tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18640925101954872102024-02-18T22:00:24.954-08:00--The University of Wyoming's: STUDY ABROAD STORIESEXPLORE. DREAM. DISCOVER. University of Wyoming Study Abroadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13551247261524386467noreply@blogger.comBlogger34125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1864092510195487210.post-17827109861627689172013-10-03T11:38:00.001-07:002013-10-03T11:40:00.915-07:00Jessica Banda is one of the Masters International Peace Corps students who has just recently started her assignment in Benin, Africa, as a Development Volunteer. Jess has put together a Blog and Vlog that allows us to follow her on her outstanding journey, and that provides interested Masters Peace Corps students with an outline of the Peace Corps/Masters Program application process. You can follow her blog here: <a href="http://jessbandabenin.blogspot.com/">http://jessbandabenin.blogspot.com/</a><br />
Plus, you can check out the Vlog she leads on Youtube: <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=708N-detrfE">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=708N-detrfE</a><br />
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<strong><em>Posted on Monday September 16</em></strong><br />
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<strong><a href="http://jessbandabenin.blogspot.com/2013/09/feels-like-home.html"><span style="color: #119966;">Feels Like Home </span></a></strong>I just finished a ride on the back of a moto, my new stove-top in tote, with a messenger bag full of goodies, at dusk, just in time to see the sunset and the street lights simultaneously. I looked down the road, lined with trees, and thought, "this is home."<br />
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It's funny how, 3 months ago, I felt scared on the back of a moto and now motos feel like home. That's what life in Benin will do to you, it will take those things so foreign that they scare you and make them commonplace and comforting. I like that about this country.<br />
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Freedom feels so so good. I can walk out the door without telling anyone, although I've adopted the habit of recounting my every move in French... right in the middle of doing so I catch myself and I remember I no longer have to be accountable to anyone, that I no longer have to spell out my itinerary to the minute, with time I think I will stop the habit.<br />
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I'm currently eating the dinner of my choosing, roasted maize, an apple (from the fridge), white beans, and soy cheese. I am in utter shock that I can eat balanced vegan meals for THE NEXT TWO YEARS! I can't even believe it as I type it. I am going to be so healthy; I bought as many vegetables as I could carry at the market today, I almost broke two reusable bags.<br />
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Last night I sat, in an easy chair, in the Parakou workstation library, sipping coffee and writing, until 3:30am. I haven't felt that much like myself in months, since well before I started my Peace Corps Service<br />
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Tomorrow I move to Sirarou. The car will come at 8:00am ( in 11 hours) to pick me up. I read 11 Peace Corps memoirs before I came here. Each memoir devoted a chapter to the experience I will have tomorrow, to the moment of being dropped off, with a car of belongings, to a strange village, where you will live, alone, for 2 years.<br />
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The memoirs make the moment sound so exotic, but nothing feels exotic about Sirarou to me. It is just my home...just like Laramie is my home, and I'm not alone, I have Kelly (my post mate, who is here now), and Erika (the volunteer who is from Spain). And then there are the people of Sirarou of course, who speak a different language (Bariba), and who probably think I am quite strange, but who seem to me, like any other people on the planet, with the same struggles and triumphs that define the human experience. Exotic is the last thing I expect to face tomorrow...Serenity is a better word to describe Sirarou.<br />
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I can't wait to go home (home to Sirarou, that is). :)<br />
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<b><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">LOGISTICS FOR THE NEXT 3 MONTHS </span></b><br />
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I just spent the day shopping for my new house. Tomorrow I will move into my house in Sirarou, where I will spend 3 months (until December 9) completing "On-The-Job Training II," a 3-month integration period in which I will undertake a tremendous community study (there is a 50 page book just to describe the report that follows). During the 3 month period I am not supposed to work, just observe. Also during the 3-months, we are not supposed to leave village, short of visits to our market town. Luckily, my market town in Parakou (where I am now).<br />
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<em><strong>Posted on Thursday September 26</strong></em><br />
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<a href="http://jessbandabenin.blogspot.com/2013/09/adventures-in-teaching.html"><span style="color: #119966;"><strong>Adventures in Teaching! </strong></span></a><br />
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Guess what? Yesterday I taught marketing, to 15 women who are about to open businesses, for 5 hours! I'd be lying if I said that anything about the experience was easy.<br />
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And here are three main reasons why:<br />
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1) Many of the women were not literate, so I had to pull an all-night-er last week to draw pictures of everything I was saying. And, trust me, I'm not an artist.<br />
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2) My french is no where near advanced enough to talk for 5 hours, so I had to spend about 25 hours preparing, and translating lecture notes, plus practicing!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSwlEVzNBEOfzXhybOTEEBkjhEyZCZRv_zAMAN-AhmlqVvc7kxkqaKBhSyTWd5ulffVmFO617OQT69woMGCGyueF7Xuo-Tlp57GvAjQSsdy4eBK9UbOXDhJJZxAaO4DnWK7PQONs75LmS-/s1600/Photo+2013-09-26+01.31.34+PM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSwlEVzNBEOfzXhybOTEEBkjhEyZCZRv_zAMAN-AhmlqVvc7kxkqaKBhSyTWd5ulffVmFO617OQT69woMGCGyueF7Xuo-Tlp57GvAjQSsdy4eBK9UbOXDhJJZxAaO4DnWK7PQONs75LmS-/s400/Photo+2013-09-26+01.31.34+PM.jpg" width="300" /></a>3) I had to use a (male) translator, to reach the women who only spoke local language, and he used a demeaning and angry tone with them, which made me progressively more angry as the lesson went on!<br />
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4) The women who did speak french had a difficult time understanding me, because of my accent!<br />
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With this said, I constantly adapted throughout the day, and, by the end of the day, I all but ditched the translator (and let the women explain to each other), and there was laughing all around!<br />
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The women divided into 2 groups for a competition in which they created marketing products: sketched signs for their botiques, prepared radio ads, etc.<br />
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And last night, under the light of my headlamp, I prepared the prizes for the winning team (see photo on the right) An orange, a bracelet, and 200 francs, enough to buy food for 1-2days.<br />
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It feels great to have my first big Peace Corps project under my belt!<br />
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Warning: Don't try this at home, unless you have sufficient supplies of coffee and are highly sensitive to caffeine.</div>
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<strong><em><span style="color: #45818e;">Stay tuned for Jessica's new posts!</span></em></strong></div>
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<br />University of Wyoming Study Abroadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13551247261524386467noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1864092510195487210.post-50672539180795834092013-09-17T09:49:00.001-07:002013-09-17T09:49:39.419-07:00Henry Rawlings is a junior UW student who is double-majoring in Economics and Global&Area Studies. Currently he is studying abroad in Santiago, Chile, through the Business+Culture program. He leads a weekly blog where he shares his experiences that can be useful if you are still doubting whether to go study abroad. Enjoy!<br />
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<span style="font-size: small;">Week One: Arriving</span> </h2>
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It is impossible to sleep on a plane. The past nine hours in the darkened cabin were a claustrophobic nightmare of shifting around and wishing my seat would tilt back just a smidge more. In order to keep my sanity, I remembered why I left Wyoming in the first place: to spend a semester studying abroad in Santiago, Chile. I shed the poor excuse for a blanket, sat up and looked around the cabin. The rows of seats were filled with people from all over the world. Some of them sleeping, some reading, some watching movies on their computers, but all were heading to the South American continent for some reason or another. Up the aisle I could see the flight attendants waking people up, and handing out breakfast. As she neared, I nudged the man sleeping next to me in the window seat. Talking earlier, the man had let me know he was Argentina bound for some Dove hunting. After the attendant gave us a warm croissant, some apple juice, some cheese and crackers, she informed us that we were flying over the Andes right now.</div>
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The man pulled up the window shade, and my stomach dropped. Looking out the window I could see a picturesque view of <em>La cordillera de los Andes.</em> The sunrise tossed different shades of orange against the clouds, and from these clouds emerged the largest mountain peaks I had ever seen. The endless mountains seemed unreal as the wind threw dust into the air off their snow-covered peaks. It was then I realized there was no turning back now. I had left my home in Wyoming–ten acres and a few horses–traveled half way around the world, and was about to land in a city of six million <em>Santiaguenos</em>.</div>
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A bell chimed, the fasten seatbelt sign lit up, and the pilot’s voice echoed throughout the cabin saying we started our descent. I buckled my seatbelt, took a deep breath, and got ready. Not for the descent, but for a new adventure. I got ready to experience something I had never done before. And, after nine sleepless hours in a cramped plane some 30,000 feet in the air, that felt pretty damn good.</div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><em>Week Two: Mi Familia</em></span></h2>
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In the usual morning confusion, somewhere between dreams and consciousness, my alarm blared from the nightstand. I sat up, stretched, and shed the covers. Then . . . I crawled back under the covers. The chilly hotel room confirmed it was not only a dream, and yeah, I really did just wake up in the Southern Hemisphere.</div>
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We had spent our initial night in a cozy hotel near the heart of Santiago. Here, I got my first taste of three-pronged outlets (read: couldn’t charge anything). I learned expensive central heating often eludes many buildings, and as a result, inside can be a tad bit nippier than out. So, after a shower, I hurriedly dressed in the brisk winter air, grabbed my luggage, and headed down to the lobby for breakfast, and, more importantly to be picked up by my host family.</div>
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I waited in the lobby with fifty other Americanos, and I was pumped. I glanced around at the other students who represented the East Coast, West Coast, and scattered parts of central United States. To them, coming from Wyoming seemed just as foreign as traveling to another country. With knees bouncing, time constantly being checked, luggage in hand, and excited laughter, I knew it couldn’t be too much longer before our families started arriving. Not having received any information prior to whom our families were, what they looked like, or what type of family they would be. We were anxious and excited for them to show up, and when they did, it was like the Hunger Games.</div>
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Now, I have never watched or read the hunger games. As a result, I could be completely wrong. However, I have heard the term Reaping, and in my mind I am picturing kids getting hauled off and never returning. Right? Who knows, but our families started showing up! One-by-one a name would be called out, a nervous student would grab their luggage, get hauled off, and were never to be heard from again. In truth, everybody’s head would perk up at the sound of a name being called, and we would watch as an eager Chilean family member embraced a newfound addition to their family. I couldn’t wait, and my heart beat faster, waiting to hear my name. Then at last,</div>
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“Henry?”</div>
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I said a short prayer before I lifted my head towards the hotel entrance. There, a taller man met my gaze. He looked younger, maybe in his late twenties. His neck held up an enormous scarf, which led up to a scrappy beard. He had dreads which fell past his waist. To his side stood a shorter, older woman. Short haired and with pearl earrings, she smiled a very motherly smile. Dope! I grabbed my bags, and introduced myself. I gave my mother a kiss past her cheek, which is the custom here, and together we piled into an old stick-shift car headed straight for the huge, looming Andes.</div>
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So, I couldn’t have asked for a better family. The man turned out to be <i>mi hermano</i>, and the woman, <i>mi madre</i>. His name is Jose (cote as a nickname), 26 years old, and loves hiking. He’s studying to be a vet. My mother, her name is Rosario. We arrived at a house in a gated little community, with about four bedrooms. It is in a neighborhood, <i>La Reina</i>, that is a bit closer to the Andes. I have three more siblings: Pedro (Pelao) is 28, and is constantly showing me dubstep songs and American music videos. I have two older sisters too, Sofia is 29, and Javiera is 30. All living in the same house. <i>Mi padre</i> is a little older, wiser, and awesome. His name is Pedro as well. With him, I have some great, philosophical conversations, of which I retain about 20%, but they’re sweet nonetheless! Tonight when he sees me, he will say, “<i>Señor Enrique, caballero, como esta?</i>” We have a <i>nana </i>(maid), Violeta, who cooks amazingly. Every day, I take the best lunch to school because of her. Last, but not least, I have a dog named Jako (<i>Yah-ko</i>), and I love him too.</div>
