vocation goals

For this blog, please explain how studying abroad (at your chosen school, city, country, etc) contributes to your vocational goals.  Research ways you can be involved, or have a leadership role on campus or in your community abroad.  Please outline at least one thing that you will do consciously while abroad to help yourself take one step toward achieving your vocational or career goals and how it will help you. (eg. seeking out an internship, volunteering in your field, field research, taking a specific class)  What skills do you expect to gain that will help you in your future career?

I have always wanted to work abroad. This semester I have worked in the non-profit world with children and I believe that it may be my calling. I have found a few children oriented non-profits to possibly volunteer at while i am there. Children's Charity Onlus Italia is one of those. I really like their mission and hope to get involved. I will keep searching for more options and start to get in touch with them in the summer. My current internship takes up a lot of my time, so I do not want to be in that boat. Hopefully my course load will not be great. The classes I am taking will strengthen my academic core and my minor.  I am exciting to learn in a different style: on campus and off.

I really have a broad range of interests, which is awesome but also inhibiting when trying to decide a career path. I am trying to do many opportunities in different fields to narrow it down more. 

I want to be highly involved with my I-house in Milano. I see the fun people have at ours, and i feel that it will hopefully be the same in Italy. I can find clubs and off campus things to do through that. 

Overall, this will build me as a person. Taking this scary journey, a lone, to a country that does not  speak English takes guts that I don't have. I will became a more confident, self sufficient person (hopefully) and that will help me once college is over. 

I can predict some changes, and i certainly have goals, but i am also preparing for a lot of surprising opportunities. But i also am preparing for setbacks. If i don't get an internship: it is OK. If i can't take a elective class i think will better me: it is OK. This is all new, and hopefully will be good for the most part. I am excited!

Italian universities versus American

□ ACADEMIC DIFFERENCES:

o  Workload (# of tests/assignments/outside of class work) 

* the workload at Maryville is more rigorous than in Italy. There are normally 3-4 tests a semester at maryville, with copious amount of lab work and homework. This is not the case for all classes, but a vast majority. In Italy, most classes only have 2 tests a semesters and maybe a paper or two, 

o classroom culture

*the classroom setting seems to be more or less the same in both places. Respect the professors, but feel free to question and thrive.

o flow of the semester

the fall semester in Italy starts in September and ends in December. In america, it normally starts in August and ends in december. this is because in Italy they do not have a fall break.  

o expectations of students, and o faculty/student relationships

The students are expected to keep up with the readings in Italy with no homework or quiz to keep them in line. I think the italian school has more formal relationships with students.

□ CREDITS: 

o How many credits are classes normally worth?

6 of theirs (ECTS) which is 3.5 us credits

o Are credits/workload valued differently in your host country than here?

yes

 o Can you find information on how many hours/week each class will meet?

not on the website

o How will your credits transfer?  (I’m not asking what your courses will substitute for, I’m asking X # of credits at your host institution = X # credits at Maryville College.)

1.00 ECTS = 0.60 US College Credit Hours

□ GRADES: 

o Are letter grades in host country equivalent to the U.S.?

No

Italian grades with corresponding ECTS & US grading

Italian   ECTS Grade ECTS Definition % of successful students US Grade US Definition

30 con A Excellent                5% A-, A, A+ Excellent

28-30 B Very Good          5% B-, B, B+ Good

25-27 C Good                      20% C-, C, C+ Satisfactory

21-24 D Satisfactory    40% D-, D, D+ Barely passing

18-20 E Sufficient            30%

14-17 Fx Fail

0-13 F Fail

Found on Wikipedia 

□ SUPPORT:

o What kinds of support services, academic resources, and tutoring available are available at your host institution?

they have tutoring and academic support

□ FULL-TIME STATUS:

o  How many credits do you have to enroll in to be considered full time at both your home and host institution? (You must be considered full time at both for financial aid and immigration purposes.) 

