Stan and Karen Johnson
OFFICE OF INTERNATIONAL EDUCATION
Welcome to the newest edition of Going Global, the monthly newsletter that provides readers with information and reflections on the international experiences of GCC students. Presented by: The Stan and Karen Johnson Office of International Education Director: Dr. Lois Johnson Field Director: Dr. Mark Reuber Staff Assistant: Mrs. Jennifer Gilliland Student Assistants: Justine Simon, Erin Wheeler, Allison Hafner, Micayla Wright, Geoffrey Hall, Marley Kropp, Natalie Webb, and Peter Cha
We hope you enjoy our newsletter! Find us on Facebook (GCC Office of International Education). Visit us any time in HAL 319!
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My Study Abroad Experience in the Land Down Under By: Geoffrey Hall After months of waiting and a fifteen hour flight from Dallas to Sydney (followed by another three hour flight to Brisbane) my first impressions of Australia were dismay and disappointment. When I was introduced to the other Americans I would be studying with I knew immediately that I wanted absolutely nothing to do with them. Nor was I very keen on the Australians I met at our lodgings in Byron Bay (a place renowned as the hippie/Rastafarian capital of Australia). I come from a very conservative family and I was shocked by the behavior of the people around me, so that those first few days of orientation were among the hardest of my life. Once I arrived at James Cook University in Townsville, Australia I finally began to settle in, but only once I had distanced myself from my fellow Americans. The Aussies at the college where I was staying were extremely friendly and welcoming. I was at first put off by their drinking habits, but the more I got to know them the more I liked them. I learned to play water polo and rugby as our college competed against the other colleges on campus. The community spirit and the genuine care the Aussies had for one another was very encouraging. Their inclusiveness, warmth, and generosity is not something that you often find here in the United States. Over time, the initial shock of my first days in Australia began to wear away and I started to feel as comfortable as at home.
The most difficult part of the study abroad experience for me was managing my expectations. Everything I was told before the trip led me to believe that I would have the best time of my life abroad. The first few weeks were extremely disheartening as nothing seemed to be going the way I thought it would. It took me over a month to let go of my expectations and start trying to make the most of every situation I found myself in. Once that happened I was finally able to enjoy myself. My advice for anyone interested in studying abroad is to maintain a realistic view of what their time abroad will be like. It is important to realize that studying abroad is just like normal life, only more challenging. There will be good days and bad days, people you like and don’t like and elements of the host culture that you approve of and elements that offend you. The key is keeping a good attitude and realizing that the most difficult aspects of the experience are those that will produce the most personal growth.
George Roberts College
One of the natives
The second part of my experience in Australia was very different from the first. In late June I left Townsville for an internship at the United States Consulate in Melbourne. Not only was I leaving a tropical climate for a temperate one, but I was going from a sleepy provincial town to a bustling metropolis. Melbourne immediately felt like home to me. During this time I stayed with an Australian pastor and his family which reminded me a great deal of my own. The city was very beautiful and, in spite of a little faster pace, the people were just as friendly and welcoming. My work at the Consulate for the U.S. State Department was compelling and eye-opening. I could probably write a book about all the interesting characters I met in Melbourne. In fact, it is very difficult to write a short summary of my time abroad just because of the vast quantity of amazing experiences I had. At the end it was hard for me to come back to the United States and pick up my life where I had left off. Adjusting back to normal life has taken me a long time and I still find I am learning new things about my experience. Studying abroad has definitely enriched my life and enabled me to look at the world from a different perspective.
