Global Learning Fall 2016 My Journey to Chile
Important Dates
by Kerry Johnson
Gilman Scholarship Overview Workshop 1pm – 3pm, Brister Hall 220
September 6
Ever since childhood I have had a thirst for adventure and new experiences. At the University of Memphis, I realized that my Economics and Spanish majors could take me to new places, and when I first heard of the study abroad programs my freshman year, I was curious. The ability to study while living in a new country seemed like an amazing opportunity to go outside my comfort zone, challenge myself, and experience new social norms. As I began looking into programs, I became more and more discouraged as I could not seem to find a program I thought I could afford. However, after taking the first step and contacting the Global Learning Office, I was shown opportunities that would fit my budget! My Study Abroad Advisor, Jonathan Holland, helped me find a program that was perfect for my needs. Attending the Universidad de Chile in Santiago would provide me an opportunity to take classes in Economics that were taught in English and still experience the culture and language by living with a Chilean host family. I also learned that I could use my financial aid and apply to scholarships, including the Mary Pettus Thomas Memorial Scholarship and the UofM Study Abroad Scholarship. My dream could become a reality. Entering my junior year, I found myself drowning in the pressures of figuring out what my next step would be when I graduated. I felt mentally fatigued from my (continued on page 2)
September 7
Gilman Scholarship Overview Workshop 1pm – 3pm, Brister Hall 220 September 9
Global Learning Fair 10am – 2pm, Rose Theater and Outdoor Student Plaza September 19 – 23
Fogelman College Study Abroad Week September 21
Freeman Asia Scholarship Workshop 1pm – 3pm, UC Beale Room (363) September 23
Gilman Scholarship Essay Review Workshop 2pm – 4pm, Brister Hall 220 October 1
Spring Semester Study Abroad Program & Scholarship Application Deadline October 3 – 7
Health and Movement Sciences Study Abroad Week October 14
Tigers Abroad Photo & Film Contests Submission Deadline October 17 – 21
Social Sciences and Humanities Study Abroad Week October 26
Study Abroad Day at Lambuth Campus 10am – 2pm, Student Union October 31 – November 4
Communications and Fine Arts Study Abroad Week November 1
Spring Break Scholarship Application Deadline
Kerry Johnson
November 14 – 18
International Education Week
(continued from page 1)
classes and uninspired. I needed a new experience to renew myself mentally and give me a bigger perspective to take with me as I continued towards my goal of graduation. I also wanted to further my own understanding of who I was. Embarking on a journey to a new country by myself for a semester seemed like the perfect opportunity to dive into the pool of self-discovery.
January 25
My semester in Chile gave me so many experiences that I would never have had in Memphis that have helped me learn more about who I am. Some of my greatest moments were spent with my host family. They truly became like family to me especially as I was beginning to miss my own. My host mother filled the home with great fragrances as she cooked the meals every day, and I enjoyed watching sporting events with my host father and younger host brother. I was able to taste the famous wines of Mendoza, Argentina and climb mountains in the capital city of Chile. I hold great memories of going to the beach and taking boat rides with friends. Going to the top of one of the famous three hills surrounding Santiago, Cerro Pochoco where I was able to capture breath taking views of the city was a unique experience. Walking through museums, taking pictures of incredible street art, and hearing Purple Haze by Jimmy Hendrix being played on the street as I was waiting to catch the subway became part of my daily routine. The best part of my semester abroad is the lifelong friendships that I gained while in Chile. I became very close with people who did not look like me, speak like me, or think like me, but those differences made us closer. I am so grateful for this life changing experience in South America.
January 31
Spotlight on Chile
By Jonathan Holland, Study Abroad Advisor Chile is one of the more unique destinations where University of Memphis students can study abroad. It is one of the most economically successful countries in South America and is also one of the most geographically diverse countries in the world. Students can enjoy the Andes Mountains one weekend and the Pacific coast the next. Northern Chile is arid and home to the Atacama Desert. The central region, which includes Santiago and Valparaíso, has a pleasant climate comparable to southern California. Southern Chile has a remarkable lake region, snow caped mountains, and islands of various shapes and sizes. While traveling in the south you may even encounter one of the four species of penguins who call Chile home. University of Memphis students have a lot of options for semester and summer study abroad programs in Chile. Some program options do not require knowledge of Spanish. Students can study economics and business completely in English through the exchange program at the Universidad de Chile located in the capital of Santiago. Santiago is known for its young and vibrant culture with lots of local festivals, markets, events, and nightlife. Through partner organizations, UofM students can study various subjects or participate in an internship in Vina del Mar, Valparaiso, and Coquimbo. With the cost of living being lower than Europe, Australia, and the United States, Chile is a study abroad destination that UofM students should highly consider.
