Bare-Bones Backpacking #HogsAbroad in Ireland #APIabroad #TBT

During the weeks before and after my exams at Trinity, I took two separate backpacking trips to mainland Europe. Largely dictated by the small budget I had, I found the experience of minimalistic traveling exhilarating and a welcome challenge.

I often found myself contemplating the boxes of things sitting in my closet back in Arkansas, already mentally sorting through and ridding myself of all the excess, useless stuff I have accumulated throughout my life. Not having the distraction of all that baggage we leave at home can make traveling a much rawer, much more influential ordeal.

First, I traveled to Copenhagen, Denmark- land of Vikings, some culinary genius called an “egg wrap”, and modern design. The second excursion was to Portugal’s charming second largest city, Porto, and later to gorgeous Barcelona. Every one of the three cities I visited was beautiful in its own way, and instead of rambling on and on, this is the perfect opportunity for a photo blog! So without further ado…

Next was Portugal, hometown of port wine and the Douro River.

City #3 was Barcelona, where I met up with a friend- welcome company after traveling independently for so long! The night before landing in Spain, I had spent the night in the Porto airport, which may have contributed to my expression in the first photo we took together:

Even in my own “bite off more than I can chew” plans for this semester abroad, I hadn’t dreamed I would be able to make it to so many different countries. Dublin is the perfect jumping off point for a student like me- willing to pack a backpack and plop themselves down in a completely different culture with almost nothing more than a small budget and a good pair of shoes to go on.

Colleen Boardman was a student at the University of Arkansas and an official API Blogger. Colleen studied abroad with API in Dublin, Ireland.

Peaks and Lows: How to Overcome Culture Shock #USAC #HogsAbroad

Here’s a genuinely insightful and candid account of what culture shock is like from one of our current student’s abroad!

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Courtesy of the USAC blog
With the introduction to a new culture come the peaks and lows of culture shock. This past fall 2014, I decided to take on the world for the first time, starting with Europe. I applied through the University Studies Abroad Consortium (USAC) and made the best decision of my life to spend 4 and a half months living in the beautifully different city of Reggio Emilia, Italy for Spring 2015 (I am currently in the program). I had never experienced anything divergent from my life in the United States, so I was in for a surprise when I realized that everything I knew to be “normal” would change. From the way you open doors, to the way that you walk down the street, every little thing I came into contact with would take adjustment. Through my experiences in new countries so far, I would like to share some ways to overcome culture shock from the perspective of a current study abroad student.

Initial Interaction with a New Culture
When first stepping off the plane, it feels a bit awkward. Everyone rushes you through the normal landing procedures at the airport, only this time it is a million miles a minute and in a different language. Not to mention, more often than not, the people around you will most likely be staring and laughing at you because you seem different to them. Different look, different language, different everything… it would be hard not to stare. But fear not, the best thing about being a part of a study abroad program is you are given amazing advisors in the foreign country that help you along every step of the way. Take advantage of their knowledge about the city and surrounding area. With their help, diving into a new culture will be the experience of a lifetime.

Adjusting  (Absorb like a Sponge)
As you hit the streets of your new city, the stares and different way of life will continue to surprise you. It may seem embarrassing at first not understanding the things that are so normal to the locals of the city, but everything takes time and practice. Absorb everything like a sponge because this is the new life you will be living in and its time to adjust!

Personally, I love being immersed in new cultures and taking on their way of life, however, the strangest little things will present themselves as new challenges. For example, in Italy, during lunch (about a 4 hour span of time) everything closes. All independent shops, restaurants, and fruit stands lock up their doors so that the workers can enjoy some time to relax. I completely support this life style, although, I was a little thrown off at first. It took me a few weeks to realize that this did not include major grocery stores and chain shops. It also took me a few weeks to get used to the fact that everything closes all day Sunday. Plus, Italians don’t eat dinner until around 8 or 9pm creating a new issue of restaurants not opening until that time. Oh, and bikers and drivers don’t stop for any pedestrian so I had to learn to be light on my feet to avoid being run over.

Little differences like these unexpectedly allowed for my stress to kick in. Why was everything so different? I missed my comfort zone in Mountain View, CA and my life at my home University. However, I quickly snapped out of this when I realized that I was accomplishing my dream. This adjustment was just part of the experience.

Homesickness and feeling sadness are natural, but just remember and appreciate where you are and that this experience will go by faster than you think. Remember that, for the most part, everything in your hometown is going at the same pace that you left it, but not you! You get to see that there is so much in the world to explore.

Peaks and Lows
The best advice that I can give about culture shock is that it is a roller coaster of peaks and lows but the peaks make up for the lows every time. Frustration and anxiety are paired hand in hand when adapting to a new environment. Change is hard but it allows us to grow and experience life to its fullest. When you end your experience taking with you amazing memories, culture shock will be the most insignificant one. Embrace it and remember that culture shock is something that everyone goes through.

