The Importance of Unexpected Travels #HogsAbroad in Italy #TravelTuesday

Viterbo, Italy… A town just a short train ride from Rome.

Studying abroad for a semester in Rome offered me a lot of opportunities to travel to a lot of places I didn’t quite plan on going to before. Italy is notorious for the ease of hopping on a train or plane for cheap travel either throughout Italy and even throughout other parts of Europe.  I could hop on a train for 4 euros and be in a new city with its own history and culture. The ease of public transportation allowed me to city hop without having to worry about almost anything but getting back on the train on time. Even then, we could all use a little extra adventure, right? And some of these trips I didn’t plan on taking turned out to be my favorites. I guess what I’m saying is, be open to whatever. Have fun and say yes.

The Brandenburg Gate in Berlin, Germany

Piazza Maggiore in Bologna, Italy

The Italian Dolomites… Probably my favorite trip, and I didn’t plan on going here at all… But with an open mind, I got to do my favorite thing (go hiking) in my favorite country with some pretty incredible people.

Orvieto, Italy

Athens, Greece 

Maris studied abroad at our University of Arkansas Rome Center with the help of our Office of Study Abroad Scholarship.

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Come meet Maris and the other peer advisors at a Hogs Abroad 101 information meeting! These hour-long sessions are held Tuesdays and Wednesdays during the fall and spring semesters, from 4:00 pm - 5:00 pm in the Center for World Languages, Literatures and Cultures (JBHT 207).

Meet One of Our Study Abroad Peer Advisors: Maris Moon! #HogsAbroad

My favorite trip while abroad was definitely hiking in the Italian Dolomiti over Easter Break with some other students and a professor from the Rome Center. It was awesome to do something I love so much in another country.

Ciao a tutti! I’m Maris Moon, a senior here at the University of Arkansas. I am double majoring in International and European Studies, with which I am studying French and Italian. I studied abroad in the Spring of 2017 in Rome, Italy at the University of Arkansas Rome Center.

We visited the Vatican my first week in Rome. It was truly incredible, even in the rain!

I went into the Rome Center knowing nothing more than “ciao” in Italian (along with various food words, but I won’t count those), and with no idea just how much it would change my life and really give me a sense of what I wanted to do with my future career. Being in fresco-covered classrooms, along with having the Roman streets and museums as a classroom, I was nothing short of awestruck and inspired my entire four months. I got to firsthand experience and learn about countless ancient historical sites, famous artists and their works, and many European cities and cultures that I never really thought possible. I learned enough Italian to have conversations with people on the street, make my way through city transit (which is something you actually learn very quickly…) and to ask people to pet their dogs… No joke, that is the first main sentence I learned in Italian. Most of all, I got to not only experience the European culture- I got to LIVE it.

Standing on top of the Duomo in Florence

I know it sounds cliché, but studying abroad opened my eyes to so many things I never really knew or noticed about myself. It sparked passions in me for things I had never even thought of. I knew I loved traveling, but little did I know just how well I could navigate a new city’s transit each week and how much I loved meeting people in various hostels/planes. I knew I loved people, but little did I know how much seeing the refugee crisis unfolding in Europe would have such an effect on me. Living and being surrounded constantly by people of different ethnicities, cultures, and languages is now all that I want in life. And the great thing is- you have that opportunity to learn all of these things about yourself too! There is just something so freeing about being away from everything that you know- and I think it is very important for you to grow as a person. Study abroad provides the perfect opportunity for self-growth that many other things would not.

Professor Emilio with my roommate and I at some ancient Greek ruins in Southern Italy

On top of all of this, I loved studying abroad so much that I jumped on the opportunity to be a peer advisor at the Study Abroad Office as quickly as I could! I love that I have the opportunity to make people’s dreams to study abroad seem much more attainable and that I get to calm their fears by sharing my own experience. My biggest piece of advice is to strive to leave your comfort zone constantly- and to study abroad provides the perfect opportunity to do so. Don’t be afraid to call in and schedule an appointment with us- we are more than happy to help you find the perfect program for you! In the words of Shia LaBeouf- “JUST DO IT!”