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I lucked out, and ended up with an amazing family. At first, our dinners consisted of me staring blankly at them, trying to decipher their rapid Spanish, and overall contributing less than Jako. Now, however, we’re moving forward, and little by little, I’m able to say more and more (like, please pass the bread). Overall though, <i>mi familia esta perfecto. </i></div>
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<strong><em>Week Three: Vacation on a Vacation</em></strong></div>
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“Shit.” I was late.</div>
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That stupid moment when my alarm went off, I blinked, and an hour had passed.</div>
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I was late.</div>
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I weighed how much time I had—I could still make it. I jumped out of bed. I threw on some clothes, and grabbed the duffle bag I had luckily packed the night before. I made sure I grabbed my bus ticket before sprinting towards the subway under a twilight sky with a piece of bread stuffed in my mouth.</div>
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One of the girls in our program was having a birthday. To celebrate, we planned a trip to Chile’s coastal city, <i>Viña del Mar</i>. To get there, one should sprint the whole way to the bus platform, and arrive with seconds to spare. One should then board a<i> Turbus</i> with 15 other college students, have some great music on their iPod, and be careful as to not miss the scenery along the way. If done correctly, one should arrive two hours later in <i>Viña del Mar</i> not having any idea where the hell their hostel is.</div>
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After a few moments of unsuccessful wondering with luggage and hungry stomachs, we convinced a taxi driver to find our hostel for us; packing his van full of adolescent gringos. <i>Viña</i>, twin to her sister <i>Valparaiso</i>, is a city built on top of herself. Literally. Stacks on stacks of Easter egg-colored boxes spanned the panorama, accented with Palm Trees of all sorts here and there. The driver navigated up one of the many hills, and dropped us off. Climbing the stone steps, our hostel came into view. A green lawn led up to a brown cottage which looked like it had come from the hills of Europe. An ideal getaway for some college students on a birthday vacation.</div>
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<strong><em>Day One</em></strong></div>
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Do you know what <i>Slack-Lining</i> is? Two trees, some soft green grass, a blue sky, and a ratchet strap turns out to be all you need to work on your balance. Not so easy, though. We spent the afternoon jumping, walking, and falling off the Slack-line. Hours passed, and we were in want of a little sunset-on-the-beach action.</div>
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If you’ve never watched the sun fall into the ocean, you suck. Living in a landlocked state surrounded by mountains and alfalfa never gave me many opportunities to witness this either, but I really underestimated what I missed out on for so long. Beautiful does not do justice the fiery orange sun rays or rolling mirror of an ocean. Soothing does not fully describe the rhythmic waves and call from the gulls. And, insane is an understatement for the overall experience.</div>
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The group of <i>gringos </i>napped at the hostel. Napped before walking the two blocks headed towards a banging club on the beach. A great way to cap off Day One was to turn up with a ton of Chileans.</div>
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<strong><em>Day Two</em></strong></div>
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The next day was a free day with nothing planned. While the girls left to explore the Botanical Gardens of Valparaiso, the boys headed to <i>Concón</i>, a beach to the north, to do a little surfing. Surfing?</div>
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Paddle, paddle, paddle. Long strokes is what they told me—dig <i>deep</i>. I laid face down on a surfboard. The water salted my lips, and stung my eyes. The winter ocean was numbing my bare feet, my hands, and my exposed head. Impossibly cold, I tried to focus instead on watching the ocean. She was a great, metallic reflection of the sunny sky above us. I finally saw her take a deep breath which signaled an incoming wave.</div>
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Okay, let’s go. I turned around with my head to the shore. The whole time never taking my eye off the swelling ocean looming towards me. I waited. Come on, a little closer . . . Go! Paddle, paddle, paddle!</div>
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Shoulders burning, I dug into the water, keeping a little ahead of the wave. <i>I was going to get it this time.</i> The wave came, and I felt the swell raise the board up with me on it. <i>Keep paddling, not yet. </i>I felt the wave forming underneath me. <i>Actually catch the wave, don’t just stand on it. </i>The time came. I placed my hands near my armpits, trying to steady the board. Then, pushing off the board, I jumped to my feet. I fought for balance on the glassy surface. I was up! Salty air cooled the water on my face as the wave pushed me. Hot damn, I was finally—unf! My board slipped out, and a metallic reflection of the sunny sky above us swallowed a boy from Wyoming without a second thought.</div>
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Surfing = amazing. We spent hours on the water. The boys from the west coast surfing, and me trying to. We saw the sky turn orange as we returned the boards. A sandy swapping of wetsuit for clothes, and a nap on the bus ride later, we were back at the hostel. Here, we met the girls who had cooked a mountain of spaghetti for dinner.</div>
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Leaving the next morning, exhausted and sand still between my toes, I boarded the bus again. This time, I was <i>on </i>time. I grabbed a complementary pillow, and rested my head against the window. It didn’t take long for me to pass out. But, before I closed my eyes, I replayed the weekend. It was an ideal vacation, couldn’t have asked for more. But, I am still on vacation, and I have four more months to go.</div>
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<strong><em>Week Four: One of Those Moments</em></strong></div>
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Some moments steal your breath away; a sunset in all its fiery glory, or maybe a star falling across the night sky. Greater moments stop your heart from beating; a baby being born, or maybe a hole in one on a golf course.</div>
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Waking up on a snowboarding day is a surreal feeling. The house, dark and silent, holds everyone inside lulled until morning obligations say their dreams are over. The house keeps everyone asleep— everyone except one.</div>
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He woke up at the sound of his alarm, and sat upright in bed, hoping he did not over sleep. The unusual feeling of excitement mixed with exhaustion runs through his veins; today is the day, and it has finally arrived. The only conscious soul in a sleeping house, he headed to the shower, towel in hand, rolling his bare feet on the cold planks as to not make a sound. In the shower, beneath the hot water, he allowed his mind to escape to the mountain for a preliminary run. In a darkened house, silent and sleeping, he was on the mountain going through which tricks to land, and which techniques to improve.</div>
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Out of the shower and over the warmer planks, he dressed appropriately. More awake now, he double checked the equipment he packed. Boots, snowpants, extra socks, jacket, goggles and helmet. Ready, he snuck into the kitchen and cereal falling into a metallic bowl broke the silence in the kitchen. After a breakfast by himself, he checked his room one last time, and grabbed his bag. Stepping out into the crisp air of the morning’s first hints of blue, he gently closed the door to a still sleeping, still darkened, and still silent house.</div>
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One thing my heart was set on doing was snowboarding The Andes. At around 4,800 miles long, these mountains are the backbone of South America, and the longest mountain range in the world. Three other students and I met early Wednesday morning to rent gear, and ride the bus which would shuttle us up these Andes Mountains to <i>Valle Nevado</i>. Valle Nevado is one of the premier ski resorts around Santiago, and lucky for us, was laden with ample snow which had fallen a few days prior to our trip.</div>
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The day was perfect. The sunshine fell on a powday at the resort which, because it was a weekday, remained uncrowded the entire day. After a slow start, we stepped off the gondola and packed onto the first ski lift.</div>
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Some moments definitely take your breath away, and sometimes I have felt my heart skip a beat. But, as the ski lift ascended with us four college students, I learned some moments to be different. My eyes widened when I caught sight of an enormous rock face, frosted, and in front of a blue sky backdrop. Soaring on the ski lift, some 13,000 feet in elevation, I felt chills run down my back. I inhaled, and felt my shoulders relax in pure satisfaction. I looked over my shoulder towards the endless panorama of mountain peaks. It looked like something I could only see on a postcard. I exhaled.</div>
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Yeah, there are moments greater than words can describe. It happens when your soul finally reaches a place it has always wanted to be. Your heart beats a little faster, and you never want to see the end.</div>
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We snowboarded all damn day. Run after run over the fresh powder seemed effortless.</div>
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</div>
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Homeward bound, packed yet again onto a bus, a watching the mountain peaks silhouetted by a setting sun, I considered myself to be very blessed—very lucky, and very blessed for sure.</div>
University of Wyoming Study Abroadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13551247261524386467noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1864092510195487210.post-59417076674953755752013-05-08T15:24:00.000-07:002013-05-08T15:25:12.776-07:00Matt & Eric | Benin <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhS0P67WjzJ6Q6kyc4tZAWRn_GBEXH8f_N6u8gLxj5ATGbCUQjnkhuYzNsdbHKB5GxfEkv8yJEFtbNthn9enWj7A4qp0c6zl14tohN5-LyjuLQvchj5TPTgiSkcpoJtqZ70rVOEoKDjIE7g/s1600/benin.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhS0P67WjzJ6Q6kyc4tZAWRn_GBEXH8f_N6u8gLxj5ATGbCUQjnkhuYzNsdbHKB5GxfEkv8yJEFtbNthn9enWj7A4qp0c6zl14tohN5-LyjuLQvchj5TPTgiSkcpoJtqZ70rVOEoKDjIE7g/s1600/benin.png" height="400" width="397" /></a></div>
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Matt Dooper and Eric Schlidt are senior UW students who
traveled to Benin West Africa during winter break of 2012-13 as part of a
Faculty Led Program. Matt and Eric enjoyed their time in Benin and have several
recommendations for others looking to visit the area. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<b>BEST PLACES TO VISIT IN BENIN </b></div>
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Matt suggests visiting Songhai, a self-sustaining city in
Porto-Novo Benin’s capital. According to Matt:</div>
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<i>“Songhai’s claim to fame was
that nothing goes to waste- and truly, nothing did. They used special plants native to Benin to
purify water coming from the septic system, which was then used to drink,
process foods, water other plants, and assist in the production of agricultural
machines and ceramics. In addition, all animal waste and compost was used as
fertilizer for their gardens and fields. They also build their own agricultural
machinery that would be sold to help other developing farmers in order to
promote the ideals of further self-sustainability. Beyond selling the
equipment, Songhai offered extended courses to educate young farmers how to
manage a farm. The over-arching goal of Songhai was to promote independence in
agriculture and a “live off of the land” type of lifestyle. We were lucky
enough to be able to enjoy a few exquisite meals, both produced and cooked, at
Songhai along with the eco-tour. With
the meals, all-natural fruit beverages produced on location were available that
were equally incredible!”</i></div>
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Eric suggests visiting Benin’s annual International Voodoo
Festival in Quidah. According to Eric:</div>
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<i>
“Voodoo was born in Benin, and remains the official religion of the
country. Unfortunately, due to
misrepresentation in movies and general bad press, the religion has been
misconstrued. In America, it is
extremely misunderstood, but this course, in addition to attending this
festival, enlightened me to the true principals of Voodoo. On the contrary to the “Black magic,” that
usually represents Voodoo, practitioners are not interested in harming anyone
or anything, only self-improvement and the practice of kindness. The voodoo festival took many questions I had
about voodoo and provided a great firsthand experience of a religion and
culture that I would never have been a part of otherwise. “ </i><o:p></o:p></div>
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At the festival, the group of UW students had a chance to
participate in traditional dances. According to Eric:</div>
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<i>“The dancing was
incredible. Although we were drenched in sweat and working on sunburns, their
routines kept us entertained all throughout the show. They knew a plethora of
intricate dances and many of them played instruments and drums at the same
time. After trying to master these instruments for two weeks (and failing), I
was amazed that in the heat and pressure from crowd didn’t distract them, and
that the performers could perform at such a great level.”</i><o:p></o:p></div>
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<b>GREATEST CHALLENGES IN BENIN </b></div>
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Although Matt and Eric never felt in danger during their
time in Benin, they did encounter several challenges, specifically climate and
language. The boys said, <i>“It was very hot and, unfortunately, air conditioning
is a rarity. We sweat constantly.”
</i>Additionally, although the group studied French during the trip, they were
never fully able to communicate with the locals. According to Eric, <i>“ it would
have been extremely rewarding to have been able to chat with the local people.”
</i><o:p></o:p></div>
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Another challenge was the group's minority status. Matt said, <i>“we
definitely stood out, but luckily the majority of the population was extremely
friendly and courteous to us.” </i>Witnessing poverty also challenged the group’s
notion of privilege. As Eric stated, <i>“Beyond those more superficial burdens, it
was difficult to observe a nation that essentially lives at or below what is
considered the poverty line in America.
