Shelby | Holidays in China

Shelby Oelklaus is a UW student who received a Chinese Ambassador Wyoming Scholarship to study in Chengdu, China at Chengdu University. Shelby has spent this semester in China and will be staying through the spring.

Shelby says spending the Holidays in China is “interesting” and a little “bizarre.” Shelby spent Thanksgiving with a group of Americans who “have lived in Chengdu for many years.” 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!

According to Shelby, “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.” Despite the small turkey, Shelby said the holiday was the “most unique and most memorable Thanksgiving” she has ever experienced.

As December approached in Chengdu, so did Christmas. According to Shelby, “Christmas decorations began to spring up all over the city at the start of the month.” The decorations, however, weren’t her traditional favorites. She says, regarding the Chinese decorations, “it's like the whole of China was invited to an ugly sweater party.”  Shelby says she was surprised by the Western influence in Asia.

As Shelby’s first semester comes to an end, she’s taken time to explore the Chengdu area. She recently visited Mt. Emei, one of the Four Sacred Buddhist Mountains in China adorned (with roughly 70 Buddhist temples). She says Mt. Emei, is “absolutely breathtaking.”

Shelby wishes all UW students a wonderful winter break and a Merry Christmas. You can send Shelby a Holiday greeting at soelklau@uwyo.edu.

Kelley | United Kingdom

Kelley Anderson is a UW PhD Student in the School of Law who studied abroad during the Summer of 2012. Kelly completed her study abroad at the Southwestern School of Law at the University of London in the United Kingdom.  
During her time at the University of London, Kelley stayed in the dorms at College Hall.  She recommends these living accommodations to other UW students. She says, “Stay at dorms. They are very conveniently located and nice, with a private bath and bedroom.”

Kelley highly recommends the University of London, which she says, “provided a great experience” during her trip. Kelley says, “The classes were very exciting and the campus was very close to many of the main attractions in London.”

Some of Kelley’s favorite memories included visiting these attractions. She says, “Traveling around Scotland, Ireland and England; getting to see all the castle ruins; and kissing the Blarney Stone were my best memories.”  She also enjoyed visiting the Tower Bridge. She says, “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!”   

           

If you’re interested in studying in the UK, feel free to contact Kelley at manderso@uwyo.edu                   

Paul | France

Paul Aubrecht is a UW PhD student who completed an Exchange program 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, “any law student because the teachers were excellent, the facilities first class, and the off campus opportunities unique and helpful.” However, he also added that, “Regent is a Christian University so I would not recommend this program for anyone who is unwilling to accept that Christian Values and Prayer.”

During his time in France, Paul lived, “in a studio apartment with a private bathroom at the Foyer Notre Dame near the Cathedral in the Center of Strasbourg.” He enjoyed these living arrangements and recommends them to other UW students.

Along with studio apartments, Paul suggests doing as much reading and coursework as possible in advance. According to Paul, “This allows for more time to enjoy the Country.” For students traveling to France, Paul says: “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.”

Paul says that his greatest challenge was packing! He reflects, “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.” He also recommends learning at least some of the language to, “help you get around.”

If you’re planning to travel to France, or participate in an Exchange, please feel free to contact Paul at paubrech@uwyo.edu. 

Emmalee | Kenya

Emmalee Allen is a UW senior who traveled to Kitale, Kenya in the Summer of 2012.  During her time in Kenya, Emmalee studied at the  Manor House Agricultural Centre, 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.

Emmalee says that she would recommend the Manor HouseAgricultural Centre to others. She says, “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.”

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, “a tea and sugar factory, a rose farm, Kenya Agricultural Research Institute, a local orphanage” among others.

Emmalee’s dream job is to work with agriculture in Africa, and she said “This summer gave me an opportunity to experience part of my dream.” 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.

To other UW students thinking or traveling abroad, Emmalee says: “Go open and willing to learn; be flexible. Be willing to jump into every opportunity and embrace the culture open arms.”

If you’re interested in traveling to Kenya, or earning an agricultural certification abroad, feel free to contact Emmalee at eallen8@uwyo.edu. 