2
International Expo (Global Learning Fair) 10am – 2pm, Rose Theater January 30 – February 3
Hospitality, Sports Management, and Language Study Abroad Week Gilman Scholarship Overview Workshop 1pm – 3pm, TBD February 1
Gilman Scholarship Overview Workshop 1pm – 3pm, UC Memphis Room (340) February 15 – 21
Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math Study Abroad Week February 17
Gilman Scholarship Essay Review Workshop 2pm – 4pm, UC Memphis Room A (340A) March 1
Summer and Fall Semester Study Abroad Program and Scholarship Application Deadline April 7
Fulbright Program Workshop 1pm – 3pm, UC Shelby Room (342)
Christine Lee
Memphis Meets Mozart: The University of Memphis Band’s International Debut in Europe By Christine Lee
Participating on the European Music Seminar: Wind Music – Mozart and Gabrieli Study Abroad program has given me a new insight into the busy lives we live in the USA and how it is necessary to slow down at times. I double majored in Clarinet Performance and Business Management. Managing two different majors was very stressful for me and kept me busy. I never planned on studying abroad until Dr. Nguyen, the University of Memphis Director of Bands, announced an eight-day study abroad program to Austria and Italy during the summer term. Even though I had doubts about studying abroad, I never expected that participating on the program would inspire me to become motivated and increase my self-confidence in music performance. The band’s first destination was in Salzburg, Austria, the birthplace of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. Salzburg is pristine with cobblestone sidewalks and intricate architecture. The Salzburg Chamber Soloists and the Music Kapellmeister of the Salzburg Cathedral taught the band’s masterclasses, and it was exciting to learn from the great musical masters. After masterclasses, the brass chamber group performed in the Salzburg Cathedral during Pentecost, a major Catholic holiday in Austria; I know I will never forget that amazing performance. Following sightseeing in Salzburg and visiting an Austrian salt mine, the University of Memphis Band traveled to Ossiach, a small Austrian town located in the mountains that has stunning views of serene mountains and forests. During the band’s first concert, we performed Kärntneleider
Marsch, a classic Austrian march, and the Memphis Blues with the Beregbau und Hutten Traditionsmusik Arnoldstein Ensemble, an Austrian community band. It was an unforgettable, unique experience. Despite being from different cultures, both bands were able to share their passions about music. After experiencing amazing European bike rides, hikes, and picnics, the band traveled to Venice, Italy. Venice was a dramatic contrast from Ossiach. Instead of countryside serenity, Venice was filled with loud tourists and energetic vendors. To escape the crowds, my friends and I rode in a gondola in Venice. The peaceful ride allowed us to reflect on how the trip has changed our perspectives. We have become more goal oriented in addition to learning to appreciate the moments rather than rushing through them. This study abroad program gave us the opportunity to experience a new culture, support local musicians, and grow as individuals. I have no regrets going on this trip. I enjoyed making a difference by helping the University of Memphis band program establish relationships with different countries. I felt elated when the audiences kept clapping to the University of Memphis Band’s encores of Sousa’s Stars and Stripes Forever. Throughout the program, I was able to reconnect with my band colleagues and cultivate new friendships. I highly recommend anyone to study abroad, because experiencing something out of the ordinary will broaden your perception of the world and yourself.
3
Get Involved with the International Student Association (ISA)
tudent A International S
ssociation
The International Student Association (ISA) is a student organization that seeks to connect students who are interested in international issues and experiencing diverse cultures. ISA holds a number of cultural and social events throughout the year to allow international and local students to experience the cultural diversity the UofM and the city of Memphis have to offer. ISA welcomes all U.S. and international students who are interested in coming together to form a global community on campus. For more information, visit the ISA Facebook page at: facebook.com/InternationalStudentAssociationofUofM/home
Two UofM Students are the proud Recipients of the Freeman-ASIA Scholarship! The Freeman-ASIA program is designed to support U.S.-based undergraduates with demonstrated financial need who are planning to study abroad in East or Southeast Asia. The program’s goal is to increase the number of U.S. citizens and permanent residents with first-hand exposure to and understanding of Asia and its peoples and cultures. From its inception in 2001, Freeman-ASIA has made study abroad in East and Southeast Asia possible for over 4,600 U.S. undergraduates from more than 600 institutions. For more information about the Freeman-Asia Scholarship, please visit: iie.org/Programs/Freeman-ASIA#.V7IWFHrwKGk or email tigersabroad@memphis.edu.