It begs the question of why we deserve the luxuries we have, and is
conducive to overall appreciation to the lifestyles we are granted. “</i> Matt
continued saying, <i>“With all things considered, the trip was very easy on us,
but it was hard to see some of the socioeconomic situations present in
Benin. The lesson we learned was to not
abuse or overlook any of our luxuries, be it hot showers, cold drinking water
or infinite educational and career opportunities, and to ultimately be
thankful.”</i><o:p></o:p></div>
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What the boys took for granted the most, however, was the
U.S. school system. Eric said:</div>
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<i>"Education is not a right in Benin, it is a
privilege. The subsequent fallout is a
populous of children ecstatic and driven to learn. We were able to observe the classroom setting
of the elementary age group, and although they were loud and energetic, they
were absolutely focused, as opposed to a country like America where students
begin to resent school attendance at an early age. That alone definitely makes one, if not
forces, to be more appreciative of the opportunities available.” </i></div>
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The group had
an excellent opportunity to study Benin’s education system during the trip. In
addition to observing classes, they also spoke with Peace Corps education
volunteers and education-base philanthropists in the country. <o:p></o:p></div>
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The group spent the bulk of their time at the Centre
International d’Art et de Musique de Ouidah (CIAMO) in the city of Ouidah,
Benin, which focuses on the training of arts and music primary teachers. During
their time at CIAMO, the group participated in music, dance, art, and French
classes taught by locals! Matt found the French lessons particularly rewarding,
he said:</div>
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<i> “It was profoundly entertaining to be able to apply the French phrases,
words, and bargaining skills we learned in class. By the end of the trip, each of us could
effectively bargain and shop in the local markets with the vendors, which was
not only exciting for us, but entertaining for said vendors. That in itself was the most rewarding
activity of the trip to me. In addition,
this basic task gave me further incentive to learn a foreign language in order
to travel independently to a country in which I don’t speak the native tongue.”</i><o:p></o:p></div>
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Eric particularly enjoyed sampling a new cuisine He said:</div>
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<i>“
I found the food to be a completely refreshing and amazing experience. We were
constantly sampling various foods that I would have never had the opportunity
to try had I not been there. I especially enjoyed the fried plantains, which I
(as well as everyone) ate whenever possible. While plantains are available
here, nothing compares to the freshness of them while in Benin. Experiencing
the local dish of pate was likewise a new experience. It can be eaten with your
hands and can be paired with anything.
The fresh fruit was abundant there and that was something I appreciated greatly
because it is so difficult to get in Laramie.”</i><o:p></o:p></div>
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<b>RESEARCH ON BENINESE HEALTHCARE SYSTEM</b></div>
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<i>In addition to learning about Benin’s education system, each
student in the course chose a topic for independent research. As aspiring
physicians, Matt and Eric chose to study Benin’s health care system. Because
common Beninese diseases, like malaria and tuberculosis, are well studied, Eric
and Matt chose to study the infrastructure of the health care system. As Eric
stated, “The presence of disease in a tropical environment is to be
expected. However, what we didn’t expect
was the exodus of physicians, and the ripple effect that this had throughout
the country. Thus, we chose to delve
into this topic as our scope of research.”</i></div>
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<i>To gain a firsthand experience about the health care system
in Benin, Eric and Matt interviewed Dr. Rufin Kpadonou. Rufin Kpadonou, M.D.,
occupational health/tropical Medicine & Parasitology, a doctor for the
Peace Corp at the head office in Cotonou, Benin. Eric and Matt’s research findings are
summarized below.<o:p></o:p></i></div>
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<i>As a physician born, raised, and educated in Benin and still
practicing in Benin, Dr. Rufin Kapadonou is adept at seeing the issues
surrounding health care in his native country. He listed the main diseases
affecting Benin as malaria- an infectious disease characterized by severe fever
and headache and its spread through mosquitoes, and tuberculosis- which
presents symptoms of intense coughing and fever. Beyond these two diseases, he
stated that the migration of doctors from Benin is paramount to the issues
surrounding Benin. Health care is not
great in Benin, or Sub-Saharan West Africa in general, but before it can
improve, physicians and facilities need to be present. This is the reasoning behind our topic of
study.<o:p></o:p></i></div>
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<i>To begin, doctors are leaving their native African countries
for several reasons. One, they wish to improve their education and learn more
about their field. The better educational opportunities are not found in
developing countries like Benin; they are found in North America and
Europe. This phenomenon has been
occurring since the advent of the first medical professional. Historically,
however, once the physician has learned the new methods and perfected them,
they return to their home (Eastwood, 2006). But, this is not the case today, as
increasing amounts of doctors are leaving and working in other countries that
offer greater compensation and perhaps better living conditions. For instance,
this is heavily documented where 515 physicians working in the United States
and Canada are from Ghana alone. This might not seem so shocking a number in
terms of the massive number of physicians working in the US, but when there are
only 1600 total physicians practicing in Ghana, it becomes quite statistically
significant (Hagopian, 2005). <o:p></o:p></i></div>
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<i>The effects of these doctors leaving are not readily noticed
in the countries in which the emigrated physician work, but are heavily noticed
in the countries from which they depart (Hagopian, 2004). This is an issue that
must be addressed in the countries where those doctors are working. The effect
of those doctors leaving in their native countries is harshly negative. The
overall health care system is put into jeopardy with fewer doctors practicing.
With lower numbers practicing, it becomes increasingly difficult for people to
access care and see doctors when necessary (Hagopian, 2005). Because of this
lack of care, people must travel further to see a doctor, or recruit foreign
doctors, deepening the strain on these health care systems.<o:p></o:p></i></div>
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<i>The emigration of physicians not only affects the health
care in Benin and Sub-Saharan West Africa, but the economies of those countries
as well. Losing physicians results in
fewer clinics and health care facilities, which require nurses, technicians,
secretaries custodial faculties, etcetera.
The UN Conference on Trade and Development estimates that the loss of
one health care professional is equivalent to approximately $184,000/year in
potential revenues. With as many
migrating physicians and health care professionals as there are, the total
number of lost profits can become astronomical.
Consequently, with physicians leaving, Africa must bring in a health
force externally. As an example, Ghana
brings in a large population of Cuban health care professionals, which require
travel expenses as well as translators; an extremely inefficient and not
self-sustaining system (Eastwood 2005).<o:p></o:p></i></div>
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<i>A problem definitely exists which is what to do about the
problem. As one of the primary destinations
of migrating African health care workers, the United Kingdom has proposed a
solution in preventing practices in UK from recruiting African physicians. In addition, they have proposed to limit
visas to foreign medical students to the time that they are in training, which
would force said physicians to return to their native countries after they are
finished with their training. Similar proposals have been made in France as
well, which is another leading recruiter of French-African physicians (Eastwood,
2005).<o:p></o:p></i></div>
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<i>Another scheme, introduced in Ghana, is for the government
to subsidize the financial burdens of a physician studying in a developed
country. The deal is that those
physicians will then return to Ghana after their training is completed to begin
practicing (Eastwood 2005). As a side
note, Wyoming has enacted similar programs,
WWAMI and WICHE, to try to entice doctors to return to Wyoming. These programs offer increased acceptance
rates and decreased tuition, as long as health care professionals who completed
their undergraduate work at the University of Wyoming return to practice in
Wyoming for three years. <o:p></o:p></i></div>
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<i>Along a similar school of thought, we believe a possible
solution might lie in allowing medical students from the US (or other
countries) to work off some/all of their student debt as volunteers in Africa,
assisting in clinics and hospitals. The
United States recently enacted a similar program known as the Public Service
Loan Forgiveness Program, which is a part of the College Cost Reduction and
Access Act of 2007, allowing college graduates to work in full-time public
service positions (usually low income) and receive assistance in loan
repayment. However, stipulations do
exist and this is not available to medical school graduates in the United
States, it may be something that could work where medical school tuition rates
are not as high. We realize underlying
economic issues would be present, as those debts still need to be paid, but
this could be a potential benefit to African health care. Although Doctors Without Borders does exist,
the incentive to alleviate student debt does not.<o:p></o:p></i></div>
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<i>In conclusion, any solution will be extremely complicated
and will require each country to make its own personal decision to retain its
physicians. While countries such as the United Kingdom and France can write
proposals to regulate the issue, in the end the physicians must want to stay in
their home countries or their governments must entice them to do so. If this can’t happen, health care in Africa
will continue to struggle. We believe that initiating programs to incentivize
physicians to stay would be highly beneficial and work well to retain
physicians. <o:p></o:p></i></div>
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<o:p> </o:p>Eastwood, JB., Conroy, RE., Naicker, S., PA West, Tutt, RC.,
Plange-Rhule, J. 2005 Loss of health professionals from sub-Saharan Africa: the
pivotal role of the UK. The Lancet, 365(9474). 1893-1900. Retrieved from</div>
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<o:p></o:p></div>
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Hagopian, A., Ofosu, A., Fatusi, A., Biritwum, R., Essel,
A., Hart, L., & Watts, C. (2005). The flight of physicians from west
africa: Views of african physicians and implications for policy. Social Science
& Medicine, 61(8), 1750-1760. Retrieved from http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.socscimed.2005.03.027<o:p></o:p></div>
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Hagopian, A., Thompson, M., Fordyce, M., Johnson, K., &
Hart, L. (2004). The migration of physicians from sub-saharan africa to the
united states of america: measures of the african brain drain. Human Resources
for Health, 2(17), doi: 10.1186/1478-4491-2-17<o:p></o:p></div>
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<b>CONTACT ERIC AND MATT</b><br />
Overall, Eric said that, “Benin is a great place to visit,”
and Matt said that he will, “remember the experience in Benin for the rest of
his life.” If you are interested in traveling to Benin, please feel free to
contact Eric at <a href="mailto:eschlid1@uwyo.edu">eschlid1@uwyo.edu</a>! <o:p></o:p></div>
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University of Wyoming Study Abroadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13551247261524386467noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1864092510195487210.post-81861218116901870792013-05-08T13:05:00.002-07:002013-05-08T13:07:23.838-07:00Rhiannon | Israel <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUqn6cMFgTYDUpUPf3Wxtc3UdfDxU5IcTBAkIPu1QlprVhAaMLFVQknh_P1XqsEq9_o0RHXEnrSjXt6eEF0s35HvamyluqS_ofOWLy1-zBcLsKMdPbUwLBRcy7vkOwTAmYp0jikj0Kxsyw/s1600/rhiannon.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUqn6cMFgTYDUpUPf3Wxtc3UdfDxU5IcTBAkIPu1QlprVhAaMLFVQknh_P1XqsEq9_o0RHXEnrSjXt6eEF0s35HvamyluqS_ofOWLy1-zBcLsKMdPbUwLBRcy7vkOwTAmYp0jikj0Kxsyw/s1600/rhiannon.jpg" height="400" width="260" /></a>Rhiannon Jakopak is a <a href="http://www.uwyo.edu/">UW</a> junior who traveled to Israel
during the summer after her sophomore year. <br />
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<o:p></o:p></div>
During her trip, Rhiannon lived mostly
in hostels, which she would recommend to others.<br />
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Rhiannon’s favorite activity of her trip was visiting
<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Western_Wall">Jerusalem’s Western Wall </a>each Friday. The Western Wall is considered one of
city’s holiest sites and visitors come from all over the world to pray at the wall
and to manifest their wishes. About the wall, Rhiannon said, <i>“Jerusalem was my
favorite city, but the Western Wall was my favorite part of the city. It is
definitely a must-see.”</i><br />
<br />
<o:p></o:p></div>
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In addition to the Western Wall, the <a href="http://www.telaviv4fun.com/beaches.html">Tel Aviv beaches</a> were one
of Rhiannon’s favorite places to spend time. Looking back on the trip, Rhiannon said, <i>“I couldn't possibly pick a favorite memory; there were so many incredible parts
of the trip.” </i><br />
<br />
<o:p></o:p></div>
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If you’re interested in finding out more, or visiting Israel
yourself, please feel free to e-mail Rhiannon at <a href="mailto:rjakopak@uwyo.edu">rjakopak@uwyo.edu</a>! <o:p></o:p></div>
University of Wyoming Study Abroadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13551247261524386467noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1864092510195487210.post-49966365598537933142013-05-08T12:46:00.002-07:002013-05-08T13:06:23.595-07:00Heidi | New Zealand<br />
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Heidi Meador is a <a href="http://www.uwyo.edu/">UW</a> Master’s student who travelled to New
Zealand over winter break as part of a <a href="http://www.uwyo.edu/studyabroad/faculty-led/index.html">Faculty-Led Program.</a> Heidi was one of
several <a href="http://www.uwyo.edu/">UW</a> students to earn academic credit by participating in the trip.
