#sjuglobal

You’re thrown into a foreign country with a bunch of strangers and a few familiar faces from school— making friends is inevitable. I’ve spent the last couple of days exploring Ireland with the most wonderful people. Truly. To begin, we were toured around Mary Immaculate College (MIC), St. John’s partner location within Limerick, Ireland. Being led from the hallway to hallway, we learned a few interesting things about the school. Our guide showed us their office, which used to be an orphanage in the early 1900s. She also brought us by the library where the Irish language is spoken exclusively. Overall, it was beautiful. Though the sky was grey, it contrasted beautifully with the greenery around campus. The architecture was impressive. It looked as if a good chunk of Hogwarts was shipped to Ireland and placed within a walking distance of Limerick’s center.

Rest assured, this fear is gone.

The days to follow were full of so many adventures. We walked through King John’s castle, setting foot on a stone that’s been laid for almost 800 years. It was built in order to keep the city safe from Gaelic kingdoms in the west and from Normal lord’s rebellion to the east and south. The view from the towers was breath-taking, overlooking the Shannon River. Trust me when I say you actually feel like Rapunzel peering down from her bedroom.

The next day, we headed out for the Cliffs of Moher. I have never seen anything quite like it. If I could, I would sit on the edge for eternity. Hearing the waves and watching the water crash against the rock was so calming. Later that evening, we went to The Farmyard in Corofin; this must have been my favorite outing. The farmer split us up into teams and gave us a series of challenges, the first being a “Willie Toss” in which we have to throw a rain boot as far as we can behind us. The second challenge was to herd sheep and guide them through a set of tires. We split into 2 groups: the Blockers and the Hunters. I had the chance to be a hunter. Along with my peers, we lead the sheep through the course. They were so adorable and well-behaved! They followed our guidance without hesitance, watching our gestures and moving accordingly. Lastly, we had to milk a cow; each drop mattered. We had to keep Betty the cow calm and relaxed so we could get as much milk as we could from her. In the end, our team points were close. The deciding factor came down to the seconds it took to herd the sheep. My team won! After we headed back to the hotel and most slept the whole ride back.

Over the weekend, we went to the Milk Market. Under a huge tent, tons of vendors gathered fresh goods and homemade products. I wanted to eat everything. As a personal excursion, a few friends and I headed to Galway the next day. The biggest pulling factor for us to go was a song you may know, “Galway Girl” by Ed Sheeran. We weren’t expecting much, but upon exploring, we really underestimated the city. The pedestrian areas offered such a beautiful walk, little shops and street performers drawing in much attention. We caught sight of a cute tourist train chugging through the city, so we found where it began and hopped on. Since it allowed its passengers to hop on and off throughout the day, we left when we found the place Ed Sheeran had filmed his music video. It was by a gorgeous oceanfront, and lucky for us, the weather had cleared up. The view was so beautiful, it seemed photoshopped.

I’m not sure what I expected, but I’m happy this journey is beginning the way it is. I want to experience as much as I can. I’m eager to see where this program will take us, and to see where we’ll venture outside of it. It’s only been a week, but I’ve seen enough sights to confirm that Ireland is truly a beautiful place to be.

There is something amazing about being able to see the sights of Europe: The Eiffel Tower, The Colosseum, Sagrada Familia, and so on. And while I enjoyed getting to see the rich history here and learn all about these historical and sacred places, the thing that I’ve taken away most from my trip abroad is the volume of current things going on in Europe that I simply had no idea, or only a vague idea, about. My theology professor here has been living in Italy for eight years or so, and she says that she remembers how different it is in The United States. It’s like being in your own world entirely, so far removed from other countries. Because of the proximity and relationships within the European Union (EU), I think that it simply isn’t as easy to be disconnected from the rest of the world here. When you add in the size of The United States and relationships with the rest of North America and South America, Europe barely stands a chance to truly enter our news network. 

 For all of the places I visited, I both intentionally and unintentionally learned more and more about the issues that citizens of the countries were facing. I have been fortunate enough to travel to Paris, Barcelona, Zurich, Edinburgh, Bucharest, and, of course, Rome and around Italy. In this post, I hope to help you to travel with me and see what I’ve learned about these places and their trials. While most of the information has been compiled throughout the semester, I linked some fact-checkers and ways to read/watch more about these issues below. One of the main themes highlighted by St. John’s University’s Study abroad programs is migration. It is integrated to every class possible, and this has helped me understand the issues. With the current climate all across Europe, there couldn’t be anything more appropriate.

