Interested in study abroad, but don't know where to start? Each month we'll feature a new destination, and December's highlighted country is Costa Rica!
Come discover why Costa Rica has been called the “Switzerland of Central America.” Costa Rica is one of the world’s most ecologically and bio-diverse regions with over 500,000 species calling it home. The relatively small country offers something for all students whether that be the bustling metropolis of San Jose or the sandy beaches of the Caribbean coast. From health care to ecology and everything in between, Costa Rica offers programs related to several majors with courses taught in English and Spanish.
Photo courtesy of Lane Justus
PROGRAM HIGHLIGHTS
Dale Bumpers College of Agricultural, Food and Life Sciences
There are many resources and scholarships available for study abroad. Most scholarships and financial aid that students currently receive during the intended term may be used to study abroad. There are also many scholarship opportunities specifically for study abroad available through the University of Arkansas and outside organizations. For more information, visit studyabroad.uark.edu/funding.
WHAT FORMER STUDENTS HAVE SAID
Photo courtesy of Lane Justus
“I studied abroad to Costa Rica during the Summer of 2017 through ISA. I took classes at Universidad Veritas for half of the trip and worked at La Hospital San Juan de Dios for the remaining portion. My study abroad experience in Costa Rica was all that I could have wanted and more. Not only did I have a complete immersion experience to enhance my Spanish speaking ability, but I had so many opportunities to explore the perfect combination of mountains and beaches that is Costa Rica, and learn while doing it. I had so many experiences and learning opportunities that were truly unique to Costa Rica, my favorite being that I joined a research lab as an assistant and was able to help with the genetic analysis of sharks, sea turtles, and sting rays. Costa Ricans or Ticos, as they call themselves, truly embody the Pura Vida lifestyle that they are so proud of: friendly, relaxed, and always looking to make the most of everything. Studying abroad in Costa Rica has been a defining experience within my college career, and I would highly recommend it to anyone who is considering.” - Lane Justus, senior Spanish & Political Science major, Summer 2017 ISA Service-Learning in San Jose, Costa Rica
Photo courtesy of Mallory Hughes
“I chose to go to Costa Rica because it is such a small country that you can really get to know the people and places very well in just a short amount of time. I also chose to study here to improve my Spanish skills. The people truly are "the happiest in the world." My host family and also basically everyone I met were so welcoming and helpful and they really just want you to have the best experience possible so they are willing to help in any way. My advice to any student considering Costa Rica is to GO. Go with an open mind and a good attitude and you will experience everything this country and its people have to offer. This was the best decision of my life and I would do it over again without a second thought if I could.” - Mallory Hughes, senior Spanish & Communication major, Fall 2017 USAC Costa Rica: Spanish Language, Ecological, and Latin American Studies in Puntarenas
3 EASY STEPS TO STUDY ABROAD
So, what's next?
Drop by the Office of Study Abroad Monday-Friday between 3:00 – 5:00 p.m. to learn about program options and funding opportunities.
Meet with your Academic Advisor to discuss your academic plan.
Schedule an appointment with your Study Abroad Advisor.
I traveled with International Studies Abroad (ISA) in the Summer of 2017 and did the Service-Learning Program in Conin Infant Clinic. On my excursion to Valparaiso, Chile I could not have had more of a life changing experience. It was the first time that I had gone abroad without knowing anybody once I got off the plane, and it was much colder than I anticipated! It was so exhilarating and terrifying and I had thousands of thoughts flying through my head all at once after landing. I had traveled alone before, but for some reason I felt so small in the Santiago airport. Luckily, ISA was one step ahead of me and a kind man directed me to my ISA driver, Gonzalo, who was so very kind. I rode with Arnell from Tennessee and it was a great experience. We spoke in broken Spanish the whole ride to Valpo and bonded through our experience thus far. Everything was so new and exciting and Gonzalo was playing Beyonce in the car and we all sang along.
