soccer here is pretty amazing stemming all the way down to the little guys. In other words, the 10 year olds have better touches than basically our entire team haha! In all honesty though, I believe I can compete with the guys at my age, the only issue is that I don’t know if I am going to be able to play games as there is apparently something you have to sign and a lot of paperwork that you need to complete and it takes like a month to complete. I will attempt to do that however I want to find a team close to Barcelona rather than outside the city. The team I am currently looking at is called Sant Andreau (Sant Ahn-Dreh-Oh) which is high quality soccer, however I can definitely hang with these guys. However, I would just like to say thanks for being like family to me and supporting me on this decision! Thanks to the Coaches, the Players, and the Administration of Elmhurst College (That one was for Kenson ;) )

Much Love from Barcelona and I’ll keep everyone updated soon!

Grace B. - London, England - Spring 2013

Hey everyone!
My name is Grace, and I’m studying at Queen Mary, University of London, through the direct enrollment program. I got here January 3^rd and I leave June 8^th. I’m living on campus, in a flat with 7 other students. I love it so far, and I can’t imagine having done it any other way. I really feel like direct enrollment is a great choice if you want to get the full experience studying in the UK.
First of all, I’ll tell you about my first impressions and expectations. When I first arrived, I was nervous, as you all will definitely be. I dreaded the first couple weeks, which I knew would be hectic – settling in and making sure I did everything I needed to do. I also dreaded not knowing anyone, and I was nervous about making friends on my own. I really thought that as an American, I would have to prove to people that I wasn’t an idiot and I was informed about the rest of the world. It turns out I was right to be worried about some stuff, but making friends wasn’t as hard as I thought it would be. Living in a flat, it’s impossible not to become close with your flatmates. Maybe I got exceptionally lucky with the flat I was placed in, but we bonded quickly and easily – of course, the lowered drinking age and a few flat parties in the first week helped a bit!
As far as I’m aware, nobody thought I was a dumb American. I will say that if you are very conservative, or you think America is the greatest country in the world, you probably shouldn’t go out of your way to voice your opinions to your English peers. Most people I’ve met joke about American politics a lot and despise Mitt Romney. They’ll also be the first to admit that England’s government isn’t so great either. It’s nothing personal, so don’t make it personal. Be willing to take a joke or you’ll never survive. Also, they know a lot about American culture - how could they avoid it if they tried? - so acquaint yourself with theirs, if you haven’t already.
Two of my flatmates are international students, also here just for the semester - one from the US, one from Australia. We became somewhat of a team when it comes to travelling and seeing London. Because none of us really knew anyone, we planned day trips together. It worked out well, because we got to know each other while we learned our way around London and the transportation system. In addition, the rest of the flat had already been at Queen Mary for a semester (only first-year students can live on campus) so they were still somewhat new to things, but familiar enough to be able to help us out and answer questions about the academics.

Speaking of which, I do wish I’d prepared more for the academic system in the UK, so I’ll give you some advice if you’re looking into any study abroad program where you’ll be taking classes with other UK students. In the UK, students go to university for three years, during which they only study whatever it is they’re studying. So, English students will only take modules (courses) in that field, and the modules are more specific and focused. For example, some of the lit courses center on the analysis of a single play or book.

There are no gen-ed requirements, so if you’re like me, and you’re choosing courses that will knock out the rest of your AoK requirements, be prepared. Even the first-year level courses with no prerequisites are still made for students majoring in that subject. This means that most of the students in class with you are going to be more knowledgeable about the course material, and it might make you feel like an idiot. On the whole, the students here participate more and are better at articulating their opinions. And one more thing: the teachers aren’t going to spell things out and make sure everyone understands everything – you need to ask questions if you’re confused!

That brings me to the hardest bit of adjustment for me, by far - the schoolwork. All of my classes are graded on either: one exam, one or two big assignments/papers, or a combination of the two. It’s been hard adjusting to WEEKS of having absolutely nothing – no busy work, tests, nothing -and then a paper worth 50% of your total grade is due. I would recommend keeping up with the preparations you’re expected to be doing as you enjoy the free time you’re given, or you might find yourself scrambling to finish a three-thousand word report at the last minute. Don’t expect your teachers to remind you about these things every week. There’s much more independent study & reading involved in these classes, and you may not be graded on it but it might help a lot in the long run when you have to do research later.