 The first place I would like to focus on is France. My first stop in Europe was in Paris, France, and I was immediately amazed by its wonder and beauty. However, there is no question about the political and social turmoil that has been occurring there for years. While many of us have heard about the attacks on Paris and Nice, there is a much deeper disdain toward foreigners that is not far removed from these attacks. In the United States, we refer to ourselves as a melting pot, a blending of cultures to create a diverse society. In France, it couldn’t be more the opposite. A dirty word in American history, assimilation, is their reality. When you are immigrating to France, you are expected to become French. While I’ve noticed that this is a theme around Europe and the hyphenated identities (African-American, Irish-American, Italian-American, etc.) of the US don’t exist here, it runs deeper in France. The culture that is not their own is washed away here, especially when it comes to religion.

 In 2004, French began the consideration of outlawing wearing burqas, hijabs, kippahs, and large displays of crosses. The one that came into effect is of any sort of face-veil, which directly targets Muslims, but it is widely encouraged to not wear any religious symbols and make yourself a target. Outside of religion but not far from it, immigrants tend to be living in suburbs or lower socioeconomic areas of Paris. They isolate themselves because they don’t feel welcome, and they create their own communities that are segregated from the whole of Paris and therefore France. While this brings in the question of open- vs. closed-borders and integration, it also creates a breeding ground for terrorists. In fact, the Paris attacks of 2015 had French natives involved. 

One of my classes studied how people can feel drawn to join a terrorist group and act when they feel that they are not being represented. In a society where culture erasure is meant to create a unified whole, it instead has created tense relations that have lead to attacks. In the US, we can obviously relate with recent immigrant issues at the forefront of politics. Rome, and Italy as a whole, had similar issues with immigration. Italy quickly has become the liaison between the Middle East and North African (MENA) countries to the rest of Europe. Many people from MENA countries will enter into Italy through the Mediterranean with the intention of staying until they can make it further north. This has caused a great strain on the economy and relationships between natives and the new demographic. In this country, strict self-segregation can also be seen. 

In my economics class, we took a trip to a town called Torpignattara, which has been dubbed “Banglatown”.This town is full of heavily concentrated immigrants, many from Bangladesh as implied by the name, and they have made more of a town of their own than become a part of Rome. Their town is filled with stores with their native clothing, food, and other goods. They support their own small economy, not the whole of Rome. Rather, they send a majority of their money home. All of these issues have brought immigration to the forefront of Italy’s political atmosphere. There have even been talks of leaving the EU to allow them to have more ability to control their immigration laws. Another effect that has happened to Italy is called ‘The Brain Drain’. Basically, well-educated individuals are leaving the country in search of better job opportunities. This makes it hard for the country to continue to develop and westernize since the best of the best are leaving.

 By far the most interesting thing to learn about was the potential secession of Catalonia from Spain. Catalonia is to Spain what, for example, Pennsylvania is to The United States. While it is just a region, it functions more as a state with its own government. This region includes Barcelona, a city that was my first international trip leaving Rome. Upon arriving, it was clear that there was some strong political movement going on. Every single apartment building had plenty of windows donning the Catalonian flag (which I initially thought were weathered Puerto Rican ones) and signs along the lines of “we won’t be silenced” and “free Catalonia”. Out of intrigue, I did some research while there to try to figure out what was going on. Catalonia is the richest region in Spain, and because of this they pay high taxes. However, much of that tax money they don’t see coming back to their own region. Rather, it is used for other regions in Spain. Aside from this main issue, Catalonia has an entirely different culture and even their own language, Catalan. Catalan is more similar to Italian and French than Spanish, which definitely threw me off while I was in Barcelona. I am by no means a Spanish speaker, but I think that everyone in the US picks up a few things. 

Having traveled to Puerto Rico not long ago, I thought I could at least order french fries (papas fritas), but even that wasn’t immediately recognizable (patates fregides). The most interesting part of this whole thing to me was the numbers about who really wants this. 90% of the population that chose to vote in the referendum said that they wanted to secede. There is much more that goes into this whole issue, including violence, some people in jail or in hiding in other countries, and some lost votes. Overall based on what I saw and what the numbers show this is a very real and pressing issue in this area. Because Spain is a country that is in the Western world and there was violence involved, I assume that this is something that I would have heard of. It just enlightened me even further to how little I am in touch with the rest of the world.

I was sitting in a plane on my second solo-trip abroad just starting out on the book that I’d picked out for the trip, and the perfect line jumped out at me: “Her colleagues at school thought it odd that she loved to travel solo, but for Lily, making her own way and answer to no one were her favorite parts of the adventure.” It couldn’t have been more fitting for the trip I was embarking on and the topic I’d decided my next post to be on.

