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Month: April 2014

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By zamorse

Three words. That's all I really need to describe  what my next two weeks here in Israel are going to be like. That dreaded two-week, often a month long period of time in the middle of the semester is never much fun, but it Israel I can see that it is going to be a lot different than back at GW.

Usually I have multiple papers, exams, and projects all due in a hectic two-week period before spring break. And that's true to an extent here in Israel. I have a paper, two exams, a project, and a presentation all due before Passover break starts. Except the projects and presentations are easier and shorter than they would be at GW. Instead of a ten page paper, I have a 5 page paper. Instead of a 15 minute presentation, I have a 5 minute presentation. And instead of your typical blue-book midterm exams, I have a much easier skimmed down version.

Another huge difference between here and GW is the amount of time I have to study for my midterms. Instead of juggling a 20 hour a week internship and being president of a student organization in addition to five classes like I was last year, my classes here are only once a week seminars, and I'm not juggling extracurricular activities like I was at GW. That gives me much more time to get everything I need to get done, but also have lots of time to go to the beach and hang out with my friends.

Midterms here are not as stressful like they are at GW. But that's exactly what it should be like. The point of studying abroad is to study while abroad, obviously, but only a little bit.

The real learning is done outside the classroom.

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By lizzhart

Thus far we've been on 4 Thai government hospital tours, 1 private hospitals, 2 community home stays, 1 interview of a sex worker, and a tour of the Laos health care system. All these visits and tours have given a broad understanding of Thailand social issues and burden of disease. Thailand faces an interesting health burden with a triple threat of communicable disease, non communicable disease, and traffic accidents. Additionally, they have to balance being a middle income country with the pressures and stressors of increasing business and media presence. In the absence of a strong breast feeding campaign, Thailand and Laos had a major problem in which mothers were feeding their babies sweetened condensed milk and coffee creamer instead of baby formula. There were no regulations on the advertisements for these products, so mothers were mislead by logos and images that resembled baby formula ads. These kind of mix ups and mis-communications are common in developing countries and require strong health promotion.

The issue I'm most interested in right now is the lack of sex education in Thailand and the high rates of teen pregnancy. Despite most other health indicating statistics improving in thailand, teen pregnancy had increased in the last 10 years. There are a lot of social and cultural factors that compound the issue of teen pregnancy. In Thailand, if a teen in a public high school becomes pregnant she is expelled from school. She can pay to enroll in a special school for mothers but cannot continue her education at a normal high school. Many don't go to the alternative school and their education ends prematurely. This limits their job opportunities and chances of improving their socioeconomic status.

Part if the issue is that thailand only recently started implementing sex education in their public schools. Sex education starts around 5th grade but is limited by the ministry of education to just 8 hours a year. Also, the classes take a biological approach and ignore the emotional and relationship aspects of sex. While Thailand very liberal in some ways, such as their healthcare system, in other ways they can be very conservative. Sex education has typically only been for married couples and there still exists a cultural stigma against teaching teens about sex.

It has been hard to find out any information about sex education and teen pregnancy. Academic resources are limited and no health care provider seems to want to talk about it when we visit hospitals and clinics. It's going to require a lot if digging to write my research paper. However, if I can get a better understanding if the systems and stigmas that impact the issue, it will really help me if I choose to make my community project related to Thai teen pregnancy rates. I hope that in the next few weeks I can get some real answers on the situation and create a strong research background for potential projects and interventions in the communities.

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By sdemetry

Hello!

I am currently getting ready for an extensive European road-trip  the same one mentioned in my last blog post- and my internship has been temporarily put on hiatus for the next few weeks. My boss was nice enough to grant me a vacation period, though I am still checking in via Email to make sure nothing pressing comes up during my extended break.