During their time in New Zealand, the Heidi and the other students got a chance to study New
Zealand’s biodiversity. In addition, the students had plenty of downtime to
explore New Zealand’s many sights.<br />
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<o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrvwmoalOOnFcKMaG0lbHhYYXYYAfKw2TJvZ7NExjaoRKDwmGZbrEGsUrHtoY-636SI5qb12PKud0rDEOrPlXUxZTeDAHZKOR9CjKnVbxU4StzJPHgmRk7nxIZeEVrtMBSt8Rn5TOUVrxK/s1600/Heidi.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrvwmoalOOnFcKMaG0lbHhYYXYYAfKw2TJvZ7NExjaoRKDwmGZbrEGsUrHtoY-636SI5qb12PKud0rDEOrPlXUxZTeDAHZKOR9CjKnVbxU4StzJPHgmRk7nxIZeEVrtMBSt8Rn5TOUVrxK/s1600/Heidi.jpg" height="320" width="300" /></a></div>
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Reflecting on the course, Heidi said, <i>“It offered an amazing
opportunity to explore the vast biodiversity of New Zealand, as well as an
unforgettable experience."</i> One of Heidi’s favorite experiences of the
trip was climbing <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mount_Taranaki">Mount Taranaki</a>, one of New Zealand’s volcanos! To reach the
top, the group climbed 131 stories to a view that was, <i>“absolutely amazing.”</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<o:p></o:p></div>
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The group also visited several beaches and had a special New
Year’s Eve beach celebration, which was very memorable for Heidi, in her words:
<i>“we went swimming in the ocean on New Year's Eve, and watched fireworks from
the water. It was an amazing New Years !”</i><br />
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<o:p></o:p></div>
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If you’re interested in traveling to New Zealand, or
participating in a <a href="http://www.uwyo.edu/studyabroad/faculty-led/index.html">Faculty Led Program</a>, please feel free to contact Heidi at <a href="mailto:hmeador@uwyo.edu">hmeador@uwyo.edu</a>. <o:p></o:p></div>
University of Wyoming Study Abroadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13551247261524386467noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1864092510195487210.post-74105963311992316902013-04-02T13:46:00.001-07:002013-04-02T13:48:51.451-07:00Whitney | Jamaica <br />
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Whitney is a senior<a href="http://www.uwyo.edu/"> UW</a> student who travelled to Jamaica in
the spring of 2013. Whitney organized her trip with the help of a volunteer service named <a href="http://amizade.org/">Amizade</a>. She says that <a href="http://amizade.org/">Amizade</a> was very helpful and she would recommend
the company to other UW students. <br />
<br />
<o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2Dm9DO4oyLgmxMqX3-wVKIvj0WgObQQKq1eznCtM4zonx_1xzpfDACQISAX0CW_GA-WgYRQ1LK_Ilwiey6z3WWv-8APlciwAQ_KALQww0gA94AYDjlzPMPLOVz-8O34K3NS1Aa0PiWxvi/s1600/ASB+Jamaica+2013+250.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2Dm9DO4oyLgmxMqX3-wVKIvj0WgObQQKq1eznCtM4zonx_1xzpfDACQISAX0CW_GA-WgYRQ1LK_Ilwiey6z3WWv-8APlciwAQ_KALQww0gA94AYDjlzPMPLOVz-8O34K3NS1Aa0PiWxvi/s320/ASB+Jamaica+2013+250.JPG" width="283" /></a></div>
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During her time in Jamaica, Whitney lived with a host family,
which was great because she <i>“was able to completely immerse in the Jamaican
culture and visit the beaches that the locals frequent.”</i> She said that developing a relationship with
her host family was the best experience of her trip because,<i> “they readily
welcomed me into their house, shared their knowledge, cooked amazing meals, and
much more.” </i><br />
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<o:p></o:p></div>
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While in Jamaica, Whitney taught courses at a local high
school. As a Wyoming substitute teacher, she enjoyed the opportunity to compare
U.S. and Jamaican education systems. According to Whitney, one of the greatest
differences was the class sizes; <i>“Jamaica averages 30-40 students per class,
while the Wyoming classes I have taught only have 20 students." </i><br />
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<o:p></o:p></div>
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The greatest challenge that Whitney encountered during her
trip was dealing with local security. She was able to solve this problem by, <i>“taking
one of our local volunteer guides with us when we walked up and down the
beaches.” </i><br />
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<o:p></o:p></div>
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Whitney says that the memories from her time in Jamaica will
<i>“last forever,”</i> and that <i>“given the opportunity [she] would definitely go on
the trip again.” <br /></i><br />
<o:p></o:p></div>
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If you’re planning to travel to Jamaica, or work with a
program provider, please feel free to contact Whitney at <a href="mailto:wbalzan@uwyo.edu">wbalzan@uwyo.edu</a>. <o:p></o:p></div>
University of Wyoming Study Abroadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13551247261524386467noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1864092510195487210.post-18712369325400354562013-03-14T11:41:00.000-07:002013-03-14T13:06:58.617-07:00Kalayla | Argentina <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1gCiuDpGXK9gh-lRDc8fbUIo_tyyLnWbBsVoT72nn3cHpJ3hdwn4_ClNe0sMCXsNaGp5HdCbImxMj8j6M8dSRqCPnCwXCIzP0mfQ5UChdGX1jtE0KSJwerbU-kbR_smVaACTyTARhrJf5/s1600/KHough+Argentina.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1gCiuDpGXK9gh-lRDc8fbUIo_tyyLnWbBsVoT72nn3cHpJ3hdwn4_ClNe0sMCXsNaGp5HdCbImxMj8j6M8dSRqCPnCwXCIzP0mfQ5UChdGX1jtE0KSJwerbU-kbR_smVaACTyTARhrJf5/s400/KHough+Argentina.jpg" width="227" /></a></div>
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Kalayla Hough is a <a href="http://www.uwyo.edu/">UW</a> Master’s student who studied abroad
during the summer of 2012. Kayayla planned her trip to Argentina with the help
of a program provider named<a href="http://studiesabroad.com/"> International Studies Abroad. </a><br />
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<o:p></o:p></div>
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Kalayla spent her summer at the<a href="http://www.ub.edu.ar/"> University of Belgrano</a>,
which she says she would recommend to other <a href="http://www.uwyo.edu/">UW</a> students because <i>“the teachers were
very invested in the students' education and the facilities were very nice.” </i> <a href="http://www.ub.edu.ar/">The University</a> also opened their intramural
sports teams to international students, which Kayala enjoyed very much. She
said,<i> “I would advise students to get involved in an intramural sport to
interact with locals.”<br /></i><br />
<o:p></o:p></div>
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During her time abroad, Kalayla stayed with an Argentinean
family in the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/N%C3%BA%C3%B1ez,_Buenos_Aires">Nuñez neighborhood of Buenos Aires</a>. She described the city as,
<i>“the most beautiful place I have ever been."</i> Kalayla’s favorite memory of her study abroad experience was a day she
spent introducing two of her friends to Buenos Aires. She reflected on this day saying, <i>“we started
the day by browsing handcrafted items in the local weekend market, where we
also purchased local food. Then we took
the food to a nearby park and watched the Argentines play fútbol (American
soccer). It was the perfect day.” </i><br />
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Kalayla says that the most challenging situation she came
across during her time in Argentina was trying to stay safe during outings at night.
Reflecting on this, she said, “<i>We made a concerted effort to be smart and safe
about our outings. We always made sure
to carry limited valuables and keep the items we did take with us close to our
body. We also made sure that we knew what public transportation options were
the closest to us and we made sure that we knew how to get home.”</i><br />
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Kalayla made the most of her study abroad experience and she
hopes you will to. To maximize your study abroad, Kalayla says, “<i>Enlist one or
two people from your program and explore the city you live in every chance you
get. Go to a new local market every day, see a new park, or eat something local
that you've never tried. Try to learn as much as you can by doing and not just
listening. Don't be afraid to ask questions and ALWAYS look at your experiences
as different then home experiences and NEVER as better or worse."</i><br />
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<o:p></o:p></div>
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If you’re planning to visit Argentina, or work with a
<a href="http://www.uwyo.edu/studyabroad/where-go/providers.html">program provider</a>, please feel free to contact Kalayla at <a href="mailto:khough19@gmail.com">khough19@gmail.com</a><o:p></o:p></div>
University of Wyoming Study Abroadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13551247261524386467noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1864092510195487210.post-73274155993428672152013-03-12T12:24:00.001-07:002013-03-14T11:44:32.709-07:00Mariah | Honduras <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_dULiJrtz_4iGG5JSpNWXIwSgUv58GC3OHayF6BCF0ZdJyjWQkN0EWEX3hiWfZ1n-53OILLzLxA_1L2fzPBRHk18p5Gy6qUv3rRKBs7SMJIJaO0HpEdWw0b-DALkUYpJi4azwBiP8g4hQ/s1600/mariah_price.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_dULiJrtz_4iGG5JSpNWXIwSgUv58GC3OHayF6BCF0ZdJyjWQkN0EWEX3hiWfZ1n-53OILLzLxA_1L2fzPBRHk18p5Gy6qUv3rRKBs7SMJIJaO0HpEdWw0b-DALkUYpJi4azwBiP8g4hQ/s320/mariah_price.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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Mariah Price is a junior <a href="http://www.uwyo.edu/">UW</a> student who travelled to Honduras
during the summer of 2012 as part of a Medical Brigade <a href="http://www.uwyo.edu/studyabroad/faculty-led/summer.html">Faculty-Led Program.</a>
During the trip, a group of University of Wyoming students earned academic
credit while working at <a href="http://www.clinicadeaguasalada.org/">a medical clinic in the rural community of Agua Salada.</a><br />
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<o:p></o:p></div>
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Reflecting on the trip Mariah said, “It was a great way to
give back. I loved helping teach the children at the schools about healthy
living and English.” The trip also provided an excellent opportunity for Mariah
to improve her Spanish because she acted as the Spanish/English translator for
the group! <br />
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<o:p></o:p></div>
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Considering Spanish, Mariah said, “I would recommend this
trip for those wanting to work on their Spanish skills, or just utilize them in
general. I really progressed in the short time. There were also some medical
terms that I did not understand at first; yet, I quickly learned the medical
terms through immersion.” <br />
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<o:p></o:p></div>
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Mariah will enjoy wonderful memories of her trip in Honduras
for years to come; especially poignant are her memories of the local people. She
said, “One of my favorite memories is our last night in Agua Salada. The community
threw us a party, we attended a service at the church, enjoyed a delicious cake,
and even had a dance with all of the local people.” <br />
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Mariah says she would recommend the trip to anyone! She
says, “It was very beautiful and the people were great. I will never forget the
short time I spend in Honduras.” <br />
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<o:p></o:p></div>
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If you are interested in traveling to Honduras or participating
in a <a href="http://www.uwyo.edu/studyabroad/faculty-led/summer.html">Faculty-Led Program,</a> please feel free to contact Mariah at <a href="mailto:mprice8@uwyo.edu">mprice8@uwyo.edu</a>. <o:p></o:p></div>
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University of Wyoming Study Abroadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13551247261524386467noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1864092510195487210.post-14182773758192505632013-01-15T12:42:00.001-08:002013-03-14T11:44:43.673-07:00Jessi | Israel <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3CgeHkp5QNmiU7-eFWvba51FMMzTxr33R38RWqI8xX38evLoy0ecQVM_1lYQTzkmiNBkByfP_3kG-P5xi7tTVGz_Vmlhralv9c6etlLH269ZnXyYhqXvQWtOpdnfQd25a1SWsLlCWmdYQ/s1600/israel+photo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3CgeHkp5QNmiU7-eFWvba51FMMzTxr33R38RWqI8xX38evLoy0ecQVM_1lYQTzkmiNBkByfP_3kG-P5xi7tTVGz_Vmlhralv9c6etlLH269ZnXyYhqXvQWtOpdnfQd25a1SWsLlCWmdYQ/s1600/israel+photo.jpg" width="241" /></a></div>
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Jessi Donaghe is a<a href="http://www.uwyo.edu/"> UW</a> senior who traveled to Israel during
the summer of 2012 as part of a <a href="http://www.uwyo.edu/studyabroad/faculty-led/">Faculty-Led Program</a>. During her <a href="http://www.uwyo.edu/studyabroad/faculty-led/">Faculty-LedProgram</a>, a group of students, led by a UW faculty member, earned academic
credit while traveling throughout Israel studying “Religions of the Middle East.”
