globetrotter
reflections from study abroad
marist international programs 2012
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Letters from the Editors
MIP 411
Why Study Abroad?
A Message from the Dean, International Programs
Short on Cash? Financial Aid for Your Travels Abroad
美国人 and a 中国人
C’est la vie, mais c’est magique
Sponsoring a Child: Saphira’s Story
Interview with Dr. John Scileppi
Pura Vida
The Lesser Traveled Territory
5,000 Miles From Home: A Student’s Perspective
5,000 Miles From Home: A Parent’s Perspective
Morocco Exchange
Photographs from Abroad!
So, How’s India? Update from a Marist Fulbright
Scholar
The Light at the End of the Tunnel
Checklist 
Who Says You Can’t Go Back?
New Program: Cuba
New Program: Fashion in Paris
Asia Summer Abroad Program (ASAP)
New Exchange Programs: France and Germany
Where in the World Do Marist Students Go?
Istanbul by Way of London
Alumni Advice: Reflections on Study Abroad
Platform 9 3/4
2012 issue
Laura Formanek
Alexandra Vucetic
LAYOUT/DESIGN
Jerre Thornton
PHOTO CONTRIBUTORS
Dr. Elmore Alexander
Myriah Anderson
Krista Boni
Sarah Cafran
Isabel Carrasco
Luis Castillo
Nicole Chin-Lyn
Prof. Radley Cramer
Erin Fitzgerald
Laura Formanek
Prof. Martha Girardi
Rebecca Gretschel
Brianna Horiuchi
Cassandra Jesmonth
Jennifer Klipper
Lisa Koehler
Meghan Mahony
Robin Miniter
Brendan Mooney
BreeAnne Rodriguez
Dr. Ivette Romero
Dr. John Scileppi
Samantha Tobia
Daniel Turner
Alexandra Vucetic
Nick Webster
Ryan Zaccaro
Qu Ting Zheng
MIP OFFICE
Hancock 2007
(845) 575-3330
international@marist.edu
WEB
www.marist.edu/international
www.marist.edu/florence
CONTRIBUTORS
Krista Boni
Tom Boni
Sarah Cafran
Isabel Carrasco
Luis Castillo
Nicole Chin-Lyn
Laura Formanek
Lisa Glover
Rebecca Gretschel
Aurora Heller
Brianna Horiuchi
Jennifer Klipper
Lisa Koehler
David Luisi
Meghan Mahony
Robin Miniter
Brendan Mooney
James Morrow-Polio
Dr. John Scileppi
Pat Taylor
Daniel Turner
Alexandra Vucetic
WANT TO BE A CONTRIBUTOR?
If you went abroad or are
planning to go abroad,
you can be a Globetrotter
contributor! Take some great
photos, write a fantastic essay,
and submit your work for the
next issue of the Globetrotter.
Contact the MIP office for more
details.
COVER PHOTO
Salt Flats, Argentina Samantha Tobia
Photo: Cassandra Jesmonth
EDITORS
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Laura Formanek
When people ask where I studied
abroad, I proudly respond,
“Prague” - only to receive blank
stares and wary head nods that
tell me they have no idea what
or where Prague is. Prague is the
capital of the Czech Republic,
a small country that borders
Germany to the south. Prague
was once part of Czechoslovakia,
which peacefully split into two
separate countries in 1993. This
frequent reaction is one of the
reasons why I chose to spend my
semester abroad in this lesserknown area of Central Europe: I
wanted to feed my curiosity and
challenge myself by pushing the
boundaries of my comfort zone.
Not only would I be one of two
Marist students studying in Prague
that semester, but I would also
be immersing myself in a foreign
culture with a language I had
never heard before. In the weeks
leading up to my departure,
thoughts of not making friends,
getting lost and pick-pocketed
on the streets, and being too
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I do not quite know how it
happened or what I did to make
it happen, but I made friends,
navigated the city like a local,
managed to keep pick-pockets
at bay, and acquired some
basic
conversational
Czech
language. In doing so, I had the
best and most influential four
months of my life. Within the first
ten minutes of seeing the pastelcolored
Baroque
buildings
with their red-tiled roofs, the
Prague Castle perched high in
Hradčany, and the red-andwhite trams moseying down the
cobblestoned roads, I knew I
had made the right decision.
While I loved my study abroad
experience, it was not all
glamorous. Sure, I got to live
with my friends in a historic flat
one block away from the Vltava
River, take a bus to Budapest for
only fifteen U.S. dollars, and walk
around at night as the “City of
1000 Spires” was blanketed in its
first snow of the season. However,
I also struggled to preserve
a long-distance relationship,
became frustrated with the lack
of customer service left behind
by the Communist era, and took
a 90-minute train ride to the U.S.
Embassy in The Hague, only to be
told we actually needed to go
to the U.S. Consulate two hours
away in Amsterdam Centraal.
In this edition of the Globetrotter,
we hope to reveal the reality
of studying abroad, the good
and the not so good. We have
included several essays that
describe
students’
struggles
with nagging questions about
deciding to study abroad and
adapting to a new culture. Over
time, these students found their
inner strength and grew from
the challenges. We have also
included practical advice to
students considering studying
abroad, with the hope that
it might ease some anxieties
and inspire a new perspective
in terms of making the most of
one’s time abroad. We hope
this edition inspires you to push
the limits of your comfort zone
and take some risks. Studying
abroad is a unique opportunity
that should not be taken lightly.
As Dr. John Scileppi advises:
“Go abroad while you are still
a student because it is possible
you will not have this incredible
chance once you start your
professional life.”
http://www.apsu.edu/sites/apsu.edu/files/internationaled/bar.jpg
Photo: Laura Formanek
terrified to leave my apartment
clouded my brain. Was I making
the right decision? Should I have
chosen a place where I would
know more people?
These
questions continued to haunt
me, and then I arrived in Prague.
Alexandra Vucetic
Home. That is what Sevilla has
become to me. In truth, one’s
first anticipations about going
abroad do not involve becoming
attached to a location foreign
and unknown. How can a city
become your home in four short
months? And yet, looking back at
my last days in Sevilla, I am not sure
how I willed myself to leave.
