In 2017 I studied abroad in Prague, Czech Republic thanks to the Benjamin A. Gilman Scholarship. The Gilman Scholarship is a federal grant program that helps lower-income students study abroad. https://www.iie.org/gilman/
Author: wwuedabroad
Czech Republic: Mid Program: “A day in the life” by Sarah Zinda
Thailand: “Internship Final Essay” by Spiridon Pappas
Internship Final Essay
The First of Many
As this semester abroad approaches the final curtain call, I look back and reflect on the 97 hours I spent at my internship with great fondness. It was an honor to have been placed in an internship here at the Doi Suthep-Pui National Park Headquarters. Throughout the duration of the semester, this internship opportunity consistently enabled me to grow in personal, professional, and academic respects.
Thailand: “Internship Mid-Term Essay” by Spiridon Pappas
Internship Mid-Term Essay
The First Foreigner
If someone had asked me at the beginning of the USAC semester abroad, “what would be your ideal internship?” “If you could create the perfect internship for yourself, what would it be?” “Try to think of a place you would like to intern at, and picture yourself there. What does it look like?”
It would look like this position.
Spain: “Arrival: Host Country & Cultural Immersion” by Olivia Esparza
Czech Republic: “Arrival” by: Sarah Zinda
Arrival
While packing for Prague, I still didn’t feel like I was actually going to be leaving for a foreign country for nearly 5 months. When I boarded my flight, same feeling. Arriving at my new apartment, nothing. I still don’t think it has hit me that I’m in the Czech Republic with the chance to experience something I never expected to have an opportunity for. I’ve always wanted to travel, but until now I have had school to finish. Although I still have classes while I am here, it’s not quite the same. After finishing my first week of classes I am expecting a somewhat difficult semester academically, but with the help of Prague’s charm I think I will make it through just fine.
Spain: Pre-Departure “Heading Back to Spain” by Olivia Esparza
Pre-Departure: Heading Back to Spain
Since September I have been studying Spanish for my Spanish major in Seville Spain. After finishing the first semester and going home for Christmas break I’m now preparing to return to Seville for my last semester abroad. While I’m studying abroad in Spain I hope to gain fluency in Spanish so that I can be a more culturally educated person competent in communication. Mastering a foreign language is a ubiquitous goal for many students studying abroad, but many underestimate the effort and commitment a full language emersion requires. Last semester I started my year abroad intending to be fluent by the time I finished the school year but after weeks of only being around American classmates I realized that a full language emersion requires much discipline and motivation to accomplish. My experiences last semester have better prepared me to accomplish my goal because I know what to expect and how to avoid being only around Americans. This semester I’m most excited to engage more with the Spanish language and see what opportunities arise from being around locals more. Last semester I spent most of my time adjusting to Spain and traveling with American friends but now I want to be primarily focused on speaking Spanish. I’m nervous about having a hard time finding consistent Spanish contacts to talk with every week but I’m confident that locals are eager to practice English as well. To overcome these obstacles I’m going to find volunteer opportunities that require me to talk to locals so that I can practice Spanish. This semester I optimistic and motivated to accomplish my goals and go back to Western fluent in Spanish.
Czech Republic: “Pre-Departure” by Sarah Zinda
Pre-Departure
From my previous posts you may have noticed that research is something I have been struggling with. I’ve done some broad reading on the history of the Czech Republic through Nazi occupation, the Soviet era, and the separation of Czechoslovakia. I still have a lot to learn about the Czech Republic’s past, but for now I at least have a little bit of background. I stumbled upon someone’s personal blog who seems to have married into a Czech family and offers a lot of practical advice about the dos and don’ts in Czech culture.
France: Post Program Reflection: “After France… Now What?” by Brenna Roach
After France… Now What?
Winter quarter has officially started at Western, and it has been 17 days since I said goodbye to Lyon.
France: End of Program: “Until Next Time, Grenoble” by Libby Babb
At this time, three days from now, my plane will be landing in Seattle, and I’ll be home. In all honesty, it doesn’t even seem real yet. It’s hard to imagine not waking up in my cozy little bedroom, hearing my host mom and dad talking in the living room, and constantly being surrounded by French. It’s crazy to me how quickly a whole new way of life can become the norm, and I’d be lying if I were to say I wasn’t at least a little bit sad to leave it all behind.
