#utahabroad

By: Jessie Jolly, Social Media Scholarship Recipient Spring 2019, Global Entrepreneurship in South America 

 Day 6 // 6 days full of friendly fluffy dogs, empanadas, views I couldn’t even dream up, and new friends. I think I’m going to be okay here. #utahabroad

We were warned that the drive to Dunche was similar to off-roading in southern Utah. Looking at a giant truck just inches away from one side of our jeep and, quite literally, multiple thousands of feet of vertical drop on the other, I would instead say that the best off-road Jeep enthusiasts in our state could not handle the main road into town. Littered with rocks, leftover landslide debris, and some of the most sheer cliffs that I have ever seen, the drivers that tackle two-way traffic on those roads (in manual vehicles, no less) are fearless. We had more than one bend pointed out to us where entire buses had tipped and rolled to the valley floor with no survivors.

After eight hours of being jostled in the backs of our respective vehicles, we arrived in the quaint little town of Dunche. Just 34 km from the China border, the residents here look and dress very differently from the dominant socioethnic groups in Kathmandu. Terraced fields rise up from the main street running through town, giving way to steep forested hills. This region in particular was close to the epicenter of one of the earthquakes in 2015, and the hospital we are working at was only finished a few months ago. The dedicated doctors and staff have been operating out of field tents for the past three years, through snow, monsoons, dust, and variable electricity and supplies.

Tomorrow, we start at the hospital rounding with two doctors, Prabal and Kamal. Both are recent MBBS graduates, which is a close equivalent of the medical doctor (MD) degree in the US. As part of a scholarship program, both have been assigned to practice a rural clinic (Dunche) for two years. Much like in the US, rural areas are chronically short on providers, and scholarship programs (or loan repayment in the US) are some of the only incentives that governments have found to fill those slots. For the communities, this is a double-edged sword: they have providers available, but they rarely stay longer than 2-3 years and provide longstanding continuity of care.

By: Jessie Jolly, Social Media Scholarship Recipient Spring 2019, Global Entrepreneurship in South America 

Welp it’s official. We have finally reached our halfway point and are on the tail end of our trip to South America. Even though we have only been here for two months, I think I can speak for all of us when I say Chile now feels like home and we’re not ready to think about it coming to an end quite yet. We’re now settled into our internships, have developed close relationships with the other international students living at our apartment complex, and have gotten into a good routine with our classes. Here is a recap of what we’ve been up to so far.

When we first arrived in Chile near the beginning of January, we made our way to the southern most part of the Patagonia region. We spent a week exploring the historic town of Punta Arenas, admiring the picturesque views in Torres del Paine and visiting the penguins on Magdalena Island. This is where we were first introduced to Chilean culture and to the rest of the group that we would be spending the next few months with. After getting to know one another and bonding in Punta Arenas, it was time to fly back to Santiago and get to work.

Santiago is our home base here in Chile. It is where we live, work and study- and we couldn’t think of a better place to be. Since being here we’ve had the chance to visit multiple companies such as IBM, Corfo, and Costanera where we were able to learn more intricate details about their companies and process. We have finished 3 out of the 5 entrepreneurship classes we are enrolled in and have matured in our internships. During the week days we all stay really focused on our internships and studying, but we have been good about finding balance and allowing time for fun in the evenings and over the weekends such as group dinners, frequenting the beach, and exploring the nightlife of Santiago.  

We live in an international student housing complex located in the heart of Santiago. It has been a pleasure getting to know the other residents here who come from all over the world and having the opportunity to learn from so many different cultures. The diversity that we encounter is like none other and has made each of us become so much more culturally aware. We really enjoy living here and touring the country with our new friends.

Overall it has been an unforgettable experience thus far and we’re each still starving for more. The classes we have taken, the networking we’ve done, and all of the places we have visited has been unreal. We’re looking forward to future plans the Global Entrepreneurship Program has in store for us and are so excited that we still have plenty of time to soak in all the great things that Chile has to offer.

By: Jessie Jolly, Social Media Scholarship Recipient Spring 2019, Global Entrepreneurship in South America

By: Joe, Social Media Scholarship Recipient, Akita International University

So, you want to study abroad to {insert country of choice here} to learn {insert said country’s native language here}. Great! I highly recommend you follow through on your decision, as you will certainly gain immeasurable life experience–experience you will most certainly never regret. But before you get ahead of yourself and book your flights, lend me your eyeballs for a second and let’s think together about some of the considerations you’ll need to make to get the most out of your upcoming adventure.