Studying abroad was the best and
worst experience of my life. A bit
of an oxymoron, isn’t it? It was an
experience that changed me. I
am now a person who has seen
parts of the world others have not
been privileged to lay eyes on.
I have been lost in the winding
streets of Sevilla’s Jewish quarters;
I have ridden a camel in Morocco;
and I have seen the “end of the
world” in Portugal. It is because
of these experiences that I also
had the worst experience of my
life. Not for reasons you may think,
but because now I long to see the
rest of the world, to meet more of
those people who shaped such
a humbling and life-changing
experience for me. Those parts of
the world I have yet to see haunt
me.
As Laura mentioned, we have
included student essays and photos
in this issue of the Globetrotter to
give you a better understanding
of the nature of studying abroad
and how four months can change
your life.
It is our hope that the content
of this magazine will inspire you.
Do not do yourself the disservice
of remaining within familiar
boundaries. Travel! Do not dream
of places you wish to visit; seize the
opportunity while you have the
chance!
Also know that each individual’s
experience is unique. No one
carries away the same experience.
Make the most of your time
abroad. Expand your horizons.
Trust me, there will never be a
moment that you regret.
Photo: Alexandra Vucetic
Sevilla ha robado mi corazón.
Sevilla has stolen my heart. I
cannot think of words that ring
truer than these to express my love
for a city I lived in for four months.
Four months? To think it now, that a
place I knew nothing about could
become home, still perplexes me.
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MIP 41
MIP info
Marist Interanational Programs (MIP) promotes
international engagement and academic,
personal, and professional development through
rigorous, reflective study abroad, overseas
internships, and intercultural activities.
MIP offers a variety of study abroad experiences
that support a broad range of educational
objectives, with programs at dozens of sites on
six continents. We offer semester, full academic
year, and short-term programs, enabling students
of any major to study abroad and complete
degree requirements within their four-year plan.
Be more than a tourist: Experience what it means
to live and study abroad!
Marist International Programs
John Peters – Dean
Carol Toufali – Coordinator
Jerre Thornton – Coordinator
Ruth Watts – Office Assistant
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Marist College – Lorenzo
de’Medici Florence Program
Missy Alexander – Interim Director
Christie Alfaro – Assistant Director
Brad Miller – Assistant Director
John Cordella – Resident Director
Julia Homola – Resident Director
Linda Martorano – Office Assistant
Joseph Giacalone – Director, International
Admission and Recruitment
Student Workers (Fall 2011)
Jomar Benoit (London, England)
Alison Carter (Cape Town, South Africa)
Laura Formanek (Prague, Czech Republic)
Lisa Glover (Florence, Italy)
Kathryn Herbert (Florence, Italy)
David Luisi (Asia Summer Abroad Program)
Meghan Mahony (Geelong, Australia)
James Morrow-Polio (Granada, Spain)
Allyson Swedler (Seville, Spain)
Alexandra Vucetic (Seville, Spain)
Qu Ting Zheng (Asia Summer Abroad Program)
Hancock Center, Marist College
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why study abroad?
Photos: Ryan Zaccaro
Study abroad is an exciting
way to experience the world.
Photo: Ryan Zaccaro
Engage academic material in context,
broaden horizons through studying other
worldviews, develop independence,
explore the interdependent world of
work, and make new connections and
friendships through studying abroad.
Think about study abroad early in your
college career so that we can work together toward your goals in international
education!
what is the first step?
Photo: Samantha Tobia
There are many ways to connect with Marist
International Programs. A good place to
start (after reading the 2012 Globetrotter
cover to cover!) is our website at www.marist.
edu/international. We also offer classroom
presentations, information tables, study abroad
fairs, advising sessions, and other activities.
globetrotter
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A Message From Dr. John Peters,
Dean of Marist International Programs
Program
This is an exciting time for
International Programs at
Marist College. Marist’s new
Strategic Plan 2011-2016
Leadership and Innovation
for
a
Changing
World
presents a dynamic vision for
further
internationalization
of the College. Building on
Marist’s well-known strengths
in overseas study – including
our nationally-ranked study abroad program;
the branch campus in Florence, Italy, offering
BA and MA degrees; the development of new
study abroad opportunities; and our innovative
Freshman Florence Experience – the Strategic
Plan further distinguishes the College by prioritizing
the development of global and diverse cultural
awareness and perspectives of all Marist students.
This deepening of internationalization at Marist
is taking many forms. To cite a few examples:
through
enhanced
international
student
recruitment (including the new position of Director
of International Admission and Recruitment),
reciprocal exchange agreements, and the U.S. Sino Pathway program in China, we are growing
our international student population, which further
enriches classroom discussion and develops Marist
as a dynamic global community. Second, we
are enhancing our pre- and post-study abroad
programming to take international study to the
next level and push students to articulate and
explore the significance of their abroad experience
for their personal, academic, and professional
development. A third example is the use of the
Inverse Distance Learning, or iDL, model, where
Marist professors have connected their classrooms
with sites abroad through podcast, video, Skype,
and asynchronous chat, hence connecting Marist
students – including those who may not study
abroad – with international contexts. Using the iDL
model, Dr. Kristin Bayer of the History Department
has facilitated interviews, podcasts, and online
discussions between her students and colleagues
in China. Through Skype and other technologies,
Dr. Kevin Gaugler of the Department of Modern
Languages and Cultures has connected Marist
students in Spain with his classes for language
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practice as well as discussion of Spanish society.
Similarly, students from one of Dr. Joanne Gavin’s
management courses recently collected and
then compared survey data from IBM executives
here at home and in Australia. Another example
of innovative international programming at Marist
is the College’s successful (and popular) minor in
Public Praxis. The Marist Praxis Project for Public/
Global Citizenship offers students the opportunity
to fully engage in public work (domestic and/or
international) and explore the significance of their
experiences through an academic and reflective
lens. Current international
Praxis
projects
available
to students include work in
Haiti, Mexico, and India, in
addition to opportunities in
the United States.
