Rachel H. - Madrid, Spain - Spring 2013

¡Hola! It is hard to believe that is has already been over a month that I have been studying abroad!  It flies by so fast I promise you! I cannot say how life changing, beneficial, and inspiring it is to study abroad; it is hard to put in words. But once you get the chance to have the experience, you will understand! I am studying abroad in Madrid, Spain through a program called IES and loving every minute of it.  I live in an apartment with 5 amazing girls in the heart of the city.  I know many people from my program that live in homestays, dorms, and apartments but after hearing all the stories of their experiences in comparison with mine, I would highly recommend living in an apartment if you get a chance.  However, if you are not planning on becoming much of a cook, homestays WITH meals or dorm living might be more your thing.  Our companera (like an RA) speaks only Spanish, which also helps in the cultural and language immersion. When I first arrived in Madrid, it was a bit of a challenge for me to overcome the obvious absence of English.  I felt, and still feel at times, like I am living in a full time Spanish class.  But if you are planning on enhancing your language (Spanish, German, etc), studying abroad is the BEST way to do it, nothing will prepare you more.  The first thing I had trouble adjusting with was the way they tell time.  For instance, 3 PM is 15:00 here (take 12 o’clock and add 3).  That often left me struggling to keep up with the schedule of Madrid, but with practice, it has become second nature.  Another lifestyle difference that caught me off guard was the “siesta” time of Spain.  Between 2-6 PM every day almost everything closes down for people to go home, relax, and eat lunch.  At times, it can be a struggle to work around the siesta but all in all, it gives a great break and reason to relax!

The time for meals here and the time difference were also a huge change coming from the states.  People here eat lunch between 14:00-15:00 (2-3 PM) and dinner between 21:00-22:00 (9-10PM).  Getting used to the meal times took a lot of practice and patience! Madrid time is 7 hours ahead, which can make communication with people back home interesting.  Often times, I forget that my mom probably isn’t up at 4 am when I call her at 13:00 here…woops.  Make sure to create a time schedule or have an idea of what times work best for your people back home! It makes communication a heck of a lot easier! Also, I would recommend (if you have an iphone) using Viber in WIFI areas. It has great reception for calls, sending pictures and text messages! Also, finding land lines wherever you study abroad will be a struggle.  I just learned about a week or so again that you can put 10.00 dollars of credit on Skype and it can be used as a land line, which will come in handy believe it or not! The 10.00 dollars will last forever too.

Spending money has also become quite a religious hobby for me between groceries, shopping, clubs, and traveling. For me, I often forget the exchange rate and think I am getting a great deal when really… Make sure to always have cash on you, because many places in Europe don’t always take credit/debit cards.  Also be careful with ATMS, one of the ATMS ate my debit card and I had to cancel my card.  Luckily, I had brought an extra debit card just in case a situation occurred.  I would recommend having at least one credit card, and at least 2 debit cards.  From the people in my program, I would say at least 15-20 of them have already been pickpocketed.  Make sure to listen to Alice, she knows what she is talking about and remember to always watch your things! 

A great piece of advice I can offer you is to remember that customs everywhere you go are different, not wrong.  I never really experienced culture shock at all, but there were a few customs that caught me off guard and took some getting used to. For instance, couples in Spain have no trouble expressing their affection in public, which is quite different from the states.  Fashion also is a huge difference here. Everyone, and I mean everyone, has amazing fashion.  I have yet to see one person in sweat pants. It is crazy!!

Overall, my first month is Madrid has been amazing. I have traveled within Spain to Barcelona, Segovia, Toledo, and Granada.  Each place is unique and cultural! Make sure to always take time to not only know your city or town but to travel around.  I have booked flights to Morocco, Amsterdam, Rome, Florence, Athens, Lisbon, Paris and other places!

Hope this helps you out a little in your study abroad process! I promise all the hard work will pay off in every way. This truly is a once in a life time experience and make sure you make the best of it. If you have any questions ask Alice for my email address and feel free to shoot me an email if you have any questions! Good luck and get excited, you are studying abroad!