My friend Jacob
Dr. David Rapp By Allison Hafner
1. Where are you from? I was born and grew up in a small town about 1 hour drive east of Cologne, Germany. Currently, I work with the Institute of Auditing at Saarland University in Saarbrucken, which is located in the southwest of Germany. 2. What brings you to Grove City? My research is rooted in the Austrian School of Economics; since Grove City College is one of the leading institutions in the Austrian tradition, I wanted to be a part in the research and teaching at Grove City. Fortunately, I met Dr. Herbener, the chairman of GCC’s economics department, at an Austrian summer school in 2013 and we eventually established a collaboration. This year, it is my third time at GCC. I teach a class called Investment Theory and Business Valuation in Austrian tradition. 3. In what ways is Grove City College different from the university you teach in Germany? Basically, there are three main differences: First, the German university is larger overall, having about 17,500 students. Second it is, not a private institution, but a state university. Lastly, Saarland University offers both bachelor and masters programs as well as the opportunity to get a doctoral degree.
4. What are some of the cultural differences you have noticed between the United States and Germany? Well, the main thing that comes to mind in this respect is that I have the impression that Americans are less direct in expressing what they think. They seem to be quite careful not to make their dialogue partner feel uncomfortable. Europeans in general seem to be more direct in expressing what they think. 5. What is your overall impression of Grove City? I have a really positive impression of Grove City. The town itself is very lovely, people are extraordinarily friendly, and the College has one of the most beautiful campuses I have ever been to. Moreover, I like the way Grovers create a warm and welcoming atmosphere, especially among the many church communities. 6. As this is your third time here; what makes you come back? I really enjoy being at GCC. From what I can tell, the students are extraordinarily committed both in class and beyond that. Even more important, I am glad to say that I have made friends over the years. Therefore, returning to Grove City College is not a mere job; it’s rather a reunion with close friends that I only see every once in a while. That is why I am always looking forward to coming back.
Communicating when you are at a loss for words…
By: Justine Simon
adapted from “Leading with Cultural Intelligence” by David Livermore
Traveling and experiencing new cultures can be daunting, especially if you feel inadequate in the language. Regardless of the length of stay, communication will take place that often is strained by a language barrier. Whether that is needing to ask a question in a local store or saying thank you, conversing cannot be avoided. So what is the remedy since fluency isn’t possible with every culture that we encounter? For the cultures we most frequently encounter where we don’t speak the language, many of the day-to-day issues and needs can be communicated with a combination of phrases and words. It is much more manageable to remember a few phrases than to burden yourself with trying to become proficient in the native language. Next time you find yourself traveling to a location where you don’t speak the language, try learning these words and phrases in the native tongue:
Please Thank you Sorry Yes No Good Not good Hello Goodbye
How much and too much Come here Go there Doesn’t work The word for your favorite beverage. The word for something common to eat The word for a place to sleep Toilet
In addition to learning helpful words and phrases, it is always important to acknowledge the fact that you are visitor in a culture and therefore should never make demands. When approaching someone for assistance, posture yourself in need, rather than being demanding. When acknowledging yourself as the guest, you are making an obvious attempt to admit your ignorance in the culture. It is all about your phrasing. Instead of walking in a store and saying, ‘Where is the shampoo’ start by saying: ‘Could you please help me with a problem?’ Once they answer yes, then proceed with asking where the shampoo is. Before traveling to a new place, try to learn to say: “I’m sorry. I don’t speak ________. Do you speak English?” Here are just a few translations: German: “Es tut mir leid. Ich spreche kein Deutsch. Sprechen Sie Englisch? French: “Je, suis désolé. Je ne parle pas de français. Parlez-vous l’anglais? Spanish: Perdón. No hablo español. ¿Habla Usted inglés? Mandarin: Dui bu qi. Wo bu hui shuo Pu Tong Hua. Ni hui shuo Ying yu ma?
