Island Hopping: Weekend in Stockholm

Built on 14 islands, Stockholm represents at once an intricate new realm- and a colossal adventure.

I expect I will busy myself with seeing about all manner of travel to various and sundry museums and monuments, including museums of art, monuments to old and venerable times of monarchy, and remnants of a great and storied national history.

Something to consider about the city is its cleanliness and its modernity:  There is no heavy industry and not a single fossil-fuel power facility in the city or its metropolitan area.  It is famed for its modern architecture and low-key planning: very few buildings in the entire city are higher than two stories.  Following Scandinavian architectural tradition, the roads, sidewalks, causeways, driveways, and buildings are spaced generously apart from one another, allowing for a broad and liberating feel.

Yes, there is a lively and considerable nightlife- but I seriously doubt I will have much of anything to do with it.  Not much my cup of tea really, but when in Sweden...

Were an enterprising international student to feel the transcendental call of the natural wilderness as did Thoreau at Walden, he could simply travel just outside the city to be greeted with an absolute wealth of forests, endless lakes, streams, and hundreds of islands.

The charming and varied villages throughout the hinterlands of County Stockholm could prove well worth the visit- one never knows what he might find.

Something I'm downright excited about is the sheer number of gyms and health clubs in Stockholm.  There are dozens and dozens of them.  I'll have to pay more than a few a visit.

I suspect I'll have no shortage of things to do and see, places to go, and experiences to be had in this frosty far-flung city.

Weekend Trip to Incheion

o Ideal options for accommodation
Staying with a friend’s family or

Sky Hotel Incheon: $63/pernight

o Transportation (getting there and getting around)
Incheon is located at the end of Seoul Subway Line 1, so is easily accessible from Seoul. Incheon also has its own subway line that runs north/south intersecting Line 1 at Bupyeong Station. 
Subway trains run every 6 to 10 minutes on weekdays from about 5am to midnight. From Incheon to Seoul Station is about 40 km, it will take perhaps an hour, and the fare was 1500 Won in 2007.

o Priorities (places to visit, activities to do)

Take hikes to various temples with in Incheon

BupYeong Underground shopping Mall -A large underground mall with a fresh market, clothes, shoes, music, etc.

Spasis- sauna overnight hotel all-in-one public bathhouse experience

Incheon grand Park - a quiet pretty park by the main Incheon school district

o Food

jjukkumi bokkeum cooked squid in marinated various sauces

jeon - A savory meat or rice filled "pancake" (think gyro)

Kimchi- pickled cabbage or raddish

Kimchi Jjigae - hot and spice cabbage soup.

o Tentative itinerary
Friday Night: street food night (chicken and cola or kimchi Jjigae) and settle into hotel

Saturday morning: café breakfast and Sapsis Sauna visit

Saturday midday: BupYeong Underground shopping market and lunch (Jeon and kimchi)

Saturday night: Incheon dinner and nightlife (club, bar, movie, etc.)

Sunday morning : Walk and play in Grand Park with coffee

Sunday afternoon: Return to Ewha Womans University. 

A Weekend in Belfast

         I’m really hoping to spend some time in Belfast while I’m in Northern Ireland. For me, I think staying in some sort of hostel or other equivalent will be the best option. I’m hoping that by saving money on accommodations, I’ll have more to spend on activities. Some options that sound good include the Belfast International Youth Hostel and Global Village – both are around $20 per night. Belfast has a city metro, and for around $7 you can use it as much as you want for one day. Some attractions in Belfast that I’d really to go see are Titanic Belfast, the Crown Liquor Saloon, and the Ulster Museum. 

Tentative Itinerary:

Friday night – eat at Rhubarb, visit Bittle’s Bar

Saturday – Titanic Belfast and the Botanic Gardens, dinner at the Crown Liquor Saloon

Sunday – breakfast at Breakfast of Champions, Ulster Museum, Taxis and Troubles

            It’s really important to me that I leave a lot of wiggle room during my travels, and not over-schedule myself – I really want to be able to take time to enjoy myself, and have some spontaneity as well! That’s something that I’ve always run into while traveling with my family – we’re all big planners, and sometimes out trips feel rushed. What does it matter that you got to see a famous monument, if all you did was glance at it, take a picture, and walk away? I can’t wait to experience Belfast, and really take the time to get to know the city.

