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Month: April 2018

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It has been a little more than 2 months since I got to Ecuador. I can’t believe how fast its gone by and how little I have felt homesick. I have fallen in love with the all the people in my life here, the city of Quito and all the beautiful nature at my disposal. However, there always comes a point in time when you are living in another country where the magic of it all starts to wear off a little - when you start to become disillusioned with things you once found fascinating or unique. There is something about the halfway mark.

By now, I have established routines, make local friends and connected with my host family and these are the things that have kept me grounded. But now that I am settled, the negative or maybe better said not-as-great aspects of the city have started to get to me. Little things like the never-ending traffic, cat-calling or randomly overpriced products are starting to upset me when they never used to before. I feel like this is an often un-talked about part of being abroad. We are conditioned to act like we love every part of being in the country we are in and if we criticize or do not like certain aspects of life abroad we are being ungrateful or judgmental. But what I am starting to come to terms with is that it’s okay to not be happy all the time. It’s okay to criticize, question or inquire about why things are the way there are.  This is why we are here - to learn, to observe, and to begin to understand the context and systems that are at play.

The more I come to know about Ecuador, its history, politics, and people, the more I feel connected to it all. This knowledge has let me start to look deeper into the subtle differences that may sometimes to frustrate me. The traffic I sometimes can’t stand has now turned into research into why the government is investing in extractivism instead of public transport. The cat-calling I often hear has turned into debates on why machismo still permeates today. And those randomly over-priced products I begrudgingly buy has now turned into discussions about Ecuador's struggling economic model. I am learning to channel some of my disillusionments into research, actions, questions, and investigation that I hope will only enhance my knowledge and connection to this country. I truly love Ecuador and I am so grateful to be able live in a country so different from my own that I get to have these internal debates. I hope as I move past this halfway mark of my time here, past the initial honeymoon stage, I can use this curiosity to propel my Independent Study Project (ISP) that I will be beginning in a few weeks. I am excited to start to delve deeper into some of the topics that have surfaced through my experiences and use my observations to contribute to important global discussions surrounding Ecuador today.

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By victorialanza1

HELLOOOO I´m back!

I have been off the grid for the past month and a half because life has been hectic. I have tried my best to appreciate every day and in doing so, I reduced the amount of time I spent sending Whatsapp messages/Facebook messages to friends in the United States and the amount of time I spent on social media. I even deleted Snapchat.

I used this time to focus on learning about public health and about life here in India.I have also used this time to work on something that I never have time to do back at GW – I worked on myself. I realized that during the semester, I get so caught up in my classes and my friends and interning and working and student organizations that I often forget that I should be my number 1 priority.

On top of taking time to myself, I traveled quite a bit since my last blog post. I traveled around India and I went to Thailand for a week. Although I absolutely love Delhi, I love getting the chance to leave – whether it is for a weeklong trip or for a quick weekend trip – and learn more about different places. Since my last blog post, I have been to Bahraich, Bangkok, Agra, Palampur, Dharamsala, and Jaipur. I will try to post separate blog posts about each place I have been to but for how I would like to focus on the idea of making the most of study abroad.

...continue reading "Back on the Grid"

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By Marissa Kirshenbaum

My host father was a high-level government employee when he was in the workforce. His life is a political sphere: he has friends running for office, weekly outings to different departments in France, and exclusive access to some of the country's most elite gatherings. One of these get-togethers was last Tuesday. A spectacle featuring one of Paris' most beloved rappers and actors of the generation and crawling with celebrities and important political figures, the night was meant to capture the history of France through its different texts in the elaborate setting of the Assemblée Nationale. And I was lucky enough to attend.

My host father spends his free time guest lecturing at a "professional" high school down the street. This term is what we attempting Parisians like to call a "faux ami", because it translates directly to an English word yet means something totally different. In France, there are two different tracks you can take when you are in high school: the general track or the professional track. The general refers to all students who wish to attend college and pursue a career with an academic prerequisite. The professional, therefore, refers to "vocational learning", and tends to be comprised of the underprivileged student population. In France, you are sorted into these different paths early in your high school career, and from there, your life is laid out for you. Unforgiving to those who do not bode well with the school system during a certain point in time, it seems that in my opinion, the French tracking system is concrete and determinant.