Study Abroad Scholarships Available Program Provider: Title:
API
API
API
AIFS
CISabroad
API Regional Scholarship
API STEM Scholarship
Amount offered: Requirements:
$250-$800 GPA of 3.0 or above, academic records, essays, and show financial need
API First Generation Scholarship $250 to $750 GPA of 2.75 or higher, be a firstgeneration college student (i.e., parents and grandparents did not attend a college or university), and show financial need
AIFS Generation Study Abroad Scholarships $1,000 GPA of 3.0 or higher, 1,000 word essay
Social media, Digital storytelling, blogging $250-$1,000 GPA of 2.5 or higher, certain social media skills (see http://www.cisabroa d.com for more details)
ISA Pacific Region Scholarship
Athena Marie McKay Global Citizen Scholarship
Athena Vincent I. Benander Learning Scholarship
IES Abroad Marion and Luis de Hoyos Endowed Scholarship
CIEE Ping Scholarship for Academic Excellence
$1,000 GPA of 2.75 or higher, apply to study in Australia, New Zealand or Fiji, and be a sophomore or a junior
$1,000 Demonstrate an interest and intention to promote social justice through a 500 word essay
Up to $2,000 Must be in good academic standing, and write a statement and submit a photo of their experience upon reentry
$2,500 Personal essay and very strong academic record
USACI STEM Scholarship $750 - $1,000 Any student with a declared STEM major
USAC Regional Scholarships $500 - $1,000 Must have a GPA of 3.0 or above
$1,000 GPA of 3.5 or higher, demonstrate a love of learning and academic strengths through a 500 word essay, junior status or higher USAC First Generation Scholarship $750 - $1,000 Any student that will be the first individual in their family to graduate from college is eligible
CIEE Wollitzer Merit Scholarship in Area or Comparative Studies $2,500 Participation in CIEE program in Africa, Asia or Latin America. Must have strong academic standing.
SIT SIT Scholarship
IES Donor-funded scholarships $2,000 Requirements vary depending on scholarship
$250 to $750 GPA of 2.75 or higher, major in an area classified as a STEM field (science, technology, engineering, or mathematics), and show financial need.
$500 - $3,000 Must demonstrate financial needscholarships vary by program/country
IES Need-based aid Varies Varies
These are a few of the scholarships available through some of our program providers. There are also plenty of other scholarships available for particular locations and majors, as well as general scholarships that are available for everyone. Be sure to go to the OIE’s website to find out more. There is an extended list of programs under the Programs, Deadlines, and Costs page.
By Erin Wheeler
EuroScholars is a unique research-intensive program that combines a study abroad experience with the opportunity to join a research team and participate in an ongoing investigation at an internationally renown European university. The research is not limited to STEM areas, but can include focus subjects such as music coordination, astronomy, collective behavior, Chinese culture, physics, and more. This program offers participants: • Hands on experience. • Opportunity to document their research in a paper of publishable quality • Completion of a professional research project • Courses in language, culture, methods, and literature review. While Euroscholars is a competitive program to get accepted into, 100% of participants agreed that the EuroScholars program was worth their time, money, and energy, and exposed them to new experiences and opportunities they wouldn’t have found on their home campus. Matthew Genzink, a junior Chemistry major, was accepted into a Euroscholars program in Belgium, where he completed a research project in organic chemistry. Matt sat down with us to tell us about his trip.
OIE: Tell us about your experience with EuroScholars. Matt: Last semester I traveled to Belgium as a Euroscholar in order to perform research in an organic chemistry group at the University of Leuven. This program aims to give students the opportunity to conduct independent research on an international level. During my time in Leuven I worked with fellow organic chemistry researchers in a full-time capacity. Although I was the only bachelors level student there, it was still a great learning environment as I was able to learn a lot from the PhD candidates and post docs that I work with. My specific project was the synthesis of novel BOPHY derivatives. These fluorescent molecules have wide-reaching potential applications including biological imaging and tagging. It was very rewarding to work on this project for the duration of my stay. Since I was able to work on the project each day I was able to make significant progress compared to normal research I work on at Grove City, to which I can only devote a few hours of time each week. Additionally, the program provided a taste of what graduate school will be like. I was able to observe and work alongside graduate students and evaluate whether I would want to go to graduate school in chemistry. Although most of my time in Belgium was spent in the lab, I also took one language and culture course and sat in on a masters level organic synthesis course taught by my advisor. I was especially grateful for the chance to learn chemistry from a leader in the field. I also had many opportunities to travel throughout Europe during my stay. As a part of the Euroscholars program I traveled to Finland to meet all the other Euroscholars studying in Europe, where we shared our research and explored Helsinki and the surrounding areas. I also traveled to Estonia, England, France, Holland, Italy, Germany, Spain, and extensively throughout Belgium. I was able to experience the rich culture of each area as well as travel alongside some interesting people from all over Europe and the rest of the world, gaining perspectives that would be hard to learn at Grove City.
