Valpo Voyager

Page 52 of 125

Mom and Me: My Mother’s Visit to England

During the second part of second break, my mom flew overseas to stay with me for a week. I have currently been abroad for eight months, and have not seen any member of my family until she came, so it was nice to see someone after only using FaceTime for eight months. I got the chance to show her where I live and the things that I do for fun, which was really exciting.

St. Paul’s Cathedral over Millennium Bridge

On one day she was here, we travelled to London for the day. We lucked out and had absolutely beautiful weather when we were there. It was sunny, with just a few clouds in the sky, albeit a little windy. Our first stop of the day was to take the Tube to Black Friars, and walk over Millennium Bridge. The last time my mother was in London, Millennium Bridge didn’t even exist, so this was a first for her. I love it when you cross the bridge to the other side and see St. Paul’s Cathedral on the other side.

Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre

We called it our day of theatre, because everything we did related to theatre in some way or another. We went and visited Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre. I have never been there, and, again, the last time my mother was in London, the reconstruction of the Globe did not exist either, so this was a first for both of us. It was a lot smaller on the inside than I had expected, but I really liked how it looked very much like it belonged during the Tudor period, and how exact they were with those details. If I had more time (and money), I would love to go see a play performed there.

Our other theatre-related event of the day was to see Wicked. I have already seen it once, but I loved it so much that I knew that I had to take my mom to see it. She had wanted to see it a long time ago, and never got the chance, so this was the perfect opportunity. We enjoyed an afternoon matinee of witches and munchkins and the Land of Oz, which was even better than the first time that I saw it.

Burghley House

On the last full day of my mother’s time in England, we travelled up to Stamford and visited Burghley House. It is one of the largest Elizabethan houses in England, and it was used as the setting for Rosings Park in the 2005 version of “Pride and Prejudice.” It was a two mile walk from the train station, which, after not being used to walking everywhere, made my mother very tired, but it was totally worth it. The outside of the house is beautiful, and the inside holds a lot of really interesting art, and a room dedicated to Queen Elizabeth I.

I had a good time with my mom, but her visiting me reminded me that I’m going to be going home soon, which I am not quite ready for. I’ve been here a long time, so long that it’s my home now, and so going back to the US is going to be very strange. But before then, I’m going to make the most of my days here!

So what do you really think of Paris

April 22, 2015 / jzemke / 0 Comments

As I near the end of my semester, I hear more and more frequently this question: what do you think of Paris? At work, I feel obliged to say to all the tourists that I love it here, this perfect city of love. Now don’t get me wrong, Paris is a cool city with lots of things to do and see, like any other visitor here will tell you. Instead, here is an opinion from someone who lives and works, not just passing through.

Each morning when I get up for work, I feel a mixture of dread and excitement. I dread the idea of squeezing into a packed metro car and the seemingly constant delays which happen no matter how much time you leave yourself. Yet, once you’re off the metro and walking through the streets of old architecture, chic stores, and smell of fresh bread, you remember why you like the city.

There are some days at work which are great. Polite and funny clients, good food, and not too difficult of projects, but others where you leave work tired and frustrated with a pounding headache. These days you have to work hard to see the beauty. After those days, I pretend I’m just a tourist, going to the iconic places such as the Eiffel Tower and thrive in the greatness of speaking my own language without fear of judgement. It makes the entire day better.

And then there’s the weekends. I love weekend day trips. The Chantilly Castle, medieval villages, Versailles, museums, it’s great and makes it all worth it.

So truthfully, I enjoy Paris. It is not all the perfect city tourists see when they visit, my favorite places are the “real” Parisian spots like gardens or little cafes within the neighborhoods. It is easy to get caught up in the stress, rush through and not appreciate the beauty. Just step back for a moment and re-find the magic which drew you in.

