Elmhurst College Abroad

Megan L. - Barcelona, Spain - Fall 2011

2012-01-18T14:48:00.000-06:00

Barcelona, the Cosmopolitan City, or as I like to call it, my home for the next few months. Since arrival, the beauty and simplicity of this city has astounded me. The people here are very friendly, well from what I can understand they are, and the general population seems to like to take things slow (the amount of times you hear “tranquila” attests to that). I've never lived in a big city before but if I had to choose one to start living in, I'm glad I chose Barcelona. Aside from the occasional pickpocket,which you can avoid if you are smart, the streets are pretty safe. Even the metro is amazingly easy to navigate and can quite honestly take you wherever you want to go. Barcelona's landscape is also perfect, it has 4 clear natural borders: 2 mountains and 2 rivers. Everywhere you go there just seems to be a part of history. There are old Roman walls from BC times, there are old palaces from the middle ages, and even a castle on top of a mountain that overlooks all of Barcelona.

As for my program and classes, I'm actually really loving them. The program took us on an orientation field-trip to the city of Girona and we even got to take a little side trip to an amazingly cute city called Cadaques, where Dali used to live. It was definitely a great experience. My classes are also pretty great. I am taking both Spanish and Catalan in order to speak to the locals better. Whenever I try to speak Catalan it kind of sounds like a 5 year old but the locals really do appreciate the effort and I even got a discount at a store for trying!

My home-stay is awesome. I have 2 other roommates and we live in a huge apartment in a great neighborhood with an amazingly sweet elderly woman named Angeles. She cooks us dinner every night and leaves us breakfast in the morning usually with little “love” notes. She even calls us her “hijas” or daughters and gets sad when we leave her for the weekend to venture around. Staying with a host mom has 100% helped me learn more spanish. My words previous to living here consisted of “Hola” and “donde esta el bano.” Now I can definitely get my point across and even hold a conversation!

Well I better get back to my studies and adventures! More blogging to come from Espana! As the Catalans say here: “Bon Dia! Adeu!”

Diana F. - Oxford, England - Spring 2012

2012-01-18T14:34:00.001-06:00

One Week Passed in Oxford

After only one week, I am having the most amazing experience I've ever had. We're a very small group this semester, only 17 of us, but the small numbers are making for an amazing group dynamic. We all get along great, which is disadvantageous only when all 17 of us try to walk into a small pub like the turf, an mightily old place found down a two foot wide alley with hobbit like 6 foot high ceilings.

The place is absolutely amazing. Full of charm, bustling with life and music and art and old and new and grandeur. If you chose Oxford for your study abroad experience, you are in for something as rare as the 530 karat diamond we saw on our field trip to the Tower of London this past Sunday. Prepare yourself for something undeniably unique and unimaginably nourishing to your life.

Sincerely,

Diana F., Current CMRS Student

Briana M. - London, England - Spring 2012

2012-01-18T14:25:00.001-06:00

Well, since my first official class in London was today, I decided it would be appropriate to finally start my blog. I would like to start off by saying:

At the end of class today my professor told everyone in my class that our assignment for next week was to go out and drink 6 pints of beer. He also told us what drugs not to take if we go to Amsterdam.

I can probably assure you that not all English professors will be this cool but so far it looks like I've lucked out.

So far I have spent two weeks in London, which is a week longer than anyone else in my program. I do recommend coming early and getting started on all of the sights and places you really want to go to. I will advise, however, to be careful where you stay. Youth hostels are inexpensive and are usually placed in locations that allow you to get to the rest of the city very easily. However, they are cheap and you have to keep that in mind at all times. You get what you pay for.

London itself is amazing. If you love cities, this is the place for you. It's larger than Chicago and I may even argue that it's larger than New York. There are so many different places to see and to go to.

Don't get too carried away with being legal and always look out for the things you put in your pockets. My phone got stolen on New Year's Eve.

Go out to eat in London at least a few times, even if a meal plan is provided for you. The food here is fantastic, especially the Indian food. And you must try the fish and chips. When you're finished, DON'T ask for the bill. English people don't understand that. When you want to pay, you ask for the check. This is a very good thing to know unless you want to sit in a restaurant for a really long time with nothing to do. And you have to ask for it, don't assume they will bring it to you. It's the English way to eat slow and have good conversation. The waiters and waitresses don't want to make you feel rushed.

The tube lines are very easy to figure out. The Metropolitan is the worst because that is the line where all of the older trains run. The bus routes are harder to figure out and it takes practice considering after about 5:00pm it switches to a night bus schedule. It's ok once you get the hang of it.

Learn military time when you come to London. It will be very useful.

Visiting Oxford Street and Camden Market is a must. These two places are where all of the main shopping is and their fun as hell to go to.

And lastly for this post, everything in London is VERY expensive!!! If you want to do extra things and travel and buy things and go out at night save a LOT of money!!!!!!

Matthew M. - Oxford, England - Fall 2011

2011-10-11T15:06:00.000-05:00

Hello future study abroad students. My name is Matthew and I am a senior studying abroad in Oxford for the autumn semester. I am studying at Oxford through The Centre for Medieval and Renaissance Studies. CMRS is affiliated with Keble College, where you will have the chance to meet other current students over dinner.

I arrived in Oxford three weeks ago. Before departing, I didn’t expect to experience a substantial amount of culture shock. I was humbled. Although there are a lot of similarities, there are also plenty of cultural differences between cultures. The required international education course did help prepare me for culture shock and I found those resources helpful during the first two weeks. The first week I was homesick and my sleep schedule was messed up. If you are feeling homesick just remind yourself that you are only here for about three months and it is a once in a lifetime experience culturally and academically. For your information, Skype Is not allowed because of bandwidth issues so I suggest using Gmail video chat in order to keep in contact with your significant other and family members.

When you first step off the bus in Oxford, you will be in awe of the medieval architecture, fresh markets and countless coffee shops and eateries. In addition, when you realize the amount of facilities readily available for research (specifically the fantastic Bodleian library!) you will be anxious to begin studying. If you are enrolled in the autumn semester you start with a mandatory Integral course (if you are signed up for Spring, I think you finish with the Integral course). Do not panic when you are given the reading list and schedule. If you plan wisely you will be able to focus your attention on specific topics that you are interested in. The group field trips to cathedrals and castle’s are really informative and helpful. My favorite city in England thus far, besides Oxford, is Winchester.

Academically speaking, it is more rigorous. But, so far I have found that it is rewarding if you keep up with the work assigned. The reading list and lectures give you the opportunity to be very independent with your research and reading. I do not start my tutorial and seminar courses for a few weeks, but I am excited to start soon! Also, explore Blackwell’s Bookstore, which has a huge selection of books. Every time I walk in I end up buying a new book.

I am gradually becoming accustomed with my surroundings and beginning to feel more comfortable studying in Oxford. It is amazing here and I am excited for what is to come. If you have any questions concerning whatever you can email me personally at mattrmur@gmail.com.

Kimberly S. - Salzburg, Austria - Fall 2011

2011-10-11T14:57:00.000-05:00

My program started quite a bit later than others, so it's only now that I am really getting a feel for the city of Salzburg. The city is absolutely beautiful. From the mountains that surround the city, one is treated to an absolutely breathtaking view, whether it is day or night. Everywhere I look, I see church steeples and an obvious effort to maintain the architecture and structures of old. Salzburg most definitely is deeply rooted in it's past and takes great pride in its famous sons (most especially Mozart. Every store it seems carries Mozart souvenirs to purchase or some statue or pictures in reference to him) It's funny that Austrians have a reputation for efficiency because they also certainly value taking their sweet time. For an American, going to a restaurant can be an almost infuriating experience at first because of how long it can take to be recognized by the waitstaff, get one's food, and finally pay the bill. Basically, I need to get adjusted to leaving myself more time and taking a moment to breath and enjoy my surrounding. Walking and biking (as well as public transportation) are the ways to get around. Since Salzburg is such an old city, most of the infrastructure is based upon pedestrian zones. Most of the Altstadt (old city) is also not gridded, so it can be easy to get lost. Another somewhat foreign thing to get used to is store and office hours. Most stores are not open on Sunday (so one must plan ahead for groceries) and in general stores close earlier than in America and administrative offices have very limited operating hours as well. If you need something (such as your student ID card) plan on being there at opening hour.

Sometimes I feel a bit overwhelmed with speaking German because I didn't review quite enough over the summer. I would like to be speaking more German, but having a large group of Americans for my program and an American roommate can be quite a disadvantage. Hopefully I will be able to start practicing my language skills more now that my classes are actually starting.

Ariel P. - Dunedin, New Zealand - Fall 2011

2011-10-11T08:47:00.000-05:00

Hello everyone on the other side of the planet! Hope you all enjoyed the summer weather the past few months, that’s the only thing I miss! I have been in Dunedin, New Zealand for about a month and a half now. So far it’s been an amazing experience, this country is more beautiful than you can even imagine. I’ve met so many great people and already done countless things I wouldn’t have done back in the states. Settling in to living in a different country was easier than I expected, but then again I was well prepared! The most difficult thing has been getting used to the cold (I choose to study in the very south of the country). New Zealand’s winters are nowhere near as harsh as Chicago winters; temperatures typically range between 35-45 degrees with occasional nights that are colder. However, houses here have no central heating! It’s actually been colder inside my flat than outside on a few occasions. I have never loved anything more than my heated mattress pad ;-) But thankfully, the worst of winter has passed and yesterday was a beautiful 65 and sunny! Just in time for spring break next week where my British roommate and I will be travelling around the northern south island before heading to Wellington, the countries capital, to stay with our kiwi host (I live in a Uni flat with 4 other internationals and 1 kiwi student).

A few of the things I have experienced since being here:

Spelunking-probably one of the most amazing things I have ever done. I had to repel down a waterfall 80 meters underground!
White water rafting-which included the largest commercially rafted waterfall in the world. A 20-meter drop-off!
Learned and performed the ‘Haka’ which is traditional Maori dance that is now performed/best known by the New Zealand All Blacks before each rugby game to pump themselves up
Drove on the LEFT side of the road, it’s actually quite easy to get used to
Snowboarding in Queenstown-the view of endless mountain ranges from the lift is a nice change from Midwest skiing.
Eaten the most delicious burger on this planet!! Furgburger…if anyone ever makes it to Queenstown, you will know what I’m talking about!
Tramped a mountain in the Southern Alps
Had a streaker run through my lecture hall, I thought that only happened in the movies!
Went to a royal wedding themed Ball
Experienced my first ever Snow Day in the month of August!

The academic system in New Zealand is much different from what I’m used to. Since I’m at a large Uni my papers (what they call courses) are in lectures halls along side a couple hundred kiwi students with smaller tutorial classes once or every other week. That way of learning was difficult to get used to especially with being an international student and having to get used to the accent/different words and writing style they use here. But I’d say the hardest thing getting used to is the assessment system. There are only a few assignments per semester for each paper with a large exam at the end, so everything is worth a lot more and it’s your responsibility to keep up with the lectures and readings. One of my papers only has one group assignment worth 40% and the final exam is worth 60%!!! Yikes! I have definitely spent a lot of time studying, which is sometimes difficult having international friends taking pass/fail classes. But hey, at least I’m learning something!

