Vol. 2
Alexandria palomarez shares the best foods to try in australia
Page 7
deadlines extended! Spring Study Abroad details on page 1
jayhawks around the world
ku homecoming 2013
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JAYHAWKS ABROAD
letter from the editor.
I
n college, I saw the study abroad tables, went to the fairs, and heard the class presentations, but I’d look at the price and just shake my head. I was attending a public university on scholarships. A semester in London sounded great, but I had no way to pay for it. Eventually, I learned about a cool exchange program that was affordable—and open to any major. I applied almost immediately. I used my scholarships and took out a small Stafford loan to help pay for my travel expenses. I got a passport and bought a plane ticket. I applied for a visa. A few months later, I was in Denmark. I lived with Danish students, spent my nights on Jomfru Ane Gade, learned to make frikadeller, and tried to understand what “hygge” meant. Until I went abroad I didn’t really understand what all the hype was about. Landmarks are cool, and traveling is fun, but why is studying abroad so special? Most places aren’t drastically different than the United States. There are buses and buildings and streets and homework almost everywhere. So why is it worth it? Studying abroad took me out of my comfort zone. It challenged me academically and personally, and as I met those challenges, I learned
that I didn’t need to be surrounded by friends or family to succeed. A solo trip to the store to buy cereal was its own mini adventure. I had to learn new cultural behaviors and adapt to a place that had a history I didn’t know and traditions I didn’t understand. Sometimes things were hard. Sometimes I was homesick. It didn’t matter. Every day I was proving that I could take care of myself. I was also making long-lasting friendships, seeing things I’d only read about or seen in movies, and slowly learning another language. Beyond personal growth, studying abroad is good for your career and for your academics. KU undergraduates who study abroad tend to graduate in 4 years more frequently than those who don’t. Nationally, students who study abroad have seen their GPAs improve after they return, and they are more competitive in the job market. If you’ve ever, even briefly, thought about going abroad, I encourage you to visit us in the Office of Study Abroad. We’ll try to find the perfect program for you. We’ll do our best to help you find funding if you need it. We want to help you. All you have to do is ask.
Melody Stratton Outreach Coordinator
Melody Stratton (right) in Skagen, Denmark. Melody studied abroad through an ISEP exchange at Aalborg University in the fall of 2006.
Office of Study Abroad
resource library lippincott hall, room 105 osa@ku.edu studyabroad.ku.edu kustudyabroad
DEADLINE EXTENSIONS for spring semester, spring break, and winter break programs
OCT. 15
Swansea Birmingham Leeds Exeter Kent East Anglia Cork Essex Hull DIS Costa Rica Ronda San Andrés Salamanca Korea University Sophia University J.F. Oberlin University Folkwang Bonn Regensburg
OCT. 15
Stuttgart Trier Kookmin University Hongik University Winter Break in South Korea
OCT. 4
Architecture in India
OCT. 7 UNSW
NOV. 1
University of Newcastle University of Wollongong Tsuda College Okayama University Beijing Normal University ISEP sites Email osa@ku.edu for more information.