Germany: End of Program: “Preparing for Re-Entry” by Elizabeth Moorhead
End of Program: Preparing for Re-Entry & Maintaining your International Connections
“How lucky am I to have something that makes saying goodbye so hard”
-Winnie the Pooh
It’s almost time for me to leave Germany now. It’s Saturday today, and we’ll be leaving early on Thursday. I’ll miss this for sure. Here are some reflective question my school gave me that I think give some valuable incites into this experience:
Spain: Post Program Reflection: “The Return” by Alexis Mathews
Mt. Baker in the distance
Continue reading
China: “Reflections of Studying in China” by Matthew Horn
France: End of Program: “Coming to Terms With the End” by Brenna Roach
Coming to Terms With the End
We are now 12 days away from the end of my semester abroad, and to sum it up into one phrase, it’s been one crazy journey.
France: Mid Program: “Welcome to the Neighborhood” by Libby Babb
Welcome to the Neighborhood
Sitting in my bedroom at my home stay and looking out my window, I’m reminded of home. It’s strange to me that while I’m over 5,000 miles away from Bellingham, in a completely different country, it doesn’t seem so far away. Maybe it’s because I’m looking out at the pouring down rain and thick fog that’s hanging low on the mountains… I mean, what’s more Bellingham than that? But it also might have to do with the fact that over the last few months, this place has begun to feel more and more like home.
Germany: Mid Program: “Everyday life, surprises, and advice” by Elizabeth Moorhead
Mid Program: Everyday life, surprises, and advice
Living here in Marburg is peaceful, and the living accommodations in the international student dorms are exceptional. My dorm room has twice the space of my shared dorm room back home, and comes with a sink, walk in closet, bed with bedding (there is even a cleaning service for the bedspread but as I’ve been out of town most weekends I haven’t tested it yet), recliner, and several sets of shelves. The rooms are cozy even without anything in them. My dorm is also next to a residential area- something which let my friend and I visit a local Haunted House on this past Halloween. We were able to enter despite being strangers, and it was the high point of our holiday~
Germany: Arrival: “Cultural Immersion” by Elizabeth Moorhead
Cultural Immersion
With only 5 more weeks in the program, it’s high time to reflect on the experience thus far. Although there are not many posts here, I am writing consistently in a travel journal, and will post entries from there after the program is over. There is a balance between writing about things so you can remember them, and experiencing new things so you can write about them later. Writing in a paper journal gives me the time to make more memories, as writing about experiences twice takes twice as long.
“3 Ways to Embrace an International Education Experience” by Brooke Berger
Spain: End of Program: “All Good Things Must Come to an End” by Alexis Mathews
All Good Things Must Come to an End
As I prepare to go home I am beginning to realize that I am going to miss many things. But there are things that I have missed about the United States. The main thing that I miss from the United States is my family. Traveling and living half way across the world and only being able to see them through Skype or talk to them on the phone has been difficult. The other thing that I have missed is the variety of food. In Spain there is not much variety when it comes to ethnic food. The main type of food here is Spanish food and sometimes I long for Mexican or Asian food, which I cannot find here.
The thing that I will miss the most from Spain is constantly being surrounded by history and being immersed in the Spanish language. I will miss the winding streets with balconies and wide open plazas. I will miss going to the art museums and having a picnic in the park. Many of the quintessential Spanish things I will miss the most.
I do not think I will experience reverse culture shock when I return. The hardest part of culture shock was when I first arrived to Spain. There were a lot of different things I had to adjust to and I had adjusted just as my time here is coming to an end. On the other hand returning to the US will not be as difficult because I am familiar with it.
Since I will be returning to the US before the school year starts I will have more time to adjust. I plan to resume my daily life and begin to make things normal again to lessen the effects of reverse culture shock. I plan to share as many photos as I can with my family and friends and share with them my experience. My study abroad experience has been an important part of my education and I plan to incorporate as much as I can of what I have learned into my life and in the future. I plan to maintain the friendships that I have made here and to continue to communicate with my host family. My Spanish is a part of my everyday life so this will be much easier to maintain than other things that I have learned. One thing that I have learned while abroad is to remain engaged and informed with events not only in the United States but other countries as well and that it is an effective way to remain internationally engaged.
~Alexis
France: Mid Program: “La Vie Comme Une Lyonnaise” by Brenna Roach
La Vie Comme Une Lyonnaise
“Life as a person from Lyon”
I have officially been living in Lyon for 55 days, and I can’t help but wonder where all the time has gone? It seems like just yesterday I was getting lost in the public transit or getting locked out of my apartment. (Although I still stand by the fact that the doors here are way less user friendly than at home!)
In these 55 days Lyon has truly become a second home for me, and I’m not looking forward to the day that I have to leave this all behind. I will miss stepping outside of my building and being immediately greeted by the glistening waves of the Saône River, and my walk to class when I pass by at least four boulangeries where the warm scent of fresh baking bread greets me. I’ll miss the swarms of pigeons and the quick bobbing of their heads when I walk to close and they rush out of my way.