12 at home institution

Full time in Italy is 30 CFU

o What is the minimum number of courses you have to take to be full-time there and full-time here?

here is 4

there is 5

Intercultural Competency: Getting Involved & Living Like a Local

        I have never experienced terrible cultural shock while broad. Sure, everything is different, but its all exciting. I know that this is only because the most i have stayed in one county for a period of time is around 3 weeks. After a  month I may come down from the initial high and have some real concerns.
     The majority of my friends will probably be from their international house and the classes i am in. I do not think I'll meet many locals without going out of my way to be involved. I want what i have heard in European stories: to walk down a sunny street and wave to all of my friends who own cute shops like bakery and cafes. I know that I will probably not see this be a reality, but its a stereotype i have that would be awfully cute. Meeting friends and being a local here are greatly different than it will be abroad. I will be completely alone when i get there. Yikes. I want to join clubs on the campus, but as an English speaker, that may be challenging. I would like to find a organization to intern or volunteer with, that would allow me to meet people i would not have met otherwise.
     Right now i am trying to remind myself to study the city before i go out of it for travel. I imagine that classes will take up a lot of my time. Also, getting to energy to be social. I will not make many friends if all i want to do is sit at home, i have to keep saying that to myself. Talking with people on the streets, at markets and at restaurants will help me adapt to the culture and small talk. Taking the metro and knowing the faces on my commute will change my comfort level.
    I am worried that I may not be able to communicate with friends and family as easily. I already do not talk to some of my family enough and it stresses me out. Knowing that, i will be more alert at handling it. It will be good to not be in constant contact with my U.S. people, i need to balance both Italy and the US people. I am already planning what i'll do there, but i also want to be relaxed about not stressing. I will have to balance my two communities, i am excited and up to the challenge.

An American Abroad

3/23/2016

      Sarah

           Unfortunately I do not have the survey and inventory to directly quote (since they were taken up in class) but i do remember some of the things listed on them. I think that some of my strengths for this new experience will be my willingness to try new things, the fact I do not stress about timing/planning too much, and my friendliness that i can easily turn on. I fell like I have a few weaknesses to worry about as well. I know that I am very shy often. I also need my own space and sometimes I am uncomfortable if a place is too noisy. Knowing these weaknesses I can channel my strengths and overcome/work with my weaknesses.

             I think that Italy will be similar to the US in many ways. I feel like the biggest swift will be going from living in a town to living in a city. The language barrier will be tricky, so I will have to think on my feet and also be prepared that people may look at me like I am stupid. 

             I believe it would be hard to educate others on being an American. Americans, like all cultures, are unique and varied. Things I could teach about the area is bluegrass music, pie recipes, and the beauty of sweet tea. I could tell my Italian friends about myself, but summing up a whole countries personality would be impossible. We are "land of the free" but right now all i see is a group of divided people, politically wise. Italy will be a change. It will be interesting to see the similarities and differences it has with our country. After I come home I will have a more clearly defined America in my mind.

Goals and Fears of going abroad
Sarah Feely

         I have been out of the country 4 times since I was twelve. I feel like I would be used to it by now, but not really. I am gripped with fear at the thought of not seeing my friends and family for four months. I am scared of the fact that I will basically know no one there. But, at the same time I am so incredibly excited.
        My goals are simply: make friends/lasting connections, be comfortable with myself where I am, and take it easy. I also want to learn the language of the country and eat good food etc, but those are my three main goals. My main goal is probably to get out of my comfort zone. I'm sure all blogs say that, it is a difficult task for many people.
        I have high anxiety, so leaving my comfort zone is always difficult. I think that this trip will change me in many ways, hopefully I will be open enough to let it do so. I have the normal fears: losing passport, spending all my money, random volcanic eruption, the usual. The pros outweigh the cons. I wish I went aboard my junior year, but better late than never. I want to make this is the best experience, i don't know when I will have another chance to leave my country for fun/learning.
       To maximize my experience:
1. I want to travel across whichever country I go to.
2. I want to make sure not to stress too much over money, but not go crazy.
3. I want to explore my city and know it like I know my hometown.
4. I want to not stress over planning every little thing (a bad habit of mine).
     I am over the moon to begin my great journey to go abroad. Listing my goals and fears has helped me a lot. I figure this class with help me a lot.