My host father took his "professional" students to this event at the Assemblée Nationale last Tuesday, an impressive opportunity for them to see their representatives and legislation in person. However, these students did not seem to take much interest in the tour of the building, and seemed restless throughout the whole night. Their teacher told me personally that they don't have the desire to travel like I do during my study abroad experience, and that they rarely sign up for trips like this one if they are not required to.

...continue reading "Professionalism"

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By teniolab

Growing up the suburbs of Atlanta, I was not a stranger to being the only one that looked like me in my classes. When I got to college, the narrative was the same. Before picking a studying abroad program, I had to research the cultural acceptance of people of color for each country I was interested in. Issues of cultural acceptance or other financial issues cause African-Americans to be among the most under-represented groups to study abroad. Because of this, it was always better to err on the side of caution when it came to picking which country I wanted to study in. This just comes with the territory of being a person of color. In spite of this, being a minority student abroad has not only enhanced my experience but it has also help me with my own personal identity issues.

I knew that once I got to Botswana I would be “invisible”. When Batswana see my skin complexion, they would immediately think of me as their kin-folk. Unfortunately for my CIEE program friends who aren’t invisible, unwanted attention follows them wherever they go. My colleagues are constantly getting marriage proposals, being stared for unnecessarily long amounts of time, and/or getting other forms of verbal harassment. This has made their transition and acceptance of life in Botswana much more difficult. And I empathize. Every girl in Botswana faces some sort of harassment on the daily, so my friends and I could relate to that aspect.

Once people assess me as Motswana, no one really wants to get to know me or hear my story. Constantly being spoken to in Setswana is the biggest disadvantage of being “invisible”. This mostly affects me because of the connotation associated with a Motswana not speaking Setswana. To Batswana, a Motswana not speaking their language comes across as elitist. That was certainly not the impression that I wanted to give off. Once I open my mouth and start speaking English in my American accent, the jig is up. They know I am American. There is a Black American female stereotype that is displayed on reality TV, which is watched by Batswana, so that was another stigma I had to work past. What’s worse is when I tell them that I am actually 100% Nigerian but born in the States. Minds = blown!

...continue reading ""You’re not a Motswana?": Studying Abroad as a Minority"

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By shellytakessingapore

If you were to walk along the streets in UTown, the NUS equivalent to the Vern at GW, on any given day, you will find dozens of table stalls with students promoting their clubs by selling trinkets, snacks, and handing out pamphlets. Sometimes, if you're lucky, the university will give clubs the opportunity to advertise their club by hosting games such as darts, ring toss, and more. For every stall visited, students receive a sticker on a business card sized tracker sheet and after collecting six or more stickers, students can redeem the sheet and collect an additional prize.

There's almost never a reason to be bored at NUS. In addition to the weekly club fairs, the residence halls at UTown also host student friendly events each month. One such event that a fellow GW friend and I attended was called ArtJam. As we walked out of our dorm, we could hear pop music blasting in the air and dozens of people lined up to collect blank canvases and painting supplies. The purpose of the event was to relieve any stress and anxiety due to midterm exams that were happening that week. While I was fortunate to not have any midterms this semester, ArtJam provided me with an outlet to express my creativity. I designed a t-shirt for myself using green and black fabric pens and paint. I enjoyed creating my shirt so much I asked the staff hosting the event if I could have a canvas to make another painting. The staff was incredibly friendly and even offered me some snacks to eat while I painted. Despite being artistically challenged, I painted the silhouette of two women dancing against a red and gold background (see picture). NUS students, on the other hand, are talented painters who perfectly captured scenes from nature and human life. In addition to the ArtJam, the UTown Residence Hall Staff also host music jams and personal effectiveness seminars. One seminar that I attended taught public speaking skills by the Singapore World Champion of Public Speaking from the Toastmasters Competition in 2016. Throughout the session, I learned valuable skills to improve my presentation and speaking ability and had the opportunity to meet local students who live in the same hall as me. Another event held by NUS was a health screening that allowed students to get a free checkup on their body weight, blood pressure, fat percentage, and more. This information helps me to understand how healthy my body is and if there are any health areas of concern.