The coolest thing about my experience with direct enrollment at Queen Mary has been the freedom. Although, yes, I probably would have benefitted from being in a program and having a more familiar style of education, I’ve loved the feeling of being independent. I’m sure it’s awesome to have pre-planned travel trips offered by your program, but there’s something so much more gratifying about planning a week-long jaunt in Europe with two new friends on your own and having it all somehow work out. We decided out of the blue to go to Paris, Brussels, and Amsterdam during reading week (a week-long break in mid-February) and it’s probably been the coolest experience I’ve had since I’ve been here. We met up with another EC abroad student in Paris, my friend Ashley, and she showed us around Paris and helped with translation.

If you can make it work, take an opportunity to travel around Europe. It’s wonderful and it’s good practice if you plan it on your own!

Even if you can’t afford to travel to Europe, there’s so much to see in London alone. From the vintage clothes shops in Brick Lane, to the endless Camden market stalls selling everything you could possibly imagine, to the touristy attractions like the Tower Bridge, Big Ben, and Abbey Road (to me, these are just to tick off the list)… make sure you go out and explore. The Tube is very easy to navigate and not too expensive as long as you invest in an Oyster card. Do some research, ask some locals, explore and soon you’ll find your new favorite neighborhood, restaurant, bookshop, pub, etc. The best part about travelling for a semester or a year is you have so much time – you can see so much more than the major attractions. You can get a feel for what it’s like to live there.

Mariela G. - Barcelona, Spain - Spring 2013

Greetings from Barcelona,
Hola, my name is Mariela, and I chose the program IES Barcelona. I have been here over a month and have about six weeks left. This decision to study abroad was made even before High School. I knew I wanted to study in Europe when I was in College. The opportunity arose and I took it. Boy am I glad I did. There have been ups and downs, the first day was by far the hardest for me, as I didn’t get much sleep on the plane ride, one of my suitcases got lost, and then couldn’t take the taxi from the airport because the taxi drivers decided to go on strike. Once I got to my home stay it was  around 7, five hours after arriving in Barcelona. To my delight the homestay was really close by to IES, 20 minute walk or two metro stops away. Things started to look up, I found out it was only my house “mom” that would be living with my roommate and I. Then I found out  the most amazing thing that there are two rooms and that means I wouldn’t have to share a room with someone. I get along really great with my roommate, but I think it would have been hard to have shared a room, since we are both a very different schedules. The possibility of not having WIFI scared me, but up to this day I haven’t heard of anyone who doesn’t have Wifi. The rest of the week I was getting over jet lag, it took a week before I had a good night’s sleep. There are no cures or shortcuts, one just has to go thru it, and it’s different for everyone. My cultural adjustment isn’t as bad as a lot of others, as I am fluent in Spanish, the Spaniard cultural is similar to Mexico’s, and I am good with maps/directions. I made my way around the city and explored the second week. Barcelona is stunning, and the scenery never gets old. I think returning back to the suburbs will be the hardest thing, since I love modernism architecture. After I got done with all the tourist places, I made it my mission to “live as the locals live” and have met some Catalans.
I should also say, Barcelona could be on a whole different continent when compared to Madrid. Catalans are bilingual, but many speak Catalan including to me until they find out I don’t understand then switch to Spanish, which is called “Castellano”. Classes here are easy, but I think it’s because after Organic Chemistry I am prepared for everything. That said a balance of school life and nightlife is needed, it is a once in a lifetime opportunity but this is not a vacation because your grades will suffer. One thing to note is only three absences are allowed then half a letter grade is dropped on fourth absence.  Another thing is the most of my teachers are great, very funny and helpful. Spanish class is the smallest class, about 9 students which is great to get more help. I am taking all political science class, and my teachers are amazing. They are so politically incorrect but in a funny way. One thing that applies to every class be prepared for a lot of reading, and not the textbook kind, it’s JSTOR readings. The most important thing I can tell you is be careful of your stuff, as some people have gotten their stuff stolen. As try to travel as much as possible. Pay attention in class. Good luck with your process. I am here if you have any specific questions. Adeu.