However, things have not been so smoothly sailing as of late. I got my first lesson in "office politics" last week, when a miscommunication between my boss and her colleague was funneled down the chain of command, and the intern (me) received the blame in the situation. After a scathing email was sent my way accusing me of things I was certain had not happened, I responded in shock and attempted to explain my innocence in the situation by giving the only proof I had- an email that had saved in my outbox. My boss begrudgingly admitted that possibly something else had gone wrong, but was quite rude to me for the following week, until her colleague came clean and apologized to me for causing the misunderstanding a few days later.

This challenge taught me a lot about office politics, a phrase I wasn't totally familiar with before, and how issues in the workplace tend to work themselves out. It was a very disconcerting feeling to be blamed for something that I was clearly not responsible for, and after everything was worked out, instead of an apology, all I received was a flippant remark about "office politics." The workplace works exactly like a food chain;  those at the top are in control, while the little guys at the bottom struggle for survival. Because fault lay in the hands of someone higher up than I, it was easy for them to blame the intern, who has no real stake in the game. I am not at risk of anything other than getting a bad recommendation in the future, whereas the big fish in the office could have their careers on the line when it comes to of work-related errors.

I was totally freaked out by the thought of being blamed for something I had not done, and I had no way to express it without disrespecting authority, so my decision was just to profusely apologize and accept defeat. Luckily this time, I came out on top, when the bigger fish decided to take a noble course of action, but in many other situations, I can see things staying as they were. Next time, I'm not sure if I should stay quiet and accept the blame for something I know I am not guilty of. It's a very tricky situation, and when you're at the bottom of the chain of command, it is even more intimidating to speak up for yourself. I didn't know how to handle it correctly, and I am still unsure of whether or not I took the right course of action. But, that's what I'm getting experience in- handling myself in a work environment, learning which battles are worth picking, and learning how to deal with those who have more authority than myself in a respectful way without belittling myself.

There are many lessons that I'll be taking away from this internship, and I think this may be one of the most important ones.

Other than that, things have been the same in terms of my workload and types of tasks. I am excited for a break, but I know I'll be doing a few things throughout the vacation via Email. The amount of work I've done from home for my internship most likely outweighs the amount that I have done in the office. That being said, I'm sure they will think of something that needs to be completed within the next 3 weeks.

Until then, I will leave you with nothing more than a small token of advice- don't let the small stuff get you down. I fretted for days after my boss sent me the initial accusation email, but it was all for nothing. Even if I hadn't been let off the hook in the end, there was still not much that I could do about it. It is best to accept the small things, and work that much harder in your next task, than to focus on things that you cannot change about your past work. It's the same with every experience in life! I never thought I would be applying that wisdom to the workplace, but it is definitely fitting in light of my recent experiences.

Check back next month for more updates!

Until next time,

SD

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By Dominique Bonessi

Fireworks in the middle of the afternoon, large crowds gathering and cheering, and posters covering every inch of school property—election week at the University of Jordan.

Coming from the most politically active campus in the United States, I was pleasantly shocked by how enthusiastic and active University of Jordan students are about Student Body Elections.  However, there are some very big differences between elections at UJ and at GWU.

Primarily, the only day at GW that really has a chaotic energy is campaign postering day.  But at UJ it seemed the posters went up overnight covering every fence, tree, and post.  Students make a huge deal about campaign on a panel and with professional pictures and print outs.

For this entire school week, groups--or as they call them here tribes—have gathered in the center of campus to cheer on their candidate and share more about the platform.  At GW we tend to do this in more of a relaxed atmosphere within the School of Media and Public Affairs with the GW Hatchet, TV, and Radio present.

Another large difference is the type of candidates, at UJ most of the candidates are wealthy male students.  However, at GW we have a wide range of students running male and female—as our former SA president was a female.  Unfortunately, I only saw one large poster for one female candidate, but the rest were all male.

Personally, I think I prefer the diversity in the student elections at GW, but UJ takes home the gold for actively participating and being excited for the democratic process taking place.  For a country in the center of the Middle East, surrounded by countries with problems of corrupt leaders and dictatorships, University of Jordan understands how to act on their voting rights.  To many Americans, loud chaotic crowds and fireworks may seem uncivilized, but honestly the foundation of the United States was built off of these types of phenomena.

