Stan and Karen Johnson
OFFICE OF INTERNATIONAL EDUCATION
Bruges, Belgium
October 2015 Welcome to the October edition of Going Global, our monthly newsletter providing readers with information and reflections on GCC students experiences abroad. 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: Caroline Bennett, Kayley Heller, Natalie Webb, Erin Wheeler, Riley McDermott, Phillip Ouweleen, and Emily Resler
We hope you enjoy our newsletter! Feel free to connect with us further on Facebook GCC OIE and GCC Office of International Education and come visit us anytime in HAL 319!
The Bahrom International Program Summer Study Abroad Program
Study Abroad Program Spotlight
The Bahrom International Program Summer Study Abroad Program is the highlighted program for the Office of International Education’s October Newsletter! Most students have had day dreams of far off places, grand adventures, and ancient relics at one point or another. Sadly, more often than not, these daydreams stay exactly that; daydreams. Not anymore though. BIP offers a fantastic opportunity to live in South Korea for a month. Lodging, meals, travel, and site entrance fees are all taken care of, all you have to do is buy a plane ticket! This is a fantastic price for a month in Seoul, a city that not many people get to explore.
While participating in the program, students will attend a Korean culture class worth three credits. This course focuses on a different aspect of Korean culture each lecture, music, food, dress, dance, martial arts, and even cinema. These “lectures” are always fascinating as professionals are brought in to perform, and they are often interactive. Have you always wanted to learn how to cook a traditional Korean meal? Fantastic! Now you can. There’s no language requirement to participate because you’ll be partnered with several native Korean students. It’s a great way to make fast friends, and they love to show American students around their home. Some of the field trips that are taken include:
• • • • • • • • •
Changdeokgung Palace Gyeongju Icheon Pottery Village Korean Folk Village Join Security Area (DMZ) Insadong, Dongdaemun, and Myeongdog Han River Cruise A Tour of the National Museum of Korea A Tour of Hyundai Heavy Industries
These all may seem like long random names, but a quick Google search can reveal what a fantastic trip this really is. Beautiful ancient temples, a trip to the DMZ, and a more modern look at Korea’s ship manufacturing on a tour of Hyundai Heavy Industries.
By Natalie Webb
Interview with Clare Clifton Crow Reservation
1. What faculty led course did you go on? BIOL 390 A – Study: Crow Reservation Travel Course (led by Dr. Tracy Farone)
2. What is your favorite memory from your experience? It’s very hard to narrow down what my favorite memory is from the Crow Reservation Trip. I can honestly say that I had a blast on the entire trip – mostly because our team gelled so well together. So I guess I’ll share a few of my favorite memories. About three times during the week we were there, we woke up early to do workouts led by Dr. Farone. On the first morning we were there, we ran up and down an area in Billings, MT that was basically on a cliff, and we ended up doing an ab workout at the top of a cliff – that was a really cool experience! (And I have to say, Dr. Farone was a lot more in shape than the rest of us.) I also really enjoyed one of the first nights we were there – we ate out at a restaurant, and I remember that our conversations were so good that we never wanted to stop talking. That was when we really started bonding as a team, and the laughs that night were so great. 3. What challenged you the most during your time away? What challenged me most was probably trying to understand how different the culture was there. Our Indian hosts, Latonna and Sharon, were so gracious to us in everything that they had us do while we were there. However, sometimes the timing of things was interesting. The Crow are not very scheduled people, so often when they say things are going to start, they don’t really end up starting on time. Dr. Farone calls it “Crow Time” – having to be very laid back in all of the plans that you make, because planned events just kind of start when everyone shows up.
Faculty Led Travel Course Student Spotlight 4. In what ways do you feel you have changed as a result of this trip? This trip made me so much more excited to get to know professors! Getting to know Dr. Farone made a world of difference in how fun this trip was, and it really made me more confident in my ability to be my weird self, even with professors. It also made me a lot more confident in a different way – for part of the public health project that I did, I had to present in front of local Indian hospital officials. This was a bit nerve-racking, but it definitely made me more confident in my public speaking skills. 5. What about the different culture you experienced surprised you the most? This trip made me a lot more aware of the spirituality of Indian tribes, and particularly the Crow tribe. I didn’t realize that a lot of Indians are actually Christians just like we are, but they are a lot more in touch with the Holy Spirit side of things than average American churches often are. It was really cool to experience that spirituality and it made me realize that you can learn so much through the faith patterns of different cultures, even right here at home in the States. 6. What advice would you give to others looking to go on a faculty led travel course? DO IT. You never know what you could learn from the experience until you actually experience it. These types of trips are a great way to meet new people, bond with a professor in a different way than you ever have, and get exposure to new cultures and hands-on learning experiences.
