Friday, March 13, 2009

From the Carpathians to Timisoara

Jumping atop the Carpathian Mountains above Castle Bran.

Click on this image (only this image) for animation.


Ascending “Dracula's” secret passage in Castle Bran


Crossing academic borders with students at Moise Nicoara High School in Arad


Traditional Romanian dancing with Business/Economics students from Polytechnic University of Timisoara


We were invited to karaoke with students from Timisoara
It took a Madonna song to get everyone singing together on stage.

Dance class in Chile





At Universidad Mayor

Tuesday, March 10, 2009

Just a few quick photos before we head to bed in Bran, Romania (Outside of Brasov). Tomorrow we're off to see Castle Bran and take a cable car ride up the mountains if weather permits. We'll be in Arad on Thursday and Timisoara on Friday and will keep in touch then. Please feel free to leave any comments or questions for any of us traveling!














Christina is pictured taking a photograph of a statue in the city square.
















On the plane flight from Bucharest to Iasi, Larry (bottom right) and Kaitlin(just above him) go beyond borders and strike up conversation with their romanian neighbors on the flight. Larry can be seen working through the language barrier with his new friend Silviu.













Here we are in Sighisoara at a medieval town with the hillside in the background.



We are all pictured at A.I. Cuza University where we met with the Director of the University as well as several faculty who gave tours of their departments.




Kaitlin celebrated her birthday on Sunday in Bucharest and got chocolates from the group as we sang her happy birthday in Romanian.











We've got a photo of our dessert after dinner in Bucharest. Papanasi: Large donut like pastries with rasberries, rasberry sauce and icing. So good.

FINALLY

SOOO, I JUST figured out my old password to my log-in for the SU Abroad... I had lost hope, and decided to go ahead an start anew... creating another blog of my own of BLOGGER... SOOO

Here's the website to my past two blogs:

http://moonmeetsamar.blogspot.com/

I have my own blog, but will try to do both...

EVERYTHING IS BEAUTIFUL here is Cairo! Wishing everyone "warmth," and glad to hear all the trips are off to a great start!!!

Kim*

Sunday, March 8, 2009

GCP Jordan Update

From: Miles Davis - project leader
Sent: Sun 3/8/2009 10:56 AM

We have landed and on way to hotel. Everyone is really excited and having an great time despite long flight and lack of sleep:-)

GCP MALI UPDATE

Project leader Bethany Galipeau left a brief phone message Saturday, March 7, 6:30pm EST to say all is well and they have safely arrived in MALI.

Saturday, March 7, 2009

GCP Chile Update

The group arrived in Santiago safe and sound.

GCP Vietnam Update

Hi from Hanoi,

We all got here safely! All flights were in time. We landed at 10:10 PM, local time. Everything went smothooly. No one got sick, just a little bit tired after a long trip. The weather is fine about 60F, no rain. Tomorrow, we will have a city tour during the day and water puppet at evening.

...we would like to thank to all of you for all the work you've done to make this trip happen.

Diep

GCP Romania Group Has Arrived!

Hello back home to everyone in Winchester and beyond!

After nearly 13 hours of traveling forward in time we arrived in Bucharest, Romania at 2-ish in the afternoon on Saturday. The flights were great and everyone is thrilled to be here. Most of us are taking a 2-hour nap at the moment before we head out for a late afternoon tour of Bucharest followed by dinner at a traditional Romanian restaurant. Tomorrow is a full day of events ending with a flight to Iasi. Check back to hear from us Sunday/Monday!


--GCP 2009, Romania Travelers!

Shenandoah University Global Citizenship Project 2009 underway!

Friday, March 6, 2009: 4 GCP groups were successfully transported to Dulles Airport:

* Vietnam
* Chile
* Romania
* Mali

Saturday, March 7, 2009: early afternoon the GCP Jordan group will be on their way!

Saturday, March 7, 2009: (9:30am EST): GCP ROMANIA has arrived safely and soundly and are in Bucharest. All is well as they begin their journey through Romania!

We will be posting information from the leaders and groups as we receive it.

All is well, safe travels, bon voyage!

Jean C. Hayes, Global Education Coordinator
Shenandoah University
jhayes@su.edu
540-665-5460

Thursday, March 5, 2009

bonne nouvelle aujourd’hui!

Wednesday 04. March 2009. 23:04

(Good News Today!)

