Blog 5

I plan to do half of my senior thesis about a subject within my major in the UK. I plan to do a study on how TV journalism is the same/different between the UK and the US. My thesis will focus on news and current events in both countries as well as international relations and how it is presented in the news media. I need to go to United Kingdom to fully understand the media presentation and media’s effect on society.

Blog #5

Studying abroad in France will help my vocational goals in a lot of ways. My first major goal is to learn how adapt my environment and understanding  a new country for a long period of time. One way I can become more evolved is to be a part of the international student programs or also get involved in diversity programs. I would also want to try is to go out weekly to experience what all the country and the city has to offer. meeting new  friends the want to explore with other international students would be a great experience too. I can't wait to leave and try to accomplish my goals

Blog 5: Vocation

Studying abroad in Spain will help my vocational goals in many ways. My first major goal is to learn to become better adaptive to my environment and going to a new country for an expanded period of time will hopefully help me fulfill this goal. One of the big ways I can become more evolved is to be a part of the international student programs. I can also request to have a local advice me in any area I need help in which will help me get use to my surroundings. One big step I would like to continuously try is to go out weekly to experience what all the country has to offer. I would like to do this with friends that are looks, but exploring with other international students would be a great experience too. I am hoping that I will gain better expectation for other people, more knowledge of the country, and become a global citizen.

Vocation

Nate Long

While studying abroad I will be completing many vocational goals.  First and foremost, my most important goal is becoming bilingual.  This is something that has become very important to me since in high school when I first started taking Spanish classes and it is something I plan on using in my day to day career once I graduate, in whatever form it may be.  For this reason, I feel this is the most important thing for me while abroad.  I feel this will be most easily accomplished by spending as much time as possible with actual Spaniards, which is easier said than done.  In order to get involved with them one of my main goals is to try and get involved in extracurricular events with them, particularly soccer.  I feel that through this I will gain friends and from there clearly be able to spend time with people who are fluent in Spanish.  Another thing I intend to do is try to observe as much as possible and attempt to compare it to business here.  I feel that in store this could be easily observed but one other place I want to observe is particularly around soccer, which will be important because I plan to center my senior thesis around this.  Also, this should be both interesting and fun for me because I feel it simply means looking at soccer and the business around it.  The local soccer team in Pamplona, CA Osasuna, is located right across the street from my school so I feel that this will make learning about them easier.  Lastly, one skill I think study abroad will give me is a better sense of appreciating everyone for who they are and their culture, particularly when it is not the same as mine.

Vocation- Mackenzie Yaksic

While abroad in Valparaiso, Chile, the biggest vocational skill I want to master is the Spanish language. I wish to this for multiple reasons. The first is simply because it is appealing to any employer, and it will put me above other well qualified people applying for the same job. Perhaps the main reason I want to learn Spanish is because I am thinking of seeking a career that requires extensive knowledge of the language and its origins. Such jobs include ESL teacher, Spanish professor, or some job that deals with international affairs. A third reason I wish to learn Spanish is for personal reasons. I love the language and its grammar, so I want to learn it because it is fun for me.
Another vocational goal I have is to competently work in group settings with those of another culture. By doing this means that I have carefully examined and understood another culture and the differences it may have from my American culture. Culturally competent also means that I have practiced and understand that interactions in other cultures may look different than those in my country.
Lastly, I want to make personal connections within the university with my fellow classmates and professors. Having connections in academics can hold potential for me to return to Valparaíso in future academic affairs. Another area I wish to make personal connections in is YoungLife, which is a Christian organization that is devoted to bringing the news of the Gospel to high school students. It is something I am involved in as a leader here in Maryville, and I wish to broaden my connections within the ministry.

Vocation

Vocation is something that I am always trying to discern. But, I do know that I am always in the business of helping others. I have been thinking it would be cool to lead a study group for other Americans abroad. I have recently been excited about the idea of teaching philosophy or religious studies in higher education. So, I would be interested to see if there would be on-campus jobs in the library or as a tutor. This would be a fun, leadership role abroad. The KU is also a very big advocate for being active community members in Eichstätt. They have special programs called volunteer work. "A wide range of student groups, working groups and projects offer opportunities for students to get involved in political, Christian, social and creative initiatives. Alongside their studies KU students campaign for human rights, support conservation and represent the interests of their fellow students."  So, I would love to specifically get involved in one of, or all, of these socially motivated initiatives that will benefit others. This would prove invaluable for many of my other passions such as working with non-profits back home, urban-food ministry within a church context, and advocating for people on the margins of society. Ultimately, I expect to gain skills of intercultural competency, understanding religious behavior in a larger cultural framework, and how to gain the most fulfillment out of life. 