THIS ISSUE OF JAYHAWKS ABROAD WAS DESIGNED BY EMILY GRIGONE
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PHOTO SUBMITTED BY MATT MORIARTY
A Conversation in Belfast By Matt Moriarty When a former terrorist asks you to stick around for another pint, how can you refuse? I think we all — the 14 of us from KU Law, five from Seattle-area law schools and one from New York Law — had countless incredible experiences in Ireland last summer as part of KU Law’s study abroad program. But for me, spending a boozy afternoon in a tiny pub in Belfast with a man the British government imprisoned for thirteen years might be the most memorable. Three weeks earlier we wouldn’t have had a thing to talk about. I had thought the IRA was a late-80s rap group. But after three weeks of international law and terrorism courses, I was brimming with questions. Briefly: the Irish Republican Army formed in 1922 to fight the British following the partitioning of Ireland. The IRA was dedicated to Home Rule, a united Ireland with no British presence at all. It believed it was a guerrilla army using nonlinear tactics to try to defeat a superior force. The British and the loyalists in the mostly Protestant north would say they
were terrorists intentionally targeting civilians in bombings. The Irish simply say “The Troubles.” If the troubles were an earthquake, Belfast would be the epicenter. It’s the capital of the protestant north, which remains part of the United Kingdom. To this day, a wall separates the Catholics and the Protestants, or the Feiniens and the Loyalists. Both sides paint murals to their fallen heroes all over town. The study abroad program had ended, but most of us stayed in Ireland for a week or two to travel about. My companions for the afternoon and I embarked from a Dublin Bus Éireann station that morning almost on a whim. Our plan was merely to find the wall, look at some murals, take some photos, and perhaps have a pint or two. The bus ride took about two and a half hours. Dublin is surprisingly close to the Northern Ireland border and, besides, Ireland is wonderfully small. The weather that day in Belfast managed to change from freezing cold rain to 80-degree sunshine every fifteen minutes. It was during one of the rainy moments that the three
of us, somewhat lost on the Catholic side, ducked into a tiny pub. It had a dark wood paneled bar where a few fellas in thick sweaters watched Olympic cycling. I chatted with the bartender, a lady with straight blond hair, about how we had been studying the troubles and what murals we should see. We each ordered a pint. After finishing we got up to leave, but the bartender grabbed us and said if we wanted to wait a half hour a guy who was “involved” would be coming by. She said he was her cousin and he was part of the so-called blanket protests when IRA prisoners in Long Kesh prison refused to wear uniforms because they said they weren’t common criminals and would rather be nude and wrapped in blankets. For five years that went on. After a quick jaunt to the ATM we plopped back down at a table near the oven and had another pint of Guinness. It wasn’t too long before the bartender snatched a wiry bald man from the crowd and sat him down at our table. Like seemingly everyone else in Belfast, he had an uncommonly
strong handshake. He introduced himself as Kieran “Sax” Smith, had a goatee with a bald spot on the right side of his chin, wore a black polo and spoke with a thick accent. Everyone in the pub seemed to treat him with reverence, although I could have imagined that. He was a grandfather, a bouncer, a kickboxer, and some would say a terrorist. We talked about everything. The blanket protests. “It was horrible.” Joining the IRA. “It was kill or be killed.” What he went to prison for. “I tried to blow up a bus station.” What he went back to prison for. “They had the house surrounded so we threw some RPGs out the window.” Even his IRA code name. “Muchacho.” We must have had four pints with the guy. Every time we finished up and started to leave, he’d say, “One more for the road then lads?” and we’d sit back down. It’s fair to say we bonded. We asked him about the longterm chances for peace. Not good, he thinks. He spoke in favor of the Good Friday accords that stopped the violence, but he sees an entire generation of kids who’ve grown up in Belfast with the promise that things would get better, but the economy is still terrible and the two sides can’t get along. By the time we managed to pull ourselves away, our heads were swimming. We nearly missed the last bus back to Dublin. I never could find anything online about code-name Muchacho or anyone named Kieran Smith being an IRA member, and I suppose it’s possible that the entire pub was pulling a prank on us. But, I prefer to think that he was the real deal and I’ve spent an afternoon drinking with a terrorist. Mostly, because it’s a hell of a better story that way. Matt Moriarty participated on the Law in Ireland program in Dublin and Limerick during the summer of 2012. This article originally appeared in the Kansas Law Free Press.
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International Sporting Events in 2014 By Cole McGregor
PHOTO SUBMITTED BY EMILY FARNAN Emily Farnan in Brno, Czech Republic
7 Reasons to Study in the Czech Republic Emily Farnan spent the spring of 2013 studying at Masaryk University in Brno, Czech Republic. All classes at Masaryk are taught in English, and there are programs for a wide variety of majors. Here are Farnan’s reasons for why Brno is the perfect place to study abroad.
