tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-43824628547895160852024-03-18T21:53:14.549-07:00EXL 300 Spring 2016Unknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger172125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4382462854789516085.post-37418968607668756912016-08-30T08:30:00.003-07:002016-08-30T08:30:51.004-07:00The News Atenas, Costa Rica (CS) For this blog I chose to focus on a local newspaper written in Spanish and website new source called the Tico Times written in English. I tried to follow the news every night between February 27th and March 4th. The Tico Times has a Facebook page that I followed and so getting updates from them every day was straight forward and simple. However, the newspaper is usually brought over by one of the guards before dinner and there were a couple nights where the paper either wasn't brought over or someone else had taken it home with them so I wasn't able to read it every night. Also because it was written in Spanish I often only skimmed the headlines and had another student who had a better grasp on Spanish help me read an article or two so I was never able to read the whole newspaper. That being said I still felt as though I understood enough to get a grasp of what types of reports were written.<br />
<br />
Both the Tico Times and the newspaper placed a high emphasize on sports, the environment, and occasionally politics. Most nights the front page of the newspaper was covering a fútbol game that had just happened. Then the side panels were usually dedicated to laws that had been passed or elections. The Tico Times similarly had articles about sports but the majority of the articles were written about laws being passed or lighthearted stories about festivals or events happening around Costa Rica. The Tico Times definitely had a more global focus, likely because it is aimed at English speaking expats who live in Costa Rica. Many of the articles on the website involved events or politics in the U.S, Brazil, and Nicaragua. One article was written only about the U.S presidential primaries. Both sources seem to have almost daily articles about the Zika Virus.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-apoCmB0rxMo/V7rk66yNIqI/AAAAAAAAAIU/SR0514ch2MkMYa4Y5skhRKCTjLSJAUhYACLcB/s1600/Screen%2BShot%2B2016-08-22%2Bat%2B7.35.47%2BAM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="303" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-apoCmB0rxMo/V7rk66yNIqI/AAAAAAAAAIU/SR0514ch2MkMYa4Y5skhRKCTjLSJAUhYACLcB/s320/Screen%2BShot%2B2016-08-22%2Bat%2B7.35.47%2BAM.png" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Both of the news sources seem to have an overall optimistic feeling. I feel as though often news outlets in the U.S highlight negative things happening in the U.S and around the world. Costa Rica news however seems to be more evenly balanced, they don't ignore when bad things happen in Costa Rica but the headlines also seem more factual and less sensationalized when they are reporting on a death, or a natural disaster, or really anything particularly negative. I would say that U.S news and Costa Rica news are pretty equally prideful of their own countries. Something about the local newspaper did seem a bit more serious than the Tico Times, perhaps because the local newspaper didn't run as many human interest stories whereas about a third of the Tico Times articles seemed to be human interest stories. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-79AEKR33K0c/V7rnUTLgU_I/AAAAAAAAAIo/xw51JmM0ZwM_CKJRCaA-kAMoipQbABgkwCLcB/s1600/Screen%2BShot%2B2016-08-22%2Bat%2B7.37.55%2BAM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="273" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-79AEKR33K0c/V7rnUTLgU_I/AAAAAAAAAIo/xw51JmM0ZwM_CKJRCaA-kAMoipQbABgkwCLcB/s320/Screen%2BShot%2B2016-08-22%2Bat%2B7.37.55%2BAM.png" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Overall U.S news and Costa Rican news didn't seem that different. As a noted earlier Costa Rica news is less sensationalized. As a part of that it also is written in a more straight forward manner so that was they are reporting on is told in a succinct way. It also seems generally more optimistic. However, other than that there doesn't appear to be too many striking differences between the news in the U.S and news in Costa Rica. </div>
<br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4382462854789516085.post-73537029784034114292016-08-30T08:30:00.001-07:002016-08-30T08:30:21.863-07:00Cultural Identity & Intercultural Communication, Costa Rica (CS)<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"><i>I had to
approach this blog a little differently as all of the students and faculty
members in the program are American or have spent an extended amount of time in
America. With that in mind I decided to interview Yendry Arguedas, the program coordinator
and Graciella one of the cooks on campus. Yendry speaks fluent English so I was
able to talk to her on my own and she responded pretty directly to the
interview questions. Graciella however, speaks no English so I asked another
student who is fluent in Spanish to help translate for me. However, because of
the language barrier our interview got a little off track and Graciella spoke
more broadly about Americans and the students she’s encountered rather than
respond directly to my interview questions. Both of the interviews have been
slightly paraphrased for the blog simply because they devolved into
conversations and I didn’t write down everything we talked about. </i>
<br /><u>
Yendry Arguedas (Program Coordinator) </u><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; mso-border-shadow: yes; mso-padding-alt: 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; mso-border-shadow: yes; mso-padding-alt: 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">How do you view America and Americans?<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; mso-border-shadow: yes; mso-padding-alt: 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; mso-border-shadow: yes; mso-padding-alt: 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">I think
Americans are a lot like Costa Ricans, or Costa Ricans are a lot like
Americans? Both are friendly, although Costa Ricans are a little friendlier
than Americans, and both seem to like to have fun and to talk. Americans aren’t
as funny as Costa Ricans, and don’t seem to place as much value on family, not
that they don’t love their families, but family has a stronger influence on
Costa Ricans. But overall I really like Americans. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; mso-border-shadow: yes; mso-padding-alt: 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; mso-border-shadow: yes; mso-padding-alt: 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">What do you base your opinions of
American’s on? <o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; mso-border-shadow: yes; mso-padding-alt: 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; mso-border-shadow: yes; mso-padding-alt: 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">I’ve worked
this job for many many years and the majority of students who join our program
are American. I interact with them daily and spend my time planning trips and accommodations
for them so I feel like I have a good idea of what Americans are like. Even
before I had this job my family has lived for generations right across from the
center (that’s what we call campus) and I’ve seen Americans since I was a
little kid. My family used to host students on family host day. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; mso-border-shadow: yes; mso-padding-alt: 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; mso-border-shadow: yes; mso-padding-alt: 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">Then ask them to describe you personally
and share a story <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">about</i> you.<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; mso-border-shadow: yes; mso-padding-alt: 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; mso-border-shadow: yes; mso-padding-alt: 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"><i>Yendry
hasn’t interacted with just me and didn’t have any specific stories about me.
She did describe me though</i>. <br />
You seem quiet, but very kind. You’re always ready to laugh and smile and seem
like a good friend. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; mso-border-shadow: yes; mso-padding-alt: 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; mso-border-shadow: yes; mso-padding-alt: 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">Did I fit your image of what America and Americans
are like and why or why not? <o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; mso-border-shadow: yes; mso-padding-alt: 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; mso-border-shadow: yes; mso-padding-alt: 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">You are a
little quieter than most of the Americans I know, but I’ve met Americans like
you before. I’ve met a lot of American’s over the years so I think I have a
pretty broad perception of what they’re like. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; mso-border-shadow: yes; mso-padding-alt: 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-x0JggzZYpqM/V8WlbR6g6wI/AAAAAAAAAJM/zQLxKj7TLocPzOgFLKRmW-M1W0ZuUmcvwCLcB/s1600/13335674_1606575739656827_6824799407700519752_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-x0JggzZYpqM/V8WlbR6g6wI/AAAAAAAAAJM/zQLxKj7TLocPzOgFLKRmW-M1W0ZuUmcvwCLcB/s320/13335674_1606575739656827_6824799407700519752_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-size: x-small;">From left to right Trent, </span></span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: x-small;">Scarlet, and Yendry laughing at lunch </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; mso-border-shadow: yes; mso-padding-alt: 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; mso-border-shadow: yes; mso-padding-alt: 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"><u>Graciella
(Cook) </u><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; mso-border-shadow: yes; mso-padding-alt: 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; mso-border-shadow: yes; mso-padding-alt: 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">As I said earlier Graciella’s interview
was more of a conversation where I mostly let her talk about Americans. I had another student Jenny translate for me, so she is referenced in the interview below. Also,
since Graciella is the cook at the center and before that had cooked at a restaurant
in town that served Costa Rican and American type food she referenced American
food a lot while talking about Americans. <o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; mso-border-shadow: yes; mso-padding-alt: 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; mso-border-shadow: yes; mso-padding-alt: 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">What is your perception of Americans? <br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
<!--[if !supportLineBreakNewLine]--><br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
<!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; mso-border-shadow: yes; mso-padding-alt: 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">They’re
nice, a little bit more daring than Costa Ricans. Americans are less reserved
but also more uptight. They really care about their schedule and about things
happening on time. When I worked at the restaurant in town American customers
tended to be more concerned about when their food was coming, and if it was
coming quickly than any of the Costa Rican customers. I do like that American’s
eat a wider variety of foods, although some of them are really strange. Soy
Sauce is so salty… why do you like it? And pancakes! They’re so heavy and sweet
how can they be good at breakfast? It's more like dessert. Lasagna though is really good, I’m glad I
get to make that for the students. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; mso-border-shadow: yes; mso-padding-alt: 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; mso-border-shadow: yes; mso-padding-alt: 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">Do I (or Jenny) fit your idea of America
or Americans? <o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; mso-border-shadow: yes; mso-padding-alt: 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt;">
<br /></div>
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
<o:AllowPNG/>
</o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
</xml><![endif]-->
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:View>Normal</w:View>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:TrackMoves/>
<w:TrackFormatting/>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:DoNotPromoteQF/>
<w:LidThemeOther>EN-US</w:LidThemeOther>
<w:LidThemeAsian>JA</w:LidThemeAsian>
<w:LidThemeComplexScript>X-NONE</w:LidThemeComplexScript>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:SnapToGridInCell/>
<w:WrapTextWithPunct/>
<w:UseAsianBreakRules/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
<w:SplitPgBreakAndParaMark/>
<w:EnableOpenTypeKerning/>
<w:DontFlipMirrorIndents/>
<w:OverrideTableStyleHps/>
<w:UseFELayout/>
</w:Compatibility>
<m:mathPr>
<m:mathFont m:val="Cambria Math"/>
<m:brkBin m:val="before"/>
<m:brkBinSub m:val="--"/>
<m:smallFrac m:val="off"/>
<m:dispDef/>
<m:lMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:rMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:defJc m:val="centerGroup"/>
<m:wrapIndent m:val="1440"/>
<m:intLim m:val="subSup"/>
<m:naryLim m:val="undOvr"/>
</m:mathPr></w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" DefUnhideWhenUsed="true"
DefSemiHidden="true" DefQFormat="false" DefPriority="99"
LatentStyleCount="276">
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="0" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Normal"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="heading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="35" QFormat="true" Name="caption"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="10" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" Name="Default Paragraph Font"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="11" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtitle"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="22" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Strong"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="20" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="59" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Table Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Placeholder Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="No Spacing"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Revision"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="34" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="List Paragraph"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="29" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="30" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="19" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="21" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="31" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="32" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="33" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Book Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="37" Name="Bibliography"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" QFormat="true" Name="TOC Heading"/>
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]-->
<!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-priority:99;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin:0in;
mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:Cambria;
mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;}
</style>
<![endif]-->
<!--StartFragment-->
<!--EndFragment--><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; mso-border-shadow: yes; mso-padding-alt: 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">She nodded her head here and then did
really have anything else to say so I had Jenny ask her if anyone in our group
had surprised her. </span></i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">She
said Travis (who is the student activities manager and from America) is Costa
Rican at heart. He has the Costa Rican sense of humor. She also said we like
our juice really sour and doesn’t understand why we don’t add more sugar to it.
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4382462854789516085.post-81985350717627292332016-05-26T13:25:00.001-07:002016-05-26T13:25:27.573-07:00Obstacles Overcome; Lessons Learned; Now What?: Buenos Aires (LB)Just because this is my last blog post does not mean that the party is coming to an end. The prompt for this post is exactly the kind of questions I'm prepping myself for when I return to the states: "<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">What’s the most difficult and challenging thing you’ve done while Away? What’s the greatest obstacle you’ve overcome? What’s the most complex problem you’ve solved? What’s your greatest achievement? What skills have been most important to your Away successes?" And I want to be able to say that my journey has been something out of a Julia Robert's movie; where the average everyday American girl wants a change in her life, so she packs up her things and decide to travel all around south of the Equator and finds herself through silly coincidences and cliche life lessons. But I don't think it has been anything out of a movie. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">I remember being so panicky for the first week. This was the first time in my life that I was truly and completely independent. Of course I figured it would be a great big "fiesta" and I mean it has been. But also it has made me do a lot of thinking about growing up. I had the very naive idea that I was going to return from this trip a 100% changed woman, but I still feel like I am the same Lynsey that I was four months ago, however just with a better Spanish accent. </span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Fk3LhQCS1sw/V0daoXs6mFI/AAAAAAAAAKI/Nt3vn6aMquMnLMdYq59TCqBE-LXN_N8EgCKgB/s1600/1606903_10207114906284987_3328383871563087801_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Fk3LhQCS1sw/V0daoXs6mFI/AAAAAAAAAKI/Nt3vn6aMquMnLMdYq59TCqBE-LXN_N8EgCKgB/s320/1606903_10207114906284987_3328383871563087801_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px;">Bonding with a stray dog on a corner in San Pedro </span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px;"><br /></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">But thinking back to how I was the first month of the trip, I was terrified and super stressed about things going wrong in my plans. For travelling, I would try to be as accurate and as precise as I could and would have fears of ending up in the wrong place, whether it be missing my flight, getting lost in a taxi, or taking the wrong bus to the other side of the city. In relation, looking at my other blog posts it reminds me of how I spent 85% of my first couple weeks here, lost and glued to our pocket map of Buenos Aires. I was panicky at first, but later realized that everything ended okay, and that it was not as grave as I believed for it to be. Just recently, I got into a taxi in sights of getting home on time, but somehow the taxi driver didn't understand what I said and took me to the other side of town. My fears had been confirmed, to the old Lynsey it would have been the end of the world. But, I laughed. It was going to be all right. Nothing was worth stressing out about, I would eventually make it to class and everything would work out. It would be all right. In comparison, I feel that as of now, I feel I have gained the confidence to be able to accept whatever life throws at me, and just make it apart of the plan.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-sYo_X6t8vD8/V0daob_7rGI/AAAAAAAAAKE/_Rx7AZulfbws6veRztJ0F6QpPeLopCiGwCKgB/s1600/13266109_10207656083974091_6453233544709424280_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-sYo_X6t8vD8/V0daob_7rGI/AAAAAAAAAKE/_Rx7AZulfbws6veRztJ0F6QpPeLopCiGwCKgB/s1600/13266109_10207656083974091_6453233544709424280_n.jpg" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
The grave of Eva Peron </div>
<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">Of course, my Spanish has improved itself too! During conversations I am seeing less confused faces and hearing less of, "Que?" or "Huh?" I always had confidence in speaking, (those who know me know I love to talk) but I would always feel like people only grabbed 60% of what I was trying to say. I recently talked to the sister of a friend yesterday who was born and raised in Argentina, but moved to Canada and has been there for six years now. She was going through the same thing I was, but reversed. She had been overwhelmed with learning and speaking English (not many people around her speak Spanish) that she was slowly forgetting Spanish. It was a conflict of the brain. I was (and now) am having trouble comprehending things sometimes. I was watching a movie in English (with Spanish subtitles) and I had a mini heart attack in which I could not understand anything that the actors were saying. Also, I am beginning to dream in Spanish. My friend's sister described it as a sort of "limbo" in not belonging in either of the languages. I don't know I feel about it, but I'm nervous about losing my Spanish since I won't be using it as much in Meadville. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">Not many people realize that learning a new language changes your way of thinking. One word in Spanish may not have an exact translation in English. Also, different words are used for different situations. It makes one realize how delicate words are and the choices we make to get across our feelings. Spanish is full of verb tenses, it's difficult to say something at the correct tense that you want to say it. I feel that I have burned conjugating verbs into my brain, but now it's just working on how to work them in smoothly into a conversation. Learning Spanish makes me have more respect for those who are learning English, I wish you all the best. </span><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 14.6667px;"> </span><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;"> </span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-DAR17ytZDcM/V0dZSeBdvYI/AAAAAAAAAJ4/3E2RaylKDoA_lWK73-zDedj86dE49w71gCLcB/s1600/IMG-20160526-WA0000_1%2B%25281%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-DAR17ytZDcM/V0dZSeBdvYI/AAAAAAAAAJ4/3E2RaylKDoA_lWK73-zDedj86dE49w71gCLcB/s320/IMG-20160526-WA0000_1%2B%25281%2529.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"Find people that you can be yourself around."<br />#blessed</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">I have been trying to evade the fact that I am returning home in a month half. It feels surreal, that this semester hasn't happened-- like a dream. </span><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">Next year I plan to graduate from Allegheny and be tossed right back into this wide open world. </span><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;"> It makes me sad to not know the next time that I will be down here. However, I have made some amazing friends, learned many </span><span style="font-size: 14.6667px;">tactical skills, and have memories for a lifetime that I will take back with me to the states. But as I stated in the beginning, I still have a month and a half left, and I plan to live it up as much as I can! Viva Argentina! </span><span style="font-size: 11pt;"> </span></span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-qrQZrWjc0ro/V0dbjRP-qMI/AAAAAAAAAKU/Ow2xblJnRmYMBZZOliXA5bOdmxL0cSbdACLcB/s1600/13165998_10207581962361097_7383215397230296267_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="222" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-qrQZrWjc0ro/V0dbjRP-qMI/AAAAAAAAAKU/Ow2xblJnRmYMBZZOliXA5bOdmxL0cSbdACLcB/s400/13165998_10207581962361097_7383215397230296267_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Bonbonera (Stadium of Boca Juniors) </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><br /></span></span>Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4382462854789516085.post-87678139847903001062016-05-25T23:19:00.000-07:002016-05-26T14:58:14.625-07:00Obstacles Overcome; Lessons Learned; Now What?: Buenos Aires (YO)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: right;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">My third day in BA, my host mom showed me how to get from our apartment to my host site where I take classes in a neighboring section of town. While we were walking she showed me local stores to help me familiarize the neighborhood, the major streets that everybody knows and she even drew me a map in case I forgot anything. We rode the subway for six stops and walked four blocks in order to get to my host site. On our way we passed a lot of large buildings, rush hour traffic and big groups of people all trying to get where they wanted to go. When we made it to the door she gave me a hug and a kiss and told me to be safe. I reassured her and told her I would remember everything! I said, "You don't have to worry, I won't get lost"...I hate being wrong. </span></div>