Blog post 4 - Living Like a Local - Luke Wheat

Living like a local has been the one thing I have had in mind my whole time since I knew I was going to Spain. the ways to achieve that, which I can think of before getting there include; having many friends from the local area, getting involved in extra curricular activities, and eating locally as much as possible so I am in the culture in a more broad aspect. Some extra curricular activities I hope to be involved in include soccer, which is my first option primarily because it is my sport here at Maryville college. I anticipate there to be locals in my classes, but if not I am not really a shy person so I will be able to put myself out there just fine I believe. I believe since my Spanish is advanced at this point that I will have some nerves, but at the same time I have never really had much fear about speaking in a different language because that is the only way to learn. I think it is good the university I am at is close to a big city, that way I can experience both types of life while in Spain. A smaller town in Avila which is about 30 minute west, and Madrid, the big city, which is about 30 minutes east. This is an exciting prospect because I will be able to compare and contrast the living styles in the various places of Spain.

Blog 3 Academic Differences.

The differences between classes at Alfonso X and Maryville are not too staggering. The workload appears to be about the same in the course descriptions, but it is possible there are less tests than at maryville. The hours are listed differently, as in a 3 hour course in maryville translates into a 6 hour course in the European scale. As far I have heard from my friends in Spain that it is more of a business type setting where tardies are not acceptable and it is a much more formal relationship Sith professors. Where as in Maryville it is even possible to have a friendly relationship where you could possibly see your professors outside of class. The semester will start about the same time, but there is a two week break from the end of the semester to the start if exams, and that will be a weird break in flow that I am not used to. I would just like to be able to be focused through this break. I am not too sure, but since the classroom setting is said to be more business like; I would assume that late work is unacceptable. To be full time it is necessary to have 24 hours in the European scale, and at Maryville college it is 12 hours. with the credit formula applied it is the same amount of course work. Their grading scale is more or less the same until you get to C, although it is in favor of the US student it seems, if you get a D- minus there it will transfer as a C in the US. This is the information I could find so far, and also the classes at Alfonso X seem to fit into my course schedule here at Maryville, so that is encouraging.

Blog post 2 - An American Abroad

While being abroad I hope to make a positive contribution to the perceptions of Americans in different countries. I have had a couple trips out of the country, and I believe people in general are not as negative towards Americans as some people might think. I think it is more of a feeling they have about an individual they knew that was an American. When I go to places I have never been I do my best to be understanding and not to hurt anyone's feelings by being respectful of their culture, and hopefully through this people will be able to learn about the American culture as well. During my stay in Spain I am excited to learn about all the types of Spanish cultures while there and hopefully share a little bit of southern American culture while I am there.

blog post 3

       first of to get understanding of the year, The school year starts at the beginning of September. French schools have long holidays – a two-month summer holiday starting in July, two or three weeks at Christmas and Easter, as well as half term breaks.  Courses are divided between majors and are set in periods of two semesters. At University Grenoble   the workload depends on the class and depending on the professor tests are given when ever the professor wants one. In typical classroom settings, classes can range from smaller classes with 15 students up to larger classes with up to 100 students. professors usually prefer you to not use your cell phone in class, but taking notes on laptop might be acceptable.  If you have any questions about anything the professor usually has office hours you can visit or personally email them. 
       At university Grenoble  classes credits depends on how many hours you take for that class. for example if you take a 36 hour class this is 4 credit.  At your  host school, you have to take equal to Maryville credit hours in order to be a full-time student. At Maryville classes will meet either twice or three times a week as well as classes at Grenoble. but letter grades are not equivalent between both schools so that means a B here might be a C there.
       At Grenoble, there are plenty of  ways to receive academic and non-academic support on campus. being a international student, If there is a problem in the classroom a student can go speak to the teacher or to their international advisor, who is there to help in any way.

Blog #2

I honesty believe that i am independent and mentally keen in situations where I'm not in control or in a different environment. this is something I learned on my own and feel like it will help me understand and get more comfotoerble when in France. I really would like to learn more about american contributions to the world. with the notion that Americans are lazy and such, I would want to teach how we aren't and how we contribute to the world. skills I event learned yet are being patient with things while also being calm when things aren't going my way.

Blog 4

Research can tell you a lot but there is nothing like a hands on experience. I have researched about the culture of Spain and the way life is and I have even talked to my friend Marcos. Thinking about being in a whole new country can be nerve raking when you think about it all at once. Breaking it down eases my stress. Through ISEP I’ve made a friend from America and her name is Kenna. So when I get to Spain I won’t be all alone. Meeting new people isn’t something that make me nervous. It’s actually one of my favorite things to do. My Coach once told me that I’ve never met a stranger and I think that’s true. I plan to talk to the people in my class and hopefully find someone from Tarragona. I hope to make local friends who can show me the around the area and teach me the slang and show me all the fun stuff around town.

To me living like a local means being an active part of the community or at least your school. This is important because I feel like if you don’t at least try to live like a local you’re missing out on a lot of the experience. It’s kind of like reading a book to complete an assignment not for a deeper understanding and meaning of it.  I think my day will start with classes and homework, siesta around 2-5, work on any remaining homework, eat dinner and then explore and have fun with my friends. Some weekends I hope to be able to travel around the country.

I think that because I am fluent in Spanish and I know a lot of about the country that will help with the culture shock. I moved from Columbus Ohio to Tennessee in the ninth grade and that experience was really hard for me. However, I have learned from that experience and know some things that I can do and not to make this trip a great experience. First and foremost I think that you’re attitude towards a situation greatly impacts the outcome. I am excited about going and want to be there and have a good time. Life is what you make it and I plan to have a good time. I know what it’s like to be homesick and how to handle that as well. Keep in touch with those you miss as much as you can. I think by the time I start to miss anymore too much that it will almost be time for me to come back to America. It is also important to document and express your feelings, which I plan to do with my blog.