Mary Z. - Madrid, Spain - Spring 2013

EC students Rachel and Mary in Madrid

Well happy one month of being away to me! I can't believe it's already been a month and I can't believe it's only been a month. I can't say it's my greatest experience but I can say I’m making memories and working on me and all the possibilities I can have here. My main goal is independence and that's been easy to work on that's for sure. My first moment was when I got to the airport to fly to Madrid. My first flight was delayed, they pushed us up a flight and my carry on couldn't fit above so I had luggage on two different flights and was afraid I wasn't going to make the connecting flight to Madrid. But I made it and so did my luggage thankfully! My first time on an overseas flight was a new experience and a bumpy one but I met people from my program on the plane and all the stress of getting to this point put me right to sleep. 

Arriving was difficult as we were all jet lagged but they have a two week long jam packed orientation schedule that is supposed to make you adjust to the time change and make friends that will be your “go to people” for 4 months. That it did. They know what they're doing, just trust that. My housing assignment is a homestay with a family and their 30 year old son, which is normal in Spain because of the “crisis”. The family works a lot so I am often home alone but I am getting past the point of feeling like I am in somebody else’s home and am comfortable watching TV in the family room or snacking in the kitchen (this took a while). The food is very interesting, not what I was expecting. Ham is very popular, and there are a million different types. Croquetas are fried balls of cheese, ham, and just so good!! Great drunk food! Speaking of which, they don’t really have that here. Every time we go out late, the typical time to come home is around 4AM, but you have to be sure to stay on top of school work, as many people don’t have to worry about their grades here, just have to pass the classes for them to transfer. When we are done with our school day at 3, all I have is free time, as we don’t get too much homework. This was a challenge and I have to say I turned to Facebook too much for a distraction but all it brought me was homesickness. People are at home having fun but that should be a motivator to do the same. Still working on that one! Because of the crisis, Madrid is very common for pick pocketing, I luckily haven't had that experience thus far but a friend has in a club and another friend got drugged when a guy gave her a drink. It happens but if you pay attention like Alice taught us, I'm hoping I'll be just fine!

At the beach in Valencia

So my time has been a hard adjustment and too often I think about the coming home aspect but I'm working hard on remembering this is an opportunity of a lifetime. So I book a lot of trips, yes pricey, but worth it. They're great distractions for me and really encourage me to appreciate the opportunity to be places my family would never think to go to- Morocco, Prague, Berlin, Vienna, Paris anyone? The possibilities are as endless as your bank account, which wasn't that immense, but that's why I'm only able to mention a few countries. Travel is cheaper if you do it right, however exploring Madrid can be much cheaper and just as entertaining once I get a free weekend to do it. The nightlife is crazy, not going somewhere until 1 am is so not Elmhurst College, not coming home till 7 am is normal, and I get embarrassed if I get home before the 30 year old son living in my homestay. My classes aren't bad- they are all in Spanish but for the most part interesting aside from the lecture style of classes typical to the program. Spanish history, Spanish women writers, Spanish theater, things I'm able to appreciate around Spain are all connected to things I learn in class! That is something I love and know I wouldn't be able to do with many classes back home. Back to the Spanish, my homestay family only knows it so that's great practice when I do talk to them, and classes are all in Spanish, but you have to put the time in when traveling or with friends because English is very common in touristy cities and it is easier to use English when trying to communicate with friends around town. But Madrid is great because I am able to learn real traditional Spanish- different from the Latin American Spanish I learned at home, and not different dialects like the ones I've noticed in Barcelona, Valencia, or Andalusia. I can rely on other Elmhurst people in my program to talk about troubles away from home, or friends I've made here. They understand, and I know if I tell my parents, they'll tell me to come home. Friends back home don't understand it's hard to be away and they're often busy starting their day when my school day has ended. But I'm determined not to count on them as I can be independent!!! People go out every night of the week. You need to limit yourself so that school is not nap time and that homework is not neglected. But I do allow myself to have a good amount of fun, especially on the weekends because after all, it is legal here! But I am always sure to be careful and watch over the other people because a lot of them don’t do that for themselves. 

As expected, I went through the steps of culture shock mentioned in the class, and this was not easy. The only reason I have time to write this right now is because I am bored and can’t go to class because I have the flu. This happened to be what the rest of my program got too but it is just an awful feeling knowing that your Mom can’t help you or friends can’t bring you stuff to make you feel better. It’s a very depressing time but I know it will get better. My program made my doctor’s appointment for me, the doctor spoke English!!!, and my Senora came with me and has tried to nurse me back to health as much as possible but I still can’t help facing culture shock, homesickness, and loneliness. Classes don’t look too bad right now. But the nice thing is that my teachers only worry about my health and I don’t have to worry about getting behind while I’m gone.