Jessi learned about Judaism, Islam, and Christianity while visiting historic
sacred sites and meeting with leaders in cities like Galilee and Jerusalem. <br />
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The group stayed in hostels during most of the three-week
course; Jessi really enjoyed the experience. One of her favorite parts of the
trip was visiting <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hezekiah%27s_Tunnel">Hezekiah’s Tunnel</a>, a tunnel under the City of David, which is
mentioned in the Bible (2 Kings 20:20). Another highlight of Jessi’s trip was
travelling to Egypt and climbing <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mount_Sinai">Mount Sinai.</a> She reflected on the experience
saying, <i>“Now I can say I had breakfast
where Moses was said to have gotten the Ten Commandments. That is an amazing
thing to be able to say.”</i> <br />
<o:p></o:p></div>
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Jessi’s greatest challenge during the trip was finding her way
around Israel. She admitted that she got lost in a busy city market. However,
she was able to find her way after asking for directions. Jessi recommends that
UW student’s pre-designate meeting places when wondering in a new city! <br />
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<o:p></o:p></div>
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If you are interested in traveling to Israel, studying
religion, or participating in a <a href="http://www.uwyo.edu/studyabroad/faculty-led/">Faculty-Led program</a>, feel free to contact Jessi
at <a href="mailto:jdonaghe@uwyo.edu">jdonaghe@uwyo.edu</a>. <o:p></o:p></div>
University of Wyoming Study Abroadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13551247261524386467noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1864092510195487210.post-88370175123258923142012-12-21T16:05:00.002-08:002013-03-14T11:44:53.060-07:00Shelby | Holidays in China<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRS9P3NCEMboBjGVZSXHjRlhmxjw9Zi7KvljAjt0HDa11l91Bdz2XH7hoeYan8Pk2nTLV_jeg-Qciygw-PgnMzipbTOZdTC9NY3xVpITQ-kd7GJckOxlGGGV8NOLzyyLXupfRmoIOAiWO0/s1600/Chengdu+Advendture+Weekend+004.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRS9P3NCEMboBjGVZSXHjRlhmxjw9Zi7KvljAjt0HDa11l91Bdz2XH7hoeYan8Pk2nTLV_jeg-Qciygw-PgnMzipbTOZdTC9NY3xVpITQ-kd7GJckOxlGGGV8NOLzyyLXupfRmoIOAiWO0/s1600/Chengdu+Advendture+Weekend+004.jpg" width="341" /></a></div>
<b id="internal-source-marker_0.24595412611961365" style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Shelby Oelklaus is a <a href="http://www.uwyo.edu/">UW</a> student who received a <a href="http://www.uwyo.edu/intprograms/chinese-scholarship/">Chinese Ambassador Wyoming Scholarship </a>to study in Chengdu, China at <a href="http://www.cdu.edu.cn/cdueng/">Chengdu University</a>. Shelby has spent this semester in China and will be staying through the spring. </span><br /><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Shelby says spending the Holidays in China is <i>“interesting”</i> and a little <i>“bizarre.”</i> Shelby spent Thanksgiving with a group of Americans who <i>“have lived in Chengdu for many years.” </i>Although the group was able to find most of their Thanksgiving dinner ingredients pretty easily, they had particular difficulty finding cranberry sauce. They also encountered some serious cooking challenges! </span><br /><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">According to Shelby, <i>“the average Chinese oven is about 1/3 the size of an American oven, so our turkey was slightly less regal and boarding on the verge of tiny, but delicious all the same.”</i> Despite the small turkey, Shelby said the holiday was the <i>“most unique and most memorable Thanksgiving”</i> she has ever experienced. </span><br /><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">As December approached in Chengdu, so did Christmas. According to Shelby,<i> “Christmas decorations began to spring up all over the city at the start of the month.”</i> The decorations, however, weren’t her traditional favorites. She says, regarding the Chinese decorations, <i>“it's like the whole of China was invited to an ugly sweater party.”</i> Shelby says she was surprised by the Western influence in Asia. </span><br /><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">As Shelby’s first semester comes to an end, she’s taken time to explore the Chengdu area. She recently visited <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mount_Emei">Mt. Emei</a>, one of the Four Sacred Buddhist Mountains in China adorned (with roughly 70 Buddhist temples). She says Mt. Emei, is<i> “absolutely breathtaking.” </i></span><br /><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Shelby wishes all UW students a wonderful winter break and a Merry Christmas. You can send Shelby a Holiday greeting at </span><a href="mailto:soelklau@uwyo.edu"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">soelklau@uwyo.edu</span></a><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">. </span></b>University of Wyoming Study Abroadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13551247261524386467noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1864092510195487210.post-52293851189054455142012-12-06T10:49:00.001-08:002013-03-14T11:45:11.186-07:00Kelley | United Kingdom <br />
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Kelley Anderson is a <a href="http://www.uwyo.edu/">UW</a> PhD Student in the School of Law who <a href="http://www.uwyo.edu/studyabroad/where-go/partner.html">studied abroad</a> during the Summer of 2012. Kelly completed her <a href="http://www.uwyo.edu/studyabroad/where-go/partner.html">study abroad</a> at
the Southwestern School of Law at the <a href="http://www.lon.ac.uk/">University of London</a> in the United
Kingdom. <br />
During her time at the<a href="http://www.lon.ac.uk/"> University of London</a>, Kelley stayed
in the dorms at College Hall. She recommends
these living accommodations to other UW students. She says, <i>“Stay at dorms. They are very conveniently
located and nice, with a private bath and bedroom.”</i></div>
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<i><br /></i></div>
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Kelley highly recommends the University of London, which she
says, “<i>provided a great experience”</i>
during her trip. Kelley says, <i>“The classes
were very exciting and the campus was very close to many of the main
attractions in London.”<o:p></o:p></i></div>
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Some of Kelley’s favorite memories included
visiting these attractions. She says, <i>“Traveling around Scotland, Ireland and
England; getting to see all the castle ruins; and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blarney_Stone">kissing the Blarney Stone</a> were my best memories.</i>” She also enjoyed
visiting the Tower Bridge. She says, “<i>The
Tower Bridge was amazing. It is worth paying to go into the Tower Bridge, the
Tower of London, or both. Also, if Buckingham Palace is open it is definitely
worth going to!” </i></div>
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<i> <o:p></o:p></i></div>
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If you’re interested in studying in the UK, feel free to
contact Kelley at manderso@uwyo.edu <o:p></o:p></div>
University of Wyoming Study Abroadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13551247261524386467noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1864092510195487210.post-55041650518188744332012-12-05T10:38:00.001-08:002013-03-14T11:45:26.809-07:00Paul | France <br />
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Paul Aubrecht is a <a href="http://www.uwyo.edu/">UW</a> PhD student who completed an <a href="http://www.uwyo.edu/studyabroad/where-go/locations/index.html">Exchange program </a>in France during the Summer of 2012. As a law student emphasizing in
Human Rights, Paul studied at Regent University’s Strasbourg Campus. He says he
would suggest this program to, <i>“any law
student because the teachers were excellent, the facilities first class, and
the off campus opportunities unique and helpful.”</i> However, he also added
that, <i>“Regent is a Christian University
so I would not recommend this program for anyone who is unwilling to accept
that Christian Values and Prayer.”</i><o:p></o:p></div>
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During his time in France, Paul lived, <i>“in a studio apartment with a private bathroom at the Foyer Notre Dame
near the Cathedral in the Center of Strasbourg.”</i> He enjoyed these living
arrangements and recommends them to other UW students. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Along with studio apartments, Paul suggests doing as much
reading and coursework as possible in advance. According to Paul, <i>“This allows for more time to enjoy the
Country.”</i> For students traveling to France, Paul says: <i>“I would make sure to take the time to go see Paris. The main points of
interest for me (in Paris) were the Eiffel Tower, the Arch De Triumph, and the
Louvre Museum.”<o:p></o:p></i></div>
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Paul says that his greatest challenge was packing! He
reflects, <i>“There were a lot of things I
packed that I did not use. It makes the trip much easier if you only take the
things you absolutely need. I also found myself caught in the rain several
times. I'm glad I packed a rain suit, so it was not a problem for me.”</i> He also recommends
learning at least some of the language to, <i>“help
you get around.” <o:p></o:p></i></div>
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<i><br /></i></div>
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If you’re planning to travel to France, or participate in an
Exchange, please feel free to contact Paul at <a href="mailto:paubrech@uwyo.edu">paubrech@uwyo.edu</a>. <o:p></o:p></div>
University of Wyoming Study Abroadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13551247261524386467noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1864092510195487210.post-13492962106014434332012-12-05T10:11:00.001-08:002013-03-14T11:45:51.476-07:00Emmalee | Kenya<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKG_MlcqQ67_CZP6MjrUGcojcph8pqMMCgXU-ojQTo7AphbjPvKJ6pG1D_YsXlRT0RnO98orHxLDkLGBBuot0ayAsYcm0dFl1E_1_5CBWRT79XoMnmHo51fkAYzBaHDl56BbxiBVAnqXX_/s1600/Emmalee_2.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKG_MlcqQ67_CZP6MjrUGcojcph8pqMMCgXU-ojQTo7AphbjPvKJ6pG1D_YsXlRT0RnO98orHxLDkLGBBuot0ayAsYcm0dFl1E_1_5CBWRT79XoMnmHo51fkAYzBaHDl56BbxiBVAnqXX_/s1600/Emmalee_2.bmp" width="320" /></a></div>
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Emmalee Allen is a <a href="http://www.uwyo.edu/">UW</a> senior who traveled to Kitale, Kenya
in the Summer of 2012. During her time
in Kenya, Emmalee studied at the <a href="http://www.mhacbiointensive.org/">Manor House Agricultural Centre</a>, where she received a three month certificate in
bio-intensive agriculture. To receive the certification, she successfully
completed courses in: community development, bio-intensive agriculture, family
nutrition, appropriate technology, livestock management, and crop production.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Emmalee says that she would recommend the <a href="http://www.mhacbiointensive.org/">Manor HouseAgricultural Centre</a> to others. She says, <i>“The
professors and staff are amazing, flexible, and knowledgeable. They really
cater to what you are interested in learning and are great about getting you
out in the field working hands on.”</i><o:p></o:p></div>
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<i><br /></i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPZ1HzjSsjYRIPlcwY_RTtnAYOoUpa7gkldpSK4scHobvKWW2_WXAAq8PiUS80zqOvs17wl3o1dm1x3qjEoD5dFHe7X-Y_KHU06w-6gUGn6nHr_MBPGNn9Fs1ueyrdhiyn8afwQYc4yUF6/s1600/Emmalee_1.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPZ1HzjSsjYRIPlcwY_RTtnAYOoUpa7gkldpSK4scHobvKWW2_WXAAq8PiUS80zqOvs17wl3o1dm1x3qjEoD5dFHe7X-Y_KHU06w-6gUGn6nHr_MBPGNn9Fs1ueyrdhiyn8afwQYc4yUF6/s1600/Emmalee_1.bmp" width="240" /></a></div>
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During the first part of her trip to Kenya (May and June),
Emmalee completed labs, lectures, and practical’s at the Manor House
facilities. During the second half of her trip (beginning in July), she visited
several agriculture operations for a week at a time. Emmalee traveled to many
operations including, <i>“a tea and sugar
factory, a rose farm, Kenya Agricultural Research Institute, a local orphanage”
</i>among others.</div>
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<i><br /></i></div>
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Emmalee’s dream job is to work with agriculture in Africa,
and she said <i>“This summer gave me an
opportunity to experience part of my dream.”</i> Emmalee’s favorite memory from
her trip is working at a primary school, which rehabilitated street children.
