The Global Student Lounge

GSL is available to anyone with an interest in study abroad and international travel. Join the fun by writing about your experiences and posting photos of your adventures! Prizes will be awarded for the 5 best blogs of 2009.

Hi everyone! My name is Hayley Benjamin, and I am an American student currently doing an internship in Berlin, Germany at an not-for-profit organization called the Institute for Cultural Diplomacy.

The ICD is organizing a forum for students and young professionals in Berlin from June 29th to July 4th, 2009 called The United States Meets Europe. Please find more information below:

The United States Meets Europe: A Forum for Young Leaders has been designed with the intention of bringing together young individuals (mid-later stage students or young professionals with 2 years experience) from both sides of the Atlantic in order for them to gain an insight into cultural diplomacy, exchange ideas and experiences, and learn from influential figures already working in the field.

Participants will develop contacts on both a social and professional level and participate in challenging discussions. The Forum aims to examine the state of the American- European relationship today and to consider the role of cultural diplomacy in supporting this relationship.

This weeklong program offers young professionals and students the chance to broaden and strengthen their intercultural knowledge through participation in seminars, workshops, panel discussions and cultural events.

Speakers include leading academics, representatives from the US Embassy, German Parliament and EU Commission who will discuss topics including Cultural Diplomacy in Germany, European Commission and the USA, as well as discussing art, music and sports as cultural diplomacy.

More information and an application form can be found at:
www.culturaldiplomacy.org
Or alternatively, e-mail
usame@culturaldiplomacy.org

It has been almost 2 1/2 years since I came back from my study abroad in Scotland, and I miss it every day. I have traveled since then, because I got the itch and now I can’t help but want to see other places.

I was thinking today about some things I learned while I was studying and traveling abroad, and thought that I would share them.

1. When packing, get yourself 2 good size suitcases, but only fill one. If you can’t fit everything you are bringing in one suitcase, YOU HAVE TOO MUCH STUFF. Cull it down. Then, pack 1/2 of your stuff in each suitcase. That way, you have room to bring stuff back with you and you’re not lugging to gigantic heavy suitcases around foreign, unfamiliar airports.

2. Open a bank account with a bank that does not charge ATM fees for using someone else’s ATM and get yourself a debit card. Most banks in Europe and the UK that I came across do not charge fees either. Also, let that bank know BEFORE you leave the country each and every place you might be performing withdrawals.

3. Be polite and deferential when in another country, especially one where you don’t speak the language. I hear stories from people (especially about the French) about how rude and unhelpful people are when you can’t speak their language. I bought myself some phrase books and tried my damndest to communicate in the language of the country I was in, and I never had anybody brush me off or treat me poorly. I tried to be polite and apologetic when I couldn’t properly communicate. Most people thought I was funny for even trying and went out of their way to help.

4. Invest in some memory cards so that you can take high-resolution pictures. They are like memories that you can show other people!

5. Step outside your box. When you are studying abroad, don’t do the things you normally do at home, that’s not what you’re there for! Don’t sit in your room watching TV on the Internet, don’t just hang around your apartment all day, get out and explore! Explore your city, explore your country, make yourself familiar with your surroundings. Travel!

6. Research prices and things before you leave. Find out how much stuff costs where you’re going to be living. Example: In America, say a bottle of coke costs $1.75. In the UK, a bottle of coke will cost 1.75 pounds. The prices are pretty much the same, except that when I was there, the exchange rate was nearly 2-1, so I was actually paying $3.50 for that bottle of coke.

7. Pay attention to exchange rates!

8. Go to class. Even while you are having mounds of fun traveling and meeting people, remember that you are also supposed to be there too learn. Don’t waste this awesome opportunity to see what classrooms are like in another country. I was very pleased with the Scottish style of education, and I am glad to have taken the classes I did, because they gave me a new perspective on my field of study.