Chris C. - Paris, France - Spring 2013

Stereotypes and Misconceptions of Paris

Hello my fellow Elmhurst colleagues and study-abroaders! My name is Chris and I am a sophomore currently spending my spring semester in Paris, France!  In this blog I wanted to address some important things that I was uncertain and nervous about before coming to Paris. About one month ago before I arrived, I was totally nervous. I was excited to see the world and I knew I would love the experience, but I was still very afraid. I had never left the county before and I had forgotten much of the French I had taken in High School. I was scared that I wouldn’t be able to talk to people, I would get lost, I would get mugged, I would struggle living on my own, my classes would be hard, and that I would feel very lonely and homesick. I’m sure that many of you have these same fears and maybe other ones too. However, DO NOT let this deter you from studying abroad!

Whenever I told people I was going to Paris, so many people were excited for me, but there were also many naysayers that did a good job of scaring me. They would warn me that it was unsafe or say things, “oh well you know that the French hate Americans right?” I always listened to them because I had never been and some of them had been to Paris before. However, I’m going to tell you right now, do not listen to people who have never been to the country you are going! Let me inform you of a few things I’ve already learned being here:

·         In my experience here so far in Paris, not one person has been directly rude or snobbish to me. Everyone hears that the French hate Americans, and I do not believe that. People are harder to read because they are more private and they don’t smile, but most people get excited when I tell them I am from America.

·         Others told me that the French hate speaking English. That is also a stereotype. Some people recognize instantly that my accent is different and speak in English willingly and happily. If I don’t know how to say something in French I might ask in English and they have always been nice if they respond back in English.

·         As long as you act smart and responsibly, you will not get robbed (in Paris).  The only people I know of who lost their phone or had it stolen were drunk when it happened.

·         Listen to Alice! She has traveled and she knows it all. Pretty much everything she said in class has been true or has helped me out over here.

Okay, that’s all for now. I have my French midterm tomorrow. Time is flying by!! Relax, do your research, and turn in all your forms on time or early! Please ask Alice for my contact information if you would like to email me personally if you have questions about studying abroad!

Cannibal Corpse! It was my fifth time seeing them and I got to meet one of the guitarists afterwards 

Kelsey R. - Nanchang, China - Spring 2013

Let me start by saying "culture shock" is an understatement! I had no idea what to expect when I left for China, and I never could have dreamed that China would be like this. My flight from Detroit to Shanghai was long but promising because there were so many Americans on the flight and everyone spoke English. That all changed the second I arrived in Shanghai! Trying to find my connecting flight to Nanchang was nearly impossible and extremely frustrating to not know the language. Once I arrived to my dorm and got a good night sleep I was ready to face China! I will admit the first couple nights here were definitely difficult, between the jet lag, new food, and language challenge.

I was the first to arrive out of all the international students which was pretty scary considering there was no one to relate with right away. My first meal here I went to breakfast with my RA who speaks pretty good English. The restaurant was down a little ally way with only two tables inside. We ate rice and beef for breakfast. It tasted pretty good but it will definitely take some getting use to. The chopsticks were a challenge my first day, but after a week of being here they are getting easier to use! I am in more of the outskirts, true areas of China, so not many people know English and they rarely see foreigners. Coming to China I knew I would stick out because of my blonde hair, but I was not prepared for the staring and pointing. Once I began to move past the culture shock, it was actually very exciting. Everything is new and different and there are so many places to explore. Not to mention, everything is extremely cheap! My dinners for the past week have been about 5yuan each, which is less than 1us dollar. There are also very interesting markets everywhere with everything you can imagine, including food and clothing. I've learned that in the Chinese culture people are very welcoming to new people, and even though I do not know a lot of the Chinese language, they never seem to get frustrated with me when I try to communicate while ordering food or other things.

As more international students arrive I am beginning to not only learn about the Chinese culture but other cultures around the world. I’ve meet students from Finland, Holland, Germany, Australia, Spain and many other countries so far. This week all the international students (there are 36 of us) will go on different tours of the city and do some sightseeing. We all live in the campus hotel on the sixth floor, and each of us has our own rooms. Last night we went to the local Chinese karaoke bar which was a very different experience! We had a lot of fun and many of us got up and sang even though we were horrible! It’s cool to see what other cultures do for fun and entertainment. Classes start next week, which should help with the language barrier. I am taking four language courses, two culture/business classes and Kong Fu. 

