Sunday, March 29, 2015

Weekend in Osaka Japan!!!

One thing I want to do most when I study aboard is meet up with my friends that I have not seen in a long time. I would want to meet up with Kotomi and Ryochi, of course I would want to stay at a hostel so I would not inconvenience my friends. Most hostels in Japan are not too expensive and have good locations in Japan. I would personally like to stay at the Osaka Hana Hostel, because it is a 2 minute walk away for the train station I would most use for travel.

http://www.hostelworld.com/hosteldetails.php/Osaka-Hana-Hostel/Osaka/64662?dateFrom=2015-06-30&dateTo=2015-07-01&sc_sau=avdc&sc_pos=1

On Friday, I would leave my dorm after classes and go to the Shinkansen (Bullet train) train station in Tokyo. It would be about a three hour train ride, so I would get to Osaka just in time for dinner. I hope to go to my hostel first to put away my bags and then meet Ryochi to go to a traditional Japanese restaurant call Aihara.

http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e2018.html
http://www.usj.co.jp/e/ticket/

After dinner I would want to go back to my room early and get plenty of sleep to go to Universal Studio Japan the next day. I would wake up early and have breakfast at Osaka ohsho, a traditional restaurant that serves takoyaki! Then, I would meet Ryochi at Universal Studio and stay there all day!

On Sunday, I would wake up and have quick breakfast at Starbucks. Then, I would meet Kotomi at the train station between her house and my hostel and we would go to the Tempozan Ferris Wheel that is located near the Tempozan Harbor. There we could take tons of pictures together! After a ride or two on the ferris wheel we could go to the Kyuyodo River and relax and take more pictures. (One of my favorite things to do) When the sun started to set I would treat Kotomi to dinner at Matsuya Yostubashi. Then we could enjoy the night life at Tsutenkaku. At ten or eleven I would take the Shinkansen back to Tokyo and prepare for classes on Monday.

Of course there are so many sights and activities I did not get to do in Osaka, I would never forget a weekend like that. I hope I could plan another weekend to Osaka and see the museums and temples on the other side of the city.

Wednesday, March 25, 2015

Weekend Getaway

A budget weekend away sounds like music to my ears. Fortunately for me, there are so many places that I could potentially travel to, due to the location of Barcelona. However, this can also prove to be a problem since it can be quite the difficult decision.

Upon review of all available weekend getaway locations, I believe I would most like to go to the Balearic Islands. With viable options of transport from Barcelona to the Islands, this could prove to be a great weekend. In addition, cheap hotels are also present, with the availability of reliable transit systems to get around the Islands.

The outdoor and water activities present in Mallorca is what's really calling my attention. Beautiful beaches, clear water and a myriad of things to do are hopefully on the horizon for me. I hope to take advantage of this great location, and enjoy all it has to offer.

Exploring the World of Vikings

One thing that is always associated with Nordic people is their history as vikings. There are a variety of tourist attractions catered to people that want to know more about how the vikings lived way back in the day. I am one of those people that wants to know how the vikings lived way back in the day.

At Södertörn University, I will be in Stockholm, and the "Viking City" known as Birka is quite near the city. Because I'll be so close to Stockholm (I'll only be 20 or so minutes away from the campus), I'm not planning on spending the night anywhere since my room will be so near - and because all of the hotels and hostels nearby are super expensive!

As I poked around Birka's website, which is here, I found the perfect tour - it's an all day adventure that includes a guided tour (in both English and Swedish) of Birka, access to a viking museum, and a round trip ticket between Stockholm and Birka. The best part? It's only 380SEK, which is only $45. I highly doubt food will be included with this cost, though, so I'll probably allot 250SEK ($30) or so for food if need be.

Hopefully I'll be able to gather up a group of friends and we'll all be able to learn about the vikings that used to roam around Sweden and the other Nordic countries! I haven't booked my trip yet and I'm already excited!

Dreaming of Paris

Even if the French school you study abroad at is not in Paris, it is practically imperative that you visit Paris at least once. It would be great for a weekend trip because a one day trip would not give you enough time to see all Paris has to offer. Even a weekend trip will not allow you to go everywhere, but it is a good start. 