<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-qc9Yo56a9FM/V0ZzMt0cyyI/AAAAAAAAAQw/Rayz--y9IhUOq9W0c2eQzn8qu_NwGmVVACLcB/s1600/Apartment%2Bin%2BBA.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-qc9Yo56a9FM/V0ZzMt0cyyI/AAAAAAAAAQw/Rayz--y9IhUOq9W0c2eQzn8qu_NwGmVVACLcB/s320/Apartment%2Bin%2BBA.jpg" width="239" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Typical BA apartment</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span></div>
<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">About 8 hours after class and walking to the famous Recoleta Cemetery with some friends which was about 4 miles away from the host site, I decided it was time to go home. Almost all the streets in Buenos Aires are a straight line so I figured there was no way for me to get lost. Well after about 30 minutes I didn't know where I was and I spent another 15 minutes retracing my steps until I finally found the subway station. Unfortunately, the specific line I use was closed because of a protest that was going on. Protests and marches are very common and sometimes unpredictable in the city. However, with this being only my third day in BA I had no clue of what to do in case one were to happen. By this time my host site was closed and I had no way of getting in touch with my host mom. So I decided to sit in a restaurant until I figured out a way to get home. I walked into this large place called La Opera. It sat on the corner of two busy streets called Callao and Corrientes. It was very nice with its white table clothes and high ceilings but comfortable due to its open space and kind staff. While sitting down, it was clear on my face that something was wrong. I was trying hard to keep calm but once I realized there was no bus either that would take me anywhere near my house, I started to worry. By this time I wasn't in the mood to eat anything. All the same I figured it was best that I ordered something since I was going to be sitting there for a while. One of the waiters came over to me and I faintly asked for the rice and tuna.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">While I was waiting on the food, I was debating whether or not to ask for help in order to get back home. I know it sounds weird. If you're stranded in the middle of a new city why wouldn't you ask for help? To be honest, I felt scared being at the mercy of other people. I viewed my attributes of being a student from the States, having limited knowledge of the language, being alone and being a woman as too many things that people could take advantage of, all the while being in a different country that I only knew a handful of things about. </span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Ultimately, I believed that if I kept everything bottled up and to myself I would be safer that way. Then as the sun started going down I realized that notion wasn't going to help me either. When the waiter came back with my food I decided to ask him for help. He ended up chatting with me for at least ten minutes, </span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">asking me where I was from, what languages I knew. </span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">We would go back and forth with him trying to ask things in English and me trying to respond in Spanish. We both laughed at ourselves with neither one of us being masters in each other's native languages. Finally when he asked</span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> how long I had been in Buenos Aires and </span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">I told him three days, he quickly realized why I needed so much help and was more than happy to oblige. He told me to take any available radio (commercial) taxi on the street (big difference between radio taxis and regular taxis, in short radio taxis are safer - especially for women/especially at night). He said that all of them know the city like the back of their hand and they would take me wherever I needed to go. Would you believe that I still go to that same restaurant, talk to that same waiter and without fail order the same rice and tuna?</span></div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-LkM5ogNnHsE/V0Z2q3WE_bI/AAAAAAAAAR8/cBz5icWdVHc79XkrMmKMc587UKRJ7idlgCLcB/s1600/ALLLLL%2Bthe%2Bsnacks.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-LkM5ogNnHsE/V0Z2q3WE_bI/AAAAAAAAAR8/cBz5icWdVHc79XkrMmKMc587UKRJ7idlgCLcB/s320/ALLLLL%2Bthe%2Bsnacks.jpg" width="240" /></a></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: small;">BA food is phenomenal but I'd do anything to take its snacks back to the States</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">This is just one of many good experiences that I've had with the people here. Of course there have been bad ones too but looking back now, it seems as though whenever I needed to be proven wrong about the kindness and understanding of others, specific instances would always present themselves. People everywhere from program coordinators and students at the local university to my host mom and even my friend's Argentine boyfriend, all helped me with problems that I never thought I'd have and taught me things I didn't know I needed to learn.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">I have gained a lot of useful skills here such as action planning, interpersonal sensitivity, deep cultural competence and high language proficiency. All of these look good on a résumé but what I gained more importantly are the abilities of being able to rely on other people, asking for help when I need it, not being ashamed of my mistakes, and most importantly not being afraid to embrace love in whatever form it presents itself. Gaining these abilities have been the most difficult and challenging thing I've done while away. I know it may sound like a cliché but it's the truth. The reason I came to Argentina was to become fluent in Spanish, learn about another culture firsthand and fulfill the need I had of proving something to myself. I'm not really sure how to put what that something was into words. Yet overall I know it was about overcoming my fears, insecurities, and doing something crazy like living in another country for almost half a year in order to see that I really could do whatever I set my mind to.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-HAONRwZRC9g/V0Z3Syg-6nI/AAAAAAAAASE/Dpvf8aGGCYYfEx3zPe0NDpEBxEvmubn0gCLcB/s1600/beam%2Bme%2Bup%2Bscotty.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-HAONRwZRC9g/V0Z3Syg-6nI/AAAAAAAAASE/Dpvf8aGGCYYfEx3zPe0NDpEBxEvmubn0gCLcB/s320/beam%2Bme%2Bup%2Bscotty.jpg" width="235" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: small;">Countryside of Argentina</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Saying all this now I realize that this experience in Argentina was just another chapter in my life. It was never about exocitizing a new place or going on a journey of self-revelation as so many people make study abroad out to be. Even though I have changed in some ways, I am still the same in a lot of other ways too. I am still an impatient driver, a perfectionist, the loudest one to laugh in my group of friends and the person you'll catch awake at 4am working somewhere on campus because procrastination is an art that I have mastered. The truth is, is that as people we change all the time. We all go through things that change us and we have to learn about the new person we've become. That's the very nature of life, to have subtle waves of stability along with the ever present undercurrent of change. I could have been anywhere in the world, even home, either way the experiences that I had here needed to happen in order for me to take the next step in my life. Yet as fate would have it they were meant to happen here at this time in my life for a reason. Of course I don't know what that reason is yet, life wouldn't be life if we always knew what was around the corner. Regardless, I feel so accomplished not only because of the goals that I've reached but also because I've learned how to embrace all the things that really do matter to me, how to not worry about things that are trivial or the things that I simply cannot change. </span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-z7Cig8zy1kw/V0Z2Tyx_O4I/AAAAAAAAAR4/1sZogPZtIIcyHO7FQ6_BZlRbtvLKqimxwCLcB/s1600/BA%2BMural.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-z7Cig8zy1kw/V0Z2Tyx_O4I/AAAAAAAAAR4/1sZogPZtIIcyHO7FQ6_BZlRbtvLKqimxwCLcB/s320/BA%2BMural.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: small;">Art here is famous for capturing significant moments in history & life </span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Going back home in a month and a half seems almost surreal now. Mostly because I still remember all the thoughts and emotions from when I first arrived. Now everything here is so familiar to me, it feels as if I'm caught between the past, present and future. In spite of this, I don't think I have to worry about home feeling unfamiliar when I finally do go back. Everyday here I thought about all the people that I love, how they're doing, what they're up to and if they missed me as much as I missed them. This really hit me when the graduation of my brother and so many of my friends came rolling around and I wasn't there for any of them. On the one hand I was so elated for them that I wanted to cry. On the other hand I was humbled because I saw the people that I love living their lives and all I wanted to do was be there and share in those special moments with them. I use to think that your real home couldn't be more than one place but during that graduation weekend I knew that it didn't matter to me where I was. If I was around the people that I love then I was already home. All of this reflection is sort of eerie though. I remember my grandma saying that there are so many things the dead would tell the living if they could. I was very young so of course I didn't understand why she would say that. Yet now all these things that I'm sharing in a blog post for my college are helping me to genuinely appreciate everything I've learned. As I said before, I'm not sure why I needed to learn these lessons at this exact time in my life. However, coming from my grandma's perspective I think it was time for me to overcome myself as my biggest obstacle. I think it was due time that I started living my life without so much doubt in myself and in other people. A big part of me needed myself to just start living and to not be so afraid to live. </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-QYqKRAc2T6o/V0Zz5iwmsEI/AAAAAAAAARA/9CLMhJHK9jQBRrxqDNnuXH0Yaw00R6bMgCLcB/s1600/Lynsey%2B%2526%2BYemi%2BBoca.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-QYqKRAc2T6o/V0Zz5iwmsEI/AAAAAAAAARA/9CLMhJHK9jQBRrxqDNnuXH0Yaw00R6bMgCLcB/s320/Lynsey%2B%2526%2BYemi%2BBoca.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: small;">My friend and me at the famous BA neighborhood of Boca</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">With that being said, I've shared one of the poems I've written during my time away. I use to write all the time and have been meaning to get back to it for some time, now I finally have. I hope you enjoy.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ywg7n6ew24g/V0aOf5S4WUI/AAAAAAAAATg/zUU70ieYmecgtUP_Gn2NiS8KjOgABFYtACLcB/s1600/WIB.%25231.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ywg7n6ew24g/V0aOf5S4WUI/AAAAAAAAATg/zUU70ieYmecgtUP_Gn2NiS8KjOgABFYtACLcB/s640/WIB.%25231.png" width="358" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-PlXNMvTw26Y/V0aK9pfqYTI/AAAAAAAAASw/urXEAmeUXyMgZQYluNi6ozuWDdnJ_n67ACLcB/s1600/WIB.%25234.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-PlXNMvTw26Y/V0aK9pfqYTI/AAAAAAAAASw/urXEAmeUXyMgZQYluNi6ozuWDdnJ_n67ACLcB/s400/WIB.%25234.png" width="353" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-oZaV_ezRStA/V0aNFj04mZI/AAAAAAAAATM/OdqgGNgUM68MAK8RorryiQFRlgzzIonuQCLcB/s1600/WIB.%25235.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-oZaV_ezRStA/V0aNFj04mZI/AAAAAAAAATM/OdqgGNgUM68MAK8RorryiQFRlgzzIonuQCLcB/s640/WIB.%25235.png" width="356" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4382462854789516085.post-57165322923347756542016-05-25T19:28:00.000-07:002016-05-25T22:15:28.553-07:00Obstacles Overcome; Lessons Learned; Now What? - Australia (MCS) <div class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin-left: 13.7pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -13.7pt;">
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-dL5GsIeRTBM/V0ZfFEvjdnI/AAAAAAAAAgQ/2F9Qy4ubT44gCPMzyCY5een5WioKHi0IACLcB/s1600/scuba.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="336" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-dL5GsIeRTBM/V0ZfFEvjdnI/AAAAAAAAAgQ/2F9Qy4ubT44gCPMzyCY5een5WioKHi0IACLcB/s400/scuba.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Scuba Diving in the Great Barrier Reef </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
It feels like I just step foot in this country yesterday, and now I am preparing to leave in just a few short weeks. There have been ups and downs, from bearing the heat (I'm a cold weather person), trying to find something to eat in a predominately meat-eating country (I'm a vegetarian), and adjusting to living in student housing that is completely different than what I am used to back at Allegheny (essentially living in a tiny trailer room with no roommates). Maybe those all sounds like negatives, but the experience of adapting to new situations, getting out of my shell to meet people when I couldn't just go across the hall to annoy my neighbors, and trying new things, were all very much positive.<br />
<br />
About 2 weeks after I got approved to study in abroad in Australia in the fall semester, I started to get very, very sick. I missed weeks of classes, played catch-up with assignments all semester, and was constantly feeling stressed about the fact that I would not be able to go abroad as I had originally planned. Thanks to some incredibly supportive family, friends, and doctors, I made it here. The biggest obstacle was finding a doctor here that I could afford and could help me get through my time here. From the time that I stepped foot in Australia on February 4th, I found my worries were unfounded and my health has gradually gotten better. Even though it may have seemed like a terrible idea a few months ago to still go abroad, through the ups and the downs both here and back in America, I was meant to be in Australia this semester.<br />
<br />
Going home will feel different, but I don't think that it will no longer feel like home. Not that I won't miss the friends that I have made and the experiences that I have had here, but while the people I have here are wonderful, the people who have been through thick and thin with me are back in Pennsylvania. I have done things and seen places that aren't even possible in America. I have become accustomed and comfortable in the wildly dangerous (the bugs + animals) and crazy country of Australia and a part of my heart will always be here. But all things will eventually come to an end.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-3TSE6-5XYkQ/V0aGGwVaLBI/AAAAAAAAAgo/LAhueT0PIn84XJ39xqP3Dqzww-t28YAWQCLcB/s1600/Coral%2BReef%2BGeomorphology.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-3TSE6-5XYkQ/V0aGGwVaLBI/AAAAAAAAAgo/LAhueT0PIn84XJ39xqP3Dqzww-t28YAWQCLcB/s400/Coral%2BReef%2BGeomorphology.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Coral Reef Geomorphology Field Trip </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4382462854789516085.post-27215489458361934302016-05-25T05:26:00.001-07:002016-05-25T05:26:32.025-07:00Obstacles Overcome; Lessons Learned; Now What?: Australia (MAS)<div class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin-left: 13.7pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -13.7pt;">
Well, the last week of classes is nearly over here which means I have 23 days left until I am done with my semester here at James Cook University (final exams are spread out over a two week period) and 39 days until I am back in America. Honestly, the most difficult thing about my journey abroad was booking my plane tickets home; I am not ready to leave Australia and all of the friends I have made here but I am returning to the States in early July. I suppose at some point I will have to come to terms with reality and accept that I can't stay in paradise forever. Yes, it will be nice to see all of my family and friends again, but I don't miss home nearly as much as I thought I would. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 6.0pt;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-XTU7G1GMQqY/V0VIZqmNrUI/AAAAAAAAAIA/9FFgzBKa9T0FiE06dgUQU5hyTTBkzVirgCK4B/s1600/IMG_4861.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-XTU7G1GMQqY/V0VIZqmNrUI/AAAAAAAAAIA/9FFgzBKa9T0FiE06dgUQU5hyTTBkzVirgCK4B/s320/IMG_4861.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sunset on Orpheus Island. The perfect ending to a great weekend away.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 6.0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 6.0pt;">
My five months abroad have been amazing and more than I ever hoped for. Many things have changed since my arrival in February, especially my levels of confidence and independence. I am no longer the little girl afraid to touch every single thing in this country. For example, my Coral Reef Geomorphology course had a field trip at Orpheus Island a few weekends ago where we had to cover every inch of our bodies if we didn’t want to be stung by jellies during our daily snorkel trips. Well, I was stung twice but I didn't mind because I was snorkeling on the Great Barrier Reef! I now pick up rocks and shells like nobody's business. But I have also become a master trip planner as my friends and I typically go somewhere each weekend (trying to make the most out of our time left). The biggest challenge I'm facing is booking my week and a half long trip to New Zealand coming up in a few weeks! <br />
<br />
I have also made major adjustments to my lifestyle making Australia and Uni Hall my home. I am much more flexible and relaxed in my daily routines. I realized just how accustomed to the land I've gotten because my brother has been visiting and I've been playing tour guide for the last week. It's amazing to feel like a local here even though I haven't been here for that long. Given that it only took a few months for Townsville to feel like home, I think it is very possible to make other places in the world home. After all, home is where the heart is.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-tBej021K9Vs/V0WEl1UmqTI/AAAAAAAAAIQ/LG8Jpf-0mmwtuEcFC78MnXZHwaQJXFNjgCK4B/s1600/IMG_5679.JPG.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="211" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-tBej021K9Vs/V0WEl1UmqTI/AAAAAAAAAIQ/LG8Jpf-0mmwtuEcFC78MnXZHwaQJXFNjgCK4B/s640/IMG_5679.JPG.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Wallaman Falls - tallest waterfalls in Australia</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br /></div>
Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4382462854789516085.post-61131648693605781402016-05-24T16:57:00.001-07:002016-05-24T17:32:46.696-07:00Obstacles Overcome; Lessons Learned; Now What?: Buenos Aires (MO)<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Pe58AenOycE/V0TnWIJdgRI/AAAAAAAAJ0M/S2TKDuWvdKcRVcK9hOW_DFeG1MjqZWg7QCLcB/s1600/IMG_4431.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Pe58AenOycE/V0TnWIJdgRI/AAAAAAAAJ0M/S2TKDuWvdKcRVcK9hOW_DFeG1MjqZWg7QCLcB/s320/IMG_4431.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Las Salina Grandes, Jujuy, Argentina</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Leaving Buenos Aires in 2 months is not something that I am looking forward to doing in any type of way. It is becoming very stressful when people in my program, and my host family start talking about when I will be leaving, and when I will be returning to Argentina in the future? There seems to be an urge right now to travel the country lots and to experience as much as possible, because we are all realizing that our time here is limited. Many people have explained to me that when they first arrived it seemed like this semester would take forever, but now that we are rounding the last turn into the home stretch, it seems that nobody is ready for our experience abroad to end.<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-TtAIGvGaMFU/V0TnYIxFmII/AAAAAAAAJ0Q/3g3BIf1vuckhZ9HH-2VG5wKOG68VGQ2dwCLcB/s1600/IMG_4456.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-TtAIGvGaMFU/V0TnYIxFmII/AAAAAAAAJ0Q/3g3BIf1vuckhZ9HH-2VG5wKOG68VGQ2dwCLcB/s320/IMG_4456.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The beautiful Buenos Aires that is my new "home"</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Through having already experienced living in a new culture, learning a completely new language, and learning new customs through my last study abroad experience in Germany, I feel sometimes that my experiences in Argentina have been completely different from those of others who are studying abroad with me. Fortunately my experiences in Argentina and in Germany have been completely different. For this reason there have been a number of obstacles that I have overcome while living in Argentina for the last 3 months. For me, the biggest and most apparent obstacle that I have overcome while living in Buenos Aires was living in an enormous city. Like I mentioned in my first blog post, I am from a very quaint area of upstate New York, and to me Meadville is a city. Therefore living in Buenos Aires is nothing that I could have prepared for, but is definitely something that I have come to love. I am able to access everything very quickly, well okay on argentine time, and have gotten used to knowing how many blocks away something is and the various options of public transportation I have to get there. I have learned to walk quickly on the sidewalk, and to always be cautious of my surrounding while on the subte. Without thinking I am able to get to the subte station, switch my backpack to the front (front-packing is real people), and squish into the most claustrophobic spot of your life in order to get to my classes every morning. I am able to hail and determine what taxi is legit in the middle of the night, and I am able to explain to the taxi driver exactly where I live when he gets lost, like they always do, on their way to my house.<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-yVY5mzg2pRo/V0TnY9V2MYI/AAAAAAAAJ0U/bQR-FbAzBa8wxCZ-Q7IUg4-B4f2AXQwzgCLcB/s1600/IMG_4443.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-yVY5mzg2pRo/V0TnY9V2MYI/AAAAAAAAJ0U/bQR-FbAzBa8wxCZ-Q7IUg4-B4f2AXQwzgCLcB/s320/IMG_4443.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Just a few of the wonderful friends I have made</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Of course another large aspect of my study abroad experience that was an obstacle was the language and the accent of a porteño. I am proud to say that I can officially make the "ch" sound without thinking while saying my "y" and "ll" sounds, and I have learned many slang terms that only porteños use. I have gotten used to the speed of the Castellano that is spoken here and I have gotten used to the Italian pronunciation type thing that the porteños have going on when they get really upset. I feel that my drive to conquer porteño Spanish is a skill that really improved my time here in Argentina. I am able to get to know other porteños and share my feelings with my host mother. I am now able to read various news sources from Buenos Aires and understand while people have certain political views. Learning and showing my interest in Castellano has shown to the argentines that I am interested in their culture, and that I want to be here. This has greatly allowed me to connect with them on a different level, than a normal american tourist would. It is a great feeling when I am able to speak to other porteños, and they don't stare at me anymore with that blank face of having no idea what I am saying.<br />
<br />