I think at first the adjustment might be a little staling, but I think that if I really try and I get out and make an effort that I will find that I will have a very successful trip. 

Mackenzie Yaksic- Blog 4

I am extremely excited about traveling to Chile for an entire semester, but that excitement that I have does not exist without anxiety and fears. I have never been abroad by myself, and I have never been away from the culture that I know so readily for any time comparable to six months. That being said, it is a must that I prepare for strong culture shock to occur and plan on how to handle that in the best way possible.

To become acquainted with a new culture is not find the niche in which your personality and values fit the best. To adjust means to become flexible enough to fit yourself into that niche, which may look different to each person. For me and my experience, I plan to become acquainted with the Valparaíso culture by immersing myself within the college population and creating meaningful relationships. I am most often a social person, so making friends in my new culture will be important to me. However, I do not want to lose touch with people back home and cause unnecessary separation between me and my life back home. I will want to make regular calls back home to friends and family within moderation.

One specific way I way to get involved is through sports. I am an avid soccer player, and it is important to me to find a place to play soccer while I am abroad. This will help combat culture shock and help me become acquainted in two different ways. First, it will allow for me a chance to meet new people in a setting that I am comfortable with. It will also allow me to exercise, a natural stress reliever for me, and do something that I love. This will help my mental health, because it is something familiar to me.

Another way I want to get involved is through faith-based community. I have researched some things about YoungLife, which is something I am active in here, and may try to get involved in that. If that is not an option, I’d like to see if I can get involved in some type of small group with others my age.

Living like a local, to me, means that I learn the ins and outs of what locals’ daily lives look like. I want to know what it looks like to be a college-aged student in South America. It interests me to know what they do in their free time, how they view college academics, what music they listen to, their political views, what foods they eat, and so much more.

One thing that I will do ease my transition to Chilean culture is stay strong in my faith. I have come to know throughout my years of being a follower of Christ that when I am centered in my faith I am my strongest emotionally and mentally. I plan to stay connected with my prayer and devotionals leading up to my departure, and hopefully I will have stocked up some faith-based strength to handle my transition better.

Nate Long Blog 4

Blog 4

I feel that I am an overall introverted person so when I go abroad I feel that really getting involved in other cultures with other people may be difficult for me.  One of the first ways that I plan on getting involved is soccer.  Whether that means me joining an actual team or just playing some pickup soccer with some people I meet I feel that this will be a good way for me to meet people and develop friendships since I already do it here.  Building on that, I have always imagined “living like a local” to mean more about the people that you hang out with than anything else.  For example, using soccer I hope it gives me Spanish friends who I can get to know and they can show me all about their town and country, especially from their perspectives as locals.  At my specific school I know no other real ways to get involved other than opportunities I can create myself or become involved in.  I believe the making local friends part, other than those I hope to gain from soccer, will come largely from participating in community events put on both by my school and community.  Day to day, I hope that I will have classes get done as early as possible, and spend the rest of my days playing soccer, studying and hanging out with new friends.  On the weekends I hope to travel as much as possible, both inside and outside of the country.  By getting involved in soccer and other activities I hope to make friends that are locals and can show me how they see things.  Lastly, in order to ease the transition into another culture am going to try to keep as many things as possible similar to how I do here.  For example, I regularly talk to my family and friends in other places and play soccer, while abroad I hope to still be able to do all of those so that it isn’t like absolutely everything in my life is completely different.

Culture as Relative Realities

I would like to first set up a quick framework of methodological approach, in the participation of intercultural competency, to properly put into perspective my goals for immersion and cross-cultural interactions. To me, study abroad, but really any form of interaction with "outsiders", is where being a religious studies major comes in handy. The last 50 years of religious studies, in the academy, has been centered around debates of how we study religion. So, to put very simply, studiers of religion can be broken down into reductionists and non-reductionists. Reductionists believe that when studying "religion" there is ultimately some kind of "essence" it can be broken down into (i.e. the Sacred, psychological dependence, etc). But, the non-reductionist critique of this approach is that reducing religion or traditions down to one thing or "essence" means 1) you may be missing many pieces to the puzzle, and 2) you are really only approaching others from your own subjective frame of cultural reference. The reason I mention this school of thought is to point out I think this approach is helpful when not just thinking about religion, but culture, which are by no means mutually exclusive. I consider myself a non-reductionist. Non-reductionists main tool in studying religion and culture is through what is called narrative theory, or the dialogical approach. The main thing to keep in mind is that the goal of intercultural competency is not to assimilate or deject something altogether, but rather to better understand. Everyone has their own narrative based on background, culture, history, and that is an inter-subjective reality that no one else can fully embody or live, so all we can do is dialogically and openly cross-cultures and cross narratives to better understand. That being said, I plan to get involved with many different activities and organizations on campus and in Eichstätt. Being in Germany during the summertime will be perfect for meeting fellow bikers, hikers, and outdoor adventurists. I hope to get specifically involved in a cycling club, whether that be on campus or in Eichstätt. This will be great for interacted with all sorts of people, but also an easy means for traveling around and see as much as I can. While I am not particularly religious myself, I want to see what types of religious organizations are available on campus, or maybe even see about a philosophy club. At least in these places I can hope for very open discussion and terminology that I am used to. I suppose "living like a local" is something I will have to see when I get there. But, I assume that will mean, hoping I make German friends, eating at the proper local cuisine, studying at the local cafe, and trying to live in accordance to the cultural norms. While my three main cross-cultural references, I think, will be cycling, religion, and academics I know that even smaller nuances of culture will seep in through day-to-day life and interactions. That is probably what I am most excited for. But, when that culture shock does set in, I will most definitely call my mom or dad. Conversations with them always make me feel sane. I imagine I will also turn to writing, whether that be letters to friends or family, or in my journal. But, ultimately, what I hope to gain from it all is a better understanding of myself, and the people I come into contact with. So, I can ultimately offer my own interpretation, or narrative to the larger world.