9. Be flexible and don’t freak out when things go wrong. Things go wrong. Its a fact- you have things go wrong all the time for you at home, too, I am sure. It just seems a lot more catastrophic when you are 3,000 miles or more away from home. DON’T FREAK OUT. There are people to help you through anything that might go wrong, whether it is a university official, your study abroad contact in America, or even just your roommates at school. Be calm, let someone know what happened, and take steps to fix the problem. Example: The money for my housing could not be paid by credit card, so I had to pay it in cash when I arrived at the school. The problem was that my debit account only let me withdraw 350 pounds per day, so I wasn’t able to pay in one lump sum the way I was supposed to. I started to freak and rushed over to the housing office, nearly in tears. The woman calmed me down after I told her the situation and we set up a payment plan. Problem solved!

10. I’m going to repeat this one again: BE FLEXIBLE. Studying abroad in another country is not going to be what you are used to at home. It isn’t supposed to be. So revel in it! Try weird food you never thought you would eat. Go visit places that you would normally shy away from at home. Make friends with people you might not normally talk to. And when things feel uncomfortable, take a deep breath and just go with it. You’ll either hate it or love it and either way you’ll have a story.

Love, Cathy

1st I would like to copy and paste part of an entry I wrote a few days after I was back from studying abroad.  I think it gives you the idea of how much fun studying abroad can be.  While my experiences were very oriented to Denmark and what I like to do, most everyone seems to say, where ever they went, that their time abroad was the time of their lives…so I think while you are away you pretty much easily find these amazing times just through all the opportunities there are to explore and have fun with all these other people who crave to explore and have fun as well.

2nd I’ll mention a few thinks about Denmark in particular after the quoted part.

______________________

“…

danced with ida too, maybe more people too but im not sure i was dancin a lot tho and loving it out there. not always feeling the dancing but how i could i not with a night as alive as this, also being drunk, and also all knowing that we had only 1 more day left of our crazy times in denmark. some of the best 4 months of any of our lives. traveling all over europe with these people, partying every weekend, commuting 2 hours a day, going to class, exploring copenhagen and hillerod, talking, dancing, making music, drinking at bars in the city and hillerod, smoking in marc’s loft or craig’s room or outside or just in the building entrance or christiania, eating dinner with them every night and talking about the most ridiculous hilarious things…such as the conversation that led to the start of rainbow water band 2000, BRUNCH on the weekends… denmark’s version of ‘drunk breakfast’ i was used to back home at rowan last year, meeting each other that 1st day and not having a clue what people were like or what to expect.

and then saying goodbye. saturday at dinner, jakob, the principal of the school, announced that we were leaving. he thanked us for contributing to the great atmosphere at grundtvigs. he hadnt really spoken to us much before, but his speech seemed so genuine that some of us started to get teary eyed. they had passed out music books and had been singing danish songs to someone playing the piano. jakob announced that the next song would be the beatles’ “in my life.” we all sang. tears swelled up in my eyes, as they are right now thinking back just a few days ago when i was on the other side of the world. next we sang “winds of change.” the moments jakob made his speech and the songs were played, everything changed. suddenly i knew it was over. i kept walking around slowly, everyone kept walking with their arms around one another. i didnt walk back and forth between my room and the lounge when i felt i should be packing up my room…instead i ran the short distance so i could be with these people. while packing, i started crying very suddenly listening to “on a joyride,” saying to myself “no..no..”

that night we signed each other’s yearbooks, which helene and signe had so beautifully made for us. i danced with leah and ida and tine. leah i loved dancing with cause shes crazy like i said, and we were both imitating each other it was great. we also did the circle dance again when the song came on, hitting our hands against the ground. i said goodbye to some people…tove, siri, anders, claudia, and a few others….. didnt get a chance to say bye to others. i kissed gry goodbye. went outside to our last bonfire, this one though lasting til long after sunrise.

…”

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Denmark is a really laid back, pretty open-minded and liberal, environmentally-friendly (tons of windmills and individually not nearly as wasteful as Americans), socialist place.  I went there with DIS (www.dis.dk).  It’s very easy to get along there because the school sets up a lot of activities for you (orientations, sports, volunteer opportunities, a party here and there), and also although their language is Danish, almost every person is fluent in English.