Maybe it is us that can take a page from their book, and understand that democracy is an active process, and citizens must demand their rights.

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By anishag22

Before I came to Bristol, I had my life all planned out: Continue interning in PR until graduation, then get a PR job right away in San Francisco. While it's likely that I'll end up back home in California eventually, being in Bristol these last few months has changed my outlook on a lot of things. I am absolutely loving my time here, so much so that it's made me consider what my life could be like if I moved out of the country or deviated from my PR plans for a little.

The truth is, no one can predict what will happen in the next few years, but I know that my time abroad has opened my eyes to new possibilities. I'm still extremely career-motivated (just like most GW students) and know that I'll most likely start out a career in public relations, but I think that I'm a little less hard on myself now. For example, last summer I applied to countless internships and would get so upset at rejection. Now, I'm a little more go-with-the-flow. I see it more as "If it works out, it works out, and if it doesn't, that's alright too."

At GW, students are so insanely career-motivated: the pressure is always on to have a great internship and be one step ahead of the pack. At University of Bristol, students are much more easygoing yet still focused on academic success. It's nice to get a taste of the latter, if only for one semester.

The beauty of 'the future' is the fact that it is never set in stone. Everything is malleable because we are constantly evolving, growing and learning new things on a daily basis. In the short time that I've been here, Bristol has allowed me to grow, mature and enjoy the day-to-day. My ideal future three months ago looks a bit different from my ideal future now, and that's okay. If who we are is a sum of all of our experiences, then I'm certainly glad that my time in Bristol is a part of it.

 

Until next time -

Xx, Anisha

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By catrionaschwartz

Before studying abroad I generally assumed that most Europeans had a fairly poor opinion of Americans. Last semester when I was studying in London, I got a mix of reactions, but on the whole a great amount (a surprising amount!) of positivity, especially when I said I was from Brooklyn. In Rome the reaction hasn’t been quite the same. It isn’t that people have the poor opinion of Americans, like I initially expected—more that they are completely used to Americans inundating their city. This past week was my spring break and my friends and I traveled to Budapest, Vienna and Prague and I got to see the perception of Americans outside of Italy.

In Budapest we went to a concert in the big Basilica one night and the man selling the tickets asked if we were students and where were studying—we said Rome, and at first he thought we were Italian. When he realized we were American he told us we didn’t need to be ashamed, continued on to swear a bit about President Bush but then said that President Obama was an alright guy and we looked like we had democratic faces.

It had never really occurred to me before how the U.S. president’s international reputation could personally affect me. Whatever your politics though, it is clear that President Obama is much more internationally popular leader than President Bush was. As silly as it sounds, that has probably, in some small way, made my study abroad experience a bit easier.

In Prague we encountered a man who heard us speaking English and bemoaned the lack of Czech being spoken in the country anymore. It’s true that in all of these cities we went to (not knowing a word of Czech or Hungarian and only a few sparse phrases in German) we were perfectly able to get by only speaking English, even in the less touristed areas. The fact that English is considered a common language in Europe also means that French, German, and other European tourists will also speak in English to waiters and salespeople. It must be very sad for so many people to hear more English being spoken in their cities than their national language, but it is a fact of the globalized world we live in today.

I will say though, that despite these somewhat more mixed reactions to our American and English-speaking selves, we also had a very sweet encounter with a woman working at a coffee shop in Prague. She asked us where we were from and when I said New York she smiled and said New York was her dream. It was so sweet and it made me hope that if she ever did make it to New York, the city would welcome her and really would be the city of her dreams.

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By msotomayor12

Now that the weeks I have left in Europe are in the single digits, I have made it a priority to visit as many cities on my bucket list. This weekend I took a two-day trip to Lisbon, a city that has fascinated me through pictures and by word of mouth. It has been a while since I visited a city that I did not know anything about its culture and history. With only a one-hour flight standing between me and Portugal’s capital, I knew I had to go explore.