1. It’s not on the Euro! It’s cheaper than the rest of Europe so you can save your money to travel. 2.
It’s literally in the middle of Europe, so you can go to almost anywhere in Western or Eastern Europe.You can easily travel to Slovakia, Hungary, Poland, Austria, Croatia, Slovenia, Malta, Italy, France, Germany, the UK, and the Ukraine.
3.
Two words: Student Agency. It is a bus company for students with discounted rates. The buses have free cappuccino, hot chocolate, wifi, and personalized movie screens—and there are even English language movies! The buses run from Brno and Prague and go throughout central Europe.
Many students realize the benefits of studying abroad, however, when asked about the drawbacks many KU students cite missing the upcoming season of KU basketball as a primary hindrance. Although missing the bulk of a basketball season may sound like sacrilege to many, there are plenty of opportunities to see international sporting events abroad (plus, Wiggins and Co. can be found online). Studying abroad can be a great time to see sporting events in other countries. For example, during my time in Barcelona in 2012, I was able to watch LeBron, Kobe, and the rest of Team USA play both Argentina and Spain for a fraction of the cost in the USA. Other opportunities include cheering for local soccer teams, attending an Australian football game, watching cricket or rugby, or following basketball in China. With the upcoming World Cup in Rio de Janeiro, 2014 promises to be a whirlwind year for international sporting events. The rugby Six Nations Championship will occur in February and will see the toughest men from England, Scotland, Ireland,
Wales, France, and Italy vie for the title of the best rugby side in Europe. Also in February, the Winter Olympics will be held in Sochi, Russia, a city in the far Southwest expanse of Russia. Spanning from March to April, the International Cricket Council World Cup will be held in Bangladesh. The Bangladeshis have a passion for cricket that rivals even the quasi-religious following of Kansas Jayhawks basketball. In May Belarus will host the IIHF World Championship. National hockey teams from around the globe will seek to improve their international ranking and compete for the gold medal. If you can’t make the World Cup in Rio, you can attend the UEFA Champions League final, held on May 24 in Lisbon, Portugal. It pits the two best club soccer teams in Europe against one another. No matter where you are in the world, you are sure to find a great athletic event to attend or a team to follow, and you might be surprised where you’ll find fellow Jayhawks watching a game. Rock chalk!
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Brno. There are multiple universities in Brno and it’s the perfect college town. There are lots of students and it is about the size of Wichita. It is the second largest city in the Czech Republic and it is just over 2 hours away from Prague.
5. Fried Cheese. It’s like an over-sized mozzarella stick that is served with French fries.You can find it anywhere. It’s served with an interesting white sauce. Goulash is another traditional dish that is quite popular, and svíčkova is delicious. Make sure you try it!
6. You live in an international dorm and your neighbors come from all over the world, including Greece, Slovakia, and Spain. It’s a great opportunity to make friends and experience other cultures—and try everyone else’s traditional foods.
7. Brno is a beautiful and colorful city. There is a castle, a cathedral, parks, running trails, and a few spots for scenic overlooks. It’s a wonderful place to spend a semester.
PHOTO SUBMITTED BY JOSH LODOLY During his time in Eutin, Germany, Josh Lodoly captured this photo during the Germany vs. Greece Euro Cup game.
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Apps Abroad By Emily Farnan These days it’s easy to stay connected with your family and friends while you are abroad thanks to technology. Using smart phone apps can also help you stay organized and prepared when you are traveling. Make sure you download the apps you want before you leave, because some of them are not available outside of the United States. Here are some of the apps we recommend, and most of them are free:
1.
What’s App: Messaging app
that allows you to exchange free, unlimited picture messages over Wi-Fi and is available for iPhone, Blackberry, Android, Windows Phone, and Nokia.
2.
Viber: Similar to What’s App. Call, text, and share photos for free.
3.
XE Currency: Works offline.