Cassandra B. - Barcelona, Spain - Spring 2013

Hello all!

My name is Cassandra and I have been studying in Barcelona through the IES program. My program began January 7th, and ends April 18th. I am a Spanish major, and am living in a homestay.

First of all, let me rave about the IES Barcelona program. The staff here is remarkable. They are all extremely intelligent, helpful, and personable. I could not be more satisfied with everyone in this program. If you are coming to Barcelona through IES, take comfort in knowing that they will be here for you 100%.

That being said, I will begin discussing my experience here.

Barcelona is in the midst of serious debate and conflict over what seems like just about everything. This will no doubt be an extremely important moment in their history. From education, to healthcare, to language, to separating Catalunya from Spain - people are upset, and they do not hide it.

Demonstrations and protests are tremendously common, and I rarely have a week in which I do not see some sort of protest. Don’t get me wrong; there is nothing to be afraid of! They are typically peaceful, and IES always sends emails to warn of any bigger demonstration that may affect their students. Demonstrations often shut down surrounding public transportation, but the metro system is always a possibility! The protests can sometimes be a pain, but I honestly feel privileged to be a part of this amazing city right now amongst all this craziness. You should research some of the hot-topics over here, as they’re actually pretty interesting.

Alright, now I am going to move on to move on to discuss the actual city. Put simply, Barcelona is beyond beautiful, and has spectacular weather. I have traveled around Spain a bit, and seeing other cities has only made me happier in my decision of living here. Not only was it a part of some serious history, but its buildings are beautiful, its plazas are beautiful… even the sidewalks are lovely! There are like a thousand things to do here, and every corner is more interesting than the first.

As you can see, I am totally enamored with this city, but there are definitely things to be wary of. Pick-pocketing is a serious problem over here. Be smart and conscientious about everything you do. Ladies, have an over-the-shoulder purse with a zipper, and straps that would be difficult to cut - and always keep that purse in front of you! Try not to bring valuables with you, but if you do decide to take things like iPhones out, always know exactly where it is. On your first day of orientation, the IES staff will show you a bit how pick-pockets work, and how to avoid being a victim. I know a ton of students who have gotten their purses and/or iPhones stolen, and it is typically because of their own recklessness.

I have yet to be pick-pocketed, but I try to be very smart about carrying around valuables. If you are smart and knowledgeable about their tricks, you will probably be okay. I did some research before coming here so as to prepare as best as possible.

In regards to the language here, there is quite a discussion amongst the Spanish regarding the diversity of languages. I know that I was a bit nervous to study here because of the usage of the Catalan language. Well, I have not really had any issue with this at all. Granted, some stores or restaurants have signs that are in Catalan, everybody speaks Castellano, and you will not have any issues. I actually find their usage of both languages very interesting. Most signs in this city can be read in three languages: Spanish, English, and Catalan. 

Long story short: Don’t worry about not speaking enough Spanish - it will definitely not be an issue. Also, don’t worry if you don’t speak Spanish. Most people speak English as well. 

Okay, so now I’m going to discuss my biggest hardship since the program began. There will definitely be hardships, but it is how you deal with them, not the hardships themselves, that will define your trip.

I had a very difficult first month here, because I had a bit of a struggle with my homestay here in Barcelona (I have since changed homestays). While this has not really been an issue for anyone else, I can confidently say that my host mom did not like me one bit. I won’t go into detail about the experience so as not to scare or intimidate you, but I grew sick of living there, and realized I was dreading going home to her every day. I also, out of sheer bad luck, received a roommate who… was not the greatest… and while most students bonded with their roommates, she had no desire to do so with me. I finally realized that this situation was not going to improve, and went to the IES staff to discuss it.

Like I said, the staff here is amazing - they had me out of my house in two days! I went to them Wednesday afternoon, and moved out by Friday morning! They said they would say whatever I wanted while I left my first house so I could leave comfortably and avoid conflict. They were incredibly accommodating, and very willing to listen.

Why am I telling you this? I hope you understand that while you will most-likely not encounter a home situation like I did, do not hesitate to talk to the IES staff if you have any issues. Also, don’t let these issues define your trip; you are the only one who can define this experience.