I had multiple opportunities to travel while in Europe and got to spend my spring break between 3 cities in Spain and the Netherlands!

P.S. A quick warning: once you go abroad, you just want to do it over and over again. Travelling, especially abroad, is addicting. But we were made to do more than just sit and watch Netflix, right?

Arrivaderci!

Maris studied abroad at our University of Arkansas Rome Center with the help of our Office of Study Abroad Scholarship.

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Come meet Maris and the other peer advisors at a Hogs Abroad 101 information meeting! These hour-long sessions are held Tuesdays and Wednesdays during the fall and spring semesters, from 4:00 pm - 5:00 pm in the Center for World Languages, Literatures and Cultures (JBHT 207).

Politecnico di Torino Academics #HogsAbroad in Italy

For many Uark engineering students, there is a very interesting opportunity that far too few know exists. In Torino, Italy, surrounded by the Alps, there is an engineering school called Politecnico di Torino and they accept Razorbacks as exchange students. The best part of this program is that their academics are very close to Arkansas’s. This allows you to study abroad without getting set back a semester. With this said, there are many differences in a class abroad.

The first thing that you will notice about classes in Italy is their length. The shortest lecture that I have seen is one and a half hours, but it is not uncommon for a class to have multiple three hour lectures each week. Normally these long lectures will have a fifteen-minute break in the middle to give a much needed recess to both the instructor and students. 

At first, the classes feel incredibly long, but after several weeks it begins to feel normal.  Due to the amount of lecture time available, the instructors have a much slower teaching style. One that leaves many American students feeling as though lecture is less efficient than studying independently. If you have enough self-discipline to do this, you will end up with a lot of free time and in turn a lot of opportunities to travel. Most of the American students in 2017 were able to travel to over ten countries during the academic semester.

All of the classes that the American students take are taught in English. From my experience, half of the professors speak English very well. The other half can be very difficult to understand only increasing the importance of studying independently. 

Perhaps the biggest difference in courses taught in the United States and Italy is the grading policy. In Italy there is only one grade in the class, and that is the final exam. Finals month in Italy is a very stressful time for students. However, while the stress is real, you only have to pass one exam per class for the entire semester. There are no graded homework assignments or midterms. You only have to pass one test, and even if you were to fail one exam—which does happen—you are given two chances for every test. Passing the exams and doing well is very obtainable. It requires keeping up with the material throughout the semester, and then putting in the time before the exams to thoroughly learn it. With a little self-discipline, it really isn’t hard.

When everything is considered, making the decision to study abroad was one of the best I have made during college. The incredible amount of new experiences and people that I have met added an incredible amount of value to my education. If you are an engineering student take a look at Politecnico di Torino, and if you have the opportunity to study abroad, I highly recommend it. 

Brett Glenn

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Find out more about the University of Politecnico Exchange with the College of Engineering at http://studyabroad.uark.edu/exchange/pdt

Blooming in Brighton #HogsAbroad in England #TravelTuesday

First time in London, England near Covent Garden

Thea Winston is a rising accounting senior from Forrest City, Arkansas. Before a hectic senior year of taking the GMAT and participating in her many student organizations, Thea traveled to Brighton, England on an exchange program. From academics to street art to some timely lessons on acceptance, Thea shares her experiences abroad. 

January 30^th, my first day of class, was the beginning of a completely different academic experience. I woke up early to make sure I could catch the train and grab breakfast at Daisy’s Sandwich Shop, a family-owned business right across from the station. I made it to the classroom in about 15 minutes and there I met the girl who would become one of my closest friends. 

The University of Sussex provided a variety of courses, but Race, Culture and Ethnicity (RC&E) and International Business Strategy (IBS) were the most influential in my overall experience. RC&E gifted me with a unique perspective on race relations which is invaluable in the time period and climate in which we are living. While I can innately understand race relations in the U.S., it is wise to attempt to gain insight globally as the world continuously becomes smaller.

While I was there, I took an alternative city tour that captured some amazing street art.  The last photo I shared was the most striking. The irony in being a U.S. citizen capturing this art while my home country issued a travel ban was not lost. In fact, the mural touched deeply.