A defining characteristic of
international programming
at Marist is that we challenge
students to explore the
articulation of theory and
practice. In other words, our
programs place students in
the position of developing
the knowledge, skills, and
values necessary to apply
their classroom learning in
new contexts, as well as
to enhance engagement
with
classroom
material
through
reflection
on
real-world
experiences.
This characteristic of our
programs can be seen in a
wide range of activities, such
as internships in U.K. Parliament alongside political
science lectures at the London School of Economics
through the Hansard Scholars Programme; art
restoration students at the Branch Campus in
Florence combining classroom study with handson restoration work; students interested in African
history, economics, and culture discussing current
academic research, complemented by hands-on
experience teaching in Ghanaian classrooms; and
the many academic and experiential opportunities
of the aforementioned Praxis Program.
Photo: Marist International Programs
Looking beyond Marist, this is also an exciting time
for the professional field of study abroad, including
research on the value of the overseas experience.
Maddux and Galinsky (2009), for example, explore
the link between living abroad and creativity
and, through five psychological studies, find
strong evidence across a range of measures that
time living abroad promotes creative thinking
and problem solving. The large-scale GLOSSARI
Project (2000-2010), analyzing ten years of study
abroad data throughout the thirty-five-campus
University of Georgia system, has produced some
interesting findings as well. For example, even
after controlling for student self-selection for
study abroad, socioeconomic background, and
a host of other factors, it was found that students
who study abroad have improved academic
performance upon returning to the home campus.
Four-year graduation rates were also higher among
study abroad students, and study abroad improved
students’ functional knowledge of cultural
practices. Similarly, analyzing data from the Study
Abroad for Global Engagement (SAGE) project,
Paige et al. (2009) suggest that study abroad
positively supports ongoing global engagement,
which is defined as civic engagement, knowledge
production, philanthropy, social entrepreneurship,
and volunteering.
To the staff of Marist International Programs, it does
not come as a surprise when we hear from fellow
faculty, administrators, and staff that returned
study abroad students contribute in positive ways
to classroom discussions on international and
social issues; that foreign language proficiency
can rapidly improve through study abroad; or
that study abroad students often find they have
acquired increased confidence, problem-solving
skills, and a renewed vigor and commitment to
community and service. We find interacting with
returned study abroad students to be one of
the true pleasures of working in the International
Programs office.
I hope you enjoy the 2012 issue of Globetrotter. This
year the co-editors have gathered contributions
not only from recent study abroaders, but also
from a Marist Class of 1971 alum, as well as a
graduate currently on Fulbright in India; reflections
from the father of a Marist study abroad student;
an essay from a Praxis student in Haiti; interviews;
useful information on scholarships and fellowships;
and a group essay by participants on the Marist in
Madrid program. Happy reading!
Engaging students at the Fall 2011 MIP Study Abroad Fair.
References:
Maddux, W. and A. Galinsky. “Cultural Borders and Mental Barriers: The Relationship Between Living Abroad and
Creativity.” Journal of Personality and Social Psychology. Vol 96 No. 5 (2009), 1047-1061.
Paige, M. et al. Beyond Immediate Impact: Study Abroad for Global Engagement (SAGE). Report Submitted to the Title
VI: International Research and Studies Program, U.S. Department of Education, University of Minnesota, August, 2010.
Sutton, R.C. and D.L. Rubin. Documenting the Academic Impact of Study Abroad: Final Report of the GLOSSARI
Project. Paper presented at the annual conference of NAFSA: Association of International Educators, Kansas City, June
2010. http://glossari.uga.edu/?page_id=42&did=24.
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7
Short on Cash?
Financial Aid for Your Travels Abroad
Pat Taylor, Graduate School and
Fellowship Advisor, Center for Career Services
Students considering studying abroad
(or thinking about repeating the
experience) may worry about any
additional financial burden presented
by these travels. These students should
be aware that there are several
scholarship opportunities that fund
either academic semesters abroad
or a longer exploration of another
country following graduation from
Marist College.
Marist students have been awarded
funding for undergraduate studies
abroad
through
the
Benjamin
Gilman, Freeman-Asia, and Boren
scholarships. Others have received
the Fulbright U.S. Student grant to
pursue nine to eleven months of either
research or teaching English abroad
after their studies at Marist. Highachieving students may be interested
in the possibility of graduate study in
the United Kingdom afforded by the
Mitchell, Rhodes, Marshall, or GatesCambridge fellowships. On the Marist
College Scholarships web page,
several students describe the process
of applying for these opportunities and
their experiences in other countries.
Interested students can find links to the
different scholarships on that page.
Both the Benjamin A. Gilman and
Freeman-Asia scholarships benefit
students who wish to study abroad
over the course of a semester or
longer. These scholarships fund multicountry programs, yet also require
that the student stay a minimum
period of time in one country (eight
weeks for the Gilman and four weeks
for the Freeman-Asia). The Gilman
specifically targets students with
documented financial need. One
of its eligibility requirements is that
the applicant be the recipient of
Pell Grant funding. The FreemanAsia does not have a financial need
component, but focuses entirely on
funding students who wish to study
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in Asia (which includes Cambodia,
China, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Japan,
Korea, Laos, Macao, Malaysia,
Mongolia, Philippines, Singapore,
Taiwan, Thailand, and Vietnam). For
each of these opportunities, the total
award can be up to $5,000, and
award recipients are asked to share
their experiences with other students
after their travels.
Boren Awards for International Study
explicitly focus on supporting students
who wish to study less commonly
taught languages and visit less
traditional study abroad destinations.
Applicants need to have little to
no training in the target country’s
language. The Boren has a strong
preference for students who wish to
pursue longer periods of study abroad.
Its underlying goal is to deepen and
widen the pool of young U.S. citizens
who have knowledge of the language
and culture of those countries which
are of concern to the U.S. Department
of State due to security considerations.
Accordingly, the award carries a
service requirement in which Boren
recipients agree to work for a year
in any office within the Department
of State. The total Boren Scholarship
award amount can be up to $20,000.