Once I got to my house I got an extremely warm welcome from Gabriela and Jose. I knew then that I was going to be alright in my homey European-influenced Latin American town. My host parents cooked the most amazing dishes that I still crave to this day, especially the vegetables. There is nothing like the fresh vegetables abroad that are so tasty raw that all they need is a few squirts of lemon juice to enjoy. I still think about the alfajores that we made. My host sister from the States and Gabriela’s daughter that visited from time to time were fantastic as well and we still chat online and comment on each other’s Instagram photos. I also improved my Spanish immensely which was very important to me as I did not have room in my busy schedule to take Spanish courses throughout college but I wanted to improve. I really enjoyed being forced into the language because it really did make me better having no other way to communicate. And, my host parents were SO understanding and spoke slowly for me so that they ensured that I understood.
I still reminisce about Conin and all the wonderful nurses, physicians, therapists, and dietitians I met. I also think about the babies nearly every day. I still wear my anklet that I got from Horcon that reminds me of the time I spend with all of them on a regular basis. I still message Nicol from Conin every once in a while to check in and see how everyone is doing, although the babies I worked with a year ago are now gone and either back with families or adopted which is a great thing indeed! I have all my Chile pictures on the wall I show to all my residents on my “Get-To-Know-Me” board and that way my experience lives on. I also met my now dear pal, Laura, that actually was from the University of Arkansas and I worked those hours with her at Conin nearly every day and we become very close. Since we have been back we still get together for coffee or dinner and reminisce and enjoy our new life experiences as well! I certainly got a long term friend out of my experience as well.
I also traveled throughout Chile, and went on the excursions that the program planned such an white water rafting in Cajon de Maipo and travelling to the various coastal beaches by bus that were unforgettable. I also traveled with Laura to Horcon and went on long walks through the beautiful city that is Valpo. I also went to the neighboring city of Vina del Mar, which was really cool as well. If you choose this program, be sure to take advantage of everything that there is to offer. I even traveled to Lima, Peru because the tickets were so cheap and I have a pal from the University of Arkansas that was from there!
On another note I had been dating the man I am still with today for about six months at the time, and this was our first experience long distance. So with this said, this trip was challenging in more ways than one and it made me develop and grow a lot as a person. I realized many different aspects of my life were evolving and that my horizons were being broadened by being abroad without him and having experiences apart from him and our relationship. But, to all those people that think they can’t do something like this because they are in a relationship, you most definitely can and I encourage you to!
Anyhow, overall my experience was extraordinary and I will be forever appreciative of everything that I got out of it and I hope that the people I interacted with also benefited from my presence as well. I definitely would recommend this to anyone. And for those who are more resume-driven this was a great experience that I have brought up in interviews, and is certainly an experience in the health field that I can use to my advantage. I also got credit for it towards my Anthropology degree as I did a research paper while I was there.
If you are thinking of studying abroad, definitely consider studying abroad in Chile and seek out opportunities to do a Service-Learning program because for me, it was an experience I will carry with me for the rest of my days!
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Senior Nursing major & ISA Global Ambassador Sydney Albrecht spent the Summer 2017 term in Chile with International Studies Abroad (ISA). Learn more about Sydney's ISA program in Valparaíso, Chile.
Personally, I have been working on my anemia project here in Bolgatanga and it has been going wonderfully! I have gotten many women to interview and we got a whopping 64 patients yesterday to come be tested for anemia. We found that so far about 35% of our population size is anemic on both Ghanaian scales and those of the States. It is certainly prevalent and an issue that must be addressed.
Two meetings have been scheduled in April to talk through Fulbright grant opportunities for students and the campus application process:
(Pizza will be served!) Tuesday, April 17 5:00-6:00pm GEARHART 206 (Graduate Student Lounge)
Topic: Awards available for 9-12 months of overseas study or research
Wednesday, April 18 5:00-6:00pm GEARHART 103 (Honors Student Lounge)
Topic: Awards available for 9-12 month placements Teaching English Abroad
The UA campus application deadline is Monday, September 10, 2018
Contact:
DeDe Long
Director of Study Abroad and International Exchange
University of Arkansas
Study Abroad House (STAB)
520 N. Storer Avenue
Fayetteville, AR 72701
Tel. 479 575 7582 http://studyabroad.uark.edu dslong@uark.edu
Thinking about an internship or work abroad but need some financial help to get there? Check out this list from NAFSA, for scholarships and awards for students just like you!
