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First Post From Panama!

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I arrived in Panama City two days ago, but it already feels like I’ve been here for weeks. My group quickly got a feel for the area surrounding our hotel and campus, so we will be confident in taking risks to explore new areas. A few of us have already planned out snorkeling, zip-lining, and many many shopping trips for the three free weekends we have down here. I can already tell it isn’t enough time!

So far, the most blatant cultural difference is the driving etiquette. Cabs are constantly trying to go as fast as possible in order to make the most money in a night. Horns are heard every few seconds as a form of communication between drivers. It is really interesting actually, how they use horns to alert others when they are passing, when they are turning, and when they are warning people trying to cross the street.

The class set-up is also really nice. My Spanish 321 professor is also an acting chaperon on this trip, so I can have conversations with him in Spanish while walking around the city. His presence also pressures me in trying my hardest to not speak English with the locals or my fellow classmates as well. It is a great set-up and I know it’ll help me tremendously in learning more about the language and culture than I would have if he wasn’t there.

Welp, I just realized we are leaving to hike a mountain in fifteen, and I have to go lace up my boots (it’s the rainy season). Hasta pronto!

Spain: Helpful Hints

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This is a post for students who are planning on studying in Spain. I’m going to lay out a few tips and tricks you can use to blend in a bit better with the locals and get a really “Spanish” experience out of your time abroad. These aren’t hard and fast rules, but they are good guidelines to follow. I’ve studied in Spain twice, and these are things that I wish I had known when I went.

1. Ditch the Americans- It will be very tempting to stick together with other Americans in your program and go see the sights, try the food, and pick out a good bar to frequent. My advice is to avoid this as much as possible. Find ways to meet locals. At first they will be surprised that you took an interest, but before long they’ll be inviting you to soccer games and parks where they hang out with their friends. Your Spanish will get better, and you will get a real look at what life is like for a Spanish university student.

2. Learn the public transit- Taxis are expensive, and walking everywhere takes time and is tiring. In Seville, there is a public bicycle system that I highly recommend. Granada has great buses, and the Madrid metro is the best I’ve ever seen. You will get lost a few times, but after that you will be glad you took the time to figure it out. There’s no substitute for seeing the city on your terms.

3. Forget your fancy phone- For about 50 euros you can get a good old-fashioned brick phone and plenty of pre-paid minutes. Smart phones are still very much a luxury in Spain, and while it can be tempting to drop a Spanish SIM card in yours and stay connected, it isn’t safe. Most of your friends will be sporting older models too, so you won’t be missing out and you will definitely save some money.

4. Eat the food- I don’t like all of the Spanish food I’ve ever tried. I did, however, try everything that my host mom gave me. Not only is it polite, it’s one of the reasons you’re there. I’ve had four host families, and the number one complaint I’ve heard from them about other Americans is that they are picky eaters. Unless you have a dietary restriction, you should try everything you can.

5. Stay sober- This is the second biggest complaint I’ve heard about Americans from my Spanish friends. Being drunk is a good way to keep Spanish people from talking to you, because Spanish people don’t drink in excess. Drinking too much can be dangerous and it would be embarrassing to show up to your host home obviously drunk.

6. Ask for help- This is the tip that I wish I had followed more. Are you lost? Tell someone. Forgot the word for fork? Point at it and look confused. Not feeling well? Have someone take you to the pharmacy. People can feel isolated when they are abroad, and the biggest reason for this is because they want to do it all themselves. You will make better relationships with people and struggle less if you just break down and ask.

7. Give someone else your passwords- To everything. And make them change them. Don’t let them tell you what they are. Get rid of Netflix, social media, even an email account you don’t really need. Disconnect. Looking back and seeing that you spent three hours a day in bed watching bootleg episodes of The Walking Dead won’t be nearly as rewarding as looking back and knowing that you made the most of every day.

