Christina D. - Salamanca, Spain - Spring 2011

lunes 24 de enero de 2011

No Spain, no gain

Hola a todos!!

My first week here has been absolutely amazing! Although it took me a few days to adjust to the 7 hour time change, my sleep schedule and appetite are back on track.

The first thing I noticed when arriving to Spain was the signs in the airport. They were in English, this bothered me because I came here to learn Spanish and struggle in  doing so!  Once I got to my destination of Salamanca, Spain I discovered that NOTHING was in English and my Señora doesn't speak a drop of English, either. The immersion had begun once I stepped foot inside of the casa.
If you are looking for complete immersion in any language, I think finding a smaller town is perfect. Unlike bigger cities like Madrid and Barcelona, not a lot of people here know English therefore in all situations I am forced to speak Spanish around the clock, which was exactly what I wanted before coming here and I am glad I have it right under my nose!

The food here is excellent. They eat a lot of soups, pastas, breads, fruits, basically all really healthy delicious foods.  What I also enjoy is that everyone in Europe walks around from place to place which is both good for the environment and for ones health.

One thing that I do not like very much is that European people never smile at strangers. Everyone stares at everyone else and doesn't look too happy doing so. I know that once I get home the smiles will be great to see!

Overall, I love Spain! ¡Ole! 

Editor's Note:  If you would like to follow Christina's personal blog while she's studying in Salamanca, you can visit the following link:  
http://christinaenespana.blogspot.com/2011/01/no-spain-no-gain.html

Adam B. - Oxford, England - Spring 2011

Initial Reactions

To begin, this might be a little more helpful to people coming to CMRS, but I’ll try to be general and feel free to ask questions, I’ll answer them as best I can. Upon first arriving in England, I think I covered the entire emotional spectrum within an hour. When we landed I was just glad to get off the plane after so long, and that I didn’t have to worry about a connecting flight as most of my fellow passengers did. Unfortunately, London Heathrow is a HUGE airport, and figuring out where to go after getting through customs is a little confusing, especially while you are hauling around all your stuff. (BTW, I won’t put anything here cause I’m sure how much open advice is legal to give, but if you have any questions about English customs just e-mail me. It really wasn’t that bad.) The walk to the central bus station was like a mile, not kidding, and while there may have been somewhere closer I could have gone, the signs were rather confusing. I was also extremely disorientated due to the six hour time difference plus the six hour flight. If you think jet lag won’t happen to you too bad and that you can handle it no problem, I’d recommend changing your attitude real fast. I felt the same way, so it was a bit of a shock to realize how much it was affecting me.

            The bus ride to Oxford was fine, I actually met my roommate on the bus, which was nice. The English countryside is pretty similar to ours, so you have to really look if to notice the differences. The biggest thing is the driving on the opposite side of the road. It really feels like you are going to crash when you first get going. It’s when you get to Oxford that you get excited. Right as you enter the city the buildings look ancient, with book and coffee shops lining the road. Towering in the distance is Oxford Castle, and all of our first thoughts was that we never wanted to leave. After unloading, I had to hall my stuff down narrow, poorly paved streets, not so fun anymore. Oh, and CMRS does NOT have an elevator, so whatever you bring, be prepared to hall it up stairs. At least 2 flights if you’re lucky, which I was not and got to carry my bags up 4. I was wiped by the time I got everything up here.

            My first thoughts about the building here were not nice. It has cheap furniture and looks like it was decorated in the ‘70s, with ugly carpeting and just not the best thing to look at. It is also above a store on a dead end street, making it not that impressive compared to the buildings you pass on the way here. Room sizes vary, and there is no standard set of furniture for each room, it’s rather random. Fortunately my room is good size, and somehow we have a mini fridge. No idea how someone got it up here. Every room also has a sink, but because they use a water softener here you cannot drink it, limiting its usefulness. Overall, I was not very impressed when I got here, and honestly a little disappointed.

