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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The saying that you’ll hear when people talk about their time abroad is that it was “life changing.” It’s the go to for me, not only because it’s true, but also because it is so hard to put into words the joy, the excitement, the loneliness, the frustration, and the growth you experience while abroad. I had the incredible opportunity to study abroad in Cork, Ireland. While studying there, I attended University College Cork. I was enrolled like any other local student would be and most of my classes were with the local students. Thinking back, it looked very different from what I went in expecting. Still, I would chalk it up as one of the best decisions I made during my time at Grove.
When I walked down off the plane and on to the runway at Cork Airport it immediately started raining (how Irish). I arrived at the apartment having been up for nearly 36 hours, sopping wet but undeterred. My head spun with ideas of travel and the friendships I would form with my roommates. Neither of those would happen. Unexpected financial issues kept me in Ireland, and it did not take long for me or the roomies to figure out that other than our accents, we had very little in common. If you are thinking about going abroad, and I hope you are, know that even though the experience looks magical, it’s still life. The stories that are shared are the ones that are fun to tell. You will get lonely and sometimes your umbrella will break in the middle of a rain storm. If you’re defining the success of your time traveling as always having fun and never wanting to leave, chances are there will be many days that will feel like a failure.
It was a bit of a process for me to abandon those old expectations and find a new way to connect with people in Ireland. Very few of the other international students were Christian, and most were far more interested in the lower drinking age than their livers could probably take. It was very similar among the local Irish students. This meant that I was given the added challenge of intentionality in the way that I approached my relationships and my faith while in Cork. I was also shorter on cash than a lot of the other international students. I couldn’t go out to eat as much as them or go on as many out-of-country excursions. I pretty much lived on potatoes, eggs, rice, and whatever vegetables were on sale at the stand across the street. I found creative ways to save money and definitely learned how to have adventures without breaking the bank. My time spent within Ireland rather than traveling enabled me to put down some roots and see parts of the country that may be a bit more hidden from tourists. While it took a little while to get used to, I grew confident in my ability to take care of myself and found a sense of pride in what I was able to do with the resources at hand.
There’s a word in Ireland for fun, a good time- “craic” (pronounce it like crack). It doesn’t really take long for it to work its way into your vocabulary. While studying abroad offered growth, it was also a lot of fun. The trips offered some of the most breathtaking scenery I’ve ever seen and there were quite a few little everyday things that just made the time even more enjoyable. For example, one of the classes I took over there, Irish Folklore, was purely for the craic. I learned about faerie lore, traditions, holidays, and pre-Christian superstitions (many of which still remain). At the end of the semester, we heard fairytales told by seanchaíthe, or professional storytellers who work as historians and curators of the Gaelic oral tradition. There is also the matter of the accent. By the end of my trip, I started to master the art of distinguishing between the various Irish accents. I could tell you if someone was from town or the country, from Cork or Dublin, from the Republic of Ireland or Northern Ireland. But really, take some time to look up Cork and Kerry accents. Even after a semester there, I still couldn’t understand the people that worked at my favorite fish and chips place. I just learned the order of questions and when to nod. Another tidbit I loved was how brightly colored many of the houses were. There are awards given for the most “beautiful towns” and many are covered with flowers and bright pastels that standout from the green landscape. Ireland was able to show me things straight out of wanderlust travel magazines while I was also experiencing the more quaint aspects that I now find myself missing.
One of the best things I did once I settled in was research the churches in the city. I ended up attending Calvary Cork. While it was initially on a whim, I found the large majority of my friendships and connections within Ireland came from that decision. I also joined the Christian Union on campus which got me involved in events at University College Cork, gave me a chance to get to know more Irish students, and there was the added bonus of homemade chocolate chip cookies every week at the home of one of the Christian professors. My involvement with both of these ministries really marked a turning point for how I would perceive my time in Cork. It provided opportunities to see parts of Ireland I wouldn’t have known existed otherwise. I got to go hill walking, camping, and I visited their homes in the country on the weekend. I was able to see so much off the beaten trail and do so while fellowshipping with believers from all over Europe. I made several close friends, two of which will be flying to the States to visit me this summer.
Writing this was much harder than I thought it would be. I found that there was so much I wanted to talk about that it was difficult to pick the parts that would best sum up my experience in Ireland. I think the best thing to take away from my rambling is that I love Cork. It has such a huge place in my heart, and studying abroad was absolutely right for me. It was indeed “life changing”- it forced me to think outside the box, it taught me to appreciate the little things, it introduced me to people that I would never have been so blessed to call friends, it allowed me the chance to see a country that I had dreamed of visiting, and it pushed me to pursue my faith in a context where it would have been easy not to. Perhaps I’m being sentimental, but I am so very thankful for all of it.