Copenhagen is a great city…1/3 of the people working there use bicycles to commute.  Christiania was my favorite part of the city…you can look it up but basically it is a chilled out place that hippies took over in the 60’s… and the people that live there have their own rules outside of the Danish government, although this has changed a bit over time and the government wants it back (there have even been riots when the government has stepped in on some occasions).  Basically there is just a chilled out subculture here…some vegetarian places, some music venues, some art galleries. People built there houses here however they wanted in these artsy ways.

DIS also has several different options for living arrangements. I chose the folkehojskole option.  Although this option is an hour commute away from Copenhagen, I was very glad I chose it.  It gave me a good opportunity to hang out with Danes and Americans. But I guess chose whatever seems best for you.

I think you’ll have a good time no matter where you go but I had a great time in Denmark.  If you have any questions about Denmark or even studying abroad in general, feel very free to contact me! at…

partyk75 ( at ) students.rowan.edu

So ISA recently added Belgium to their programs and let me be the first to say it is great! The city of Brussels is so diverse with NATO and the EU being located there. It is bilingual, including dutch and mostly french speaking people. But don’t worry, getting by with English is easy too. It is the perfect size for student life. Big enough to house so much night life, museums and architecture yet small enough to make getting around a piece of cake. It’s location within Europe makes traveling extremely easy. In less than two hours by train, you can reach The Netherlands (Amsterdam), France (Paris) or Germany. The chocolate, waffles and fries are really better than any where else. Only if you are not duped into a tourist trap. Make sure you find the real deal. The beer here is vast and diverse, just becareful because alcohol content can be double or tripple the amount of American beer.

Vesalius college is a very small school catering to mostly international students. Instructed in English, many teachers are American so they know how to make you comfortable. It is located on the VUB (dutch free university) campus so there is plenty of diversity. Vesalius college allows the upper classmen or full time permanet students to show the study abroad students the town. So you get to met people for everywhere. So far I have met people from Spain, France, Czech Republic, Lebanon, Saudi Arabia, China, South Korea, Hatiti and ofcourse Beglium and others all over America. The classes are just as challenging as my courses at home but grading is definately better The college makes everything so easy for you that its almost impossible not to have a question answered or problem solved.

Living with a host family is a unique and great experince. You get immerse youself in the culture and experience it first hand. Most host families understand student life and do not restrict you from going out and doing what you want, as long as you keep quiet if its late. I have yet to meet a belgian that can’t cook. The food is great, and being a vegetarian is not a problem! The rooms are since and big and you feel right a home quickly. The ISA director is there for you 24/7 and is very invovled. The family enjoys talking to yu and wants to make you feel comfortable it is important to interact with them.

Anyone wanting to experience a real European city that has rich culture and amusmant without being too touristy, I highly recommend Belgium.

Hey everyone!

My name is Kristen I am currently studying at the University of Edinburgh for the spring semester of 2009. My first advice is everyone, and anyone who has studied abroad at some point will tell you the same thing, it is an awesome experience. Even though I have only been here a little more than a week, I can not think of a better place to be right now. I would not trade this for anything.

I am writing this as a word of advice for all you studying at the University of Edinburgh in the future. Before you get on your plane to get here, make sure you have a map of the city (which you can find online) and the building which you have to be in to get your housing information. During the first day I was there with a few other students just wondering around the city. Although it is funny to look back on, it was horrible at the moment. And you will find, once you are placed in your room and are sitting there wondering “what am I doing here?” no worries…we have all been there! It seems like everyone wonders that and even part of you wants to jump on a plane to go home right away. But just remember, as I have been told by many people, the first 24 hours are the worst and after that it is smooth sailing and you will wonder why you ever thought of leaving.

Also, future University of Edinburgh students, try to register for the internet before you get here. If you do then you will have the internet when you arrive or else it can take a couple days. Having the internet makes it so much easier to adjust. The internet is your source to home and it becomes your lifeline if you ever feel homesick, and on the first day that can take over all other feelings.