I will be living in Córdoba, Argentina... The second largest city in the country. So, of course, I want to see the biggest city as well as the capital, Buenos Aires. I believe a weekend trip is long enough to really get a taste of the grand city without spending too much money.

The best way to get to Buenos Aires seems to be by bus from Cordoba, since the train system in Argentina is said to be rundown and unreliable - something I will definitely avoid.

I can use these websites to book a bus ticket once I'm in the country:

http://www.omnilineas.com/argentina/bus/villa-general-belgrano/retiro/

http://www.plataforma10.com/ar/

This will get me to Buenos Aires and back for around $60 or $70 USD. That's pretty cheap and helps me not exceed my budget.
I can stay in one of these hostels once I arrive:
BA Stop, Buenos Aires Hostel $24/night
Garden House Hostel $30/night
Che Lagarto Buenos Aires $40/night

Tentative Itinerary:
Thursday:
arrive and settle in on Thursday midday/evening
meander around Palermo Soho, which is the largest barrio, and explore the shops and cafes
eat dinner in Palermo Soho at one of the many restaurants
Friday: 
Visit the Bellas Artes National Museum and admire the art and culture honored and exhibited in the museum
Siesta: take a nap!
Visit the Recoleta cemetery...where many famous people are buried... including Evita! I would like to see where she lies (as well as the artistry that is "unmissable")
I also want to head over to the rose gardens in Los Bosques de Palermo - where there is a gravel path that goes through the entire park where there is 15,000 different varieties of roses
Dinner at Puerta Cerrada
Saturday:
Visit San Telmo, the oldest barrio in Buenos Aires
Eat brunch late at Home Hotel in Palermo in the morning, then head to San Telmo
Visit the San Telmo antique fair that takes place on the weekend mornings and walk around... maybe purchase some antique souvenirs!
Attend the Open-Air milonga - a tango dance party out in the open air - tables set up at the sides, apps are served with drinks
Stay out late exploring clubs in Buenos Aires
Sunday:
Sleep late and grab some coffee to go and hop a bus back to Cordoba

Walking in London

Going to London has been on my bucket list since I was young. I wanted to see every sight possible without any idea of how much there was and how much it would cost do to these things that I wanted to do. However, it is my hope that I will be able to do at least some of these things while I am abroad and close enough for at least a weekend.

The closest open airport is currently closed so the best way for me to make my way to London will need to be by the quintessential train. In terms of transportation, I have found that going from Plymouth University to the train station is about a one mile walk or twenty minutes if I am going on foot. Since I plan to keep my baggage as small as possible, I do not imagine it will be a hard feat for me to make that walk or I might be with friends who are willing to drive. Knowing my own need to have everything planned in advance, I know that I will most likely make any train purchases at least a month or so in advance in anticipation of this trip. With that in mind, I found that the round-trip train ride for a single adult would be almost $155. This is still better than a lot of airfare in the United States, so I would be willing to take that loss.

In terms of accommodation, I have found that there are a few hostels near Kings Cross, making it easier in terms of selection. For this example, I have chosen a hostel with a 83% rating on hostelworld, with the understanding that such a rating is fairly on par with what can be expected. It is about .2 miles from Kings Cross, making another walk for me since it is hardly a five minute walk and I will enjoy the exercise at the very least. For three nights (assuming that I arrive on Friday and leave on Sunday), it is another $100. Since the exchange rate for dollars to pounds is not in my favor, I have to take this price with the understanding that is actually fairly cheap for that area.

From there, I would need to get a taxi cab (another $20 both ways assuming that they are legit), and get on the Underground in order to get to the London Bridge station. Something that should be noted at this point is that many of these experiences will have satisfied me for a while in terms of getting to see parts of London. I can not pretend that I will get to see everything in one weekend. However, once I have paid $10 for the Underground to make my way to London Bridge Station both ways, which will put me close to Shakespeare's Globe, London Bridge itself, and a marketplace where I can enjoy some of the things that are going on around me. Unfortunately, these have their own costs so I will need to budget around $75 for these things with food in mind which I will try and bring with me or make while I am there to save some money.