1. Research Potential Host Universities

Not only is it important to understand what classes your options offer (you know, to make sure it’s possible to take those nine credit hours of Japanese language courses that you need for your degree),  but it’s also important to understand the academic/student life climate at your host university or program.

For example, my current host university (Akita International University), despite being in the rural countryside of Japan, teaches all of its non-language-based classes in English. On the one hand, this is very beneficial because even for students with one semester of Japanese language under your belt, you can still come here to study Japanese and quickly knock out a couple of gen. ed. requirements with it. (Double check that your home university will allow this.) However, the downside to this is that every student here speaks English, and if it’s easier for everyone at the lunch table to speak English, they will. Not speaking or hearing the language you’re learning, especially at meal times, can make it difficult to get that true “immersion experience” your academic advisor is telling you about.

2. Research the Location

Similar to tip #1, the social climate of the city or town or village you’ll be living in is also important. For me, I had previously lived in Tokyo for two months, so I was looking for some contrast with something a little more countryside (and, boy, the countryside is what I got). But I can’t tell you the number of times I’ve heard people complain about how far from the city the campus is! Did they not do any research? Probably not. Don’t let that happen to you.

If, like me, you’re okay with taking a 40-minute bus trip each way just to get to the closest grocery store, go for it, but know ahead of time that that’s what you’re getting into. Reversely, be prepared to know that you might to have to get used to the sound of train tracks and the nightlife right outside your dorm window if you’d rather be studying in a major city. Additionally, if you’re looking for that tried-and-true immersion experience, consider that larger cities might be more English-friendly than the countryside and that the folks living in the countryside might speak a bit of a different dialect than what’s traditionally taught in the classroom setting. (Picking up some of these dialectical quirks could impress your language professors back home, though your mileage may vary.)

3. Be Ready to Invest in Field Trips/Excursions Away from Campus

Finally, to get this “language immersion experience” I keep mentioning, be prepared to spend a little money on field trips that your learning abroad program, host university, or even other local organizations may offer. You may be fortunate enough that someone may offer these excursions for free or at a steep discount to students, but no matter what, you should seek them out and take advantage of these wherever possible. I’m talking about the field trips that will take you to museums and aquariums and the like. They sound cheesy and touristy, and they are, but these places are rich in opportunities to utilize the language skills you’re currently acquiring to not only navigate the environment but also talk to shop-owners, read signs about exhibits, etc.

Ultimately, it boils down to this: you want to make sure that the language immersion experience you want to seek out is what you’re going to get. Not all sizes fit one, and the best way you’re going to benefit from your program is to do your research, embrace what you end up with when you’re finally there, and never give up the search for more opportunities to practice, practice, practice! Best of luck on your study abroad adventures, and safe journey to you travelers.

Bonus Tip: Do a Homestay!

I am leaving for Australia in a week plus a handful of hours and I am so stressed, but at the same time so excited. I really have no idea what to expect from all of this, but I just feel like sharing my thoughts will help me feel better about everything.

The Good:

I will be leaving the USA for the first time. I am so excited to become a world traveler and expand my horizons in a way I haven't before.

I will have more freedom than I have ever had. It's scary, but it's mostly exciting.

I am starting a new job, which is exciting. I love trying new things, which makes me scared to pick a single career in the future. Hopefully, this will lead to more of a clear vision of what I want to do for the rest of my life.

The Bad:

I'm going to miss my dog so much. She is my baby and I can't believe I am about to be away from her for over three months.

I have never lived on my own. I don't know if I can function living on my own. I guess that's kind of a lie because I know I can function, I just don't know how yet.

I really don't like flying, so I don't know what to expect. I have become such a better flyer, so I'm trying to think about it as a step toward feeling less anxious when I fly in the future.

There are so many more things, like packing and overpacking, but I think I'll start with this post. I'll keep adding to this and keeping anyone who cares up-to-date.

By: Jessie Jolly, Social Media Scholarship Recipient Spring 2019, Global Entrepreneurship in South America 

By: Jessie Jolly, Social Media Scholarship Recipient Spring 2019, Global Entrepreneurship in South America