Well, I’m sure I could write on and on, because there is always so much to talk about or reflect about. I definitely use my journal for that because there is no way my family wants to hear every detail and we all know friends don’t have time to listen with their classes back home. But I have an optimistic future, and I hope I learn to love it here like everybody else does!

Nicole R. - Berlin, Germany - Spring 2013

Hallo from Deutschland! I have been living in Berlin for 3 weeks now and I can’t believe how fast time is flying by! This city is beyond amazing and I could go on for days talking about it!   

I have not had a huge problem with culture shock, but I definitely experienced it when I first arrived in Berlin. It sounds dumb, but it was a bit jarring to walk around and not be able to understand what any of the signs said on my first day! I remember trying to turn on the computer at school and getting so frustrated because everything was in German (duh!) and even the keyboard buttons were different! I was able to quickly adjust to this change, but at first it just felt so strange to not be able to read or understand the simplest of things.

The biggest adjustment that I have had to make in Berlin is getting used to city life. I am from rural Illinois and have never had to use public transportation or read a map before. Now it is a part of my everyday life, which is so liberating! I was always someone who followed my friends around whenever we visited Chicago for the day, and it is so freeing to know that now I can navigate the city on my own, without having to rely on other people to find a destination. To get to school (and anywhere else) I use the SBahn and UBahn, which is their form of a subway/train system. At first this was extremely intimidating to me because I had zero experience using this method of transportation, but I’ve learned that practice makes perfect. As time goes on, I find myself getting more and more comfortable exploring new areas via public transportation.

Still so much to tell! Berlin is the most awesome city – it has been described as “poor but sexy” because of its grungy, hipster style. Graffiti and street art is everywhere, and it adds a sort of grungy charm to the streets thanks to the bright colors and funky murals. In the USA, graffiti has a negative connotation but here it adds character to the city. It’s one of my favorite things to see when I’m exploring.

There is an endless amount of things to do in this crazy city. There is an infinite supply of awesome bars, clubs, restaurants, museums, and shopping available, as well as cool markets selling everything from scarves and jewelry to hummus and delicious beer. Berlin is especially known for its nightlife – on the weekends, the party goes nonstop from Thursday through Sunday morning. It is normal for the streets to be packed at 4am during the weekend. People are clubbing, barhopping, and sampling delicious burgers and meats from the numerous street vendors. It blows my mind how these people have energy to party so hard on the weekends, but it’s so incredibly awesome! Berlin is definitely the perfect place for any college kid because of its unique, grungy character and unstoppable energy. I am so happy I picked this outrageous city! 

Austin H. - Madrid, Spain - Spring 2013

Hola Tios y Tias, 

I've been here in Madrid for about a month and half now and it has been by far the best experience of my life!I'm excited for all of you and your future adventures. I started off on a great foot and haven't left it yet..I know Alice will tell you about the "Ups and Downs," you might have.. but it's all in your control! This experience is what you make it! If you are tired, suck it up and go out, EXPLORE, get lost for a bit! You won't regret it. 

As far as THE thing to bring…MONEY MONEY MONEY…it's really hard for me to just watch money go out the door with no income while I'm abroad but don't let that scare you. Start saving yesterday, and if you really have to take a loan out, take it from your parents. Don't let money be the reason you don't do something while you're abroad. 

Other things to bring; Money, Q-Tips, tissues and chapstick. That is all my recommendations! 

If you have any more questions please do not hesitate to ask on here or add me on FaceBook or if you prefer email me, just ask Alice for my e-mail address.