My time here has been even more wonderful than I could ever imagine, It’s sad to think that in just three weeks it’s half over! I have so many plans and there’s so much to look forward to in the next few months. In case your not rugby fans, the Rugby World Cup 2011 is being held in New Zealand this year and It starts in just 2 weeks! You can literally feel the excitement building. Dunedin just put the finishing touches on a brand new $200mil stadium for the event. New Zealand’s main sport is rugby and this country is OBSESSED with their All Blacks. I can only imagine how big of a party it’s going to be if they win!

Well I better wrap this up so I’m not late for class. Cheers from New Zealand!! I hope everyone has a great semester!J

Feel free to email me, or comment on this blog entry if anyone is considering studying in New Zealand and want the low down about the University of Otago or the country in general. (parksa@net.elmhurst.edu)

John B. - Salzburg, Austria - Fall 2011

2011-10-04T10:58:00.000-05:00

Servus und Grüß Gott from Salzburg!

I have been in Germany/ Austria for one week now. My initial reactions are very positive. I definitely made the right choice and the BGSU Salzburg program that is affiliated with Elmhurst College is a great program and I highly recommend it to any future german students.

When I arrived in Salzburg, I soon was taken to Freilassing, DE, right over the boarder. I was luckily enough to stay with family of another EC student here and it was a great way to get used to a new area. I bought lederhosen and the next day, made my way to Munich's Oktoberfest. It was a fun time, but smaller and less eventful than I expected.

I met up with my Bavarian friend at Oktoberfest and she invited me and fellow EC student, Kim, to her home after the fest. We ended up in a very small village an hour north of Munich, Alfershausen. It was gorgeous. We went to castle ruins, fed horses, and looked at more stars in the sky than I have ever seen.

Upon arriving in my dorm in Salzburg, I explored the city for 8 hours by foot and soon realized I should have taken it easy because I ended up having to walk and walk everyday. Oh well, lesson learned. I just started classes yesterday, October 3, and they seem very good so far. My classes are all in German and count towards gen eds and towards my German minor, which worked out perfectly. My German professor back at EC really prepared me for this environment by only speaking to us in German, so I felt like I was in class back home. The only problem here in Salzburg is understanding the natives. The southern dialect can be quite frustrating because I will only understand a third of what they are saying as opposed to more if they were speaking standard 'high' german.

All in all, I made the right choice here. The program is great and I have made a few new buddies as well as making the acquaintance of a few local like-minded musicians. Feel free to ask me any questions.

Tschüss,

John B

Jessica T. - Galway, Ireland - Fall 2011

2011-10-04T10:47:00.000-05:00

It’s hard to believe that today is my one month anniversary…..one full month that I’ve been in beautiful Ireland! I gotta tell you, it truly is amazing! In just one month, I already feel like I’ve gotten to do so much, see great sights, and meet so many new people. So far I’ve been to Dublin, the Dingle Peninsula, Connemara, the Cliffs of Moher, and of course Galway, where I’m studying.

Before coming abroad it’s impossible to really know what to expect. Sure, you read up on the culture, try to prepare yourself for things to come, and speak to other people who have visited that country. Although all these are very helpful and definitely recommended, you really never know what’s coming until you’re finally there. My advice, approach it with a “roll with the punches” kind of attitude.

In Ireland, I knew it would rain, I knew there’d be a lot of walking, and I knew the school system would be different from what I’m used to in the U.S. However, even though I was prepared for that, it still can take a toll on your mood if you don’t come with the right mindset. I’m usually a laid back person anyway, but I decided that when I came here, I was going to take whatever was thrown at me and enjoy it for what it is. I’ve accepted the fact that it rains literally everyday and that to get anywhere I need to expect at least a 15-minute walk. I’ve accepted that the school system in Galway is totally unorganized and I’ve learned to laugh at it and embrace these new experiences. Plans won’t always go as planned and spontaneity is key. Live each moment as much as you can because the time really does fly by, just like everyone is telling you that it will!

As for the people in Ireland, they sure are friendly and usually welcoming. I have met a couple people who just plain dislike Americans, but the majority is grand (throwin’ a little Irish lingo in there). People on the streets, in the shops, and at the school are all very helpful. It’s interesting, say you call a shop and ask a question, if they don’t know the answer they’ll take your phone number down, find out the answer, and call you back. Never really see that kind of thing in America. The whole culture is just a lot more laid back and very trusting. Another thing I noticed about the Irish culture is how resourceful they are. They are very adamant about their recycling program and conserving water and electricity. Downfall to this is that hot showers are very hard to come by, but I’ve really learned a lot about getting by with less and protecting our environment.

My number one suggestion when you go abroad is to get involved, engage in new experiences, and make the best of everything. I’ve joined the volleyball club at NUIG, am taking a service learning class in which I get to go to a local elementary school homework club once a week and help the children, and plan to volunteer with the disabled community. On top of this, I’ve still made time to see and do a great deal of things and get my schoolwork done too. Here’s a picture of me at the Cliffs of Moher – a must see if you’re planning to travel to Ireland! Take the time to venture out and see these kinds of sights! You won’t regret it!

Krystal R. - London, England - Fall 2011

2011-10-04T10:38:00.000-05:00

It’s been a long journey since I stepped foot in Chicago O’Hare airport a mere 2 weeks ago. My first airport experience, my first time on a plane, my first time in a new country, my first mixture of jet lag and a horrible cold, my first 21^st birthday that I slept through. Every time I experience something new, I quickly log it into my database of first experiences abroad. It's still such a struggle to realize that I live here--that I'm taking part in this immensely beautiful and historical city. Every time I cross a street or admire a building, my brain flickers to the thought, "I live in London." This thought is most commonly followed by a small chuckle and a smile that probably makes passersby wonder if I'm right in the head. I've experienced so much in the short time I’ve been here and there is still an unearthly amount of exploring and places to cross off my to-do list!

Since being here, I've had the opportunity to extensively explore campus, see where the Olympic Stadiums are being build, visit Europe's largest urban shopping mall (where I bought nothing…I’m so proud of myself), take a small tour of central London, and met so many amazing people.

In some ways, I feel like a freshman all over again...new school, unfamiliar campus, new flatmates, new professors, signing up for a million clubs (namely, fencing and the theatre company), and being given free stuff at the Fresher’s Fair. I have 8 others living in my flat from the US, England, Singapore, India, and China. It's refreshing to be a part of such a diverse culture, and especially such a small, diverse living community. We've been having themed dinners to get to know each other better, such as last night's Fajita Fest (pronounced "fahighta" if you're from Southern England!)

On to the stuff you’re actually interested in: I’m studying at Queen Mary, University of London which is located in London’s East End. It’s a very diverse community, and not as glamorous as central London, but provides just as many, if not more, cultural encounters. Upon arriving, there was a two-day orientation, which informed us where to find the information we needed, which was very helpful, and also gave me an immediate insight to their academic system. Notice I said they informed me where I could find the information I needed, instead of giving me the information outright. This seems to be a theme in the classroom, as well, which I actually enjoy.

I chose to apply to Queen Mary directly instead of going through a program. Although this was accompanied by some frustrations and a lot more research than applying through a program, I saved a lot of money. It was a lot of work to find all of the information I needed to make sure that everything was lined out, but it made me a lot more aware of how much work goes into studying abroad, even in the preliminary steps. I couldn’t run to my program every time I had a problem or a question (because I don’t have a program), but the study abroad offices both at EC and Queen Mary have been really great about guiding me to the resources I need.

The school has approximately 18,000 students (don’t quote me on that!) and is quite crowded compared to the good ole Elmhurst! I’m taking all drama modules here, so the class sizes are still relatively small, which I didn’t expect coming into a larger university. Classes vary from extremely hands-on in the more practical courses, to discussion oriented, to lecture. However, most of my flatmate’s modules seem to be more lecture based, so I suppose maybe I’m special because I’m a part of the ever-quirky Drama department (which, by the way, is ranked number one in England). Here, grades are based on only two assignments throughout the semester—usually research papers. We’re expected to devote 8 hours to each module we take, but usually only have 2 hours of class time, so we’re expected to do a LOT more outside work and reading.

I’ve heard London referred to as a ‘molting pot’ on several different occasions, but never really understood why until now. Not only can you hear multiple different accents as you walk down a street, but you can also identify multiple accents layered together which is extremely interesting. Because people come from so many different backgrounds, it can be quite difficult to set in place a clear image as to what exactly British culture is like.

Amusing things I have learned thus far:

1. Paper towels = kitchen roll

2. Dish soap = washing up liquid

3. CCTV is a really nice joke.

4. All British people love to defame the French…even the French ones.

5. They don’t refrigerate their eggs…and they still taste delicious.

6. Shopping in a supermarket can be quite difficult, because so many food names are different. (Tomato juice = creamed tomato, zucchini = corgette)

7. They don’t drink nearly as much tea as I expected.

8. British people love having “a go” at the American accent, and some will occasionally tell you how annoying your American accent is in the middle of the supermarket.

9. “Just a bit up the road” is always more of a distance than one would think.

10. It costs $25 to call home and leave a 10 second voicemail.

11. You can only enter Buckingham Palace when the Queen is out. (This means I have to go before October 3, because Kate’s wedding dress is on display! Don’t worry, Alice, I’ll sneak a picture!)

12. If the pigeons of London were counted in the census, I think London’s population would more than triple.

13. Everyone knows that they drive on the opposite sides of the road, but that doesn’t lessen the shock of seeing someone drive on the wrong side of the car, or having to look the opposite direction first before crossing the road.

14. There will always be differences that are amusing, and similarities that are frustrating and vice versa.

15. It’s all an adventure.

14 days ago, I began my 4,200 mile journey still thinking it was just going to be a dream, and now here I am, looking out my flat window in London and writing about it. So far, my love for this city is immense, and I only expect that to grow!

Be prepared, be outgoing, be spontaneous. Most of all, listen to Alice; she’s a study abroad genius.

Cheers,

Krystal

Cary K. - Barcelona, Spain - Fall 2011

2011-10-04T10:26:00.000-05:00

Hola Mi Amigos!