She taught the students about bio-intensive agriculture, a type of small-scale
organic farming. Not only was the school able to apply the methods to their
school farm, but many of the schools staff members, including their headmaster,
applied the new farming method to improve their yields at home. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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To other UW students thinking or traveling abroad, Emmalee
says: <i>“Go open and willing to learn; be
flexible. Be willing to jump into every opportunity and embrace the culture
open arms.”<o:p></o:p></i></div>
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<i><br /></i></div>
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If you’re interested in traveling to Kenya, or earning an
agricultural certification abroad, feel free to contact Emmalee at <a href="mailto:eallen8@uwyo.edu">eallen8@uwyo.edu</a>. <o:p></o:p></div>
University of Wyoming Study Abroadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13551247261524386467noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1864092510195487210.post-59552078484492056462012-12-05T09:32:00.000-08:002013-03-14T11:46:19.129-07:00Mary | Honduras <br />
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Mary Beth Bender is a <a href="http://www.uwyo.edu/">UW</a> Master’s student who traveled to
Honduras in the Summer of 2012. As
a nursing student, Mary visited Honduras to participate in a <a href="http://www.uwyo.edu/studyabroad/faculty-led/">Faculty-LedProgram</a>. Students in the program earned
academic credit by working at a clinic in <a href="http://www.clinicadeaguasalada.org/">Agua Salada, Honduras</a>. <br />
<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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Reflecting on the trip, Mary said: <i>“The entire experience was wonderful… meeting people who have so
little, but are so deeply appreciative of the healthcare we were able to
provide was incredible.”</i> During the group’s last night in Agua Salada, the
village had a church service and party in honor of the UW volunteers. About
this Mary says, <i>“They brought cake and
soda, and set up a stereo system to play music so we could all dance. The people of the village apologized that
they could not give more to show their appreciation, but we were all deeply
humbled and honored by all they had done for us.”<o:p></o:p></i></div>
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<i><br /></i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeCSN6NmsI1warvqEde-MTepiB4N5m3ELiRczNh26AVnc8vr-eGAezDikKusb5WuD4_SSVNdjbBb-qEOoJuiAJb-c0eaXlMLF4279DV6vKbdE5dEADEM__fTV6cLiOph8_rgKG_hZfXJ5b/s1600/Mary_Honduras.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="237" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeCSN6NmsI1warvqEde-MTepiB4N5m3ELiRczNh26AVnc8vr-eGAezDikKusb5WuD4_SSVNdjbBb-qEOoJuiAJb-c0eaXlMLF4279DV6vKbdE5dEADEM__fTV6cLiOph8_rgKG_hZfXJ5b/s1600/Mary_Honduras.bmp" width="400" /></a></div>
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Mary’s biggest challenge during her trip was the language
barrier. She says, <i>“Providing healthcare
to people in a remote village in Honduras, with limited medical supplies and a
language barrier, was an enormous challenge.
However, our team of a nurse midwife, physicians, nurse practitioners, nurses,
pharmacy student, dental hygienist, translators and so many other wonderful
team members worked amazingly well together, problem-solved together, and
provided the best care possible with the resources we had available.”<o:p></o:p></i></div>
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<i><br /></i></div>
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Overall, the program was a great experience for Mary who
says she would like to return as soon as possible. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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If you’re interested in traveling to Honduras or participating
in a <a href="http://www.uwyo.edu/studyabroad/faculty-led/">Faculty-Led Program</a>, feel free to contact Mary at mfontana@uwyo.edu <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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Interested in finding out more about the trip? Check out the group's <a href="http://www.clinicadeaguasalada.org/">website. </a></div>
University of Wyoming Study Abroadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13551247261524386467noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1864092510195487210.post-51311023043541430512012-12-04T14:33:00.000-08:002013-03-14T11:46:36.679-07:00Lindsey | Europe<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMCPpYaZk0Fk8R37d681BzInYZs0dbI4YK-qyqw7fQWcijzSag1PEyd1uhHKcS9Z34-XtlVmlBbQ4xrbsothWBNLJjcHbfY166xls_u6CGVxNPDhFPdZkQkwtVws7daO2ZtK_c8oK3vQwM/s1600/horsesportraitweb.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMCPpYaZk0Fk8R37d681BzInYZs0dbI4YK-qyqw7fQWcijzSag1PEyd1uhHKcS9Z34-XtlVmlBbQ4xrbsothWBNLJjcHbfY166xls_u6CGVxNPDhFPdZkQkwtVws7daO2ZtK_c8oK3vQwM/s320/horsesportraitweb.jpg" width="227" /></a></div>
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Lindsey Hankins is a<a href="http://www.uwyo.edu/"> UW</a> senior who traveled to Denmark,
Sweden, England, Scotland, Ireland, Spain and Portugal during the summer of
2012 as part of <a href="http://aqha.com/Showing/Content-Pages/Resources/Exhibitors/International-Horsemanship-Camps.aspx">AQHA’s International Horsemanship Clinics</a>. <br />
<o:p></o:p></div>
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One of Lindsey’s favorite memories for her trip was helping others
transform their riding abilities. She describes one on these trans formative experiences as follows: <o:p></o:p></div>
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<i>“It was the first day of our clinic and a
gentleman who clearly wanted to embrace the ‘Western’ lifestyle came riding in
on a nice little Quarter horse whose origin he was unaware of. We quickly discovered
that it was from a ranch in Texas that I was very familiar with. Once we knew this, we were able to completely
transform the rider. Watching the rider and horse work as a team, and improve so rapidly, was one of the most rewarding things I experienced while traveling, but
also in my life. </i><i style="text-indent: 2.25pt;">I would not trade that
memory for the world. " </i></div>
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<i><br /></i></div>
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When the group wasn't riding, or participating in clinics,
they had the opportunity to travel to Portugal. During the trip to Portugal, they visited a
village where they helped the locals harvest a potato crop using donkeys and
plows. Lindsey reflected on this experience
saying: <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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<i>“This
experience was absolutely incredible and turned out to be one of my favorite
parts of our entire trip. I would highly recommend others to go to Portugal and
spend some time in the rural parts. It was an experience that completely
changed my perspective on a lot of day-to-day things." <o:p></o:p></i></div>
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<i><br /></i></div>
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One of the greatest challenges of Lindsey’s trip was the
language barrier she faced. To overcome this, she suggests that other US
students, who are not fluent in their home country’s language, <i>“either learn the language prior to
traveling, or have a translation dictionary handy.”</i><o:p></o:p></div>
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<i><br /></i></div>
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Lindsey recommends that all people travel. She says, <i>“If you have not had the chance to travel
and explore this incredible world, you definitely need to. There are so many
incredible experiences and opportunities right at the tips of your
fingers. I highly encourage everyone to
look into opportunities abroad and take advantage of them!” </i><o:p></o:p></div>
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<i><br /></i></div>
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If you’re interested in traveling to Denmark, Sweden, England,
Scotland, Ireland, Spain or Portugal feel free to contact Lindsey at <a href="mailto:Lindseyhankins90@gmail.com">Lindseyhankins90@gmail.com</a>.<br />
<br />
Looking for more information about this trip, check out <a href="http://www.uwyo.edu/uw/news/2012/04/uw-equine-science-program-students-to-teach-horsemanship-in-europe.html">UW's article!</a> <o:p></o:p></div>
University of Wyoming Study Abroadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13551247261524386467noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1864092510195487210.post-67467592561425588282012-12-04T13:37:00.000-08:002013-03-14T11:46:57.460-07:00Lindsay | Peru <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5LTxV7bYZmaxzHavd2XTnwlIrlsLtGSLiEi0Qd7tAwiI3jcLGSmvft5C1YpgDqmmg8G_m9uiMEgthLVboVcuWcHoxYPXHcAM_ArWmaocxNjjqDKy1iLMkQgntsvKSTp_nXak4QF62Iq-M/s1600/olson_peru.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5LTxV7bYZmaxzHavd2XTnwlIrlsLtGSLiEi0Qd7tAwiI3jcLGSmvft5C1YpgDqmmg8G_m9uiMEgthLVboVcuWcHoxYPXHcAM_ArWmaocxNjjqDKy1iLMkQgntsvKSTp_nXak4QF62Iq-M/s400/olson_peru.bmp" width="261" /></a></div>
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Lindsay Olson is a <a href="http://www.uwyo.edu/">UW</a> Master’s Student in International Studies
who traveled to Peru to conduct research on sustainable farming methods during
the summer of 2012. Lindsay says that <i>“meeting
and working with individuals in the farming communities was not only beneficial
to my research but also was a great human interaction and an opportunity to
make friends.”</i><o:p></o:p><br />
<i><br /></i></div>
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While in Peru, Lindsay lived in several places. She stayed
in hostels and completed home-stays in the city and in “the campo.” She enjoyed
each of these accommodations and recommends them to other UW students who
choose to travel to Peru. <br />
<br />
<o:p></o:p></div>
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Lindsay also suggests that an UW students who are in the
Andes, visit the <i>“amazing Incan ruins,
including Machu Picchu.”</i> She also recommends visiting Cusco for its <i>“interesting museums and vibrant food markets.”</i> Another benefit of visiting the city of Cusco
is that <i>“Cusco and surrounding areas are
very safe.”<br /><br /><o:p></o:p></i></div>
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Lindsay suggests that UW students take advantage of all
opportunities to travel abroad. She says, <i>“traveling
abroad is always worthwhile no matter if it is an independent research or a
faculty-led trip; utilize the help of the International Programs office, they
are very helpful and can make the planning process easier.”<br /><br /><o:p></o:p></i></div>
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If you’re interested in traveling to Peru, or conducting
independent international research, feel free to contact Lindsay at <a href="mailto:lindsayo@uwyo.edu">lindsayo@uwyo.edu</a>. <o:p></o:p></div>
University of Wyoming Study Abroadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13551247261524386467noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1864092510195487210.post-3633897134841640782012-12-04T13:04:00.000-08:002013-03-14T11:47:11.136-07:00Anna | Kenya <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUauFrCEvF4n6rBZ4YaqGu6x1V1AQT4fuD7aHi0h3j0v7G_3CbAA5ELk69CnPOkpTNpcCS-QaueyR5Awu7FKtt2UJLUJUd9G0-961btTE5qrLFTgI3MOvetKqVWXyxsnzJTKfhO9i6eal2/s1600/Anna.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUauFrCEvF4n6rBZ4YaqGu6x1V1AQT4fuD7aHi0h3j0v7G_3CbAA5ELk69CnPOkpTNpcCS-QaueyR5Awu7FKtt2UJLUJUd9G0-961btTE5qrLFTgI3MOvetKqVWXyxsnzJTKfhO9i6eal2/s400/Anna.bmp" width="345" /></a></div>
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Anna is a <a href="http://www.uwyo.edu/">UW</a> sophomore who traveled to Kenya the summer
after her freshman year. Anna was enrolled
in a <a href="http://www.uwyo.edu/studyabroad/faculty-led/">Faculty-Led Program </a>during which she earned credit by participating in an
African safari. <br />
<br />
<o:p></o:p></div>
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She says that visiting Kenya was a <i>“lifelong wish,”</i> and she
thoroughly enjoyed the safari in <a href="http://www.go2africa.com/kenya/masai-mara">Maasi Mara</a>. Her group saw lions and <i>“many
other amazing animals.”</i> Anna was mesmerized by the sight of <i>“truly wild”</i>
animals. She describes it as follows,<i> “They were truly wild, not in a zoo with
fences. It was something that words can hardly describe.</i>” <br />
<br />
<o:p></o:p></div>
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Anna’s trip was quite the adventure. At several points, the
group’s safari van got stuck in the mud. She says, <i>“It was scary because we
were in the middle of nowhere, with no one else around, but we all just worked
together and eventually got the van unstuck and found our way back.”</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<o:p></o:p></div>
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Anna reflected on the trip saying, “<i>I’m so glad I had the
opportunity to see this amazing country.”</i><o:p></o:p></div>
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<br />
If you are planning to participate in a Faculty-Led Program,
or travel to Kenya, feel free to contact Anna at aedwar14@uwyo.edu <o:p></o:p></div>
University of Wyoming Study Abroadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13551247261524386467noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1864092510195487210.post-11289546301274923722012-12-04T12:37:00.001-08:002013-03-14T11:47:23.169-07:00Katelyn | Australia <br />
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Katelyn Means is a <a href="http://www.uwyo.edu/">UW</a> junior who traveled abroad during the
spring of her sophomore year. Katelyn was a study abroad student at the
<a href="http://www.uq.edu.au/">University of Queensland in Australia</a>! Because UW does not have an exchange
agreement with <a href="http://www.uq.edu.au/">The University of Queensland</a>, Katelyn worked with a Program
Provider,<a href="http://www.australearn.org/"> AustraLearn</a>, to set up her study abroad. <br />
<br />
<o:p></o:p></div>
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Katelyn enjoyed the University of Queensland’s <i>“beautiful
campus,”</i> and described her courses as <i>“challenging but manageable.”</i> Because of
the vast array of class options when studying abroad, Katelyn recommends that
you <i>“figure out your class schedule before you go.”</i> During her time in Australia
Katelyn lived in <a href="http://www.urbanest.com.au/">Urbanest Student Housing Accommodatio</a>n, which she suggests to
other UW study abroad students!<br />
<br />
<o:p></o:p></div>
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One of Katelyn’s best memories from her semester abroad is
spring break. During the break she I traveled to New Zealand and toured the
South Island with a tour company called <a href="http://www.topdeck.travel/australia">TopDeck</a>. During the trip she met <i>“some
amazing people”</i> and saw a lot of sights she could have never found on her own.