If I do these things on Friday afternoon, keeping in mind that the Tube closes at midnight, I can spend Saturday exploring the Westminster area where most of the stereotypical London things are. Another $30 later will find me there, with the opportunity to enjoy some of the sights like Big Ben and the London Eye. Again, I will need to consider souvenirs and food money, but these will be accounted for at a later time since London is notorious for being expensive.

Overall, this journey will hopefully top out at around $500 but this is of course with the understanding that I will be able to hopefully see as many things that I will be able to see over a weekend and hopefully with others with me this cost will go down.

Dubai Travel Guidebook

One post very convenient to visit from Sharjah is Dubai. Located in a neighboring Emirate, Dubai is quite accessible from Sharjah. There are buses leaving regularly which transport people from Sharjah to Dubai in about 30 minutes. The cost is 7AED, or $1.91. There is also a metro subway station in Sharjah (Etisalat Metro Station) which can be used to catch a 30 minute train to Dubai for about 5AED, or $1.36.

It is not necessary to stay overnight in Dubai when visiting from Sharjah. There is transportation running regularly between the two cities at all times of the day. Once in Dubai, the most famous tourist attraction may be the Burj Khalifa. At 163 floors, the Burj Khalifa is the tallest building in the world. Tourists can visit the top, which has an observation deck, restaurant, and hotel.

Another tourist destinaton in Dubai is the Dubai Mall. This is the largest mall in the world in terms of both number of stores and area. It includes over 1,200 shops. Besides the many shops, this mall is complete with dozens of noteworthy restaurants. There is certainly more here than the typical "mall food" one might see in the United States.

If tired of all the noise in Downtown Dubai, then head over to the beaches. Dubai gets very little rain or clouds during the year, so almost every day has perfect beach weather. The water is also quite warm and certainly suitable for swimming. Here you will find a large diversity in the number of people. Tourists, expatriates, and locals all meet and mingle here for some fun in the sun. With the sun out so much, just be extra careful about not getting sun burned!

There is more to the United Arab Emirates besides Dubai, though. Abu Dhabi is also an extremely accessible city from Sharjah by bus or train. This is the capital of the U.A.E. Here, you will find attractions such as Ferrari World, Emirates Palace, and some of the largest mosques in the world. When staying in Sharjah, it is a great idea and is also quite manageable to travel around the country. Travel to neighboring countries such as Qatar and Oman is also easy given the low prices of airfare and the relaxed visa policies existing in those countries.

Weekend in Berlin

Travel throughout most of Europe is as simple as traveling from state to state in the US. You don't need to go through customs each time you cross a border, and in most you don't need a visa. Studying in Europe for a semester presents you with many opportunities to travel throughout the Schengen area. Berlin is a great place to see with many things to do.

Travel
Getting to Berlin is simple! From Dortmund you should take a train. It is approximately a 3 hour train ride and will cost between 30 and 45 euros.

Accommodation
When traveling on a budget, hostels are a great place to stay. They are not only cheap, but you will meet many other travelers your age. There are many hostels in Berlin. From experience, I know that it is best to stay near the city center. Hostelworld is a great resource to use. When booking hostels, be sure to check the ratings along with the price. It is best to stay in a hostel with 8.0 or greater for location. Here are some good options:
Baxpax Downtown Hostel
ONE80 Hostel Alexanderplatz
City Hostel Berlin
EastSeven Berlin Hostel

Transportation
Berlin is a walkable city. They have above ground railways as well as the bus system if you don't want to walk.

What to do
If you only have a few days, you may not be able to see everything that you want to see. Take a free walking tour to maximize your sights. The free walking tours are great because the tour guides actually like what they are doing, and they have to be charismatic since they work for tips. The walking tour in Berlin will take you by portions of the Berlin Wall, the Holocaust memorial, Brandenburg Gate, and tell immense amounts of history about the city. The tour will take you by many of the things you will want to see. The holocaust museum is free of charge, and is a good stop. After your tour, take a bus to the iconic portion of the Berlin Wall with all of the graffiti.

Take a day to go to Poland to see a concentration camps. Most hostels will have brochures about these, and some will even let you book through them. This tour can cost anywhere from 30-60 euros, but will include transportation to and from!

There are some open air markets in Berlin as well. It is a very "hipster" city, and you can wonder around it endlessly.