8. Study- I know that’s probably not what you’re looking forward to the most. It wasn’t my favorite thing to do either. But you have to have get credit for your classes, and you just might learn something in the process.

9. Speak the language- Silent dinners aren’t fun for anyone. Not you and not your host family. They know that you aren’t as good at Spanish as they are. They won’t be offended by it, even when you accidentally say something offensive (and you will). My program director said it best when he told us that “those of you who practice will improve, and those of you who practice less will improve less.” Making mistakes is encouraged.

10. Enjoy yourself- It is easy to get over there and after the first few weeks… “hit a wall.” It isn’t fun and new anymore, and you’re starting to get homesick and tired of all of the differences. The best thing to do when this happens is to make yourself get out there and try something new. Make a new friend or find a new hobby. The time will fly by, and you need to make the most of it.

Let me know if you have any questions, and enjoy your time in Spain. It’s a great country.

Life in Holland!

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Windmills, grazing sheep/cows, wooden shoes, and cheese are all stereotypical things one might think of when Holland is mentioned, but they’re all very real! I have been in The Hague, Netherlands for several weeks now and have loved every minute of the experience thus far. From the moment I arrived, I have been trying to make the most out of the time I have here. All of us from U of L got bicycles within the first week of being here (which is SO Dutch). Being a “horse girl” (and Equine major), it was important for me to find a stable where I could ride regularly. I ended up in the center of the city (a very unlikely place for horses), where there is an old, hidden, brick stable that dates back to the time of Napoleon. Apparently, it was a gift to the city of Den Haag from his full brother. I am having a great time learning a different style of riding. Soon, they will begin taking group rides out on the beach of the North Sea! I couldn’t be more excited.
I have also been attending a church that meets in one of the oldest church buildings in The Hague. It is absolutely gorgeous.
The food is incredible- from fresh produce to Holland cheese to delectable European desserts. I am trying as many “local” dishes as possible, wherever I go. My favorite so far are called “Stroopwaffels.” They are super sweet, thin waffle cakes that are sandwiched together with some sort of a caramel/syrup. They are served hot and fresh on the streets, or pre-packaged at the grocery stores.
One of the decision factors that came into play when choosing somewhere to study was the access to modes of travel, and The Hague has proved to be invaluable in that the train station is literally right down the street from my student residence building. The proximity to trains (both intercity and international) makes travel convenient and easy. Over Spring Break, I went to visit some of my friends studying in Germany and England. I also trained down to Brussels, Belgium and enjoyed amazing Belgian chocolate and waffles!
The Dutch culture is very laid back. If you ask someone for help, they will gladly offer their assistance, although not without being asked. I am slowly but surely picking up on some Dutch. It is a rather difficult language, but the good news is that everyone also speaks English, so there is no communication issues.
I am so happy to be on a study abroad, and it has already proven to be the most exciting and profound experience of my life!
Until next time,IMG_5220
Ashley

London, Fall 2013

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Studying abroad is by far the most enriching thing I have ever done in my life. For the past semester I have been in London, aka the best city on earth. I say that, because it literally has everything you could possibly want in a city. Looking back on the semester it was one of the best times of my life. Going to a country where you do not know anyone or anything can be rough, but in London they speak English, which makes life a lot easier. While in London I studied at the University of Westminster, located right in the center of London, the students and professors are very helpful with anything that you need, just like in the states. I was able to go through the program of ISA, they sat everything up so all I needed to do was show up in London on the date specified and they would take care of the rest. It was a very stress free experience. The history there is amazing, the buildings have amazing architecture, and the city does not seem to even have been effected by the war. While I was abroad I had the opportunity to visit France, Belgium, and Germany. Since London is so close it is very easy to get to all of these places either by air or train. Even though I went and visited those countries London topped all of them. While I was overseas talking to everyone back in the states is just as easy as when you are home, almost everywhere you go has Wi-Fi. I have been back for just a week and I already want to go back. The past 14 weeks have flown by and I wish they didn’t. While abroad you don’t think about when you will be coming home because you are having such a good time with new friends and the new culture you have just been introduced to. If you have the chance to study abroad anywhere do not think twice about it, take advantage of the situation. Trust me it will be the best time of your life!