Having read many articles about "reverse culture shock" and having experienced it once before there is no doubt in my mind that it exists. Although it can be quite frightening thinking that what you considered normal in the past is no longer normal, it is actually something that I am looking forward to. I always find it interesting to see the things that I take for granted and to see the things that I forget about being different. I like the idea that my experiences abroad allow me to question how things work, and why things are the way they are back in the States. Reflecting back on my first blog post, all of these aspects of the argentine culture have become normal to be. I know one thing specifically that I will have a hard time not doing is kissing people when I greet them. I have already found myself kissing my american friends here when saying bye and of course that awkward moment when I went in for a kiss when I met Allie's american mother who was here visiting.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-FuW3AsslW8g/V0TnaLe_tMI/AAAAAAAAJ0Y/MRlEFZng7j0-zdlU2IEOEEP4kRrKZbs5gCLcB/s1600/IMG_4445.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-FuW3AsslW8g/V0TnaLe_tMI/AAAAAAAAJ0Y/MRlEFZng7j0-zdlU2IEOEEP4kRrKZbs5gCLcB/s320/IMG_4445.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pure happiness in Argentine countryside</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
I definitely agree with the statement that one can "make the world their home". I believe that it is very possible that a person has multiple different homes and that one can change where they consider their "home" based on where they are living and where they have connections with others, but I think that one's "home" changes. Right now my "home" is in Buenos Aires, but it has been in New York, in Meadville, in Augsburg, and Castrop-Rauxel, Germany. I have made many places my "home" over time and I look forward to creating other "homes". Although my "home" right now is in Argentina, I know that as soon as I step foot back into one of my other "homes", that place will once again will convert to being my "home".Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4382462854789516085.post-80270805573606526562016-05-12T18:12:00.000-07:002016-05-12T18:12:06.366-07:00Global Citizenship and the Purpose of Study Away: Buenos Aires (YO)<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">Why Argentina? What are you studying? What can you do there that you cannot do in the U.S.? Do they like Black people in Argentina? Are there Black people in Argentina? Will you be somewhere safe? Do you know the language well enough? Are you sure this is a good idea? Wouldn't you just be happier at home? These are just a few examples of the questions that I have been asked before going abroad and some of them I have even asked myself. Although I can now firmly answer these questions and others about this experience without a second thought, there was a time that I could not. During that time I simply respected the fact that there is an enormous world that I am only a small part of and have yet to discover. Regardless of any doubts, fears or anxieties from others or myself, I knew I had to overcome these things in order to truly learn past higher education or social media what life really is for people across the world. Only then would I be able to honor them through the work I hope to accomplish one day. Why is this important? Well, in spite of the underline meaning in some of these questions, they each (among other things) hold their own weight and carry their own relevance through molding an image of what global citizenship and study abroad mean to me.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">There are a few articles that discuss global citizenship and study abroad. The one that resonated with me the most was the speech given by Michael Byers in 2005 at the University of British Colombia called, <i>Are You a Global Citizen?</i> Although I do not agree with all of his statements, I appreciated his thoughts on these topics the most because not only were his arguments thought provoking and debatable, but they also changed my view of the term "global citizen". I use to aspire to this term, hoping that one day I would be able to gain a genuine general knowledge and cultural awareness of the world around me. Now I realize that the actual privilege it holds and the exploitation that is has the power to use. Overall, due to the complex history and politics of the idea of citizenship and the problematic divisions it creates through the privileges the state rewards to those it deems "acceptable" enough to be called citizen, I do not believe anyone can truly be a global citizen. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', serif; font-size: large;">I believe the aspirations of those in privileged positions such as any given area from race to gender or socioeconomic status to educational background, should use their influential standing within the world view to augment the needs of others and not only themselves. However, if someone accomplishes this, I do not think it makes them a global citizen. Instead I believe it reflects a cognizant member of society that understands the the pervasive nature of power, privilege and difference through the world in addition to valuing c</span><span style="font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', serif; font-size: large;">ultural awareness and a commitment to the collective effort of creating a better world. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', serif; font-size: large;">As far as study abroad goes, I know everyone that decides to do it has their own reasons for it. In my case, I believed that studying abroad would not only give me a chance to improve my Spanish but also learn about another country, its people, its culture, how the U.S. is viewed by people outside of it and how the decisions of elites within the States affect those around the globe.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', serif; font-size: large;">Now as I answer this question of what study abroad means to me, I realize that what I set out to do has been accomplished in my short time here. However, the more time I spend in Argentina the more I realize that I am still learning how to define study abroad for myself. The longer I am here, the more goals I have that I want to see come to fruition before I leave. Don't get me wrong though. Although many of the questions I had before coming here have been answered, the truth is, is that being here has presented me with a whole new set of questions that I never thought I would have the need to ask myself. To be honest, I am still processing them internally which is why I am having such a difficult time writing this blog post. The very last one I will be writing is due in a few weeks and I truly look forward to discovering the rest of these questions, their answers and sharing them all with you.</span>Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4382462854789516085.post-81037628217966481082016-05-10T11:25:00.004-07:002016-05-10T13:40:06.782-07:00Global Citizenship and the Purpose of Study Away; Buenos Aires LB <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Google defines ¨global citizen¨as: <span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; line-height: 19.2px;">someone who identifies with being part of an emerging world community and whose actions contribute to building this community's values and practices.</span></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; line-height: 19.2px;"> There is a cartoon here named "Malfada." She is their version of Lisa Simpson. Malfada is very cultured about the world around her and questions politics and current events. She is a very popular figure in Argentina today symbolizing how Argentinians are very globally aware of their surroundings and consider themselves "global citizens." </span><br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img height="320" src="https://fbcdn-sphotos-h-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-xpt1/v/t1.0-9/13096158_10207516856973503_476240917377342308_n.jpg?oh=3df230769ab7c07d7ec37e380e104e97&oe=57DA4D68&__gda__=1474229992_7a8b92e56b7f86938491697680dce3e6" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="320" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Malfada & I @ Caminito in La Boca </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; line-height: 19.2px;"> On the contrary, Americans have the reputation of being more close minded. I tried to beat this stereotype. I always loved the idea of study abroad. Being here, I have learned so much more about the world (and Spanish) than I could have ever in Meadville. Our program told us that we would be able to immerse ourselves in Argentinian culture and we would feel like Argentina was our home. Now three months in practically, Argentina does not feel like home. It feels like a resting point. I still have hopes that one day I won't stick out so much like a green thumb, but I don't think it's going to happen, unless I actually live here for a while.</span><br />
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; line-height: 19.2px;">For some reason I am having trouble writing and reacting to this blog post. I have this underlying desire to give an amazing personal/original definition of study away and that it'll affect all of my readers' opinions, but right now I am tired. The readings did interest me, but I am having trouble accepting what they say. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 19.2px;">I feel that because I make an attempt to go and open my mind to the world and make connections between lands that I <u>am</u> a global citizen. Even though I felt that </span></span>Zemach-Bersin was kind of a brat in their writing, I can't find a reason as to why he would be wrong. I am never going to be an Argentinian, no matter how many times I try or how much effort I put in. My Spanish accent may always be a little off and I will never fully be able to understand what it is to grow up in this beautiful country as a poor porteno. I can only try to understand a sliver of the hate some of these people have for the United States or for Great Britain. I can dress myself in platforms, drink Yerba matte, pronounce my "y's" like "chs" but whenever someone asks me where I'm from, the response will always be "the United States." It's who I am and I cannot evade it. Not that I'd want to. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">But isn't that the beauty of it? To read and hear about cultures is one thing, but to see them and experience them with your own eyes is something completely else, and much stronger. I didn't come here to become an Argentinian and use their culture to try and fit in. I came to by myself and learn more about the world and help shape myself. Obviously I came here to better my Spanish in the beginning, but now it has grown to finding independence and freedom. I do try different things and surround myself within their culture. How am I to describe to the ones around me about study abroad, you ask? To my family, study abroad is a growing experience. To a prospective employer or grad school, it was a way to learn different perspectives at a more difficult level, especially with Spanish. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I'm pretty sure John Steinbeck wrote once, "People don't take trips, trips take people." I feel that I have been swallowed by Argentina, turned inside out, and spit back into the world. This adventure has been one for the ages, and I can't wait to see what this country still has in store for me.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://encrypted-tbn1.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcSlbG367AOspWENWnc_RcyWxcRHqG6U6DWrsqJwhTrKwJjlI-Yv1w" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Image result for argentina graffiti" border="0" src="https://encrypted-tbn1.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcSlbG367AOspWENWnc_RcyWxcRHqG6U6DWrsqJwhTrKwJjlI-Yv1w" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"Awakened Argentina" </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4382462854789516085.post-11302816914591798962016-05-05T20:17:00.000-07:002016-05-05T20:17:05.718-07:00Global Citizenship and the Purpose of Study Away: Buenos Aires (MO)<br />
Study away means something different to everyone and I think that this is perfectly acceptable. If every person experienced study away the same way...there would not be a point to it. I am proud to say that my study away experience is very different from that of others. I have also been given the opportunity to study abroad before, in Germany for a year, and my experience in Germany was completely different than that of my experience in Argentina. I recently had this conversation with different people in my life and it has really allowed me to grow on the fact that my experience here is unique. Although at times it may seem like having a unique experience is not what one seeks while studying abroad, I am very content with the idea that my time here in Argentina is one of a kind because I wouldn't want it any other way.<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-gqRQB6wMvHg/VywJXZdrS5I/AAAAAAAAJy8/t-s0QWvmmnkkqaDEZxbBFF9PvXEzT2VTACLcB/s1600/FullSizeRender-8.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-gqRQB6wMvHg/VywJXZdrS5I/AAAAAAAAJy8/t-s0QWvmmnkkqaDEZxbBFF9PvXEzT2VTACLcB/s320/FullSizeRender-8.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The infamous Argentine Urban Literature Professor <br />on a class field trip</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Yesterday in my Argentine Urban Literature class, I was discussing with a fellow classmate an interesting concept that our professor had explained to us. Although the concept is very abstract and pertains to living in an urban environment, I also believe that there is a huge connection with studying abroad. My professor explained to us that while walking down the streets of a city, we only catch glimpses of ourselves in the reflections of store fronts, cars, glass, and through the eyes of people we pass on the street. She then further explained that because we are only able to see parts of ourselves, it is like the city is breaking us apart, so therefore although the varying parts of us put us together and create a whole, the city first has to break us apart. She then explained that we only see the parts of ourselves that we want to see because we subconsciously choose what reflections we see of ourselves.<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ro9olnvoFJE/VywJX-XOJuI/AAAAAAAAJzA/Nx3vE1T4HIwyw7ipqmeZbPTR5aTLOTVWACLcB/s1600/IMG_4044.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ro9olnvoFJE/VywJX-XOJuI/AAAAAAAAJzA/Nx3vE1T4HIwyw7ipqmeZbPTR5aTLOTVWACLcB/s320/IMG_4044.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Some wonderful friends I have made this semester</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Although it is slightly hard to comprehend, I believe that this concept directly correlates to the way that one feels while studying abroad. Living in a new culture and in a new country allows one to break down to our fundamentals, while also completing ourselves. I believe that my experiences abroad have allowed me to grow as a person and have allowed me to understand myself better as a whole. Of course I have chosen which reflections I am seeing of myself, but I am seeing them in a different setting, in a different culture, and in a different lighting. These differences have allowed me to put my many pieces together and develop myself as a whole while abroad, which for me is one of the many objectives of study abroad.<br />
<br />
According to Brockington and Wiedenhoefft: "While the curricular goals of global competence and global citizenship share many of the same attributes, education for global citizenship extends global competency by the addition of instilling in students a respect for and desire to connect with others different from themselves" (Brockington, 121). I believe that this is also a large aspect to study abroad. For me, the purpose of study abroad is to engage and learn about another culture. One needs to meet new people, hear their points of view, learn new customs, and new languages to grow as a global citizen. By having the opportunity to meet so many amazing argentines, and other americans I constantly have been able to expand my views of other cultures and of the U.S. while being abroad in Buenos Aires.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xImiCCgzxTc/VywJbAwzHUI/AAAAAAAAJzE/y8osyPrqLoAsF6kyQwlMCOpLv8Tib8TpQCLcB/s1600/IMG_3648.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xImiCCgzxTc/VywJbAwzHUI/AAAAAAAAJzE/y8osyPrqLoAsF6kyQwlMCOpLv8Tib8TpQCLcB/s320/IMG_3648.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Plaza de Mayo, Buenos Aires</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Conclusively, I think that explaining study away experience to a prospective employer or to a graduate school may be a little troubling. I am not sure how I can express to others that things that I have experienced during my time away. I believe that study abroad is only beneficial for the person that is studying away. I think that it would be wonderful if somebody who has studied abroad is able to share stories about their new "home" and about the culture that they have been thrown into, but I also do believe that study abroad can only hold emotional ties to the person who actually experienced it. As many times as I tell my mom about the things that I see everyday on the street, or the way that I feel every morning when I am being shoved into the subte, clearly exceeding capacity, the amazing foods that I have been able to try, and the many new phrases and words I have learned in Castellano, she will never fully be able to understand what study abroad means to me.<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-zfoaQJnTJRk/VywJTQgspgI/AAAAAAAAJy4/jbZ5UXARDAkzkh9qC8s1epFylHSgWNDKwCKgB/s1600/IMG_4169.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-zfoaQJnTJRk/VywJTQgspgI/AAAAAAAAJy4/jbZ5UXARDAkzkh9qC8s1epFylHSgWNDKwCKgB/s320/IMG_4169.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Me and my Abuelito (Borges)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Study abroad means something different to each person that is willing to take the leap into one of the biggest adventures of life, and I believe that, that is exactly what study abroad means. Study abroad is exactly what you want it to be. With that I am going to leave you with two of my new favorite quotes:<br />
<br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">"We travel not to escape life, but for life not to escape us.” – Anonymous</span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #141823; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-size: 14px;">"No estoy seguro de que yo exista, en realidad. Soy todos los autores que he leído, toda la gente que he conocido, todas las mujeres que ha amado. Todas las ciudades que he visitado." - Jorge Luis Borges</span></span></span><br />
<br />
<br />
Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4382462854789516085.post-29822997495675460932016-05-05T08:24:00.000-07:002016-05-05T08:24:30.573-07:00Global Citizenship & the Purpose of Study Away: Australia (MAS)<div class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin-left: 13.7pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -13.7pt;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: #a50021; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">1.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #a50021; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 11.0pt;">Global Citizenship
and the Purpose of Study Away</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 11.0pt;"><br /></span>
<br />
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px;">I remember almost three years ago to the day sitting at Allegheny College striking a deal with a friend that if she studied abroad, I would too. We both planned to go to Australia (in different semesters), enticed by the beaches, sun, and kangaroos. Though those things may have been the original allure to studying abroad, I knew that the experience would bring me so much more. In the months awaiting my departure, I could only hope that I would soon meet lifelong friends and gain traveling experience that would give me the confidence to go anywhere (in the world and in life). My Australian journey thus far has met every expectation and then some. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px;">I think that study away programs actually have very little to do with studying. The "study" is just an excuse to travel around the world for a semester while staying enrolled in college. Now I still attend all of my classes, do my coursework, and love learning about marine biology and geology from a university on the coast next to the Great Barrier Reef but there is so much more to school, than school! This is one lesson I think Allegheny has failed to emphasis; my experience as a Gator has been one of surviving, not living. Every day in Meadville is a struggle to find time for two meals and two hours of sleep. I enjoy the academic rigor there, but students need time to explore their passions and discover who they really are. I think that is one of the main purposes of studying (living) abroad. James Cook University was exactly what I needed to help me with those tasks as the school portion of the uni does not consume my entire day. I take walks and spend extra time at meals because I can. This has allowed me to focus more on myself and less on my textbooks, which can drive you crazy after a few semesters.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px;"><br /></span></span>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-A2p6Y5w7wkw/VytZgf0vk1I/AAAAAAAAAHI/aAwcuUjyYWMxulW09qPNCI51aIEmiNrogCLcB/s1600/IMG_3584.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-A2p6Y5w7wkw/VytZgf0vk1I/AAAAAAAAAHI/aAwcuUjyYWMxulW09qPNCI51aIEmiNrogCLcB/s320/IMG_3584.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I find a great time to do some reflection and introspection is on early morning or evening hikes.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 14.6667px;">Being isolated from my family and everything familiar to me was what I needed to find out who I really am, what I really enjoy, what I really want. Those are questions that only the individual can answer and there's no better time to answer them than when you are all alone in a foreign country where you know nothing and no one. I would say that studying abroad is a journey of self-discovery. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 14.6667px;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px;">I also think that part of that journey is establishing independence. When you arrive on campus with nothing but some clothes, you are forced to figure out the bus system and make your way to the nearest shopping center ASAP. And when you end up in an airport an hour away from the hostel you booked, it is up to you to solve the problem. Parents are technically still just a phone call away, but that's if you have wifi and are hitting the 14 hour time difference at a good time. Nevertheless, the option to be completely independent is still there, you just have to take advantage of the opportunities.</span></span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-g-bbjA52kWI/VytgPVqttHI/AAAAAAAAAHc/pMlYc3Jnc-gmGpDULRGaSQAzazMXutkVQCK4B/s1600/zoo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-g-bbjA52kWI/VytgPVqttHI/AAAAAAAAAHc/pMlYc3Jnc-gmGpDULRGaSQAzazMXutkVQCK4B/s320/zoo.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Usually I try to blend in with the Australians, but I couldn't say no to the extremely touristy activity of visiting the Australia Zoo where Steve Irwin used to work. (it was so worth being a complete tourist for the day)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px;">Immersing yourself in the culture of the host destination is also an opportunity and goal of studying away. Study abroad students come from all over the world to spend usually about 5 months in the foreign country. Though they may leave their physical home behind them, it is still a part of them. For example, I may pick up the different vocabulary terms here and try to replicate them, but I will never truly sound native. And driving on the other side of the road doesn't seem wrong anymore, but it definitely isn't my natural instinct. I agree with Zamach-Bersin that study away students cannot become global citizens. We have the ability to learn about our temporary home, but we will not be one with our host nation; there will always be parts of home within us. However, as Zamach-Bersin and Wiedenhoeft point out, studying abroad and even attempting to become a global citizen furthers our education. Being a study away student provides us with learning curves not possible in any other situation. It helps us become well-rounded individuals in terms of courses studied and general global knowledge and appreciation. I only really watched local news back in the States but since being in Australia I have learned so much about the rest of the world. I will definitely be taking those lessons back to the States and continuing to keep up with global news. In a couple of months I will be returning to Pennsylvania as a more culturally aware student, but not quite a global citizen. Afterall, as Byers pondered, what even is a global citizen?</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px;"><br /></span></span>