Marist students can pursue longerterm immersion in another country
following graduation through the
Fulbright U.S. Student Program. This
award funds either research/study
proposals designed by the student
or “English Teaching Assistantships”
(ETAs). In both cases, the emphasis
of the Fulbright is consistently on the
importance of binational/bicultural
exchange. It is expected that those
awarded the grant will act as good
ambassadors from the United States
while contributing skills and knowledge
helpful to the host country, and that
the recipients will also return with an
enhanced appreciation for the history
and culture of another country that
will benefit all of us.
Among scholarship awards for study
abroad, those funding graduate
study in the United Kingdom are
arguably the most prestigious and the
most competitive. Not only do these
scholarships expect the applicant to
have a very strong academic record,
they also seek students with clear
evidence of leadership qualities and
a commitment to - in the words of one
- “fighting the world’s fight.” Perhaps
the best known of these, the Rhodes
Scholarship, supports two years of
advanced study at Oxford University.
The George J. Mitchell Scholarship
focuses on Ireland and enables the
recipient to study for a year at one of
several Irish universities. Cambridge
University is the destination for
recipients of the Gates-Cambridge
Scholarship.
Finally, the Marshall
Scholarship funds graduate study
at any British university. All of these
awards cover travel, living, and
tuition expenses; the total number
of scholarships awarded each year
ranges from twelve for the Mitchell to
forty each for the Marshall and GatesCambridge.
The experiences made possible
by each of these scholarships will,
without question, change the lives
of the recipients. To compose a
competitive application, it is essential
to get an early start on assembling
the necessary materials. Pat Taylor,
Graduate School and Fellowship
Advisor in the Center for Career
Services, works directly with applicants
for all of the scholarships, and staff in
Marist International Programs can
help with questions about specific
study abroad programs.
For more information, please visit:
www.marist.edu/academics/scholarships.
美国人 and a 中国人
Nicole Chin-Lyn
KEI – Bejing, China Fall 2012
Benjamin A. Gilman Scholarship Recipient
Study abroad offered me the
opportunity to connect with my
Chinese
heritage,
build
new
friendships, and develop a greater
understanding of my cultural identity.
I left for China with excitement for
the next four months and anxiousness
concerning how locals would view
me once they realized that my
elementary level of Chinese did not
match my physical appearance.
As I progressed in my language
studies and interacted with people,
however, I discovered more about my
identity as a 美国人 and a 中国人 - an
American and a Chinese - versus the
“American-born-Chinese” label I had
always placed on myself.
Going abroad revealed just how
much there is to see in the world, and
led me to discover much about myself
through cultural immersion. One of
the most rewarding aspects of my
time abroad was forming friendships
with people from all over the world.
Meeting students from Europe, SouthEast Asia, South America, and Africa
allowed me to experience more
cultures than I had expected. I found
that simply having an open mind to
cultural differences and welcoming
new experiences in travel, food,
learning styles, and social interactions
is the key to the best study abroad
experience.
roamed the grounds of exquisite and
detailed Buddhist temples, the palace
grounds, historical landmarks, tranquil
parks, and shopping centers.
Beijing quickly became my home,
one that I know I will return to one
day. I will always cherish the time
I spent in China and the sense of
personal fulfillment and ignited fervor
for seeing and experiencing the world
developed through study abroad.
I encourage interested readers to
check out my blog (meinli.tumblr.
com) for further stories, video, and
photos from my overseas experience!
From eating scorpion and chicken
hearts (in addition to less “exotic”
Chinese cuisine), to embarking on a
weeklong tour to Shanghai, Nanjing,
Suzhou, Hangzhou, and Wuxi with a
tour group that spoke only Chinese,
the adventures were endless. On
campus, I had the opportunity to
teach a dance class to Chinese and
international students, sing with a
Chinese choir, take karate classes,
and volunteer at a local kindergarten
teaching English. In my free time, I
Photo: Nicole Chin-Lyn
Watching the sunset from one of
the highest points of the Great Wall;
gliding down the Li River on a bamboo
raft with mountains towering over me;
staring in wonder at the Terracotta
Warriors of Xi’an; and standing before
the gleaming lights of the Shanghai
Bund. These are but a few of a
long list of memorable experiences
from studying abroad through the
Knowledge Exchange Institute’s (KEI)
program in Bejing, and made possible
through the Benjamin A. Gilman
International Scholarship.
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9
student essay
s
C’est la vie,
mais c’est magique
Aurora Heller, France
First of all, I was so nervous about everything being
in French that I forgot to be concerned with moving
to a big city. The hustle and bustle of the city, which
so many fall in love with, was, for me, a constant
nuisance. I also realized it can be hard to make friends
in a foreign country, which quickly derailed my plans
to find a gorgeous fiancé abroad (not speaking the
language perfectly is neither a friendship-facilitator
nor a relationship-starter).
Then there were my own misconceptions about
Paris. Dubbed “The City of Lights,” I always imagined
Paris to be a lively, 24-hour city. Nothing could be
further from the truth. Most shops close around 6 pm,
and even if you find a restaurant or bar that is open
until midnight or later, the metro shuts down at 1 am,
leaving you without a ride home. “The City of Love”
seemed a concept perpetuated to attract tourists.
To my dismay, there was no more love in Paris than
anywhere else. Parisians do not even celebrate
Valentine’s Day.
The cultural differences that bothered me the most
were the customs that I thought were universal,
but actually happen to be American. For one,
Americans smile all the time. One of the first things a
Frenchman told me was how odd he thought it was
that Americans smile all the time. I was astonished.
“Doesn’t that make it harder to start conversations
with people if they are not smiling?” He looked at
me, shocked. As it turns out, many Europeans find
our tendency to start conversations with just about
anyone (at bars, the grocery store, etc.) to be a
startling display of extroversion uncommon to their
cultures. As I found myself craving something to
remind me of home, the lack of bagels, Alfredo
sauce, and Dunkin’ Donuts became a source of
constant irritation and desire.
Regardless of these setbacks, my abroad experience
was anything but terrible. Yes, I had nights where
I cried about how much I missed my mom and my
cat, but in the end, I realized that I had never in my
life learned so much. What I realized is that, despite
the sometimes frustrating differences, these exotic
places are more like home than one may at first
believe. All the differences I described were both my
greatest disappointment and my greatest discovery.