Life Lessons in Paris

April 22, 2015 / jzemke / 0 Comments

As I near the end of my semester, I realized while writing myinternship report that I had not taken time to reflect on my experiences. Sure I had told the stories, but what have I actually learned through my experiences? So I compiled a list:

Be as curious as a child:

In my daily life, take those new pathways in the city, explore a new park, or try that French restaurant down the road. It seems small, but the little moments can add up quickly. Give into your curiosity and see what’s hiding all around us.

Take a solo trip:

I always thought trips were best in groups, but traveling alone through Europe was a wonderful eye-opening experience. You meet new people, blunder through other foreign languages, visit new places, and discover more about yourself. I noticed that my choice of locations truly showed my inner motivation: nature.

Take time to know yourself:

Don’t stress as much about life, and don’t feel bad about taking small time-outs for yourself. Know your stress levels, figure out what inspires you, and do the things that feel right in your gut. Feel like reading a book instead of going out for one evening? Do it. Buy some wine and macaroons and curl up with that book. If you don’t know or take care of yourself, no one will.

We are all humans:

Yes it is easy to point out differences or make generalizations, but underneath the cultural differences, we are all people. We all have friends, family, job stress, and come with unique life experiences to share. Be open with people, for you can learn a great deal more by acknowledging similarities and listening to their experiences.

Rathaus in Bremen

Top 3 Places to Visit While in Germany

April 21, 2015 / apittman / 0 Comments

Hello everyone. I hope everything is quite well back in Valpo or wherever you are reading this post. Sorry for the long gap between posts. I got a little lazy I admit it. However I did have a great spring break traveling to 6 different countries and 9 cities in our 2 week spring break. It was tough, but beyond worth it! The semester is coming to an end! Let the lack of motivation and cramming begin! For R-95 however, besides getting ready for finals, we have to start preparing to pack our things back up and head home. Our days are limited here in Germany and that got me reflecting on what some of my favorite places were in Germany. So without further adieu I’ll give a quick list of my top 3 places in Germany that I have visited:

3. Leipzig

My reasoning for choosing Leipzig can basically be summed up in one word: music. Anyone who has visited Europe knows that in the bigger cities there always seem to be street performers with accordions, violins, or any other instrument they can find. However in Leipzig it was not just the street performers who were excellent, but also because of the musical history that surrounds the city. Musical powerhouse names such as Johann Sebastian Bach, Gustav Mahler, Richard Wagner, and many others have made their way through this city. Any music lover would have a field day here with the amount of museums dedicated to various artists and churches where Bach or Wagner worked and composed. Two of the most famous, for example, are the St Thomas Kirche and St Nikolai Kirche where Bach performed his great works centeries ago.

St Thomas Kirche

However, Leipzig is not just for your classical music lover. Leipzig was also where the battle of nations took place in 1813. The combined forces of Austria, Germany, and Sweden helped push Napoleon out of Germany after his retreat from Russia. Today you can visit the monument and museum. This would be a great thing to do for half a day in my opinion. The monument itself lies about an hour and a half walk from the city center and is near some other museums.

Battle of Nations Monument

More recently, Leipzig is also a location of many protests within East Germany during communist control. Leipzig is a place where people with all different interests can come together and find something interesting to do. Overall, Leipzig was very interesting to experience. The city was safe and fairly nice to English speakers if you are not fluent in German. I highly recomend giving Leipzig a visit.

2. Bremen/Munich

I should just be honest with you, Bremen, Munich, and the number 1 are all really tied for number 1, but I thought that would be nasty to have a three way tie. After much thought, sweating, and blood letting, Bremen and Munich rank number 2 on my list!

Bremen is a place that I would love to visit again. At first glance, Bremen is not a megga city with a population over 1 million, but let me tell you, with the amount of things to do there, it sure does seem like it. From visiting the UNESCO World Heritage Rathaus in the old town center, climbing up the spires in the St Peter’s Cathedral that originaly dates back 500 plus years, visiting the old windmill, walking along the River Weser, eating at Rathskeller restaurant which houses the largest selection of wine in Germany, or just walking down the shopping district and finding a nice cafe to sip some great coffee. Along with the numerous things to do, Bremen was also home to the friendliest people I have ever met in Germany.