<br />
<br /></div>
Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4382462854789516085.post-53073031031047382122016-05-02T15:53:00.000-07:002016-05-02T15:53:37.165-07:00Global Citizenship and the Purpose of Study Away: Australia (MCS) <div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"> My sister is eight years older than me and I can still distinctly remember the summer before she studied abroad in London. Her mood was that of two extremes; absolute terror and unrefined excitement. She was excited to get away from her tiny college in Upstate New York but scared that she was going off on her own for the first time, even though if I may add, that her college sent many students and professors abroad with her. I believe that the purpose of Study Away is characterized by these extremes; the absolute terror of going off on your own, out of comfort zone, and getting out of the small school/ small town bubble, while also having the exhilarating chance to learn and experience things that would never have been possible if you had stayed where you were. The Study Abroad </span>experience<span style="font-family: inherit;"> is a chance at an ultimate independence. It also gives you the </span>opportunity<span style="font-family: inherit;"> to lead by example, not only by </span>inciting<span style="font-family: inherit;"> others to </span>experience<span style="font-family: inherit;"> the world as well, but to bring back other things that you have gained and share them with others. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 6.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-z_EK52xWCPY/VyMGoloJXJI/AAAAAAAAAf4/6rDrWMM69sUlHrWTvpPJ0t5I0scQ9nmTgCLcB/s1600/Tville.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-z_EK52xWCPY/VyMGoloJXJI/AAAAAAAAAf4/6rDrWMM69sUlHrWTvpPJ0t5I0scQ9nmTgCLcB/s400/Tville.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">Townsville, Queensland</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 6.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"> Personally, I don't believe that just by studying away and becoming immersed in a culture automatically makes you a global citizen. To me, it's more of how you conduct yourself and the way you lead your life; it's what you do with the </span>experience<span style="font-family: inherit;"> later. Talya Zemach-Bersin makes an interesting point in the article </span><i>American Students Abroad Can't Be 'Global Citizens' </i>about how because of the way American's look, what we wear, etc., we have a privilege or pass that people from other countries may not receive, we (Americans) cannot become Global Citizens. Talya also states that though Americans cannot become global citizens, they (we) can become globally-minded. I don't agree or disagree with this statement because I understand and agree with the fact that in some places we are incredibly privileged but I also think that it is hard to make such a vast generalization about every single American student that studies abroad in a different country. As I gaged from Michael Byers's article <i>Are You a 'Global Citizen'? </i>it's incredibly hard to define what a global citizen or global citizenship is. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 6.0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 6.0pt;">
Being in Australia, country heritage as a whole (i.e. not including the Aboriginal people and their history which is frequently acknowledged), though embraced, rarely seems to come up in casual conversation unless it's a national holiday. In a culture that seems so like my own at home, it's hard to feel that I have come close to any form of the 'global citizen' definition. One of the most interesting things, though this may not be exactly related, is that in some cases indigenous and non-indigenous people of Australia will embrace the city of Townsville (Townsville is where James Cook University is located) as their nation and Australia as their state. This is completely reverse of how I consider Pennsylvania to be my state and the US as my country. Though this may not make perfect sense to you, the reader, to me if one were to embrace each state as their country, with the addition of all of those 'countries' at what point could you consider yourself a 'global citizen'? </div>
Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4382462854789516085.post-81788399213141357862016-04-28T09:50:00.001-07:002016-04-28T09:50:29.307-07:00Interpersonal Relationships Buenos Aires LB<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 19.2px;">"The World Is a Book and Those Who Do Not Travel Read Only One Page"</span><br />
<br />
It is hard to believe that I am halfway through my study abroad experience here in Buenos Aires. As the weather gets colder (I never realized 32 degree would affect me so much...) and I see my friends at Allegheny finishing up their semester, the closest I can get to describing how I feel is bittersweet. I am jealous that the academic part for my friends is over, However, I would not trade anything for the experience I have been given to be abroad in Argentina. This weekend my study abroad program CIEE took us into the northern part of Argentina which a large part is desert. There was a lot of soul searching going on. You realize a lot about yourself and the people around you when you are stuck on a 15 hour bus ride and your phone is dead.<br />
A group of us talked about how we were feeling about Argentina and what we have learned so far. Truth be told, ever since I left Pittsburgh for Allegheny, I have been accustomed to the idea/feeling of <i>a "temporary home." </i>For the time being, the little cabana apartment that I am staying in suffices for a place to stay and after a long day of studying or a long weekend of traveling, of course I just want to return to my room of privacy and knock out, but nothing will compare to my bed in Pittsburgh, or the smell of my mom's cooking through the hallway, or to have the atmosphere of 100% comfortableness. (FYI nobody worry, I <u>am</u> comfortable here, it is just a distinct form of comfortableness.) Also to clarify, it is not the fact that I miss the United States per say, I much more wish that my friend and family could come down here and spend time with me.<br />
Relationships here are difficult to breach. Everyone already has tight knit groups and even though people are usually friendly, it is not the same. Sometimes I just want to kick back with <i>my people</i> and joke or talk about familiar things, like the Steelers or Pittsburgh, things I know... Everything here is new. You're always learning, nothing is familiar.<br />
A rule I learned here very strongly and very quickly is that of masculinity. Argentina is very traditional in some topics, where masculinity of Argentinian men is fragile. Thankfully, all of the men that I am continuously in contact with, are good and "woke." (Eyes open and realize that women are not below men.) I have been in many situations though, especially when going out to the club, when guys just grab up on me without question. They feel that they are entitled to dance with you and try to show off for their friends who is the most macho. Errrr... WRONG! I shut these little boys down very quick. That is the positive I guess, I actually found my voice here that "no" means "NO." I always hear my mom and aunts' voice in my head, "Nobody has the right to put their hands on you... ever!" Even in our program, the women directors warned us that, "It is highly unlikely Argentinian guys want to be friends with you, they're flat out only looking for one thing." However, this is such a specific part of the culture. Like I previously mentioned, there are many good guys that I have met that are genuinely good people.<br />
I can't believe that a new group of students has already been accepted into the study abroad program. It feels like such a long time ago, I was also accepted and calling my mom freaking out and she was also freaking out... but for other reasons. Don't be discouraged by negatives of all the blog posts... take them as a grain of salt. But some advice; EXPECT THE UNEXPECTED & NEVER HAVE A PREDETERMINED IDEA. Be prepared for everything, if your mother packs Vicks and Benadryl in your bag, DO NOT TAKE IT OUT! I REPEAT: DO NOT TAKE IT OUT. You may think you not need that jacket or an extra pair of socks... take it. Trust me. It will come in handy when the temperature drops and you wake up with a stuffy nose and a head cold.<br />
Take every opportunity and let yourself grow, because isn't that what study abroad is all about? Good luck to the newbies and get hyped! This is a chance of a lifetime!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-keUwi3bfz58/VyI_M8wMC4I/AAAAAAAAAJY/0pTwlMQcTaMRCgwRAmmIyKWEs5gCQglTwCLcB/s1600/13076661_10207480514384961_3663271495356567780_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-keUwi3bfz58/VyI_M8wMC4I/AAAAAAAAAJY/0pTwlMQcTaMRCgwRAmmIyKWEs5gCQglTwCLcB/s320/13076661_10207480514384961_3663271495356567780_n.jpg" width="173" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
In the desert with some cool rocks</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Rockin Allegheny as always </div>
<br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4382462854789516085.post-54075446477590028602016-04-27T06:26:00.000-07:002016-04-27T06:26:21.938-07:00Obstacles Overcome; Lessons Learned; Now What?: Angers (CL)<div class="MsoNormal">
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-VCm2bbeSfsE/VyC3TD8UeYI/AAAAAAAAALw/AvnJPoDner4ruHU3wqGqgp8FbKG6uNM5gCLcB/s1600/pratchett%2Bpleasure%2Breading.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-VCm2bbeSfsE/VyC3TD8UeYI/AAAAAAAAALw/AvnJPoDner4ruHU3wqGqgp8FbKG6uNM5gCLcB/s640/pratchett%2Bpleasure%2Breading.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I can read for fun here. Men At Arms, by Terry Pratchett.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">It was a somewhat more emotional experience than I expected, looking back at my first blog post. I was so </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">enchanted by how pretty the city was - which has since become normal for me. Perhaps before I leave I should do some more walking around, just stopping to admire how pretty it all is again. It's also a reminder of my ongoing challenges. I talked about spending time trying to familiarize myself </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">with the city because I don't trust my sense of direction (navigation since then has become much easier). But it's not just my sense of direction, really. I just deal with a lot of self-doubt in general. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-OzUEO0jQzWY/VyC5s_msmyI/AAAAAAAAAMA/qS0XfTc2NxICx_kmR8dFT5GRB1G8vKEKQCLcB/s1600/some%2Bboats.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-OzUEO0jQzWY/VyC5s_msmyI/AAAAAAAAAMA/qS0XfTc2NxICx_kmR8dFT5GRB1G8vKEKQCLcB/s320/some%2Bboats.jpg" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br />When I first arrived, my language skills were reasonably good, but I was afraid to speak anyway. I didn't trust myself to be able to speak well enough to not be looked down on despite how long I've been studying the language. What I learned is that much of what people pick up on and react to is not the level of your language but the confidence with which you speak. If you hold yourself with uncertainty, they assume your skill in the language is low. If you hold yourself with confidence, they assume your language level is good. Easier said than done, especially for people who have backgrounds anything like mine. If you spend your time making yourself as small as possible to avoid provoking conflict, making that switch is difficult. When I was younger I was involved in theater, and my directors would always remind us how acting could be a useful skill in real life as well. "If you're not confident, act it," they would say. Still, it is difficult to act in ways you wouldn't normally within the context of being inside your own life, stuck in your own body and your own clothes, without a character to play.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">This is my biggest challenge. Coming from a background of trauma, how do you go about re-learning how to exist once you are safe (or safer than you were)? How do you try to make new homes for yourself when everything scares you? How do you try to turn the unfamiliar into the familiar while you look around you at all the people who just fundamentally do not understand your experiences, and you constantly feel like you just do not fit? How do you go about having the experiences you're supposed to have abroad when some days your biochemistry gets in the way? </span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-vKjDSr9txh4/VyC6ZN_tcRI/AAAAAAAAAMY/0pgdap4thX82bIIjbFvg81J6iBe6LkY_ACLcB/s1600/some%2Btulips.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-vKjDSr9txh4/VyC6ZN_tcRI/AAAAAAAAAMY/0pgdap4thX82bIIjbFvg81J6iBe6LkY_ACLcB/s320/some%2Btulips.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Looking back at my first blog post, I remembered the moment before I learned about the class I was placed in, sitting nervously in a classroom until a man walked in and began playing the piano. I remember relaxing, listening to the piano, and thinking, </span><i style="font-family: inherit;">I'm going to be okay. </i><span style="font-family: inherit;">I also mentioned my writing in that first post. During a period toward the beginning of my semester here, there was this sense of triumph, this joy that I had made it this far to the point at which I was the safest I'd ever been, mixed with some sadness for what I hadn't been able to experience before. During that period I wrote often, almost on a daily basis, about where I'd come from, about both the grief and the triumph of being safer than ever before. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/--ode5FeickM/VyC5OGAeQ3I/AAAAAAAAAL8/iE5X49WFTUM57L0P80C3XAlF6U5yoOPUQCLcB/s1600/cat%2Bcircle.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/--ode5FeickM/VyC5OGAeQ3I/AAAAAAAAAL8/iE5X49WFTUM57L0P80C3XAlF6U5yoOPUQCLcB/s320/cat%2Bcircle.jpg" width="180" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cats help.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Before looking back at that blog post, I hadn't realized the ways in which I've changed since writing it. Daily life is a little easier now, even though I still face many of the same challenges. And I am learning, slowly, but I am learning that what I need to do first and foremost is accept the ways that I am and accommodate my needs. Other people aren't going to understand without an explanation, and that's okay. It is up to me when and where and with who I invest that effort. But first of all, before anybody else, I need to recognize what I can and can't do from moment to moment, and I need to react to that with kindness. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">I think before coming here, this was a concept I grasped intellectually, but had trouble imagining as a reality. Before coming here I would bury myself in work to escape, and work until I wasn't able to work anymore. I would burn myself out intentionally, over and over and over. Here, I have more time. I have begun to realize some ways I can use that time that are good for me. I have spent some time reading for fun, something I never have time for during the semester. I've made some playlists on Spotify, because music is healing. Every now and again I have dinner with the friends I've made here, and I Skype some of my friends from the United States. </span><br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-tGwwS5rhueo/VyC6ZQ6rYqI/AAAAAAAAAMc/AV0YmfulAnUsPUzBAcgYkOL3dQK-e0GvwCLcB/s1600/walking%2Btrail.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-tGwwS5rhueo/VyC6ZQ6rYqI/AAAAAAAAAMc/AV0YmfulAnUsPUzBAcgYkOL3dQK-e0GvwCLcB/s400/walking%2Btrail.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">I've come up with hours to stay at school and do homework, and I make myself take breaks. I take walks on the trail behind my apartment. I have times when it's okay to do nothing other than what I feel like doing. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Looking back at my first blog post, that's the moment that strikes me. Listening to the piano and thinking, </span><i style="font-family: inherit;">I'm going to be okay</i><span style="font-family: inherit;">. In many ways, my time abroad has been very difficult to me. But this idea is becoming more real, more achievable. The world is beginning to look more hopeful. I am learning how to accommodate myself. I will create spaces for myself and for those who benefit from those spaces. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">I'm looking forward to going home, which is at school, among friends. Because even though life here is easier now than it was, I am longing for a place where I can return to, where I have people who already know, where there is no more need to explain, but where I can talk freely. I don't think home will be unfamiliar now that I've been abroad. Going back to college housing and my friends and walking to the grocery store will be a return to the familiar. I have a found family, and I am so lucky. </span><span style="text-align: center;"> </span><br />
<span style="text-align: center;"><br /></span>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-lkHRcqZeI4w/VyC2kDQ_FTI/AAAAAAAAALs/wo8AVD5ftEUJpo3tojNWAJ-av2bKSZF2gCKgB/s1600/poem%2B1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-lkHRcqZeI4w/VyC2kDQ_FTI/AAAAAAAAALs/wo8AVD5ftEUJpo3tojNWAJ-av2bKSZF2gCKgB/s400/poem%2B1.jpg" width="225" /></a><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-iJda9TyP75A/VyC2kj76ZzI/AAAAAAAAALs/pgros1FpDz0wLte-b5_U63VVSzhuMwl5gCKgB/s1600/poem%2B2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-iJda9TyP75A/VyC2kj76ZzI/AAAAAAAAALs/pgros1FpDz0wLte-b5_U63VVSzhuMwl5gCKgB/s400/poem%2B2.jpg" width="225" /></a></div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-wf9ylrZud9c/VyC2lDbEuOI/AAAAAAAAALs/fvPm3id6ftwnF-6JH8kP4GtaeIpqwIG_gCKgB/s1600/poem%2B3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-wf9ylrZud9c/VyC2lDbEuOI/AAAAAAAAALs/fvPm3id6ftwnF-6JH8kP4GtaeIpqwIG_gCKgB/s400/poem%2B3.jpg" width="225" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"Coming Home," from the collection <i>Dream Works</i> by Mary Oliver</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"></span><br /><span style="font-family: inherit;"></span></div>
Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4382462854789516085.post-72608208604343525062016-04-26T22:29:00.000-07:002016-04-27T17:32:27.865-07:00Interpersonal Relationships: Buenos Aires (YO)<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">It has already been two months since I began my semester abroad in Argentina. The first two weeks were a bit rough. Nothing really felt like home and the constant introduction to new things, people and places caused me to feel anxious. I was waiting for a routine, waiting for my life here to feel normal. As these feelings began to subside, I was able to observe the culture in a different, more distinct way. </span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">These observations lead to the moments when I started to feel at home in my host country. However, these moments were not ones of bliss, so to speak but of frustration which bore the need for me to call another place outside of the United States home. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">Gender/sexuality in addition to race/ethnicity all play a complex role in Argentine society. In terms of gender, there is much machismo ("strong or aggressive masculine pride" #thanksgoogle) present all throughout Latin America but especially in Argentina. In general, men are much more aggressive and outspoken towards women. I cannot begin to tell you how many times I have been catcalled, approached or fought guys off in a boliche (dance club) since I've been here. What upsets me most about this is that while women are at times empowered and encouraged (usually only by other women) to say no when we feel uncomfortable, why are we subject to these "uncomfortable" situations to begin with? It's no surprise either that the autonomy women have over their own bodies is an issue worldwide but understanding how and why it takes place in each culture is one of the primary steps to dismantling it.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">The other observation I made about the culture was the attitudes towards race here. Argentina has become the Latin American country with the most highly concentrated white population. The combination of genocides against indigenous groups, the "disappearance" of African slaves along with their descendants and a high inflation of European immigrants have all come to greatly shape the demographic, aesthetic profile and overall Argentine culture. While there are still indigenous groups and people of African descent present all throughout the country, the numbers pale in comparison to those of European descent. Furthermore, it is a common belief that there are no Afro-argentines or people of African descent in Argentina at all. This misconception is held by many within and outside of Argentina alike. All the same, for the past six or seven years there have been waves of people from countries across the world that come to Argentina (especially B.A.) to work, to go to school and even to find refuge from different types of persecution they face in their home country.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">These waves have lead to higher numbers of people of African descent in the country. However, the presence of Black faces and Black bodies are still sometimes an enigma for Argentines of other descents. Getting stares especially when I wear my hair in braids or an afro is common. Not to mention, I get called <i>morocha</i> a lot which generally means a person with dark hair and a darker (than what is expected here) complexion. This term is often used by men when hitting on a woman with darker features. Usually because it is also common for "morochas" to be hypersexualized or stereotyped as being sexually compulsive.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">These observations/experiences along with the stress of college life and acclimating to a new lifestyle sometimes made me feel out of place and altogether overwhelmed. Although I have never questioned my decision to come to Argentina, there were times that I wished I was back in the States instead of here. Unbelievably though, the most ironic thing about all this is that when I felt like an alien being observed on my way to class or an object when random guys try to dance with me in the club, I thought to myself "I can't wait to go home." But when I thought of home I didn't think of my house, family or friends in the States. Instead I thought of going back to my 3 bedroom apartment in Villa Crespo that was so warmly opened up to me by my host family two months ago today.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">Reflecting on this now has helped me to appreciate the context of home in a way that I never did before. The happy experiences we have in any given place or time become nostalgic memories that we like to reminisce over as we think about certain aspects of our lives. Whereas the places where we endure painful moments as well as joyous ones leave a lasting, bittersweet impression on us that we may forget the details of but always remember the feelings they caused. But isn't that home? A place where you find both love and sadness but the former always overcomes the latter?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-4oTFp_YM05o/VyBGGv-SXoI/AAAAAAAAAMM/8mKrUjjQpMYKOBFEW0HzPG4wYnSFfe-lwCLcB/s1600/Me%2Band%2Bmy%2Bafro.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-4oTFp_YM05o/VyBGGv-SXoI/AAAAAAAAAMM/8mKrUjjQpMYKOBFEW0HzPG4wYnSFfe-lwCLcB/s400/Me%2Band%2Bmy%2Bafro.jpg" width="298" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: small;">Me and my afro :)</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">At least this has been my experience. I cannot project it onto anyone else. Nevertheless, what I would tell other students who are about to embark on their journey abroad is to not waste time being anyone other than yourself. When I first got to B.A. it was hard feeling comfortable in this new culture as a Black woman. I would feel so self-conscious about my big hair, full lips, and non-European body that it was almost unbearable at times. Then I remembered there are people everywhere who will have their opinions about me, for better or for worse. Either way I needed to be comfortable and confident in my own skin whatever culture or country I am in. In short, there will always be certain cultural distinctions that you as a guest should adhere to during your time abroad but if those distinctions are built off of a patriarchal society and/or a racebent history like my experience has been, don't be afraid to challenge the norm. If you are able to find some relief like the kind my host parents and friends have provided for me here, the challenges you face abroad will always be less than the amazing moments you will gain.</span>Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4382462854789516085.post-71307095062447226592016-04-25T20:18:00.000-07:002016-04-25T20:18:35.991-07:00Interpersonal Relationships: Buenos Aires (MO)<div>
