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.