Convert over 180 currencies with updated exchange rates.
4.
ESPN ScoreCenter: Stay up-
5.
Mint: Set your budget, track
to-date with every game.
spending, and categorize transactions to stay on budget.
6.
Skype: Free voice and video calls, low cost calls to mobiles and landlines so you can call mom.
7.
SkyScanner: Traveling? Search flights from thousands of airlines around the world! Find the cheapest time and place to fly.
8.
Hostelworld.com: Need a cheap place to stay? Search, review, and book hostels all over the world.
9.
The Weather Channel: Good
for home and abroad.
10.
Trip Advisor: Know before you go. Plan what to see, where to go, where to eat anywhere.
11.
Google Translate: How do you order in French? Ask for the bathroom in Spain?
12.
World Lens: Instantly trans-
late signs in French, German, Italian, Portuguese and Spanish using your camera.
PHOTO SUBMITTED BY DANNY SANCHEZ
Danny Sanchez, a member of the 2013 Homecoming Steering Committee, demonstrates how to use technology abroad during his summer in Barcelona, Spain.
Life is Calling. How Far Will You Go? Corps is a 27-month international service opportunity in a community overseas. We send American citizens You survived the overnight train abroad to live and work for two from Paris to Barcelona.You’re an years, plus three months of training. expert with chopsticks.You can hail a Peace Corps Volunteers serve in taxi and barter for groceries in three more than 70 countries and work in languages. Now what? six program areas: education, public Your international experience health, agriculture, environment, doesn’t have to end just because business and community/youth develyour semester abroad did. Peace opment.
By Emily Sharp
What sets us apart? Peace Corps is as much about gaining cross-cultural experience as it is about the assistance we provide. Our Volunteers live and work alongside local community members, speaking the local language, eating local food and observing local customs and celebrations. As a Volunteer you could teach English in an Asian city, conduct health trainings in an African
village, share sustainable agricultural practices in Latin America, or anything in between! Ready to learn more? Contact the Peace Corps representative at KU at peacecorps@ku.edu or visit the Peace Corps website at www. peacecorps.gov.
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An Australian Adventure By Courtney Moore One of many reasons students choose to study abroad is to seek adventure. Jake Wernel, a junior studying mechanical engineering, found his adventure last spring studying at the University of Wollongong in New South Wales, Australia. “I wanted to study somewhere that spoke English,” Wernel said. “I wanted to go somewhere that had more adventure-type activities, rather than historical, site-seeing stuff. I got to do a lot of cool things.” Outside of his engineering studies at the University of Wollongong, Wernel scuba-dived with bull sharks in Fiji, surfed and explored the Great Barrier Reef. “Scuba diving with sharks was the coolest thing I’ve ever done,” Wernel said. “It was exhilarating being 100 feet underwater.You could see how powerful these bull sharks were, and they were only a few feet away from me.” Wernel lived in an international dorm at Wollongong that housed both
Australian and exchange students. He took three engineering courses and an Australian culture course; lectures and tutorials for each class met once per week. The University of Wollongong is located south of Sydney, and is similar in size to KU. “From studying abroad, I’m more understanding of other cultures,” Wernel said. “I’m excited to meet people from other countries. If someone is international, I want to hear about where they’re from and have a conversation.” When he wasn’t in class, Wernel also learned to surf with an Australian friend. He visited Bondi Beach and Manly Beach, where he saw the 11-time world champion surfer, Kelly Slater, in action. “I would recommend studying abroad to anyone,” Wernel said. “Australia was the best place for me—I was interested in adventure and I got it.”
PHOTO SUBMITTED BY JAKE WERNEL Jake Wernel, an engineering major, studied abroad in Wollongong, Australia.
Top 10 Australian Foods to Try By Alexandria Palomarez 1. Vegemite – I haven’t met one foreigner that has liked it, but it’s worth the try!