<br /></div>
There have been many times throughout my two months in Argentina where I have felt at home. Actually the majority of my time in Buenos Aires, I have felt right at home. I am lucky to say that I have not really suffered from homesickness thus far. This might have to do with the fact that I have been given the wonderful opportunity to live with an amazing woman who is now my "madre argentina" (Argentine mom), or the fact that the argentine culture is very welcoming to foreigners.<div>
<br /></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-bu9J6wBM4TA/Vx7bwgoRy5I/AAAAAAAAJwA/a4IyK6Ztndws59ZNlZnWx5i8DO1U1jeDgCLcB/s1600/FullSizeRender-10.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="236" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-bu9J6wBM4TA/Vx7bwgoRy5I/AAAAAAAAJwA/a4IyK6Ztndws59ZNlZnWx5i8DO1U1jeDgCLcB/s320/FullSizeRender-10.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Talampaya, La Rioja</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div>
I recently (this morning at 9am) got home from a long weekend trip from another region of Argentina. CIEE, my study away program, took all 40 students on a field trip to the desert and to two different national parks for a weekend, to show us a different part of Argentina. The trip basically consisted of a 15 hour bus ride, each way, and many many hours in a different bus driving around the desert. The sights that we were able to see were absolutely stunning, but the endless hours of driving around in a micro (to a person that gets severely motion-sickness) was not my ideal vacation. Because of the many countless hours of uncomfortable sleep in the bus, I kept finding myself thinking that I just wanted to go "home". I wanted to sleep in my bed, in my room. It was then that I realized that I was not referring to "my" room in the U.S., but rather my room in Buenos Aires. I was thinking of Buenos Aires as my home, and that is when it all clicked. I had finally made the internal change to calling Argentina my home. This is something that I do not find that hard to accomplish, coming from a person that in the last 3 years my home has switched between Castrop-Rauxel, Germany, Kerhonkson, New York, Kingston, New York, Meadville, Pennsylvania, and now Buenos Aires, Argentina. Although this idea is not foreign to me, I still very grateful every time my home does change, this means that I am comfortable enough with the society in which I'm living that I feel that I belong. <div>
<br /></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-q_7_V8z7H-4/Vx7by50tpEI/AAAAAAAAJwM/3o9FAuUhIDMTP5RGT65jSHRR0isf_MKVgCKgB/s1600/IMG_3967.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-q_7_V8z7H-4/Vx7by50tpEI/AAAAAAAAJwM/3o9FAuUhIDMTP5RGT65jSHRR0isf_MKVgCKgB/s320/IMG_3967.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">El Oblisco in Buenos Aires</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div>
The feeling of belonging, comes along with many "rules". These "rules" are norms, or guidelines that communities put forward to keep structure. Although one could definitely argue that argentine society lacks structure, there are definitely some "rules" that come along with living in Buenos Aires. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-I5ibrBlCPtk/Vx7bw9LSYiI/AAAAAAAAJwE/0yeE1uFxLUoUgGSLHoNoPNe_nNpWU0PMwCKgB/s1600/IMG_3753.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-I5ibrBlCPtk/Vx7bw9LSYiI/AAAAAAAAJwE/0yeE1uFxLUoUgGSLHoNoPNe_nNpWU0PMwCKgB/s320/IMG_3753.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Argentines coming together to protest</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div>
The first major rule is that argentines always work as a group. In american culture is concept of group work does not exist easily. America is a "dog eat dog" world, "every man for himself" is a common phrase that one learns very early on in childhood. In Argentina it is quite the opposite. It seems that everyone works together as a whole here. Although at the moment, most argentines would argue that although they are working together, nothing is getting done, I find that working together is more important. Being able to rely on others, and support others provides a healthy environment to live in. In Argentina it is very common to see people helping others in the subte, or on the buses. For these reasons the need for personal freedom is not as strong in Argentina. People do not feel the need to be completely individual, in fact if one is too individual they seem to stick out. I do not always think that this is the best attribute to argentine culture, but I enjoy understanding the differences between these aspects of argentine and american culture. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ONKk8Lm0r04/Vx7c-11IKxI/AAAAAAAAJwc/PwBGYepJymI7TYpN8iuf_dIovPHQSG72QCLcB/s1600/IMG_4159.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ONKk8Lm0r04/Vx7c-11IKxI/AAAAAAAAJwc/PwBGYepJymI7TYpN8iuf_dIovPHQSG72QCLcB/s320/IMG_4159.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">La Rioja, Argentina</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div>
Another interesting "rule" of argentine culture has to do with gender. Genders are much more defined in Argentina than they are in the U.S. It seems that gender roles really play a role in argentine society. It is assumed that all men in argentina are macho, and are strong individuales. Men do not cry, especially not in front a females. It is also assumed that the man works and earns the money for the family, while the females are meant to do housework. Females are much more emotional individuales and are weaker in the eyes of an argentine. Something that I find extremely degrading about women in argentine culture, is that women are seen as objects. It is very common that during my walk to university, I am whistled at and called different demeaning names because of my gender. Men feel that they are able to say whatever they want to a girl while walking down the street because it is a "compliment". Neither the words that are being yelled at my on the street, nor the facial reactions that I receive when I do not respond are "compliments". I am aware that this happens within the U.S. as well, but I have not seen it this apparent. This might have something to do with the idea that in Argentina men are expected to show girls that they like them. It clubs in Argentina it is very common for a man to come and grab your arm to dance with him, without asking for your permission first. I believe that the idea of consent has a stronger influence on communities with the U.S. than in Argentina. </div>
</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-0CRog1YEdMI/Vx7bx-WErbI/AAAAAAAAJwQ/CnmFYWnfo7486iEwQifUNs-7EBsl-emOACKgB/s1600/IMG_4120.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-0CRog1YEdMI/Vx7bx-WErbI/AAAAAAAAJwQ/CnmFYWnfo7486iEwQifUNs-7EBsl-emOACKgB/s1600/IMG_4120.JPG" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Allegheny girls sticking together</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div>
Although there are many "rules" to a society, one always has to remember that there are also "rules" within the society that you are from. There are many customs and social norms that americans follow every day. These customs just seem like normal things to us, while to a foreigner they might seem very strange. To future students that are planning on studying away, I recommend that they just take advantage of the time that they will have while abroad. I am almost half way done with my semester abroad, and that terrifies me. I feel like there are so many things that I still have to learn about argentine culture. I still want to better my Castellano greatly, and I still want to develop life-long relationships with argentines. I have come to grounds with the fact that I will be able to fulfill these wishes through one word..."yes". Saying yes is the most important thing that one can do while abroad. Your host family will ask you many times if you want to try new foods, go to the market, or read an article in their newspaper. Your university will ask you to volunteer in the slums, go to tutoring sessions, and to go to talks about Borges. Your friends will ask you to go out with them, to go to the movies, and to grab some coffee, and all you need to know is the word "yes". "Yes" will allow you to expand your horizons in many different ways, and will really show you the different layers of a community that make up one amazing culture. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4382462854789516085.post-80510407117497976182016-04-25T17:26:00.002-07:002016-04-25T17:26:15.343-07:00Interpersonal Relationships: Australia (MCS) <div class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; mso-padding-alt: 0cm 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: inherit;"> For me, the
friends you keep can make or break the experience and feelings you have towards
a place. The most at home I’ve felt in Australia is when I am joking around and
talking to a group of my friends. The routine of going to classes, having meals
with friends, and doing homework is the exact same as Allegheny; just a
different place and different people. Recently I traveled to New Zealand for
our week-long lecture recess here and even though I traveled with the same
friends I do everything else with, the lack of routine affected us greatly. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; mso-padding-alt: 0cm 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-bIinYpkhgfg/Vx61iXNEWOI/AAAAAAAAAfg/bul_3k5rdK0JOECQEDJeO685ACtOQTPfACLcB/s1600/friends.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-bIinYpkhgfg/Vx61iXNEWOI/AAAAAAAAAfg/bul_3k5rdK0JOECQEDJeO685ACtOQTPfACLcB/s400/friends.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; mso-padding-alt: 0cm 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: inherit;"> Culturally,
I’ve found that Australia and America are very similar. Therefore,
individualism here is embraced as it would be in America. That being said, when
it comes to gender, sexuality, and respect of the individual, it is a lot less
prevalent in the news and in general conversation. I think I’ve only conversed
with one person about any of these topics in the 3 months that I have been here
versus the many times these topics will come up in conversation per week at
Allegheny. I think it’s a lot more accepted by the younger generation as in
America, because it has become a norm. However, the older generations, though
they don’t seem to be as verbal about it as back in the states, are less warm
to the ideas of same-sex marriage and undefined gender, etc. as their children.
Though as most issues in America and in Australia, I think the opinion is
entirely reliant upon the individual. </span><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; mso-padding-alt: 0cm 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; mso-padding-alt: 0cm 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: inherit;"> <span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: inherit;">For new
students who have just been accepted into study away programs my only advice is
to come to your host country with an open mind. Like most new places, there
will be things you hate and there will be things you love. Embrace the
differences and you will learn to adjust. You will probably only be in that
country for a short amount of time, so if there are things that you cannot
stand, know that you will only have to endure them for a few months. The study
abroad experience is what you make of it. You won’t always be comfortable but
that’s part of the reason you came to study abroad. No matter what, it will be
a life altering experience and enjoy every bit of time you can because it will
go by quickly.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; mso-padding-alt: 0cm 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt;">
<br /></div>
Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4382462854789516085.post-48655755546217400562016-04-24T18:01:00.000-07:002016-04-24T18:01:34.699-07:00Interpersonal Relationships: Australia (MAS)Interpersonal Relationships<br />
<br />
<br />
Over the past two and a half months I have been able to completely settle into life in Australia. I know what to expect and I am comfortable with my daily routine. The days I feel most at home are the common days of brekky (breakfast), class, hanging out with my friends, dinner, and some homework before bed. All of my activities here feel so natural and I am now at the point where I could not imagine my life without Uni Hall and all of my friends here. <br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-jFnrZrbOWrU/VxxydVYqxXI/AAAAAAAAAFs/CgFfMSqv2KsOIDGbe4D2rdP-7fDGWYtkQCK4B/s1600/IMG_3584.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-jFnrZrbOWrU/VxxydVYqxXI/AAAAAAAAAFs/CgFfMSqv2KsOIDGbe4D2rdP-7fDGWYtkQCK4B/s320/IMG_3584.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I feel the most at home doing the things I love like climbing the hill at sunset with my friends.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div>
<br /></div>
The relationships I have with my "squad" here are similar to friendships I have in the States, just with fewer boundaries. We all live in the same building, attend most of the same classes, and eat every meal together which means we are virtually inseparable. You get to know people in Australia pretty well when you are always by their side and there is little fear of offending people. So while I may be closer with my friends here, relationships with my professors are the opposite. At Allegheny I talk one on one with my professors and/or advisors daily and never hesitate to chat in office hours or before/after class. At James Cook, I am fairly certain most of my professors don't know a single student's name. I am not sure if this is a difference between a small and large school or between America and Australia. Other than these differences and the lack of social "rules" in Australia, relationships between people are very similar.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-J7kMv0MCBMY/VxxyXkGXmiI/AAAAAAAAAFc/ycpSATtoEckg8KIi9Seie1PK_84BjYRBwCK4B/s1600/IMG_3898.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-J7kMv0MCBMY/VxxyXkGXmiI/AAAAAAAAAFc/ycpSATtoEckg8KIi9Seie1PK_84BjYRBwCK4B/s320/IMG_3898.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Places feel a bit more like home once you have established a routine and climbing Castle Hill on Sunday mornings before the markets open is one of my favorite weekly activities.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
We just had our mid-semester break and by the end of the ten days, I missed Uni Hall so much. I was ready to go home and sleep in my bed and be with my hall mates again. It is crazy to be so attached to a place and people I met just a couple of months ago. I never thought I could feel so at home in a foreign country away from everything I had ever known.<br />
<br />
It took a surprisingly short amount of time to feel comfortable in Australia. Perhaps it was because the two countries are so similar. Like most Americans, most Australians also strive for individual gains over communal gains. However, there is much more college pride in Uni Hall than I have seen in any college in America. People from both countries also take pride in which state they represent. New South Wales people dislike Queenslanders just like Pennsylvanians dislike people from Maryland, especially when it comes to sports teams.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-DofxrqW0dis/Vx1oeTb7aOI/AAAAAAAAAGw/aHejim0Y5wYtGMiQR3scPea38ZEn6DdFQCK4B/s1600/IMG_1230.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-DofxrqW0dis/Vx1oeTb7aOI/AAAAAAAAAGw/aHejim0Y5wYtGMiQR3scPea38ZEn6DdFQCK4B/s320/IMG_1230.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Above you can see all the freshers (first-years) wearing the green and gold Uni Hall colors showing off our college pride.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xo5ABh-YDbk/Vx1e8oUv5CI/AAAAAAAAAGQ/UpmOgL6Tgw4EmDWlFPbtw4qNsx0kY-qHQCK4B/s1600/IMG_2833.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xo5ABh-YDbk/Vx1e8oUv5CI/AAAAAAAAAGQ/UpmOgL6Tgw4EmDWlFPbtw4qNsx0kY-qHQCK4B/s320/IMG_2833.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Above is the aftermath of Uni Hall's Men's Water Polo win in the team finals. After we won, many students jumped into the pool to join the team in celebration.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Overall, Australia's views on gender and sexuality and race and ethnicity are very similar to the States. The younger population is in favor of equality but Australians are not pushing for it nearly as much as Americans. For example, same sex marriage is not legal anywhere in Australia but most younger citizens do not care if couples are homosexual. Races here are also treated equally with the exception of the Aboriginal people, similar to the Native Americans of the States. Aboriginals have been given their own land and abide by their own rules (ex. children do not have to go to school and cannot be punished by the law).<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-7YzAae_DcXM/Vx1rsyAn92I/AAAAAAAAAG8/A4DMye9bDxwBf3wfvamRXN6zYceI7NpBwCK4B/s1600/IMG_4523.JPG-1.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="203" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-7YzAae_DcXM/Vx1rsyAn92I/AAAAAAAAAG8/A4DMye9bDxwBf3wfvamRXN6zYceI7NpBwCK4B/s640/IMG_4523.JPG-1.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Wambiana: one of the many places I have been able to travel to within Australia.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
My advice to students coming to James Cook next semester would be to embrace it with your arms wide open. There will be some differences, but every experience is a good one. Before coming to Australia I questioned if it was the right decision for me; but the minute I stepped off the plane I knew I was in for the best semester of college I have ever had. To make your time here as amazing as it can be, do yourselves a favor and make friends with the Australians and people from countries other than America. Some of my best times here have been comparing cultures with people I never thought I would meet (ex. someone from Hungary, Austria, the Philippines, etc.). So make friends with those people, and then travel with them as much as you can before the semester work picks up near finals time. There is so much to see in Australia and in the neighboring countries. Your time here will go by faster than you believe is possible so take advantage of every minute.<br />
<br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4382462854789516085.post-68281204027839682012016-04-24T14:05:00.000-07:002016-04-24T14:05:24.092-07:00Obstacles Overcome; Lessons Learned; Now What?: Angers, France (AS)<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-E7Hq7hGqrfM/Vx0xd-ShmkI/AAAAAAAAARQ/YLkDzes81OonbsHmtGPw8GAxdrsuZzMIwCLcB/s1600/IMG_6016.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-E7Hq7hGqrfM/Vx0xd-ShmkI/AAAAAAAAARQ/YLkDzes81OonbsHmtGPw8GAxdrsuZzMIwCLcB/s400/IMG_6016.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Fountain in one of the main squares in Angers</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';">This is
it, I'm well into the halfway mark of my semester abroad, and I hate to see it
all come to an end so soon. Although I have about two months left over the
pond, I still want time to slow down a bit more so I can </span><i style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';">really </i><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';">take it all in. A lot of things have happened since my
arrival in February. I have switched languages, made new friends, learned new
customs, and I have come across quite a few obstacles along the way. I know I
have mentioned this a few times throughout my posts, but the largest
obstacle I have had to overcome was that of switching host families. It was awkward
to tell my former host parents that I was leaving their house because I was
uncomfortable and that it felt like they wanted nothing to do with me. I did, however, have a realization moment yesterday when I was at the farmer’s market. I
happened to see my old host parents, and I instantly darted into the other
aisle of the market in attempt to avoid them. Everyone who knows me knows that
I, of all people, am not afraid of confrontation, I usually tell people to face
their problems head on so they can be solved early on. When I saw my old host
parents I felt nothing but anger and regret because of how they treated me. It
made me ten billion times more thankful that I was proactive and I talked to
people in the school to help switch houses, for it completely changed feelings about my abroad
life.</span></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: justify;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-N2-Rmia9asI/Vx0xeqUOQDI/AAAAAAAAARU/M3llBFHlwSgsesHaMa1iFbDmEC6uQfgZwCLcB/s1600/IMG_6176.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-N2-Rmia9asI/Vx0xeqUOQDI/AAAAAAAAARU/M3llBFHlwSgsesHaMa1iFbDmEC6uQfgZwCLcB/s320/IMG_6176.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A view of the Château d'Angers from across the Maine</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>My host
mom has been a complete and total game changer. She loves to laugh and is an amazing cook. I
couldn’t be more thankful to be in her home with her, sharing all of these
memories with someone who cares about me. Yes, all of my friends hear about my
adventures abroad, but she is the one that sees the play-by-play and gives me
advice if I need it. She asked me the other day at dinner if I was happy here
with her, and I instantly just started to thank her because she has changed so
much for me. <b>Some advice</b>, don’t be afraid to talk to someone about an
uncomfortable home-stay condition if you're abroad, for it may actually be an issue and it could
be impeding your abroad experience. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>I
believe that my most important asset in my tool-belt is my ability to adapt and
figure out my way through any situation. I have always believed that snipping
situations at the bud tends to be the best way to go about a problem. This does
need to have some prior reflection to ensure a good outcome, though. I also feel
that my confidence in speaking French has come in handy here, as to be expected. It’s a good
thing, I believe, to just try your best and have the confidence to talk, if
errors come about, they can serve as a lesson. These lessons build up over time
and make it easier to learn new concepts with real life examples in
conversation. It has been nice here to have the option to meet new people and
use my small talk skills in French. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: justify;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-f22eS4jrtQU/Vx0xd1_mdFI/AAAAAAAAARM/rWBJvtfrzgQVWFJhf-i8Qz2xMEwTJiZJQCLcB/s1600/IMG_6385.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-f22eS4jrtQU/Vx0xd1_mdFI/AAAAAAAAARM/rWBJvtfrzgQVWFJhf-i8Qz2xMEwTJiZJQCLcB/s320/IMG_6385.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">UCO at sunrise, one of my favorite views</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman';"> </span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">Looking
back at my first post about the five senses, I think I have some changes, yet
some of my hypotheses remain true today, such as how photos do not give any
justice to the sites that I have seen. On another note, hearing a new language has
been changing the way I hear the world. I am much more aware of my audible
surroundings. It is easy to find myself eavesdropping into another’s
conversation at dinner in hopes that I can understand their conversation. Also
in the realm of audible experiences, I have fallen in love with my daily
running route to the Loire River. Along the way are bountiful amounts of
orchards and other odd trees that are filled with birds that are more than
happy to sing me a song as i run along the beaten path. For taste, I have more so developed some
favorites rather than changing anything. I still love the endless pain au chocolat, but my new love comes