Mary | Honduras

Mary Beth Bender is a UW Master’s student who traveled to Honduras in the Summer of 2012. As a nursing student, Mary visited Honduras to participate in a Faculty-LedProgram.  Students in the program earned academic credit by working at a clinic in Agua Salada, Honduras.

Reflecting on the trip, Mary said: “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.” 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, “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.”

Mary’s biggest challenge during her trip was the language barrier. She says, “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.”

Overall, the program was a great experience for Mary who says she would like to return as soon as possible.

If you’re interested in traveling to Honduras or participating in a Faculty-Led Program, feel free to contact  Mary at mfontana@uwyo.edu   

Interested in finding out more about the trip? Check out the group's website. 

Lindsey | Europe

Lindsey Hankins is a UW senior who traveled to Denmark, Sweden, England, Scotland, Ireland, Spain and Portugal during the summer of 2012 as part of AQHA’s International Horsemanship Clinics.

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:

“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 would not trade that memory for the world. " 

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:

“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."        

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, “either learn the language prior to traveling, or have a translation dictionary handy.”

Lindsey recommends that all people travel. She says, “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!”     

If you’re interested in traveling to Denmark, Sweden, England, Scotland, Ireland, Spain or Portugal feel free to contact Lindsey at Lindseyhankins90@gmail.com.

Looking for more information about this trip, check out UW's article! 

Lindsay | Peru

Lindsay Olson is a UW 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 “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.”

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.

Lindsay also suggests that an UW students who are in the Andes, visit the “amazing Incan ruins, including Machu Picchu.” She also recommends   visiting Cusco for its “interesting museums and vibrant food markets.”  Another benefit of visiting the city of Cusco is that “Cusco and surrounding areas are very safe.”

Lindsay suggests that UW students take advantage of all opportunities to travel abroad. She says, “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.”

If you’re interested in traveling to Peru, or conducting independent international research, feel free to contact Lindsay at lindsayo@uwyo.edu. 

Anna | Kenya

Anna is a UW sophomore who traveled to Kenya the summer after her freshman year.  Anna was enrolled in a Faculty-Led Program during which she earned credit by participating in an African safari.

She says that visiting Kenya was a “lifelong wish,” and she thoroughly enjoyed the safari in Maasi Mara. Her group saw lions and “many other amazing animals.” Anna was mesmerized by the sight of “truly wild” animals. She describes it as follows, “They were truly wild, not in a zoo with fences. It was something that words can hardly describe.”

Anna’s trip was quite the adventure. At several points, the group’s safari van got stuck in the mud. She says, “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.”

Anna reflected on the trip saying, “I’m so glad I had the opportunity to see this amazing country.”

If you are planning to participate in a Faculty-Led Program, or travel to Kenya, feel free to contact Anna at aedwar14@uwyo.edu   

Katelyn | Australia

Katelyn Means is a UW junior who traveled abroad during the spring of her sophomore year. Katelyn was a study abroad student at the University of Queensland in Australia! Because UW does not have an exchange agreement with The University of Queensland, Katelyn worked with a Program Provider, AustraLearn, to set up her study abroad.

Katelyn enjoyed the University of Queensland’s “beautiful campus,” and described her courses as “challenging but manageable.” Because of the vast array of class options when studying abroad, Katelyn recommends that you “figure out your class schedule before you go.” During her time in Australia Katelyn lived in Urbanest Student Housing Accommodation, which she suggests to other UW study abroad students!

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 TopDeck. During the trip she met “some amazing people” 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!

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 “small in the grand scheme of things.”  When asked how she dealt with the homesickness, Katelyn said, “I would either talk to my other study abroad friends or call my mom! Home is only a phone call away!”       
    

Katelyn provides the following advice to UW students preparing to study abroad: “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!”          

If you are planning to travel to work with a Program Provider or to travel to Australia please feel free to contact Katelyn at kmeans@uwyo.edu. 

Christian | Costa Rica

Christian Bopp is a junior at UW who travelled to Costa Rica in the spring of his sophomore year. Christian was a study abroad student at Veritas University in San Jose, Costa Rica. Christian loved Veritas and said that, “the faculty and students were awesome.” He was also very impressed with the University’s extracurricular activities and academically-oriented outdoor excursions.