So how does one find out about these events? Like GW, NUS uses OrgSync to advertise events held throughout campus. All one simply has to do is sign up by clicking "I will attend" and a reminder email will be sent to the student on the day of the event. NUS also does a good job of advertising these events by putting posters up around residence hall elevators and cafeterias. The turnout for these events is quite impressive and the organization of each event is incredible. NUS boasts the best campus life and it has rightly earned that title. Next week, NUS is hosting wellness series that include activities such as terrarium making, yoga sessions, and even pet therapy. I look forward to attending these sessions as I know I will gain new skills, friends, and memories!

 

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My different communities abroad have made me think critically about my identity in many ways. Per my first post, where I elaborated on the complexities of blackness around the world, it has been interesting having now been in Dakar for over two months and seeing where I fit in. I am one of the few students of color in my program that is composed of university students from around the US. This has been an interesting adjustment to make because my social circle back at GW is mainly black students and other people of color. On top of that, this is my first time traveling and living anywhere in Africa with a group of other Americans. At my study center, one of my greatest sources of community here, there is also a law school that is composed solely of Senegalese students. There is no forced separation between the two schools, and we are encouraged to talk to the law students and make friendships, etc. However, there is a natural separation that comes with taking different classes on different floors of the building, and the language barrier that still persists with French and Wolof. This dynamic - especially compared to my friend groups at GW - has caused me to reflect on what it means for me to be an American abroad because at least in this instance I am definitely seen as a part of a larger group, and that is something that I have never had to do so vividly. Furthermore, what it means to be one of a few students of color in a large group of Americans.

The running route that I have in Dakar was another community that I referenced in my last post. I think that more than anything, this has supported and strengthened my notion that I am independent, but it has also reassured me that there are parallels between people when we least expect them. Running has solidified my sense of independence because I made myself familiar with my running paths without any guide. That is not to say that the paths are challenging, and that people have not run them before, but in a new city with a completely different climate I was proud to do this alone. The feeling of independence is also matched with a feeling of comfort because of all the other people that I pass whenever I am on a run. A simple head nod, smile, or thumbs up from a fellow runner is enough to remind me that being in charge/control of what I am doing does not  mean that I have to be completely isolated. I am running alongside people from completely different backgrounds, and with a wide range (young to old men and women, some running in flip flops and some in tracksuits), and this has reminded me that even in the midst of minor identity confusion I can still feel a part of something.

 

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As I expressed in my first blog post, I view myself as very multicultural. I was of Indian descent, yet was raised in America. This mixture of cultures was always a part of me, but coming to Spain made me appreciate and embrace it even more.

The community of people I have had in Spain has provided an enormous amount of support. My host mom always ties into my upbringing by discussing various aspects of Indian culture with me, from food to dance. She constantly recommends Indian restaurants for me to go to, and yearns for me to cook homemade Indian food for her. Building on that, I have been planning on doing a Bollywood dance in front of the Arc de Triomf with a fellow friend of mine. My host mom has not only been supportive of me, but has gone out of her way to tell everyone about it and show off my dancing videos to her friends. This might seem small, but its created an environment for me in which I feel comfortable and proud in who I am. If my host mom, who I have only known for a few months, can be proud of me, then I can be proud of myself.

My friends have also been a great supporter of my identity in the time I have been here. I have a very diverse friend group, (Pakistani, Spanish and Indian to name a few) and these people really have created a comfortable environment for me. My friends reflect all that I love; a sense of familiarity with similar upbringings they possess, along with the overall factor of diversity they possess.

...continue reading "Understanding Identity through Community"

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Bonjour à Tous!!

Last time I wrote I talked about the fact that I would be switching positions from someone who gives out food to those in need, to someone who collects the food dropped off at Serve the City's building. This has been a bit of a challenge because I now have to take and understand directions in french (which are said very fast) as well as interact even more with the workers who do not speak any English! I was a bit nervous about this because I always doubt my French skills, and I was worried once they found that I was slower at communicating, they wouldn’t really interact with me. This is actually not the case at all! As everyone in the packing department has been very welcoming and even when I haven’t been able to exactly convey my thoughts they have been quick to meet me half way. It’s been great to understand why people decided to work with this organization and the highlights and struggles of the job. 