from </span><a href="http://www.lepalaisdumacaron.com/" style="color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman';" target="_blank">my macaron girl</a><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"> at the Saturday market. Nothing makes me happier at the
market than seeing her in her white truck selling the rainbow of macarons she
has to offer. Unfortunately, on a smelly note, one thing that will probably forever remain true, as I am in
France, is the fact that I am pelted with clouds of cigarette smoke that
pollutes my lungs as I walk around town.<o:p></o:p></span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';"> I do believe that is possible to make the world your home, it all varies on how attached someone becomes to a certain city. I now have a home here in Angers, France, and the once unfamiliar has now become the familiar. I have grown to love Angers, and I look forward to my </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';">adventures that rest ahead of me in my time left here. I do have some fears of my home being moderately unfamiliar though. The only things that haunt me are the fact that I am missing my brother’s and my best friends’ graduations and also the fact that I did miss an entire semester of inside jokes and adventures with my loved ones, even though I had my own amazing adventures here, it still is haunting my subconscious. More adventures are to come in my life, especially now that I am so close to so many interesting and diverse countries. I can’t wait to share stories of all of my adventures, as I wait impatiently to hear about theirs. My life has forever changed after living </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';">3865.27 miles away from my life at my <i>first</i> home, and it will forever remain the adventure of a lifetime.</span></div>
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
<o:AllowPNG/>
</o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
</xml><![endif]-->
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:View>Normal</w:View>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:TrackMoves/>
<w:TrackFormatting/>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:DoNotPromoteQF/>
<w:LidThemeOther>EN-US</w:LidThemeOther>
<w:LidThemeAsian>JA</w:LidThemeAsian>
<w:LidThemeComplexScript>X-NONE</w:LidThemeComplexScript>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:SnapToGridInCell/>
<w:WrapTextWithPunct/>
<w:UseAsianBreakRules/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
<w:SplitPgBreakAndParaMark/>
<w:EnableOpenTypeKerning/>
<w:DontFlipMirrorIndents/>
<w:OverrideTableStyleHps/>
<w:UseFELayout/>
</w:Compatibility>
<m:mathPr>
<m:mathFont m:val="Cambria Math"/>
<m:brkBin m:val="before"/>
<m:brkBinSub m:val="--"/>
<m:smallFrac m:val="off"/>
<m:dispDef/>
<m:lMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:rMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:defJc m:val="centerGroup"/>
<m:wrapIndent m:val="1440"/>
<m:intLim m:val="subSup"/>
<m:naryLim m:val="undOvr"/>
</m:mathPr></w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" DefUnhideWhenUsed="true"
DefSemiHidden="true" DefQFormat="false" DefPriority="99"
LatentStyleCount="276">
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="0" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Normal"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="heading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="35" QFormat="true" Name="caption"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="10" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" Name="Default Paragraph Font"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="11" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtitle"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="22" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Strong"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="20" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="59" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Table Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Placeholder Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="No Spacing"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Revision"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="34" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="List Paragraph"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="29" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="30" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="19" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="21" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="31" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="32" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="33" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Book Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="37" Name="Bibliography"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" QFormat="true" Name="TOC Heading"/>
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]-->
<!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-priority:99;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin:0in;
mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Cambria;}
</style>
<![endif]-->
<!--StartFragment-->
<!--EndFragment--><br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-lenrQbyWTIM/Vx0lqnSsCeI/AAAAAAAAAQ8/yD6TUaRaWeEPVh-DIDAR4ZJBxCppUfsOgCLcB/s1600/Screen%2BShot%2B2016-04-24%2Bat%2B9.57.08%2BPM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="113" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-lenrQbyWTIM/Vx0lqnSsCeI/AAAAAAAAAQ8/yD6TUaRaWeEPVh-DIDAR4ZJBxCppUfsOgCLcB/s400/Screen%2BShot%2B2016-04-24%2Bat%2B9.57.08%2BPM.png" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"Home is where the heart is"</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span></span></div>
Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4382462854789516085.post-35715695592702070312016-04-24T04:44:00.004-07:002016-04-24T04:44:47.562-07:00Overcoming Obstacles; Learning Lessons, Now What? Angers, France (BB)<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-_wJEnX6IKDw/VxyxXZdMA2I/AAAAAAAABBY/ZFviUxLVWDk4x5wQ9FI8NaxTxzeJ-NM4QCLcB/s1600/angers.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; font-family: Calibri, serif; font-size: 14.6667px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-_wJEnX6IKDw/VxyxXZdMA2I/AAAAAAAABBY/ZFviUxLVWDk4x5wQ9FI8NaxTxzeJ-NM4QCLcB/s400/angers.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Angers, France</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri, serif;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">In
some ways it feels like just yesterday that I arrived here in France,
in other ways it feels like I have been here for far longer. In
truth, it has been almost three months since I left the United States
for the study abroad experience of a lifetime. When I hit the
halfway mark for my stay in France, the start of April, it was in the
back of my mind that I would be leaving soon, but I did not really
think much more about it. Fast forward a few weeks, April is drawing
to a close and I fly home in about five weeks. I think that
everything just started to feel real when I finally purchased my
ticket home. Now that my flight home has a date and time, it is a
much more concrete thing in my mind.</span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-W-0zvaCdup8/VxyxWze5YHI/AAAAAAAABBU/qMe0iT8Z0DwBTcDgm9lYEu5_XLKSabHbgCLcB/s1600/fromage.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; font-family: Calibri, serif; font-size: 14.6667px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-W-0zvaCdup8/VxyxWze5YHI/AAAAAAAABBU/qMe0iT8Z0DwBTcDgm9lYEu5_XLKSabHbgCLcB/s320/fromage.jpg" width="212" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">French cheese shop</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri, serif;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">Thinking
back on the experience so far, I think that the most difficult
obstacle I have faced here is just speaking the language without
faltering. I am lucky enough to have a host mother who speaks
English, which makes it much easier if I do not know a word in
french, but it also means that I have to step outside my host
family's house to put myself out of my comfort zone. If I am out in
public speaking to people who do not also speak a bit of English, I
am then forced to flounder my way around the conversation in some way
or another. When I first got here, I was very shy and would often
depend on other people in my little group of friends to </span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri, serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 100%;">do most of
the talking if we met locals or had questions at a restaurant. It
wasn't that I didn't understand what was being said, it was that I
was not confident enough in my french to attempt to speak because I
was too scared of making mistakes. It took me awhile to figure out
that most french people in this small town are forgiving, and if
anything, will try to help me with my french if I make a mistake
while I am speaking. There is a very kind family at the market I go
to on Saturday mornings, my friends and I refer to them as our
“Cheese People” because they always have a stall with cheese and
other products from their farm. When I speak to them, they are always
patient and help me with my pronunciation, sometimes repeating words
several times for me. I am by no means fluent in french, but after
studying here for three months I am much more comfortable speaking
and I also realize that making mistakes is the only way I am going to
learn.</span></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri, serif;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">Now
that I'm getting to the final few weeks of my experience, I am
experiencing the stereotypical “bittersweet” period that I have
heard many previous students of study abroad talk about. At some
moments, I find myself wishing I could return home tomorrow because I
miss my family and friends, American food and culture, and just the
mundane aspects of daily life back in Pennsylvania. Sometimes I wish
I could go back to my bedroom at home just to be in a more familiar
space, but other times I wonder what I will feel like when I get
back. Some of the restaurants here in Angers have become “my
space”. There is a small kebab restaurant that I often go to with
my friends, and even though it sounds like just a small aspect of my
time in France, it is one of those places that has become so familiar
to me in my time here. The man who runs it knows the orders of me
and all of my friends, we are creatures of habit when it comes to our
food. Back in the United States, most of the restaurants near me are
more chains than anything, and I would never expect anyone working
there to remember me or my order even if I went there five times a
week. </span></span>
</div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri, serif;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri, serif;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">I
also find myself thinking about all of the new friends I have made in
my time here. Will I ever keep in contact with them when I leave? I
have made friends from different countries, from different states in
the U.S., from everywhere. I miss my old friend in the United States
like crazy, but I know that I will miss everyone I met in France as
soon as I leave. I also miss my parents, who I'm used to seeing every
month or so even when I'm away at school because I'm less than two
hours away from home. My amazing host mother who has guided me
through my time in France will probably one of the hardest people to
leave behind here. The life I have<br />made here, even if only for a few
months, has become my new normal. A new set of friends, a new
family, and a new home will be traded for what was once my normal
life when I fly home in June, and I will miss all of it. </span></span>
</div>
Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4382462854789516085.post-58011474495062770362016-04-22T11:02:00.000-07:002016-04-22T11:02:42.120-07:00Global Citizenship and the Purpose of Study Away: Angers (AS)<div class="MsoNormal">
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-x_GJ2gMwNFU/VxjbHfhg2lI/AAAAAAAAAQg/FnOZoW_o_A46ZxVl90rqU9I-gyR-9NCrACLcB/s1600/IMG_7604.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-x_GJ2gMwNFU/VxjbHfhg2lI/AAAAAAAAAQg/FnOZoW_o_A46ZxVl90rqU9I-gyR-9NCrACLcB/s320/IMG_7604.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The hike back from Loch Ness</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;">Anyone who knows me knows that I have been waiting to
study abroad since I was young. I always wanted to study in France and continue
learning other languages to allow me to study other languages. But why did I,
specifically, want to study abroad? It all started when I went to visit my
oldest sister when she was studying abroad. I thought it was so cool that she
could speak another language and that she was perfectly comfortable doing so. I
was her shadow growing up, and therefore wanted to be like her. So now as I sit
in my university’s library in France writing this blog amongst other homework,
I sit back and think again, why am I here? I wanted to come to really focus on
my French capabilities and also see what it was like to 1.) Live FAR away from
home, and 2.) Live in a French home. So far I can comfortably say that my
French has improved immensely. I can communicate with ease and I am comfortable
traveling alone for I know that I can be the one to communicate with others in
this foreign country. Now this country has become my second home now. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Out of
the three prompted documents, I have to argue with the document titled
“American Students Abroad Can’t be ‘Global Citizens’” by </span><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Talya
Zemach-Bersin.</span><span style="font-family: "times";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Qp_IFzm4aqo/Vxja9irbg4I/AAAAAAAAAQc/SaIpqUUdEUMtCABdTyMV9JLF5Vix4KB2QCLcB/s1600/IMG_7360.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Qp_IFzm4aqo/Vxja9irbg4I/AAAAAAAAAQc/SaIpqUUdEUMtCABdTyMV9JLF5Vix4KB2QCLcB/s400/IMG_7360.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Stonehenge</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The reason I need
to <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">argue </i>this document is because
this in <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">one</i> person’s person abroad
experience. I believe that her situation abroad is too different from mine. She
voyaged into the developing world and that was her own choice, she should have
been well aware of what the circumstances were of the places she was traveling
to. Her outlook is very pessimistic on the entirety of the study abroad
experience. The most beneficial part of study abroad is learning about another
culture and how they react to any and everything around them, including us
Americans. Yes, we have an enormous privilege, but Talya seems to view that as
a bad thing because of how the way people treated her when she was in her host
countries. Often times I feel as though Americans here are generalized as not
knowing more than one language and also that they are all obese, but this is
obviously not the case, for there are two sides to every story, and she merely
gave one side, which happened to, from my view, be negative towards Americans
abroad. I personally plan on living abroad, probably here in France. How one
feels towards a country and their culture varies from one person to the next. I
love my host country, and I also love and I am proud to be an American. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-YrVTu052H3I/VxjasyRDW9I/AAAAAAAAAQY/rB8Kz6DzTbgQYwukcfW62oeV9YMrGS8EACLcB/s1600/IMG_7933.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-YrVTu052H3I/VxjasyRDW9I/AAAAAAAAAQY/rB8Kz6DzTbgQYwukcfW62oeV9YMrGS8EACLcB/s400/IMG_7933.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">In Edinburgh, Scotland</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>My experience
will not be shared like her experience though. Yes I had some downsides, those were
inevitable, but my life here is completely different from my life at home. I
live with a new family, new friends, new country, new language, new food, I have
all of these new things, and I embrace every new challenge that comes my way. These
obstacles will merely make me grow as a person. I will be able to tell my loved
ones and my future interviewers that I am a changed person thanks to all of the
things I learned when studying abroad. I will not be afraid to explain the bad
times for they will be made up by all of the wonderful things that have
happened in these past two and a half months. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
<o:AllowPNG/>
</o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
</xml><![endif]-->
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:View>Normal</w:View>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:TrackMoves/>
<w:TrackFormatting/>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:DoNotPromoteQF/>
<w:LidThemeOther>EN-US</w:LidThemeOther>
<w:LidThemeAsian>JA</w:LidThemeAsian>
<w:LidThemeComplexScript>X-NONE</w:LidThemeComplexScript>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:SnapToGridInCell/>
<w:WrapTextWithPunct/>
<w:UseAsianBreakRules/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
<w:SplitPgBreakAndParaMark/>
<w:EnableOpenTypeKerning/>
<w:DontFlipMirrorIndents/>
<w:OverrideTableStyleHps/>
<w:UseFELayout/>
</w:Compatibility>
<m:mathPr>
<m:mathFont m:val="Cambria Math"/>
<m:brkBin m:val="before"/>
<m:brkBinSub m:val="--"/>
<m:smallFrac m:val="off"/>
<m:dispDef/>
<m:lMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:rMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:defJc m:val="centerGroup"/>
<m:wrapIndent m:val="1440"/>
<m:intLim m:val="subSup"/>
<m:naryLim m:val="undOvr"/>
</m:mathPr></w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" DefUnhideWhenUsed="true"
DefSemiHidden="true" DefQFormat="false" DefPriority="99"
LatentStyleCount="276">
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="0" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Normal"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="heading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="35" QFormat="true" Name="caption"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="10" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" Name="Default Paragraph Font"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="11" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtitle"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="22" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Strong"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="20" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="59" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Table Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Placeholder Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="No Spacing"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Revision"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="34" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="List Paragraph"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="29" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="30" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="19" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="21" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="31" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="32" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="33" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Book Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="37" Name="Bibliography"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" QFormat="true" Name="TOC Heading"/>
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]-->
<!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-priority:99;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin:0in;
mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Cambria;}
</style>
<![endif]-->
<!--StartFragment-->
<span style="font-family: "times new roman";"> I
will be able to take away more of my education, a new language, a new culture,
a new way to embrace life when I come home. This has also made me realize that
there are some things in every culture that are irreplaceable. These things can
be like my friends at home, the bread and cheese here in France, and all of the
little things that make each place unique. I am split in half right now, as I am
in the middle of the semester and therefore half way through my abroad
experience. I feel so excited to go home, but I also feel like I need to be
here and discover more of what France has to offer. I know I will eventually
have to go home. But I will also have to come back here to my second home</span><br />
<br />
<br />
<!--EndFragment-->
Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4382462854789516085.post-72320175722613948312016-04-21T08:49:00.003-07:002016-04-21T08:49:43.489-07:00Angers Visible Differences (JL)<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-J4JCLUJpmSA/Vxj1RYfX1eI/AAAAAAAAAEw/1SLOdL7F3hY6rD-Mi9kwM1Z7Hl5VNHJ7gCLcB/s1600/IMG_20160214_155139.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; display: inline !important; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-J4JCLUJpmSA/Vxj1RYfX1eI/AAAAAAAAAEw/1SLOdL7F3hY6rD-Mi9kwM1Z7Hl5VNHJ7gCLcB/s320/IMG_20160214_155139.jpg" width="316" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Some of our cheeses from the market</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">For me, the biggest difference other than speaking French every day is the food. French food is pretty good on average and I’ve had good food from all over the place, but it is the social aspect of it that is so culturally different. According to my <i>etude socio-culturelle </i>professor, 99% of French people consider gastronomy to be an essential part of French lifestyle and culture. 99%!!! That is a ridiculously high number for a nationally polled statistic for any country. If the French can agree on one thing, it is their food being important. I try to buy fresh fruits, vegetables, bread, and cheese from the local market when I can. However, that market is only once per week and sometimes I run to the supermarket for more odd food items or if I need something during the week. As far as I know, my host parents purchase their food in the same manner, in addition to growing many of their own vegetables. My host father also makes his own bread and jam from scratch, but laughed when I asked if he made his own butter too (which was homemade) and asked if I saw any cows in their</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">backyard. My host mother cooks for about 45 minutes to an hour every night, and when we dine the average meal length is never shorter than 1.5 hours, many times stretching two hours. It is not that our meals are extravagant, they are just traditionally a long time to allow for digestion and conversation. Only my very first night with my host parents did they cook a fairly extravagant meal with 7 or 8 courses. Usually the meal order goes soup, followed by the main dish (usually with meat, but sometimes with fish), then cheese, and concluded with dessert. All throughout the meal they will have bread and wine available as well.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-03ft74I3ZRE/Vxj1P2pT36I/AAAAAAAAAEs/2bMGHQnFo_sRenPW-sWoG-euZUHyYD9awCLcB/s1600/20160304_163857.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-03ft74I3ZRE/Vxj1P2pT36I/AAAAAAAAAEs/2bMGHQnFo_sRenPW-sWoG-euZUHyYD9awCLcB/s320/20160304_163857.jpg" width="180" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A local wine</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></o:p></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-r8ozVPVHOg0/Vxj1ILw7xnI/AAAAAAAAAEo/EoRKDhCRoXEfdQ15ldyhsWbLsuNoF5z9ACLcB/s1600/20160204_152617.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-r8ozVPVHOg0/Vxj1ILw7xnI/AAAAAAAAAEo/EoRKDhCRoXEfdQ15ldyhsWbLsuNoF5z9ACLcB/s200/20160204_152617.jpg" width="111" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Me in my "French" attire<br /> at my university</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Another thing that is extremely important to French culture
is clothing and style. It seems that everyone has their own style that is
different, yet every one of them screams “I AM FRENCH!!!” As an American, it
feels very strange when I’m on my way to school in some of my nicest clothes
and I pass a group of middle schoolers who have me out-dressed, meanwhile it is
just another day for them. I was essentially forced to make some wardrobe
changes when I got here, unless I wanted to stick out like a sore American
thumb for the next four and a half months. Some things the French will never
wear: shorts, sneakers, flip flops, sandals, utilitarian clothing (i.e. cargo
pants, etc.), and <i>loose fitting clothing</i>.