I just found out this morning after Arabic that I was selected for the MENA scholarship again from SU. In other words, I’ll get to extend my stay in Morocco for the summer with AMIDEAST’s Arabic Intensive!!! I am so excited that I can’t even put it into words yet! As soon as I saw the e-mail announcing the scholarship again for the summer, I wondered if it’d be possible for me to be eligible again. While I didn’t want to take anyone else’s opportunity to study here on scholarship, I also felt that I truly could excel with an additional (& intensive) term since I’m already adjusted to the culture, classes, host-family, etc... Not to mention, it’s pretty difficult to grasp the language here as a beginner in only 4 months (in addition to 3 humanities classes & 2 other courses via distance ed. at SU). I see the other students here with previous semesters in Arabic at their home universities reallyyyy pushing forward here, & I want to do the same! All I have to do is apply through AMIDEAST, which should not be too difficult since they already have all of my information on file. I can even go home before the summer session begins if I want (I already have my flight booked for May 16th), but there’s only a week lapse before the summer session. So if I do go home, it will be a QUICK turnaround- just a day or two to bring summer clothes back & all necessary medications (considering there’s currently about $500 worth of my asthma/allergy medications will not be released by customs in Casablanca right now!...luckily I’m feeling MUCH better since last week...& without all the meds. that are being held...apparently the high quantities are considered “questionable” & customs thinks that I might try to distribute my medicine to others..at least they’re being cautious I guess lol).

Oh yea, everyone here is just as excited for me as I am! I’m really fortunate to receive this opportunity again. I hope that other SU students realize that our school DOES offer fantastic abroad-opportunities, they just have to go after them!!! When I think of it, I’ve been able to travel to Panama with GCP, study in Argentina for a summer session, & now study for 2 semesters in Morocco through SU. Each opportunity was through scholarship except the GEL program to Argentina.... I mean, it’s crazy! “Crazy” in a good way of course. haha
It’s somewhat strange; I feel like I was meant to be here in Morocco. :)

ANYWAY, the week is going by quickly since we have off for the Prophet’s birthday next Monday & Tuesday. I only have my 3 hr Amazigh class (my favorite class here actually) until 12:00 on Friday. Then I have off until the following Wednesday. Some people are going to France, Spain, & even nearby beaches or cities. I plan on staying here because I’m broke from spending all of my money on medicine (my parents too). It’s OK though because my Moroccan “boyfriend” (Mustapha) is visiting me from Marrakech since I visited him last a couple weeks ago. :) haha Who would have thought that I’d meet someone in Morocco?? Actually, there’s another guy (Azzdine) in Rabat who I hang out with too, usually just for coffee, but I only like him as a friend.. luckily, I think he knows that. It’s funny though because my host-sister (remember who is only 15) says that it’s “meshy mushkil” (“no problem”) to date both! ..since they’re in different towns & all... HA. I said, “la, la, la...mushkil!” (“no, no, no, it’s a problem!”). Anyway, Stof’s only staying until Sunday so I’ll still have a couple days off until school starts again...which is great for me to get some work done before midterms begin & even relax a little too.

What else?... Oh yea, I’m going to start teaching English once or twice a week at a school in Salee (about a half hour away). I’m really excited to teach here because I know the students are as eager to learn English as I am to learn Arabic & Darija!

I also found out the mass times at the Catholic Church here so I’m excited because now I’ll be able to go every week. :) It’ll be interesting to see how the mass is structured here..it’ll also be interesting to see how many prayers I actually remember IN FRENCH. haha I don’t think it’ll be too bad though. :)

I think that’s it for now...it’s a little after midnight now & I need to read for my Contemporary Culture Class tomorrow. We have to decide on a paper/topic for our final presentation, and since we also have a “creative” option in lieu of the 15 page paper, I think that I am going to choreograph a dance & write a reaction. Afterall, I haven’t really been dancing here; I’ve only been keeping up with Pilates, Yoga, & stretching whenever I can. I am planning on joining the gym here in the next couple weeks though; I’m dying to take Oriental Dance classes!!! I mean.. they’ll actually be helpful with my presentation, right?? HA.