Eating
Berlin has great restaurants as well. You can find any kind of food that you can imagine there.
Here are a few suggestions for places to eat:
Burrito Dolores- Burritos
Curry 36- Asain
Burgermeister- Hamburgers
Konnopke Imbiss- German snack foods (fries, sausage, etc.)


Itinerary
Day 1: Walking tour 12-3pm.
            Berlin Wall graffiti portion.
Day 2: Concentration camp visit.
Day 3: Holocaust Museum
            Open air market

         

A Weekend Away

            There are many amazing places to visit that are easy to get to from Montpellier, France. A common place to visit while studying in the south of France would be Paris, France. Paris is the capital of France, and moreover it is an iconic city to visit. Paris has many beautiful and historical buildings and monuments that are amazing to see. It is also considered the fashion capital of the world. Paris has a lot of French culture that you can see through the architecture and museums as well as through the locals. Visiting Paris is a must for students studying abroad in France, or really anywhere in Europe.

            There are many hostels in or around Paris that would be good options for students visiting for a weekend. The “Beautiful City Hostel” seems like a good place to stay that is near the center of Paris and not too expensive. It is 25 euros a night to stay at this hostel. It would be possible to visit Paris for a three-day weekend and see many amazing things. There is a train you can take to get to Paris that is about 25 euros, and the best way for getting around the city would be the metro or buses. These tickets cost 14.50€ for 10 of them.

            With so many sites to see in Paris, it is difficult to choose from them which ones to see in such a short time. The main sites to see that are top priority would include the Eiffel Tower, Notre Dame, the Louvre, and the Arc de Triomphe. Montmartre and the Sacré-Coeur are also amazing sites in Paris. Visiting these places is free unless you want to take a tour. The Eiffel tower also costs to go up into it, but just to view it from the ground it is free. The Louvre museum costs about 17€ to see, but I am sure it is worth it since among the many amazing attractions, the Louvre also houses the famous Mona Lisa painting. A great way to see the entire city would to take a two hour-long bus tour, which costs about 25€. Walking or biking tours are also a great way to get to know the city and see as much as possible.

            For food on visit to Paris it is necessary to try to eat like the locals as much as possible. Stop by the boulangerie for some authentic French bread, or go to one of the many outdoor food markets for tastes of real French cuisine. Food at restaurants in Paris can be pricey, so it might be a good idea to go to the super market and make picnic lunches for the days you in the city touring. 

            There is never a dull moment in Paris. If you get to see all of the monuments that you hope to see, then you can see them again at night for a completely new experience. There is a lot of remarkable French culture in Paris that can be seen through the locals, cuisine, and the many monuments throughout the city. A trip to Paris is never a bad idea.

Travel Guidebook for UK

One of the best things about travelling Europe might be just how close everything is!  It is a famous spot to county-hop and experience a multitude of cultures in a short amount of time with minimal traveling.  I definitely plan to explore a little when I study in the UK.  There are plenty of opportunities even when simply staying on the island of Great Britain itself.

One city that will be close to me in Chester is Liverpool.  A weekend in Liverpool would be fairly simple, as it's only a short train ride away!  Tickets from Chester to Liverpool go for under $10, and it is less than an hour ride.  There are many places to stay, as well, since it is a popular tourist destination.  A simple search of hostels in Liverpool yields many highly rated hostels for under $20 a night. There are many places to eat in the city, including bars and clubs, cafes, and bistros.  Like most big cities, it is easy to walk to most places, though for farther attractions there are cabs available.

One attraction near Liverpool that I personally would enjoy is the Knowsley Safari.   You would have to take a cab to get there.  It includes animal attractions, aerials courses, and many other fun things!  An entry ticket for an adult equals about $25, plus any other added attractions.  This would likely take up most of the day.  Another fun thing to do in the city itself is the Beatles museum!  There is also a farmer's market on the 1st and 3rd Saturday of every month.  These activities in addition to just walking around and seeing the sights could easily take up the weekend!

Travel Guidebook

Studying abroad in Greece gives you many options for travel, especially on weekends and school breaks. Greece itself has so much to offer, and it is just a short plane or ferry ride away from many other European destinations. One option would be to fly from Athens, Greece to Rome, Italy. Ryanair offers a weekend flight for only $78. Italy is located just west of Greece and is an ideal weekend trip, as the flight is just 2 hours. Despite the closeness in proximity, Italy would offer a completely new cultural and historical experience for a study abroad student. Rome in particular has attraction such as the Colosseum, Pantheon, churches and cathedrals, and various tours that allow you to see much of the city in a condensed period of time. 