2. Meat pies – Any kind of meat, any way you want it! Super cheap, too. 3. Kebabs – The best late night meal you will EVER have! (Yes, it is better
PHOTO SUBMITTED BY ALEXANDRA PALOMAREZ Alexandria Palomarez studied abroad in Australia. She received a Gilman Scholarship for her travels abroad and studied engineering.
than Fuzzy’s or cream cheese pizza) 4. Kangaroo – Think of kangaroo like deer in the U.S. It comes in many different styles. 5. Tim Tams – The absolute best biscuit (cookie) you’ll ever have. 6. Potato wedges with sour cream and sweet chili sauce – This combination is mouth-watering! I wouldn’t attempt if you’re on a diet, it’s VERY addicting. 7. Chicken Schnitzel – Very simple meal, but very tasty and versatile. 8. Chicko Roll – A Chinese egg roll taken to a whole new level. 9. Australian BBQ – The best grilled sausage on a toasted piece of bread you can imagine. 10. Lamingtons – A yummy chocolate pound cake that gets your chocolate fix for the day.
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PHOTO PROVIDED BY IES ABROAD University of Salamanca
Study Spanish in Salamanca By Mari Keyser This spring the Office of Study Abroad and Department of Spanish and Portuguese will begin offering a study abroad program for upper-level Spanish students at the University of Salamanca. The University of Salamanca is the oldest institution in Spain and the fourth oldest in the Western world. Not only does the
University have a rich history, but it also has a tradition of excellence and is regarded as one of the top-ranked universities in Spain. Salamanca is a UNESCO World Heritage site and is well connected to other cities in Spain and Europe for easy exploring. According to Associate Professor Margot Versteeg, Salamanca is a beautiful city and a great place to
study. “From my own experience as a foreign student I can tell you that it is also a fun college town where one makes friends really fast,” said Versteeg. This program is the first Spanish program offered for a full semester in Spain that has been pre-approved for Spanish majors meeting minimum requirements. Students must have completed Spanish 340 and have a
An Interview with Justine Hamilton
minimum of a 3.0 GPA. KU partnered with IES Abroad to develop the new program in Salamanca. This partnership will enable all students on the program to live with a local host family. The program fee includes three meals daily, and the homestays are all located within a short commute of the city center. Accompanied by KU Professor Isidro Rivera, students will take classes taught by both KU and University of Salamanca faculty. Students will stay with host families within walking distance from the city center and have full immersion in the language. There are also planned excursions to Segovia, Madrid, Andalucía, and Portugal. The program will be offered annually during the spring semester. During its inaugural year, the program will begin January 22 and end on May 24. The deadline to apply for the Salamanca program is October 15. The Office of Study Abroad Scholarship application deadline is October 1, so students must complete their scholarship application by that date and have at least started a Salamanca application. For more information, stop by the Study Abroad Resource Library in 105 Lippincott or email osa@ku.edu.
What advice do you have for students? Ask more questions. We’re happy Justine Hamilton is one of six program and long term goals to find the best Do you have any international experito help, and asking more questions coordinators in the Office of Study Abroad program for them. ence? will help you be more prepared Why should students visit a program I lived, studied, and worked in Russia at KU. If you are lucky enough to meet and more proactive. Pick a procoordinator? with her, make sure you ask about the for a total of 5 years. I studied and gram that resonates with you. Coordinators can give students time she was accused of being a spy! worked in Vologda and Voronezh. I Think about why you decided to more details about the programs, like liked living in smaller cities because attend KU. What do you like about academic culture, life in the country, they had a more Midwestern feel than Lawrence and KU? What would you What do you do at KU? benefits, and challenges. We can help St. Petersburg or Moscow. I’ve also I’m an advisor, first and foremost. In change? What kind of place do you students pick one program over the OSA, as a coordinator I assist traveled throughout Europe and visited want when you are abroad? It’s a another. We’ve been working in our Israel. students and faculty in planning and little like online dating. You need to regions or creating programming in Why Russia? developing study programs in Russia, pick a program that makes you have Eastern Europe, Germany, Central Eu- our regions for many years, so we I like realness and authenticity. Russia that “Oooo—that would be cool” can give you detailed information rope, the Middle East, and South Asia. worked for me. I was a math major so moment. about the country and culture. In How can you help students? I also liked Russian grammar. Russians Which of your programs would you many ways, choosing a study abroad are generous and open. They often I help them find experiences that will like to go on? program is like choosing a college. benefit them academically, personally, lead rough lives, which can make them I’d like to do a semester at Masaryk Having good information can help and professionally. I like to learn as gruff on the outside, but they value University in Brno, Czech Republic. students make better choices. much as I can about their short term their friendships and are good people.