Shannon P. - Barcelona, Spain - Spring 2013

Hey guys! My name is Shannon and I’m spending my semester in Barcelona, Spain. I had no idea what to expect when I landed in Barcelona, I didn’t know a single person, didn’t speak any Spanish, and had zero sense of direction when I walked into the giant terminal. What I learned quickly is that no matter how difficult the situation, if you have to do something, you find a way to do it. You may have to wander around for a while, act out a few questions, and take a break to collect yourself, but no matter what, everything works out. I have been here for a little over a month, and I have had to time of my life. I’m sure that comes as no shock because you’ve all heard that a hundred times: that study abroad will be the most amazing experience ever. So, here are the things I learned so far that I wasn’t expecting to. The first thing I learned was that as wonderful as the Spanish lifestyle sounds, it’s something you have to get used to. In between classes we would run to grab a coffee, or snack, and although the café was a minute walk from the school, it could take upwards of twenty minutes to go through the process of buying a coffee. The other thing I quickly learned was that the faster you embrace the culture, the happier you are. I love that I can go to lunch for hours and have no one bother me with the check. I love that I can walk around at a pace so slowly I would be barreled over on the streets of Chicago. The best way to describe all of it is the Spanish phrase “no pasa nada.” The expression of “no worries” encompasses each and every experience I’ve had here thus far. I am staying in a home stay with a wonderful woman, who speaks zero English. At first this was overwhelming, how will we communicate at all? But with the help of Google translate and some acting skills neither of us knew we possessed, we are able to get by just fine! Also, she is an amazing cook; the food here overall has been incredible. I am in love with Paella, their national dish. The only thing that they just cannot grasp is the Cheeseburger, don’t even try to find one, embrace the Spanish cuisine. The greatest part of the experience, by far, is the people. This includes the Americans I met in my program and the Europeans I’ve met on a daily basis, everyone is so friendly! Since I am studying through Arcadia, I have a much smaller program; I believe there are around 30 of us. This means that each of my classes has around 12 of the same group of people. If I were to go to school for four years like this, I’d probably go crazy, but as a study abroad experience, I couldn’t ask for a better situation. Everyone knows each other so well; we became instantly close because we were all thrust into the same situation. We all go out in groups of 15-20 people and it’s a blast! I joined a soccer league here for study abroad students and we had almost our whole program come out and support us at our game. The larger programs we play think we’re crazy, but they all said that it’s really cool that we have that kind of bond. The people you meet outside of the program really make the experience richer, I’ve met some incredible people who have really shown different parts of Spain that I never would have come across on my own. It’s really important to branch out as often as possible, I’ve been here only a month and I find it easy to get caught up in a routine of the familiar. As cool as it is to feel comfortable in a city like Barcelona, I found it equally as fulfilling to feel that uncertain, overwhelmed feeling I get each time I am thrown into a new and exciting experience. My advice to prospective study abroad students is to learn as much as you can about the country you’re going to, but really understand that it will be just as surprising and like nothing else you’ve ever experienced, so really just keep an open mind. I’ve realized that people here really do like Americans; we’re sort of like another species. The people I’ve talked to don’t hate us, they just want to know about us. It’s more the government they are confused by. They really want to travel to New York too, almost every Spaniard I’ve talked to is entranced by the idea of NYC. It’s quite funny, we all fantasize about the romance of Europe and it goes both ways. I’ve also learned that being here has allowed me to look back at the United States much clearer. I’ve developed a better sense of the states while being here than I ever had while living there. It’s, strangely enough, given me a more positive stance on the states because I think that everywhere around the world there’s more conflict than we see. The one thing I will say is that I find people to bit much more helpful to strangers here, I’ve had fantastic conversations with cab drivers, waiters, vendors, and bar tenders, they all enjoy helping me with my Spanish and working on their English. The weather is much more mild than home, but still chilly, so don’t think just because you’re on the beach that it will be beach weather, pack a coat! And finally, I write this to you from my bed, where I have been for a few days now because of a horrible ankle sprain. I’m in a soft cast and on crutches! It’s not exactly how I planned for this to work out. I’m telling you this because I feel the most important thing for anyone to know when studying abroad is that things almost never work out the way you plan them to, but that they always work out. I’ll be up and walking in no time, and hey it forced me to study for my midterms! 

Amanda A. - Nantes, France - Spring 2013

France is not what I imagined: it's better. I can't tell you how to prepare for it, and you can read all the  blogs and books in the world, but you won't know until you've experienced it. At first, a semester will feel like a long time. You'll probably question your decision to come and won't be able to wait to go home. But, not long after you'll feel at home. I already do, and I already wish I could stay longer and know that it is going to be so hard to leave.
On my first day of my teaching internship, one of the students asked me if I like the American or French way of life better. Um… can I answer “no”? I like that Americans smile at each other if they make eye contact on the street, even if it’s barely a smile. I like that the French carry around baguettes and eat them, just like in cartoons. I like that Americans clean up after their dogs. I like that the French clearly show their respect (or disrespect) through their language. I like that I don’t usually feel like a car might hit me when I’m in the U.S., but I like that if I decide to walk in front of a car in France it will stop. I even miss fast food a little bit, but I love that dinners here are much more formal. I’ll miss the public transportation system when I return (though I might be relieved to not have to use it anymore). There are some things that I miss from home, like understanding everyone 99.9% of the time,and others that are better here, like that boulangeries exist.

