Valpo Voyager

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My Spanish Uncle

December 21, 2010 / John Webster / 1 Comment

Well, after some difficulty getting a connecting flight from Heathrow this weekend (see news article), I have made it home safely! I was extremely lucky to make it back yesterday, many folks are still stuck in London. My bag is somewhere out there in the world, but I was assured last night that there is a very high likelihood I will have it by Christmas. Just another one of the many adventures I have had on this trip. While in line I could help but snap this ironic photo.

My journey begin with Juan, a professor at the University of Granada, dropping me off at Granada’s bus station after kindly offering to do so earlier in the week. Our meeting was a strange occurrence, it’s a random story but I’ll plunge along nevertheless.

Back in October I started chatting with Jose, a man that lives on a street I passed on my way to school. I wanted to see why Jose chose to live on the street since the Spanish Government provides dormitory housing to anyone in need. Really though, I wanted to get to know the guy and hopefully see him move to a better future.

One evening when I was talking to Jose, a man approached me and asked where I was from in Spanish. As soon as I said Massachusetts he lit up and switched to an impressive English and said, “Oh I got my post doc at UMass Amherst and now I teach Civil Engineering here.” I was a pretty shocked.

We talked a bit more and Juan explained that he approached me because he also knew Jose. He had just come out of Mass, which was when I then discovered that Jose’s spot on the street was right next to a small church. I decided that my meeting Juan wasn’t a coincidence so I asked him if he wanted to have coffee sometime and took down his email.

Over the weeks I met Juan several times at his office. We went to lunch at the University dining hall and to a few different tapas bars. I gained a better insight into the Spanish education system and had great, personal conversation in Spanish and English along the way. On my last week we met and had a great talk. His being Catholic and my not being so (although being Christian) provided us with great topics. It never got heated but we definitely weren’t afraid to state beliefs. It reminded me of all the quality conversations I have back at Valpo, whether on similar subjects or a host of others.

Toward the end of the evening Juan asked how I was leaving and then offered to drive me to the bus station. I was thrilled to avoid paying a for a taxi and to have someone to see me off, and later said “Juan, you’re treating me like a father, thank you!” We laughed and he said, “well, you have a father, so I can be like an uncle.”

There you have it, now I have a Spanish Uncle who I will stay in contact with and look forward to seeing again when I, God willing, return to Spain with my family one day. Now that’s a dream and a blog for another time!

The End! (Well…kinda)

December 17, 2010 / Lydia Mertz / 2 Comments

My alarm rudely woke me up at 5:15 AM and I slid out of my warm bed wondering why I was up so early. Eventually, my senses came to me and I was glad to be awake at this time of the morning and soon got ready for a morning adventure with my friends Erin and Chris. I left my room putting no makeup on, bundled in layers of clothing, my notebook and camera in my trusty bag ready to document the moment.

The “moment” I’m referring to was watching the sunrise at the top of the San Remedios Church here in Cholula. This isn’t just any regular Catholic church here in Mexico. The church was built on top of the Aztec’s pyramid in 1594 with the length from the base of the pyramid to the top of the church being 853 feet. The church is a beautiful icon of Cholula and overlooks the city. Erin, Chris and I arrived at the base of the church and walked to the top where you could overlook the city with wind snapping in our faces and the cold penetrating our bones all in the morning darkness. We somehow managed to get inside the area of the church for onlookers, sat on top of the wall (it was amazing to look down and see the valley below) and proceeded to patiently wait for the sunrise.

The sunrise is just about to peak!

After a few minutes, the colors of the sunrise started to appear. The valley below was sprinkled with the orange lights of homes and stores. The mountains were a dark purple and made the perfect background. Although it is impossible to describe the beauty that was before us in words, there was nothing like this sunrise. Soon appeared were layers of color that included a golden orange and rich yellow all somehow blending in with the morning darkness.

As we sat upon the wall of the San Remedios Church, the day started to awaken and the colors became more vivid. It was the end of semester and exams were officially over to our delight. It was somewhat ironic to end the journey with a sunrise. Chris (who is Mexican) and I would stay here in Mexico and Erin would be on her way to the US the next day. However, I couldn’t help but think that it really wasn’t quite the end.