 Especially at a young age in new countries where you might not necessarily know the language, travelling alone seems like a daunting task. However, in the modern age of technology I think that it is easier than ever before to have a safe and fun adventure on your own. Not sure how to order a hot chocolate in the native language? Have Google Translate up on your phone. If you or a loved one is worried about you being alone, there’s a variety of different services that allow you to share your location. For the entirety of my trip abroad, my entire family has had my location 24/7 in case something happens, even when I’m safely in my dorm. Even more, there are apps that can help you when you feel unsafe, ratings on cab drivers and Airbnb hosts that ensure their credibility, and more.

 I am not someone who tends feel comfortable going out to do things alone, such as sitting at a proper restaurant or taking a flight. My first trip alone was a slightly spontaneous one to Switzerland. To avoid paying for somewhere to stay, I took an overnight bus that arrived around 8:30am and then another overnight bus back to Rome leaving at 10:30pm. In the small city of Zürich, there are obviously things I missed out on, but the packed day made me feel like I made the most of my time in the city. I started off with a free tour, went and walked through two museums, and got some food along the way. Surprisingly, I didn’t feel very alone throughout all of it. Walking tours and museum trips aren’t generally places you’d be having a lot of conversation, so I didn’t miss having a friend beside me. Furthermore, I was able to go at my own pace. No one was running into me when I stopped to take pictures or wanting to go slower or faster as I strolled through the museums. Even more so, I didn’t have to compromise where I wanted to go and get food for someone else's sake.

 My second trip was to Edinburgh, Scotland, which was different given that rather than a bus-ride, it was now a flight and a weekend rather than day trip. I went to a different airport out of Rome this time, which was a bit overwhelming due to the different set-up of it, but most airports tend to be alike, and I found my way. Even though it’s not that big of a deal, it still was a practice in problem-solving and figuring things out on my own. Getting into the Airbnb alone was a bit nerve-wracking, because I have always been in Airbnb’s with a friend. It was actually rather nice to have a host that wasn’t around much when I was. Not being able to figure out the key at first was stressful, but once I was in and got to have the full queen-sized bed to myself, it was quite luxurious to have that space after being combined at the hip with my roommate for the last 3 months. Although I met up with a friend while there, I still had time to myself to do a free walking tour and grab some different food along the way before being shown the city.

  I am always someone who has liked alone time, but travelling alone is an entirely different experience. It’s something that I would recommend everyone do. People say that travelling abroad is all about independence and finding yourself, and while I think that can be dramatic to an extent, I see the benefit in experiencing new cultures in your own way. Being able to do this in different countries also has encouraged me to consider doing similar little weekend trips around America. A bus or airplane from NYC can take you millions of places, and now that I have conquered other countries, other places in America don’t seem so scary. The reality of being in another country with friends is that not everyone’s financial situation is the same. Some people have the ability to travel every weekends, and others don’t, but whatever category you fall into you should make sure to make the most of your time abroad. Short trips alone are the perfect way make the most of your time and see as much of this world as possible while growing individually.

As a School of Education major studying in Italy, I participate in six hours a week of student teaching. One other SJU School of Education student and I were placed in a British International School, St. George’s, in which most of the teachers hail from the United Kingdom but the students range from all over Europe. Because of the large difference between these students, the accepted spoken language is UK English which is formally the same spoken language as American English but in reality, it’s very, very different. When the teachers speak very fast, I have a hard time understanding them especially when their accents are coupled with phrases that one does not typically hear in the United States. For example, rather than, “Act appropriately when walking down the hall to lunch please.” A teacher at St. George’s may say, “Now don’t forget to act sensibly, we don’t want a rise, do we?” The most interesting thing in terms of language for me is that these students may be speaking three to four different languages throughout the day, but they are all developing British accents because of their academic culture. Many of these students have diplomat parents or come from affluent backgrounds who do not originate from Italy but have settled in Italy. For example, I have a small girl in my class who speaks Slovakian at home with her mom, her dad speaks French, she is learning Italian (as the school’s foreign language) but is only allowed to speak English outside of play time and Italian class. She is not the only student with these circumstances either. A child’s capacity for language has never seemed so extensive to me until I stepped into this school.