INTERNING ABROAD
Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship The Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship Program offers grants for U.S. citizen undergraduate students of limited financial means to pursue academic studies or credit-bearing, career-oriented internships abroad. To be eligible for this award, students must be receiving a Federal Pell Grant or provide proof that he/she will be receiving a Pell Grant during the term of his/her study abroad program or internship.
Boren Awards, STEM Initiative Boren Scholarships, an initiative of the National Security Education Program, provide unique funding opportunities for U.S. undergraduate students to study less commonly taught languages in world regions critical to U.S. interests, and underrepresented in study abroad, including countries in Africa, Asia, Central and Eastern Europe, Eurasia, Latin America and the Middle East. The Boren Scholarship offers a special initiative for undergraduate STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) majors. Some students focus on language study, while also incorporating a STEM-related internship to their overseas plan. As a reminder, all internships should be academic in nature, unpaid, and with a non-governmental organization.
DAAD - German Academic Exchange Service Funding for participation in summer internships or senior thesis research at German universities. Long term scholarship are available for semester or year study abroad.
Diversity Abroad: Network Summer Scholarship The Diversity Abroad Network "Diversity Network" will offer summer scholarships in the amount of $1,000 for full-time undergraduate (both community college and university level) students attending a member institution.
Diversity Abroad Overseas Ambassador Program The Overseas Ambassador Program is an initiative created for current students or recent graduates who are planning to study, intern, volunteer or teach abroad. Overseas Ambassadors earn a stipend in return for representing Diversity Abroad, writing articles, and sharing experiences while abroad. Geared toward economically disadvantaged students, first-generation, students with disabilities and ethnically and racially diverse students.
Mente Argentina Scholarships Various scholarships, including support for intern and volunteer programs in Buenos Aires, Argentina.
Whitaker International Fellows and Scholars Program This program sends young Biomedical Engineers, anywhere outside the U.S. or Canada for one or more of the following activities: Conducting academic or scientific research in a university or laboratory; pursuing coursework at an academic institution; or interning at a policy institute, or in an industrial or non-profit setting. Must be enrolled in a Master's or PhD program.
WORKING ABROAD
Diversity Abroad Overseas Ambassador Program The Overseas Ambassador Program is an initiative created for current students ore recent graduates who are planning to study, intern, volunteer or teach abroad. Overseas Ambassadors earn a stipend in return for representing Diversity Abroad, writing articles, and sharing experiences while abroad. Geared toward economically disadvantaged students, first-generation, students with disabilities and ethnically and racially diverse students.
Fulbright U.S. Student Program Offers fellowships for U.S. graduating seniors, graduate students, young professionals and artists to study abroad and engage in a research project for one academic year. The program also includes the English Teaching Assistant work abroad component.
VOLUNTEERING ABROAD
Diversity Abroad Overseas Ambassador Program The Overseas Ambassador Program is an initiative created for current students or recent graduates who are planning to study, intern, volunteer or teach abroad. Overseas Ambassadors earn a stipend in return for representing Diversity Abroad, writing articles, and sharing experiences while abroad. Geared toward economically disadvantaged students, first-generation, students with disabilities and ethnically and racially diverse students.
Human Interaction Project Recipients will receive a foreign immersion trip combined with volunteering and self-growth. Up to five college-age students a year will be given a travel experience in partnership with the international volunteering and learning organization UBELONG. Open to U.S. citizens between 18 and 30 years old.
Mente Argentina Scholarships Various scholarships, including support for intern and volunteer programs in Buenos Aires, Argentina.
ScholarTrips Six grand prize winners will be awarded a $2,500 scholarship to put towards their study abroad or volunteer program. 30 runners-up will receive a $50 Amazon gift card.
uVolunteer Travel Scholarship Volunteer abroad scholarship that covers the price of a 4-week volunteer trip to one of three program destinations: Costa Rica, Ghana, or Thailand (including accommodation and all meals).
RESEARCHING ABROAD
Chateaubriand Fellowship Program The Chateaubriand Fellowship is a grant offered by the Embassy of France in the United States. It supports outstanding Ph.D. students from American universities who wish to conduct research in France for a period ranging from 4 to 9 months.
Chinese Government Scholarships Funding to support international students, teachers, and scholars to study and conduct research in China at various universities.