I went to Paris expecting a fairy tale. I fell for the
hype, but I soon realized that what makes the world
so great is that it is not just like a picture book.
“What I was missing in America led
to what I gained in Paris.”
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Allyson Swedler, MIP, Alexandra Vucetic
Having been accepted into my first-choice program
in Paris, my biggest concern was this: how was I
going to tear myself away from a place I knew would
come to feel like home? In Paris, I was going to meet
my charming fiancé and my new best friend, and
I was finally going to reach my creative potential.
While sitting through the mandatory meetings and
reading the articles about studying abroad, I was
baffled at how some students could have a difficult
time adapting to a new culture. I was convinced that
switching from bagels to baguettes would be easy.
Any other concern was negligible. However, upon
my arrival in Paris, there were cultural differences that
I had never imagined would affect me so profoundly.
Photo: Erin Fitzgerald
turned themselves around, like the time I missed the
last metro home and ended up spending the night
eating hot dogs with a Japanese girl. Or the time I
was robbed trying to help a girl I thought was deaf,
then lauded by my classmates as having the biggest
heart.
Eating fries at a Belgian stand with a girl from the
Philippines became my favorite thing to do after
class. She was a self-proclaimed foodie, and I
learned so much about fries, chocolate, and crepes.
I never laughed so hard as when I had a champagne
race at the Notre Dame with a North Carolinian. Nor
was I ever in such awe as when we went to Potsdam,
where we stood in the very same room where the Big
Three - Truman, Stalin, and Churchill - had stood years
before us. I was never as flattered as when French
people from another part of the country asked me
for directions on the street because I looked like a
Parisian. One night, I ended up at an international bar
where I was dubbed “patron of the night” and was
suddenly the most popular girl in the room for the first
time in my life. I ate bizarre parts of animals with some
Swiss man near the Pantheon, and next to the Eiffel
Tower I recited hilarious Dane Cook jokes to foreigners
who had never heard them. One time, I gave up my
seat on the metro to an elderly man, and a stranger
thanked me for being a good person. For someone
with a love of history, there is no better place to feel
like you are actually touching something important,
something I kept reminding myself as I stood next to
Napoleon’s grave and saw remnants of the original
Bastille. Even nights that seemed to be going wrong
Paul Theroux said, “Travel is glamorous only in
retrospect.” And indeed what I was missing from
America led to what I gained in Paris. A life without
American food led to a love of crepes and the
loss of ten pounds. A lack of soda led to a love of
Spanish wine. My solitude led to some of my greatest
adventures, and although I might have wanted to
break down while I was lost in the middle of Paris
alone after the last metro, it was an experience I
would not trade for the world. I found a new aspect
of myself: a clever, resourceful girl who was not afraid
of the unusual. The accumulation of the experience
led to my discovery of the world. Heidi does not live
in Switzerland, Dora did not greet me in Spain, and
Pierre, the artist wearing a beret and baguette in
hand, certainly did not talk to me in Paris. I realize
now that I would have been disappointed if they did.
“I soon realized that
what makes the world
so
look
great
so great
is thatisitthat
is not
it
just
is not
likejust
a picture
like a picture
book.”
book.”
globetrotter
11
Sponsoring a Child:
Saphira’s Story
Jennifer Klipper, Haiti
Photo: Jennifer Klipper
children. We spent time with the
children of H.E.L.O., visited an
orphanage for former Restavek (slave)
children, and visited a hospital where
we gave out baby kits. While every
part of the trip impacted me, Sunday,
March 13, was the day that changed
my life forever.
I remember growing up with Sally
Struthers TV commercials proclaiming
that by donating less than seventyfive cents a day one could “sponsor
a child.” The seventy-five cents would
pay for an underprivileged child’s
food, medical care, clothing, and
schooling. As a young child, I could
not wait until I got older and earned a
higher allowance so I would be able
to sponsor one of these children.
This idea stayed with me when I
entered Marist College and added a
Public Praxis minor, which focuses on
global awareness, public work, and
other elements of conquering social
injustice. Over spring break, I traveled
with eleven other Marist students
to Haiti to help at the orphanage
H.E.L.O., a nonprofit organization that
provides “home, education, love,
and opportunity” for underprivileged
12
globetrotter
We started the day by attending
church at the orphanage. A Haitian
woman brought her infant daughter
to church and after the services
asked that the orphanage take her,
because she could not afford to take
care of her (the baby had many
health problems and needed medical
care). She talked with Elisabeth
Kennedy (co-founder of the H.E.L.O.
orphanage and team leader of our
trip) and the house parents. During this
meeting, I held and played with the
infant, named Saphira, and instantly
fell in love with her. It was decided
that the woman would come back on
Wednesday.
On Wednesday, the woman came
back with her Saphira. While she filled
out the necessary forms to turn her
over to the orphanage, I played with
the joyful baby. Even though she was
sick, she was incredibly sweet and full
of smiles. When her mother finished
filling out the forms she was given the
opportunity to hold her daughter one
last time. However, she refused. She
just gave her a quick kiss goodbye
and ran off.
After Saphira’s mother left, I realized
that this could be the last time that
this adorable little girl would ever
see her family. At first, I was angry at
Saphira’s mother for giving her away,
but as I thought about it, I began to
admire her mother because I realized
that this woman had made a selfless
decision to give her daughter the best
gift a mother can give: the chance
to live. When Saphira was brought
to the orphanage, she was very sick
and malnourished; she could have
died if she had not received the
proper care. Her mother gave her a
chance to have a positive future. It is
very expensive for children to attend
school, and it is unlikely that Saphira
would have been able to if her mother
had not sought H.E.L.O.’s assistance.
Wednesday was also our last day in
Haiti, and it was hard for all of us to
leave the orphanage.
Although
I was sad to leave, I know I will stay
in contact with H.E.L.O. and Saphira
both. I have already received word
from Elisabeth that Saphira is doing
well, adjusting quickly, and is full of
smiles.
How Can You Help?