Interviewed by Caroline Bennett
Interview with with Katie CarrieKnight Interview Currently in Aix, France Study Abroad Howe Heredia, Costa Rica
Student Spotlight
Why did you choose to go to France, and with CIS?
I have been studying French for six years, so it was time for me to work on it outside of the classroom to become more fluent. I’ve always been drawn to the French culture and the language, I think because the country is full of beautiful countryside, castles, and cities. I chose CIS because it worked with Grove City and it was the only program that offered a program in Aix-en-Provence. It’s such a quaint French town, but still has a good variety of things to do. I also knew that I’d be able to work on my French more in a small town.
What is your favorite place you have already visited and why?
As cliché as it sounds, I absolutely loved Paris. I’ve always wanted to visit, and it did not disappoint. The weather was beautiful and we got to pack in some fun adventures in the short time that we were there. I really enjoyed walking around the city and passing all of the beautiful and historical buildings, bridges, and monuments. It has the energy of a big city like New York City, but also a rich culture and heritage which is hard to find in the US, probably because Paris is so much older.
Study Abroad Student Spotlight What has surprised you most about being abroad? I think I’ve found that it’s not as hard to adapt to new situations as I expected. I had never been abroad before coming here, so I wasn’t sure what to expect. It’s definitely had a lot of frustrating moments; I would say that that adjective described me for a good bit of my time here so far. However, those frustrations have taught me how to deal with newness and differences a lot better. It’s something that I probably would never have learned had I not come abroad.
What are you most looking forward to doing next while abroad? I am going to Berlin for a weekend in November, and it will be cool to experience another new culture for a little awhile. Germany is a lot more busy and go-go-go than France, so it might be a little bit of a culture shock. Also, I have yet to go somewhere where I know nothing of the language, so that will be fun to try to figure out how to maneuver around the city without knowing any German.
Interviewer: Erin Wheeler
Internship Abroad: Ecuador Interview with Nich Leaman and Dale Reese
Why did you decide to go to Ecuador?
“We had the opportunity to go before with the soccer team for a missions trip the previous summer. We loved it and made some meaningful connections. We always thought would be sweet to come back to it someday, so when we got the offer from a connection of ours, we jumped on it.”
How did you find out about this opportunity?
“While we were there with our soccer team, we played a team called Cumbre Alta. Cumbre Alta’s Coach happened to be in the mission’s field with an organization called Inca Link International. Our coach, Coach Dreves, had their coach’s contact information, so we emailed him.”
What did you do while you were there?
“Inca Link had a guest house for short term mission’s teams, so we prepared that each week for new arrivals. We also did some finance work for the CFO. We worked on projects, quick book files, and did a great deal of research. We coached 14 year olds (with Cumbre Alta), played soccer with amateur teams, and we filmed and took stats as well. One week, we even had the chance to lead a short term mission’s team, which was a great experience."
Who did you interact with during your time there?
“During the first week or so, we mostly just talked to other interns. After the first week, we got into a more daily routine where we worked with ‘Mave’ and ‘Fave’ who were essentially our host parents. Besides that, we worked with the players and coach of Cumbre Alta.”
Could you tell me about a defining moment of your trip?
“Towards the beginning of our trip, we climbed a 15,000 foot mountain called Pichincha. The climb was very strenuous. The accomplishment of getting to the top really settled my mind about the whole trip in general. This gave me the strength to approach the rest of the summer with my mind at ease relying on God’s power.” “Our training for this internship was based off of the show “The Amazing Race.” We were given one clue, sent into the city, and forced to try and find the next one. We learned a lot about problem solving, and this really made us comfortable being uncomfortable. This exercise gave me the confidence to speak to the locals without feeling self-conscious or being worried about messing up, and it gave me a peace of mind about the trip as a whole.”
Takeaways?
“Leading the short term mission’s team was incredible. Being the lead was great and we really liked being able to help the team out.” “We definitely learned to rely on God and his power. “ “God multiplied everything. We came into this trip thinking that it would be good, but it ended up being 100 times better. “
Would you recommend this trip to others?
“Yes, we definitely would. We worked with a great organization, we were in a Christian environment, and we worked with people from all over North America. It wasn’t our main goal going in, but we also found that it was great for learning Spanish. We had so many opportunities, not just with soccer. This program really lets you marvel in how God works.”