When you travel to Paris, you will probably want to do so on a train. Unfortunately, train tickets are a bit on the expensive side. If you plan to travel other places during your time abroad, you will most likely want to buy a seasonal pass or a certain number of passes to get a better value.

Once you arrive, you will need a place to stay. Hostels are the cheapest option. They're usually even cheaper than a lot of motels would be in America. There are several websites you can use to compare prices ahead of time as well as see how far you would be from all of the places you want to visit.

Because you are already being cliche by visiting Paris while you are in France, embrace all of the other cliches. Visit the Eiffel Tower, Champs-Élysées, the Louvre, Notre-Dame, and the Arc de Triomphe if you have time for it all. 

Of course you will want to try all of the wonderful French food while you are there. Some places that have good ratings and are good if you are on a budget include: La Rose de France, Taverne Henry IV, Le Flore en I'lle, and Brasserie Les Deux Palais. However, France is known for their food for a reason. Almost anywhere you decide to go will be well worth it, so don't be afraid to go somewhere you have never heard of even though you have already read multiple guidebooks.

Tentative Itinerary:

Friday
     5:00 PM: arrive in Paris and check into hostel or hotel of your choosing
     6:00 PM: wine and dine somewhere near where you will be staying
     9:00 PM: explore the area around you; talk to other tourists and native Parisians
     
Saturday
     8:00 AM: breakfast
     10:00 AM: Champs-Élysées
     12:00 PM: lunch
     2:00 PM: Eiffel Tower
     4:00 PM: Louvre
     7:00 PM: Dinner
     

Sunday
     7:30 AM: breakfast/checkout
     8:30 AM: mass at Notre-Dame
     10:00 AM: head on the train back

Everyday Life in Japan

As I plan my year in Japan, I have been focused on classes and sight seeing. I have not been focused on how to "live like a local." However, it might be hard to plan to live like a local while not being in the country yet. The best way for me to learn to live a local life is by observing the way the local people actually live. I hope to meet the Japanese girls my family hosted while they studied in America, and ask them to help me learn the ways of a local life. Of course the best way to learn is by being around the local people.

One way I intend to learn is by living with a Japanese person. I hope I can create an long lasting relationship with my roommate. I think a great way to learn is to live with someone from the culture. Another helpful way is by interacting with locals on a day to day basis, whether it be at coffee shops, sport, or group activities.

During my year abroad I hope to make many friends at the university I study at. I intend to join a club, which is the norm in Japan. However, I think only one club would not be enough, because I want to know many people and learn how everyone has different ways of acting in the same culture, I also want to join a club. I think swim team would be fun for me, because I love swimming and maybe my friends on the team would like to go to the beach. I would love to spend some time at the beach, being able to sight see some and hangout with friends is a great way to transition to live like a local.

When I am not on campus, I plan to meet some of the locals by meeting my Japanese friends I met in America. I hope that we can meet at social gathering events, such as festivals. After meeting with them, we can spend time at a coffee shop while catching up on the past few years of not seeing each other. Maybe we could get a small group together and go to the movies, hopefully there will be some people I do not know and can meet!

Of course I want to meet the other exchange students while I am abroad, but I may have to be careful with how much time I spend with them. I want to improve my Japanese language skills and if the other students are American I do not really want to speak English. I still want to be friends, but even if we speak the same language, I would prefer speaking the language I am studying. Spending more time with native students will better my speaking skills and push me out of my comfort zone, which is one of the great experiences of studying abroad.

I hope by the end of my year abroad I can live like a local in Japan. If I leave the country acting like a tourist after a year, I wasted my time because I did not learn anything. I hope to use my time there to the best of my abilities, so I can get the most out of my study abroad.

A weekend trip

 My first weekend trip will take place in Madrid and Valencia.  I would like to see most of the biggest attractions. I have set aside 215 euros for this weekend trip.
     I. Madrid-Valencia
         -Retiro Park ($24 tour)
         -Visit El Tigre which is really close to the park (free tapas)
         -Take a bus to Valencia (25 euros)
         -Stay at the hotel Melia Valencia ($67/night)
    II. Valencia-Madrid
         -Visit the beach of El Saler
         -Visit the Central Plaza
         -Eat at Navarro ($20)
         -Take bus back to Madrid (25 euros)
        

Be safe, be fruggle, and bon voyage!