At H.E.L.O. you can:
•
•
•
•
•
Make General Donations
Buy Livestock for the Homes
Coordinate Fundraising Projects
Donate Time and Labor in Haiti
Coordinate with Group Projects
For more information on H.E.L.O., visit:
www.helohaiti.org.
faculty corne
r
Photo: John Scileppi
Interview with
Dr. John Scileppi,
Professor of
Psychology
by Laura Formanek
Dr. John Scileppi (center) enjoying dinner in Italy with wife Lynn Ruggiero and
family members Mark and Peggy Ruggiero.
Marist-Lorenzo de’Medici Faculty Exchange
After teaching at Marist College for almost forty years,
Dr. John Scileppi was offered the opportunity to teach
in Florence, Italy, through the Marist College - Lorenzo
de’ Medici Faculty Exchange program. Dr. Scileppi
typically teaches a psychology seminar for sophomores, a
community psychology course for graduate students, and
a capping course for seniors. He is also the director of the
short-term program Barbados: Psychology of Interpersonal
Communication. Dr. Scileppi is currently working on a book
on empowerment and education, with chapters authored
by faculty of both Marist College and Lorenzo de’Medici,
and he is also conducting research with MIP staff on the
phenomenon of “reverse culture shock.”
Florence prior to the exchange, doing research and,
another time, vacationing. The abundance of history and
culture, especially from the Renaissance, compelled me to
teach in Florence. Everything has such importance there.
I could walk down the street and see buildings that were
constructed in 1300 or earlier. I could take a train and
visit cities constructed by the Etruscans in 400. It was all so
fascinating to me.
How did you hear about the Faculty Exchange?
Each semester, the faculty receives a memo asking if
we are interested in applying for the Faculty Exchange
program. Generally, the Faculty Exchange Board looks for
two factors, which are a professor’s longevity at the college
and whether the professor can teach in a field of interest
to the students in Florence. Since I teach psychology and
communication, I made the case that students needed the
course to complete their Core Liberal Arts requirements.
After teaching at Marist for thirty-eight years,
what compelled you to participate in the Marist
College – Lorenzo de’ Medici Faculty Exchange
program?
What surprised you about teaching in Florence?
Let me start by saying, go abroad while you are still
a student, because it is possible you will not have this
incredible chance once you start your professional life.
To any students who think they will be able to travel when
they graduate: it may not happen, especially with the
necessary time and expenses that traveling demands.
College makes traveling abroad affordable!
When I decided to participate in the Faculty Exchange
program, it was a good time in my life. Things had fallen
into place with my work life and my family life. I had always
wanted to participate in the program, and in the spring
2011 semester I was finally able to do so. I had been to
Ironically, I only had one Marist student in my class;
my students represented a broad range of colleges,
universities, and backgrounds.
Another difference I noticed was how strict the Lorenzo de’
Medici staff is about the curriculum. They sent back my
course outline three or four times asking for very specific
requirements.
I enjoyed the exchange and highly recommend it to my
Marist faculty colleagues.
globetrotter
13
Pura Vida
14
globetrotter
Photo: Sarah Cafran
Sarah Cafran, Costa Rica
While researching my study abroad options
at Marist College, I came across a unique
opportunity to focus my overseas studies
specifically on my major field of study,
environmental policy. Through the School for
Field Studies’ program in Costa Rica, I embarked
upon an integrated study of environmental
policy
and
sustainable
development
alongside a cohort of twenty-seven fellow
U.S. undergraduate students. Everything we
needed was on campus: our classroom, a
library, a computer room, a lounge, and even
our three professors and staff, who lived on
campus with their families. Every night at 6 pm,
we would gather in the kitchen to eat dinner
and talk. Almost every weekend, we went on
field trips around the country. We had lectures
in the tropical rainforest with visits from spider
monkeys in the trees above, sat in the wet and
muddy mangrove forest while being attacked
by mosquitoes, and camped in the tropical
dry rainforest where we witnessed the most
beautiful sunsets and clear starry nights. There
was always something to do. I was always
busy with a field trip, an outreach program
(either recycling or teaching English), or
delicious fifty-cent ice cream cones, enjoyed
with friends in the center of Atenas.
After a week of living in Atenas, I realized that
Ticos - what Costa Ricans call themselves have a strong sense of community. They were
friendly and patient with my limited Spanish
vocabulary. If you talk to a Tico, at some
point in the conversation you will hear the
expression pura vida, which directly translates
to “pure life,” but is used to say anything from
“awesome” to “going great” to “cool.” When
I was talking to my host family and describing
to them the places that I was visiting and
how exciting but tiring it all was, they would
respond, with “pura vida.”
Through my program, I also had the opportunity
to conduct research on biodiversity and agro
forestry coffee farms in the Central Valley of
Costa Rica. For one week, ten other students,
my professor, and I collected data on three
different conventional and organic coffee
farms. I had the opportunity to talk with the
farmers and learn about their farms, identify
trees, and make plots to develop our sample
at each farm. Coffee is grown on extremely
steep hills, which makes it very strenuous for
the farmers and workers. On the last day of
collecting data, I was taking down one of
the sub-plots, holding my pen, compass, and
twine, and trying to climb safely down the hill
by grabbing onto the coffee plants. I lost my
footing and slid down the hill backward on my
stomach. It felt like hours, but it only lasted for
a few seconds. By the time I stopped sliding,
my foot was twisted in a coffee plant, and my
arm was pulled back in another coffee plant
with my thumb stuck between branches. After
the shock wore off, I sat up in a pile of leaves,
and all I could think was: pura vida.
Looking back at my semester in Costa
Rica, I realize how unique and amazing my
experience was. I thought I would not miss
having the staple Costa Rican rice and beans
at every meal, or the tropical bugs that would
attack while hiking through the jungle, but
alas these are the things that I miss the most.
I learned so much about the country, the
people, culture, sustainability, and myself.
Ultimately, I learned to find the pura vida in
any given circumstance.