So far Barcelona es impresionante. The city is extremely cosmopolitan and full of diversity. The people and the scenery are muy bonita and mi español mejora cada día! Arriving here was a simple 7 flight and as I left the airport in a taxi on the way to my homestay address I quickly realized a deviation from my perceived expectations. My homesaty is on the 4th floor of an apartment building in a fairly nice part of down. I share a room with another student originally from South Africa but lives in Chicago now. My senora Elisa is an excellent cook and makes everything homemade from her bread to pizza to paella, dinners are amazing. She does our laundry once a week and does not speak a work of English which is at times frustrating but makes me practice Espanol which is a good thing. Were are not aloud guests over which is the biggest downfall but the pros outweigh the cons and I definately would not change my decision of a homestay. There is also two other students living here, one from Korea and one from outside of Barca along with her 33 year old son Miguel who is super cool and has taken us out multiple times. As for school, I have 4 classes on Tuesday and Thursday which makes for a long day and my language classe on MWF. There is a good amount of reading for each class but overall not an overwhelming amount work so far and we go on field trips around the city for each class. I take the metro mostly to get around the city. It is all color coordinated and fairly easy to navigate especially from living in Chicago.
So far I have visited Ibiza, (which was nuts club scene was out of control and the foam party 3 meters tall at Amnesia I literally thought I was going to suffocate ha), Costa Brava and the South of France, and Sitges which is south of Spain. I have booked trips for Dublin, Amsterdam, and Prague currently and may do other trips but Barca is so big and interesante that I want to be around enough to fully explore the city which many students sometimes forget to do. I recently got on an amateur liga futbol team and actually have a game today which I am super stoked for so we will see how far I can go. Other than that I have been playing fut sol (soccer on a court 5v5) with the locales near camp Nou the Barca stadium and that has been an excellent way to emerge myself in the culture. The beaches have also been muy divertido and I can definitely get used to this whole topless thing. Also fun fact, the nights in Barca dont start till at least 12 and people usually don't show up till the discotekas till around 2 so don't plan on getting home before 6 am on the nights when its rage time. Lots more to discuss but its game time so tengo que ir! Hablar pronto, hasta luego!

Adios, Cary aka JC-Spainish Name

Pics- Ibiza, Barca-the city from Parc Guell, South of France

Rocco C. - Perugia, Italy - Fall 2011

2011-10-03T15:07:00.000-05:00

The first night I arrived in Perugia we went to a hotel where I met many of my now good friends. Honestly, I was upset because Perugia did not look any different from the town I live in now. That was until a few friends and I decided to go and explore out surroundings. After finding having our first glasses of wine in Italy, we decided to go through this arch, which I now know as L’arc di Susana. Walking through this enormous piece of Etruscan architecture, I realized that this was where I needed to be. The narrow streets were lined with four story high renaissance designed buildings; all of them were painted different colors from orange to yellow and green. We followed this wonderful smell through these narrow streets at two o’clock in the morning to find this bakery which was tucked away in a back alley selling delicious paninis and fresh baked cornettos. We later found out that this was one of Perugia’s many “secret bakeries”. This was what I imagined Perugia to be.

The town here is wonderful! There is so much history and architecture that surrounds ever piazza. One of my favorite places to visit is the underground city under Piazza D’Italia. Our apartment is kind of a hike, literally, to our classes. It only takes less than 10 minutes from door to door but it is all uphill. All the store owners are all very helpful and will teach you how to correctly say certain words in Italian but politely. Honestly, as long as you try to speak a little Italian, they will help you. This town is a place that I consider my home and I would love to come back and live here. If you are looking for a less touristy and hometown feeling, this is the place for you!

Claire D. - Oxford, England - Fall 2011

2011-10-03T14:05:00.000-05:00

I’ve been in Oxford for just over a month now, and in this time I have seen castles and cathedrals, learned about monks and friars and knights, walked by both the rivers Cherwell and Thames, and seen and done things I had previously only read about. This study abroad trip marks my first time out of the country and this first month alone has taught me so much.

I am enrolled in the Center for Medieval and Renaissance Studies here in Oxford University. It’s a separate program for American students and is affiliate with Keble College. Here at CMRS, we first attended a four week Integral Course, consisting of lectures and field trips. During this time, we have been to Gloucester Cathedral, Berkeley Castle, Winchester Cathedral, Winchester Great Hall, Wells Cathedral, Glastonbury Abbey, and Warwick Castle. For the Integral Course, we have one exam, which we are currently studying for now, and one research paper, due at the end of term.

The rest of our courses begin in October, during the regular Oxford Michaelmas term. It is an eight week term, and during this time, we will be taking one seminar course and two tutorials. I will be taking Dante and the Divine Comedy for my seminar and Narrative and Medieval Travel Writers for my tutorials. These classes each meet once a week and tutorials are arranged individually with your tutor, as tutorials are strictly one on one with your professor. It’s a system I am not used to, and I will be interested to see how it works out. Unfortunately, our classes are all strictly within our program, so we have no interaction with our fellow Oxford students, but there are plenty of other social ways to make friends with the locals.

Our affiliation to Keble College gives us access to their dining hall and library, as well as their social groups and clubs. The Freshers Fair, for both Keble College and the university as a whole, much like our own Activities Fair at Elmhurst, will give us a better idea of what sort of clubs and organizations are available for us to join during our time in Oxford.

The city of Oxford itself is beautiful. St. Michael’s Hall, where we live in Oxford, is almost literally right in the center of town. There’s always something to do or explore or find here (provided you do it before 11 o’clock at night). It’s convenient living so close to everything, right in the heart of the city, but a short walk in one direction or another will take you to the peaceful quiet of Christ Church Meadow or the University Parks. Very little is outside walking distance, whether you want to eat, drink, read, shop, or wander.

England and America are, of course, “two countries separated by the same language.” It’s a bit of a relief coming to a foreign country knowing you already speak the language, but there are subtle differences and a whole new world of accents. Biscuits are cookies, chips are fries, crisps are chips. The currency exchange rate is frustrating, and so are the early closing hours. Don’t expect pedestrian traffic to make any sense - people are going to walk where they want to walk.

As daunting as Oxford and traveling may seem, Oxford is a beautiful city, and if the rest of the term is anything like the Integral course, I’m sure this will be a wonderful and rewarding experience that I would happily recommend to anyone.

Matthew F. - Brock University, Canada - Spring 2011

2011-04-09T15:27:00.000-05:00

Before coming to Canada, I was hesitant about my choice and if I chose the right place. I'm always indecisive in what I want to do but coming here made me realize I made a good choice. Is Canada exotic? It depends on what area. I went to Montreal and Quebec a month ago for spring break and it's amazing how much different it is than the area I'm in right now. I go to school in Ontario, but in Quebec (I'm talking about the province now) there is a mainly French influence and the scenery is absolutely amazing, even though I think that the scenery in Ontario is amazing already. There is so much more history for me to see in Quebec (including a castle in the city of Quebec) so I want to go back without a doubt.

As far as social life goes, I’m really happy with everyone who I talk to here and I wouldn’t trade the people I talk to for anyone else. I think I talk to a good mix of people from both the international department and full time Canadian students. One thing that I’ve learned is talk to everyone that you possibly can. After all, most people studying abroad from Elmhurst are going to considerably larger universities so one shouldn’t worry about making a bad impression on another student because there’s a good chance you won’t see them again. Just by talking to random people here, I’ve made new friends and also possible business connections down the road, not to mention I’ve met some people with very strange connections to globally recognized persons and important regional business people. I never know what I’m going to get from talking to randoms but I definitely don’t have any regrets (except for this one crazy girl who always acts like a lunatic, but she buys me chocolate pretzels so it’s not a complete loss.)

As far as school goes, it’s definitely a lot different being in lecture halls instead of small classrooms but that’s all a part of experiencing something different I guess. The grading system is a lot different as well and I find myself studying harder. Here, the percentages have different implications, which at first glance may seem like it would be more favorable than back home. However, it is much different than I’m used to along with the setup of the exams. Marks (grades) are solely dependent on midterm and final exams (at least for lectures) which puts a lot of pressure on me around exam time as well as stress throughout the semester knowing that I can’t do anything toward my marks for weeks at a time. It feels like you can study for hours and hours but it’s still never good enough. I do care about my marks a lot but sometimes when I’m studying really hard and am stressing myself out, I feel the need to take a couple hours to go for a walk and clear my mind. Finding a balance between schoolwork, leisure, and friends can be difficult but I know in the end it will all be worth the experience.

Kaylyn W. - Sydney, Australia - Spring 2011

2011-03-23T18:49:00.001-05:00

G’day from Sydney Australia!

I have been in Australia for just about a month now and so far it has been absolutely wonderful. I have gotten to do so many different things that I never thought I would be able to do, or even try doing. My flight was a little hectic because I had an allergic reaction on the plane to one of the meals, but other than that my first flying experience was not too shabby. I took Alice’s advice and did pack light. Although I hate everything I own because I have worn it twice or three times, it will save me room to take things home and it is fun to go shopping around here. My advice is to pack at least 3-4 dresses that are light, but business casual/formal if staying near a city in Australia because people tend to dress up a lot.

I had orientation with AustraLearn specifically with people attending the same Uni as me. We spent 5 days in Cairns learning about Australian culture and how to adapt here. I went around pronouncing Cairns wrong and realized that in Australia words are pronounced different than what they are spelled like, but not to be embarrassed because someone is always there to correct it. Of course we got to meet some koalas, kangaroos, wombats, and alligators. My favorite thing we did was go to the Great Barrier Reef where I was able to scuba dive and FIND NEMO! It was one of the most memorable experiences of my life, well besides looking like a blue man in my protective sting suit. I also got to swim in the Daintree River and through some waterfalls on my free day adventure.

I’m attending classes at The University of New South Wales, which is a large campus with about 60,000 people total. I’m living on campus in one of the residential halls and I couldn’t have made a better choice. There were 45 people in my AustraLearn group and only 3 of us chose and were accepted into living on campus. Living in a ‘college’ is like being in a club. Orientation week was kind of a form of hazing for the ‘fresher’s’, first years/fresh meat. Every day we were getting woken up at the crack of dawn by vuvuzelas and had to do a bunch of crazy stuff that helped us bond. Each week on Sunday night we have a ‘coffee night’ (although there is no coffee, it’s byo-c?) and discuss weekly events ranging from social, sporting, and cultural activities. There is always something to do here and a change to meet new people. It’s almost like Greek life surprisingly. The residence colleges all eat in the ‘dino’ and so far we have had 4 formal dinners. The formal dinners are like being in a real life Harry Potter movie because each college sits by themselves and most people wear academic robes. Even on the walls are tapestries and pictures of the founders of each college. There are three residence colleges within The Kensington Colleges, and we are very competitive against one another.

Things I have done with my residence college:

1. Sydney Harbor night cruise
2. Blind date night
3. Senior Fresher date night (senior guys/fresher girls)
4. Women of Troy play
5. Breakfast BBQs
6. Outside cinema night

Classes are much different here because a lot of them only have a midterm and final. It’s also very hard to get in contact with a professor to get additional help with a subject if you do not understand it. I’m taking a multinational finance class here and it’s a really hard subject for me that I am having much difficulty with. The first two weeks of class I had myself worried and almost to tears that I was completely going to fail this class and it would ruin my GPA I have worked so hard for. I had to get myself to the point to realize that studying abroad is supposed to be a challenge and that if I try my hardest and maybe end up not succeeding that it won’t be the end of the world. Studying here is much more time consuming and I am spending about 6-10 hours on each subject per week. I know that many people think that study abroad is a vacation, but in reality it is mostly studying. Another thing I wasn’t prepared for was to pay to print and for wireless internet access. To print it is $.21 a page or $.40 for double sided. For internet access it’s about $10.00 a week. I have learned to not use the internet unless I really need to and I’ve been more productive not being able to spend hours upon hours on Facebook.

Keeping in touch with family and friends has been really easy between my global gossip cell phone, Skype, and G-mail phone calls. I would suggest to really take advantage of the G-mail phone because it’s free to call anywhere in the USA from Australia through a G-mail account. I would also highly recommend buying a cell phone while studying abroad. The third week I was here I got really really sick with a bacterial intestine infection, most likely from eating bad food or drinking bad water, and having a phone let me get ahold of people really fast when I needed to.