To set-up his study abroad experience, Christian worked with a program provider called International Studies Abroad (ISA). ISA has a partnership with UW and regularly serves UW students in planning their study abroad trips. ISA helped Christian set-up his studies and also matched him with his Costa-Rican host family. ISA also coordinates local weekend trips for study abroad students.

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 would advise students to make traveling and experiencing the local culture a priority (in addition to classes).” Christian traveled frequently, including many surfing expeditions and a trip to LasIslas de Ometepe in Nicaragua to hike Volcanoes. His favorite memory from his travels is “body surfing in the waves with my family at the Parque Nacional deManuel Antonio.”

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 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.”

Despite this frightening situation, Christian recommends that all students travel. He says, “Traveling is one of the most eye opening things a person can do and is most beneficial when young!  GO TRAVEL!”

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  cbopp@uwyo.edu! 

Ana | Albania

Ana Burgi is a UW master’s student who completed an internship in Albania during the summer of 2012. As a law student, Ana greatly enjoyed the legal internship.

Reflecting on her international internship she says she worked with  “a great team” and that she “really liked her supervisor.” Ana highly recommends international internships and says her internship was a “great networking experience.”

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 , “you can learn a lot about the history of Albania and you can see some authentic houses.” Ana says, “Albania is one of the most beautiful Mediterranean places.” In particular, she recommends that UW students visit southern Albania where you will, “will find the most amazing beaches and the most delicious food.”

Ana also found Albanians to be, “very friendly.” 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.

If you’re thinking of travelling to Albania, or completing an international internship, feel free to contact Ana at aburgi@uwyo.edu. 

Daniel | Kenya

Daniel Greenwood is a UW student who travelled to Kenya in the Summer of 2012 as part of a Faculty-Led Program. The focus of Daniel’s Faculty-Led course was African wildlife. As such, the group spent their time at the Mpala Research Centre in Nanyuki, Kenya.

A highlight of Daniel’s trip was his visit to the Ol PejetaWildlife Conservancy. The conservancy breeds black rhino’s and Daniel had the opportunity to view and feed several rhinos. Reflecting on the experience he says, “it was awe inspiring to be in the presence of such a threatened animal.”

While in Nanyki, Daniel lived in a two-man wall tent along the Ewaso N'giro (River Camp). He said the tent had “nice beds” and he would recommend the living accommodations to other UW students who will be living in Kenya.

One of Daniel’s greatest challenges, while living in Kenya, was adjusting to the food. The group was fed “very graciously,” 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, “many problems can be overcome with a little open-mindedness.”     
          

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, “we danced and sang with the gracious people in the village (that our vehicle got stuck in)…I was not expecting the cross-cultural experience, but it was a pleasant surprise.”

If you’re thinking of travelling to Kenya, or participating in a Faculty-Led Program, feel free to contact Daniel at dgreenw2@uwyo.edu.                 

Kari | Peru

Kari Fictum is a UW senior who traveled to Peru in the summer of 2012. Kari visited Peru for a UW Archeology Field School, a Faculty-Led program. This is the same program that Jazlynn, another featured study abroad student, attended. Check out Jazlyn’s blog for specific details about the archaeological excavations.

Kari really enjoyed the field school and highly suggests that US students, “check out all of the different (faculty-led) course offerings.” Kari also wanted to remind US students that, “you don't have to be a student in a particular department to enjoy an international experience that department may be offering.”   
      

When Kari was not in field school, her program offered optional trips to see local historical and ritual sites. Kari says she would, “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.”

Kari enjoyed the faculty-led program because such programs give students “a far different perspective than the average tourist.” 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, “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.”

One of Kari’s favorite memories was getting to know the other UW students who went on the faculty-led program. She said, “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.”    

       

Travelling abroad can seem risky, but the rewards are well worth it.  Take it from Kari who said,  “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!”

If you’re interested in traveling to Peru or participating in a Faculty-Led Program, feel free to contact Kari at kfictum@uwyo.edu. 