DAAD - German Academic Exchange Service Funding for participation in summer internships or senior thesis research at German universities. Long term scholarships are available for semester or year study abroad.
Fulbright U.S. Student Program Offers fellowships for U.S. graduating seniors, graduate students, young professionals and artists to study abroad and engage in a research project for one academic year. The Program also includes the English Teaching Assistant work abroad component.
ThinkSwiss Research Scholarships ThinkSwiss Scholarships support highly motivated and qualified U.S. and Canadian undergraduate and graduate students to get a research experience at a public Swiss university or Swiss research institute for 2 to 3 months.
Whitaker International Fellows and Scholars Program This program sends young Biomedical Engineers, anywhere outside the U.S. or Canada for one or more of the following activities: Conducting academic or scientific research in a university or laboratory; Pursuing coursework at an academic institution; or Interning at a policy institute, or in an industrial or non-profit setting. Must be enrolled in a Master’s or PhD program.
SERVICE-LEARNING ABROAD
Boren Awards, STEM Initiative Boren Scholarships, an initiative of the National Security Education Program, provide unique funding opportunities for U.S. undergraduate students to study less commonly taught languages in world regions critical to U.S. interests, and underrepresented in study abroad, including Africa, Asia, Central and Eastern Europe, Eurasia, Latin America, and the Middle East. The Boren Scholarships offer a special initiative for undergraduate STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) majors.Some students focus on language study, while also incorporating a STEM-related internship to their overseas plan. As a reminder, all internships should be academic in nature, unpaid, and with a non-governmental organization.
Chinese Government Scholarships Funding to support international students, teachers, and scholars to study and conduct research in China at various universities.
Critical Language Scholarship Program The Critical Language Scholarship (CLS) Program is a fully funded summer overseas language and cultural immersion program for American undergraduate and graduate students. With the goal of broadening the base of Americans studying and mastering critical languages and building relationships between the people of the United States and other countries, CLS provides opportunities to a diverse range of students from across the United States at every level of language learning. The CLS Program is a program of the U.S.Department of State.
Diversity Abroad Overseas Ambassador Program The Overseas Ambassador Program is an initiative created for current students or recent graduates who are planning to study, intern, volunteer or teach abroad. Overseas Ambassadors earn a stipend in return for representing Diversity Abroad, writing articles, and sharing experiences while abroad. Geared toward economically disadvantaged students, first-generation, students with disabilities and ethnic and racial diverse students.
The Fund for International Service Learning (FISL) Scholarships in the amount of $500 to students enrolled in a semester-long international service-learning program.Recipients are selected based on their academic and professional goals and accomplishments, as well as financial need.
ScholarTrips Six grand prize winners will be awarded a $2,500 scholarship to put towards their study abroad or volunteer program. 30 runners-up will receive a $50 Amazon gift card.
Hello and welcome to my blog about Brighton! This is a space in which I plan to catalog my study abroad experiences this semester – which may take the form of anecdotes, photos, research revelations, quotes, or even stream of consciousness style exclamations!
In just a few weeks, I will be leaving the comfort of Fayetteville and the University of Arkansas campus to study abroad as an exchange student at the University of Sussex in Brighton, United Kingdom. At Sussex, I will be studying as a third year student in the School of English and Drama, where I will take classes centered on Victorian literature, a class on transatlantic rhetoric and speech making at the turn of the nineteenth century, and a global history class centered on the development of empires.
In addition to studying at Sussex as a full-time student, I will be conducting research at The Keep, a center for archives in Sussex that is located close to the University of Sussex Campus. My research project, entitled "Spatial Divides in Victorian Seaside Society: Brighton, A Case Study," is aimed at helping historians better understand the relationship between leisure culture, class differences, and urban development.
By far the largest seaside resort town in England throughout the nineteenth century, Brighton is uniquely situated to serve my research interests in British seaside resorts and leisure culture. Due to its close proximity to London and its patronage by the famous eighteenth-century doctor Richard Russell and later King George IV, Brighton was already well-established as an aristocratic leisure haven by the time a direct railway to London was established in 1841.