Just remember to stick in there, be bold, make new friends, try new things, go to events, and be involved in whatever you can. Remember even though you are a student abroad and have to go to class and do work, you are still expected to have the most fun in your life!

Until next time!

-Kristen

Just a small note… I’ll add some more later.  I’ve been back from Rome for about 2 months now.  I miss it so much.  I am happy to be back home with friends and family, but I feel like I left part of myself in Italy and can’t wait to go back!!!  I’m getting married 10/2/10 and we might go for our honeymoon.  I was a rather old study abroad student.  I turned 25 while I was overseas.  (I was actually in Pompeii on my bday, what a way to celebrate!)  If anyone is questioning the commitment of studying abroad, please take a chance on yourself and go!  I left a newly purchased home, a fiance and parents who really depend on me back in NJ.  Guess what!?!  Everyone was fine while I was gone.  Yeah, I got a bunch of emails, everyday, but they were all fine.  I thought worrying about everyone would hold me back, but I never felt so free and so independent.  My life is truly changed.  Well, I’ll write some more later.  XOXO-Chrissy

From the air Japan looks like any place else. It`s not until you get a good bit closer that you start noticing little things: the houses are different, more apartments, more bicycles…more people. Then you get on the ground and step out the door and it hits you. We`re not in Kansas Toto.

There is some sort of unwritten rule of propriety here. You walk on the left side of a sidewallk. You stand facing the closest line of seats in a train. You stand on the left and walk of the right of escalators. You bow when someone buys something from you.

I saw a woman in full traditional dress in the train station this morning. I also saw someone in gothic-lolita dress, bunches of students in their mini-skirt uniforms (yes, they really do dress like that). Japan is really a place where the old collides with the new and you stand there in amazement. In the middle of Shinjuku towering buildings is a Buddhist cemetary that seems both out of place and right at home. It`s easy to be overwhelmed. Luckily people here are really helpful. Most know enough English to point you to the nearest police station if they can`t give you directions themselves. You`re invited into stores, not `persuaded`. I haven`t seen much of around here yet, but what I`ve seen, I completely adore.

Hey!!!

Do you ever think in your head “I want to get the heckout of the US?” Well that was I was thinking around this time last year. I decided I was going to study abroad Spring semester, and I did. I went to COSTA RICA. It was my first time out of the country, so clearly I was nervous. I had to get on  plane by my self and meet, and live with random people I had never met before. But as soon as I stepped off of that plane , I knew I was going to love it. As I walked through the airport, everyone was so much nicer than I expected and, so were the people in my program. I realized that I was nervous for no reason, and I was in GREAT hands.

The first few months went great, no homesickness… nothing! I went bungee jumping, Ziplining, I went to the beach EVERY weekend while all of my friends back home were walking around with coats. (LOL). I went out every night and made SOO many friends.

It wasn’t until the last month that I started to REALLY homesick. I started worring about how much money I’d have once i got home, and missing my friends. Just random things you think about when you are homesick.I was so excited to come back home during the last month, but as soon as I got on the plane to come back home, I regreted getting on. I cried the entire trip to the US. I was leaving all of the great people I met, I was leaving a great culture, I was leaving a country that I truly loved.

Now, 6 Months later, I feel more homesick than ever.I think about going back everyday. I’m just glad I made the best of this amazing opportunity.

Pura Vida!!

My name is Frank Zywicki.  I am currently a law and justice student at Rowan University in Glassboro, New Jersey.  In the fall 2007 semester, I traveled abroad to London, England and attended Middlesex University.  I met people from all across the globe almost immediatley after arriving.  Everyone was greatly enthused to learn about each others’ cultures.  I was accomodated in Wood Green of northeast London, which offered a plethora of social activities, as well as a close proximity to central London.  Middlesex’s Trent Park campus is a rich landscape with great scenic qualities.  The university provides a swath of academia and student oriented events.  I was tremendously satisfied with my experience in London.  It is a metropolis full of history, culture and night life.  Traveling is also quite convenient, with a wide variety of options.  In summation, experiencing Middlesex University has been culturally and educationally enlightening