Captivating street art in Berlin, Germany

While traveling was amazing, I must express my love for Brighton, England. It’s such a liberal and accepting place that people from all corners of the Earth can come and feel welcome. Whether it’s the hole-in-the-wall comedy club, the vegan donut shop or the booming seafront nightlife, there is something for everyone. A typical night for me would include grabbing a bite of street food and then having cider with friends at a pub in “The Lanes,” which were alleys near the water that contained restaurants, shops and everything in between. Outside of the city itself, the people are what make Brighton amazing.

Here’s proof. On the first night, after a huge delay in flights, I finally arrived after dark with no sense of direction or cell phone service. All I had was a screenshot of my new address. I asked a taxi driver, he told me I should just take the bus, so I got on the first bus that says University of Sussex. Once on, I had no idea which stop was mine nor could I use my phone for proper directions. Eventually, someone on the bus walked me to the train station, dragged my luggage and bought my ticket to ensure that I got home safely. This is the embodiment of the type of people that stayed in Brighton and I am lucky to have had the chance to meet some of them and call them a friend.

Meeting with a fellow honors college student at the Plaza Mayor in Madrid, Spain

While Brighton was amazing, there’s no place like home. When I arrived, the first thing I wanted was American fast food right after seeing the faces of my friends and family. To them I hadn’t physically changed; however, they knew the Thea that had returned was not the same one who left them months ago.
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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
Read more from study abroad students like Thea on the Honors College blog.  

Engineering An Italian Exchange Semester #HogsAbroad in Italy #TravelTuesday

Hiking around in Sëlva (South Tyrol, Italy), my friend snapped this pic of me
after we climbed a 20 foot boulder in this huge valley.

My name is Andrew McArthur. I’m a sophomore mechanical engineering major studying in Torino, Italy for the Spring semester.

This semester has and continues to be one of the greatest of my academic career. I’m currently a little over halfway done and that’s kind of crazy. While I’ve had plenty of time to adjust to the city and make some good friends, I feel like I’ve only been here for a couple weeks. Time really has flown by. Italy is everything I hoped it would be, and so much more. I knew the food was going to be good, but I didn’t know I could get a pizza anywhere in town for less than €10 ($11). 

In addition, the grocery stores are much cheaper here! I budgeted $400 per month on food, and I probably spend half that. Fortunate considering I grossly underestimated the amount I would travel. I realized something funny the other day; by the time I go back to the United States, I will be more well-traveled in Europe than I am in the US. Pretty amazing. That’s perhaps one reason the semester has been flying by. In the 10 weeks since I arrived, I’ve visited 10 cities outside of Torino. Some of them only for a day- like a hiking trip only an hour away via train. Some for several days, like my Easter break trip to Amsterdam and Brussels. It is simply amazing the interconnectedness of this continent. Coincidentally, as I’m writing this, I’m waiting on my bus to Munich for Frühlingsfest.

Besides travelling to other places, Torino is so charming. The locals are very nice and talkative, and the students are a wonderful blend of all the Italian cultures. We live in a dorm-style apartment building, with a communal kitchen. This is really the best case scenario for living. You get your private space for those times when you need to be alone or are simply studying. But when you come out for lunch, the kitchen is bustling with activity and aromas. A lot of the people in the building are from southern Italy. This is wonderful for us Americans because (just like in the southern United States) there’s a culture of hospitality and treating guests with overwhelming kindness. The first couple of weeks I never even had to cook for myself. Everything from Polenta to Lasagna was prepared for me. Of course that meant I had to show them how we cook burgers and steak back home. 

One thing I didn’t expect was the huge international culture that exists here. I assumed it would mostly be Americans and Italians. There is actually students from all over the world here. Politecnico and Torino in general is a multicultural hub. I have made just as many friends from everywhere in Europe as I have Italian friends. It’s really cool to be able to point to a random spot on a map and have met someone from that area. Most of the pictures below include people from all around Europe, and even all around the world.

I’ll continue to update occasionally, even though it’s difficult to find the time. Until then, I say,

Ciao, a presto!

Again in the South Tyrol area, this picture is of my friends and I in a town called Santa Magdalena. Truly one of the most beautiful places I’ve ever laid my eyes on. If you come to Northern Italy it’s a must see!