One thing I have learned is that the cost of living in Australia is very expensive, so be prepared to spend some cash. When I first got here I passed up some opportunities to do things because I didn’t want to spend the money, but I had to put in to perspective that money will always be around and the chance to get to experience these new things may not be.

Some of the things I have been able to do since getting to Sydney are:

1. Go to the Mardi Gra Parade
2. Went to the World’s LARGEST Imax theatre
3. Saw a show at the Opera House
4. Walked in the Royal Botanical Gardens
5. Went to the National Historic Museum
6. Experienced my first wine tour
7. Ate at pancakes on the rocks- a must do in Sydney
8. Traveled to 3 beaches
9. Watched a professional surf competition
10. Learned how to play rugby
11. Watch a professional rugby game

There are many many more things I am planning to do and I can’t believe I have gotten to do so many wonderful things within such a short time period.

Additional tips/lingo for traveling in Australia:

1. Jumpers are sweatshirts, sunnies are sunglasses
2. Sizes are larger, don’t think people are calling you fat
3. Cars will run you over so be cautious even in cross-walks
4. Take a day and travel by bus to learn the routes
5. Bring a laptop- computers are actually hard to come by and usually you can only have access for an hour at a time.
6. Bring extra ‘stick’ deodorant because they use aerosol and roll on here
7. Don’t be embarrassed or discouraged if you can’t afford to do something others can- - a lot of people spend thousands of dollars on spring break. Instead find a friend and see if you can spend spring break at their home with them.
8. Tiger airlines have really cheap flights throughout Australia
9. If you go out you will have to pay a cover charge, buy your own drinks, and enjoy hours of techno or indie rock music. Be prepared.
10. Actually get to know Australians! Don’t clan yourself into a group of Americans the entire time you study abroad. I witness it all the time and Australians actually find it really annoying.

Let me know if you have any questions about anything!

-Kaylyn

Hannah W. - Newcastle, Australia - Spring 2011

2011-03-19T11:07:00.002-05:00

Hello Mates!

I am studying in Newcastle, Australia at the University of Newcastle. I came over through the program AustraLearn and have been in Australia for just over a month now. I was in Cairns for a week of orientation then went to Newcastle for their orientation week or O week as they call it. I am about to start my third week of classes. I like all of my classes so far and haven’t had a lot of work to do which is very different from the states. We only have about four major projects in each of my class’s worth about 10-40% of my grade. The final exams that I have are all about 50-70% of my grade. This means I really need to make sure I study and do all my work really well. I am also getting use to have more than just one class of the same class per week. Two out of the four classes I have to meet for a lecture and also a tutorial or a lab. It is kind of different compared to Elmhurst and the way they have their classes set up. Enough about school!

This is the first time in my life to be away from my family for this long. Especially since I have a twin sister, I am so use to having her around all the time. We have only been apart from each other for no more than a few days. Here it’s so different because I haven’t talked to her very much and only been able to Skype her and my family a few times since I have been here. These past weeks I have been super busy so really haven’t thought about being away. Plus I have really good roommates that I hang out with and keep me entertained. I feel like I am always doing something so I haven’t really gotten home sick yet but I know culture shock will be creeping up on me soon.

When you study abroad one of the first things you need to realize and accept that everything is going to be really awkward at first, until you get use to it. I am a very shy person but I have noticed me putting myself in awkward situations either to do something or to meet new people. I have made lots of friends and am always trying different things that are part of the Australian Culture, like vegemite.

Here are some of the things I have been able to do in the past month I have been here:

1. Visited Cairns (Pounced Cans)

2. Held and petted a Kola

3. Petted and feed a Kangaroo

4. Visited Sydney

5. Saw the Opera House and also touched it

6. Saw the Sydney Harbour Bridge

7. Went downtown Newcastle

8. Met many new Australian and American friends

9. Got lost on campus trying to find my way back from class, but now starting to get the hang of

campus

10. Tried a Lamington (They are amazing)

11. Went camping for a weekend

12. Tried a Tim Tam

13. Scuba dived in the Great Barrier Reef

13. Tried Vegemite (Like I said above)

14. Went to my First Mardi Gras Festival

15. Went to my first Beach in Australia

16. Had my First Tart at Guylian Chocolates

17. Went on a Dolphin cruise and saw about 10 of them

18. Had my first Massage for $15 which was awesome!

19. Held a snake for the first time

20. Found out what a Didgeridoo is

21. Watched an Aboriginal Dance

22. Slept in my first hostel which was really nice and comfy!

23. Saw the Southern Cross

24. Had Passion Fruit (If you come down here you must try it)

25. Saw where Steve Irwin died

26. Petted a Wallaby

27. Learned how to throw a Boomerang (Mine came back to me just about)

Katherine H. - Oxford, England - Spring 2011

2011-03-13T20:45:00.002-05:00

Hello future study-abroaders!

I’m here in Oxford, England, and I apologize if my post is basically identical to Jessica’s a few posts down. I am also studying through the Centre for Medieval and Renaissance Studies program. I’ve been here since January, and I can scarcely believe that I have a little over a month left. Listen to Alice! Everything she says is true! Initially, you will feel some intense culture shock and be terribly homesick (well, maybe you won’t, but I was) and then you will realize that time is running out and you will realize that you never want to leave.

This experience has been one of the most rewarding of my life. I have studied harder than I ever have before, pushed myself to new limits, discovered new qualities about myself as a person, and expanded beyond my comfort zone. I am sooooo happy that I decided to do this. I have definitely been bit by the travel bug, and I can’t imagine going home and living a perfectly normal, stationary lifestyle. I want to keep going!

When I first got here, it was certainly an adjustment. The time change, the money, the accents, the lingo… the meat pies that they serve at dinner… Like it has already been stated below, I’m here with 25 other American students in dorm-style living arrangements, but the lecture hall and tutorial rooms are in the building as well. CMRS is affiliated with St. Peter’s College of Oxford University. We eat in their dining hall with them (which strongly resembles a less elaborate version of the Hogwarts great hall), use their libraries, participate in their sports (if we so choose), and are able to attend their biweekly dances (called “bops”). You can make plenty of British friends if you try! Initially I was disappointed that my courses would not be with Oxford students, but there are many opportunities to get to know them.

To summarize my academic experience (as CMRS is more academic-oriented than some of the other programs where people actually have plenty of time to travel!!!): The first nine weeks I had two tutorials – Romanticism and Shakespeare, where I read and wrote two papers a week. It wasn’t bad, you just have to learn time management… a quality that I am still working towards… the tutorial experience is very different than what I am used to. There is no where to hide when you haven’t done the work! So do your work. In addition to the tutorials, I had a seminar twice a week (most seminars only meet once a week) which was Drawing in the Museums. This was a very involved seminar… our final project is pretty intense, but I loved going to all of the Oxford museums and exploring that cultural aspect. Next week we begin the Integral course, when everything else has ended. Integral is five days a week (I enjoyed having my Fridays and Mondays off with tutorials and seminar, but not everyone is that lucky) with lectures twice a day in the mornings. But enough of the academic stuff.

Oxford is a GORGEOUS city and I wish I could live here forever. Living in England is different. Here is a compilation of things that I have observed:

1. There are two separate faucets with the two taps for hot and cold... As they are both on opposite sides of the sink, it is impossible to have warm water. You can either scald yourself, or freeze. This makes no sense to me even after living here for two months.

2. There is no organization to the way pedestrians walk on the streets or side walks. One would assume that the designated walking pattern would mimic the driving pattern, and that one would not collide with passersby if one simply adopted this pattern... but no.

3. Eggs are not refrigerated in the grocery store

4. It is rare to see paper towels and kleenex. For the first few weeks, I noticed that most of the lecturers at CMRS carried only handkerchiefs, and used glasses and pitchers of water instead of plastic water bottles. Also, the bathrooms have hand towels instead of paper towels. Luckily, this does not apply to public restrooms (or toilets, as they are called here), which are equipped with hand driers.
5. Pigeons are just cuter versions of rats

6. Everyone bikes here. It makes me so happy to see 80 year-old men dressed in their suits biking around the city.

7. A line is called a "queue", fries are "chips", cookies are "biscuits", and REAL skim milk does not exist

8. Men here dress far better/have way better shoes compared to men back home. This is the truth.

9. You need to get used to military time. Who would have thought math skills would ever be needed in real life? Also, you will most likely refer to the six hour difference back home as what time it is in "real life" for at least the first month.

10. There is no such thing as free Wifi

11. Don't walk around in slippers.

12. Girls have to pay cover charges, too (?!)... and pay for their own drinks unless they are very fortunate.

13. The music played in clubs here is at least a year old from what is played on the radio in the States.

14. The residents of Oxford do not seem to be affected by the cold weather, and therefore do not feel the need to dress in anything but shorts and a sweater when it is 35 degrees and raining.

15. There is no censored television.

16. The perceptions about Americans are different wherever you go (as is true with any country). Some people love us, some people are indifferent, and some people find us obnoxious. I find that the television programs that are played may be partially to blame for this inconsistency... Generally speaking, all that I've seen are reruns of Gilmore Girls, Scrubs, Friends, and tacky reality shows like WifeSwap. I'm guessing that this leads to the belief that Americans talk too fast, have hospitals where doctors have a mass amount of free time to do absolutely nothing, and are the most moronic and ignorant people in the world. I don’t think the latter is true, though. At least no one has accused me of being moronic yet.

17. The novelty of the British accent wears off very quickly. (On average after week 3) Then you just realize that this is how people talk.

18. The buses will crush you, and you should probably look both ways before running across the street.

19. CCTV is watching you.

20. Sheryl Crow and Cheryl Cole are two different people.

21. CRUMPETS are the BEST creation ever, and will most likely be the one food item that I will miss, aside from the delicious German yogurt that they serve in the dining hall.

22. Sweat pants are "joggies" or "trackies"

23. Mayonnaise goes on everything.

And thus ends my list of incredibly important facts. Let me know if you have any questions! I would be happy to help.

Ellie P. - Melbourne, Australia - Spring 2011

2011-03-13T16:23:00.000-05:00

G’day everyone!

So I have been in Australia for two months now, but just started school last week. I was worried that the classes were going to be a lot different from Elmhurst, but luckily because I am enrolled in all art classes, the classes are basically the same because they center around studio time.

Because I had so much time before school started, I went ahead and found an internship at an advertising agency. It took forever to find one; I ended up emailing about twenty different firms just asking for a chance, and I was lucky enough to get one!

Since being here I have some random tips that I wish I had thought about before leaving:

1. You will probably hate every piece of clothing you came with because you have to wear it so many times. Don’t bring something extravagant because chances are you won’t wear it.

2. Open a bank account if you can, because taking out money all the time from my Chase bank account makes me nervous (so many little fees that seem to be adding up). I know that there will still be a fee to change the money over, but it seems easier to do that all at once, rather than having to rely on ATMs that take about three dollars from your account just for using it.