Interviewed by Riley McDermott
Feature Travel Location Reykjavik, Iceland
Last semester I had the incredible opportunity to visit Reykjavik, Iceland during my spring break while studying abroad in London, England. It is hard to put into words how much I enjoyed my few short days in this extraordinary place! As the world’s northernmost capitol, Reykjavik is located in Southwestern Iceland and is also ranked among the cleanest, greenest, and safest cities in the world! The highlights of my trip included Icelandic horseback riding, swimming in the Blue Lagoon, and seeing the Northern Lights! About half way through our journey on horseback, a torrential blizzard hit! Before long, icy tears were streaming down our faces due to the brutal wind and relentless snow fall. While I wasn’t able to see 10 feet ahead of me, somehow our trusty guides led us back to the stables and into their home for some relaxation and warm coffee around the fire! While the weather certainly added an extra element of exhilaration to our trip, I couldn’t have enjoyed that day more. It was only my first few hours there, but I had already fallen in love with Iceland! The Blue Lagoon is a geothermal spa in the middle of Grindavik, Iceland. Once we arrived at our destination, we peeled off our layers of coats, hats, and gloves and tentatively dipped our toes into the steaming water. This resort spa was a fantastic oasis from the cold and rocky Icelandic surroundings. It was so bizarre to transition from walking in the snow to luxuriously floating around in this unreal naturally heated body of water.
Upon my return to GCC this semester, there have been many occasions where I wish I could be back in the Blue Lagoon, to enjoy that Icelandic paradise if only for a few minutes!
Witnessing the majesty and beauty of the Northern Lights is something that I don’t think I will ever forget. Leaving our hostel in Reykjavik at around 9pm on our last night there, we ventured into the Icelandic countryside to eliminate any light pollution. Around midnight, we stopped in the middle of a snowy field and looked up to the sky. What is referred to as “Northern Lights hunting” requires patience, as there is no telling when or where you will be able to view the natural wonder. Before too long, we saw the first streaks of color fill the sky. There is no way to really describe the way those lights danced across the black canvas of the night. I could have stood there and watched for hours. While I had no way of telling what sort of event we had just witnessed, our guide later informed our group that he had been leading the hunt for years and had yet to see a show as spectacular as what we had just enjoyed. What a perfect finale to a terrific trip to Iceland!
Just writing this article has filled me with an indescribable longing to return! What an absolute joy it was to witness such natural beauty and experience such unparalleled adventure in Iceland! My advice to you… buy a plane ticket today! I guarantee you won’t regret it. =) By Caroline Bennett
Question of the Month:
What was the best part about living with a host family? I think my favorite part about living with a host family was the sense of community and care that was there. My host mom would cook every single meal for us, and would even pack us a lunch if we couldn’t make it home a certain day. Her cooking was amazing; however, I think the most memorable experience I had was when my roommate and I got lost in the city of Granada. Apparently our maps were incorrectly labeled by our directors, so we couldn’t find our street. After walking around for about an hour, our host mom finally called us asking where we were. Turns out we were about a half hour away from the apartment, which we didn’t find out until our host mom came and found us, on foot! She walked half an hour to find us in her house shoes (which you don’t wear outside), found us, and then led us back home. We were so grateful, and from that day on, we always remembered where our apartment was. -Angela Rajm
Being in a homestay was such a rich cultural experience—it was so unique in that it was a natural way to learn about the French culture that I wouldn’t have gotten just walking the streets. I loved being able to have home-cooked meals and sit around the dinner table, getting to practice my French and learn so much new vocabulary from the range of conversation topics. My favorite memory was my host mom’s birthday party. I really appreciated that my host family let me and my three housemates come, treating us like we were their own family. I got to see how they celebrate birthdays in France and I met a lot of their extended family from all over the world. We had Raclette, this really good cheese they serve with meats and potatoes, and a bunch of too-beautiful-to-eat French pastries and cakes. -Kelsey Patton
My favorite part of living with a host family was the friendship I had with both of my host parents, especially my host mom. I have great memories of sitting at the dinner table with her talking about our days, or listening to her tell a funny story about a past student. She had a greater confidence in my Spanish-speaking skills than I did, which really helped me to improve and become more comfortable conversing in Spanish. -Carrie Howe
I adored every moment I spent with my host family. Some perks definitely included “clean-sheets Tuesdays” and Host Momma always telling us stories of what adventures she and her friends had recently. The best part, though, was being able to connect with Host Momma’s preteen granddaughter. We did homework, did our hair, made YouTube videos, and watched movies in blanket forts together. Interacting with her taught me so much about the Spanish culture, showed me how to love and care for an awkward preteen, and it taught me how to love someone well despite cultural differences. She and I still snapchat and message each other now, a year later. There’s no way I could have had that kind of experience if I had lived in a dormequivalent or in an apartment alone in Spain. -Lizi King
“I really enjoyed hearing about the history of Derry from my host parents, who had lived through The Troubles in Northern Ireland. One of them was catholic and the other protestant, so that also gave some interesting perspective to our discussions.” -Sarah Stites
“Living with a host family was one of my favorite parts about being abroad. Initially, I was hesitant to live with people I had never met, but they ended up being some of the sweetest people I have ever met. They called me their ‘princesa’ and spoiled me beyond belief. I learned so much from them about life in general, as well as the Costa Rican culture. They truly are a second family to me and my experience abroad would definitely not have been the same without them.” -Kayley Heller
Welcome to the Going Global Club! The first meeting, held on September 29th, was a great start to what will hopefully be Grove City College’s newest and most exciting club. Plenty of great discussion was held, and the president, vice president, secretary, and treasurer were all elected as well. For those who came, thank you! There was plenty of great discussion and several exciting ideas were thrown around. There are several ideas in the works for Going Global Events, including a cultural fair and a trip to see the Nationality Rooms at the University of Pittsburgh followed by a dinner at an ethnic restaurant. A fundraising opportunity happening right now is Going Global t-shirts! They’re only $10 each and are a great way to help support the club and to help bring people together by getting the word out. The listed membership cost is $10 per person per school year (payable $5 per semester) and you can bring that payment with you to our next meeting. We have recently decided on some fundraising activities, which we will also be discussing at your next meeting. If you have any additional ideas, please let us know!