After the railroad was completed, the population of Brighton doubled in just three decades as working-class settlers and vacationers streamed into town. This is the period of time I will be researching – the mid-nineteenth century – a time in which aristocratic visitors vacationed alongside the middling and the lower classes, despite the departure of Queen Victoria in 1845 due to the "indiscreet and troublesome" personages that crowded around her Royal Pavilion. I'm interested in how the urban development of Brighton may have been informed by Victorian ideas of class and status. After all, the seaside town – and the beach vacation, for that matter – are distinctly modern inventions that developed in tandem with social progress.
While studying at Sussex, I also plan to take advantage of my location to explore other cities in the United Kingdom and Europe. I'm particularly interested in exploring London, Bath, Cambridge, Dublin and Paris if possible, in addition to the Sussex countryside (also called the South Downs). The University of Sussex provides several weekend trips to other cities within the United Kingdom for international students, so I definitely plan on participating in those opportunities!
The weather will be quite cold and rainy for the first few months that I am in Brighton, but things should warm up by May and June! I'm looking forward to drinking lots of tea to keep warm! In addition to the weather, travel to and from campus could be a challenge, as I will be living in town – close to the beachfront – and some 40 minutes from campus by bus. I plan on taking the bus to campus most of the time, but traveling by train or biking will also be a possibility.
Despite the commute to campus, I am looking forward to living in town and experiencing modern life in Brighton. I will get to see the town during the relatively quiet winter months, but also at the beginning of the vacation season in June. I'm sure I will miss seeing the Razorbacks play basketball back in Fayetteville, but I look forward to following Brighton's Premier League soccer team, the Brighton & Hove Albion Seagulls.
I also look forward to being present in the United Kingdom during the wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle - an event that is sure to generate international attention. It's pretty cool to think that I will be living in close proximity to many of the modern-day descendants of visitors to Brighton - royal and common alike!
I am very grateful to the University of Arkansas Honors College, without which this trip - the adventure and learning experience of a lifetime - would not have been possible.
I'd like to lead out with a quote by Winston Churchill, who said:
"Continuous effort - not strength or intelligence - is the key to unlocking our potential."
I hope to channel Churchill's warrior-spirit while I'm in Brighton in order to get the most out of my experience - as a student, as a researcher, and as a United States citizen abroad. In this vein, I plan on blogging at least once a week to catalog my experiences! My next post will be from Brighton!
Thank you very much for reading along and supporting me on this adventure.
Until next time,
Brock J. DeMark
-- Don't wait. Make plans for your semester or year abroad today! Check out the U of A Exchange: University of Sussex, England at http://studyabroad.uark.edu/exchange/sussex
University of Arkansas students and professors outside of Amer Fort in Jaipur, India. #hogsabroad
My entire college career has consisted of lecture halls, high tuition
rates, theoretical concepts and week-long homework assignments, and
endless cups of coffee. However, my education was missing a small,
innovative approach that would help me find my favorite learning style.
An opportunity presented itself to me in the last semester of my
graduate career through the study abroad office at the University of Arkansas. There was a two-week course being offered called Experiential Learning in Indian Agricultureand
it was led by two professors: one from the plant science department and
one from the environmental, soil and water science department.
Eight
students participated in this international experience and were from
departments within the university, such as agricultural education,
hospitality, psychology, animal science, agricultural business, apparel
merchandising and product development, and agricultural economics.
The
class would take place in India, specifically in the cities of New
Delhi, Agmer, Jaipur, Agra, Meerut, Modipuram, and Rishikesh. In these
places we discovered Indian culture through language, food, textile
designs, farming, religion, and hospitality. Many cups of tea were drank
and butter cookies consumed amongst the company of Indian agriculture
leaders, educators and students. It was an experience of a lifetime and I
HIGHLY recommend that any student seeking an extraordinary educational
experience choose to study abroad with the Dale Bumper’s college to
India. Agriculture in India
India is famous for its spices. It is no secret and every dynasty
within the past two-thousand years has coveted the famed cardamom,
clove, cumin, coriander, mustard seed, and black pepper spices that
India so exquisitely produces. Markets were full of bowls of beautiful,
colorful powder that every tourist could not wait to get their hands on.