When abroad, like the sunrise, you seem to realize the colors and diversity of the world as you become immersed in that culture and meet friends from other cultures. At times, those colors don’t seem to blend very well as you struggle with the language and solving the puzzle of living in foreign culture. It takes some time, but eventually, the colors somehow blend together in the palette of your study abroad journey. In the case of Erin, Chris and I, the memories we made and lessons learned from this semester in Mexico were just the beginning for a new stage in life. Although life changes and progresses when you get back to your country or even stay abroad, always live with color.

Saludos!

Going the Distance

December 14, 2010 / derekschnake / 0 Comments

Love, regardless of how one defines it, is not something that exists independently. It requires attention and devotion; that is to say, you have to work at it. Randy Pausch once said, “The brick walls are there to give us a chance to show how badly we want something.” Relationships function the same way.

My girlfriend and I have survived a semester apart, an ocean and seven time zones away. The task was daunting at first, but at the end of the endeavor, I find that it has been a fruitful experience. Here are some of the things I’ve learned.

It’s important to know how to say goodbye (or see you later).

Spending a semester apart requires that a relationship be in its best shape before the term starts. Like a marathon, your chances are best when you are prepared fit; a relationship is no different. It’s important that each person knows what to expect, and to expect those expectations to be challenged and maybe changed. Settle all fights and resolve all issues before the semester, else they’ll fester.

It’s all a lead up to knowing how to say goodbye properly.

Distance will make you talk more.

When all you have is talking and writing to each other, distance will exacerbate any problems and highlight any strong points. In my experience, my girlfriend and I managed to learn so much more about each other in the time we were away, primarily because all we had was the foundation of any relationship: communication. This is a prime opportunity to talk to each other at a depth that hasn’t been reached yet. As you learn more about yourself, share that.

It will be difficult, and it should be difficult.

Be honest about your relationship: Is it really strong enough to endure a semester apart? It’s a tough question to ask, but it’s a necessary one. My girlfriend and I go to different schools and have dated for nearly two years, so we had experience at distance before going into this past semester. However, if you relationship is celebrating its fourth week, and you’ve never spent more than 24 hours apart, it’s worth a critical self-evaluation.

Break conventions.

Few relationships are the same. A close friend of mine turned his relationship into an open one, in which both parties were allowed to see other people. That may not be a set up that fits everyone, certainly not me, but for the right couple it may work. There are all sorts of ways to keep a relationship going. Don’t be afraid to break convention to make it work.

Farewell

December 13, 2010 / Allie Sauber / 0 Comments

T.S. Eliot once said, “It’s strange that words are so inadequate.” And in the conclusion of this semester, this couldn’t be more true.

As the past few days have consisted of much meditation and profound reflection on this semester, it seems invariable that the word to characterize the end of all of this is, of course, bittersweet. As is expected, the past four months have brought so many positive changes in me that I intend on letting transcend into my life back in America. Since all posts leading up to this one allude to such changes, it seems the most beautiful way to conclude this semester is through the use of photos.

September, 2010

October, 2010

November, 2010

December, 2010

Here’s to this semester and all the changes it brought. What a beautiful time: what was, and is to come.

Five Reasons to Study Abroad

1. Opportunities to travel: It’s not very often that you have a chance to travel as easily and as inexpensively as you do when studying abroad. Being in Cambridge, I’ve been able to explore much of Europe and with classes for the week ending by noon on Thursday, I was always guaranteed three and a half days every week to travel and visit places I might not otherwise would have had the opportunity to see. Our study abroad program even had designated weekends where we traveled as a group to parts of England with transportation and accommodation being paid for by the program.

Studying abroad allowed me to fulfill a childhood dream and visit Madrid

2. Experience a culture first-hand: In order to truly embrace a culture you have to immerse yourself in it over an extended period of time. A quick visit to see the sights and taste some new food should hardly be considered experiencing a new culture. There’s so much more to what appears on the outside. In order to truly appreciate a culture you have to learn about their values, perceptions, beliefs and differences from your own culture.

3. Learn about yourself: Studying and living in a country is without a doubt an incredible experience, but it is also a great way to learn new ideas and gain new perspectives about yourself and your own culture. I’ve experienced challenges during my four months abroad that have caused me to grow as a person and simultaneously expand my worldview. I’ve truly benefited from being able to view my own culture through the eyes of others.