Kelsy | Turkey

Kelsy Werries is a UW senior who traveled to Turkey during the Summer of 2012 as part of a Faculty-Led Program. The group traveled to 7 cites, and Kelsy quickly fell in love with the culture.  
      

Kelsy nostalgically remembers her first night in Turkey. Thinking back she said, “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.”

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 “beautiful colors and textures that make up the giant maze of the city.” If you have a chance to visit Istanbul, Kelsy suggests visiting the Yerebatan Sarayi (an underground cistern) and the Grand Bazaar, she says these places will “enchant you.”

Although Kelsy felt safe during the most of the trip, she did feel unsafe one night in Goluck, 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).

Kelsy highly suggests that UW students visit Turkey. Sarah said, “The country is bursting with history and culture. I enjoyed every moment of my time and will never forget it.”

If you’re interested in travelling to Turkey, or participating in a Faculty-Led Program, feel free to contact Kelsy at kwerries@uwyo.edu. 

Sarah | Germany

Sarah Armel is a UW senior who traveled to Germany during the summer after her junior year as part of a Faculty-Led program. Sarah and the other UW students stayed in hotels and hostels, and Sarah recommends these accommodations to other UW students.

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, “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.”  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.

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.

Reflecting on her experience in Germany Sarah says, “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.”

If you are interested in traveling to Germany or completing a Faculty-Led program, feel free to contact Sarah at sarmel@uwyo.edu. 

Garrett | Kenya

Garrett Point is a UW senior who traveled to Kenya during the summer of 2012 as part of a Faculty-Led Program.

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, “it doesn’t get any better than that.”

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, “nothing can describe the feeling of seeing a leopard, hippo, hyena, or elephant, for the first time in the wild.”

Garrett also spent time in Nairobi, a large urban center in East Africa. Some areas of Nairobi seemed dangerous, and Garrett recommends that using “the buddy system” whenever you are in a foreign city.  

If you’re interested in travelling to Kenya, or participating in a faculty-led program, feel free to contact Garrett at gpoint@uwyo.edu.         

Beth | Turkey

Beth is a UW graduate student, who traveled to Turkey during the summer after her senior year. Beth travelled to Turkey as part of a Faculty-Led Program that focused on drawing and cultural study.

Beth’s faculty-led group visited places like, the HiahSophia, a converted mosque that now acts as a museum, and the city of Istanbul, which, according to Beth, featured many “cultural jewels.” The group stayed at hotels and bed and breakfasts. While this was enjoyable short term, Beth would not recommend staying at such establishments for more than a week.

Visiting large cities with high crime rates was a new experience for Beth, and she had to learn quickly to distance herself from strangers.  According to Beth, in Istanbul, “it is considered promiscuous for an American woman to smile at a man she does not know.” While this was a big departure from friendly Wyoming life, Beth was happy to learn how to function in large cities. 

Beth’s favorite memory from her trip was an outing to a small farm, where the group sketched buildings. While the group was sketching, children came out of their houses and started making their own drawings. She really enjoyed getting to know the small children, who were eager to play with the UW students.

Beth describes her trip to Turkey as, “one of the best decisions I had made for myself.” Reflecting back she said, “I am so glad I chose to invest in this type of education… It has helped me come to term with what I want to do with my education and where I want to go as an artist and professional.”

If you are interested in travelling to Turkey or participating in a faculty-led program, feel free to contact Beth at ecochra1@uwyo.edu. 

Breanna | Chile

Breanna is a senior UW student who traveled to Chile during the 2011-12 academic year. Breanna was a study abroad student at Chile PontificalUniversity of Valparaiso, Chile . Because UW did not have an exchange program in Chile, Breanna worked with a program provider to set up the trip; Breanna said she would recommend this to other students. She lived with I lived with a “huge family” that included  a mom, dad, two older brothers, and a younger sister and brother. Breanna had a great time with her host family and recommends home stays to other UW students.  

Breanna enjoyed being a student in Valparaiso, Chile! She said there were, “tons of activities to get involved in” at Chile Pontifical University. And, she was surprised by the supportive teachers and commented that, “the teachers were super interested in the students!”   