Like every city, Lisbon has its charm, but it looks very different from any other European city I have visited. The rows of townhouses and buildings are in need of a fresh coat of paint to bring back its once lively yellow, blue, and even pink facades. To make up for the lackluster, some buildings are adorned with tiles from the base to the roof, which gave me quite the inspiration for my future home. Looking at the city from the top of the Santa Justa Lift or Saint George’s Castle provides a beautiful skyline with the clump red rooftops barely outlining the plazas and city streets.

Without leaving Lisbon, it takes you places. Their cobbled streets are split by cable car tracks. The cable cars—which must be from the 1950s—are rickety, old, and simulate a roller coaster depending on whose driving it. They are a time traveling tool that drops you off in front of a medieval castle or a 500-year-old monastery. The best part is seeing it cross near the 25 de Abril Bridge, which is the twin sister of the Golden Gate. The sight echoes San Francisco.

However, a trip to Portugal is not complete without visiting Sintra. The hilltop city is speckled with castles, palaces, and ruins that once belonged to the Romans, Muslims, and Portuguese royal family. Sintra is known for its fairytale qualities. As someone who grew up an hour away from Disney World, I felt like I was back in the Magic Kingdom at the Pena Palace. Built in the 1840s, the castle’s blue tiled, burgundy, and yellow walls housed the Portuguese royal family until the 1920s. The domes, Arabic arches, medieval lookouts, and pointy pinnacles make the castle look like as if could only be found in a five year olds’ imagination.

The second must-see is the Portuguese royal family’s summerhouse, the Regalerira Estate. Although the buildings are less fictitious than the Pena, the gardens must have inspired every fantasy ever written. Several pathways to the top of the garden are lined with mythological symbols and extravagant fountains. However, looking beyond “what you see” is what makes the gardens spectacular. Several ponds are connected to grottos, which are accessed by long, winding, and dark secret passageways. The only way to cross one pond and waterfall is by stepping-stones. The main attraction is finding the secret spiral staircase that symbolizes death leading to the entrance of Heaven or Heaven to earth, depending on which way to climb it. Seriously, the only thing missing from these gardens are fairies.

Lisbon was the perfect getaway because it really took me somewhere else. The sights were different, the language was easy to understand, and their cheese pastries are to die for. Visiting a city without any knowledge of what to expect makes everything shine a little brighter.

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By christinatometchko

It's hard to believe but it's already been two months since I started volunteering at a the Pare Poveda School! In honor of this milestone here are 5 useful tips for foreigners trying to navigate their way through a Spanish elementary school:

Tip #1: If the directory says your classroom is on the 4th floor of the building, in reality it's more likely on the 6th floor. In Spain the ground floor is called "la planta baja" and the first floor above street level is called "el primer piso".  Therefore the "1st floor" is actually on the third level of the building. Knowing this will save you from some confusion and will prepare your lungs for a bit of an extra workout in case you choose to take the stairs!

Tip #2: Students solely address their teachers by first name and never refer to them by last name. The informality within the classroom was tough to get used to at first but it actually ended up working out in my favor. Turns out it's much easier to say Christina than it is to say Senorita Tometchko.

Tip #3: Much like the rest of Spain, elementary schools have a two-hour lunch break in the middle of the day. Some students eat in the cafeteria and goof around on the playground, but many of the kids that live nearby go home to enjoy a nice sit down meal with their families. Teachers love having this extra time during the day and often use it to finalize lesson plans, read a good book, or catch up with an old friend.

Tip #4: Pop quizzes are common--even in elementary school classrooms. If students are continuously misbehaving and not following directions, teachers won't hesitate to give an impromptu pop quiz. Students cringe when they hear these words but it helps keep them alert and ready for anything.

Tip #5: Get ready to answer a million questions! Once your students meet you and learn that you're visiting from another country, their hands will immediately shoot up in the air. They'll want to know all about your friends and family, where you live, where you go to school, and where else you've traveled. Sharing parts of your culture while learning about theirs is one of the best parts of volunteering abroad!