blog post 4

in my stay in France there are multiple things i can do to live well and integrate into the culture, as well as have a comfortable transition into the french society. we talked about living like a local and taking ideas from that, i know that i can get to know the city i will be living in. get to know how transportation is and where things are. finding new places to eat and discover and meeting new people todo it with.  on campus i hope to get involved with some organizations, preferably one having todo with international students or something along the lines of like BSA. i imagine my day going as firs t going to my classes and afterward working on my homework. maybe after meeting up with some friends to go do something or maybe just exploring the city. i hope to use some of these ideas to have good transition into my new home for 5 months.

Getting Involved & Living Like a Local: Blog #4

While I am abroad in Spain I hope to be integrated in the community like a local. My first step is to do things that will get me involved in the campus. I plan on signing up for the orientation group for international students offered by the school. I want to find friends in the international group that will be experiencing similar things as me. I also want to find friends who are locals to Madrid or anywhere in Spain. Living like a local to me means going out for tapas at a local restaurant to watch a soccer game. It also means having late night dinners around 10 pm which is the norm for Spaniards. I plan on fully immersing myself in Spain by forcing myself to always speak Spanish even when I'm unsure of the right words to use. I plan on making local friends by simply going out and being in a social scene. I also know some students in Madrid so I can meet up with them to find mutual friends. My day to day would consists of going to class and touring the city of Madrid. At night I would like to go out to eat with new possible friends and see the social scene. I hope to gain long life friends, fluency in Spanish, and a great time in the country. To help ease my transition in being in a new country I will stay positive and call friends or family when I need them. I will also try to talk to other exchange students who are going through this with me. Overall, I plan on Spain being a great experience for me and a lifetime full of memories.

Academic Differences

The overall class structure and larger university model of Universities in America and Germany are quite similar. It is my impression that Maryville, being a private liberal arts college, will be a bit different than the larger University in Eichstatt. For one, the class sizes in Eichstatt can be anywhere from 250 to 5. Germany has larger classes called lectures where it is a professor teaching about the subject. But, they also have seminar classes that will be more interactive and probably what I am more accustomed to at Maryville. The attendance policy also seems to be quite different because in Germany there is no attendance policy, so going to class is completely up to you. I imagine this being quite dangerous for me because sometimes the attendance policy is the only thing the gets me to class. But, I do like the autonomy of being able to study when I want to and not totally subject to going to classes like in America. As for credits, the majority of classes are worth 5 credits in Germany and will come back to Maryville as 3 credits. I am guessing and hoping that the rigor of the religion and philosophy classes are challenging and stimulating. Like most classes, it is best to learn and grow in a subject, especially philosophy, where you can find a professor you can openly talk to. I am also very excited that Eichstatt has a similar interest and fervor for outdoor activities just like Maryville. The offer kayaking, biking, and yoga classes! So, inside and outside the classroom I am excited to broaden my horizons while not feeling too far removed from home!

Academic Differences: Blog #3

Dear Future Students,
       The academic system is similar to Maryville College. Courses are divided between majors and are set in periods of two semesters. At Maryville, the workload depends on the class you select. Usually, tests are given twice a semester, but can also vary depending on certain teachers. Assignments are usually given once a week to test your knowledge on the material. In typical classroom settings, there are about 15 to 25 students. If you have any questions in class do not be hesitant to raise your hand. Teachers usually prefer you to not use your cell phone in class, but taking notes on your laptop is okay. The semester is split in half with a midterm exam and a grade. This is for students to know how they are doing and if they need to improve the next half of the semester. Students are expected to complete any work or readings before class time. Maryville College is special in that the student and teacher relationship is very well formed. If you have any questions that you need to be answered outside class time the teacher has office hours you can visit or personally email them. At my host country, the classroom environment is similar, but the student involvement is different then Maryville College. At the host country, the semester seems to be divided in half as well with a week of vacation in the middle. The assignments and workload depended on which classes you're enrolled into. There is not much reliance on the teacher because it is seen that the student does all the work.
       At Maryville College, the typical classes are worth 3 credits unless you have a lab or an extra day of class which is worth 4 credits. At my host school, most classes are worth 6 credits which are equivalent to Maryville's 3. To be a full-time student at Maryville you must take 12 hours a week. At the host school, you have to take equal to Maryville credit hours. This would mean taking at least 4 classes if the 6 credits are converted to Maryville's 3 credits. At Maryville classes will meet either twice or three times a week; however, there are some exceptions. Unfortunately, letter grades are not equivalent between both schools.
      At Maryville, there are countless ways to receive academic and non-academic support on campus. If there is a problem in the classroom a student can go speak to the teacher or to their advisor, who is there to help in any way. There is also a student assign to each class that will hold study sessions and tutoring sessions in the library at various times. At my host institution there seem to be tutors available upon request, but that is not necessarily free for students.