3. Be prepared for any sort of weather. We were supposed to have a beautiful summer but it turned out to be rather mild.

4. Understand that things may not turn out the way you expected. I was supposed to go to Cairns for orientation, but of course a cyclone came through the DAY BEFORE. We went to Brisbane instead, and it turned out to be really beautiful. Be flexible and just go with the flow.

5. Make contacts. It is really nice to have met people at orientation that are living all over the country. Now I someone to talk and maybe stay with when I travel.

Overall, I feel like my time here is a constant adjustment, but a good one. I am taking chances and learning new things. Of course I am homesick, but it is getting much easier with school starting and things really picking up. Let me know if you guys have any questions about Australia or studying abroad in general.

Good luck!

Jessica N. - Oxford, England - Spring 2011

2011-03-13T16:05:00.001-05:00

Hey everyone! I guess I should start by introducing myself for those of you who do not know me. My name is Jessica and I am a junior at EC. I am currently studying at The Centre for Medieval and Renaissance Studies (CMRS) in Oxford, England. Words cannot describe how wonderful my experience has been here thus far. I still can’t believe that I’ve already been here for three months and that I only have one month left here. Time truly does fly when you’re having fun.

First, I will discuss the academic aspect which is probably much different from students who have not attended CMRS. The first nine weeks I had two tutorials; Shakespeare and Romanticism. I met with each tutor for about an hour once a week and was required to write a 2,000 word essay (yes, 4,000 words a week) about what we read each week. I absolutely loved both of my tutorials. I was warned by several people prior to coming here how intense the program would be, and they were right, but it has been a very rewarding experience. I at first was nervous to work one-on-one with a professor, but I’ve discovered that I prefer this approach to learning. On top of my two tutorials I also had a seminar (European Humanism) which was with two other students. We were required to read a different text each week and then would have discussions. Although we were not required to write an essay every week for seminar, we did have a final research paper due. This week marked the end of term for all of the Oxford Uni students, but our program continues with an integral course which consists of lectures, discussion, field trips, and a final research paper. For any future CMRS students, please feel free to ask me more specific questions regarding the academic experience here, however I do not want to bore other students. All in all regarding academics, I feel extremely accomplished and at the same time relieved.

In terms of the social life here in Oxford, I have been having an amazing time. The building I live in consists of 25 other American students. I have been building friendships with these people that I know will last a life time. Our program is affiliated with St. Peter’s College (one of the Oxford Uni colleges) where we had access to their dining hall and library. This has been a great way to meet new and interesting people; however next term CMRS will be affiliated with Keeble College. The night life in Oxford is a lot of fun as well. There are plenty of clubs and bars to go to. I have met a lot of amazing people here so far. I have also traveled to London several times (it’s only an hour train ride away) which has been a great time as well. This weekend I will be going to Paris and the following weekend I will be going to Barcelona with some girls in my program. I leave April 16th and will be staying at my friend’s place in Switzerland for two weeks then I will head back to sweet home Chicago!

As I am someone who has never blogged before, please excuse me and feel free to ask any questions.

Julia N. - Buenos Aires, Argentina - Spring 2011

2011-03-13T15:42:00.004-05:00

“Esto es su casa”

I asked myself three questions as I arrived at O’Hare Airport yesterday afternoon.
Question #1: Are you excited for this?
Answer: yes.
Question #2: Are you prepared for this?
Answer: yes.
Question #3: Are you ready for this?
Answer: I have no idea.

After packing and re-packing, calling the bank, buying extra memory cards, and basically just trying to get all of my ducks lined up in a row, it was finally time to say the final goodbyes. I was seriously dreading having to leave behind everyone that I loved to fly off to a new place where I knew nobody. I imagined teary embraces and big dramatic goodbyes, but the only person that actually cried (at least, that I know of) was my mom. Everyone else was super happy that I was going; wishing me safe travels and telling me to have a lot of fun. My mom told me those things, too; she was just tearing up as she said them. But as that Saturday approached, I noticed that everyone seemed more excited than I was, and I thought I was pretty stoked. I guess those pre-departure nerves snuck up on me, even though I did everything in my power to prepare myself for leaving.

Once the plane landed in Buenos Aires, however, my nerves finally subsided and I was able to let the eagerness take over me. I found out I had to pay for a taxi (guess I should have read my Get-Set-Guide a little closer), but thanks to Mom’s insistence that I bring more cash, I had enough to change into pesos for the cab. Sharing the cab helped, too. It was cheaper and I got to know another student who lives near my host family’s house. There was a potential problem when we realized the guy at the taxi center at the airport didn’t give us our maps back, but thankfully IES called our host parents and got everything sorted out.

Things only got better when I met my host parents. They are an adorable older couple and they don’t speak any English. Or if they do, they are doing a mighty fine job of forcing me to use my Spanish. Anyway, the first thing my host mom told me when I stumbled up the steps (after “cuidado”) was “Esto es su casa” - this is your home. And it is. For the next four months, this adorable apartment with the world’s sweetest grandparents is where I live. This city, filled with history and culture so new to me, is where I live. They say home is where the heart is (so don’t worry Mom, I won’t forget about you), but as of right now, I am ready to make this new place mine. I am ready to explore it, learn about it, and live it. So back to question #3…

Julia, are you ready for this?
Answer: Bring it on, Buenos Aires.

It is March 11th and I have finally registered for my classes the spring semester. This has officially been the longest winter break of my life, and I am totally loving it! Leaving behind the snowy Chicago weather for summery Buenos Aires feels so wonderful. And although having to go to class means less time for my usual aimless wanderings and late nights, I am pretty excited about the classes I am going to take. I have a teaching internship, a class about leadership, 21st century Argentine poetry, and “the making of Patagonia”, which includes a four-day long field trip! All of the classes will be in Spanish, which is really intimidating, but hopefully I will be able to understand it all!

Getting myself adjusted to Buenos Aires has been a bit of a challenge. The first few days were really rough. I came down here not knowing anybody, and although I grew up next to Chicago, I wouldn’t classify myself as a “city-girl”. I walk 11 blocks to the IES center every day because I don’t trust the bus system. They pretty much just show up whenever they want to so you could be sitting at the bus stop for at least 20 minutes before one arrives. Since it only takes me 25-30 minutes to walk, I take advantage of the extra exercise. I’m also not used to all the crime here. Don’t tell my mom, because she’ll freak out, but not only are the thieves here prevalent, they are smart, too. We had a meeting with the US embassy today, and they told us a few of the ways the people here will try to rob us. One interesting one is called the “Mustard on the back” ploy. Someone squirts mustard, or some other liquid, on your back, and then a sweet old lady or woman with a baby stops to help you clean yourself up. Except for they aren’t being nice. In reality, they are distracting you so the other guys can take all your stuff. It is a pretty tricky business. However, it’s been two weeks and nothing like that has happened to me yet (knock on wood). I feel like the longer I am here, the more Argentine I will appear, and then there will be a less chance of my being seen as an easy target. So basically, what I’ve learned so far is that Buenos Aires is a little shady, but as long as you are smart and try not to stand out, it is actually a pretty awesome city, with really rich culture and a pretty crazy nightlife…

Also, if you are interested in reading more, I have another blog at http://blogs.iesabroad.org/author/julia-nelson/. Hopefully you find it entertaining and informative!

Riley N. - Amsterdam, Netherlands - Spring 2011

2011-03-07T09:12:00.001-06:00

Hey Everyone,

So I know it has already been a month since I first arrived in Amsterdam so I will try to bring you up to speed. The quick "layover" in Chicago was nice as I was able to pack and buy last second items for my departure. After saying goodbye to some friends, we departed for the airport. After some confusion checking in I went through security and waited for my flight. My flight was pretty empty. I was on the window and the seat next to me was open which was nice. I spent most of my flight sleeping, eating, uploading and looking at Costa Rica pictures. Overall the plane ride was fine and before I knew it I had arrived at Amsterdam Schipol Airport.

After getting off the plane and going through customs, I found my other bag and tried to figure out what to do. Arriving in a different country with no plan or way to get into your room poses lots of different ideas on what to do. I figured out how to buy a train ticket and hopped on the next one. This took me to Centraal Station, one of the largest stations I have ever seen. I found a cab who took me the quick 5 min ride to my dorm. My dorm isn't the traditional dorm. I live in a place called Funenpark. Funenpark is this very long curved building that has different colored stairwells and windows. Here is a description I found on it. "The blocks on the perimeter of ‘Het Funen’ serve as a noise baffler for the railway and reflect the dynamism of trains. The glass, scale-like sound barrier was attached to the building like a second skin. The coloured panels recreate the rhythmic effect of a stroboscope, thus emphasizing the sense of speed..."

Rergardless our building, which we dubbed the Fun Zone will be a great place to live for the duration of my stay.

The first day, since I couldn't get in my room until my roommate was back, I decided to wander. My 3 bags and myself started walking towards downtown Amsterdam. Not knowing where I was going I just continued to walk what I thought was West. After about an hour of walking around I decided to stop at a local cafe called Tisfris. This was a very nice and quaint little cafe. I got a mineral water and nice roast beef sandwich. After I continued to walk around and take pictures. Walking around for nearly 5 hours I decided it was time to walk back to Funenpark. By the grace of god and a few lucky turns I found Funenpark. I waited patiently until I found some students that looked American and they let me in the building. I finally had made it to my room where I was greeted by my roommate Nick. Nick attends Penn State (as does many other kids on the program, Penn State definitely is represented the most in our program). After settling and moving some of my stuff in I quickly crashed from the long day and slept through the night. The jet lag fortunately did not effect me for too long, it just messed up the first few nights of sleep.

Classes at the Universiteit van Amsterdam have been great. I have enjoyed all of my classes thus far. Classes are generally with all Americans although there have been a few international students. The classes are usually pretty small and are very active. There is a lot of participation also. Classes are all three hours long and once a week so although the class itself is long and we go through a lot in class, they haven't been bad by any means.

My Favorite Parts of Amsterdam:

How active everyone is. Whether you are 3 years old or 75, you will be riding a bike in pretty cold weather.
Biking. With about 500,000 bikes in the city, the bike paths are very accessible and its a great way to see the city.
How aesthetically pleasing the city is. The mix of modern and old buildings is very cool.
How diverse the city is. Wherever you look you will always see people with different backgrounds and nationalities. I tend to hear about 3 to 4 different languages a day
How small it is. On bike I can be pretty much anywhere in 25 min.

Things that I have had to adjust to.

Dutch. This language is very difficult to read and pronunciation is a lot harder than I expected it to be.
No Grid System. The way the streets encompass the heart of the city, there is no "direct" way to get anywhere. It has taken this long to feel comfortable with "knowing" my way around the city.
The euro, it is very easy to burn through money.
Small refrigerators. This means going to the grocery store every couple of days to buy for a couple of days.

So far I have had an amazing time in Amsterdam. I am planning to travel to Brussels and Bruge within the next couple of weeks. I have friends starting to visit soon which will be great to see familiar faces. As I have really started to settle in and feel more like a local rather than a tourist I am just grateful of this experience. I plan to join a club soccer team as soon as possible and will hopefully be able to work closely with some American businesses for my research project.

I hope all is well! I will start to update more as I do more stuff!