The National Research Center of Seed Spices (NRCSS) in Ajmer has been
doing development research on every spice that Indian farmers are
producing. Our group was able to tour their top secret facility to learn
about the types of projects going on there. We also enjoyed a visit to a small farming village behind the institute that produced
marigolds. We were greeted by the sound of drums and thousands of
marigold pedals falling upon us. Not even Dr. Vibha, our Indian
professor, had experienced such a classy cultural welcome before. It was
definitely an original occurrence!
Students viewing all the different products made from seed spices at the NRCSS.
The next few days the group went on tours of massive
greenhouses throughout the state of Rajasthan. We met farmers who were
growing cucumbers and tomatoes by the ton within state-of-the-art
greenhouses. The extra land around the houses was covered in sweet peas.
These farmers were making more than Indian businessmen! It was
wonderful to see these structures because they were providing jobs to
the locals and bringing in agritourism to the area. It was an
educational experience for the students in agriculture-related fields
and hospitality. Also, every house was being run by solar power panels.
This renewable energy decreased the amount of waste produced by the
houses while increasing the yield per hectare of food production. Since
India has not approved any genetically modified crops besides Bt cotton, making the most of the arid land is very difficult
without these greenhouses. Most of the desert is used for camel and
goat herding.
A view of the greenhouses, solar panels, and farm crew in Rajasthan.
There are MANY agriculture education institutions in India. On our
trip we visited three: Delhi University – South Campus, Dayalbagh
Educational Institute (DEI), and Sardar Patel University. The most
fascinating university, in my opinion, was DEI because of its framework
and system of operations. DEI is located in Agra, India (the city where
the Taj Mahal is located) and is focused on educating students to become
a complete person. The philosophy of DEI is stated below and can be
found on their website here.
“The Institute has introduced a scheme of innovative and
comprehensive education at university and non-university general and
technical education levels which aims at excellence but not at the cost
of the relevance, which inculcates dignity of labour, encourages
initiative and creative work, which is multi-disciplinary, which
prepares men for the increasingly techno-oriented society of tomorrow
without uprooting them from their agricultural moorings, which will
generate in the alumni the basic values of humanism, secularism and
democracy by exposing them to the principles of all the major religions
of the world and to their own cultural heritage, thus developing in them
an integrated personality of well-adjusted men whose world has not been
broken into fragments by narrow domestic walls.” — DEI
The school does not currently offer any degree for agriculture, but
is moving forward with the creation and implementation of one that
should be in place by next year (2018). However, a majority of their
campus is dedicated to farming, which feeds the DEI student and faculty
population as well as a small village that is stationed on the campus.
Additionally, DEI has a dairy research institution where they produce
high quality milk, cheese, yogurt, and ice cream. About 35 liters of
this milk is exported each month, but only to private buyers.
The scratching machine at the DEI dairy farm.
Lastly, DEI is the leading university in the world in consciousness
studies. The dairy farm is hoping to make a discovery linking a cows
consciousness to the quality of milk it produces. This effort is being
supported by continuous music being played for the cattle and an
automatic grooming machine that turns on when a cow approaches it
seeking out some relief. And DEI has very cheap tuition demands. You
will only pay about $1000 USD for approximately five years of top-notch
education. I may consider studying abroad permanently? Exploring India: The Taj Mahal
While in India, we did a lot of exploring landmarks, markets,
cuisine, and museums. The most iconic of all the explorations was, of
course, the discovering of the Taj Mahal tomb. This place was birthed
from one of the most epic love stories of our time, and has survived on
of the most heartbreaking betrayal known to man. The Mughal emperor,
Shah Jhan, built the tomb to house the remains of his most beloved wife,
Mumtaz Mahal. On her deathbed she requested that he build a memorial of
their love on top of her grave to represent their eternal love. It took the emperor 22 years to build
the Taj, in the meantime almost bankrupting India. In that day, around
$40,000,000 USD was used to build the Taj (try figuring that in todays
monies), and a majority of it went to the laborers and craftsman
responsible for the construction and decoration of the project. It is
believed by historians that Jhan was going to build a second Taj for
himself, but using black marble instead of white, across the Yamuna
river. He was dethroned and imprisoned by his son Aurangzeb and was not
able to visit the Taj Mahal after it was completed. However, he was able
to see the tomb from his cell window.