Rathaus in Bremen

Whether you are lost in the middle of the night with 100 dollar bills tapped to you while handcuffed, someone will make sure to point you in the direction of a bank, place to stay, and a mental institution because you are crazy if you tape 100 dollar bills to yourself while handcuffed. In all seriousness though, Bremen has some of the most down to earth and overall general nice people. They will go out of their way to say hello to you, ask to offer help if you look lost, give you suggestions on places to see, eat, or visit. People from Bremen are proud of their city and they rightly should be. Bremen comes in 2nd place because of the ability to see most everything in the city in about 2 days visit, but is tremendously increased because of the people. They really made the experience special there for us.

Munich on the other hand, is just a wee bit bigger than Bremen. By a wee bit I mean its more than double the size of Bremen. With a population of over 1 million and during Oktoberfest up to 3 million, you can always find something to do in Munich. Munich is truly the city where it is totaly normal to see a man in lederhosen eating a pretzel and drinking a mass of beer (1 liter mug). Home to some great sites, cool museums, and great food! When you imagine Germany, you are most likely thinking of Munich. From the famous glockenspiel to Oktoberfest to the original Hofbrauhaus, Munich is home to many Bavarian traditions that are cool to take in.

Marienplatz in Munich

Now, the time you have all been waiting for. THE number one place (in my opinion) to visit in Germany. Well you are about to find out. After this long article post, you will walk away knowing a great place to visit. Knowing what to see and just a couple of things to do. The time is now, the city you have all been waiting for. The place is……………….Going to be given to you in the next blog post because this one is pretty long already.

Thank you all for reading! Let me just say though, every place I have been to in Germany has been fabulous and I highly recomend traveling outside of my recomendations. Anywhere you go you will find some sort of history to discover. I challenge everyone to come visit Germany and make your own top 3 list! Find out my number 1 city and possibly a list of my favorite cities outside of Germany to visit next week. Thanks again for reading and I will see you all sooner than we both know!

Sweden Part 2

April 21, 2015 / mstoughton / 0 Comments

I felt like a mariner on the second have of my Swedish adventure. I spent a couple days out sailing in the Stockholm Archipelago, visiting beautiful islands. This is a top vacation destination in the summertime. Stockholm is also lovely while covered in fresh snow!

Stockholm, Sweden

Stockholm Harbor – Royal Palace

Stockholm Archipelago

Vaxholm Fortress

Finnhamn Island

Stockholm Archipelago

Sweden Part 1

April 16, 2015 / mstoughton / 0 Comments

I loved Scandinavia so much that I had to return! Over our two week break, I explored Stockholm and its archipelago. I spent my first few days just in the city. The harbor is gorgeous. I saw the famous (or infamous) Vasa warship from the 1600s and the largest IKEA store in the world (IKEA is a Swedish company).

Stockholm Harbor

Vasa warship – Stockholm

Stockholm

IKEA – Stockholm

Back on American Soil (for a couple hours)

April 16, 2015 / mstoughton / 0 Comments

After World War II, a great cemetery was constructed in honor of the American men and women who fought to help protect their English allies. Technically the ground is American soil and we saw our first real American flag in a long time. It was a proud and patriotic moment for all of us.

American Cemetery – Cambridge, England

American Cemetery – Cambridge, England

American Cemetery – Cambridge, England

The Closest I’ll Be to Being a Kite

April 11, 2015 / Navy Browning / 0 Comments

This past break from internships, we had the oppurtunity to visit the iconic beaches of Manuel Antonio. After seeing the beautiful coastline full of monkeys and wildlife and salty, blue water, I knew that I wanted to see the coast from above. I decided to go parasailing. Between the three people on the parasail, there were three different languages spoken-English, Spanish and Sign Language. Each of us knew at least two of the languages. I thought it was amazing that after learning about how to communicate a little bit in sign language in our time in Granada, Nicaragua, I could use what I learned. It just goes to show that you learn something new everyday and that you might be able to actually use it in the future.