Riley

Amelia K. - Freiburg, Germany - Spring 2011

2011-03-01T15:10:00.000-06:00

Grüß dich! Greeting from Freiburg im Breisgau,Germany!

I’ve been studying with the IES EU study abroad program here in the most gorgeous city of Freiburg for about 7 weeks, and it has been quite an experience!

I’m currently living in an apartment in a student residential area in a section of Freiburg called Vauban. It’s labeled one of the most ecologically friendly neighborhoods in Europe, so for anyone studying in Germany be aware the everyone is extremely environmentally conscious. My two roommates were very welcoming upon my arrival, and there are tons of other international students around so it was comforting knowing I was not the only one.

Freiburg is beautiful. It has wonderful weather, and is right in the midst of the Black Forest so I’ve had so many opportunities to go hiking. Also, the public transportation is so convenient, especially living quite far from the IES Center and downtown Freiburg. There is tons of great restaurants, bars, and shopping, and though it seems that Germans like every type of food except German food, I’ve still been able to try some very common German cuisine like Spätzle, Flammkuchen, and Currywurst. Also Germans love their drinks carbonated, so make sure to ask for or check (especially for water and juice) that it is “still” or “ohne Gas” if you don’t like things carbonated.

I’ve had great classes so far. The IES EU program is amazing! Anyone interesting in politics, international relations or economics should definitely look into choosing this program. The only down side is that they are all taught in English, so I’ve had to try really hard to practice my German elsewhere. What is really amazing is that we’ve had SO much opportunity to go traveling. So far I’ve been to Berlin and Prague, made a trip to Switzerland and am departing on a trip to Luxembourg City, Brussels, and Paris tomorrow! Traveling has been a major part of my time here, and I recommend going out to as many places as you can while you’re abroad.

As always you’re bound to run into some difficulties while abroad. For example, I thought I knew German before I arrived but quickly learned how little I actually knew. Try not to get frustrated when locals have little patience with you or if you struggle with speaking to people. You’ll eventually get more confident in speaking, and will pick of key words and phrases that will make your time much easier.

The first week of study abroad wherever you go will be overwhelming. Things will go wrong, you will have awkward encounters with the locals, and you will get frustrated and stressed to some degree. But the key thing to remember is that it all passes, and that you WILL start to feel at home. Things fall into place no matter how different your city is. Just try to take advantage of your time there because no one exaggerating when they say time flies while studying abroad.

Hope you all have a great time wherever you chose to go! And I’d be happy to answer any and all questions you may have. Viel Glück und gute Reise! Good luck and have a wonderful trip!

Paige M. - Cork, Ireland - Spring 2011

2011-02-23T14:48:00.000-06:00

Greetings from Ireland, future study abroad-ers! I hope your spring semester is treating you well so far, and if it’s not, don’t worry! You have something very exciting to look forward to.

My name is Paige and I’ve been in Ireland for almost eight weeks now. I am studying at University College Cork and I’m having the best time. I am quickly setting into the local way of thinking, in that I believe that Cork is Ireland’s real capital. Go Rebels! It is the second largest city in Ireland and I’ve been told it is the last true Irish city. Whatever your opinion is, one cannot deny that Cork is one cool place. Very active, it caters to college students and older adults as well. It’s a nice co-mingling and there is rarely a dull moment, unless it’s Saturday or Sunday morning. The city doesn’t wake up on the weekends until about noon.

When you get to where ever it is you are going, you may find some cultural differences harder to get over than others. I think the hardest one for me, and most of my American friends here, is the time. Everyone in Ireland is “late.” And I mean everyone. It is how their society is run. Take classes for example. The lecturer (professor) is never in the room at the time class is supposed to start. In fact, the lecturer is often one of the last one’s in the room, walking in at 5, maybe 10 minutes past. I’ve been to pubs where live music gigs start a half hour after what it says on the poster. I’m getting much better at not anxiously watching the clock to make sure I’ve not been stood up by my friends. You just have to recognize it as a cultural difference. (These terms you learn in class actually do apply to real life situations! And they can help!)

I have been traveling a lot around Ireland on the weekends. The fact that I have no class on Fridays helps. Another cultural difference: lecturers don’t want to teach on Fridays just as much as students don’t want to learn on Fridays. Or early in the morning for that matter. No class starts before 9 AM here. And it is rare to get a Friday class. I am in love with my class schedule! But, as I mentioned, traveling. It is so easy! I have been to Blarney, Connemara, the Aran Islands, Galway, Limerick, Dublin, and the Cliffs of Moher. I have plans to go to Northern Ireland and the Ring of Kerry in the next few weeks. I have the entire month of April off, so I’ll be doing continental Europe traveling then. It sounds like vacation, but trust me it’s not. I’ve got three or four essays that need to be done before that, so my weeks are spent doing work. If you manage your time properly, you can get plenty of work done during the day, and still be able to go out at night and on weekends. It’s all great craic (irish slang term for fun, pronounced like “crack”).

I live with two other Americans, and two Irish girls. It has helped so much in integrating myself into the culture a bit more. They’ve been so nice, and have even invited us to stay in their homes for a weekend. We’ve become really close friends, and if I weren’t living with them, I know I would have a harder time dealing with cultural differences. A piece of advice: get involved in something. It sounds cheesy but it’s one of the only ways you’ll meet fellow students at your university. You don’t even need to technically sign up for anything, just go to a few events and see who’s there. It works.

Let me end with this. You are in good company and very trustworthy hands. If you pay attention, listen to Alice, and take the time to properly prepare yourself for this experience, you will be grateful. Enjoy getting ready and get excited! It’s going to be great.

-Paige

Catie C. - Puebla, Mexico - Spring 2011

2011-02-18T13:02:00.005-06:00

This semester I’m studying abroad in Puebla, Mexico, a beautiful colonial town with a ton of culture. I’ve been here for about 4 weeks, and I’ve already learned more than I could have imagined. I am living in a residence hall, instead of doing a home-stay, and I definitely made the right choice for me. My roommate is from northern Mexico and she has made it her personal responsibility to see that my experience here is an unforgettable one. She invited me to stay at her house over Spring Break and already has the entire itinerary planned out. I have met so many amazing people not just from Mexico, but from Australia, Korea, Germany, and France who have made me feel so welcome. People here do not hesitate to invite you to their homes. I’ve already saved a fortune by staying with extremely generous people who provide an experience way more memorable than a hotel.

As far as my classes go, I am learning a lot. Before leaving for Mexico, I was really worried about being able to understand everything in Spanish and adequately participate, but I have had no problems. In fact, sometimes I’m the only one participating. I’m currently taking International Economics, International Business, Ethics in Economic Sciences, and Mexican Culture and Tradition, in Spanish of course. My workload is not too overwhelming. I still have plenty of time to hang out with friends, go out to clubs, and travel. I have also begun my Service Learning, which consists of teaching English at an elementary school five hours a week. The kids can be pretty tough to handle at times, but rest assured your Spanish will improve.

I would say I’ve definitely experienced culture shock, if not because of the language, then because of the extremely laid-back atmosphere here. It can be hard to transition from face-paced America to Mexico, where fast food constitutes any establishment that prepares your food in less than 30 minutes. However, there are so many awesome things to see and do here that the transition becomes easier. So far, I’ve taken a weekend trip to Mexico City, I’ve gone to see pyramids in Cholula, I’ve been to an African Safari (yes, an African Safari), and I’ve visited another state in Mexico named Tlaxcala. I plan to do a lot more traveling in the next couple months!

Every time I think about all that there is left to see and do, the months begin to shrink! I recommend planning as much as you can into your semester because the time will fly by! Also, quit worrying! Everything I previously worried about, like what to bring, making friends, or classes, ended up not being a big deal at all. Once you get here everything will fall into place.

Jennifer G. - Rome, Italy - Spring 2011

2011-02-15T13:02:00.000-06:00

Ciao fellow Elmhurst College students! I’m studying in Rome, Italy this semester through the IES study abroad program. If you are thinking about studying in Italy, GO TO ROME! There is so much to do and see in Rome, and it is easy to travel to other places in Italy or other European countries in general from Rome. And the weather in Rome is awesome, I don’t even check the weather to pick my clothes out because so far it’s been super nice out 60 degree weather (unlike the blizzard I left behind right in the knick of time). First off, I’d like to tell you that Alice is correct that you WILL have ups and downs while studying in a foreign country, especially in your first week. Expect things to be different, to go wrong, to get lost, and to make mistakes, ITS ALL OK. Just remember to breath. Chances are you will take the wrong tram or bus, it happens, everyone does it but you will be fine! Some things are very confusing when you are abroad, just observe others and don’t worry if you are picked out as an American because of it. People will help you along the way, but just be cautious. I absolutely made the best decision of my life by coming to Rome. I had an exploration day yesterday with a boy I met in my program and got to see the Jewish ghetto, Vittorio Emanuele building, and the Roman Forum. These are just a few main sites to see in Rome, but there are so many more. When you are viewing these magnificent places, you can’t help but feel that you are a part of history. I found myself feeling like a little kid in a playground exploring all of these places. It’s mind boggling how old some of the structures in Rome are and how on earth people even knew how to make the materials that these buildings were constructed with and that they have lasted for thousands of years. Also, I find myself imagining what they must have looked like when they were new. A lot of places are ruins because of war and what not, so only partial structures exist, yet they are still absolutely beautiful. The Vittorio Emanuele building (which people call the wedding cake building because it looks like a cake with tiers to it) is a must see. From atop of the building you can see all of Rome! There were places that I’d been to and it was so amazing to see all of them from atop one building. And ladies, the shopping is great! There are some things that are more expensive, but that’s also because they are higher quality items, and you can still find deals if you look for them. I was fortunate to arrive when I did because they still had huge after Christmas sales that go on all of January and into mid-February on the main shopping strip called Via del Corso. I will warn everyone that prices of things don’t always make sense though. For instance, shampoo in bottles smaller than we would buy in the states is expensive, yet Red Bull and wine can be found for under 2 Euro! So you will find some items for cheaper than in the states, and others more expensive. Grocery shopping is awesome because food products are well priced and there are usually tons of deals. Depending where you are studying your program will warn you about pickpocketing a lot. Just be cautious when you are on crowded trams or busses. I bought a side bag and when I get on a crowded tram or bus I just move it to the front of me and keep one hand on it just in case. And I keep my ATM card at the apartment and only carry as much cash on me as I think I will need for whatever I am doing. When I talked to a full year student who was pick-pocketed, she even said it was just because she wasn’t paying enough attention, so just use your brain. The restaurants are all basically fantastic no matter where you go. It’s best to go off the beaten path away from touristy restaurants and find cute little ones that have good pricing. I love my little town of Trastevere, it’s so cute and fun. There are a ton of main little piazzas where many people gather at night and hang out. I already have my own little pizza place right down my block that is delicious and inexpensive. My classes start Monday and it’s bittersweet because I am having so much fun I don’t want to study, but at the same time I am dying to learn more about Rome so that when I am viewing an ancient structure I will actually know the story behind its past. And just a heads up, if you are a shy person practice getting out of your shell now. I personally am outgoing so I’ve already met tons of people in my program and meet up with them at night. You will not enjoy your time if you choose to keep to yourself and stay in the apartment all of the time. My roommates are fun but they spend all of their time at home and I know they are not having nearly as much fun as I am because I go out and explore and meet people. If you want to sit at home then just stay in Elmhurst, but if you want to have the time of your life be friendly and get people from your programs phone numbers and just put yourself out there! Isolating yourself from people will only make you want to go home, so don’t be judgmental upon arrival and just make nice with everyone. Everyone is in the same boat as you, they are all in a new place and experiencing a different lifestyle than they are used to. I talk to my friends and family often but I also make sure I am not home all the time on my computer on facebook and skype so that I get the most out of this experience.