4. Network and make new friends: When you live in one place for four months you are bound to make new friends and meet a wide variety of people. I’ve been fortunate enough to meet plenty of people during my travels around Europe and around Cambridge. Some were people I shared a brief conversation with while others were people I’m confident I’ll stay in touch with for many years to come. I’ve been able to learn a lot from the people I’ve come in contact with while studying abroad and through them and I’ve been able to learn a lot through every one of them.

5. Enhance employment opportunities: With the world becoming more and more globalized and more counties continually investing in the international market, having experience in a foreign country can only be a benefit in future careers. Studying abroad shows that you are willing to embrace challenges and handle diverse problems and new situations. Who knows, it might even be the difference between your resume and that of someone else who hasn’t taken up the opportunity to study abroad.

Thoughts on leaving Cambridge

December 11, 2010 / derekschnake / 0 Comments

It doesn’t feel like I’m leaving soon. I’ve been on so many trips and excursions this semester that some part of me feels like going home is just temporary—that I’ll be coming back to Cambridge soon. In this sense, Cambridge has really become my home. The streets, the pubs, and the people have all grown on me and I feel like I could stay here forever.

Going home will be nice, though. Seeing family and friends for the holidays will most likely revitalize some of my energy. Of course, I’ll most likely lose all that energy in the first week of classes at Valpo. I could make a list of all the things I will miss from Cambridge, but none of it will do justice. Each and every one of those things fit together like notes in a beautiful symphony. On their own, they’re just things; together they combine to make this brilliantly magical.

General James

December 9, 2010 / John Webster / 2 Comments

My good friend James came to visit for the last 5 days. We had a blast exploring Granada. We went to several areas in the northern part of the city, the Albaicin (Muslim quarter), and the Realejo (Jewish quarter) that I hadn’t seen yet. After seeing the Alhambra on our first day we went up into Sacromonte to see a cave museum. While we took some time for lunch we began a goofy video series that I have edited into the fine document you have below. I hope you enjoy it. (enjoy my blatant typo at the beginning too)

[youtube:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XYLqjVnRT-M]

On Sunday we headed up into the Alpujarras. My third trip there was still more distinct than the last. We started in Bubión and took a local trail all the way up to the beginning of the Sierra Nevadas. It only took us one hour to finish the trail so we kept going. Within another hour we were convinced that we were very close to a peak, clearly not a high one, but we just wanted to be able to see into the valley on the other side of what we were climbing. Of course, an hour later we were proved wrong about five times and had climbed so far we were up to our ankles in snow!

When the digital clock beeped 3:30 it was time to turn around and “respect the mountain” as James reluctantly said. We had just reached a lookout point with explanatory signs and such things. It was our last hope of a summit and it wasn’t one. We followed another trail around the next point of rocks only to find again that the mountain continued further. We took photos with freezing hands and headed down while enjoying a view of the higher parts of the Sierras, the valley, a lake, and the Mediterranean Sea.

Thanksgiving….in Mexico?

December 8, 2010 / Lydia Mertz / 0 Comments

Thanksgiving in Mexico-I was dreading this day. I consider myself a positive person and in general refuse to allow the hardships in this rather unpredictable life affect my spirit. However, on the big day of turkey, giving thanks and some good ol’ football, I would be taking an exam for my Spanish exam. It’s sad and somewhat depressing when you’re in a country that doesn’t celebrate a holiday from your culture. Yes, very depressing indeed especially when you’ve been celebrating this holiday every year since you were born. I mean, it’s Thanksgiving, I wanted to be helping mom in the kitchen and witness the vivid display of emotions and language of my father as he watched the football game. However, this Thanksgiving was a desperate time and called for…well, unique measures.

The day before Thanksgiving, a group of children came to visit our dorms and played soccer with some of the students. These children were from a local home to help children from families that were not able to take care of them financially. Their energy was addicting as they ran up and down the soccer field yelling and laughing attempting to make goals for their team. It’s a tough life for these kids, it’s a rare moment that they have the chance to feel this kind of freedom and these kids were soaking it up here in this little soccer game.

My lovely friends from the US….we were so thankful for our turkey!