   

Breanna loved life in Valparaiso, and advises all UW students to “pick a city that appears more interesting to you than a country.” This is because, according to Breanna, you will  “actually be staying in the city more that you realized.”              

Her favorite memory from her time abroad was “trekking through Torres del Paine.”  During which Breanna made her first trip to Patagonia. She says, “the views were unforgettable.” Breanna recommends that other UW students who visit Valparaiso check out the artistic community and visit the Cerros.

The greatest challenge that Breanna faced during her trip was dealing with the bus system. Because bus systems are unfamiliar to many Wyoming students, Breanna says to “ride the bus a lot, get lost, and keep an open mind.” She also suggests giving yourself extra time when traveling by bus.

Breanna describes her study abroad experience as “the best choice I have ever made in my life.” Without it she says “I would never have gained this confidence and new perspective on life.”

If you’re interested in going to Chile, working with a Program Provider, or having a home stay, feel free to contact Breanna at bricha15@uwyo.edu. 

Chelsea | Belize

Chelsea Downey is a UW senior who traveled to Belize (Central America) during spring break of 2012. Chelsea worked with ProWorld, a study abroad Program Provider, to set up the trip and she highly recommends ProWorld to other UW students.

During the trip Chelsea enjoyed caving at Blue Creek, building stoves and solar latrines in a local village, and swimming in rivers. She said the activities were “exhilarating, refreshing and really fun for the whole group.” During the trip, Chelsea lived with a local woman who ran a bakery out of her house. And while she would recommend home stays to other UW students, she did note that it was sometimes difficult to communicate with her other house mates. For students experiencing international roommate conflict, Chelsea suggests seeking advice from a group leader or adviser.

Chelsea really enjoyed her trip. She learned that the manual labor of building stoves and latrines can be a “fun and rewarding experience” and she found the people of Belize to be “welcoming, friendly, and very helpful.”

If you’re thinking of going to Belize, working with a program provider, or venturing out on spring break, you can contact Chelsea at cdowney4@uwyo.edu.      

Kat | UK & Trip Across Europe

Kat at the Vatican in Rome

Kat Cordes is a junior UW student who traveled to the United Kingdom during the spring of  2012. Kat spent five months living with a family in north Camden, which she really enjoyed. She describes the semester as a collection of “spectacular moments,” from getting to know the people, seeing the historical sites, going to shows, and enjoying the culture. Kat describes the trip as “simply perfect!”

 Eiffel Tower (by: Kat)

At semester’s end, Kat traveled across Europe with friends. They used couchsurfing.com to find no-cost accommodations while meeting incredible people, enjoying city life, and visiting the sights. She describes this trip across Europe as “the most enlightening I have ever done in my life.”          

Kat recommends that UW women “stay present and recognize the potential threats” when they are travelling abroad. Kat says she gathered this skill quickly during her time in Paris and Athens.

If you are considering studying in the UK, or taking a trip across Europe, feel free to contact Kat at kcordes1@uwyo.edu. 

Jazlynn | Peru

Jazlynn Hall is a sophomore UW student who travelled to Peru in summer of 2012. As part of the faculty-led program, Jazlynn took an archaeology class at UW then completed an archaeological field program with a UW faculty member in Peru.

During the field school, Jazlynn, and the other UW students, lived in a suburb called Banos del Inca, named for the town’s hot springs. She enjoyed living in Banos del Inca very much. During the field school, she excavated pottery pieces, cultural leavings, and to her surprise… human remains (that had not been touched in hundreds of years)!   Jazlynn called the field school a “fantastic experience.” Following the field school, she traveled to a tourist surf town called Huanchaco.

Jazlynn did not know Spanish when she left for Peru; said that not knowing the language made communication very difficult. If you are in this situation, Jazlynn recommends learning the names for basic foods first, then picking up small phrases that will allow you to interact with locals. With limited Spanish skills, Jazlynn learned to rely on body language and gestures, which she found very helpful! Although nonverbal communication proved useful, Jazlynn would not suggest going to a country without learning the language basics.