The Taj Mahal in Agra, India.
The architecture and design of the Taj Mahal is very interesting. A
variety of semi-precious stones are inlayed in the white marble, such as
onyx and emerald. The carvings are so specific and so complex and the
government of India has declared the it a protected art. Currently,
there are about 400 families who are direct descendants of the people
who built the Taj Mahal, but only 65 are still practicing this art. They
do touchups on the Taj as the old materials crack and wither away.
Surrounding doorways and windows are intricate designs of flowers and/or
Arabic markings, which is the creation story and judgement found in the
Quran.
The four towers surrounding the Taj are strictly decorative. They lean approximately one degree outward so that incase of an earth quake, the main structure would not be harmed.
The platform that the Taj is resting upon is being supported by
massive beams that go about 20 meters into the ground. Since the
structure is built next to a river, the weight from the marble would not
be supported by the loose soil. These beams hold the whole structure
steady. Additionally, the platform that the Taj Mahal rests on is
leveled in weight by a mosque to the left and an exact replica of the
mosque to the right. Both of the structures are exactly equal in weight
to the Taj Mahal.
Group pic – we are all happy to be here!
There are so many more mysteries to be discovered of the Taj Mahal’s
history and its design. Over 20,000 people were put to work to construct
this masterpiece and it is still standing 400 years later. I have been
asked, “What is so impressive about a building?” My response is simple… This is not just a building. It is a memorial of
religion, love, history, and monarchy. There is more hand-craftsmanship
in this one building than in all the continent of Asia. This is the
product of dedicated men and women who loved their king enough to, in
some cases, devote their entire life to creating this one masterpiece.
With that being said, if you are near Agra and miss the opportunity to
stand in awe at the Taj Mahal, then you are missing out – seriously.
The mosque that resides next to the Taj Mahal.
It is absolutely imperative that each and every one of you
purchase a plane ticket to India in order to experience this wonderful
work of art. No excuses allowed.
--
For information about Bumpers College study abroad programs, go to Bumpers' international page.
Bumpers College offers faculty-led programs to Belgium, England,
China, India and Mozambique; courses and exchanges in France and
Austria; internships in Greece and Scotland; and research in Brazil, the
Philippines and Greece.
If you are a U.S. citizen, and are going to be a graduating
senior or a graduate student next year, come to one of our meetings learn about the
prestigious Fulbright grant to teach English, study, or conduct research
overseas for the 2018-2019 academic year.
Photo by Amy Cosgrove. While
serving as a Fulbright Scholar in Thailand, Cosgrove worked with
Razorback Athletics to start a football club for students at her school.
Amy Cosgrove knew she wanted to work
abroad after graduating from the University of Arkansas in 2015. She
just didn't know how to go about it, until she discovered the Fulbright English Teaching Assistant program — and just in the nick of time.
"I learned about the Fulbright program three weeks before the
application deadline," Cosgrove said. "I didn't think I had a chance of
being selected, but DeDe Long, the director of the Office of Study
Abroad and International Exchange really encouraged me. By some sort of
miracle, it came through."
"Amy was one of five University of Arkansas students selected for the
prestigious Fulbright scholarship for the 2015-16 year," Long said.
"She had the motivation, the smarts and the heart to make this a life
transformative experience. With the competition now open for the 2018-19
application cycle, we hope to be overrun with student interest."
As a Fulbright Scholar, Cosgrove spent a year in Thailand teaching
English to 800 students ranging from second graders to high school
freshman. Though not easy at first, interacting with the students was
the most exciting experience during Cosgrove's time in Thailand.
"It took time to create the kind of rapport I wanted to have with my
students," she said. "But, once I started seeing those friendships
develop and trust being built, seeing how far we came from when I first
got there, seeing kids excited about English and excited to see me…that
was really rewarding for me."
Cosgrove helped the students get involved in a variety of after school clubs while she was there. Razorback Athletics even donated footballs to Cosgrove's school, so she could start a football club.
Though the experiences Cosgrove had with her students and with her
community were rewarding, she did have some difficulties along the way
in adapting to a new environment and different culture.