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By juliaraewagner

It's hard to believe another month has already gone by! We are already leaving for Buenos Aires this weekend! Our final week in Dakar was a busy one, finishing up our country case studies and completing some clarifying interviews and observations for our semester-long research projects. Needless to say, I am very happy to be spending spring break in Saly, Senegal, a dusty and bustling beach town about 2 hours south of Dakar. We've had a very relaxing two days full of the perfect balance between adventure and down-time.

Even getting here was quite an experience. As students on a budget, we decided to rent the most affordable type of vehicle, the Senegalese car rapide. Resembling a massive psychedelic soda can on 4 wheels, the car rapide is the most convenient and cheapest way to get around Senegal. The ride was a bit bumpy and more than a bit dusty, but we made it to the beach without too much incident and a lot of laughs as we were tossed around in the bumpy  backseat. 

We've decided to spend the week at a low-key (read: inexpensive) hostel outside of town called Boabob Belge. Its run by a bubbly Belgian woman who bears the easy, airy personality of an expat who's found her niche abroad. She sings in a Senegalese drumming group in her spare time, and giggles about her various stories over the years. She has been very helpful in getting us situated.

Yesterday, we left to pick up some beach clothes, but found that all of the touristy stores were far too expensive for our student budgets. Our lovely hostel hostess sent us to the next town over to the local market to pick out our own fabrics to have tailored instead. We traveled via horse and buggy to save a couple of pennies. The whole process was definitely a bit dustier and sweatier than a taxi would have been, but I'm pretty sure we had more fun that way.

The lesson from the past couple of days has been to accept the challenge of traveling on a budget. It forces you to go off the beaten (and more comfortable) path, but definitely leaves more room for adventure and serendipity, which is what travel abroad is all about.

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By maxikaplan

photoWith week one of spring break under my belt, I’ve arrived back in London from Croatia and am packing to leave for Switzerland later tonight. Two of my friends and about 40 other students from LSE spent the last 5 days in Zagreb, Croatia’s capital, as well as Plitvice Lakes and Zadar where we experienced some of the most beautiful natural landscapes and some of the worst infrastructure a city can build. Getting around was certainly difficult, but once we arrived to where we needed to be the travel was well worth it. At Plitvice Lakes for example, Croatia’s largest national park, we arrived at 2:30 and were waiting for the bus by 6:00 pm, but by the time 6:30 came around, we had realized that there was not going to be a return bus. With daylight quickly fading, we walked back into the park to find a hotel and luckily stumbled upon one of the only open hotels for miles. It seems that traveling in Croatia is one part planning and one part luck, but I could have cared less about the missed bus because of the natural beauty I witnessed there, as you can see in the photos below.

As I unpack from Croatia and prepare for Switzerland, I am expecting a very drastic difference between these two cities. In Croatia I was warned that a pizza pie in Switzerland could cost up to 35 euros (approximately 50 US dollars), where in Croatia a three-course meal just barely topped 20 dollars. I suppose that you get what you pay for though, and I am trying to enjoy my spring break as much as possible before the reality of finals begins to seep in. It was a stark reminder of reality when I received my finals schedule in Croatia and saw that I have exams beginning May 20th and ending June 17th, which should make for a particularly interesting few weeks of my internship. My friends in the General Course at LSE often mention how this is a price we would have been willing to pay to come to LSE no matter what, because the past 7 months of fun fully justifies a month of studying. How much studying my friends and I will actually get done during this study period is still up in the air, although it is definitely something to be taken seriously.

Before I go I just want to mention that any readers of this blog should feel free to reach out to me about any questions regarding LSE—GW will be putting my contact information on one of the sheets at the pre-departure orientation coming up, and I would be happy to answer any and all questions. Before I left for LSE I must have spoken to about 6 or 7 former General Course students for advice, and some of the things they told me were incredibly helpful for navigating LSE and London once I arrived. I have a plane to catch in a couple of hours, but I look forward to giving an update after Switzerland to see how it compares to Croatia.

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