Nothing Comes Closer To Home

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http://youtu.be/5-KswdZ2Ihw

Nothing Comes Closer To Home
The title of this post may be a Stoufer’s jingle but it has complete relevance, here. After months of living in a different country and years of living in the states I’ve decided that…(drumroll please)…home is what you make it, honestly. I’m not saying that from the standpoint of “you can find a family anywhere” but with the perspective of how we view our homes.
In Spain and a lot of the other Mediterranean countries, it is not uncommon for the people walking in the streets to keep to themselves; no head nods, no finger flips, no wrist waves. Just straight faced, runway-worthy walking. I would probably think I did something wrong if a stranger and I crossed paths and I acknowledged both of our existences but they simply looked passed me in the states, particularly in my Ole’ Kentucky home. At first, it’s easy to look from the ethnocentric perspective – the view that your home country’s ways are superior – to make the generalization that Spaniards are rude and don’t know old-fashioned, southern hospitality. And truth is, they don’t know southern hospitality, but they have their own version.
The essence of the Americas is one of exploration, liberty, and freedom. We’re known as the guys with the “frontier spirit” and manifest destiny- to spread from coast to coast and such. Remember that song from elementary (or grade school for you private, catholic folk) “this land is my land, this land is your land, from california to the new york islands.” It has a lot more implicit meaning than I ever realized. Sure, we’re not a perfect society and we have had and still have our problems but despite this we are a open society where PERSONAL space is at a minimum. We’re quick to share, quick to greet, quick to befriend. This land belongs to all of us and it makes up our “ home” in its totality.
Just because I’ve spent a few months here doesn’t make me an expert or local by any means but between my classes, my personal experience in my homestay, and the accounts of Europeans I have spoken with, I have a little bit of an idea of how it works here in Espana. Remember when I said that the Spaniards keep it a little more on the straight faced side compared with us Americans? Well, Spain’s place in the history of the world has afforded it a little different view of society. They are a people who look at the history for their answers more so than the future or event the present. Thus, it’s kind of important for them to have a history with you before they go on exchanging all the pleasantries of a familiar friendship. The Italians, French, and Spanish are sort of famous for their kissing-as-a-greeting and their bypass of the tradition hug. Well, it turns out that the hug or “abrazo” is reserved for special relationships. Neat, huh? And all this time we thought they just moved really fast in relationships. What more? A common perspective is actually that American “friendships” can be a little superficial and surface. After all, how much can you really know about someone you just met? Here, time spent together and a common knowledge of one anothers backgrounds is a contract of a solid relationship in itself. In this case, actions speak louder than words. In Spain, the home isn’t necessarily everyone you meet but those with whom you have taken the time to build something special.
There are advantages and disadvantages from all perspectives, as with most things in life, but there is no wrong answer here. Now, however, I will stop to think about the differences in perception of personal space and how relationships function in different parts of the world. Furthermore I can apply this learning to the different cultures represented by the salad bowl that it the U.S. Also, I will reflect on the amount of time and effort I put into my relationships in the states and how I’m building “my home,” while continually sharing the “frontier spirit” and letting everyone, no matter where they’re from that “this land was made for you and me.”