Academic Differences

This is my vlog about the academic difrences between Maryville College and the Universitat Roviri i Virgili

https://youtu.be/NJ67eYCLVB8

Blog 3 - Mackenzie Yaksic

Thankfully for me, the educational atmosphere of Chile is similar to that of America. The two educational systems are most similar in the credits and hours required for courses. There are just minimal differences, but for the most part, the systems are generally comparable.
One  major similarity is the general flow of the semester. Although the semesters are flip flopped (our first semester in the Fall is their second semester. Our second semester in the Spring is their first semester), the flow of the semester seems similar. They have the same examination period at the end of the semester, and they also have the benchmark testing periods like we do here at Maryville.
The classroom culture has both similarities and differences. The university itself is a lot larger, so I expect there to be more students per classroom. But, the culture of the classroom is very similar here. I know that professors and faculty know and care about students on a personal level, like here at Maryville, and that is something I am most looking forward to. One of the main reasons I chose to come here to Maryville was the reputation that the school had in the classrooms. I thrive in smaller, hands-on experiences, so I am glad that a portion of that aspect will be translated over to Chile.
The credits' worth is comparable to that of the US. What courses I am taking in Chile are all generally worth about 4 credits. Those classes will be transferred to Maryville as 3-credit courses. I did not find specific information about the workload required of students in Chile, but with all of the other academic similarities, I expect the workload to be comprable.
The number of credit hours necessary to be a full-time students at Maryville is 12, but I could not find exact information of the minimal requirements to be a full-time student at PUCV. However, I have signed up for a myriad of classes and am confident not to fall under whatever the minimal requirements are for my university. The credits will hopefully transfer to an equivalent of 16 hours here at Maryville.
Something I was happy to discover was that there are classes that are specifically for international students. I like this, because I am hoping to have a few classes with the same students in order to generate lasting relationships and a niche while abroad. One major disconnect from many Latin American countries to America is that of four-year plans. Where we have a lot of space to choose what courses we want to take, many universities in Latin America have more rigid schedules. Any number of students in one discipline are expected to take most, if not all, of their courses together throughout the four years. This, I'm sure, will create many small tightly knit groups, and I am apprehensive about fitting in with other students at the university.

An American Abroad: Blog #2

This past summer I was in Spain for three weeks visiting different cities. I learned a lot about the culture that will help prepare me for a semester there this coming spring. I think that knowing the difference between cultural, universal, and personal preferences will better help my understanding of my new environment. I also believe that since I have had experience traveling to other countries I will be able to listen and communicate well with new people. As I have been abroad I have noticed that many people in varying countries have the same ideas about what it means to be an American or living in America. Sometimes these perceptions are correct and sometimes they are misleading. While I am abroad I would like to teach others that Americans are not just one thing and to broaden their knowledge on the different kinds of people in the United States. As I am an international business major I would like to learn more about Spain and the global issues that are occurring. I want to know other peoples opinions about issues and gain knowledge about others. One skill that I would like to focus on while studying abroad is to go outside my comfort zone. I think that I do a good job on trying new things, but sometimes I am more reserved when meeting new people. I would like to branch out and not only befriend locals, but also others who are studying abroad.

Blog 3 - Nate Long

Blog 3 – Nate Long

                My name is Nate Long and I am studying abroad this semester in Pamplona, Spain.  There are many differences in terms of everything school related between Spain and the United States, first and foremost, academic differences.  In Spain, the workload on a daily basis seems to be significantly less and this is due largely to the fact that the biggest, and majority, of your grade in a class comes from one or two assignments whether that be a test or paper.  Classroom culture is also very different, this is due greatly to the fact that the relationship between students and teachers much more distanced.  Another big difference is the credit system.  In Spain they use the European Credit Transfer System (ECTS) which measures time spent in and out of the classroom, so every ECTS credit is worth a half credit here.  So in order to meet the required twelve hours of credits here to stay as a full time student I will have to take twenty-four hours in Spain.  In terms of support, my host institution, and schools in Spain in general, are much less helpful when it comes to academic resources and tutoring.  Students are expected to do much more on their own instead of relying as much on others to help them when they may be behind or confused.

Academics???? UGHH!?