If you’re thinking of participating in a faculty-led program, or travelling to Peru, feel free to contact Jazlynn at Jhall35@uwyo.edu.        

Marti | England & Italy

Marti Brown is a senior UW student who traveled to England & Italy during the Summer of 2012 as part of a Faculty-Led Program.

Marti in front of Old Vic (London)

During the trip, Marti was able to earn academic credit while learning about Shakespeare. Marti was immersed in Shakespeare’s surroundings and got to see where he grew up and where he eventually wrote poetry and plays.  She spent most of the trip reading plays, seeing plays, and reviewing plays.  
         

She stayed in bed and breakfasts and hotels during the trip and would recommend that other UW students do the same. Marti says her favorite memory from the trip was “writing my love's initials in Juliet's alley in Verona, Italy.”

Her advice to other UW students who are studying abroad is to “experience all of the country's cultural foods!”    
          

If you’re considering travelling to England or Italy, or if you’re looking into a faculty-led program, feel free to contact Marti at mbrown58@uwyo.edu. 

Andrea Gooder | Germany

Andrea is a UW Master’s student who traveled to Germany in the summer of 2012 to complete her thesis research. She spent most of her time in the cities of Frankfurt and Berlin where she lived in a studio apartment and private residence.

Andrea conducted archival research at The German National Library (in Frankfurt) and The Berlin State Library (in Berlin). She said the libraries were, “amazing places to do research, and the (library) staff were very nice.”

Andrea recommends that any students visiting Berlin make time to see The Pergamon Museum, which she called the “most amazing museum I have ever been in.” For students who are completing research abroad, Andrea suggests creating a day-by-day research plan (before you leave). She says this will help you to make the most of your limited time abroad.   
           

To students thinking of studying abroad, Andrea says  “Any kind of study abroad is an absolutely amazing experience. It changes how you view your own life, the world, and your place in the world. It also teaches you to broaden the limits of what you think you can do in life, which is always a great feeling. “

If you’re thinking of travelling to Germany you can contact Andrea at agooder@uwyo,edu. 

Dennis Alm | Sweden

Dennis is a UW Senior who travelled to Sweden during the spring of 2011. He attended Linnaeus University as an exchange student. Linnaeus is located in Kalmar, Sweden along the Baltic Sea.  Dennis highly recommends Linnaeus University to other UW students. Linnaeus’ Exchange Student Office helped him coordinate living accommodations, social activities, and English courses. Dennis chose to live in off-campus ‘Kalmarhem at Stagneliusgatan’ apartments; he really enjoyed apartment-living in Sweden.

While attending Linnaeus, Dennis participated in the Erasmus Student Network Group, a network of 50 exchange students. As a member of the group, he attended city tours, dinners, parties, and even a snowboarding trip. Dennis’ favorite trip with the group was the ESN Sea Battle, a 2 night student cruise between Stockholm, Sweden and Tallinn, Estonia with around 2,000 exchange students from all over the Baltic Region.

Advice From Dennis

Dennis’ advice to UW students looking to travel abroad is to "be proactive before you go.” By this he means learning some of the language (before you arrive) in order to assist you with everyday tasks like grocery shopping and buying train tickets.  He also recommends completing your Visa paperwork as soon as possible.  According to Dennis, “the Swedish Consulate requires you to send your passport to them before you go… and this process may take a while.”

Dennis also suggests that you keep all important information, like your foreign cell phone number and address, in your backpack while travelling. Dennis kept this information in his checked luggage and then ran into trouble when his bags were lost!

Even with this setback, Dennis greatly enjoyed his study abroad experience. He says, “take advantage of what the study abroad program has to offer while you can. Enjoy being a student while the opportunities are endless .”

Because of his semester in Sweden, Dennis now has friends all over the world!

If you’re thinking of travelling to Sweden, you can contact Dennis at dalm@uwyo.edu   

Welcome To Our Blog

The International Programs Office at the University of Wyoming would like to welcome you to our new blog. If you have ideas for posts, please e-mail studyabd@uwyo.edu; we'd love to hear your ideas. Also, if you enjoy Facebook, please "like" our page.