Ok, time to read & get to sleep (if I’m able to because I’m still SO excited about the scholarship)! The morning Arabic classes are rotating class times every week now, so I have 8:30AM class this week (back to 9:30AM next week)...which means that I have to leave my house 45 minutes- 1 hour early to walk to school in time... & unless it’s raining, I love the walk. :)

Bis’lehma (“goodbye”) for now!!!
xoxo

Sunday, March 1, 2009

Update from Rabat, Morocco (SU scholarship student)

Friday, 27/02/2009


So this weekend is the group trip to Tangier; I’m at home in my bedroom in Rabat. I chose not to go on the trip since I’ve been sick all week. I went to my Arabic class on Monday morning, then didn’t go back to school until yesterday (Thursday). I basically caught whatever “cold” was going around the study-abroad group, in addition to struggling with my asthma. I probably was susceptible of catching the virus since I already had been on anti-biotics and steroids for my asthma, leaving my immune system weak. I’ve seen the lung specialist twice here now. Although I had been using my new nebulizer already, when I went to the clinic this past Monday, he gave me a breathing treatment and a corticosteroid injection. He also wrote me 4 Rxs for various medications. I haven’t picked them up though because I’m broke, and my parents just mailed me the rest of my medications, costing about $300. I hate to keep asking them for money for medical expenses & whatnot... Granted, healthcare over here is much cheaper than in the States. The difference though is that a patient has to pay up front in cash & then submit the claim to the insurance to get reimbursed later... so it’s been somewhat frustrating with that...

I don’t want to continue to get behind on my work, so I figure a weekend of rest (& catching up on schoolwork) is best for me. AMIDEAST is happy with my decision too as I would have been at risk since the group is traveling to other cities, besides Tangier... There would not be any medical clinics available, should something happen to me, while traveling through the country/mountains. The weather in Tangier/the mountains was supposed to be cold & raining throughout the weekend, and I definitely don’t need to add anything else to my illness. Luckily, I’m starting to feel “shwiya” (a little) better today...finally! haha

Anyway, it’s funny because I feel like I’m living in some sort of a vortex here or something. I’ve totally lost concept of time, particularly for those back in the States. For instance, Ash Wednesday occurred this week, which means it’s Lent already. I did not find this out until that day (luckily I found this out before I ate any meat on Wednesday). SInce I was sick though, I was unable to search out a Church to get ashes. I think this is the first time in my life that I did not receive ashes. Apparently there are a couple Catholic churches in Rabat; I hopefully will begin to go this Sunday. It means a lot to me to try to maintain my religious perspective here; although I definitely have become more open to Islam than I thought I would be. I like that people here are religious. I like that God or Allah something common in everyday conversation. There’s such a separation of Church & state in America, that I think it almost makes people feel ashamed to mention God so “no one is offended.” Yet here, one cannot even greet another without mentioning “hem-do’Allah” (thanks be to Allah) for the encounter. Even when departing from another, the typical response to “a bientot” (“see you later,” en Francais) is “in-cha’Allah” (God-willing). It just inspires me to witness people’s openness of spirituality here without any qualms to do so. This is why I feel motivated to practice my own religion here. I’ve found that, although as each religious faith thinks that theirs is the superior/Singular faith, people here generally are respectful toward others’ beliefs. If anything, Moroccans are delighted to see the outward faith of other believers. I almost feel more “proud” to be a Catholic here than in the States, because I feel a mutual respect here between Islam and myself as a Christian. I sometimes wish others could be more open to various religious faiths and beliefs, because in the end, we’re ALL part of one humanity.

OK, I think that is it for today...I’ve mentioned 2 of the 3 things “never” to talk about: money, religion, & politics (I already mentioned politics in a previous blog). Yet I think that it’s not so much about what one should not discuss, it’s a problem of ignorance (defined as a lack of knowledge or information...not to be defined as “rude”) and openness toward the “other.” Perhaps blogs like these can open up some minds and perspectives toward acceptance of various cultures, beliefs, and traditions. If not, that’s OK too... after all, there is nothing to lose...only insight to gain.

culture shock

Friday, 20/02/2009


My first few bouts of culture shock occurred Valentine's Day weekend. 