I am a Writing Communications major with a minor in English Literature. I think being that I am going to Worcester, United Kingdom that my minor is more in tune with the country than my major. However, I think my major has more of an international outlook on things in Worcester. For example, Maryville College doesn't offer any classes in actual public speaking or goes in depth with news broadcasting (i.e. the only broadcasting class I have had here was Mr. Trevathan's Journalism class the 1st semester of my Sophomore year), but the University of Worcester offers courses that pertain to not only my major, but to my future job as a broadcast journalist. Although I wish I could go to the London to just relax and not have to worry about Academics, the fact that I am taking classes at the University of Worcester makes me even more excited about my future study abroad experience.

An american Abroad - Spain edition

I believe that I am very aware when it comes cultures that are not my own. My parents raised me to be very observant and to acknowledge differences. They always say take the meat and throw way the bone. Which means be open minded and not defensive. Listen to what others have to say, learn about other people and their cultures for the sake of being educated. To be able to understand and connect to others that are different than you is important. You may not agree with their ideals or practices, however, it is still good to see and understand someone else’s point of view.  I feel like there are a lot of things that I will not learn or completely understand until I live in Spain. However, I feel like by reading and talking to people that are from Spain that I can understand their culture more without just assuming things. I believe that the best way to learn about another culture is to observe and not to make assumptions before you know something for sure.

I feel like everywhere else hates America would like to show people that America isn’t all bad. America is a mix of so many different people and backgrounds and being exposed to that diversity has helped to shape me and how I view others and the world. I by no means know everything and still have tons of room to grow and learn. I am excited to learn all about someone else’s culture. 

Not much differences!

The surveys help me to know that I am going to the perfect country. Knowing that I am not a Type A person, I had some reservations about adapting to a new culture and environment, but the survey assured me that I am going to a place that is very similar to my attitude and personality. For example, I am never on time when it comes to being in classes, meetings, or any other time-specific things. Although I know that it's not a good thing, it has made me the type of person I am and, believe it or not, it makes me a lot more grateful for the time that I do have. Leaving in the United States and not being a prompt person really doesn't have much backlash considering nothing in America, technically, starts on time. However, I found out that while I am going to the United Kingdom, they are pretty much the same way.

An American Abroad

First Long-Tern Experience Abroad

By taking these surveys, I learned a lot about myself. I learned about the things I value, the ways in which I choose to work, and my reactions to potential events around me.
A strong positive trait I think I have pertaining to adapting to a new culture is my ability to learn through simply observation. I am good at picking up social and interpersonal cues in situations, and I can adequately adapt to those cues. I will use this in many social settings in my country. These things include the common greetings people use for others, the ways to appropriately interact with people with whom you have differing relations with (i.e. professors, family, friends, strangers).
I would say a weakness of mine when it comes to cultural adaption is my unwillingness to "go with the flow" in certain situations. I put emphasis on being punctual, I enjoy working alone on homework assignments and studying, and I can occasionally dislike when things don't go as planned. For these things, I will need to constantly remind myself to be patient, take a deep breath, and react in a logical way. I will remind myself of my situation, that things may change quickly or drastically, and that I am completely immersed in a whole new culture.

An American Abroad

Luckily, going back to Germany for me will not be a total "culture shock". For one, I have been before, but two, America and Germany are not the most different in terms of culture. For instance, Germany is a pretty low context culture. This is what I am used to in America, and also what I operate well with naturally in my own life. I have also heard that timeliness and structure is fond among Germans. This is something that is also one of my strength. I think that there is always a time and place for everything, as long as I have planned it before hand. So, I recognize while I may find this a common thread in Germany, I may have to attempt to more leisure and unplanned festivities when I travel elsewhere while abroad.

So, in terms of strategies to better understand the host culture, I think it is all about the people you decide to participate with. I come with my understanding, and the people I meet come with theirs, but ultimately to break down walls we must listen and try to understand each other. I understand that this will be a combination of getting to know some people in great depth, but also to make sure I talk to a large variety of Germans from different areas. While, some generalizations are good and useful, I am excited to build real friendships that help me learn about culture. Because culture is built into the lives of people.

On that note, I understand that culture is also built in to me, because of where I was raised. So, I have a couple of "American" characteristics that I think are important to accept and bring to the table. (Not saying, as of now, that they are good or bad, but just patterns I know about myself) Americans are very individually oriented. Each individual's perspective and way of living are unique. Americans are also always over consuming. And this lies in many aspects of life. We over consume food, objects and maybe most importantly (especially for me) time. I think that my time always has to be filled with a "something next". And this keeps Americans perpetually busy with now down time. This is probably the biggest thing of all I wish to work on while abroad. To quote myself, "There is a time and place for everything." So, there must also be a time for relaxation, friendship, and sabbatical.

So, along with that, other skills I want to learn are being a good communicator. Have positive and deep friendships that are not your typical, American, surface level interaction. In terms of social and political beliefs I do not think I will have any trouble because I probably align more with young Germans than young Americans in the south. But, still being able to openly engage and learn about not just American issue, but global issues is high among my priorities because it will lend itself to helping understand culture.

I have my cultural norms and so do you, but to know people we have to try to understand their norms.

