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Month: February 2018

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By Maya Haziza

It is amazing because I am sitting here writing this blog post after reading remarkable news about the first meeting between the leaders of North and South Korea in over 60 years. The two countries have entered a period of potential peace now and in the future and I am so lucky that I had the change to witness the unveiling of this political climate with my own eyes. For my 21st birthday, eleven of my closest friends travelled together to Seoul, South Korea for 3 days. We landed in Seoul very early in the morning and headed right away to our Airbnb where we all took a nap because beginning our day later. I woke up to friends surrounding me and singing Happy Birthday to me while holding a chocolate cake. The entire apartment was decorated with streamers, glitter, candy, and gifts – what better way to spend your 21st with friends in Korea? We got ready and headed towards Myeondong Street where we stopped at every boutique doing some damage and eating our way through the delicious street food. I tried almost everything I could that was vegetarian: kimchi fried pancake, potato chips on a stick, cotton candy, kimchi hand rolls, strawberry smoothie, and more. It was very difficult navigating our way through Seoul because none of us had any service and were thrown into a metro system ten times bigger than we are used to in Hong Kong. The locals were very nice whenever we had asked for directions but we soon realized how big of a city it actually is and would take us time to get from place to place. For my 21st birthday dinner we ate a Korean BBQ restaurant in Itaewon and it was delicious – even the vegetarian bimbimbap. The next day we headed to Gyeongbokung Palace, where we rented a Hanbok, traditional Korean dresses. We didn’t know this at the time we bought the outfits, but if you dress up while entering the palace – it is free admission and much more respectable than normal clothing. This was probably one of the highlights of my trip to Korea because it was just so fun to do something new and be fully immersed in a new culture. The palace itself was spectacular because you are inside of this ancient structure, while you are simultaneously facing a highly advanced and cosmopolitan city. The juxtaposition of the ancient and the modern is a trend I have noticed while traveling all over Asia and it is something that makes this side of the world so unique. After we finished in the palace we had planned to go visit the Samsung museum or another art museum in town, but didn’t realize we would be walking outside into one of the largest protests I have ever seen. This was during the time that North Korea and the U.S. were going through talks in regards to the North Korean nuclear weapons program. North and South Korea were also beginning the first stages of their peace talks and the South Koreans in Seoul were furious about these negotiations. Thousands of people marched on the streets of Seoul speaking out against North Korean negotiations. It is so interesting how the two countries originate from the same place however North and South are worlds apart in ideology, government, and economy. This was an incredible experience – witnessing the world change in front of my eyes and being there to read the signs and shouts of Koreans. My last day in Seoul was spent at a traditional spa, a famous activity to do while in Korea – as Koreans are known for their phenomenal skin care products and spa treatments. I went here with two of my closest friends and it was the perfect way to end the weekend in a relaxed environment. We got massages, rolled around in Himalayan salt rooms, and went into the pool there. My friends and I really took advantage of every moment in Korea – singing karaoke, wandering Hongdae, visiting Namsan tower and so, so much more. Seoul is a magnificent city and I can’t wait to come back in the future.

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By Raman Mama

Studying abroad in London has been quite a different academic experience. In the United States, courses have assignments that are due within two classes, and require your attendance. However, in London, there are rarely any assignments apart from a midterm and a final exam, or a paper rather than a midterm. As a result, classes in London require less attendance, and it’s not rare to see that students don’t usually attend. My experience has been that as a result, students focus more on studying the material outside of lecture sessions rather than attending them and taking notes.

This is similar to what I experienced in China as well. It seems that American schools are the only institutions that require such frequent attendance.

In my opinion, this suggests that European student are expected to be more independent learners. Rather than having constant gauge of what their grades are, and memorizing material, Europeans actually have to work to maintain a working knowledge of their academics, since they have fewer opportunities to demonstrate their knowledge.

Another major difference is that college in the UK lasts three years, rather than four. As a result, students here must have a very good idea of what it is they want to study. If a student here decides that they want to change their discipline, then they must start over, and do three more years. In America, school is four years, and costs much more. Most universities in the UK are about 7K, and loan repayment is very lax.