Because of these language complications, I have noticed particularly in the younger grades the struggle to read and write. I’ve also noticed many learning devices put in place to aid these students with normal development despite the challenges they face learning as many as four languages at once. Another large difference worth mentioning by now is that this private school starts their students in Kindergarten at age four. So during their academic career, they are always a full year ahead of where they would be in the United States. When I’ve brought this up to teachers, I’ve heard mixed feelings. Some say that it’s wonderful and gives them a chance to push themselves and learn more from a younger age in which it is easier to learn and retain larger sums of knowledge. Others have said that it is too much because they are not socially developed to match their intellectual development with this structure. I can see and agree with both of these sides. I have witnessed the challenges of teaching six year olds division when it would normally be a seven year old’s academic duty. However I have also witnessed five year olds write creative narratives with ease, which would normally be expected of a first grader at age six. The argument can be made for either side however, working with the students who struggle is what has made me so confident in my decision to follow this career path.

These students are so bright, especially facing the challenges that they do. Being a private school, students have access to all of the resources they may need. A student with number confusion can use different manipulative (blocks or counters) but if that doesn’t work, perhaps a simulation on an iPad app, or maybe written numbers appeal to him more on the projector. Watching these students struggle and finally succeed, having pride in what they worked hard to accomplish makes it all worth it. Without a doubt, the School of Education students have a lot on our plate: on top of six classes every semester to graduate on time, we have to add six hours of student teaching every week which is the equivalent of two more classes including the homework and prep but not the commute. I commute about a half hour to St. George’s twice a week in between classes. While it may be more challenging to be here in Italy, studying our major, I believe I can speak for all of us SOE students when we say that it’s worth the commute and extra work to see how happy those students get when we walk in the door or when we come to help them with a subject they’re having a hard time with.

Before leaving for the Dominican Republic, I’d read about how travel is the only thing you buy, that makes you richer. I wasn’t quite sure what I’d “gain” from such a short trip, but now that I’m back home, and have had time to reflect, I feel like I’ve gained the world. The small island put the concept of intersectionality, that I’ve so desperately tried to master, into perspective. Through religion, politics, citizenship, race, and gender, the DR beautifully paved out the importance of not just using the term “intersectionality” to describe “diversity”, but instead, using it to ensure that we don’t overlook the challenges and grievances of people who belong to MULTIPLE marginalized communities. It helped develop my understanding of the hierarchical nature of power, and the struggles that come forth by trying to “belong”. And most importantly, it has shown me how important it is for people who have lived through their own struggles, to write their own narratives, and work towards a better future for themselves. #nowesternsaviorneeded

Buonasera! (This means good evening in Italiano) I have now been mixing my six years of perfect Spanish practice with Italian for almost three weeks. I didn’t need the school’s provided crash course on Italian Culture to realize that I didn’t fit in. My blonde hair and green eyes have become my trademark American symbol in this newfound home of mine. When any waiter, cashier, store owner or even pedestrian on the street spots me, they immediately want to test their English on me. Yet, I am still making the effort to learn the new language, even if everyone here speaks some English. I’ve come to realize that the locals really appreciate my effort even if it’s inaudible due to embarrassment. Me: “Buongiorno!” Store owner: “It’s night time, you say buonasera. Here, now you say it!” Me: “Boney Sarah”. And then they laugh and act like I’m learning.

Another newly discovered challenge is for my stomach.  Italian’s sometimes eat four separate meals daily—if they even qualify as meals: a small breakfast (Example: croissant or fresh fruit), lunch (which can be anything from a panino (sandwich) or pizza to a sit down 3-course meal at a restaurant), aperitivo (you pay between five and seven euros for a drink and appetizer-like foods are included in the price) and finally dinner between 9 and 11 PM. In general, Italians can become very offended when their servings are not finished and there is no such thing as doggy bags, left overs, or to-go, so be sure to finish your entire meal. This brings me to another food difference that I’ve struggled with; sitting down to eat/drink. People stare at my American way of drinking or eating while walking. You must make time to sit down to eat and drink in Italy, which is why some businesses close for some down time between 1-4 PM which they call “pausa pranzo” or lunch break.

 The strangest thing to me thus far here is preservation of history. The craziest thing is touching a tree whose roots grew exactly where Julius Cesar was stabbed, 0r walking inside of the Pantheon that was once flooded by the Tiber River. I am not a history buff by any means, but it’s different when you are taking up residency in one of the greatest Empires that ever ruled ancient history. The stories, the legends, the sights, and the beliefs, the traditions: Roma has come alive for me. Every day I am learning so many new things and adapting myself to the culture. I can already feel myself opening up to their way of life. I was embarrassed to walk with a to-go cup of “Caffè Americano” (they do not have American coffee, this is two shots of espresso filled with boiling water). I was not embarrassed because of my American culture, but because I am embracing the difference. I am doing as the Romans do. When in Rome, right?