Flags of the World
Can you identify the country of the following flags? Easy
Moderate
Difficult
Historical
Very Difficult
Answers Easy: France, United Kingdom, Canada, China, Brazil, Italy, Spain , Germany Moderate: Greece, Turkey, Mexico, South Africa, Portugal, Russia, South Korea, India Difficult: Seychelles, Fiji, Albania, Slovakia Bhutan, Cambodia, Macedonia, Algeria Historical: Bohemia, Russian Empire, Prussia, Venice, France, Papal States, Florence, Scotland Very Difficult: St. Lucia, Palau, Micronesia, the Gambia, Dominica, Marshall Islands, Mauritius, Maldives
Forging Connections in Zimbabwe by Marley Kropp
Dr. Andrew Markley and Dr. Mike Bright traveled to Zimbabwe in January 2017 to explore a potential partnership between Grove City College and the Nyadire United Methodist Mission. “While GCC has great connections in Europe, Latin America, and Asia,” Dr. Bright said, “the College has no sustained presence in Africa.” A connection in southern Africa would be a valuable addition for GCC. GCC will follow the model set by The Nyadire Connection (TNC), a Pittsburgh-based organization that partners with the Nyadire Mission. TNC provides the resources for projects and trips directed and led by people in Zimbabwe. “The overarching philosophy is partnership, support, and mutual benefit,” said Dr. Markley. “It’s an opportunity to bring people of Christ together for the common good.” GCC students could go to the Nyadire Mission for ICO trips, Red Box mission trips, or faculty-led travel courses. “We’re still exploring our options,” Dr. Bright said. The Nyadire Mission is a college-like campus covering 4,300 acres in northeastern rural Zimbabwe. Thousands of people depend on the Nyadire Mission for life services.
The departments of the Mission include: •A 200-bed hospital with extensive maternity and surgical capabilities. The hospital services six health clinics in the rural regions around the mission. •The largest Nursing School in Zimbabwe. •A large and capable Teachers’ College. •A 1200-student school system from preschool through the U.S. equivalent of high school with boarding provided for many students. •The Home of Hope Orphanage which is home to 25+ orphans •Churches and Chapels •A 3,000-acre farm, once highly productive, now slowly being revitalized. •Housing for staff •A maintenance department
Dr. Markley, Dr. Bright, Tony LaRosa, and Mark LaRosa in Zimbabwe
Dr. Bright and Dr. Markley traveled in a team that included freshman Tony LaRosa and Mark LaRosa, Tony’s father. Mark LaRosa has been involved with TNC for many years. Tony LaRosa plans to lead an ICO trip to Zimbabwe in January 2018. “We were very impressed with TNC and the Nyadire Mission,” said Dr. Bright. “We feel comfortable sending students there.” Dr. Markley and Dr. Bright also visited Africa University while they were in Zimbabwe. GCC and Africa University could work together on faculty exchanges, faculty doing joint research, and students working on projects together. The trip also included a stop at Imire Safari Park, where GCC students and faculty would debrief together at the end of trips. “We’re excited about the opportunities in Zimbabwe,” said Dr. Markley. “It’ll be a great option for us in the future.”
ORIGINS - Exploring the Great Debate in England and France SSFT 212 - May 20-31, 2018 Taught by Dr. Anderson - Led by Dr. Bardy
Travel to London, Paris, Nantes, and Angers. Visit Big Ben, St. Paul’s Cathedral, and the London Natural History Museum. Stand beneath the Eiffel Tower and experience the Louvre Museum, Notre Dame, and the Paris Museum of Natural History. Engage with French students in Nantes on diverse subjects.
Program Fee $3,749 includes: Round-trip air travel, Lodging, two French meals per day, Tuition for 2-credit course, health insurance coverage. Museum fees, tips, all transportation in France and London.
FOR MORE INFO Contact Dr. Erik Bardy erbardy@gcc.edu
By Micayla Wright Featuring Matthew Hogan, Justine Staniszewski, and Alexander Watt
The ESC in Nantes, France hosts Junior Mechanical Engineers and Senior Electrical Engineers each fall. The program is run by Mark and Deb Reuber. Pictured: Grove City students in Clisson
What aspects of the program did you enjoy? Alexander: I really enjoyed the tight-knit community of students while I was in France. Living together and working together allowed us to get to know one another really well, and I made and strengthened many friendships.