"It was kind of like a big puzzle," she said. "I had a month of
training with the Fulbright program, but when I got to my town all the
pieces of the puzzle were thrown at me at the same time. I had to figure
out how the pieces fit together as I went along."
Despite the challenges, Cosgrove said being a Fulbright Scholar was one of the best experiences of her life.
"This was easily the most challenging thing I had ever done before, but it was so worth it," she said.
Cosgrove, who holds a bachelor's degree in communication from the
University of Arkansas, returned to the United States in November 2016.
She now works with the Youth Ambassadors program in Kansas City,
Missouri.
The Fulbright Program
was founded by former University of Arkansas president and U.S. Senator
J. William Fulbright. Several informational meetings about the Fulbright
Scholarship Program have been scheduled for the month of April.
Wednesday, April 5, 4 p.m., Gearhart Hall 206
Tuesday, April 11, 4 p.m., Gearhart Hall 206
Friday, April 14, noon, Gearhart Hall 206
Monday, April 17, 4 p.m. and 5 p.m., Gearhart Hall 206
If you are a U.S. citizen, and are going to be a graduating
senior or a graduate student next year, come to one of our meetings learn about the
prestigious Fulbright grant to teach English, study, or conduct research
overseas for the 2018-2019 academic year.
Chase Stoudenmire visited the American Corner (U.S.-funded
English language library) in his Georgian city, Kutaisi. (2013, Boren
fellowship)
I’ve always found great opportunities at the University of
Arkansas. Working now as a graduate assistant in the Study Abroad office is a
perfect blend of my personal and academic interests.
As a graduate student in History, I study how the United
States has created and maintained state-sponsored educational exchange programs
as an instrument of U.S. foreign policy. The friendly exchange of students and
scholars creates networks of mutual interest and understanding that benefit
people across the globe – supporting such programs has long been a special zone
of bipartisan agreement. International exchange makes our nation, much like our
campus, more culturally and intellectually robust.
I first darkened the door of our home, the McNalley House,
in 2009 while working on an application for a U.S. Student Fulbright grant. I
came around again in 2012 while working on an application for a Boren
Fellowship. Both times the staff here provided valuable guidance, encouragement
and support. I’m grateful to this place for helping me get started on my path
to two of the most meaningful experiences of my life.
First as a Fulbright English Teaching Assistant and later as
a Boren Fellow, I spent two years living, teaching and conducting research in
Georgia, my adopted home away from home in the beautiful South Caucasus
mountains of Eurasia. The opportunities were incredible and the experiences
were rich. And there were special layers of joy for me as a student from the
University of Arkansas. The internationally renowned Fulbright Scholarship
program is one of the most enduring legacies of one of Arkansas’ proudest sons,
Sen. J. William Fulbright. And by some chance I ended up living and working in
a city where one of my UofA professors was born and raised, opening up
wonderful paths to friendship and collaboration.
Now I’ve joined the Study Abroad team for a semester to work
on some outreach projects. In this sense I feel a bit like an astronaut who
used to fly to the moon, and now I’ve come back to work on the launch pad
preparing new astronauts for their own journeys.
Over the course of the semester I’ll be leading some efforts
to strengthen our outreach regarding study abroad opportunities on campus. We
have programs for everyone, but I’ll spend most of my time focusing on two
goals. First, we want to increase the number of applications for U.S. Student
Fulbright grants we produce on this campus. The Fulbright program offers a
diverse array of grants for teaching, study and research. Any U.S. citizen with
a bachelor’s degree is eligible for a Fulbright grant – you’ll hear more about
that on this blog soon. And second, we want to pay some attention to study
abroad opportunities for graduate students at the UofA. Many of our faculty-led
programs can offer graduate credit, and graduate students are often able to
create unique individualized study abroad opportunities for themselves. Many
may tend to think of study abroad as an undergraduate experience, but this office
and this team is here to support graduate students as well.
Here’s to a great semester and sending many more hogs
abroad!
A friend and fellow UofA alum and I holding a
large Razorback flag in Yerevan, the capital of Armenia, one of Georgia’s
neighbors in the Caucasus. (2011, Fulbright grant)
University of Arkansas
students who are interested in overseas opportunities like the Fulbright
and Boren scholarships can get more information from Chase at cstouden@uark.edu.