An option for a weekend itinerary in Rome could look like:

Flying from Athens to Rome on a Friday afternoon, arriving in time to settle into your accommodations before dinner. The Four Seasons Hostel is located within walking distance from the sights of downtown and is only 200 meters from the train station, making transportation from the airport convenient. The hostel offers dorm-style accommodations for $30 per night. The close proximity to downtown offers many options for a traditional Italian dinner. 

Saturday is a day to explore the city! You can choose a guided tour, which can run between $50-$100, or you can choose to see the sights on your own. Many of the main attractions are located close together, which makes Rome an idea city to see in a short weekend trip. Walking will most likely be the best mode of transportation. When it comes to prices for the main attractions, the Colosseum costs $8 to enter, the Pantheon is free, the Vatican Museum has a student discount for $5, or a bus tour can cost around $25. Don’t forget to fill up on plenty of pizza, pasta, and gelato! Food can cost between $5-15 per meal depending on where you choose to eat.

Sunday can be another shortened day for exploring, depending on when you fly out. The train station can get you back to the airport and then you’re back in Greece with an unforgettable weekend for a very reasonable cost. 

Traveling Guidebook for Busan, S. Korea

Traveling Guidebook for Busan, S. Korea

Busan is a large port city located 5 hours away from Seoul. Busan is known for beautiful ocean city including Gwang an ri beach and Hae un dae beach. I didn’t get much chance to stay or visit in other cities besides living in Seoul! So in my 21 years of life time, I will visit Busan for the first time!!!

o Ideal options for accommodation

Hotel; there are so many beautiful hotels with ocean view!

Jimjilbang: spa where I can sleep over and also can do spa!!a lot cheaper than staying in hotels; between $10-$20

o Transportation (getting there and getting around)

Either train or bus
Bus takes about 4 and a half hour, costs about $26.

Train takes less than 2:40, costs about $55.

Bus takes longer time to get to Busan but there are about 5 bus stations where I can take anywhere while there are only one Seoul Station for train so I may possibly take bus instead of taking trains.

o Priorities (places to visit, activities to do)

Hae un dae beach and Gwang an ri beach

Food Street where about 100 food shops are located in one straight street!!!

o Food
Sushi!!! Since Busan is an ocean city and there

are so many Sushi restaurant

Living La Vida Local

       I plan to live in Morocco by mimicking the locals' behaviors. If there is a hot new coffee joint down the road is checking out, I will hop on the bandwagon! I will follow those around me to see how to make the best of every day. I want to get involved on campus by participating in as many clubs and organizations that I can. I have found out that AUI has a choir I could join. I plan on getting involved in the community by wandering off campus every once in a while to experience the city. Living like a local is so important to me because I want to experience what it is like to live in a completely different culture than my own. I am studying abroad for many reasons, but the main one is to experience something that isn't East Tennessee. I have never truly left the area and cannot wait to see what people are like in a different place in the world.
       I am very excited to study abroad in Morocco because I will have a friend there already before even arriving int he country, This friend has told me that they will show me around different cities and help me get around the country and Ifrane in an efficient matter. They've also said that if i would like, they could go to Europe with me if it is feasible. This friend will help me become friends with many of the locals there, so I will get to have a very unique experience. i have a feeling that i will be spending more time with Moroccans than the international students at AUI. This will be a great experience for me because i will get to see the culture in a different light.
       I imagine my everyday life still being similar just for the matter of fact that I am still going to be a college student studying full time. I'd imagine that my evenings during the week may have one or two exciting activities planned and perhaps my weekends would hopefully be spent visiting other cities and possible other countries.

       I hope to really submerse myself in the culture in Morocco. I have no idea what to expect, so I am very excited for it. Trying to live like a local will help me to really understand the country and its people. This will impact my experience because i believe that living in a place to be a tourist is a completely different experience than living in a place to be a local. I hope that i will have both sides of this spectrum. I cannot wait to live like a Moroccan.