Photo 1: Street concert in Place Royale, Nantes

Photo 2: Outside IES Center, Nantes

Arina T. - Barcelona, Spain - Spring 2013

Hi everyone back in the States!

It has been about a month since I arrived in Barcelona and I can’t believe how time flies! It seems like just yesterday I was throwing my suitcase together and panicking about the slightest detail. Was I wearing boots or gym shoes on the flight over? Did I want to bring 2 small books on the flight or just one long one? What seemed to be the critical problems of that moment are nothing more than a vague memory today.

I’m sure there are some key answers you are looking for if you are reading this blog. I’ll try and incorporate a few I thought I needed before I left but please do not hesitate to ask questions if there is something you’d like to know!

I chose to study abroad in Barcelona because I was told that it was a beautiful city and a perfect location for additional travel. The word ‘beautiful’ does little justice for this magnificent place. Vibrant and welcoming, Barcelona houses some of the most unique and welcoming people I have ever met. I have little to no Spanish experience and therefore came prepared to be confused in most situations.  It’s not fair to expect Spaniards to speak English (you are in fact in Spain), but you also can’t help but hope that someone will know a word or two. I have to say that even with my limited (and I mean VERY limited) Spanish skills, I have survived every miscommunication and possibly even came out a better person.  There’s no better way to learn a language than to just dive right into in!

Ok so let’s cover some of the basics:

Over Packing: truth or tale??

Yes, over packing can become an issue (especially for girls)! Remember that you are coming to a foreign country where fashion styles may be different. I guarantee that at some point you will want to buy a shirt here or a pair of shoes there… In the end, you’ll wish you hadn’t brought so many American things because your local buys are starting to add up. Oh and if you still think you need 2 or 3 suitcases, let me just tell you that not all apartments have elevators! You don’t want to be the person who has to lug a 50 pound suitcase up 5 flights of stairs!  Please also be aware that UNDER PACKING can be problematic as well.  I happen to be one of the few people that packed too light and now I wish I had more clothing to accommodate the strangely cold weather here.

Social Outings: friend or foe??

Barcelona is very well known for its party atmosphere for people of all ages! Bars and clubs are open pretty much every night and it is very common to seen college students go out in the middle of the week. With this in mind, it is very important to remember that a balance of school and partying is very necessary. Showing up to class as a zombie will not impress your professors and your grades are sure to suffer. We all want to have a good time but as I have seen in the last couple of weeks, people in the program are already falling behind because drinking and clubbing are taking priority over education.

Money: budget balance

Money can be a tricky topic when it comes to planning for an abroad trip. Barcelona happens to be one of the most expensive cities in all of Spain and therefore rates may be higher than Granada or Seville.  I like to think that I’m being smart about my money but there are definitely times when I choose to splurge on certain activities. Hey, I’m in Spain and you only live once! I would recommend that everyone does some research about international credit card rates and international transaction rates of bank cards. It is also very important to NOT come with only one method of payment. Very early in the term my roommate stopped at an ATM to withdraw cash and had her card swallowed. It was her only card and access to money… It took a while and the issue was resolved but she was forced to get a new card and live without money for a week or two.  The stresses of situations like this can be easily avoided if proper preparations are done before departure!

Every day I spend in Barcelona, I seem to find new and amazing things to do in the city. From parks to shops to bars, getting lost in the city has become more of a habit than an annoyance.

I have to run to class now but if you have additional questions feel free to contact me via blog or email which you can get from Alice.

Adios!