If you want to have an affordable weekend getaway in Prague, here's the best way to do it to make sure you see the best sites at the best cost!

First, why go to Prague? It's one of the most beautiful European countries, rich in culture and must-see sites (such as the Astronomical Clock and the Lennon Wall). The architecture is beautifully preserved for modern visitors to experience castles and Cathedrals that are hundreds of years old. Prague is also an incredibly affordable location for tourists, with the rate of one US dollar to 24 czech crowns.

So you've decided to visit Prague. The first question is where to stay? Sir Toby's Hostel, just ten minutes north of the city by tram is a beautiful Hostel that costs a meager $4 a night. While you may be sharing communal bathrooms and staying in a room with other people, you can choose from co-ed or all-female/male rooms, linens are provided for you, a kitchen and common room is available to all guests, and the Hostel itself is beautiful and highly rated by guests.

As for transportation, since this is a weekend trip, you should get a three-day Prague card, which is a card good for all public metros and even free or discounted admissions to most attractions in the city! As for getting there, a plane ticket will be your most expensive investment on this trip. However, shopping around different sights can get you a cheaper plane ticket from an international American airport like the Atlanta Airport directly to the Vaclav Havel Airport for around $1100-1400. Also check out travel agencies for deals for students!

While in Prague, there are plenty of places to eat (and drink!) Some of the most affordable and desirable restaurants in the city are U Sadlu Restaurant, U Medviki Bar Hall, Cafe Radost FX restaurant (which is vegetarian!), Red Hot and Blues (for Tex-Mex), U Zavesenyho Kafe, and Harley's Bar. There are, of course, others, but these are some affordable restaurants and bars near each other.

The sights you must see while in Prague are the Old Towne Square (where you will see sights such as the Church of Lady before Tynn and the Powder Tower), Charles Bridge, Petrin Hill, and The Castle (which is just the largest of many, many cathedrals and churches worth visiting in Prague). All these sites are free to see, but you might want to pay for tours through some of them or to enter some of the churches. Which ones you prefer to see more of, though, is up to you!

If you find yourself lost on what to do first, you might decide to begin your trip with a vintage car tour. Beginning in Old Town Square, a driver will take you on a tour of the city in a vintage European car. It's definitely worth hearing about the city from a native.

During the night time, check out the night life at local clubs and theatres. The Czech Republic is famous for its black light theatre which is unlike theatrical forms anywhere else. A show typically costs 720czk or 30 US dollars.

While there is plenty to do in Prague, hopefully these tips help you through your weekend trip. The best thing about Prague is that because everything is so close, you can choose what you want to see most and spend however much time you'd like at each site. Be safe, be fruggle, and bon voyage!

Weekend Plans

While I am studying in Prague I would like to make plans to travel during the weekend. The place I would like to travel for the weekend is Munich where my friend lives. As I was planning this trip I found that a roundtrip train for a weekend is around 120 euros. Since my friend has offered to give me a place to stay a hotel or hostel will not be needed. When I arrive there I would like to visit the English Garden and Residenz Royal Palace. Both attractions do not cost anything so my only other cost would be food and souvenirs. I am planning on arriving to Munich Friday night and venture the city with my friend. The next day Saturday I would like to visit the attractions I had listed before. Sunday I would take the train early in the morning to arrive back in Prague in the mid-afternoon. All together I would set aside 200 euros as a maximum for this weekend trip. The English Garden and Residenz Royal Palace have been listed as the top sites to visit while in Prague.  That is the reason  why I would like to visit those sites. Along with visiting my friend who already lives there.

Wednesday, March 11, 2015

Spanish Culture

With regards to understanding culture, I believe it is of utmost importance to arrive with an open mindset. A mindset in which learning and acknowledging the fact that your'e not in culture that you're normally in is very important. One way to do this is by always striving to step out of your comfort circle. In more ways than one, keeping this in the back of your mind is sure to provide many new experiences and cultural understanding.

With a positive mindset and an attitude of stepping out of your comfort circle, you are bound to learn more about other cultures and contribute to the learning of others as well. These people have perhaps not had as much to do with your culture that you're well acquainted with. It definitely works both ways, others you may meet with different cultural backgrounds are perhaps more likely to divulge and share new facets of theirs.

All in all, a positive and willing attitude to learn new things, and talk to new people may result in experiences unlike any you've had.