Pupusa Professionals!

April 11, 2015 / Navy Browning / 0 Comments

During a week long break from our internships during Holy Week here in Costa Rica, our Valpo group visited a cooperative community of El Salvadoran immigrants preserving their culture through living communally. Pictured here is Valpo Junior, Shannon Segin and I learning how to make the traditional dish of pupusas in Longo Mai!

Confessions of a Former Francophile

April 11, 2015 / katherineackerman / 0 Comments

So, to celebrate Easter, I decided to my friend Pam in Paris. It was my first time in France’s capital and a trip that I had been dreaming about since I was a kid. When I was younger, one of my favorite book was called Little Jeanne of France by Madeline Brandeis and told the story of a girl named Jeanne and her adventures in France. And so, France, and Paris in particular, became somewhat of a destination for me. I was dead set on visiting France someday, made my mother start teaching me phrases in French, and even tried to turn in an assignment in first grade written in what I thought was an accurate written representation of the French language, only to have my teacher think that I was struggling with spelling. My favorite book growing up was the account of a British ex-pat’s go in Southern France, A Year in Provence. I continually attempted to add small french phrases into my vocabulary and dreamed of Time’s fashion issue where there was sure to be a number of French fashion designers. Until I reached middle school in a town that offered no French classes, I had fully planned on taking up study of the French language and happily moving to France in some far-off future. But, as with all things in life, plans changed and I ended up in a German class which eventually lead me to my year in Tübingen.

Despite having less of a connection to French language and culture, I still have enjoyed visiting the border cities to Germany and enjoying the delicious food and drink, never fully making it to Paris. So when I found out that Pam was going to be studying there and in nearby Cergy, I jumped at the chance of avoiding costly hotel fees and getting to see the city with someone who knew their way around.

The trip was short, but totally worth it to see some of the most beautiful sites that the city had to offer and to get to experience some of the things that I had so long dreamt of. It was a culmination of a lot of what I had wanted for such a long time and definitely a place that I will come back to explore further.

The best experience was visiting the Tuileries. I think that the best introduction to my visit is summed up with a quote from Brandeis herself:

“The little girls passed through the Tuileries, which are like fairy gardens. They are a children’s paradise and part of the dream that Paris is”(140).

It was a beautifully sunny day when we visited the Tuileries and the lovely weather helped to highlight the well-manicured park. We walked around and got café au lait and drank it whilst sitting in some chairs. Now, I am no longer a child and a bit too old to believe in fairies, but the magic of the Tuileries still existed for me. I especially liked the long rows of bushes at the far end that seemed like a great place to get away from the world and relax and enjoy good weather.

I also adored riding the metro. I am huge fan of public transportation, so any time that I can use a system in a major city, I could basically spend the entire day riding around. The name of each stop was repeated twice during the approach, which sounded like a language instruction tape to me and provided a good opportunity to practice my pronunciation of the French language.

Reenacting Amelie at the Sacre Coeur

On Easter, Pam and I went to the American Church (since, unfortunately, my French vocabulary is limited to foods and swear words) and ate lunch next to the Seine. We also saw a lot of the classic tourist attractions, which I think aren’t necessary to mention here. However, we did find a café that is a bit of an inside joke:

A cafe that is what it is.

Bis bald!

A link to an electronic copy of Little Jeanne of France via Project Gutenberg:

http://www.gutenberg.org/files/40806/40806-h/40806-h.htm

Student Stories from Around the World

Page 52 of 125

Mom and Me: My Mother’s Visit to England

So what do you really think of Paris

Life Lessons in Paris

Top 3 Places to Visit While in Germany

Sweden Part 2

Sweden Part 1

Back on American Soil (for a couple hours)

The Closest I’ll Be to Being a Kite

Pupusa Professionals!

Confessions of a Former Francophile

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