Nate Long Blog 2

Preparing to study abroad and then actually studying abroad can be very difficult to prepare for and then do and it helps if you possess certain skills to help you transition into another culture.  Personally, I feel that my strengths are some of the characteristics I have, two of the most important being my calmness and my self-confidence.  First, how calm and collected I am usually helps me a lot because it helps me to not get as stressed out in many situations.  When it comes to schoolwork, for example, if I have a week coming up with lots of work I tend to not stress and just look at what needs to be done and just get it done as it is due.  As far as self-confidence, I feel that this will go a long way to helping me in Spain.  I think it will be most useful when I find myself in situations where I am not completely sure what is going on for whatever reason I will be able to look past it and know that I will know what is going on next time.  I think that the self-confidence will give me the ability to learn from all situations, even when they aren’t the best for me and apply it in similar situations in the future.  I feel that some of the biggest challenges for me will be forming new friends.  I feel this is something I am not always the best at because I am generally quiet around people who I do not know well and I feel this may be even more true when talking in another language.  This is where I feel that I should learn more about the media around me upon arrival so as to see what is popular in that location.  For example, as suggested on the “Culture Learning Strategies Inventory” I could read local newspapers to find out about current political and social issues in the country.  I think expanding this idea further to other media outlets would be useful to learn more about the way of communication and what people talk about most.  Lastly, as an American I think I want to prove to the people that I meet in Spain that many of the negative stereotypes are untrue.

First Blog Post: Studying Abroad in Spain

I want to go abroad to learn more of other countries cultures. I believe this leads to better communication between people and therefor it leads to better understanding between whole cultures. I think the best agenda to have while going abroad is to be open to any and everything the culture has to offer. This could be slang in a language to a certain type of food that looks gross, but the main thing to me is to try everything once. I want this experience to get me out of my comfort zone. I have never had a problem speaking to new people, but this will be a new experience completely.

When I first applied for study abroad I was nervous, and I did not know what to think about the future at that point, and up until my placement I had mixed feelings. Then I got my placement, and at that point I was so excited it seemed meant to be. I could not be happier to be able to have this opportunity to go study in another country. Even more specifically Spain. I have had an affinity for Europe ever since I was able to go with the Maryville College Men’s Soccer Team to Germany and Italy. That was an experience of a lifetime, and to be able to go back to Europe will be an amazing experience since I will have a whole semester opposed to just two weeks.

The three things I would like to do are going to be generic, but at the same time the will be key to getting the full experience in Spain while I am there. First off, I would like to speak 80% Spanish every week while I am there. My Spanish is advanced at the moment, but I would like to turn that into fluent by the end of the trip. Secondly, I would love to go to a La Liga game while there, and this is due to my affinity for soccer, but also for the love the culture of Spain has built around soccer. What better way to learn about Spain then through how they play soccer in person. I have been told you can learn a lot about a country from the way a country’s people play a sport. Hopefully this can give me some experience I have not had before. Along with that goal, I would love to play soccer for a club team, or just pick up while I am there. Lastly, I need to travel the country. Like in America, even in different countries there are different sub-cultures within the country. I would like to try and experience most of the sub-cultures of Spain while I am there, so I can make the most out of my trip. 

Goals for study abroad

 For as long as I can remember I have wanted to study abroad. Growing up I went to Columbus Spanish Immersion Academy where I not only learned the language but all about the many Spanish speaking countries and their traditions. My favorite Spanish speaking country is Spain. In middle school I had a teacher, Mr. Riddle, who was from Spain. He would tell us all of these amazing stories about his time there and I wanted to go and create my own stories. In high school I decided that I wanted to study aboard in Spain when I got to college so my senior year I took college classes so that I could be ahead. I wanted to ensure that I would have enough space in my schedule to go. So now I am a junior and this semester I got my acceptance letter to the Universistat Rovira i Virgili in Tarragona Spain ! I am beyond excited and I cant wait to go. A lot of people as me if I'm nervous to go by myself to another country for a whole semester and honestly I'm not. I know that it will be very different than anything I've ever known, but that's the fun part! I get to go experience another culture in another part of the world. See the way people interact with each other. Try new foods, meet new friends.

Before I go to Spain I want to learn more of their slang. I have been speaking Spanish since I was young but I was taught more than one way. I learned vosotros in school, but the way I speak is more Mexican Spanish. While I’m there I would like to become completely fluent in Spanish. I’m nervous that it will take me a long time to adjust to all of the differences or that I will be really homesick. Im also nervous that when I come back to America I will feel like I didn’t accomplish enough. I don’t want this to be my only trip abroad. I have never left the country but there is so much of this world to explore and I want to experience as much of it as I can. I am so anxious (in a good way) to go to Spain. I want to create lifelong friendships and do things that will change the way I see the world. My goal is to grow in more ways than one.

Goals for Germany!

I was 16 years old the first time I went to Germany. Immediately, I felt like I was in my element, I felt like this was a place where I wanted to stay. So, needless to say, I knew I would find a way back. So, I traveled abroad again when I was 18. This time I had a better understanding of the language and I could embrace, in better detail, the difference in culture between America and Germany. Whether it was riding bikes, going to beer gardens or visiting historical sites, I was mesmerized for a second time. Ever since then, I have been yearrning to return.