Academic Year 2016 Freeman-Asia Scholarship Recipients Chesney Borden (Japan)
Miaya Johnson (Japan)
Study Abroad: More Than a Cultural Experience By Evelyn Weekly
Evelyn Weekly
4
I spent the Summer 2015 term in Nantes, France and graduated this past May with a major in Supply Chain Management. As a working mother, wife and full-time student, I believed my dream of studying abroad was never going to happen. This changed when I realized the variety of programs and the financial aid available. Personally, I wanted to fulfill a lifetime goal of going to another country to study and experience a new culture. Academically, I wanted to obtain enough credit hours to graduate early and begin my professional career as soon as possible. Professionally, I wanted to gain international experience in order to have a competitive edge when looking for an internship or a permanent position.
I can say that what I got out of my study abroad program is more than what I expected. I not only accomplished a lifetime goal, but I became more secure in my abilities to manage my time, deal with ambiguity, and to work with international team members. During the month I spent in Nantes, France I collected many memorable moments. I had the opportunity to spend Memorial Day 2015 in Normandy as a new citizen of the United States. I also was introduced to the European business culture and specific marketing strategies for the fashion industry. One of the highlights of the program was the creation of a product and its marketing strategy, which was focused on the French market. While I was abroad I applied for an internship position with International Paper in their global sourcing department and the hiring team conducted two phone interviews and one panel interview once I returned from France. They
were impressed with my international and professional experience; the hiring manager called me that same afternoon and offered me the position. My study abroad experience provided me with a great advantage during the interview process for my internship with International Paper. After three months, I was approached by the hiring manager of global customer service who offered me a permanent position after graduation. In this position I interface with customers from North America, South America, and the Middle East, in which my international experience will be helpful. The combination of the credit hours earned while studying abroad and the internship credits helped me to graduate one year earlier and with a full-time position with International Paper. For me, studying abroad was much more than a cultural experience.
Enter the 2016 Tigers Abroad Photo Contest!
The Tigers Abroad Photo Contest and Exhibition is held annually in celebration of International Education Week. Entries are judged on the ability to convey a cross-cultural experience in a photograph. This experience can be defined as personal interaction with the local population of the host country and/or the portrayal of the essence of your international travel experience. Entries are accepted from University of Memphis (UofM) students, alumni, faculty, and staff who have had an international experience within the last year. The photo entries will be exhibited at the Ned R. McWherter Library Rotunda during International Education Week, November 14 – 18.
Tigers Abroad Photo Contest 2015 Winners 1st Place – MASICORP Cape Town, South Africa by Faith Keating
Urban meets Agricult ure
Masicorp
2nd Place – URBAN MEETS AGRICULTURE Sicily, Italy by Ashley Espinoza 3rd Place – KANGOROO ENCOUNTERS Brisbane, Australia by Ashley Gagnon People’s Choice Award – SYMBOLIC VICTORY OF GOOD OVER EVIL Bassantapur, Nepal by Hitesh Adhikari
Symbolic Victory of Good over Evil
ounters c n E o o Kangr
People’s Choice Honorable Mention – COMMON GROUND IN JAPAN Kyoto, Japan by Lori Lester
Common Ground in Japan 5
Announcing the First Annual Tigers Abroad Short Film Contest and Festival! The Tigers Abroad Short Film Contest will be held in recognition of International Education Week. The Contest is open to any student who recently participated in a University of Memphis study abroad program. The theme of entries will be “Where I lived,” highlighting cultural activities, food, landscapes, and people unique to the country you studied abroad in and should be no longer than 90 seconds. All entries will be shown at the Tigers Abroad Film Festival during International Education Week on November 18. The deadline to submit an entry is Friday, October 14, 2016. For more information, please visit memphis.edu/abroad.
Why You Should Study Abroad! By Kelly Spendlove
Spendlove
I never thought in a million years that I would have the opportunity to travel abroad nor did I even consider it. Fortunately, all that changed my senior year. I am a nursing student who rarely has any free time on my hands. But one day my professor mentioned a study abroad program to Costa Rica over Spring Break, and my ears perked up. At first, I thought there was no way I would have the time or the money to afford this program. However, I did a little research and applied for scholarships. I received a scholarship that would pay for more than half my program fee so I quickly decided I had to take this opportunity. Studying abroad on a nursing program was a unique experience by itself. We saw how another healthcare system functioned on a daily basis. We received handson experience and discovered how nursing is the same yet different in other countries. All the participants in my group were able to take home an entirely new perspective on the different roles a nurse can fill. These experiences were something that could not have been achieved on a vacation abroad with family and friends. During my week in Costa Rica, I saw a completely different health care system. For example, we, in the United States, are unbelievably lucky to be able to make an appointment to see a doctor within a week or two. In Costa Rica at a public hospital it could take years to make an appointment if it wasn’t a medical emergency. We also noticed that the nurses there still wear the little white hats that are no longer worn in the USA. My group and I also visited an AIDS clinic. This experience was unique. In other countries, people living with AIDs are not as understood and accepted as in the USA; people are shunned. In Costa Rica, those infected with HIV were often put into “shacks” and had to cram into bedrooms with multiple people. We visited and interacted with the those staying in these “shacks” on a personal level. Our group has planned to keep in touch with these amazing people by sending letters and making friendship bracelets.