She also went skydiving, which was the icing on the cake of her trip! <br />
<br />
<o:p></o:p></div>
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Katelyn’s biggest challenge during her study abroad semester
was the homesickness that she experienced during her first month in Australia. However,
she says that her homesickness was <i>“small in the grand scheme of things.” </i> When asked how she dealt with the
homesickness, Katelyn said, <i>“I would either talk to my other study abroad
friends or call my mom! Home is only a phone call away!” </i><br />
<o:p></o:p></div>
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Katelyn provides the following advice to UW students
preparing to study abroad:<i> “Make an effort to connect with the locals. A lot of study abroad programs have you
teamed up with Americans when you get there. It is great to have these friends
and to relate to and hangout with, but also make sure you make an effort to get
to know the locals, so you can truly experience the culture and what the
country your visiting is really about!” </i><br />
<br />
<o:p></o:p></div>
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If you are planning to travel to work with a Program
Provider or to travel to Australia please feel free to contact Katelyn at <a href="mailto:kmeans@uwyo.edu">kmeans@uwyo.edu</a>. <o:p></o:p></div>
University of Wyoming Study Abroadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13551247261524386467noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1864092510195487210.post-88323025093374347222012-11-27T10:48:00.001-08:002013-03-14T11:47:39.677-07:00Christian | Costa Rica <br />
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Christian Bopp is a junior at <a href="http://www.uwyo.edu/">UW</a> who travelled to Costa Rica
in the spring of his sophomore year. Christian was a study abroad student at
<a href="http://www.uveritas.ac.cr/">Veritas University in San Jose, Costa Rica</a>. Christian loved<a href="http://www.uveritas.ac.cr/"> Veritas </a>and said
that,<i> “the faculty and students were awesome.”</i> He was also very impressed with
the University’s extracurricular activities and academically-oriented outdoor
excursions. <br />
<br />
<o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6P_y5aYV7MiFSstXB-PQn2NbRqf1kNjNnApMQjkqVfKeBYwtjIcOIcSBbE0-ZjgJtM7mLrzFB5ydG_2LaVcRIMnkY1slHJdc6QkXjyTcZWKrYWvyMkTtapt5BJf_UTr1ttbl301swecbw/s1600/Christian_Costa_Rica.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6P_y5aYV7MiFSstXB-PQn2NbRqf1kNjNnApMQjkqVfKeBYwtjIcOIcSBbE0-ZjgJtM7mLrzFB5ydG_2LaVcRIMnkY1slHJdc6QkXjyTcZWKrYWvyMkTtapt5BJf_UTr1ttbl301swecbw/s1600/Christian_Costa_Rica.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
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To set-up his study abroad experience, Christian worked with
a program provider called <a href="http://studiesabroad.com/">International Studies Abroad (ISA)</a>. <a href="http://studiesabroad.com/">ISA</a> has a
partnership with UW and regularly serves UW students in planning their study
abroad trips. <a href="http://studiesabroad.com/">ISA</a> helped Christian set-up his studies and also matched him with
his Costa-Rican host family.<a href="http://studiesabroad.com/"> ISA</a> also coordinates local weekend trips for study
abroad students. <br />
<br />
<o:p></o:p></div>
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Christian took part in many short trips around Costa Rica
and thinks that this travel is an important part of any study abroad
experience. About this he says,<i> “I would advise students to make traveling and
experiencing the local culture a priority (in addition to classes).”</i> Christian traveled frequently, including many surfing expeditions and a trip t<a href="http://www.ometepenicaragua.com/">o LasIslas de Ometepe in Nicaragua</a> to hike Volcanoes. His favorite memory from his
travels is <i>“body surfing in the waves with my family at the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Manuel_Antonio_National_Park">Parque Nacional deManuel Antonio</a>.”</i><br />
<br />
<o:p></o:p></div>
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However, Christian did encounter some challenges during this
semester abroad. In fact, he experienced some safety concerns during his time
in Costa Rica. He recounts the experience as follows, <i>“I was robbed along with
some other gringos in a park at night near where I lived… I would advise people in this situation to
remain calm and do whatever necessary to make sure you and your friends are
safe. I remained calm and no one was
hurt.”</i><br />
<br />
<o:p></o:p></div>
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Despite this frightening situation, Christian recommends that
all students travel. He says,<i> “Traveling is one of the most eye opening things
a person can do and is most beneficial when young! GO TRAVEL!”</i><br />
<br />
<o:p></o:p></div>
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If you’re interested in travelling to Costa Rica, or working
with a program provider to set up a study abroad, feel free to contact
Christian at <a href="mailto:cbopp@uwyo.edu">cbopp@uwyo.edu</a>! <o:p></o:p></div>
University of Wyoming Study Abroadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13551247261524386467noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1864092510195487210.post-12413851976725438332012-11-27T10:27:00.001-08:002013-03-14T11:47:59.338-07:00Ana | Albania <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4Ilbzy6mzsEuh-4wbnWySRVZapk7A358T-5JhWuiEKh64co92MUFyM4JTLHxBaiB67TNJnCmAc80geTXXsg1d5mmFl4BsPKDEbIvtTZA5GitQtAR-YGMXHFGkcfrvNfaRMKiWvDRq55e7/s1600/Ana_Albania.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4Ilbzy6mzsEuh-4wbnWySRVZapk7A358T-5JhWuiEKh64co92MUFyM4JTLHxBaiB67TNJnCmAc80geTXXsg1d5mmFl4BsPKDEbIvtTZA5GitQtAR-YGMXHFGkcfrvNfaRMKiWvDRq55e7/s1600/Ana_Albania.jpg" width="306" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Ana Burgi is a <a href="http://www.uwyo.edu/">UW</a> master’s student who completed an internship
in Albania during the summer of 2012. As a law student, Ana greatly enjoyed the
legal internship. <br />
<br />
Reflecting on her international internship she says she
worked with <i> “a great team”</i> and that she
“<i>really liked her supervisor.”</i> Ana highly recommends international internships
and says her internship was a <i>“great networking experience.” </i><br />
<br />
<o:p></o:p></div>
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During her summer internship, Ana rented an apartment in
Tirana, Albania. She suggests that any UW students visiting this area visit
Kruja’s historic museum. At the museum ,
<i>“you can learn a lot about the history of Albania and you can see some
authentic houses.”</i> Ana says, <i>“Albania is one of the most beautiful
Mediterranean places.”</i> In particular, she recommends that UW students visit
southern Albania where you will, <i>“will find the most amazing beaches and the
most delicious food.”</i><br />
<br />
<o:p></o:p></div>
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Ana also found Albanians to be, <i>“very friendly.”</i> In fact,
the only major downside of her trip was the hot weather. To deal with the heat, Ana stayed indoors and avoided walking during
the hottest hours of the day. <br />
<br />
<o:p></o:p></div>
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If you’re thinking of travelling to Albania, or completing
an international internship, feel free to contact Ana at <a href="mailto:aburgi@uwyo.edu">aburgi@uwyo.edu</a>. <o:p></o:p></div>
University of Wyoming Study Abroadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13551247261524386467noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1864092510195487210.post-34826685122559439552012-11-16T14:37:00.002-08:002013-03-14T11:48:16.654-07:00Daniel | Kenya <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSmTSnAxsCu3URZSmlEE2uANZPq1gjbMHuL0CgHi8iucGZRXWt0eFcGkdXsM6V-rZWBHM9YTFgj0lLFLjOCrcHqWpu_mViktlTyqpLOb8IbjeMblSu00Rwi-jXsEZRo3Be2ycuqn2JAqFX/s1600/daniel_kenya.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="284" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSmTSnAxsCu3URZSmlEE2uANZPq1gjbMHuL0CgHi8iucGZRXWt0eFcGkdXsM6V-rZWBHM9YTFgj0lLFLjOCrcHqWpu_mViktlTyqpLOb8IbjeMblSu00Rwi-jXsEZRo3Be2ycuqn2JAqFX/s1600/daniel_kenya.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Daniel Greenwood is a <a href="http://www.uwyo.edu/">UW</a> student who travelled to Kenya in
the Summer of 2012 as part of a<a href="http://www.uwyo.edu/studyabroad/faculty-led/"> Faculty-Led Program</a>. The focus of Daniel’s
<a href="http://www.uwyo.edu/studyabroad/faculty-led/">Faculty-Led</a> course was African wildlife. As such, the group spent their time at the<a href="http://www.mpala.org/Contact_Us.php"> Mpala Research Centre in Nanyuki, Kenya</a>. <br />
<br />
<o:p></o:p></div>
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A highlight of Daniel’s trip was his visit to the <a href="http://www.olpejetaconservancy.org/">Ol PejetaWildlife Conservancy</a>. The conservancy breeds black rhino’s and Daniel had the opportunity
to view and feed several rhinos. Reflecting on the experience he says, <i>“it was
awe inspiring to be in the presence of such a threatened animal.”</i> <br />
<br />
<o:p></o:p></div>
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While in Nanyki, Daniel lived in a two-man wall tent along
the Ewaso N'giro (River Camp). He said the tent had <i>“nice beds”</i> and he would recommend
the living accommodations to other UW students who will be living in Kenya. <br />
<br />
<o:p></o:p></div>
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One of Daniel’s greatest challenges, while living in Kenya,
was adjusting to the food. The group was fed <i>“very graciously,”</i> but found some
of the food (especially the meat) to be unusual. Ultimately, Daniel learned to
see eating in a foreign county as a valuable new experience and he started to
try everything he was served. This was one of many circumstances during which
he realized that, <i>“many problems can be overcome with a little open-mindedness.” </i><br />
<o:p></o:p></div>
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Daniel’s favorite memory from his time in Kenya was a trip
through the conservancy. During the ATV trip, the group’s vehicle got stuck in
the mud and they had to finish the trip on foot. The group embraced the
experience. Daniel describes it saying, <i>“we danced and sang with the gracious
people in the village </i>(that our vehicle got stuck in)…<i>I was not expecting the
cross-cultural experience, but it was a pleasant surprise.”</i><br />
<br />
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
If you’re thinking of travelling to Kenya, or participating
in a <a href="http://www.uwyo.edu/studyabroad/faculty-led/">Faculty-Led </a>Program, feel free to contact Daniel at <a href="mailto:dgreenw2@uwyo.edu">dgreenw2@uwyo.edu</a>. <o:p></o:p></div>
University of Wyoming Study Abroadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13551247261524386467noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1864092510195487210.post-14019626409614031372012-11-14T10:29:00.007-08:002013-03-14T11:49:21.723-07:00Kari | Peru <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYxYvaexupqWSeVCXZLjmDve8GO8uXsaKLaJ6Oe1QYgcquAI7Fi5xd30vQeW8TowdtqtMHYy5vEdsgREhY9KPhc4abPp-S0RFXH5uPxNGL3qsCGMjQDxhSj5ZygnSxM9SEcp1121ySoHv7/s1600/Kari_Peru.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYxYvaexupqWSeVCXZLjmDve8GO8uXsaKLaJ6Oe1QYgcquAI7Fi5xd30vQeW8TowdtqtMHYy5vEdsgREhY9KPhc4abPp-S0RFXH5uPxNGL3qsCGMjQDxhSj5ZygnSxM9SEcp1121ySoHv7/s1600/Kari_Peru.jpg" width="247" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Kari Fictum is a<a href="http://www.uwyo.edu/"> UW</a> senior who traveled to Peru in the
summer of 2012. Kari visited Peru for a UW Archeology Field School, a
<a href="http://www.uwyo.edu/studyabroad/faculty-led/">Faculty-Led program.</a> This is the same program that <a href="http://uwinternationalprograms.blogspot.com/2012/10/jazlynn-peru.html">Jazlynn</a>, another featured