-Arina

Catie A. - Australia - Spring 2013

Hello All! My name is Catie and I am studying in Australia, with SIT’s Reef, Rainforest and Cultural Ecology Program. SIT programs are in a little different format than other programs like IES, because I am not studying at a foreign institution, because I am doing field studies and more experiential learning with 18 other American students from across the US. Our first week has involved getting to know our “base city”, Cairns in the state of Queensland. Cairns, pronounced like “cans”, is situated on the coast right by the Great Barrier Reef, which happens to be the World’s Largest Marine Park (or soon will be). It is a sort of tourist hub but also has its quirks, such as a beautiful Botanic Garden located on the slopes of the Great Escarpment, with beautiful and dense rainforest covering the undulating hills. Cairns is in a part of Australia called the Wet Tropics region, whereby rainforest has been contracted through millions of years to small refugial areas on hilly slopes just east of the coastal plain. This is much different from the environment of the rest of Australia, which is dry, sandy and the typical “outback” desert. The Wet Tropics are also a World Heritage Region, meaning that they are recognized by the United Nations as a site with cultural and environmental significance for the people of the world, and therefore has priority in being protected and preserved. Things I have seen so far include some the representative animal species that Americans think of when they hear Australia: kangaroos, wallabies, koalas, emus and crocodiles. Other interesting creatures I have seen are the endangered and massive cassowaries, large birds that have been known to attack the unsuspecting traveler in the rainforest, as well as swam with colorful parrotfish on the reef and a white tipped reef shark. Currently it is stinger season in Queensland, meaning that large numbers of box jellyfish are near shore. This makes swimming in the ocean off the beaches a dangerous affair, for a sting by a box jelly can be deadly in some instances. Therefore for all of our excursions into the water, we are required to wear Lycra stinger suits for protection.

Aside from the fauna of the continent, the flora is beautiful as well. Palms and acacias dominate the rainforest, and in dried scrub areas the eucalyptus tree forms forests that will seasonally burn. One of the most striking plants I have seen are strangler fig tree, which act sort of like a vine except that they start at the top of the canopy and allow gravity to pull their vine like limbs down, and in doing so coil around their host tree and slowly but destructively “strangle” the tree. The Curtain fig tree is an impressive example of this. Basket ferns and epiphytes, or plants that grow off the bodies of trees and have aerial roots, are also commonly seen life forms in the rainforest.

Australian culture is influenced by America in many ways, especially in terms of pop culture and media. Probably 80% of the music on the airwaves was American artists, and many television shows on Aussie TV were spinoffs of American or British shows. I found it interesting that Australians were almost more versed on what was happening with U.S. politics and current events, such as the Sandy Hook shootings or the Super Bowl, than some of the Americans in my group. That being said, any feelings of culture shock that I have experienced were not profound what so ever. The only thing I really need to take care of while here is crossing the road, for Australian drive on the left side, and therefore when crossing the street you must look to the right first, rather than to the left. And as a side note, Steve Irwin’s death is still very much talked about in daily life, although this may be due to the fact that he is a highly recognized Australian by Americans.

Australians are comparable to Americans, except much more laid back and open with strangers. Australians also don’t take themselves seriously and have a knack for sarcasm. Poking fun at other people is seen as a way to get to know one another and have fun. Aussies also have a way with words, whereby they like to have shortened nicknames for everything. A cooler is called an Eskie, a shortened version of the brand name of coolers called Eskimo brand, sort of how us Americans call all tissues Kleenex because of the well known brand name. Breakfast is “brekkie”, swimsuits are “costumes” or “swimmers”, a flashlight is a “torch”, and air conditioning is simply “air con”. They also say “cheers” as thank you and “no worries” when you thank them for something. They are wonderfully laid back, although with that being said, there are some things that they take seriously. The blood alcohol limit for driving is .05, which lower than Illinois’, which is at about .08. Two beers will keep you from driving for sure. Tobacco companies must display gruesome pictures of gangrene infected feet or lungs with emphysema on cigarette packs, rather than a benign warning of the dangers of smoking. Also is it compulsory that anytime you ride a bike you must wear a helmet, or else you will be fined. Skin cancer is also a major health issue here, as many of the citizens are descendents of pale skinned Brits or other Europeans whose skin is not accustomed to UV indexes in the upper teens. My program director has yearly appointments to the local Skin center to check for any abnormalities, and literally bathes in sunscreen whenever we are out for an excursion.

Overall, the first 10 days have been wonderful so far, and I cannot wait to see what else is in store for me for the next 3 months. :]

G’day All!

Catie 

Chris F. - Semester at Sea - Fall 2012

Chris traveled on the SaS program and has offered this link to his quite comprehensive blog of his experiences in different ports.  If you are interested in this program, you might find many helpful bits of information here and can get in touch with Chris if you have any questions.  Enjoy!  http://mysemesteratsea2012.com/