JAYHAWKS ABROAD
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Jayhawks Around the World By Melody Stratton
Jayhawk experience. and KU students have traditionally are literally traversing the world, and More information about study been competitive in national study this year’s homecoming theme reIn 2011-2012, more than 1,300 abroad opportunities is available on abroad scholarship competitions. flects this tradition. At KU, studying Jayhawks studied abroad. They the Office of Study Abroad website Each year, roughly 25% of KU unabroad isn’t just something a few represented a wide variety of majors, dergraduates study abroad. Jayhawks students do. It is part of the entire at www.studyabroad.ku.edu. including education, engineering, pharmacy, fine arts, social welfare, music, journalism, and medicine. They took classes in English, but also studied languages like Arabic, Russian, Mandarin Chinese, and Portuguese. KU offers study abroad programs in more than 75 countries, and students took full advantage of this, studying in popular destinations like France, Italy, Germany, and Ireland, as well as non-traditional destinations, including Peru, Greenland, the Bahamas, Uganda, Brazil, Antarctica, Tanzania, and Sweden. Students at KU can also choose from a wide variety of programs. Currently KU offers more than 130 study abroad opportunities, including internships and research experiences. Some of the most popular programs are led by KU faculty, but students can choose to participate in exchanges or student-initiated programs as well. Programs may be as short as 10 days over spring break, or as long as a full academic year. In OSA ARCHIVES addition, the Office of Study Abroad Students on the Grupo de Kansas program at the University of Costa Rica. KU’s exchange program in Costa Rica is the longest running exchange in the Western Hemisphere and has been running since 1958. gives out a number of scholarships,
What is a Student Initiated Program? Each year, dozens of KU students choose to study abroad through a Interested in spending a summer SIP. On an approved SIP, KU students still earn credit and grades for their in Senegal? Thinking about learning coursework completed abroad, and Russian abroad? You may want to SIP participants also receive all of look into a Student Initiated Prothe necessary orientation and safety gram, or SIP. SIPs are study abroad information from the Office of Study programs offered by other univerAbroad. The OSA continues to sities or study abroad companies. When students are not able to find a provide support and maintain contact program that fits their needs at KU, with SIP students throughout their trip. the Office of Study Abroad works Student Initiated Programs are with other organizations to help good options for students looking find the perfect program for each to study something specific that the student’s needs.
By Jessica Rea
KU programs may not offer, as well as for students looking to study in a particular country that the programs here may not venture to. The costs and benefits can vary, but most SIPs provide on-site support, orientation, airport transfers, and excursions. Think this is a good option for you? Start by researching your options. The OSA website has some information on SIPs.You can also search for programs online using the sites www.iiepassport.org, www.studyabroad.com, and www. goabroad.com. These sites allow
you to customize searches and find options that can work for you. In addition, brochures and other informational resources about SIPs are available in the Resource Library at 105 Lippincott. SIPs can be a good option for students. No matter what, you have to get approval from the Office of Study Abroad to participate on a SIP, so make sure you schedule an appointment with a program coordinator when you are ready to apply. Whether you choose a SIP or a KU-sponsored program as your study abroad adventure, the Office of Study Abroad has advice and answers.