This is a picture of Lago Garda- the largest lake in Italy. The town is called Malcesine in Veneto. This picture barely captures the beauty of this place, the castle and the surrounding fog made it one of the most charming towns I’ve visited.

Of course our location in Italy is famous for its ski resorts. We made it out about five or six times before the end of the season. This photo is from a resort called Sauze d’Oulx, about 40 minutes east of the France border, and only an hour away from Torino! 

The beautiful Cinque Terre. My friends and I hiked around this coast of Italy all day the within the first month we arrived in Italy. The pictures don’t really do it justice (they never do I suppose). This is a place I will visit again in summer just to hop in that beautiful blue water.

Lastly, a picture of my favorite city of the semester. None other than Torino itself. This photo is taken from a view just across the River Po. You can see the Mole on the right, as well as the surrounding alps.

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Find out more about the University of Politecnico Exchange with the College of Engineering at http://studyabroad.uark.edu/exchange/pdt

Engineering A Semester Abroad in Italy #HogsAbroad

Via Po to Piazza Vittorio in Torino, Italy.
Photo by Justin Carter, a mechanical engineering student who spent Spring 2011 at PdT on exchange.

As part of an agreement between Southeastern Conference universities and the Politecnico di Torino (PdT), SEC engineering students are currently studying abroad at the Italian university. The exchange program, in its seventh year, provides a way for Italian students to study at conference universities in the fall and SEC students to study in Italy the following spring.

One of this year’s SEC exchange students is Andrew McArthur, a sophomore at the University of Arkansas who is studying mechanical engineering. McArthur talked with SECU, the conference’s academic initiative, about his experience.

SECU: What sparked your interest in taking part in the SEC engineering exchange program?   

Andrew McArthur: “The University of Arkansas does a great job of exposing students to opportunities abroad. I heard about the program and all its benefits for those in my major and I was hooked. Combine that with the fact that it’s in an amazing city and country, there was no way I was going to pass on this opportunity.”    

SECU: What were your expectations going into this experience? 

Andrew McArthur: “I knew the PdT would be difficult because it’s a prestigious institution and everyone around me would be in a similar field. I expected the adjustment would be hard, but that I wouldn’t have too many issues getting acclimated to the difficulty and style of my classes. My expectations have been met and I'm succeeding, I believe, in my classes, but it has been no easy task.”

SECU: What are some educational goals you would like to accomplish during your time at the PdT?

Andrew McArthur: “Being here and doing well is an impressive goal in itself. The lectures are very different than the U.S. and it’s noticeably more theoretic. Besides that, I’ve been trying to accomplish more outside of class. Aside from talking about school, I've made a huge effort to engage with classmates about their work experience, research and more. I want to have a general idea of what the international stage is like for mechanical engineering majors.”

SECU: What are some of the challenges you’ve faced so far? 

Andrew McArthur: “One of the biggest challenges is the change in class structure. Instead of weekly homework and two or three tests per semester, I have only one test for each class at the end of the semester. This shifts the pressure to the students because we must pace our study habits without the help of benchmarks like midterm exams. As a sophomore, I’ve only been in school for three semesters and I’m still getting to know how classes work in the U.S. This change is certainly a challenge, but I'm staying on top of all my lectures and I always attend class. When you start missing classes here, it’s almost impossible to catch back up.”

SECU: When this experience is over and you return to the U.S., what do you hope to have accomplished during your time in Italy? 

Andrew McArthur: “In general, I hope to become a more well-rounded person. Applied to education, I hope to become a student, who when tossed into a daunting class, can adapt and overcome the challenges of that class. I want to be able to use my knowledge of the Italian course structure to help in my upper-level classes that might have fewer required assignments. I would also like to say that I achieved success through hard work and flexibility at one of Europe’s engineering hubs. Down the road, I would like to study abroad again to further these accomplishments.”

Article Excerpts Courtesy of: Bryant Welbourne, Assistant Director SECU

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Students interested in learning more about study abroad opportunities should contact the Office of Study Abroad and International Exchange.

Find out more about the University of Politecnico Exchange with the College of Engineering at http://studyabroad.uark.edu/exchange/pdt