Thanksgiving Day consisted of an exam for a class, not the pleasant way to start off this holiday, but hey, you got to live with what life gives you. However, my friend Erin and I went to Casa Verde later in the day for a (free) Thanksgiving dinner. Casa Verde is a Christian ministry and home located close to the UDLA for students to enjoy, relax and learn more about God with leaders from Mexico and the USA. Every Thursday, they offer a free meal to students and this particular day featured the classic Thanksgiving food. With a plate full of food that seemed to weigh close to four pounds, I was quite thankful to have my share of carbs and other delights. However, what made it very special was that we shared the meal with a local orphanage that came to visit Casa Verde. We ate our food, listened to music, made crafts and the American students laughed how for the first time in our lives, we were celebrating Thanksgiving in warm weather.

So, how was my Thanksgiving? Well, it was somewhat bittersweet because I missed my family terribly but special because I realized my blessings in life and especially this experience in Mexico. Similar to the soccer game, I realized that my experience in Mexico has made me more aware of my freedoms in this life. It is very easy to let others influence us or if you’re a complex perfectionist like myself, just making yourself aware that you’re always safe and can always hold your head high in any situation. Learning Spanish and the Mexican culture has been a humbling, hilarious and heart-inspiring experience. With the frustrations of the language, it’s been my ticket to discovering a culture and meeting wonderful people.

Somehow being immersed with these experiences on a daily basis in a culture that is filled with color and passion awakens my desire to paint color and live with passion in my life. Realizing that your are free and do not need to live your life with dull gray and khaki like so many people in this world-you become more thankful for life when abroad.

A Cambridge Mix

December 7, 2010 / derekschnake / 0 Comments

Here’s a playlist of songs I’ve come associate with Cambridge.

Sigh No More – Mumford and Sons

To the Beggin’ I will go – Old Blind Dogs

Little Lion Man – Mumford and Sons

God Save the Queen – Sex Pistols

Scotland Yet – Old Blind Dogs

We No Speak Americano – Yolanda Be Cool & Dcup

Dominos – The Big Pink

Fight – DJ Fresh

I’m a Lady (feat. Trouble Andrew) – Santigold

Click here to listen to them. Cheers!

To the End of One Chapter, and the Beginning of Another

December 7, 2010 / Julie Johnson / 2 Comments

In exactly one week from today, I will be on a plane bound for Chicago. As I type this, I’m really not sure how I’m supposed to feel at this moment. I guess you could classify the feeling as bittersweet. I am so excited and happy to see the family and friends that I have been missing over these past few months, but at the same time, am sad to leave this wonderful country and to no longer be living with the amazing people I’ve had the pleasure of sharing this experience.

C-86 at our first common meal!

Although it is hard for me to admit, I was absolutely terrified to leave the U.S.A and come to England. As I visited my friends back at Valpo during my last few days in the states, I was having more doubts than ever. Everyone was starting to enjoy their life on campus and get back into the swing of things, while I was about to have to start over in a new country. Could I really do this? Was it the right decision?

Mid-Semester, Before One of Our Nights Out.. What a Fun Group 🙂

The answer to this is yes, absolutely. I had heard it time and time again from everyone else that I knew that had studied abroad: “This will be the time of your life”, “Make the most of it”, and “Do everything you can in the time that you’re given.” I can’t even begin to explain how right they all were. It’s nice to know that I now will be one of those students telling other students to have the same experience, which is what I hope I have done throughout this blog.

Paris.. Definitely my favorite weekend of the trip!

Through this experience I have learned to take advantage of every opportunity life throws at you, no matter how challenging or different it may seem. I have learned to appreciate everything that I have at home in a way that I never knew before. I have learned that no matter where I go or what I do, I can get anything done, as long as I set my mind to it. Everything I have learned while I’ve been here has been completely invaluable, and I could really go on for forever about what this experience has taught me.

The next time I will be writing to you will be from the other side of the Atlantic Ocean, in Valparaiso, Indiana. Just as in the first blog I wrote to you, my life will be completely different, but just as this experience has taught me, I will be able to graciously accept that change and readjust to my life at home.

From Strangers, to Friends, to Family.. I Love C-86!

Thank you to all of my readers this semester, it has been a pleasure sharing this wonderful experience with you!

Signing off from England,

Julie

Student Stories from Around the World