Ali K. - Dublin, Ireland - Spring 2011

2011-02-04T14:35:00.000-06:00

Dia dhuit! Conas atá tú? That's Irish for Hello, and How are you?

I've been studying abroad in Dublin using IES Irish General Studies Program for nearly a month now. The city here is vibrant and the people are very warm and welcoming. It's the middle of winter, but the temperature never gets below freezing. But there's a common saying in Ireland, that Ireland's weather is fickle at best. I have found this statement to be true as the weather changes rather quickly and rains a lot. But its much better than 2.5 feet of snow!

Dublin is a relatively young city with about 70% of its population between the ages of 20-40. As such, life in the city is exciting with the many pubs playing traditional irish music and dance clubs. During the day, there are plenty of places to shop and places of interest, like the National Museum of Ireland or St. Stephen's Green. I especially like Grafton Street, which despite being a tourist area, always has many things going on that can keep your attention for hours.

Dublin is also a "walking city." The city is smaller, compared to Chicago and New York, which makes it easier to walk everywhere. And that's just what the people here do. They walk everywhere! I've been doing it mostly myself (with the help of occasional public buses). One can really get far with a little bit of pocket change and a map.

For my classes, my curriculum is very unique and unlike any other classes in the world. All of my classes are about some aspect of Ireland. For instance, I'm taking a class called Irish Myth & Folkfore, which involves reading Celtic myths and discussing how they tie into superstitions and beliefs in Ireland.

Another one of my favorite classes is Irish Language & Culture. In this particular class, I'm learning simple Irish phrases to use in everyday conversation and the different aspects of culture in Ireland, such as music and dance. It's exciting to be able to speak Irish to another person and I even learned how to do a simple Irish dance!

These are the Cliffs of Moher in near Galway

I've been outside of Dublin as well. I've been to Galway where my group and I saw the Cliffs of Moher. It was a very impressive sight! It was cold and rainy on that day and the wind was gusting so much that I could lean against it entirely without falling over. I've also been to Brú na Bóinne where I went to see the Newgrange burial mound. What's amazing about these mounds is that they were built 500 years before the pyramids. I'm planning to visit other nearby European cities, like London. I can't wait to go!

Mark B. - Oxford, England - Spring 2011

2011-02-01T11:57:00.000-06:00

Hello all,

My name is Mark and I have now officially been in England for 3 weeks. I have had 2 weeks of classes at St. Catherines (Catz) College at Oxford. The university of Oxford is made up of 38 colleges, with St. Catz being the youngest college (founded in the 1960’s).

Because it is the newest college, it doesn’t have the “Oxford” feel that you would expect from most Oxford colleges. I have mixed feelings about this. Although the campus doesn’t have beautiful architecture and medieval castle-like buildings, the school is geared towards undergraduates and has several advantages over other colleges. One of them is that Catz houses the largest “Junior Common Room” of any Oxford college. The Junior Common Room is their version of the Frick center, except, in my opinion, a whole lot better. Mainly because students actually hang out there at night, but there are other reasons as well. The JCR has a couple TV rooms (used almost exclusively for sports), a game room, and a bar. The JCR closes around midnight and is the place where most Catz students hang out before going out for the night. It is a great place to go for a drink, play some pool, and meet other students.

For students in CPP 250 getting ready to go abroad, I strongly recommend getting involved around campus. Aside from meeting students at the JCR, I joined the club rugby team here at Catz. Even if you have never played a sport or participated in an activity, I advise to go for it. Studying abroad is your time to meet new people, try new things, and learn about yourself. I have never played rugby before, but after one game, I found that I am quite good at it. Aside from the thrill of the game, I now have 20 or so new friends to go out with on weekends and show me how things are run around here.

I am studying abroad through the IFSA Butler program, so from the start I was grouped with 20 or so Americans who are also studying abroad at Catz. Before I went abroad, many people told me to avoid other Americans like the plague, but based on my experiences so far I wouldn’t recommend that. It is nice to meet other Americans who have similar interests and goals. It can be very helpful to have an American friend when you are a stranger in a different culture. The real key to social life abroad is to avoid big groups of American students. If you go everywhere in a large group, you will not have the opportunity to immerse yourself in the host culture. At Catz, I have made a few close American friends that I spend my time with, but I avoid going out with the entire group when possible. It is easier to meet people when traveling with 2 or 3 rather than 20.

Finally, there is school. For those of you going to Oxford, expect to spend a lot of time studying. The best way to approach studying abroad is to treat it as a job. If you can budget your time so that you get your work done during the day, you will have your nights free to go out with friends. Unfortunately, this does not always workout so nicely. I am studying math(s) here and have already spent several nights studying til 2 or 3.

When picking classes, I advise to balance out the difficulty levels. Right now I am taking one tutorial(class) which is equivalent to grad school level. The British system moves students through the math ranks significantly faster than American schools do, so this is common. The class is hard, enough said. What makes it possible for me to still have a social life, is that my second tutorial (class) is a lot easier. I think this is probably the optimum balance of course work that one should sign up for. If you take nothing but elementary courses, you probably will not grow very much, and you might as well have just taken a vacation to whatever country you are studying abroad at. On the other hand, you don’t want to spend all of your time studying, so try to balance out the difficulty level if possible. Also, don’t let anyone discourage you from taking a class that you want to.

Margaret Z. - Joensuu, Finland - Spring 2011

2011-02-01T11:35:00.003-06:00

Moi!

“En puhu suomea”. This is one of the Finnish phrases I memorized before leaving for Finland, and so far, it has become the most useful. It means “I don’t speak Finnish”. The other phrase that has been handy is “valitan”, which means “I’m sorry”.

I’m studying at the University of Eastern Finland in Joensuu, Finland, in Northern Karelia near the Russian border. After having been in Finland for close to two weeks, it keeps getting more and more interesting. The Finnish language, people, and culture are different from other European cultures, and that is what makes this place so unique. Finland has been part of two separate empires, the Swedish and the Russian empires, but has still maintained its own distinct identity. From about 1150-1809, Finland was under Swedish rule, and then from 1809 to 1920 it was a part of the Russian Empire, and referred to as the Grand Duchy of Finland. It wasn’t till 1920 that Finland was able to declare its independence, and since then it has fought to keep it.

I arrived in Helsinki after a long flight, part of which I came close to not making. I had a layover in Copenhagen, and my flight almost did not land due to snow. We did land; however, we were rather late. I’m sure the Copenhagen airport is a lovely place, but I don’t remember what it looks like since my time there was spent running to my terminal! I made my flight, and within a few hours was in Helsinki. The next morning, I got on an early train, and rode up to Joensuu, which is about 5 hours north of Helsinki. The ride took some time, but is one of my favorite memories of Finland. In the winter, the sun doesn’t rise until about 8:30 to 9, and through my window I was able to watch the sun come up and see the Finnish countryside.

The landscape here is different. It’s all taiga, and so has an ethereal, distant, and formidable touch to it. Someone once described Finland as “a forest inhabited by people”, and that is absolutely correct.

Joensuu is a wonderful place. It only has a population of about 70,000, which is part of the reason I chose it. Settling in did take some time. Fortunately, the university provided student tutors who were more than willing to help me out. Thankfully, everything worked itself out, and I am now functional!

One of the things that has been both fun and challenging is the language. Finnish is not an Indo-European language, like English, Swedish, or German. Instead, it’s Finno-Ugric, which means it’s related to Estonian, Hungarian, and some smaller languages found mainly in western Russia. Aside from some loanwords and the Latin alphabet, Finnish has no similarity to English. This makes grocery shopping an adventure.

Fortunately, English is commonly understood here, usually as a third language. Finland has two official languages, Finnish and Swedish, and many people choose to learn another language in addition to those two, usually English.

Let me show you one of the things used to impress and frighten foreigners. This is the longest Finnish word there is:

Lentokonesuihkuturbiinimoottoriapumekaanikkoaliupseerioppilas.

That is an official title in the Finnish military. It refers to someone who is a technical warrant officer trainee specializing in aircraft jet engines.

One of the most rewarding things about traveling abroad is the people you meet. Sure, when you go to college you might meet someone from a state or two over, but going to another country exposes you to so much more of the world’s population. So far I have met people from Germany, Hong Kong, Latvia, Hungary, the Faroe Islands, South Africa, Finland, and many more.

As a final note, here are some things I have figured out that have been helpful for me:

1. Read up on your country ahead of time. As much as you can. Make sure you include culture and traditions, although keep in mind that there’s only so much you can learn ahead of time.

2. Learn at least part of the national anthem. Trust me, this impresses people.

3. Bring a towel with you.

4. If you’re not great at your host country’s language, bring a phrasebook. A dictionary is a good idea too.

5. Figure out who your host country’s enemies are. This makes for good insults.

6. The fewer clothes/bags you bring, the more impressed people will be with you.

7. Europe doesn’t really have much in the way of peanut butter.

8. International phone cards are nice for long layovers.

9. If you or someone back home has a very slow internet connection, Google video chat usually works better than Skype.

10. British slang is more commonly known and used in Europe. Hope you like lifts and queues.

11. Capital One does not do overseas transfers.

12. Jet lag may or may not hit you. Finland is 8 hours ahead of Chicago, and I adjusted easily. Prepare for the worst, but understand that the worst may not happen.

13. People will figure out you’re American just by your accent. Accept it.

14. Speaking of America, people will be somewhat surprised if you’re not morbidly obese.

15. You will look and feel like a doofus, no matter how hard you try not to. Especially during the first couple weeks.

16. It’ll be fine.

Enjoy your trip!

Moi moi,

Margaret

Christina D. - Salamanca, Spain - Spring 2011

2011-01-24T09:54:00.001-06:00

lunes 24 de enero de 2011

No Spain, no gain

Hola a todos!!

My first week here has been absolutely amazing! Although it took me a few days to adjust to the 7 hour time change, my sleep schedule and appetite are back on track.

The first thing I noticed when arriving to Spain was the signs in the airport. They were in English, this bothered me because I came here to learn Spanish and struggle in doing so! Once I got to my destination of Salamanca, Spain I discovered that NOTHING was in English and my Señora doesn't speak a drop of English, either. The immersion had begun once I stepped foot inside of the casa.
If you are looking for complete immersion in any language, I think finding a smaller town is perfect. Unlike bigger cities like Madrid and Barcelona, not a lot of people here know English therefore in all situations I am forced to speak Spanish around the clock, which was exactly what I wanted before coming here and I am glad I have it right under my nose!