OIE: What surprised you the most about being abroad? Matt: Because I didn’t think too much about the trip before I left, not much surprised me during my travels abroad. I was pleasantly surprised by Belgium’s rich culture and history. Although Belgium is only one tenth of the land area of Michigan, my home state, it still has a surprising amount of diversity and culture. In such a small country, there are three language regions, and many vibrant cities including Leuven, Bruges, Antwerp, and Ghent. I was also really excited to be placed in student apartments with so many great people. I was the only American in the building which was a great experience. There were a wide varieties of nationalities represented on my floor alone which led to great friendships.
OIE: What is your favorite memory from your time in Belgium? Matt: During my time in Belgium I made a lot of great memories. One of my favorites was during Thanksgiving. As Thanksgiving is an American holiday, my hall mates had never celebrated it before. They convinced me that we should celebrate it with just as much food as is usual in America. With their help, I made a traditional Thanksgiving meal. It was really interesting to see how their expectations of a traditional American custom which they learned from Hollywood matched with an actual Thanksgiving celebration. By having everyone contribute to the day, we all experienced a rich, rewarding blend of cultures.
OIE: What were some of the major things your learned through the program? Matt: I learned so much during my study abroad experience that I could not learn at Grove
City. At Grove City I have learned a lot about my major in a mostly theoretical sense. This is very important, but it was also great to gain practical experience in Belgium. I learned more about myself and what I wanted from a future graduate school and profession. I also learned more about other cultures and think that I am better equipped to get along with people unlike myself.
OIE: What advice would you give to other students applying to EuroScholars? Matt: I would fully endorse the Euroscholars program to someone interested in research and study abroad. The program fostered a rich learning and cultural environment. I would encourage others who are interested in the program to thoroughly investigate all of the available research projects offered and chose one that interests them. While the program challenged me academically and socially, it was a great time of growth.
Interested in hearing more about Matt’s experience with EuroScholars?
Come to HAL 308 on March 22 at 4:00 PM to hear about how you could take advantage of this program! For Liberal Arts and STEM majors!
May Crow Reservation Trip Interview with Dr. Farone By Marley Kropp
Dr. Farone of the Biology Department has been taking GCC students on trips to the Crow reservation in Montana for four years. Each May, students take a mix of classes, work on public health projects, and connect with the Crow community. What do you do on your trips to the Crow reservation? The current course focuses on various aspects of public health which could be tailored to students’ specific interests, and it also includes exposure to the culture and history of the Crow people and their lands. The course includes a week of classes held at Grove City College followed by a trip to the Crow Reservation in Montana. The week of classes serves to prepare and train students for the Crow culture and public health projects during the second week of the course. Once in Montana, students participate in group and/or specifically-students designed public health projects such as rabies clinics, West Nile virus clinics, gardening and nutrition seminars. We work with prominent members of the tribe, the Little Big Horn College, and the Crow Indian Hospital in the development and implementation of these projects. These projects are held over 3-4 days. The other 34 days are spent exploring the history and culture of the Crow Reservation region, including the Little Big Horn Battlefield tour and re-enactment, tour of Chief Plenticoups National Park, and an Ok-a-beh reservoir trip. Now I’m part of the community and my adoptive family has even given me a name, “Courageous Eagle,” which is what they tell me it basically means in English. How did you become connected with the Crow reservation? Five years ago, Dr. Lois Johnson hooked me up with a missions group that has been going to the Crow reservation for years. I joined a missions group that year and went out to learn what I could about the Crow community. I was interested in developing a public health program for them. Being a veterinarian and a bit of a country gal, I connected with this horse-focused community pretty quickly. It wasn’t long before I was whisked away by the Indians, much to the initial dismay of my group. But our Indian hosts just wanted me to see their horses and community. I spent that trip looking around at the community and talking to people to see what they needed and how we could possibly develop a student course and provide sustainable public health projects. How can students become involved if they are interested in participating in a future trip? Just contact me – I’ll put them on a waiting list for next May!