I suppose so far the accomplishments I am most proud of besides helping people in need, are the fact that I can definitely say I have been all around Paris and off the beating path! I’ve seen parts of Paris that I didn’t even think about going to before and I feel like that’s a major pro of volunteering in a new city. I am also proud of how far my french has come since volunteering here, a result of having to speak it on a daily basis. I still report to the volunteer supervisor so my responsibilities have not really changed but people know me now so I can kind of do my own thing.

I have been having an amazing time volunteering with Serve the City Paris, and it’s a bit hard for me to believe that in a little over a month I’ll be on a flight back home to the states! The people I have met, have already impacted my life in the best way and I hope the little work that I partake in has helped lessen the load that this amazing organization undertakes.

À Bientôt! MEKAYLA

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I’ve always been a relatively adaptable person, but living in Barcelona has pushed me to adapt to a completely new way of life. The places and things I have actively looked for or come upon during this experience reflect the ways that I have changed and I have not changed thus far this semester.

For example, the vegetarian, non-Spanish food that I have found—which I defined as part of my community in my previous blog post—has confirmed my identity as an American. I sought out this food in order to find comfort in Barcelona, but it has not challenged my identity in any way. If anything, it has confirmed my American identity and strengthened the privilege that is attached to it, especially the privilege I have, having grown up in New York City. I have always been accustomed to a highly developed, globalized city where every type of food has been accessible to me. Because there isn’t one distinct culture in New York, like in many American cities, I am not used to eating one type of food when I go out.

While Barcelona is growing more international, many of the foods I can enjoy at home are very expensive here because of their limited supply, so when I find restaurants that are not Spanish and provide vegetarian meals, I stick to them. Of course, these are the places that all Americans go to and there is usually an English menu, which doesn’t challenge my identity. Living in an apartment also doesn’t challenge me because I cook for myself to save money. While I am happy with my apartment and my roommates, I sometimes wish I had chosen to live with a host family in order to get a greater sense of Spanish life and food.

I have also felt more of my American privilege because of the political conversations I have had in my classes and activities. I volunteer at a Catalan school once a week, helping to teach high school kids English. We talk about many different subjects, but whenever the question of Catalonia independence comes up, the room becomes tense. The students will start talking about it—some will say they only speak Catalan at home, while others will say they feel entirely Spanish—but one student will inevitably shut down the conversation. They will always explain to me the emotional nature of the conflict and say, “let’s talk about something else.”

...continue reading "Have I Really Changed?"

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By maxleo43

Any time I travel, I always take notice of what people wear. Fashion is an excellent representation and states a lot about the culture of an area. For example, Street wear is very popular in Shanghai, and despite there being hundreds of Chinese fashion designers, people prefer to wear American and European designer brands. Supreme, Off-White and Balenciaga are a few of the most common brands worn here. While these are popular in the U.S., they are nowhere near as big as in Shanghai. Regardless of income, the people here seem to be well dressed and have a pretty decent grasp on style and fashion.

This week, Shanghai hosted Shanghai Fashion Week, complete with runway shows and a trade show for industry professionals. One of my roommates and I attempted to get tickets to a runway show (we had no preference) but despite our best efforts, we weren’t able to make any progress. We even sent emails saying that we were journalists (My roommate wrote for a Journal in Buenos Aires for a few months and I have written for a food blog) who wanted to cover Fashion Week (We were actually planning on writing an article). We had almost given up hope until we found out that we had a connection who could get into an official fashion week after-party on Friday night. We thought we had finally made it.

In our minds, we were going to mingle with fashion professionals who would help us create a diverse network. As such, we needed to look our best, and so we set off to the South Bund Fabric Market. We set out with the goal of getting well-tailored, bespoke suits in slightly less common fabrics. We had done some research and knew which stall to go to to get suits made and went into the experience feeling pretty confident. We showed up at Kate&Kevin and explained our situation to Kate. She told us that despite our short timeframe (3 days), she could get two suits and two shirts tailored and even include a fitting. We were surprised, but she was incredibly nice and just seemed accommodating. Due to this, we ordered suits. I ordered a lightweight olive-green two-piece suit and my roommate got a heavier wool purplish-brown suit. Kate took around 15 different measurements and told us that we could return on Friday morning for a fitting.

...continue reading "Fashion Week"

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