study abroad student, attended. <a href="http://uwinternationalprograms.blogspot.com/2012/10/jazlynn-peru.html">Check out Jazlyn’s blog</a> for specific details about
the archaeological excavations. <br />
<br />
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Kari really enjoyed the field school and highly suggests
that US students, <i>“check out all of the different (<a href="http://www.uwyo.edu/studyabroad/faculty-led/">faculty-led</a>) course
offerings.</i>” Kari also wanted to remind US students that,<i> “you don't have to be
a student in a particular department to enjoy an international experience that
department may be offering.” </i><br />
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
When Kari was not in field school, her program offered
optional trips to see local historical and ritual sites. Kari says she would, <i>“highly
recommend courses that also offer some additional opportunities to experience
the local culture and important sites during ‘down time’, especially because
trips are led by knowledgeable instructors who may be able to gain special
access or discounts to some of these sites.”</i><br />
<br />
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Kari enjoyed the faculty-led program because such programs
give students<i> “a far different perspective than the average tourist.”</i> However,
one down side is that many students are not proficient in the
host-country language. Kari said this
was a challenge. In such cases she suggests travelling in a group with a
competent language speaker and bringing a pocket dictionary. She also recommends, <i>“paying close attention
to the way that fluent speakers communicate with the locals so that you can
learn basic communication skills, should you not have them with you in a future
situation.”</i><br />
<br />
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
One of Kari’s favorite memories was getting to know the
other UW students who went on the faculty-led program. She said,<i> “we were lucky
enough to have a relatively small group of students so we relied on each other
a lot and became fast friends. I have a
lot of great memories of experiencing the trials and triumphs of living in a
foreign place and working through a six week field school with some really
great people who were also experiencing this for the first time.” </i></div>
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<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Travelling abroad can seem risky, but the rewards are well
worth it. Take it from Kari who said, <i> “many people are timid about travelling and
living in a foreign country because they may not be going with people they know
well, because of the remoteness of the location, or because the country may be
in an unstable area of world. However you’ll make great friends during your
time there and the instructors have your comfort and safety in mind as they
plan the course and during your entire time in country. You are going to gain
some great experiences if you can muster up the courage to go outside of your
comfort zone!” </i><br />
<br />
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
If you’re interested in traveling to Peru or participating
in a <a href="http://www.uwyo.edu/studyabroad/faculty-led/">Faculty-Led Program</a>, feel free to contact Kari at <a href="mailto:kfictum@uwyo.edu">kfictum@uwyo.edu</a>. <o:p></o:p></div>
University of Wyoming Study Abroadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13551247261524386467noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1864092510195487210.post-62788470519837108302012-11-07T09:44:00.001-08:002013-03-14T11:48:44.570-07:00Kelsy | Turkey <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWhcaQQcQyTUWmUFrTqi1LblY_l1iGcz0YJEyNr4_PqDSXcjl8Lh8F2XU3tkFH1a8lnsyz4m_HT5f-JF2MovoJ-5WGUzPe6bMyl52qaexTY8joFfGWUbfPTs19W70UYFZx4bcKt_Ps3nBt/s1600/kelsy_turkey1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWhcaQQcQyTUWmUFrTqi1LblY_l1iGcz0YJEyNr4_PqDSXcjl8Lh8F2XU3tkFH1a8lnsyz4m_HT5f-JF2MovoJ-5WGUzPe6bMyl52qaexTY8joFfGWUbfPTs19W70UYFZx4bcKt_Ps3nBt/s1600/kelsy_turkey1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Kelsy Werries is a <a href="http://www.uwyo.edu/">UW</a> senior who traveled to Turkey during
the Summer of 2012 as part of a <a href="http://www.uwyo.edu/studyabroad/faculty-led/">Faculty-Led Program</a>. The
group traveled to 7 cites, and Kelsy quickly fell in love with the culture. <br />
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Kelsy nostalgically remembers her first night in Turkey.
Thinking back she said, <i>“That first night
eating dinner and listening to the call to prayer will forever be ingrained in
my brain. Everything was new, the sounds, smells, and tastes; every sense was
alert and engaged. That evening was truly surreal and I will never forget that
moment or that feeling.”<br /><br /><o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Kelsy also looks back fondly on the group’s trip to
Istanbul. Istanbul was “ very exhilarating and exciting.” She quickly fell in
love with Istanbul’s <i>“beautiful colors
and textures that make up the giant maze of the city.”</i> If you have a chance
to visit Istanbul, Kelsy suggests visiting the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Basilica_Cistern">Yerebatan Sarayi</a> (an underground
cistern) and the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grand_Bazaar,_Istanbul">Grand Bazaar</a>, she says these places will <i>“enchant you.”</i> <o:p></o:p><br />
<i><br /></i>
<i><br /></i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitjDZU08jWz5qND3OfOCekTMjeWr1XpeU0OWlrStqPXtnx1ASxZJb8jEjSGWjRTXbM1JOjcb0b83J2dsd7PCJ3rYOI1Itj4PgyUeqqB-YDWXvxX6tyVM-aTMOFr7ZfM0qGuutFZAOErfbw/s1600/kelsy_turkey.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitjDZU08jWz5qND3OfOCekTMjeWr1XpeU0OWlrStqPXtnx1ASxZJb8jEjSGWjRTXbM1JOjcb0b83J2dsd7PCJ3rYOI1Itj4PgyUeqqB-YDWXvxX6tyVM-aTMOFr7ZfM0qGuutFZAOErfbw/s1600/kelsy_turkey.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Although Kelsy felt safe during the most of the trip, she
did feel unsafe one night in <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/G%C3%B6lc%C3%BCk,_Kocaeli">Goluck</a>, a small mountain town. Most of the town’s
hotel’s and businesses were not yet open for the season. Late in the evening,
when Sarah and her roommate were in bed, two men (whom the girls had met earlier),
knocked on their door. The girls opened the door and were surprised when the
men asked them suggestive questions. Kelsy described opening the door as, “a
brief lapse of judgment” and suggests that you do not invite foreign guests in
to your personal space late in the evening (even if they are friends).<br />
<br />
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Kelsy highly suggests that UW students visit Turkey. Sarah
said, <i>“The country is bursting with
history and culture. I enjoyed every moment of my time and will never forget
it.”<br /><br /><o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
If you’re interested in travelling to Turkey, or
participating in a Faculty-Led Program, feel free to contact Kelsy at <a href="mailto:kwerries@uwyo.edu">kwerries@uwyo.edu</a>. <o:p></o:p></div>
University of Wyoming Study Abroadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13551247261524386467noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1864092510195487210.post-42743285616272116572012-11-07T09:15:00.000-08:002013-03-14T11:48:56.672-07:00Sarah | Germany <br />
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Sarah Armel is a<a href="http://www.uwyo.edu/"> UW</a> senior who traveled to Germany during the
summer after her junior year as part of a <a href="http://www.uwyo.edu/studyabroad/faculty-led/">Faculty-Led program</a>. Sarah and the
other UW students stayed in hotels and hostels, and Sarah recommends these
accommodations to other UW students. <br />
<br />
<o:p></o:p></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal">
During most of the trip the group studied Germany history,
with a focus on the Second World War and the Holocaust. They concluded their
trip with a two-night stay in the city of Hamburg where they attended the
German Cup soccer championships. Sarah said, “<i>It was an amazing experience to
watch the game with a whole crowd of Germans, and the best part was that
Germany won the game.”</i> Sarah suggests that any UW students who travel to Germany make a stop at one of Hamburg’s
fresh fish markets. Although Sarah doesn't eat fish in the US, she found German
fish to be quite tasty. <br />
<br />
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The greatest challenge that Sarah encountered during her
trip were travel delays. Unfortunately, her flight out of Denver was delayed
and she missed her connecting flight to Frankfurt, Germany. Because of the delays, Sarah, who spoke little German, had to travel by train across Germany and find
her way to the group’s hotel. Sarah’s cell phone was not functional in Germany,
so she could not call a cab. Luckily, as Sarah was attempting to walk to her
hotel she encountered two college-age girls who spoke English and were able to
call a taxi for her and help her find her way. Sarah is very grateful for these
girls, without them she is not sure that she would have found her way.<br />
<br />
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Reflecting on her experience in Germany Sarah says, <i>“Anytime
that you have the opportunity to travel, you should take it…. The world has a
lot to offer and you should take advantage of every opportunity to see it.” <o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br />
If you are interested in traveling to Germany or completing
a Faculty-Led program, feel free to contact Sarah at <a href="mailto:sarmel@uwyo.edu">sarmel@uwyo.edu</a>. <o:p></o:p></div>
University of Wyoming Study Abroadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13551247261524386467noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1864092510195487210.post-62768146317230328172012-11-07T08:41:00.001-08:002013-03-14T11:49:10.034-07:00Garrett | Kenya<br />
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Garrett Point is a <a href="http://www.uwyo.edu/">UW</a> senior who traveled to Kenya during
the summer of 2012 as part of a <a href="http://www.uwyo.edu/studyabroad/faculty-led/">Faculty-Led Program. </a><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgglwue864qUlaaZod_vrEkcNAKo3FJSnhaNcmn-XDDekJc9EyZeRs0jjh3bXVAThxO436oYuAhM5JGjyhr9NGW82lFa87-WXD4k_QWP6dG4uaD-FKIOpGCLGIVJE3JOXj7mir08QF_cap1/s1600/Garrett's+Photos+22528.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgglwue864qUlaaZod_vrEkcNAKo3FJSnhaNcmn-XDDekJc9EyZeRs0jjh3bXVAThxO436oYuAhM5JGjyhr9NGW82lFa87-WXD4k_QWP6dG4uaD-FKIOpGCLGIVJE3JOXj7mir08QF_cap1/s1600/Garrett's+Photos+22528.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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The group of UW students worked at the Mpala Research Centre
in Nanyuki, Kenya; and considered it a great experience. During most of the
trip Garrett worked with African wildlife, and he says,<i> “it doesn’t get any
better than that.”</i><br />
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During the day, the group conducted research and during the
night they loaded in land cruisers and drove around locating animals with spot
lights. Reflecting on this experience, Garrett said,<i> “nothing can describe the
feeling of seeing a leopard, hippo, hyena, or elephant, for the first time in
the wild.”</i><br />
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Garrett also spent time in <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nairobi">Nairobi</a>, a large urban center in
East Africa. Some areas of Nairobi seemed dangerous, and Garrett recommends that
using <i>“the buddy system”</i> whenever you are in a foreign city. <o:p></o:p></div>
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If you’re interested in travelling to Kenya, or participating
in a faculty-led program, feel free to contact Garrett at <a href="mailto:gpoint@uwyo.edu">gpoint@uwyo.edu</a>. <o:p></o:p></div>
University of Wyoming Study Abroadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13551247261524386467noreply@blogger.com0