Although the first month was a bit of a struggle, it was still amazing. Take advantage of every day, and try not to let these kinds of issues bring you down. Be open to making friends and getting to know not only students in the program, but Spanish locals.

So you’re going to Barcelona? Sit back, buckle up, and enjoy the ride. There will be bumps, there will be struggles, but they will be nothing compared to this experience. Remind yourself of where you are each day, and remember to explore! Don’t be afraid to speak Spanish, and ask as many questions as you can! My host family discusses many hot-button issues during dinner, and it is fascinating to hear their view of things. Oh yeah - always remember that every abroad experience is different. Realize that no abroad is absolutely perfect or smooth sailing.

You are in for the experience of a lifetime in arguably the most beautiful city in all of Europe.

Kinga O. - Newcastle, Australia - Spring 2013

Hi everyone! My name is Kinga and I traveled to Australia to study at the University of Newcastle. I arrived ten days ago to start orientation with my program. I’ve only been here a few days, but I already feel at home. I meet students from all over the US, including those going to the University of Wollongong. Orientation for Globalinks was held in Cairns, a popular tourist destination for both Australians and those from other nations. We had the chance to see kangaroos, wallabies, dingos, reptiles, and koalas. We took a tour through the rainforest and listened to the Aboriginals talk about their traditions and history. Cairns is close to the Great Barrier Reef, so I got to see the amazing world under the surface of the water. Pictures and words are not enough to describe how cool and beautiful it is. Everyone wore a stinger suit while snorkeling and diving since we happened to visit during jellyfish season. The stings are apparently very painful, but the danger for that day happened to be the sun. Since the ozone layer is damaged over Australia, the sun is very harsh. It only takes eight minutes to burn during the afternoon when not wearing sunscreen. I would suggest packing some since the prices in Cairns for it were quite high. Australia has a very strong dollar and certain things (like alcohol, cigarettes, makeup, etc.) are very expensive. Australians get paid a higher minimum wage and the economy is in great shape due to the mining industry, so their prices are also higher than ours. The Australians  are extremely nice and friendly people who are ready to help and answer any questions one might have. They also seem to care more about the consumer than the companies in the United States. I was supposed to take a 5:30 am Quantas flight from Cairns to Brisbane and then on to Newcastle with my group, but our plane never took off due to mechanical problems. After two hours of waiting on the plane, we had to get off of the plane. Since it was a busy flight day, Quantas wasn’t able to reschedule the whole group to Brisbane and we missed our connecting flight. The company arranged hotel rooms for every individual, paid for our dinner, transported us to and from the hotel, and scheduled us on flights the next day. A bad experience turned into an enjoyable, warm extra night in Cairns.
    When we finally arrived in Newcastle there was very heavy rain, so we were grateful for the extra time in Cairns. I live off-campus with eleven other people in a house. Everyone in my house is American, but there are Norwegian and Australian students living next door. The beach is five minutes away and we live on a popular restaurant and cafe street. Newcastle is surrounded by amazing beaches and waters filled with surfers. I was lucky enough to catch the last day of Surfest, a big surfing competition which brings in some of the world’s best surfers. It was a very interesting thing to watch and a great way to spend the day. Newcastle also has a very big music and art scene. Live bands are always playing in bars and restaurants close by and there are plenty of museums to explore. Newcastle was voted one of the top places to visit in 2011 by Lonely Planet and the more time I spend here the more I see why. It used to be an industrial and coal town, but it is turning into a modern and cultural area. The university or uni is a few minutes away and orientation is slowly coming to a close. The school sponsored activities in the area and on campus. We even received a coupon for a free beer, wine, or soft drink from the school bar in our welcome backpack. We also got fairy floss(cotton candy) and I listened to an Australian tell a story about knock n run or dingdong ditch. The school can be reached using a bus or walking to the train station. University of Newcastle has over 30,000 students so my classes will have many more students in them when compared to Elmhurst. The campus is in a bush area and there are a lot of mosquitoes or mozzies there. I start school on Monday and I can’t wait to see what how my classes will be. Australia has been pretty fantastic and there is so much to see. Some of my new friends and I will be taking a train trip to Sydney before school starts for the Mardi Gra festival. We all want to see much as possible, because time really is going by super fast! The decision to study abroad will be a great experience no matter where you decide to go