Officers that were elected… President: Riley McDermott VP: Emily Resler Secretary: Natalie Webb Treasurer: Kayley Heller I hope everyone is excited about this great opportunity and all the great events that are being planned out for this semester, the next, and for next year. Please join us at our next meeting on Tuesday October 27th from 6-6:30pm in HAL 111. And, as always, invite your friends! By Natalie Webb
Be a part of the first group from Grove City College to travel to Cuba! Courses: Cuban Politics (POLI 301/390) Literature and Culture (SPAN 290) Date: May 16-23, 2016 Price: Price $5200*
*Price depends on number of students attending
England France Amsterdam May Intersession 2016
SEDU 101: Exceptional Learners or EDUC 488: Issues in Education
Price with 3 Credits: $6,383
Contact Dr. Culbertson (ldculbertson@gcc.edu) or Dr. Genareo (ppgenareo@gcc.edu) for more information
Travel throughout the UK for HUMA 202 and English 290: Theatre in England
Intersession, May 16-28, 2016
Contact Professor Craig or Messer for more information Experience York, Bath and Stratford too!
Cost: $5450
May 15-26, 2016 Travel to Munich & Berlin in Germany & Prague in the Czech Republic! Cost = $5,449
Reserve your spot by Monday October 26th
International Recipe
Spaetzle with Gruyere and Caramelized Onions Ingredients: • • • • • • • • • •
3 cups all-purpose flour ¼ teaspoon of freshly grated nutmeg 1 medium white onion, thinly sliced 1 large egg 1 ½ cups shredded Gruyere cheese (5 ounces) 1 ¾ cups milk 1 tablespoon unsalted butter, cut into small pieces 4 large egg yolks 2 T peanut oil Salt and freshly ground pepper
Instructions 1. In a small bowl, whisk the milk with the egg yolks and egg. In a large bowl, whisk the flour with the nutmeg, 1 teaspoon of salt, and ¼ teaspoon of pepper. Using a wooden spoon, stir the egg mixture into the flour, leaving a few lumps. Cover and refrigerate the batter for at least 1 hour, or overnight. 2. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Prepare a large bowl of ice water. Carefully hold a colander with large holes over the boiling water. Add about 1/2 cup of the batter to the colander and press it into the simmering water with a spatula or the back of a spoon. Repeat until all of the batter has been used. Cook the spaetzle for 2 minutes longer, then drain. Immediately transfer the spaetzle to the ice water, swirling the dumplings until all of the ice melts. Drain and transfer to a large bowl. Stir in 1 tablespoon of the oil, season with salt and pepper and toss to coat. 3. Preheat the oven to 400°. Oil a 9-by-13-inch baking dish. Spread the spaetzle in the dish and dot with the butter. Sprinkle with the cheese and bake for about 20 minutes, or until the spaetzle is hot and the cheese is just melted. 4. Meanwhile, heat the remaining 1 tablespoon of oil in a medium skillet. Add the onion and cook over high heat until softened, about 1 minute. Reduce the heat to moderately low and cook, stirring occasionally, until lightly browned, about 15 minutes. Scatter the onion over the spaetzle and serve. Recipe and Photos courtesy of FoodandWine.com: http://www.foodandwine.com/recipes/spaetzle-with-gruyereand-caramelized-onions
By Phillip Ouweleen