...continue reading "Academic Culture in London"

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By Marissa Kirshenbaum

Think to yourself, "What is the first thing that comes to my mind when I think of Paris?". I'm guessing that right now you are thinking about either the Eiffel Tower, a bunch of striped-shirt and beret wearing men with moustaches carrying a baguette, or some cheese. Now, keep in mind that two of the aforementioned stereotypes include food. The gastronomy of France is integral, essential, and embedded into the culture of the country. Understanding how one eats in Paris is as important to the comprehension of the society as understanding how a suburban kid in the United States navigates the college decision process. However, what puzzles me the most is not necessarily the eating habits of the people and how close their relationship is to food, but more so why their relationship with food differs from our own, a country that undoubtedly loves a great meal. What is different about our love for food in the United States in opposition to that of France?

Any hopeful study abroad student venturing off to Paris will learn after doing research before their arrival that gastronomy in France is central to the culture: but what does this mean? For starters, people here do not take their food "to go", or even walk with it on the street. Food is to be enjoyed while sitting down and engaging in meaningful conversation with pleasant company. A meal is not something to be rushed. Products are free of preservatives, and everything that one eats is made fresh, without the influx of importation. This is all well and good, but it goes further than this. As I mentioned in my first blog, cultural norms go further beneath the surface and cannot be fully observed or understood without an eye for analyzation. A person's cooking in France is more than just a plate of food. Indulging in a meal is like opening up someone's gift: it is special, thoughtful, and must be enjoyed to the fullest degree. If you don't finish a plate of food, it is thought that you did not like it, and therefore do not appreciate the actions that the cook has made in order to provide you with this alimentation. This deeper meaning into the significance of food is key to understanding the French person and their way of life: once you indulge in one's meal and enjoy their company over freshly cooked food, you become closer to them in a way that cannot be experienced in the United States. Rather than solely a necessity for life, a meal is life itself.

...continue reading "À la Table!"

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By reuben31

“Why are you studying abroad in Israel?”

This was a question I frequently received prior to departing for my semester at Tel Aviv University, and it was a question that I struggled somewhat to answer. Usually my stock response was, “Because, as a Jew, I feel that it is important to create my own connection with the Jewish State.” While this felt like the right answer to the question, in my first weeks studying in Israel I have found that the answer is far more complex than this.

As almost a month has passed since I landed in Tel Aviv, I am starting to understand how important my immersion into Israeli culture truly is. Starting the first day, I could tell that this experience was going to be different than that of my friends studying abroad in Europe. Aesthetically, politically, geographically, and culturally, Israel is just different. Walking off the plane into Ben-Gurion Airport, beside new friends from across the United States, I could sense in the way people were walking, talking, eating, and interacting that my semester would be eye opening.

My first week in Tel Aviv was a whirlwind of newness and a bit of culture shock. From my 3rd floor apartment in a building with no elevator, to my kitchen with no oven, to the mesh of Hebrew, Arabic, and English being spoken around the complex, to my roommates from Middle Eastern countries I had barely heard of, I knew that my experience would not just be about Jewish identity.

...continue reading "(Welcome to Israel!)!ברוכים הבאים לישראל"

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By sheldonwongg

Less than 24 hours in Kathmandu and I’m currently reflecting on everything that has happened leading up to finally getting to leave for Nepal. Rewind six months to when I first applied to a study abroad program, and I’ve learned a lot about the do’s and don’ts of preparing to study and live in a country that you’ve never been to before. Here is a comprehensive, no fluff guide to how you can maximize your time pre-study abroad and prepare yourself an experience of a lifetime.