Boom! So, what happens? I get accepted and placed at the Katholische Universtat in Eichstätt, Germany! I was, and am, elated beyond description. Finally, a chance not only to return to Germany, but a chance to study, learn, and grow in my passions, goals and dreams.

The goals I have for myself are best manifested, but not limited to, two different categories: social/spiritual goals and academic goals. Academically, I am interested in two things. I want to become as proficient as I can in the German language while earning a German language minor. I also want to deepen my knowledge and understanding of early church history/Catholicism in Europe. The Protestant Reformation was not only a turning point in religious persons history, but the non-religious as well. So, to be near the very origins of the movement, and studying at a Catholic University seems to be the perfect placement for me. Having a better sense and knowledge for the German language and early church history will benefit my overall preparation for seminary. Whether it is understanding more deeply the nuance of a word in German to assist in an ontological argument, or explaining the importance of becoming a free-thinking citizen, I want to learn it all.

While I expect the social, spiritual, and academic to all overlap, they all will happen on their own time. What I am hoping for socially is to secure strong relationships and bonds with native Germans. My German won't get any better if I only hang out with Americans. I hope to truly speak, engage, and sympathize with people of a different culture. This ties in with my spiritual hopes and aspirations too. When you open up, sympathize, and are even not afraid to engage in difficult conversation with people different from yourself, you broaden the lens of your prospective. So, while these things will undoubtably prepare me for seminary, I hope this is the next step towards living my most fulfilling life.

Blog Post #1

Next spring I will be studying abroad in Spain. My primary goal for studying in Spain is to become fluent in Spanish and to live among locals to become better acquainted with their culture. I would also like to travel around Spain as well as other countries in Europe. Another goal of mine is to be able to have tapas and wine every week! 

Before heading to Spain, I am worried about the language barrier. I am excited to meet new people and experience their culture; however, I am nervous that my Spanish will not be up to the level of understanding all of my professors. 

The first thing I would like to do to maximize my experience is to make friends who are locals of Madrid so that I can experience the city as a local. I also want to push myself to only speaking Spanish so that I can try to avoid the language barrier as much as possible. Lastly, I want to try as much Spanish things as possible (food) and avoid American chains. 

Study Abroad Goals

Studying abroad has always been a dream of mine; in fact, it was one of the main reasons why I decided to go to college. I have always wanted to experience my major from a different perspective and culture that I can’t get from home. The chance to gain different journalistic styles and written communication will help me to improve my overall journalistic ability. Furthermore, interacting with new people of different backgrounds will encourage me as a journalist to tell stories from a different perspective. I think that the chance to immerse myself in a different education system is a great way to understand the people and their different traditions and cultures and will help me to have a better, well-rounded experience at Maryville College.

            Going to college out of state was the first time I had ever been away from home. I think that leaving the US will help me to better appreciate the nation’s people and how their history differs from the US. The chance to experience a completely new way of life is very exciting and fascinating to me because, upon graduation, I am not sure where I want to live; maybe the United Kingdom could be the place for me to grow socially and career wise. However, I will not know until I get there.

            I chose the United Kingdom because, as a requirement to graduate, I must do a senior thesis about a subject within my major. I plan to do a study on how TV journalism is the same/different between the UK and the US. My thesis will focus on news and current events in both countries as well as international relations and how it is presented in the news media. I need to go to United Kingdom to fully understand the media presentation and media’s effect on society.

Nate Long: Blog 1

Just two days ago I found out that I would be studying abroad in Pamplona in the North of Spain.  I have many things that I want to do and see while there being both in Spain and out.  The main goal that I have in studying abroad is that I want to become fluent in Spanish seeing as it is my major and just as a personal goal of mine.  However, outside of the classroom and language skills I want to travel as much as possible while there.  I want to be able to travel outside of Spain to other countries but at this point I don’t really know where all this includes.  As I draw closer to going, I want to get a better idea of my schedule and the amount of traveling that I will be capable of so that I can make plans.  Within Spain though, I hope to travel to the Madrid and Barcelona being two of the largest cities in Spain.  Not only this but these two cities are home to two of the largest soccer clubs in all of the world and I hope to be able to attend at least one of their games, especially El Clasico if at all possible.

Having just received my placement I am very excited for the trip but realize that it is months away and I still have much planning to do.  The only thing that I feel I am really nervous about is missing my friends and things that are going to happen back home.  Ultimately though, I know that I will love my time abroad and that seems to make me feel better about not being here for a whole semester.  As far as the actual trip, at this point being a few months away from going I’m not really nervous or scared of anything pertaining to the whole study abroad experience but I feel that as I draw closer I will grow more anxious about the upcoming trip.

When it comes to maximizing my experience the first thing I think I can do is, as already mentioned, to travel as much as possible to see the world and see different cultures.  I feel that this will help me learn greatly about the world and things in it.  Next, seeing as one of my goals is to become fluent, I want to surround myself as much as possible with people who will always speak Spanish with me and help me to improve in the language.  Lastly, I want to make many new friends from all around world for two reasons.  First, to learn about them, where they are from and their culture.  Secondly, for future traveling having these friends around the world would potentially make it easier to travel around the world.