Some of the strangest looks I’ve received were on public transportation after a
late start to my morning and all I had time for was my sweatpants and my
Allegheny College sweatshirt. Sometimes I also get the vibe that if your
clothes aren’t name brand, they are cheap. Even though I may get some odd looks
in my sweats, French people don’t have an attitude about their clothing and
they are not as pompous towards those with less branded clothes than
themselves. I imagine that it’s simply what every French person’s wardrobe must
look like on the interior: fashionable. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Finally, for this blog, I will talk about public
transportation, which is my primary means of getting around Angers if I don’t
want to walk several kilometers. I live
about a 45-minute walk from my University and 40 minutes from the center of
town. I have only done the walk twice, mainly
because it has been too cold most of the time to walk all the way to school or
because I don’t have enough time in the morning to take a leisurely stroll to
school. Luckily, there is a tram stop
only 5 minutes from my house, and there is only one tram line in Angers, so I’ve
never gotten lost yet! There are also many buses that make a web of routes
throughout the city and some of the surrounding area. Even though Angers is a relatively
safe city (I think), I feel safer taking public transportation than I do walking
places, especially at night. It costs me €31 per month to have an unlimited bus/tram
card, which, in comparison with some of the cities and countries I visited over
spring break, is very cheap. I enjoyed the struggle of figuring out public
transportation, and now I am enjoying the services it offers. Considering my
only previous experience with public transportation before Angers was taking
the Loop a few times in Meadville, I think I am faring pretty well here on my
own. </span></span></div>
Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4382462854789516085.post-15499958832873211132016-04-21T07:39:00.002-07:002016-04-21T07:39:52.665-07:00Angers Education (JL)<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Education in France has a few similarities with the United
States, but for the most part things are very different here. For example, both
France and the United States have a requirement for school until a certain age
or degree. In France, schooling is required from ages 6 to 16, and in the US
grades K-12 are obligatory. Like preschool back at home, France offers optional
schooling called <i>école maternelle</i> for
children ages 3 to 6, as long they are able to use the toilet on their own. After <i>école maternelle</i>, there is <i>école primaire </i>(elementary school) from ages 6-11, <i>collège</i> (middle school) from 11-15, <i>lycée</i> (high school) from 15-18, and <i>université.</i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></o:p></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
</div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://i-cms.linternaute.com/image_cms/original/10186091-najat-vallaud-belkacem-francois-hollande-lui-a-trouve-un-nouveau-petit-nom.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="See original image" border="0" src="http://i-cms.linternaute.com/image_cms/original/10186091-najat-vallaud-belkacem-francois-hollande-lui-a-trouve-un-nouveau-petit-nom.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Francois Hollande (right) and his minister of <br />
Education, Najat Vallaud-Belkacem (left)<br />
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Image from images.google.com</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">As I mentioned in my previous blog, there has been a lot of
hype in the news about the new reforms to education. President Francois
Hollande, Prime Minister Manuel Valls, and Minister of Education Najat Vallaud-Belkacem are defending their decisions to make
changed such as removing dead languages (Greek and Latin) from the curriculum, pushing
back the age gate to start learning a second foreign language from 11 to
13, and putting a slight emphasis in history classes on the subjects of slave
trade and colonialism. Political parties on the right with more Christian roots
have also expressed malcontent with a rise in the teaching of the history of
Islam in schools. There is still much debate over what is to be obligatory and
what is to be left up to the teachers for subjects like history. </span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">France has a very awkward relationship with religion and
schooling. There have been numerous laws
created or amended in hopes of solving the age old problem of religion in
schools. France has very Christian roots; one only needs to looks as far back as
the late-19<sup>th </sup>/early 20<sup>th</sup> centuries to see Catholicism in
the government. While the Church and
state have been officially separated since 1905 and religion was removed from
the curriculum in public schools, there are still changing laws about nitpicky
things like religious symbols and school meal plans. There was never a problem
over the past hundred years when a student would wear a large cross to school,
the problem only started when Christian parents became upset at Muslim girls
who wore the headscarf to school. It was apparently because it was not the
children’s idea to wear the headscarf and therefore follow Islam, but it was
the parents who forced these ideas on their children before they were old enough
to make their own decision. That sound an awful lot to me like parenting, but I’m
afraid I just will not understand the French sometimes. As the very vague law
of <i>laïcité </i>(separation of religion
and public schools) stands now, it is states that you can only wear a religious
symbol to school if it is discreetly small, which essentially rules out
headscarves but allows Christian cross necklaces, which are easily concealable.
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-G96NkWk3UE8/VxjldgTyt1I/AAAAAAAAAEY/vgxYyTCbQ7UJXMuwtnpoyA76SbG21c7AQCLcB/s1600/Lycee.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="238" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-G96NkWk3UE8/VxjldgTyt1I/AAAAAAAAAEY/vgxYyTCbQ7UJXMuwtnpoyA76SbG21c7AQCLcB/s320/Lycee.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">High school options with higher, more distant degrees at the top</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">French schooling lessens up on its obscenely vague and
sometimes unnecessary rules after <i>lycée</i>,
which is essentially high school. The school system also branches out into 3-4 different major paths that a French student must choose at age 15/16. For example, there are specific <i>lycées </i>that
you should go to if you want to be a doctor or a lawyer or a scientist. Most US college students have no idea what
they want to do with their lives when they are about to graduate, let alone
when they just get into high school! Students are 15 and 16 when choosing a <i>lycée</i> program. However, they are not as
rigorous as a university is to get into, and you are always guaranteed a spot
in a <i>lycée</i>. The case is not the same
for university, where everyone can get in (to public and state schools) but the
drop-out rate after the first year is roughly 2/3. Professors very rarely give
outstanding grades to first year university students because there are just so
many of them. In the end, it all works out because there will be a normal number
of students after the 66% drop out. Education in France is different than in the
United States in many other ways, and I would need another few blog posts to
write about them all. Even though there are many things I think need to be
perfected with the French schooling system, I am thoroughly enjoying the
education I’m receiving in Angers! And right now, that is what matters. </span></div>
Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4382462854789516085.post-87777259945447361992016-04-21T06:08:00.001-07:002016-04-21T06:09:57.517-07:00Interpersonal Relationships: Angers (AS) <div class="MsoNormal">
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: justify;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-FLNVYwLqa4E/VxjPZnt8skI/AAAAAAAAAP8/hkVOOUn7NTk-sxaIQy_YB09sgQYK-cpZgCLcB/s1600/IMG_7580.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-FLNVYwLqa4E/VxjPZnt8skI/AAAAAAAAAP8/hkVOOUn7NTk-sxaIQy_YB09sgQYK-cpZgCLcB/s320/IMG_7580.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bethany, Justin, and I at Urquhart Castle at Loch Ness</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "times";">It
is completely strange to me that I am able to call another country and another
home my own home. I never thought that I would feel this comfortable somewhere
that isn’t in the US. I have to admit that when everything was becoming
official and I was going abroad, I was having second thoughts because I didn’t
want to leave the life I was living in the US. I’m now extremely thankful that
I didn’t let my fears take over. I kept telling myself that it would all be ok;
I have lived away from home since I was 14 anyways thanks to boarding school
after all. After switching host families, I have found my home away from home.
I am almost as comfortable here as I am in my own home in the US; it’s hard to
beat the real home feeling though. I have become closer with my host mom, which
has been what I wanted out of my host family experience. We have dinner at
least three nights a week and we have breakfast together every morning. We are
able to talk about nearly anything. When we talk its great because she also has
helped me learn a lot of new things about France, the French language, and even
just normal household things. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "times";"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>In the realm of professional
relationships I think of my professors. Things <o:p></o:p></span><span style="font-family: "times";">are a bit different here than at
Allegheny. The classes are relatively larger, and I don’t see my professors
around campus as much. There aren’t office hours to which I may just pop my
head in for a quick question. Professors here make very little to no attempt to
get to know you on a personal level, but sometimes that isn’t a bad thing. They
are always very helpful though. Anytime someone has a question about who knows
what, the person to ask is usually your Langue professor, which to me seems to
be the equivalent of an advisor at Allegheny. I meet with my Langue professor
at least once a month to just check in and discuss how things are going.</span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "times";"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>The general mood here seems to be
pleasant. Whenever I walk into the halls of our main building at CIDEF, I am
always greeted by at least one of my peers. Everyone has been really friendly.