            The first night is pretty rough. Most the students here admitted the next morning that they really didn’t sleep much. I actually got on my laptop in the middle of the night to talk to home. AIM will become one of your best friends while you’re here. A free, easy way to communicate with anyone with access to a computer. I know my roommate started doing the same thing shortly after me. A combination of jet-lag and homesickness makes for a very unpleasant night, and some extremely strange dreams.

            At present time of writing though, I love it here. Dilapidated and non-medieval as the building is, it has a way of growing on you. The people here are amazing. Right away we all bonded and are becoming good friends. There are even plans to celebrate a couple of birthdays this weekend. The workload here is much heavier and more independent than at Elmhurst, so be prepared for that. The only extra help you get from a professor is if you ask for it, and there is no reason not to. You are also going to be spending a lot of time in libraries, some newer, some older than the United States. It is amazing here, and honestly is something you need to see for yourself. If you are interested in keeping up with my travels here, I’m keeping a fairly updated (for the moment) blog here: http://adamatoxford.blogspot.com/ so check it out if you’re interested. Also my e-mail is baldwina@net.elmhurst.edu, so you can send any questions to me there, and I will do my best to answer them. If I can’t, I will attempt to find somebody who can. For those of you reading this for CPP 250, good luck with all your prep work. It may seem tedious, but it’s all the little details that catch you in the end, and having them out of the way is a big relief. This is an amazing opportunity, so prepare well so that you can enjoy your own adventure.

Ally V. - Quito, Ecuador - Spring 2011

Hola a todos y todas!

My name is Ally, and I am spending 132 days studying in Quito, Ecuador. As I write this, I have been here for 15 of them. I want to tell you about some things I like.

01. I like lists. Lists are crucial. I made a list of things I wanted to pack and people I needed to see before I left. Now that I’m here, I make lists of things to buy at the pharmacy and words to look up in my Spanish-English dictionary. Learn to love lists. When everything is unfamiliar in your new country, having something of which you’re in control is oddly stabilizing.

02. I like Skype. Download it. Learn how to use it. Tell anyone you love to get it. 5 minutes on a video chat with your partner or parent can change your day from awful to manageable. (iChat/AIM also suffices.)

03. I like knowing where I am. When you get to your country, find out what the closest *thing* is to you so when other students ask you where you live, you can tell them. For example, I live in the northern part of Quito off Av. America. Saying that is a lot more useful than saying, “uhh… I take a red bus, get off by the big satellite dish, then walk two more blocks.”

04. I like Harry Potter. While I’m not necessarily asking you to be a HP fan, make sure you bring your *thing* with you. Be it your favorite movie, book, photos, letter from your bestie: bring it with you. You will not regret leaving that one t-shirt at home in order to make room for it.

05. I like taking my time. That being said, if you are reading this and have not applied for your visa: do it! Seriously!

06. I like my iPod. Whatever your musical outlet: sync it, charge it, bring extra batteries. On a lonely night, having your jams will make all the difference. Also: invest in some black headphones. White scream “please steal me and the technology to which I am attached!”

07. I like classes. Seriously consider the courses you plan to take. Take some time looking at what is offered. Sign up for classes that fit for you while still stretching your horizons. For example, History and Theory of Photography is not a class I would choose to take at Elmhurst. Never limit yourself to how many new things you can choose to try abroad.

08. I like being safe. Listen to your program directors about safety precautions in your country. At the same time, take it a tiny grain of salt. Imagine what they’d have to say about Chicago.

09. I like change. This is probably one of few times you’ll have the opportunity to live and learn in another country. I got on my flight to Quito not wanting to go. But here’s the thing: you go, and you adapt. Your new culture will have so much to teach you if only you let it.

10. The last thing I like is a phrase I learned on my first study abroad experience in England. It goes like this: “keep calm and carry on”. When you get nervous, scared, or feel like you can’t do it, take a breath. Really.

Remember this, as Christopher Robin said to Pooh, “you are braver than you believe, stronger than you seem, and smarter than you think.” This is part of your Elmhurst experience, just as studying in Quito is part of mine. Even if I had this list when I was in your shoes, I would have been just as scared as I was to leave my comfort zone. For what it’s worth: if I can do this, anyone can!

Chao, y Buena suerte!