Backpacking Through Europe

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I studied abroad in Seville, Spain in the spring of 2013, with the intent of learning Spanish to give me an edge at my job at the racetrack. The experience ended up far surpassing every single one of my expectations. The highlight of the semester ended up being the three weeks I spent backpacking around Europe with my twin brother, Marc, following my home stay. That’s the really cool part about studying abroad in Europe—it’s so easy to travel to other parts of the continent.
The two of us started our trip in Madrid, touring the Prado Museum and Retiro Park, before heading north to Barcelona. We took in a soccer—I’m sorry, futbol—game and went to one of Barcelona’s famous beaches.
From there, we went to Paris, and hit up all the regular tourist spots—the Eiffel Tower, Notre Dame, Sacre Coeur, the Louve and even Longchamp, the famous racecourse just outside the city.
After a long overnight train ride (the bullet trains move so quickly!) we arrived in Italy and went to all the major tourist cities, starting with the big one it, Rome (and also the separate country within Rome, Vatican City). We toured St. Peter’s Basilica, the Trevi Fountain, the Coliseum and the Spanish Steps, and of course hit up some of the Roman nightlife.
We then hopped a train up to Venice, where we got lost enough times in the twisting, complicated that we finally caved and took to traveling around by gondola. It was a bit on the pricey side, but I do think that it’s something you should do if you’re even in the area.
Our last stop before returning to America was Pisa, to see the Leaning Tower, and that’s literally all there is to do in Pis a, so don’t plan for more than one day there, haha.
Then, it was time to board the plane and leave Europe behind. It had been an incredible 4 months and as ready as I was to get back to a country that actually sold Mountain Dew, there was a lot I was going to miss about living abroad, and I would definitely recommend everyone to do it at least once.
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Life in Sevilla

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Ok- this is my first post and i will post more later, but i just wanted to talk about this subject while it is on my mind. If you have any plans of traveling to Sevilla or Spain for that matter, you need to listen to what i am about to say. All those toiletries, notebooks, pencils, and other crap you think is going to be impossible to find in a country on the other side of the ocean, is not that hard to find…CHINA STORES!!!!! Pronounced “cheena” these stores are the USA’s dollar stores, big lots, and thrift stores, and they can be found all over the place. They sell all the same brands as you buy in the states, and are extremely barato (cheap). Keep this in mind if Spain is in your sights for the near future.

Hasta Luego,
Glen Bertram

Abroad in Austria Pt 9 7/6/13

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I’ve been back in the US for about 3 days now and I’m totally devastated. All I can think about is going back to Europe. I’ve officially been bitten by the “Europe Bug.” I can’t wait to go back and I’ve already started planning my next trip. Going overseas was the best thing that has happened in my life thus far. I’m so proud of myself and everything that I accomplished by going to school in Europe. I feel so much more confident in myself and in my future. Going over there has given me so many incredible memories and new friends and I’m so thankful for the opportunities that I had. Studying Abroad was incredible and I strongly believe that every person should go. It will change your life for the better.

Abroad in Austria Pt 8 6/28/13

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Rome was so amazing. It seems like I say that about every place I visit but its true, each place is way more incredible than you could ever imagine. The city was way bigger than I thought it would be and the lines at all the major attractions were longer than expected so plan ahead for that. Also there is a dress code for the Sistine chapel and the Vatican so look into that before you go because if you’re not following the dress code they won’t let you in. The coliseum is really cool and the guided tours are awesome because they can tell you all kinds of history that you may not know. All in all I didn’t get to see everything I wanted to in Rome because it’s just too big. You should definitely make a list of the top things in the city you want to see before you have to leave to make sure that you at least get to see the things that are most important to you. It’ll help out a lot when you’re out during the day trying to figure out which site to see next.

Abroad in Austria Pt 7 6/21/13

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Ciao from Capri Italy! I never ever want to leave this island! It’s beautiful here. The water is so amazingly clear, and the scenery is breathtaking. This place is what people think of when they imagine paradise. Today we went on a boat tour of the island where we got to go to the blue grotto and swim inside it! It was amazing. After that we rented a boat and went to one of the grottos and went swimming. Capri is a little on the expensive side but it’s worth every single penny. I’ve never been to a more beautiful place and I know that no beach in the future will ever top this place. We’re off to Rome tomorrow for the rest of the weekend. I can’t wait!