Studying abroad can be scary when you’re alone and you have to start on a clean
slate. This, to me, is also a blessing because it gives everyone a chance to
make new friends that will last. It is nice to have people around you that are
going through the same feeling and experiences. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-EFLZADfajkE/VxjPsJgU4SI/AAAAAAAAAQE/vXKnbJAYLnQ-BX2dJlzsCgWLuB8XdVN2ACLcB/s1600/IMG_7670.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="122" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-EFLZADfajkE/VxjPsJgU4SI/AAAAAAAAAQE/vXKnbJAYLnQ-BX2dJlzsCgWLuB8XdVN2ACLcB/s400/IMG_7670.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The view from Arthur's Seat, Edinburgh, Scotland</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="color: black; font-family: "times";"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>One thing that is important in
French culture is that there are some quirks in the language for certain groups
of people. There are certain forms of “you” that are used for peers, and then
those who you don’t know, a professional manner, and your superiors. Things
feel awkward when you accidentally use the peer form of the verb when you
should have used the more formal one. My first thought is always “I hope they
don’t think I was trying to be disrespectful”. From what I noticed, this little
rule tends to mean a lot, at least I have learned that. There are also ways
that you can modify sentences to be more informal, such as when you’re with
friends. We have slowly been trying to master all of these differences in our
phonetics class; our professor said she wants us to speak like native French students,
but maybe with better grammar. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "times";"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><b>A bit of information for those who
are about to go abroad: </b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: black; font-family: "symbol";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="color: black; font-family: "times";">Don’t be afraid to make
mistakes if you’re going to a country where they speak another language. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">It will happen.</i> You will sometimes have
times where you cant get your point across and become enormously frustrated,
but eventually you will be able to with ease. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-HTsPg8aKci4/VxjPfRmvzgI/AAAAAAAAAQA/MxEIF7PoBLMe3vlPLxTA-VqxXuaOETvcACLcB/s1600/IMG_7273.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: justify;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-HTsPg8aKci4/VxjPfRmvzgI/AAAAAAAAAQA/MxEIF7PoBLMe3vlPLxTA-VqxXuaOETvcACLcB/s320/IMG_7273.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Some chalk art in London at Trafalgar Square</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: black; font-family: "symbol";"></span><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "symbol";"><span style="color: black; font-family: "symbol"; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-stretch: normal;"> </span></span></span><span style="color: black; font-family: "times"; text-indent: -0.25in;">Make friends with people
from all over the world.</span></span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: black; font-family: "symbol";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="color: black; font-family: "times";">Go out and see your city
and everywhere around or near it. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: black; font-family: "symbol";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="color: black; font-family: "times";">If you have a question,
ask it. Whether it be before you come abroad or after, you can always email
people at Allegheny or even ask professors in your host city. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: black; font-family: "symbol";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="color: black; font-family: "times";">It isn’t necessary to
call your parents or sibling everyday (coming from someone who talks to her mom
and brother <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">every</i> day. I admit it is
weird that I don’t call my mom every day on the way to lunch, she would be mad
because its 6am then hehe.)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: black; font-family: "symbol";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="color: black; font-family: "times";">HAVE FUN participate in
events! Going out to clubs and bars isn’t necessary to have fun either. But
traveling and hanging out with new people always is. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: black; font-family: "symbol";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="color: black; font-family: "times";">Save up some extra cash
if you can, it will be worth it in the end. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: black; font-family: "symbol";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="color: black; font-family: "times";">Buy any transportation
tickets EARLY. They’re far cheaper.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: black; font-family: "symbol";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="color: black; font-family: "times";">From someone who had to,
it is completely OK to have to switch host families if there are issues. My
first family was miserable and now I am far happier and adore my host mother. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: black; font-family: "symbol";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="color: black; font-family: "times";">You can always ask
someone who went abroad any questions, I’m sure they’d be happy to. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
</div>
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
<o:AllowPNG/>
</o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
</xml><![endif]-->
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:View>Normal</w:View>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:TrackMoves/>
<w:TrackFormatting/>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:DoNotPromoteQF/>
<w:LidThemeOther>EN-US</w:LidThemeOther>
<w:LidThemeAsian>JA</w:LidThemeAsian>
<w:LidThemeComplexScript>X-NONE</w:LidThemeComplexScript>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:SnapToGridInCell/>
<w:WrapTextWithPunct/>
<w:UseAsianBreakRules/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
<w:SplitPgBreakAndParaMark/>
<w:EnableOpenTypeKerning/>
<w:DontFlipMirrorIndents/>
<w:OverrideTableStyleHps/>
<w:UseFELayout/>
</w:Compatibility>
<m:mathPr>
<m:mathFont m:val="Cambria Math"/>
<m:brkBin m:val="before"/>
<m:brkBinSub m:val="--"/>
<m:smallFrac m:val="off"/>
<m:dispDef/>
<m:lMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:rMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:defJc m:val="centerGroup"/>
<m:wrapIndent m:val="1440"/>
<m:intLim m:val="subSup"/>
<m:naryLim m:val="undOvr"/>
</m:mathPr></w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" DefUnhideWhenUsed="true"
DefSemiHidden="true" DefQFormat="false" DefPriority="99"
LatentStyleCount="276">
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="0" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Normal"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="heading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="35" QFormat="true" Name="caption"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="10" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" Name="Default Paragraph Font"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="11" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtitle"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="22" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Strong"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="20" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="59" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Table Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Placeholder Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="No Spacing"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Revision"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="34" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="List Paragraph"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="29" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="30" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="19" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="21" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="31" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="32" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="33" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Book Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="37" Name="Bibliography"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" QFormat="true" Name="TOC Heading"/>
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]-->
<!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-priority:99;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin:0in;
mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Cambria;}
</style>
<![endif]-->
<!--StartFragment-->
<!--EndFragment--><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "times";">Life
abroad may be different, but a change can do a person some good every once in a
while. I’m over halfway in my abroad experience and so far my only regret has
been that I didn’t switch my host sooner, but that is trivial compared to all
of the fun I’ve had and all of the people I’ve met! <span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
</div>
Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4382462854789516085.post-16160805724464852702016-04-21T05:30:00.000-07:002016-04-21T06:25:35.437-07:00Angers News (JL)<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/fr/1/17/20_heures_France_2_logo_2014.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="See original image" border="0" height="174" src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/fr/1/17/20_heures_France_2_logo_2014.png" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Vingt Heures </i>logo</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Every day at 8pm my host parents turn on the news. We start eating at 7, so this is about usually
around the time we finish with the main course and start eating cheese. The
program is called <i>Vingt Heures</i> (20th hour) and it’s the daily news that comes on every day at 20:00 (8:00pm). I don’t
understand everything they discuss mainly because I don’t understand French
perfectly and also because the newscaster speaks incredibly fast. From what I have
seen thus far, the program speaks of every topic available from international
politics to a local farmer who produced his record amount of wine for the
year. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="data:image/jpeg;base64,/9j/4AAQSkZJRgABAQAAAQABAAD/2wCEAAkGBwgHBgkIBwgKCgkLDRYPDQwMDRsUFRAWIB0iIiAdHx8kKDQsJCYxJx8fLT0tMTU3Ojo6Iys/RD84QzQ5OjcBCgoKDQwNGg8PGjclHyU3Nzc3Nzc3Nzc3Nzc3Nzc3Nzc3Nzc3Nzc3Nzc3Nzc3Nzc3Nzc3Nzc3Nzc3Nzc3Nzc3N//AABEIALoAiAMBIgACEQEDEQH/xAAcAAABBQEBAQAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAQMEBQYCBwj/xAA9EAACAQMDAgQEAgkCBQUAAAABAgMABBEFEiExQQYTUWEicYGRB6EUFSMyM1JyscFC0SRiksLhFjRDgqL/xAAaAQABBQEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAQIDBAUG/8QAKREAAgICAAUDBAMBAAAAAAAAAAECAwQRBRIhMUEiMlETFCNhFXGBUv/aAAwDAQACEQMRAD8AxIrqlxRXUmYFLRRSAFFFIWA70jkl3Y5JvsLS5ruGMStjdj6VZQ6ZAU3GUse646VTt4hRX3ZYhiWy8FV2zRWhttNs25I3AjoWxj8qmHTNPYBfI2t7nOfrVf8AlqvCJf4+a8mSoFae88OqIxJC3wEZ+EZx9KoJ7ZomIBDY9KuU5ddvZlayidfcZWR0/dYiuepzzk0EYoqwQhRRRQIFFFFAolFFLThBKGIUZNJIwRCx7VGjZ5SWBHXj1FUczNjjx/ZbxsV3P9Dyb5jtQED+Ymriw0d3wXB/680xYQGRlCsufetNZGSBQsiAD1H+9c1kZdlz9TNuuiFS9KObfTUAxxkdz1qRDaRq2MAfTFShKr/ujaK6j+I4GD9KrdCU6h0+MHPGD175+lSJbCDYDHlSOw6U2oeP4gQvzyKh3s9yy4BC+4zUieiNxbB7qeyJjkAZDwW28YrN3Vp5jNPAd6jOVHYVKeW4b/5Cf6jkGnLVLtGLxFcMCCBzxU1Vri9oZZV0M5MmxgPam6sNShdXZmUDJ7VX4rqse36lakYN1fJNoMUYpaBUxCFFLRQA3S0YopwES+mCYQ5561K00JkFHAJ7YqDq0RdoNjctkH+9P2ULle+7PauX4pJu5pnQYEV9NGktoXTEh2uO+Ku7dmZBt6dgaodOeSMYbLduRV3byEj4I+Paslmhyk9Aj43KPocVJhRBkodp/wCYCoiSLjkEU41wyj9jKit+dOQ1wbOr2Xyo/jaPnvjBNVCMHY88nvjg09NG0rEviT1Oc1yloY3yMbejEtjFI2x6go9xh7bOeDjHHpXUVtPHGxjzjHIqTDuUsM7lOSCKm20sbAjGMgrz3qWt7Ibei6Hn8l80tw8LnJU4zXJOTVNrMrWOuXO7/RIcD61awP50KSZB3KDkdK6PhlidfL5Rh58NS5juilxRWmUAooooA5oopcU4CJeMqz225cgsR+VW2xVi34+L1B61W3SjdBnH8QAfWrARs1ysUbfAW6evyrl+Kr87Og4fL8SLrSrOa5QEJzn0zV5b6U6qA6uD3b1+1Q49SjsbdEUEv1wFycZqOviHWXk3WdiWiOThiASPbmstRNLnfgvxpagczS/TiiPSoNwZmk+Hrlqqv/UsqSRreWktuzEAF+n3q9Ky3Ft5yyYQjjHpT9JC7ZSaxdraBLe1G64dsLGB29z9qjWtjebS16/xFsskWWx86NNt7hLm5l8t5ZS23cRyg9vc1J1fT/EtzeWqWd5Fb2Q2mQRPtKeq9MsfenRhshnLlEnmVVje3IcE7Tzim77KwsEOGHKEdzVt+rYEtvLlczuDnew5Y/LpVXqY2BcnkcUzsxySkjA67bLf6m8hwHkALE+tLp8EtrF5cpBQk7NvOKsNSgWK8jbIAccZ70hRmMUY5XzABj39a0MG6UblryUsuiMqm/gbopeMUldQc6FFKKKALP8AUF555iwM+tdz+HL2GMv8LYGcCt+EUuTt59RXcg3owZMYHGazPu5l77eJ41qrmGJH6NHIDg+1P210F1mHPKleKvfEHhu41B7pLdBu/fiGcZIPT69KyVif+PSOUFJEO07hgg+9Z/EfVZzfov4PSPKbJJ5FvHWJS28DkLkKKslj1qS1k/VsMUEiMAHnVXaYd+TnaP7U34YeCSRo5ArbuCGHT3q/hW5yAIlJHAYd6zE9M0pJtEPSvD1y9mp8QXSXDyAmRUXaPYDGB+VWmmEeRJB2QYApyeOdLdmkk3Oe3oKY0UrNLKw6HINK2mwgmkLaXAiXaW+AtzjipoiubrjzVWL2zmqbUlktrspGF5GSD3q5sblfIXDHpRFiyjvqhmeKOEhVHTuazOsMGmXbyN3NX+pTHnHWs7OQWJ75pktEkY9Cn1K0hup/LkXDxkNE3/2wf71M1+wFnbxzIQC6KxwPfH+a6t5Y/wBcWMsgGFkwwPrg4/PFdeL76N5DaIOWAfg8KOePqcVbwk5XRSK2W+SqX9GZxRS9aQ11pygUUUUAeg6Jq6XAZmYYBrjWPEUNtIUU59hWIt7maDPltgGuJXaV97nJqp9pHm34LLyHymnbxHEEEi/xO4rN65DDqGtwX1qQpmKrMh4y3TP5j7U1QOuQcEHOfTFNvw4zraXcfRlShNNklnudF1KFpCdvf/mXOM/2ra2OoLcDcpwO/NZrW3Oo6fHdSNmZPhOP5Txn713o8waNGU84wwHrXK2LT0zqK2muhtGuP2ZBJ6ViNZ8U3Ph/VJofJJhkUMpHBHFaiJw6qCOaeuLa0vEC3sUcqJ2kGaSL69Qn26Hn1je694p1T9Ism8qGPjc4O2vR7O3lt7S3WVt86IBIy8BjTQ1TTLNRDbbGB4ENumT9hTc+rSDAisLvnpuULn7kU+RHFy8jl0NxPrVJeIcgDjJ61b2sk1wzGa3eD0D45+xqDqm1VLfy1CyWLMn4kma2tnkibbImGU+hFVWmyzXFv+kXLl5ZTuLN1xXXia/iM6RyD9mWUv8ALNPxlGQNGQUI4Kng1vcIrXWfkxOLWPah4FopaSt0xRDS0YopdCC0UUUgoUtFHWlAGaXynijk2I4wwIyDS6LeeTe+W/D52sPf1qFf6pa2IIdw0oHEa8n6+lZ2HVLia9MxOHP7oHAHtWFxOqlrcfca+BkWxfLN9D2iLmFXTlgM4FVN4t+ZGmuGLwk/DaK+zPuzf4qBofiFJokGdrYwa0sPkTMHkIZvQ9KweqZu9H1K6wl8Q3ilLG0s9LhPHmEBmPyA61ZWmjXUDFrjUDczE8sy4A+Q5pyO6NvITu+An908Y9q5udSiGCzYz6HNSb2gaZKeGSJSXlz7VnNdu/LidSwqL4r8Upb2witZAZ2HHOce5rBXWqXc6t5sxYngn2pFW5EbsUSLqUz3l8QmSWO1fnUWy1O6sQUif4f5HGRUnSo5JdSt9oy3mr/eoF+oW/uEX91ZnA+5rRpbgvSZGR6pbZZL4jvCQPLhz8j/AL0v68vnbAMS49E/3quiiCnJOakBASSOKtK+1+Sv9OHwWUOuTqf20aSf0/DRVeI8daKesiz5G/Sj8Gx9qj3N9a2wPnTICP8ATnJ+1Z2e+u7gYkmbB/0r8I/KoggXP7tWp5v/ACiKOP8AJdy+Iogf2EDt7scCq271C7u2OZGjj7IhwP8AzTawewp1YgKqzvsn3ZNGuMexEMGfcnrmuIbf/iYgM/E4HHucVPYAGi0VRqFrv4Xz48/LcKryWyRFpd2U2k6gY+dp5VvVT0Pzp1ry9iIeOeQkdCDW+13Qt48mVQpXmNyOMVlm0xbSQpNGVPYHp9KpSgtmhXdtDEviG8aDaWG49TtqpuL27ncMZG+9WVzZ9Tb491PeqS43xyDIIGcHNMUUTOUn5GpULZLHJ7k1HcbvhFSZGDHaMknoKl21qYgGdfjx9qeiKbLDwppoVpLuUcQqT9SP8CsXIxnnaTu7Fvuc16NqGdI8JTkgpPKnI7gtgD8jXn1ug5b7VPWilN7Z3Tic02RilVgDkmpyMkHkUUHheaKUDpY6cVcV3iugBTtCHPSkXkZ7dqVscAnrS9BikAaeuEbbKr/ykH7HNOuKbELzboo1Znf4VVRkkmgD6WurJL6yU4HxKGUntxmsfqWmCaNoJgVPUHHINa601i1TTrUXG9JhChlQLnadvI+dOxiy1RDJC0U4BwfVT7iqzRJF6PF7+xu7OQh42KdnUZBrNa5fJEgQKpmPTPYetfQGrWNja2Es7whCo+HbxuPYV88+IrC+XVLia+KtJIxbcnK+wH0pa6edkkrnorbLU57abeFRx3UqP71634YGgX+mpe6dF5k6fxPO5kjb5dB7Yryaa3j/AEBJgfiL7W59s1rfw/0fVIZTq1rEzxRnY0HecdSMe396ntx1WQwsciV+IkjNb29up5mkLt8l/wDJFYkAAYFbj8TLq2utSsTap5e22y6EYZGLcqR2I21iMc02K0gl3DbuoijEbbpOW7H0q78L6JJrmotaRIzFYmkba4UjGO547jrU3xV4Tn8PafZ3FzdLI91x5GzDIcEnnODjFLtb0JozMjZPtRXOMtxRSiE3PNLmuO9d0oCMAylWGQaRdyuF/eX17j50Z+KloYCkVuvw50NiG1ybbtTKQZXJz0LD37Z+dYU8Vu9B8X2NhommaYkTPcAsZduOPiOPqaZN6QqWzd23luGQRJg87j1+fFQImk0nX7Ga3YeVPKsUgB4Ksccj86gaj4n0ywgDbJo3PYkEN7ZGarG1hdYv9Ig07dK1zdx/CvYBgXJPsAahHaNpq1tdeJL8QRM0WnwnAcceYe5/KmPE9poPh7ww/wCsbcXOPhhRseZLIegB/wA9hWxQBBshACjsBwK8Q/F7xCtz4hl063Uv+hqIg/Xa5GXx78gfSp8evnmJOWkYeKOKPTo5Zw7IbgZwegHf3OM19IeGbGytdItv0BleF41ZZF53AjNfOWr5ttOtbZeDjc3zr3L8ML2K88G6f5J/9uogdc9CP9wc1azY9tEVMuh5p+KNwJ/GeoKvPkCOH7KD/wB1Y7vVx4muGu/EOrzk53302D7ByB+QFVGOarLsSMdguZbZt0EjxtkHcjFTx7j5/wBqm6lrepawkUeo3ktwsJJjEhztyMcVXAe1OD4QTijQbOETBLNx6UVxFvn2/wAtJQISB1ruuBXdKByf3h70tI3Y+9KOlAAad01sahlG2ng7/ftTLcCudKDEyS54HSmTYpYeJdUnuSkM8omCnghcEn6DmvYfws8Hp4f0lL3UIh+tbhcsWGTCh6IPToCff5V454Uim1DxtpMUKRyEXSyESjK7VOT+QP1r6cA3YJ+lRMVBLIsUTyHG1FLH6V82WDtqOr3WoTLnz5XmJI7sSf8ANe/eLrg2fhbVrhf3ktJNv9W0gfnXiVnEsNvgADitThsN7kVsqelozHiVma7G45GK3v4Eats1K+0qRvgniEqD0ZDg/cEfasH4jH7ZPlU78Mr79A8babIWwjs8bfIocfnijL97Fp9qGb47725b+aZz/wDo1G2inJH3sX/mYn781wapkwnFN3DFYWI69B9acpqX4pIk9W3H5CkYDowiBV4xSUNRSgKtdUgpaAA8iuVbjmuq4H+aACXBjbPTvXcQEGmluham5f4TfKur4n9BUZOKjmKWvhCeK08a6VdoAiPPEMem4bT+Zr6WOD0r5Q0kn9MsTk5FzFj/AKhX1T/qPzpkhUZv8SpvK8I3KDrNJHH9C4J/IV5Y2Ei3eowa334xMy+E0KsQf0yPofnXmcTFrRckn4e9bPDV+L/Sjl+4z+vndKKqraV4bqKSJirq4KsOxqx1n+NVZF/GT+qos33k1PtLnHFc12elc1TJhKaA3TvjogC/WnO9NW/WX+s01gO4JoroUUoH/9k=" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Image result for donald trump" border="0" height="200" src="data:image/jpeg;base64,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" width="145" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Donald Trump himself</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">I’ve noticed that the most recent covered topic has been the
American primary race. It seems bizarre to me that French people are so
invested in politics of other nations, because there are so many Americans who
don’t even know the politics of their own country, let alone a foreign one! It
must be the mindset that the next country is only a couple hours away by car. <i>Vingt Heures</i> spent a lot of time on
Donald Trump and my host parents were especially interested in him. Bear in
mind that my host parents often spend their free time at the prefecture’s
office protesting against the harsh immigration laws, building houses for the homeless, and making me food. I found myself
explaining that Donald Trump is, in fact, running for president, that he was a
reality TV star, and that he is very popular among many Americans. My host
parents were shocked that so many US citizens are willing to vote for someone
who’s political platform incudes views that seem to be regressing the social
norms of the world. If <i>Vingt Heures</i>
didn’t spend so much time on Trump, I would have thought they were relatively
unbiased for a news station. I believe
now that my French news source is more left-leaning, and that is a more common
view in France seeing as one of their main political parties is the <i>Parti Socialiste</i>.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-39DhsQQmCj4/VxjHJ3P9iMI/AAAAAAAAAEM/Gng_2uN1dRk31KxLdQ-7qUjllWeOLDTMgCK4B/s1600/20160206_134322.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-39DhsQQmCj4/VxjHJ3P9iMI/AAAAAAAAAEM/Gng_2uN1dRk31KxLdQ-7qUjllWeOLDTMgCK4B/s320/20160206_134322.jpg" width="180" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Here is the tram, arriving on time, I might add</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">In addition to American politics, the news covers almost
everything else, as I mentioned before, although there haven’t been exuberant
amounts of cheery news. There is a phrase in French that my host parents said to me that explains this: “<i>On ne parle pas
des trains qui arrivent à l’heure</i>” which means “We don’t talk about trains
that arrive on time.” Basically when the news only shows the world constantly at
war with each other, a train accident last week, natural disasters striking
various unprepared developing nations, etc., that is not to say that there are not
good things happening too. It is only expected that the train will arrive on
time, and if it doesn’t then people have something to talk about. It is
slightly saddening to realize this isn’t unique to France, but to the United
States too; that the breaking news and prime time spots are covered by stories
that would have been boring if nothing had gone wrong.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">In general, the news in France is more concerned with others
rather than just itself. I think that’s great because it’s always important to
know what the happenings of the world are. The French portray themselves
relatively honestly, meaning from what I’ve seen they neither over praise nor undermine
themselves. They could focus more on out-of-the-ordinary cheery stories, in my
opinion, but we need to work on that too. Most of their coverage focuses on
concrete subjects, especially people and events going on around the world, but
they include ideological issues such as the recent reform to work and
education, which I will talk about in my next blog on education. All in all, French news assesses global
topics with more in depth knowledge than US newscasters do. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Until next time, bloggers!</span><o:p></o:p></div>
Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com1