If you talk to a Tico,
at some point in the
conversation, you will
hear the expression
“pura vida,” which
directly translates to
“pure life...”
globetrotter
15
Laura Formanek, Czech Republic
Every Monday and Wednesday at 10:30 am, I
settled into my chair among the other fifteen
students while Professor Urbanek prepared
himself for the day’s lecture - an ongoing tale of
the Bohemian Lands from the first Slavic tribes to
the Golden Age under Charles IV. With Professor
Urbanek’s soft-spoken voice and Czech accent
greatly adding to the credibility of the legend, our
Czech and Central European History class explored
the twentieth century: a period of tremendous
struggle, strength, and national courage.
Professor Urbanek’s class offered a new angle on
this era in European history, one that described
the effects of World War I, the much fought-over
Sudetenland, and the influence of Adolf Hitler.
Hitler and the atrocities of the Holocaust first
appeared on my academic radar in the eighth
grade, but it wasn’t until this Czech-specific class
and a field trip to the northern part of the Czech
Republic that I began to understand on a deeper
level the Nazis’ impact on the Czech people.
The excursion to Lidice and Terezin unearthed lesserknown evils of the Nazi regime that do not as easily
16
globetrotter
Photo: Laura Formanek
The Lesser-Traveled Territory
emerge from the textbook - tragedies that deserve
attention to remember the strength of humankind.
Lidice, a small coal-mining town north of Prague,
fell victim to Nazi revenge after the assassination
of Reich Protector Reinhard Heydrich, who was
one of the masterminds behind the Holocaust. To
strike back against the Czechoslovak government,
the Nazis invaded Lidice, killing all of the men and
deporting all others to concentration camps. The
village was burned to the ground, leaving no trace
of its former semblance. After an introduction to
the memorial site, we entered a museum showing
documented footage of man committing acts
of terror and cruelty upon man just to make a
statement. We watched innocent families become
torn apart, never losing hope that they would one
day be reunited. We watched innocent civilians
surrender their national identity and patriotism to
the Nazi forces, still clinging to the “home” that
had long been erased from their minds.
In Terezin, a former fortress that became a
ghetto and a concentration camp for Jews from
Czechoslovakia, our journey brought us past the
fortress walls that kept the devastation and horrid
Had I not experienced Lidice and Terezin firsthand, I
would never have known how deeply the atrocities
of the Nazi regime affected Czechoslovakia.
I would not have known about the small village
that was completely obliterated, killing hundreds
of innocent people. I would not have known the
courage of those villagers who spent years fighting
for their lives in concentration camps, being forced
to relinquish all characteristics of their Czech
nationality. I would not have known that the Nazis
built concentration camps to imprison Czech
Jews in their home country. In registering for this
course, I planned to fulfill a Core requirement by
taking Czech and Central European History. Now,
however, I see that I gained the opportunity to
understand and internalize a most inspiring lesson
on human strength and bravery.
Photo: Laura Formanek
conditions of life inside them a secret. Once past
the arch ironically proclaiming Arbeit Macht
Frei (work sets you free), we walked through the
desolate barracks and washrooms calling upon
our imaginations to situate ourselves in conditions
70 years ago: no insulated jackets or gloves to
block the biting wind, no sturdy shoes to prevent
the cold ground from seeping into our bones, and
no way to reach the world and call for help outside
the fortress walls. We imagined shivering in the
tiny windowless rooms with at least thirty others,
dreaming of a hearty meal and a warm bed.
Despite the terrible conditions and inhumane
treatment, the prisoners of Terezin banded together
to keep their spirits high. Hundreds of artists and
musicians continued their craft inside the fortress
walls, producing music and operettas as well as
drawings and paintings that depicted daily life
in the camp. This camaraderie demonstrates the
Czech perseverance that surfaced again almost
fifty years later during Communist rule.
globetrotter
17
5,000 Miles from Home - A Student’s Perspective
Krista Boni, Argentina and Chile
With Marist being two thousand miles
from my hometown, I am accustomed
to saying goodbye to my parents at
airports. Our family has pretty much
got it down to a routine: Dad will stay
in the car with the dogs, and Mom will
help me check in. But this time was
different. There was a sharp pain in my
stomach, a fear that was eating inside
me. This time, I was getting on a plane
bound for another continent over five
thousand miles from home, and I would
be staying for an extended period of
time. I would not know a single person
upon my arrival. So many unknowns
were racing through my mind. Will
I like my host family? Will I be able to
speak and communicate in Spanish?
What if I get lost? Fighting back tears I
boarded the plane, reclined my seat,
and waited 13 hours to land in Buenos
Aires, Argentina.
As is often the case with the varied
educational experiences of life, as
I sat on the plane I had inklings of
some of the pieces of the puzzle that
were to come - language skills to
be developed, knowledge of Latin
American history, travel experience but I did not know what all the pieces
were, nor what the picture would show
once assembled. On reflection of my
year abroad, however, lessons emerge
which emphasize remaining humble,
working to see the world from another’s
perspective, and always remembering
to be the “student,” particularly in new
situations.
After getting off the plane in Buenos
Aires, I was overwhelmed in the chaos
and commotion. I saw a short woman
weaving her way through the hollering
taxi drivers and porteños (locals from
Buenos Aires) waving her hands at me.
“Krista! Krista!” I looked her way and she
explained that she was Pamela, the
director of my study abroad program,
and would be driving me to meet my
host family. We pulled up to a large
brick house; I removed my luggage
from the car and stood anxiously
waiting next to the tall wrought-iron
fence that surrounded the house. There
was no doorbell outside the house, and
instead Pamela clapped her hands
and started yelling. My palms began to
sweat, and my heart raced in fear that
no one would answer her calls.
18
globetrotter
Finally, a petite woman came to the
door, opened the gate, pulled me
inside, and Pamela left. “Soy Delia,” she
said to me, and I responded, with “Soy
Krista,” as I pulled my suitcase up the
stairs. She ordered me to set my suitcase
down, and immediately gave me a
tour of the house. As we commenced
the tour, there was in every room a
person to whom she introduced me:
Jose, Guillermo, Daniela, Maria Lorena,
Rosa . . . How was I going to remember
all these names, and what were they
all doing in the same house? Little did I
know that in five months not only would
I know all their names, but I would
develop deep friendships with each
one.