 

Get Started Early

If you have any inkling of where you want to go or what you want to study, start researching as soon as possible! I guarantee that you will be overwhelmed and probably change your mind about your program at least five times. Look into the different programs that are available, what they offer, how the programs are structure, and how credit gets transferred back to school so that you can pick the program that works best with your needs. Knowing your options early gives you the opportunity to sit on your decision for a little bit. If you still want to attend the program you chose after a week or two, then you know it’s the program for you

 

Don’t Follow Someone Else

There are literally hundreds of study abroad programs to choose from. Don’t let yourself get boxed into choosing something based on someone else’s opinion or where your friends are going. You’ll be a lot more excited about going abroad if you choose a country or program that really corresponds to your passions. Don’t get me wrong, Europe is a great place, but the world is a big place. When I started my study abroad search, I didn’t even know that Nepal would be an option for a program.

...continue reading "Everything I Learned About Studying Abroad While Preparing to Study Abroad"

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By eevenden

Halló aftur! (Hello again!)

This is week has been a bit more hectic than usual with exams and projects due. As a result, I have been thinking a lot about the types of homework and assignments I receive while at GW compared to the University of Iceland, and how different types of work reflect cultural values and harness different types of skills in students (and future employees). No need to remain vague, let’s get to it!

One of the biggest differences I have noticed while here in Iceland is the emphasis on group work and presentations. Three of my four classes have a group project (or multiple) over the course of the semester. And, many of these projects require us to present our information in front of the class for 15-30 minutes. For one of my classes, we have to present current articles on sustainable energy topics every week and go through a serious “Q&A” session each time (with actual questions, not just awkward silence until the professor says “okay, thank you” and you can sit down). Many of the other exchange students have noticed this, and we have joked that it’s the “Nordic culture of cooperation.” However, this joke became reality this Friday when I had a group exam in Glacial Geology.

“What is a group exam and what is the point of it,” Americans may be wondering (that’s certainly what I was thinking). Our group exam consisted of 18 multiple choice questions. Each question had multiple potentially correct answers, and it was our task to identify every correct answer. For every wrong answer, we also lose a point. This was all a bit confusing at the time, but our professor began the exam by saying, “this exam is meant to facilitate discussion and be an exercise in cooperation.” I could almost laugh at how fitting that statement was, but have also been mulling it over ever since. (And I guess it worked since we talked ourselves silly in circles about each question.)

...continue reading "Contemplating Cooperation: Academic Differences between Iceland and the U.S."

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One of the key features of studying abroad is traveling within your host country and to nearby destinations. As a student in Singapore, there are multiple ways to travel within the university campus and around Singapore. I have listed five methods of transportation that I have used to get around Singapore.

1. Walking: At GW, I'm accustomed to walking to get to class, extracurricular activities, and exploring D.C. However, the campus at NUS is not only significantly larger than that of GW but also has more hills and slopes. Moreover, the constant humidity and heat in Singapore makes it difficult to travel long distances by foot. Consequently, most people do not walk everywhere around the campus of NUS. Fortunately, most classes in similar departments and areas of study are located close to each other. In Singapore, "colleges" replaced with the name "faculty of". For example, the GW College of Arts and Sciences is called the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences at NUS. Each of the faculties around campus have their own cafeterias. This also makes it much easier for students to walk and find food between classes.

2. Bus: Because of the sheer size of the campus, NUS provides free bus transportation around different faculties and dorms. This is the main form of transportation around NUS. There are four main bus lines: A, B, C, and D. The D buses take me from my dorm to my classes at the Faculty of Science and the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences. The A, B, and C buses also travel to many of the same stops as the D buses as well as other places that the D bus does not go to. The bus also stops at the nearest metro station on campus called the Kent Ridge Station. The buses have wifi, are air conditioned, have a few seats for people to sit on. However, during the day, the bus is often packed with students. There is also an app called NUS NextBus that tells students when the next bus will arrive at their stop. Unfortunately, the buses do not run on constant schedule. Sometimes I only have to wait for two to five minutes for the bus whereas other times I have to wait more than twenty minutes. These buses run from approximately 9am to 11:20pm. In addition to the bus offered by the university, at least two local metro bus lines run at limited stops around campus. While it costs money, these buses are very helpful when I am trying to travel somewhere off campus or if it is past 11:20pm. However, the local buses also stop running around 12:30am so it is important to try to manage your time to make sure you can get a bus back to your room.