An American Abroad (Blogger repost)

I believe my biggest challenges regarding traveling to and living in another country and culture will stem from my sharp distrust for strangers.  I carry a mentality that is a consequence of working with law enforcement in Tennessee, America’s state with the highest per capita violent crime.  I tend to be very closed off and terse with people I do not know well, and I believe I will need to overcome this habit if I am going to integrate well into the host culture.  I think the greatest tool I have at my disposal moving forward is the power of observation.  One can learn a lot by watching, listening, and sincerely paying attention to the mannerisms, words, and deeds of those around them.  I also need to be slow to judge anyone harshly.

As per what components of my identity I will take with me to the host country, I will bring the whole thing.  Some of my personal values that I would like to share with others are a feeling of humility, of loyal friendship, and of respect and esteem for all.

American Life in Photos (Blogger repost)

American Life: Photo Perspective

Jacob Roberts

Regarding my life at Maryville College, despite many of my perennial complaints, I always have a feeling of overwhelming respect and appreciation for this institution that overrides my gripes.  I am the 17^th member of my family to attend Maryville College, so perhaps I have some extra reverence for this place because of that.  I think it is difficult to argue that the campus is beautiful in appearance and venerable in its traditions- and the mature and admirable conduct of its faculty and staff that make this a nice place to come to school.

In thinking about my American life, something that stands out is the American obsession with guns, violence, and action.  I think this photo of Chuck Norris encapsulates those sentiments quite nicely.  Our country, not unlike many others, was founded by radical action by an armed and enraged group that took a decisive stand.  Our country seems to venerate the tradition of action and force of arms- for better or worse.

In identifying the distinguishing characteristics of the American life, the spirit of the American “Wild West” is as loud, proud, and prolific in our current country as it was in the 1800s.  The cutthroat, self-made lifestyle and freedom of the days of the Wild West sculpt our current political and cultural landscape in a big way.  See also: Rugged Individualism.

Speaking of rugged individuals: Teddy Roosevelt.  What I admire about this man and what I think makes him relevant as a descriptor of American society today is that I feel he embodied living freely and independently in the best possible ways.  He set about his life with exuberance and decision, but with thoughtfulness and prudence.  I think he struck a good balance for himself, a balance I hope dearly for in my country today.

It’s America’s game and it’s awesome and brings everyone together!

Americans have always been innovative and influential thinkers, creators, philosophers, and visionaries.  Even today as our country struggles with a culture of anti-intellectualism (perhaps a casualty of our veneration of the common man and rugged individualism), I still see a great wisdom in our people as a whole.

This photo of Armstrong on the moon really defines for me an American obsession with pushing the limits of the conventional and possible- and defines an essential part of the American spirit.

Since the inception of our country, we have debated amongst ourselves as Americans not only how important our freedom really is, but what our freedom really even means.  Lincoln’s vision of freedom for Americans won out through the Civil War- but the competing visions of freedom that caused that conflict are still entrenched in our country today.

We’re all insanely different in America- and I believe this is our greatest and most unique strength.

This campus and this country share a nobility and sincerity of ideals that I think is incredible, truly unique, and powerful in its own right.

I landet av Svensken krigare (getting involved)

Per my purposes of campus and community involvement, I plan on investigating all potential routes at my disposal and as my schedule comfortably allows logistically speaking.  If there are student unions, I will look to join one.  I will look to network and socialize with my neighbors and with other internationals as my base. I will look to my support persons (newfound friends, student mentors, International Education officer) in order to explore ways I might involve myself in local cultural happenings or perhaps community service opportunities.

For me, living like a local entails really and truly getting to know the Swede.  It means a great deal of listening, of care to ask a whole host of questions, and of courageous participation in those things that Swedes do.

Perhaps this is too simple an outlook, but in honesty my best hopes lie in taking care to have a chat and hang around others.  My natural tendency is isolate myself and keep everyone else far away, but I recognize that my success is contingent on my ability to reverse this habit and be social with the locals.

There is a sizeable international student mentoring program ongoing at my host university, and I expect they will afford me good opportunity to get social and involved.