It started when I plugged in my nebulizer and it fried because of the voltage difference. AMIDEAST first sent me to a doctor (who only spoke French and Arabic). She simply listened to my chest and said to keep taking my medicine. She also gave me a card of where she “thought” I could purchase a new nebulizer. Her thoughts were incorrect. On that Friday I made an appointment with the lung-specialist. I never thought I’d be so happy to hear the words “lung specialist” and “speaks English” as much as I did. Getting there was a bit tricky as no one from AMIDEAST went with me. Granted, I’d like to think I’m becoming well-seasoned with the taxis in Morocco, but this drive was somewhat stressful. I told the driver the street and all of a sudden, he stopped and said, “safi?” (enough?). We were at the end of the street; I didn’t even know we were on the street because it was on a different side of town! SO I told him the number of the building and he had to drive the whole way around again, which cost me an additional 10 dirhams (dh). The only problem with this of course was I had borrowed $200 dh for the appointment from Diana and only had enough change for the cab (the 1st time around). The fact that I was 30 mins late for the appointment didn’t help either. I called the doctor’s office to say that I’d be late and my lack of French/Arabic clashed with the receptionist’s lack of English. When she put the doctor on the phone, he said, “I don’t speak English.” Since I was fed up with the last doctor not being helpful to me because of the language barrier, I shouted, “what?? You’re speaking English now!” He said, “I know, but I only know a little.” I was thinking, ugh, not again.... I also thought, what's an asthmatic to do in Morocco besides go to the hospital?? People here do have asthma &/or allergies, right?? lol It was the 1st time I misses having the "luxury" of US healthcare....

Anyway, I got there OK, called & vented to my friend Hannah, then saw the doctor. He didn’t speak much English, but luckily, asthmatic terminology is keef-keef (the same). At first, as I was still flustered, I said that I just needed to know where to buy a nebulizer. He made a call for me and gave me the address to a local medical supply store. After hearing that I had pneumomediastinum in November, he insisted on checking my lungs with his stethoscope. He then wrote me a Rx for the equivalent of Prednisone & another for a personal nebulizer. He said that he will work on his English for me, should I have to return. He must have liked me (or felt sympathy for me) since I was $10 dh short of the $200 dh (because of the cab) when I had to pay for the visit afterward. I said my khem-do’Allahs (“thanks be to Allah”) like none-other after I left. Of course, I had to navigate my way home as I didn’t have money for a cab. 

I stayed at Hannah’s that night- we chilled with her host family, ate couscous, and watched Aladdin. It was great! My 1st sleepover in Morocco...& we watched Aladdin! hahaha Talk about cliche! I definitely saw the movie in a totally different context since I’m in Morocco. I love how Disney movies are just as much for adults (with particular references) as for children. 


The next day was Valentine’s day and I felt bad because I “stood up” (more or less) my Moroccan friend Azdine several times throughout the day. Hannah and I overslept  & I ignored all of Azdine’s calls because I was so tired (even though I originally had got up at 8:30 AM, and as no one else was yet awake, I went back to sleep). Azdine wanted me to travel to Casablanca with him & his friends. Since I didn’t get to do that, I said I’d meet up with him in the evening...but that didn’t happen either. lol 


Hannah & I had this “plan” to get our hair done, go out to dinner with the rest of the AMIDEAST crew, and then go out either to a party with some other students or to a club...


This is where my 2nd bout with culture shock occurred:

In a nutshell, the ATM ate my debit card. The irony is that my mom had just deposited money into my account the night before for my medicine & whatnot; since the bank was closed, I couldn’t go inside to try and retrieve my card. This seriously upset me mostly because no one around me understood me when I tried to tell them that my card was stuck in the machine. Hannah & my host-sister Lilia were with me when I “lost it.” Lilia even translated to all of the people in line that the ATM was broken, but one lady in particular had to try to jam her card into the ATM to figure it out herself. Meanwhile, I gave into impatience & had a "mini-fit" in the streets. I knew people were watching (& therefore knew I was American), but I didn't care.  When I went back inside to my apartment, my host Dad said I could get my card from the bank Monday morning.. but that if I didn't get there early enough, the bank would send it to Casablanca... I thought, great, just what I wanted to hear.


Looking back at these incidents a couple weeks later, I realize things weren't as bad as they seemed. I'm seeing the lung specialist regularly; I also got my debit card back. :) 

I actually feel like this trip is changing me in so many ways, I can’t explain it. I find that with each trip abroad I learn more about myself- internally and, of course, culturally. I’m not sure what I want to do after my "graduation" in May, but I think I must travel (if I can afford it). This trip is helping me to see the “other” as I’ve never seen before. So much so that the line differentiating me from the “other” is diminishing.... how cool is that?