by Erin Eastwood.SLI Puebla 2002
THE RIGHT DECISION
When I first decided that I wanted to study abroad, Mexico was not the first country that came to mind. I knew that I
SLI Puebla student enjoy a sunny day at the University, (submitted by Erin Eastwood Puebla, Mexico)
wanted to learn Spanish and experience a new culture, but for some reason, Mexico did not catch my eye. Looking back now,
I wonder why I thought that way. Maybe it was because Mexico is so close; maybe it didn't seem like much of a change. Maybe Mexico isn't presented to us as exotic or romantic as say Spain or other countries in Europe. In the end, I chose the Puebla program because it would work best for me academically.
As soon as I arrived, I knew I had made the right decision in coming to Mexico. My family stay was great. I would have to say that living with a family may be the best way to go when studying abroad. My family would cook for me so that I could try the traditional Mexican cuisine, which by the way, is pretty tasty. The family I stayed with had a daughter who went to the university I was attending, so I was able to meet new people very easily. Her friends introduced me to the vast array of discos that exist in Puebla. I also got to see the many other, and probably
more interesting, sides of Puebla.
Our group took many trips to all of the cultural sites in town. We were given the opportunity to learn the salsa, learn to cook, or volunteer at a children's home. On the weekends we were able to explore the rest of the country by going on planned excursions or just creating a trip of our own. I had the time of my life doing all of these new things.
What I experienced in Puebla taught me that you really must experience something first hand to have a good understanding for it. How people or places are represented to us at home may be extremely different when seeing them in real life. Flying home to Kansas after my sixth week in Puebla, Mexico, I returned with new friends, better Spanish skills, and a new life experience that I will take with me on my future journeys.
Who Studies Abroad? Profile of a KU Summer Program Alum
Name: Andrew Bailey
Home Town: Little Rock, Arkansas
Level and Major: Senior, Political Science Study Abroad Programs: Andrew studied on two consecutive 2-week programs in the summer 2002 - European Studies in Brussels, Belgium and Paris, France, followed by European Studies in Budapest, Hungary and Vienna, Austria. The Brussels-Paris program was led by Dr. Carl Strikwerda, Associate Dean of CLAS and Professor of History. TheBudapest-Hungary program was led by Dr.Michael Mosser, Office of International Programs.
Andrew, we know your major and what programs you participated in, but tell us something about yourself. For instance, what is one of your favorite passtimes? I enjoy following my favorite sports teams and athletes: KU Basketball, Kansas City Chiefs Football, Andy Roddick (tennis), Tiger Woods (golf), and the U.S.
national soccer team.
Do you have a particular career in mind? I hope to be a transactional attorney. In pursuit of this goal I will be attending Columbia Law School next fall.
Had you ever traveled abroad before this program?
Nope,first time.
Tell us something that surprised you about your experience abroad.
I was surprised by how receptive people were to Americans given growing political differences between the U.S. and Europe.
What was the most challenging aspect of the program for you, academic or otherwise? Language barriers were by far the most challenging aspect of the trip. Even though many people spoke English, it was still difficult to communicate and
find proper directions.
What did you enjoy the most about your experience?
Having the opportunity to see firsthand the many things I have read about since being a child, including incredible museums like the Louvre and famous monuments like the Eiffel Tower.
Do you have any future plans (or dreams) for international activities, in Europe or elsewhere?
Yes, I'm actually in London currently, where I plan to find a job and work for the next six months prior to attending law school. Traveling on a KU Study Abroad program gave me the necessary confidence to take a step like this and I'm so excited for it.
Can you offer any insights for prospective participants?
Come with an open mind. Be ready to walk a lot. Enjoy!
THE COST OF THE COMBINED 2003 EUROPEAN STUDIES PROGRAMS IS $100 LOWER THAN LAST YEAR!
STUDENTS MAY APPLY TO ONE OR BOTH 2-WEEK PROGRAMS.
THERE ARE NO COURSE PREREQUISITES.
STUDENTS OF ALL MAJORS AND LEVELS
ARE ENCOURAGED TO APPLY, THOUGH
APPLICANTS SHOULD BE READY TO DO
UPPER-LEVEL WORK.
DRS, STRIKWERDA AND MOSSER WILL AGAIN BE DIRECTING AND TEACHING THE 2003 PROGRAMS.
EACH 2-WEEK PROGRAM OFFERS 3 HOURS OF UPPER-LEVEL CREDIT IN EUROPEAN STUDIES OF HISTORY (BRUSSELS-PARIS) OR POLITICAL SCIENCE (BUDAPEST-VIENNA).
WANT TO KNOW MORE? CHECK O
THE ITINERARIES AND SYLABI
FROM THE 2002 PROGRAMS
AT HTTP://WWW.KU.EDU/~OSA.
CLICK ON PROGRAMS.
KU OR NON-KU STUDENTS,
THEN EUROPEAN STUDIES.
The famous Grand-Place in Brussels, Belgium
APPLY TODAY!
Jayhawks Abroad
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