Written by Amanda Bradrick, USAC Reggio Emilia Program.
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Don't miss out on your chance to study abroad! 
For more information about USAC's program in Reggio Emilio, visit http://usac.unr.edu/study-abroad-programs/italy/reggio-emilia

Search for other study abroad opportunities in over 50 countries at http://studyabroad.uark.edu/search/

Semana Santa #HogsAbroad #TBT

Throwback Thursday, Spring Break Style! Here's a post from Luke about his unexpected spring break in Spain....

My Spring break was this past week, and not many people know this but Spain’s break (Semana Santa) is full of different processions and parades to fill up the week.

Every day there is at least one procession which includes a giant statue of Jesus and a statue of Mary. Everyone is dressed very culturally to celebrate the holy week for Catholicism.

Different fraternities have their processions at different times. Some are completely silent, some go through caves, but all of them last for over five hours. Some start at 10 at night and go until sunrise. Spanish people truly love their Semana Santa.

This was a very different spring break than what I have been used to but I loved see a different way that people celebrated it.
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Use our search to look for programs in Spain, as well as over 40 other countries: http://studyabroad.uark.edu/search/

 

Dipping my feet in the Land Down Under! #HogsAbroad #TBT

It's Throwback Thursday again! Here's a post from Loften, who spent the spring of 2015 in Australia. As you can see by reading his post, life was rough back then. ;)

I can’t even begin to explain how incredible this country is, and I have only been here for three weeks. Australia is truly full of surprises and people from places I didn’t even know existed. To start, the first four days I was in Sydney, Australia. Although the city resembles American life, don’t be fooled. Australia definitely has a one of a kind culture that likes to slur their English together. For example, we would say have a good day but instead Aussies say G’day mate or the classic how are you doing? They say hahyadoin. Yes, I know that spelling is weird but I swear they make that whole phrase into one word. It’s almost as if their in a rush to spit out their words.

So while I was in Sydney, I got to see the Opera House, which is gorgeous especially at night. Pictures these days don’t do it justice. Also I climbed the Sydney Harbour Bridge and got to experience the nightlife with all of my new friends from my study abroad group. While exploring Sydney and its beautiful attractions, I decided to try crocodile and kangaroo — both exceeded my expectations. Let’s just say I will be having both again very soon.

As far as trying the popular Vegemite, I cannot say the same thing. Aussie’s love their Vegemite, which is supposed to be a tasty spread for bread. However, only one person out of my group of 33 thought it was all right. Don’t try it. After being in Sydney three days, I flew to where I am residing for the next four and a half months. The Gold Coast!!

My school on the Gold Coast is Bond University, however locals call college Uni so it’s Bond Uni while I’m here. After getting situated by the first week of school, I decided to travel to Whitsunday Islands with three of my buddies I met at Bond.

Whitsunday Islands consist of the best parts of the Great Barrier Reef which I snorkeled and will be scuba diving.
I also got to go to Whitehaven Beach, which has the whitest and most pure sand in the world. They say it is the most pure because it is 98 percent pure silica. I would have to say that’s the prettiest beach I have ever been to in my life! It was incredible!

After my Whitsunday adventures I went to the Currumbin Sanctuary to pet kangaroos and hold some Koalas!

Overall these first three weeks have been a dream come true. I can’t imagine what these next four months will consist of!
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Use our search to look for programs in Australia, as well as over 40 other countries: http://studyabroad.uark.edu/search/

Studying Abroad with Tyler Spain #HogsAbroad

Tyler is a senior majoring in Industrial Engineering. He spent a summer at the U of A Rome Center, getting core classes done, and then a semester at our exchange partner, University of Newcastle, taking engineering and cultural studies courses. We asked him a few questions about his study abroad and here's what he had to say:

Why did you decide to study abroad?

·        I studied abroad because when I got to college, Arkansas was the only part of the world I had ever really seen. I’ve always been curious about the rest of the world and what else might be out there, and going abroad gave me a chance to see other cultures, meet other people, and see firsthand how different life could be from what I’d come to know in my small hometown.

What did you really learn by going abroad? How was it impacted the rest of your college experience/your personal life/your job search?

·        The main thing I learned is how to be a navigator. I couldn’t speak everyone’s language (Italy), I got lost plenty of times, and I had to make decisions from the perspective of a culture that wasn’t my own, but in doing so I learned that regardless of where I find myself (in life, in school, or around the world), I can navigate through it. Studying abroad was challenging and it threw plenty of obstacles at me, but those challenges showed me I can rise to the occasion and make my way through any situation I find myself in.

What was the biggest hurdle in getting abroad and how did you overcome it?

·        The biggest hurdle in getting abroad was finding the time to do it. It’s not necessarily convenient to give up a summer or a semester to go abroad, but if you’re serious about it you have to make it a priority. The first time I went abroad, I went after my freshman year when there were fewer internship opportunities available in the summer. My junior year, I went for a semester so I could still complete an internship during the summer.