An American Abroad!

How much do you really know about yourself?

     Previously in class, we participated in a self-audit and I realized that I was a very flexible and an open person, but my independence was very lacking.  Also I am considered a "high-context" person.  In class we looked in depth into the meanings and how these play a role into the study abroad experience.  Honestly, I have never heard of high and low context, but the fact that I am considered a high context person does fit with my personality/traits.
     Some challenges that I think I may encounter while being abroad is not being able to communicate with some of the natives as quickly, or being able to find my way throughout the city.  I think that my strengths such as my high openness will help me overcome these challenges.  Of course, there are other ways to prevent this problem by practicing my Spanish-speaking and listening skills.
     "Being African-American."  I would like to inform others about how to not be subjected to labels or stereotypes, and to be more accepting to diversity.  I think that the high-context would allow me to create new activities to inspire them into this new culture.
     In order to deepen my insight on my host country, I should read up on recent news and activities and just have a very open attitude to the whole thing. (Think of it as my home!)  I want to learn a lot about their culture and their music.
                                                            

Tuesday, March 10, 2015

An American Abroad

I've always been interested in learning about other countries' cultures, and now I'm finally going to be able to experience it first-hand for an extended period of time!  I can't wait to see how life is different (and similar!) in an other English-speaking country.  Australia can be very similar to the United States in terms of culture, but also quite different.  I don't think adapting for me will be overly difficult, and I embrace the learning experience.  I scored fairly high on the "Independence" section of the self-audit; the low scores in that section were about asking others for help and meeting new people and initiating conversation.  Since I am happy and comfortable travelling alone, this shouldn't pose much of an issue for me.  I scored on the higher end of the "openness" section as well, so really getting to experience the culture won't be as much of a challenge.  Something I discovered while completing the Cultural-Context Inventory is that I am a low-context person, which I was surprised to find out was typical of the U.S.  I was also surprised about how many generalities are believed about the U.S., such as the people being fast-paced, busy, blunt, etc.  Coming from the Northeast, I can see this more commonly, but since moving to the South it seems almost the complete opposite!  That has made me realize that even though there are probably just as many assumptions about Australians, it could easily differ by location, especially in a country as large as Australia.

Something I will probably struggle a little with would be meeting new people and talking to other students.  As I said, I am comfortable travelling alone, so it won't be as big of a deal as it would be to other people perhaps, but since I will be living there for a few months, it would be a good idea to get to know some people!

One aspect of Australian culture I am particularly interested in learning about is their way of living.  That may sound extremely broad, but what I mean is the feel of the country.  How fast do people walk? Do people way to each other on the street or make conversation with grocers?  Are people more relaxed and laid back or are they tense?  Many of these things you can get a feel for as soon as you get to an area.  Just walking around in New York City makes me walk faster and feel like I'm on a schedule, whereas visiting family in a tiny rural town in Illinois makes for a leisurely stroll and greeting every person you pass.  These are the sort of things I want to see and compare to life here.  It is difficult to say what I want to teach about my own culture, as I'm not sure what they already think of it.  It will be interesting to answer their questions as best I can, and see what they're surprised about.



Wednesday, March 4, 2015

An American Abroad

All of the recent activities in class have shown me that I am much more stereo typically American than I previously thought. While I agree with a lot of the characteristics of Americans that have been presented, I had never seen it in words before or given it much thought. It is in my nature to be extremely direct and work on a schedule based on time.

In order to prevent this from being a problem, I plan to start learning about French culture before I leave and try to quickly learn more once I get there.  Maybe I can find a book about French culture to read ahead of time and learn about the culture once I get there mostly through observing. Hopefully I will be able to let go of my American tendencies at least for the few weeks I will be there. Usually I am able to stop doing certain things once I am consciously aware of them.

Some aspects of the French culture I would like to learn more about are their pace of life and their food. It seems so foreign that people would take an hour or two to leisurely eat lunch. While Americans eat a lot more than the French, the French are more focused on food than we are. They take the time to realize what they are eating and savor it rather than do everything, including eating meals, on the go.

I do not know what to teach other people about American culture because I do not know what they will find interesting about it. Once I get to know some of the other students and some of the locals, we will be able to have more discussions about our respective cultures and I can answer any questions they have.