6
Overall, my whole experience there was a once in a lifetime opportunity. I believe everyone should go on at least one study abroad program during his/her college experience. While a majority of Memphis students are afraid they will not have the time, money, or knowledge to venture out of the country (especially nursing students), it is actually the exact opposite. Studying abroad allows you to expand your
knowledge; financial aid and scholarships help cover costs; and study abroad can fit into your degree program with appropriate planning. You will create lifelong bonds with fellow students on the program while seeing the world. All these experiences were part of a course that actually brought me closer to graduating.
Erika
Kiki
Where are They Now? Checking in with Study Abroad Alumni Erika spent the Summer 2014 term completing an internship at Helena Forbes in Shanghai, China, where she gained first-hand experience in adjusting to a different culture’s work and communication styles. She interned as a fabric consultant and merchandising intern. Erika graduated from the University of Memphis in December 2015, and she now is a staff accountant and assistant project manager at Allworld Project Management in Memphis. In reflecting on her current career, Erika explained that her intern abroad experience was an asset in her job search. Not only was her international experience
discussed in the interview for her current position, but it enabled her to be proactive in asking the interviewer what global opportunities the company offered. Her employer is currently expanding and is seeking opportunities outside of the United States. Erika applies the skills she learned abroad daily in her current position. What is Erika’s advice to current Memphis students? "To literally do what you put your mind to." At first, studying abroad was just a thought in her mind. It wasn't until Professor Irvin Tankersley of the Fogelman College of Business, gave her a reality check by asking her, "What are
7
you waiting for?" when she expressed that she wanted to study abroad. With determination and faith, she was able to turn this idea into reality, which contributed to her being more competitive amongst other interviewees.
her resume. “Study abroad has definitely given me a competitive edge; in my law school interviews, I was able to express how studying in Morocco aided in my desire to practice international child advocacy.
Kiki spent the Fall 2014 semester (her junior year) studying in Ifrane, Morocco. As a political science major, Kiki spent her time studying political and economic systems of the Middle East and North Africa along with the French language. One of Kiki’s most unique experiences was attending a traditional Moroccan wedding. Kiki remembers “it began at 10 pm and ended at 6 am, and all the time in between could only be described as magical.”
Kiki’s advice for potential study abroad students is to be uncomfortable. Some of the most eye-opening experiences only happen when you place yourself outside of your comfort zone. Study in a country where English is not the first language; resist the urge to only hang out with study abroad students; and make friends with the locals. More often than not, you will have more commonalties than differences. But most importantly, HAVE FUN! The semester will be over before you know it, so seize the day!
Kiki Carson will begin law school at the University of Southern California this fall. Her time abroad has given Kiki an international political perspective, which has boosted
UofM Students Awarded Benjamin A. Gilman Scholarships for Study Abroad!
Congratulations to the following recipients of the Benjamin A. Gilman Scholarship for Study Abroad. The Gilman International Scholarship Program offers scholarships for U.S. citizen undergraduate students of limited financial means to pursue academic studies or credit-bearing, career-oriented internships abroad. The Gilman Scholarship Program received more than 3,400 applications and over 1,000 outstanding students were offered awards to study abroad and participate in international internships this summer.
Summer 2016 Gilman Scholarship Recipients Joneesha Collins (South Korea)
Shenika Williams (South Korea)
Fall 2016 & Academic Year 2016 Gilman Scholarship Recipients:
Chamberly Martin (Japan)
Melissa Swauncey (Jordan)
Chesney Borden (Japan)
Elizabeth Jones (Costa Rica)
Angelique Tutor (Costa Rica)
Miaya Johnson (Japan)
Jacob Schober (China)
Chelsea Jones (Morocco)
Leashandra Wiggins (Japan)
Nabat Sharif (Morocco)
Branch Yarbro (Japan)
For more information about the Gilman Scholarship please visit iie.org/en/Programs/Gilman-Scholarship-Program or email tigersabroad@memphis.edu
You can also keep up with important dates at and the latest news ad ro memphis.edu/ab
The University of Memphis, a Tennessee Board of Regents institution, is an Equal Opportunity/ Affirmative Action University. It is committed to education of a non-racially identifiable student body. UOM159-FY1516/4C50 • Peerless Printing
Global Learning Office 102 Brister Hall Memphis, TN 38152 901.678.2814 tigersabroad@memphis.edu memphis.edu/abroad /studyabroadmemphis