What is one piece of advice would you give to other students thinking about studying abroad?

·        If there’s any doubt in your mind about whether or not it’s right for you, go ahead and do it. I learned, saw, and did things I never expected when I went abroad, and I’m definitely better for it. Nobody I’ve ever known has regretted studying abroad, and I don’t think that’s a coincidence. Don’t hesitate and don’t doubt yourself, just go!

What did you learn about yourself/your culture by going abroad?

·        I learned that I take a lot of things for granted here in the US. When I was abroad I found myself without air conditioning, a vehicle, and even ice (just to name a few things). These things might not seem significant, but I realized just how much I missed them once I didn’t have them anymore. Now, I’m much more conscious of the luxuries I enjoy at home, because people in most other countries don’t have it as good as we have it here in the US.

Where did you live while abroad?

·        When I studied abroad in Australia, I lived in a share house near campus with another American exchange student, a native Australian, and two Malaysian international students. The diversity we each brought to the house really enabled me to dive into the culture and build friendships that I still carry today.

Was studying abroad expensive? How did you pay for your experience?

·        Studying abroad was definitely expensive, but no more expensive than I expected. The budgets provided by the study abroad office were very accurate and let me know exactly what to expect. I was fortunate to have scholarships available to cover my expenses; there were plenty of scholarship opportunities available with the study abroad office and within my department.

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To learn more about the U of A Rome Center: Summer Campus, visit http://studyabroad.uark.edu/romecampus

To find out more about the Exchange program with University of Newcastle, visit http://studyabroad.uark.edu/exchange/newcastle

If you need help getting started with study abroad, take a look at the first steps: http://studyabroad.uark.edu/getting-started/first-steps.php.  

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Studying Abroad with Emma Ridings #HogsAbroad

Emma is a senior at the University of Arkansas, double majoring in Cultural Anthropology and International Relations and double minoring in French and African/African American Studies. She started her travel by spending a summer taking anthropology classes with U of A faculty in Tanzania, followed by another summer learning more about the Holocaust in Prague and capped it off with a spring semester in Rwanda, focusing on peace-building. We asked her a few questions about her study abroad and here's what she had to say:

Why did you decide to study abroad?

I decided to study abroad because I knew that it would give me the opportunity to go to unique places and have once-in-a-lifetime experiences and lessons. I chose Rwanda because the program captivated me and fit with my interests and field of study. 

What did you really learn by going abroad? How was it impacted the rest of your college experience/your personal life/your job search?

Studying abroad definitely fostered growth on a personal level. I learned how to be more independent, open-minded, and resourceful. Traveling to places that I had previously known nothing about put a lot of things in perspective for me and sparked my desire to continue meeting new people and hearing their stories. Study abroad gives you very practical life skills that can be translated into skills for any and every job, along with unique experiences to bolster your resumé. Personally, studying abroad in Rwanda helped me to decide the career path I want to go down.

What was the biggest hurdle in getting abroad and how did you overcome it?

The biggest hurdle for me was pushing myself out of my comfort zone. Although the idea of traveling far away is always appealing, I get nervous to leave the people and place that I am so comfortable with. I have found that the best way to overcome this is to not overthink it. Just know that no matter where you're going or who you're going with, you will have the opportunity to stretch yourself and experience wonderful things! 

What is one piece of advice would you give to other students thinking about studying abroad?

I would say: Just go for it! You will not regret this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, and you will get even more out of it then you expect. The chance to travel around the world and experience new people and cultures is not something to pass up!

What did you learn about yourself/your culture by going abroad?

I personally learned to put everything in perspective and not take myself too seriously. Studying abroad taught me how to be flexible and resourceful when things do not go as planned, and to keep a positive attitude no matter what!

Where did you live while abroad?

In Rwanda I spent the first 10 weeks living with a local homestay family assigned by my program. The last 5 weeks I lived with 3 other girls in my program in a house that we had found with the help of a local real estate agent (the program directors aided us as well). Both experiences were amazing! Being a homestay student was a wonderful opportunity to immerse myself in the culture and learn from my homestay parents and siblings about Rwanda. On the other hand, living with my friends was a lot of fun and gave us the opportunity to become independent and experience the city and country on our own.

Was studying abroad expensive? How did you pay for your experience?

Though studying abroad seems expensive, there are plenty of opportunities to get scholarships, both from your school and your community. In my case, I was able to use my academic scholarships as well as one received from the program.

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Use our search to look for more programs in Tanzania, Rwanda and the Czech Republic, as well as over 40 other countries: http://studyabroad.uark.edu/search/

If you need help getting started with study abroad, take a look at the first steps: http://studyabroad.uark.edu/getting-started/first-steps.php.