Justine: What didn’t I enjoy?? It was wonderful simply living in the houses with a small group of now best friends! It was also great to be able to go downtown with each other and travel to different countries ourselves!
Matthew: There are countless aspects of the program that I enjoyed, one in particular being the travel program that was laid out for us. For the first 7 weeks we were in France, we traveled every weekend as a group to a different French town. It made it easier on us as students in a new country to have weekend plans scheduled out for us for a while, with train tickets bought and meals paid for. Through these experiences we became more comfortable navigating European travel systems, and also grew closer as a group as we explored new places. The travel program culminated in a 4 day trip to Paris, where we explored as much of the city as we could.
What was different about the program than what you expected? Justine: I didn’t expect so much joy to come from living in the houses with everyone, that was one of the best parts of the semester!
Matthew: Going into the study abroad experience, I expected the coursework to be a drag in comparison to the rest of the adventures I would be going on. However the classes were very well integrated into the traveling, and were flexible enough that they did not interfere with any plans that I made. This was a pleasant surprise, and the combination of studying and traveling was one that helped me grow as a student and an individual.
Briefly describe a favorite memory of your experiences related to the ESC program. Matthew: Aside from all my travel to different countries and the incredible experiences I had being exposed to so many different cultures, one of my favorite memories is a simple one. Within the first few weeks of our time in Nantes, we discovered a soccer field a short walk from one of the tram stops. We started to play soccer as a group a few times a week at that field, often times playing into the night under the lights. Afterwards our group might split up, some going back to the house to hang out or some going downtown to get dinner and explore. For me I loved that experience because it was one of the times when I felt most like a local.
Pictured: City of Nantes
How did this program impact you personally? Justine: This program has truly changed my life, I don’t know how it couldn’t have. I’ve become a more cultured, independent person. I gained tremendous international experience that overwhelmingly confirmed my desire to eventually live abroad. Because of the people and the memories I have, being part of this program has easily been some of the best months of my life.
Matthew: I was impacted by the relationships that I built on this program. Working alongside French students in class was a very enriching experience, and it allowed me to see how international students think and work. In addition to this, I built great friendships with my fellow Grove City students who were abroad with me. Now that we are back on campus, we still have great relationships with each other, and it has been a joy to have the connection of study abroad.
Pictured: A park near the ESC
Do you have any advice for students going abroad to the ESC next fall? Matthew: Practice your French! You may not think it is that necessary to start learning French, however it is extremely helpful the more you know. You do take a French class while there, but getting a head start would be very beneficial. Aside from this, my advice would be to prepare yourself for the time of your life. Study abroad is an unbelievable experience, and you should be ready to step out of your comfort zone, meet new people, and have incredible travel experiences. Justine: Get stuff done, but don’t do too much school work. Embrace where you are!! You may miss out on life-changing memories that you won’t have another chance to ever experience in your life.
January 2018 intersession in
Rome
Spend 11 days in Italy! Explore Rome with trips to Florence and Naples- for credit!
St. Peter Church
Pantheon Vatican Museums
COURSES OFFERED: • HUMA 200: Western Civilization • POLS 101: Foundations of Political Science • POLS 390: Studies: Politics of Italy COST: approximately $4,125 TRAVEL DATES: January 8th- January 20th, 2018 FOR MORE INFORMATION OR TO SIGN UP: Office of International Education, HAL 319 Dr. Michael Coulter, CoulterML@gcc.edu
Colosseum
Contact the OIE (HAL 319) immediately – deadline April 1st!
Colcannon Soup
Serves 6 People
Ingredients 4 tbsp butter 2 cups of shredded cabbage 1.5 lbs of boiling potatoes, peeled and cut 1 lb of leeks, washed and chopped. 5 cups of chicken stock
Salt & white pepper to taste A pinch of ground nutmeg 1.25 cups of half-and-half creamer 3 tbsp of fresh parsley minced.
An Irish classic, Colcannon Soup uses seemingly plain ingredients, such as potatoes and cabbage, to make a savory and healthy dish. Celebrate St. Patrick's day with this tasty green soup! Melt butter in a large saucepan over medium heat. Stir in cabbage, potatoes, and leeks. Cover and cook until barely tender (about 10 minutes). Add stock and bring to a boil. Cover, then reduce heat to a simmer, and cook until the vegetables are soft (about 15 minutes). Season with salt, pepper, and nutmeg. Transfer mixture to a blender or food processor in batches and process until smooth (or use an immersion blender). Return to the same saucepan and whisk in the half and half. Serve hot.