Making local friends represents what is for me perhaps the most harrowing trial of them all.  I am not outgoing or particularly charismatic, so it will be a battle.  Ugh- there I go, reflexively relating things to warfare.  Many habits will need re-examination and reformation if I am to be social and succeed in this place- particularly since Swedes are reputed to be moderately shy towards those they do not know.  I believe that if I am authentic and sincere, and truly search for the value in others, I can accomplish this friend-making objective.

I suspect my day-to-day life will consist of...

• walking through the snow
• interesting study
• near-constant amazement at this new society
• working out (perhaps my only continuity from life in the homeland)
• quiet reflection

I believe my plan involves some difficulty... but that from difficulty will come growth.

With all sincerity, I believe I will become a more mature and humble man from this journey.

Living like a local

• How do you want to get involved on campus and/or in the community?

I want to do things like volunteer at ESL centers, and become involved in a dance group or daycare program, if possible. I also want to tutor other students in English

• What does “living like a local” mean to you, and why is it important while you study abroad?

Living like a local means do the best I can to stay away from the comfortable, “American” things that I am used to. I want to do things like eating local food, engaging in local activites and adapting to local customs (social register, daily cycle, etc.)

• In what ways do you plan on fully immersing yourself into the various aspects of your host culture (to live like a local), both on campus and in the community?

On campus: I want to take cultural classes (calligraphy, traditional music) language classes and go on excursions like a normal college student would. (E.g. beach trips, coffee shops)

Off campus: I want to go to various concerts, and go to the preserved villages, and of course, go see Jeju Island!

• What are some of the specific opportunities that you can find through your host institution? In your host community?

There are volunteering programs, and church related groups along with peer mentor programs.    

• How are you going to make local friends?

I would like to think it will be simpler for me than some others. I have meet students that have come here, and they have friends that they have said they would like me to meet.

• What do you imagine your day to day life looking like? 

1^st: Waking up and getting breakfast

2^nd Playing around with my floor mates, asking lots of “foreigner questions.”

3^rd Attending classes/eating lunch

4^th Going on hikes, going to plays, and trying out sports

5^th trying new foods

• What do you hope to gain most from your approach to getting involved and living like a local? How do you think this will both further your understanding of your host culture and impact your experience?

. I am incredibly passionate about education and psycholinguistics, so I have many plans while abroad.

Viviendo La Vida Local en La Argentina

To make a life for myself in Argentina, I plan on involving myself in extracurricular activities on campus. One of these I am really excited to experience is tango lessons. I don't know what all that entails; whether or not I will need a partner or special shoes. But it sounds amazing because I want so badly to learn a dance the country is famous for. I hope that through that I will form friends because my dancing is pretty bad. If anyone wants to be friends with me after they see how badly I tango, then I definitely need to be their friend.

I'm also interested in the horse-back riding lessons. I have actually been a little terrified of riding horses, so I think it would be a challenge for me. Before I go to those lessons, I plan on finding a friend to accompany me. If not, I will go alone and make a friend!

La Universidad Blas Pascal has a club for international students like MC does and I hope to make friends from all around the world through the people I meet in that club.

An aspect of life in Argentina that I am so excited about is living with a family and having them to spend time with. I am a very family oriented person, so I love that I will be placed with a host family. I plan on spending a significant amount of time with the family and getting to know them as well as I can. I know I will learn a lot from my host family. 

The biggest thing that has come to mind every time I've thought about making friends in Argentina has been doing what the locals do. I want to find out what the students do specifically in that area of Córdoba. I want to see where they get coffee, where they study and do homework, where they buy books, if they go anywhere to go hiking or running, and I want to go to those places. I plan to just ask the students what places they frequent and to ask them to go with me... Maybe after I make a friend through the tango lessons. 

I hope that I can establish a loosely stable routine, if that makes sense. I want time set aside for studying and homework everyday but also allow time for socializing with the friends I make. I imagine I'll wake up a few mornings a week to go for a run (if I find a running buddy), and maybe do some homework before class if I have the time. I'm a morning person - that is my most productive time of day. I think I will do a lot of homework and studying in the mornings. In the afternoons, if I have time, I'll probably take a nap because I can't live without naps. In the evenings, I will try to do something different every night whether or not it is staying out late with friends or spending the evening drinking coffee and studying with friends. I want to be as flexible as possible because I feel that if I don't, I'll miss out on something awesome. The biggest thing I don't plan on doing is spending all my free time lying in bed watching Netflix.