From France to Grove City By Micayla Wright
Pictured from left to right: Sandrine, from Paris Cécile, from Normandy Maude, from Nantes Pauline, from Nantes These four girls are students at ONIRIS, a campus that partners with Grove City in Nantes, France. They are studying here for one month.
Why did you decide to come here?
We had all completed our internships, and the school proposed this program. We wanted the opportunity to discover American culture.
Has anything been shocking or surprising about Grove City’s campus, or about America in general?
The size of the school was shocking, it’s so huge. Everything is huge, the cars, houses, and food at the store. The place of religion on campus was also shocking, like professors praying before class. And there are so many churches in Grove City. There are so many food choices in the cafeteria as well, we don’t get this at ONIRIS. In America in general, there are a lot of American flags; everyone seems very proud of their country. In France we are, but people aren’t showy with it.
What have been the biggest differences? The time to eat dinner has been a big change; we’re eating a lot earlier than we’re used to. The weather and the snow is also a big difference, we don’t see so much snow at home. There are a lot of young people in church; in France it’s almost only older people who go to church. Relationships between professors and students are more friendly and interactive – professors ask questions in class and they seem to care about the students a lot. What has been your favorite experience so far? Or what do you like about America the most so far? People have been very friendly when first meeting them and have been very welcoming at Grove City. We were able to do ballroom dancing on Saturday and that was so fun, it was our first time ever dancing like that! We enjoyed Church on Sunday in Pittsburgh – we went to a gospel church. We had to stand up for everyone to welcome us because it was our first time. They were too welcoming!
Do you have a favorite American saying that you’ve learned? “Anyway” – we’ve started saying it after every sentence, and “whatever” What’s your favorite food you’ve eaten here? Peanut butter and pancakes
Join us for an exciting 12-day tour of beautiful England and France as we examine Civilization and the Speculative Mind (HUMA 303) or Christianity in a Postmodern Age (PHIL 290) with Professors Chris Franklin and Erik Bardy.
Program Fees ($3,749) For more information, contact: Dr. Erik Bardy erbardy@gcc.edu
Knedliky
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Knedliky, Czech dumplings, is a side dish found in nearly every traditional Czech dish. They are easy to make, filling, and a complimentary side to rich, savory Czech dishes. Knedliky, are often served with various kinds of stews and pork dishes. Traditionally, they can be either wheat or potato-based, and are sometimes made from a combination of wheat flour and diced stale bread or rolls.
Ingredients
1 egg, beaten ½ cup milk 1 cup flour ⅛ teaspoon baking powder 1 teaspoon salt 4 to 5 slices white bread, cut into cubes
Procedure 1. 2. 3. 4. 5.
In a mixing bowl, combine beaten egg, milk, flour, baking powder, and salt until smooth. Add bread cubes in batter and mix well. Make 2 small balls from the dough. Fill a large pot about half full with water and bring to a boil. Drop the dough balls into the pot of boiling water and cook 10 minutes, then roll knedlíky over and cook an additional 10 minutes. 6. Remove immediately from the water and cut in half to release steam. 7. Serve with roast pork, sauerkraut, or traditional Czech goulash. Serves 4 people.
By: Justine Simon