At the start of it all I was very frazzled with the course load, student teaching (I’m in the Rome semester Education program), exploring, and home-sickness (which has slightly kicked in). However, I am going two weeks strong and I have even begun to travel. I spent a weekend in Venice for a festival called Carnevale.

I need to acknowledge something that happened, during my first excursion which I was unprepared for: the liberation. Traveling by train for five hours each way was dreadful, but going somewhere, making memories and returning on my own will, with my own plans, through my own want, that was a feeling unlike anything else. I was amazed by what I was able to do on my own, what I made happen without the aid of others. I guess it is true when they say that you find yourself when you travel. I've only been here a couple weeks but I've already made a home here for myself.

As a study abroad alumna in my senior year of college, it is safe to say that going abroad is the best decision I have ever made. I traveled to Rome, Italy with the Global Passport Program, offered to first year students, as a freshman in May 2015. I then headed to Paris, France with the Staten Island Vice Provost Program as a sophomore in January 2016. Since these were only one week programs I was not expecting for my life to be impacted the way it was. I often find myself looking back into the thrilling blur of those week-long programs and catch smiling. How had I become so fortunate to be presented with an opportunity such as this? St. John’s has given me ample resources and possibilities for an enriched college and future career, but studying abroad has to be my highlight. It has enhanced my own personal growth and has given me a taste of the large world we are a part of. I decided to become a Global Studies Ambassador to pass along my knowledge, experiences, and profound gratefulness for study abroad to my fellow students. Although I have vastly grown due to my study abroad experience, there are several specific qualities I have attained while gallivanting through Rome and Paris and engaging the local cultures in my short time abroad.

In New York, we are lucky to be surrounded by different cultures, languages, customs and religions. Being and acting different is a part of what makes up our society. Abroad, it’s a whole other ballgame. You are in another country, another city, and you must be conscious of their society. In Paris you will draw attention by simply talking too loudly. There is often the stereotype that people may be rude or simply not like you in some places because you are an American. Yet, there are many people in other countries who actually love Americans! In Rome people would greet me and my classmates with kindness, joy, and even speak to us in English, knowing right off the bat that we were American. People would tell us stories about when they had gone to America or how much they wish to go. Always research the location you will be staying in to gain greater perspective and preparation of their culture. Did you know that most Italians, would never order a cappuccino after breakfast time (usually 10:00am)? Going abroad, you must learn to adapt and assimilate in order to be respectful but also for safety reasons. You want to have fun and an impeccable experience, but also to stay safe. Studying abroad has helped me gain adaptation and assimilation skills in unfamiliar situations which will be skills I’ll be able to use for the rest of my life.   

While being away from home and out of your own comfort zone, there is definitely more independence but also responsibility thrown your way. You might have to learn to navigate without Google maps or your parents’ directions, wash your own clothes if you don’t already, enhance your decision-making abilities (especially when it comes to your finances) and be courageous in a place you have never been. Although that might seem intimidating, do not be afraid to go alone. While gaining self-sufficiency and fulfilment, you also gain life-long companions. People bond through the experience of something new and unfamiliar. I vividly remember walking alone through the Rome campus on the first day, past a group of my peers that I had never really spoken to. One of them looked at me and asked if I had lunch yet. When I responded “no”, they invited me to go eat with them and we were inseparable the rest of the trip. Some of us ended up going to Paris together the following year. I still remain in contact with them and we love to reminisce about our memories abroad. They made the trip even more unforgettable and I utterly cherish their friendships to this day.  

As I reflect on my experience I recognize the consciousness and appreciation I have gained for the world. There were countless times I would stand in awe at the breathtaking sites before me. I can still feel my relaxed and serene state of mind every time I look through pictures or even think about my time abroad. The experience was absolutely surreal and a once (well, twice!) in a lifetime opportunity. While going through our everyday lives it is easy to lose track of all that is out there in the world. My problems become smaller as I think about the bigger world we are a part of. Heading off into the world of “adulting” you realize there is less time for soul searching and more time for soul selling. I was truly at peace and had become one with myself during my short time traveling. I am forever indebted to St. John’s for giving me that opportunity and fulfilment. My ONLY regret was not doing a full semester abroad because I feared all the responsibilities and things I would be leaving behind. My advice, be daring. Take on all opportunities presented to you. You will regret it if you don’t.