...continue reading "T, Metro, MRT??"

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By tanvibanerjee

“We will... we will...rock you...” we panted as our paddles cut through the water with the beats. It was a surprisingly rain-free day in Singapore, and the weather was perfect for a dragon boat race at the Kallang Water Basin. However, when the instructor first yelled “Paddles up” at us twenty amateurs, I realized that this was going to be a long day.

Growing up in the landlocked suburbs of New Delhi, water sports had never been a big part of my life. The Yamuna, Delhi’s river, is too dangerous to paddle or row in. Now, imagine my surprise when I first encountered people rowing in the Potomac! Unsurprisingly, Singapore is a haven for people who enjoy water sports. Swimming is one of Singapore's most popular recreational activities.  In NUS itself, there are three big pools open to all students. Local community pools are also relatively cheap. Furthermore, the public beaches in Sentosa and Lazarus islands are clean and safe for a good swim. Other popular water sports in Singapore include kayaking, paddling, and dragon boating.

So, when my exchange university decided to organize dragon boating for exchange students, my interest was piqued.  I wanted to try out water sports for once. However, only 120 students could go dragon boating, and unfortunately, I wasn’t one of them.

...continue reading ""Paddles up, Go!""

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After having studied Arabic at GW for 5 consecutive semesters, the idea of picking up another language abroad was exciting, yet daunting. For the next 5 months, I will be taking intensive German classes in Freiburg and return to GW in August with a single Arabic credit left to complete. While this may have just been poor planning on my part, it was important to me that I know more than solely conversational German.

Part of the reason I chose to study in Freiburg was the fact that my family is originally from the Black Forest region of Germany. As WWII refugees, my Omi and Grandpa left their families and homes in an effort to start a new promising life in California. It was important to me that at least one grandchild knew more than conversational German and live in the region my ancestors lived in for hundreds of years. While I do know some regional sayings and have basic conversational skills, I do not have the ability to test into any other class other than Beginners German because I know next to nothing.

Since I have had a rather long break (surprise! I am actually not even in Germany yet as my program begins at the end of February), I was able to spend a few weeks with my Omi and Grandpa picking up as much German as possible before leaving. Because my program is not sending a representative to pick up the other students, I have to not only navigate the airport by myself, but also take a 2 hour train to Freiburg in Southwest Germany from Frankfurt International Airport. While almost most people in Germany speak English, I am not traveling to a big city like Munich or Berlin. Rather, I am studying in what I compare to rural Indiana. Like Notre Dame in Indiana, Freiburg is a college town, but surrounded by absolutely nothing but farmland. So, I picked up a few phrases and sentences like - “I do not speak German”, “Where is the train stop?”, “Which way to Freiburg”, and “Please help me”.

...continue reading "From Advanced Arabic to Beginners German"

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By teniolab

Hello everyone!

Tomorrow officially marks the start of my fourth week in Gaborone. Now, I can thankfully say I have tried almost every form of public transportation. Gaborone is the capital of Botswana, and a fast-growing city at that.

Living in the University of Botswana Dorms has given me the unique experience of navigating around the city with ease. While in the first few weeks, trips to the grocery store and to dinner were taken with the lovely help of the CIEE driver. Bethel, who has worked with CIEE for seven years, pulls up to the UB dorms donned with the biggest grin ready to share his Gaborone with us. And just like that, a person would pay 30 pula in total, roughly 3 US dollars, for a "special" taxi.

A “special” taxi is taken alone or split among friends. While this is still cheap, taxi drivers will try to trick you into taking a special when you don’t need one! If you are not in a rush or simply do not want to pay a lot for transportation, you can take a regular taxi. The "non-special" taxi will cost 4.10 pula, about 41 US cents. Often times, the driver will either pick up passengers along the way or wait at your pick-up location until passengers fill up the car.

...continue reading "Navigating through the City"

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