The food here is excellent. They eat a lot of soups, pastas, breads, fruits, basically all really healthy delicious foods. What I also enjoy is that everyone in Europe walks around from place to place which is both good for the environment and for ones health.

One thing that I do not like very much is that European people never smile at strangers. Everyone stares at everyone else and doesn't look too happy doing so. I know that once I get home the smiles will be great to see!

Overall, I love Spain! ¡Ole!

Editor's Note: If you would like to follow Christina's personal blog while she's studying in Salamanca, you can visit the following link:
http://christinaenespana.blogspot.com/2011/01/no-spain-no-gain.html

Adam B. - Oxford, England - Spring 2011

2011-01-24T09:14:00.004-06:00

Initial Reactions

To begin, this might be a little more helpful to people coming to CMRS, but I’ll try to be general and feel free to ask questions, I’ll answer them as best I can. Upon first arriving in England, I think I covered the entire emotional spectrum within an hour. When we landed I was just glad to get off the plane after so long, and that I didn’t have to worry about a connecting flight as most of my fellow passengers did. Unfortunately, London Heathrow is a HUGE airport, and figuring out where to go after getting through customs is a little confusing, especially while you are hauling around all your stuff. (BTW, I won’t put anything here cause I’m sure how much open advice is legal to give, but if you have any questions about English customs just e-mail me. It really wasn’t that bad.) The walk to the central bus station was like a mile, not kidding, and while there may have been somewhere closer I could have gone, the signs were rather confusing. I was also extremely disorientated due to the six hour time difference plus the six hour flight. If you think jet lag won’t happen to you too bad and that you can handle it no problem, I’d recommend changing your attitude real fast. I felt the same way, so it was a bit of a shock to realize how much it was affecting me.

The bus ride to Oxford was fine, I actually met my roommate on the bus, which was nice. The English countryside is pretty similar to ours, so you have to really look if to notice the differences. The biggest thing is the driving on the opposite side of the road. It really feels like you are going to crash when you first get going. It’s when you get to Oxford that you get excited. Right as you enter the city the buildings look ancient, with book and coffee shops lining the road. Towering in the distance is Oxford Castle, and all of our first thoughts was that we never wanted to leave. After unloading, I had to hall my stuff down narrow, poorly paved streets, not so fun anymore. Oh, and CMRS does NOT have an elevator, so whatever you bring, be prepared to hall it up stairs. At least 2 flights if you’re lucky, which I was not and got to carry my bags up 4. I was wiped by the time I got everything up here.

My first thoughts about the building here were not nice. It has cheap furniture and looks like it was decorated in the ‘70s, with ugly carpeting and just not the best thing to look at. It is also above a store on a dead end street, making it not that impressive compared to the buildings you pass on the way here. Room sizes vary, and there is no standard set of furniture for each room, it’s rather random. Fortunately my room is good size, and somehow we have a mini fridge. No idea how someone got it up here. Every room also has a sink, but because they use a water softener here you cannot drink it, limiting its usefulness. Overall, I was not very impressed when I got here, and honestly a little disappointed.

The first night is pretty rough. Most the students here admitted the next morning that they really didn’t sleep much. I actually got on my laptop in the middle of the night to talk to home. AIM will become one of your best friends while you’re here. A free, easy way to communicate with anyone with access to a computer. I know my roommate started doing the same thing shortly after me. A combination of jet-lag and homesickness makes for a very unpleasant night, and some extremely strange dreams.

At present time of writing though, I love it here. Dilapidated and non-medieval as the building is, it has a way of growing on you. The people here are amazing. Right away we all bonded and are becoming good friends. There are even plans to celebrate a couple of birthdays this weekend. The workload here is much heavier and more independent than at Elmhurst, so be prepared for that. The only extra help you get from a professor is if you ask for it, and there is no reason not to. You are also going to be spending a lot of time in libraries, some newer, some older than the United States. It is amazing here, and honestly is something you need to see for yourself. If you are interested in keeping up with my travels here, I’m keeping a fairly updated (for the moment) blog here: http://adamatoxford.blogspot.com/ so check it out if you’re interested. Also my e-mail is baldwina@net.elmhurst.edu, so you can send any questions to me there, and I will do my best to answer them. If I can’t, I will attempt to find somebody who can. For those of you reading this for CPP 250, good luck with all your prep work. It may seem tedious, but it’s all the little details that catch you in the end, and having them out of the way is a big relief. This is an amazing opportunity, so prepare well so that you can enjoy your own adventure.

Ally V. - Quito, Ecuador - Spring 2011

2011-01-20T15:00:00.005-06:00

Hola a todos y todas!

My name is Ally, and I am spending 132 days studying in Quito, Ecuador. As I write this, I have been here for 15 of them. I want to tell you about some things I like.

01. I like lists. Lists are crucial. I made a list of things I wanted to pack and people I needed to see before I left. Now that I’m here, I make lists of things to buy at the pharmacy and words to look up in my Spanish-English dictionary. Learn to love lists. When everything is unfamiliar in your new country, having something of which you’re in control is oddly stabilizing.

02. I like Skype. Download it. Learn how to use it. Tell anyone you love to get it. 5 minutes on a video chat with your partner or parent can change your day from awful to manageable. (iChat/AIM also suffices.)

03. I like knowing where I am. When you get to your country, find out what the closest *thing* is to you so when other students ask you where you live, you can tell them. For example, I live in the northern part of Quito off Av. America. Saying that is a lot more useful than saying, “uhh… I take a red bus, get off by the big satellite dish, then walk two more blocks.”

04. I like Harry Potter. While I’m not necessarily asking you to be a HP fan, make sure you bring your *thing* with you. Be it your favorite movie, book, photos, letter from your bestie: bring it with you. You will not regret leaving that one t-shirt at home in order to make room for it.

05. I like taking my time. That being said, if you are reading this and have not applied for your visa: do it! Seriously!

06. I like my iPod. Whatever your musical outlet: sync it, charge it, bring extra batteries. On a lonely night, having your jams will make all the difference. Also: invest in some black headphones. White scream “please steal me and the technology to which I am attached!”

07. I like classes. Seriously consider the courses you plan to take. Take some time looking at what is offered. Sign up for classes that fit for you while still stretching your horizons. For example, History and Theory of Photography is not a class I would choose to take at Elmhurst. Never limit yourself to how many new things you can choose to try abroad.

08. I like being safe. Listen to your program directors about safety precautions in your country. At the same time, take it a tiny grain of salt. Imagine what they’d have to say about Chicago.

09. I like change. This is probably one of few times you’ll have the opportunity to live and learn in another country. I got on my flight to Quito not wanting to go. But here’s the thing: you go, and you adapt. Your new culture will have so much to teach you if only you let it.

10. The last thing I like is a phrase I learned on my first study abroad experience in England. It goes like this: “keep calm and carry on”. When you get nervous, scared, or feel like you can’t do it, take a breath. Really.

Remember this, as Christopher Robin said to Pooh, “you are braver than you believe, stronger than you seem, and smarter than you think.” This is part of your Elmhurst experience, just as studying in Quito is part of mine. Even if I had this list when I was in your shoes, I would have been just as scared as I was to leave my comfort zone. For what it’s worth: if I can do this, anyone can!

Chao, y Buena suerte!

Stephen D. - Northern Ireland - Fall 2010

2010-12-22T14:18:00.002-06:00

When I arrived at the University of Ulster @ Magee in Northern Ireland I experienced some trouble adapting, but not emotionally. The trouble with adapting was about communication. When I arrived here I had a handful of people that I met at the airport, there were only three or four of us. We became pretty good friends though in a short amount of time. However, once we got the dorms where we’d be staying we had some trouble. None of us had a phone that we could communicate with and we were each living in a different place within our accommodation. This was unfortunate because we had no idea where to go, where each other were, or how to contact one another. Luckily the accommodation officers were very good about helping us keep in contact until we were able to purchase phones, they even helped us and informed us of the best plans to get for the cheapest price.

Classes here are not really the same as in the United States, teachers are not as personal as some of the teachers at Elmhurst College. However, each class only meets once a week for 3 hours, with readings to do before each class. The classes are very interesting and I have really enjoyed learning here so far, and I have already learned so much about Ireland and its history. There are all kinds of tours that you can go on here to get in touch with the culture, but I’d have to say the best way to get in touch with the culture is to find people (students) who are from Ireland and they will introduce you to how things work and good places to go and see. Also by hanging out with the locals of the country you are automatically affected by the culture, for example I have already started to speak like some of the locals and occasionally have the Irish accent in there as well.

Personally this experience has already affected me, I have really been able to mature a lot more through independence and being completely on my own. When all you have is yourself and you don’t know much, you’d be surprised how much you can actually achieve, learn, and become used to.

Finally, in order to progress in the host culture, I decided to take the Irish language, Gaelic. The natives of Ireland actually say and spell it differently (Gaelga) is the proper way. Gaelic is not really spoken in the North of Ireland but it is more spoken in the South and through my class we are going to travel on a fieldtrip to the South to speak and practice our own Gaelic. I believe that this will be a good window into seeing the life and culture from the Irish perspective.

Yishan (Susan) Y. - AGE (Arcadia): Shanghai, China - Fall 2010

2010-10-20T18:43:00.000-05:00

大家好！Hello everyone and Welcome to my blog! I am currently studying in China, the largest country in the world in terms of population, and I am attending the Shanghai University of Finance and Economics (SUFE). I have been in China since the beginning of August to visit my family before the semester started. So technically, I’ve been in China for almost two and a half months but I have only been in Shanghai for a month and a half. Shanghai is definitely a very overwhelming city with a population of 19,210,000. It is one of the well-known cities in the world. This is the city where everyone comes for business meetings and conferences, which means Shanghai is the financial centre of China. I love Shanghai as a city because it is very westernized since you can find a lot of café, pubs and bars all over the city so you don’t ever have to worry about missing American food. This city is an extremely vibrant city because it is more modern compared to the other cities in China.

During the past one and a half month, I must say I am starting to like China very much despite the fact that there are people everywhere. Everything in China is very cheap and the transportation system in Shanghai is excellent! I am currently taking four different courses, three business courses along with a Chinese language course. My favorite course is definitely Chinese language because without it there’s no way to communicate with locals who doesn’t speak English. My Chinese has improved a lot since the first day I got here so I am extremely happy. As for my other courses, they are taught in English so it’s not such a big deal. Hmm…wondering what I do on weekends? Well most of the time, my friends and I would explore different parts of the city to see what its like and so far it has been really fun. This weekend the program coordinator actually planned a trip for the students to go to the zoo to see PANDAS! This is going to be so exciting. As for the food unlike America, in Shanghai there are restaurants everywhere. There are no meal plans at universities so students have to find food on their own…so that’s why my friends and I would eat at restaurants everyday just right outside of my school campus. Each meal only cost about $1.50USD. I am going to miss everything in China so much when I go back! I really cannot express how happy I am to be studying abroad right now…this is a really great opportunity that I think everyone should take in order to experience what other cultures are like. I really would recommend students to study in Shanghai because it would no doubt be a wonderful experience. I have a feeling I don’t want to go back already…just kidding. I love Elmhurst! See you all soon!