After the initial shock of arriving in
Buenos Aires, time seemed to fly by
and before I knew it the semester was
coming to an end. I felt that Buenos Aires
had become my home, and I was both
comfortable and confident successfully
living and studying there. I studied for
my final exams in a local café, taking
the occasional break to chat with Raul,
the waiter, who was originally from
Chile. Speaking with Raul offered me
not only another opportunity to speak
Spanish, but also the chance to talk
about Chile, the country in which I was
to study abroad after I completed my
semester in Argentina.
I arrived in Santiago, Chile, with what
I call a “porteño” or “Buenos Aires
local” state of mind. I had learned
how to communicate with locals, push
my way on the bus, order delicious
food, and get the best prices at the
local market. Why would Chile be any
different? Because it is. Within minutes
of getting off the plane, my confidence
completely eroded. Listening to the
official ask me questions at customs, I
wondered why he was in such a rush
that he did not conjugate his verbs and
seemed to add a “po” sound at the
end of each sentence. Similarly, when
the luggage carousel started to spew
up luggage, I eagerly ran over, pushing
my way through the crowd (as one
would at the airport in Buenos Aires) to
get my bag. It was then that someone
tapped me on the shoulder and told
me very quickly that there was a line,
and hence no reason to push.
Taking a step back, it was here I
remembered that one of the key
lessons of study abroad is to observe,
and to try to understand the cultural
context from a local point of view. I
realized that while I had, generally,
developed the cultural competency to
effectively live and study in Argentina,
things were naturally quite different in
Chile. On the surface, these immediate
differences manifested themselves
in people speaking quickly and with
an accent different from the Spanish
of Buenos Aires. There also did not
seem to be any barging or pushing
in Chile. Things seemed to have
much more order and placement.
Once I adjusted my attitude, and
remembered the importance of fully
engaging experiences without strong
assumptions, I was able to adapt and
continue learning in a new environment.
As part of my study abroad program in
Chile, and now employing appropriate
attitude and intercultural skills (in
contrast to my unfortunate shoving
of people at the airport in Santiago),
I left the city to conduct research on
education in a Mapuche village in the
south of the country. The Mapuche
people are the indigenous people of
the region. The people in the village
lived in basic conditions with no running
water or electricity, and every meal they
ate came from their land - chickens,
peaches, and even the bread, which
was made from flour that had been
cultivated from their wheat crop. Most
interestingly in the community, there
seemed to be a strong emphasis on
becoming economically successful
(as was the case in Santiago) while
maintaining their culture. In thinking
about my time in the rural village, I am
confident that one of the reasons I felt
so comfortable can be found in the
“lesson” I had previously learned of
taking each new experience with an
open mind, and seeking to understand
the world from the local perspective,
without strong assumptions.
After spending a year abroad, I can
see that the most valuable lessons I
learned are that every community has
its own unique culture, and the only
way to appreciate what the world has
to offer is to explore the unknown, make
connections, and build relationships.
5,000 Miles from Home - A Parent’s Perspective
Tom Boni
The key hour arrives and we drive
to the airport for Krista’s departure
around midnight. Krista has traveled
to Europe and Mexico at other times,
so we had already experienced
some of the anxiety associated with
passports, customs, etc. However,
the trip was to be long, and it was to
a destination far, far away, a place
where, as her father, I had never
visited. In every other trip, I had
already personally visited the country
to which Krista was traveling. For the
airport drop-off, Nanci, my wife, was
not with me. It was only Krista and me.
The trip departed from a particular
international terminal at Kennedy
Airport that also specialized in travel
to the Middle East. Full bearded
men and women with head scarves
were the norm in this terminal. As I
departed the airport and onto the
remainder of my vacation on the East
Coast, driving to upstate New York
late at night, I felt a special closeness
to Krista as she embarked on this long
adventure by herself.
The good news arrived late the
next day. She arrived safely at the
airport and now was with her host
family in Buenos Aires, Argentina. The
message was short, to the point, and
all I needed. My breathing deepened
immediately upon reading the e-mail.
The books all say that the hardest
part of good parenting is to let go of
your children. This for me was a good
push along that process. Telephone,
e-mail, and Skype helped to keep
in touch during the semester but
there was always that sense of great
separation. Buenos Aires is a city of
approximately ten million people in a
country in the south of South America,
and the only reference I had with this
particular city was a point on a globe
that I had given Krista for one of her
grade school birthdays.
To bridge this deep sense of
separation, Nanci planned a trip to
visit her daughter. Nanci had not
been out of the country excepting
one trip to Canada. Speaking not a
word of Spanish, she embarked for
Buenos Aires. In short order, she was
amidst a new culture surrounded by
people who did not speak English.
Krista stepped up to the challenge
and leased an apartment for two
weeks, and was Nanci’s travel guide
and interpreter.
For Nanci to be
totally dependent on Krista was a
meaningful role reversal. Invited to
dinner with her host family on several
occasions, Nanci was impressed with
the warmth and vitality of the dinner
experience with family members and
friends going and coming. Seeing
Krista’s home and neighborhood
provided Nanci a much needed
connection. Krista was at ease in this
city and with its people.
Nanci was quite amazed observing
Krista communicating in a different
language. With Krista interpreting
at dinner with the host family, Nanci
was able to have some interaction.
After dinner, Krista engaged in a lively
discussion in Spanish with her host
family and other family friends.
Krista enrolled in another program
for her second semester abroad
that focused on comparative
education and social change based
in Santiago, Chile. At the end of her
second semester, it was her dad’s
time to visit. Krista wanted to show
me the rural village several hundred
miles south of Santiago where she
had taught in a local school, and
then take a four-day hike through the
mountains of Peru, arriving on the last
day at Machu Picchu. In the rural
village, we stayed with her host family
in an area with limited resources.
With a constant rain falling on the
tin roof over our heads, Krista was at
ease with both the surroundings and
the local Mapuche people. This was
a special moment for me. It was in
stark contrast to the culture and
surroundings when I had visited her
at Marist College. It was a moment
of deep appreciation in the growth
of an individual. In this case, the
individual was my daughter whom I
had not seen in many months. The
hike through the mountains of Peru
was another opportunity to witness
firsthand Krista’s ability to respond to
her physical and social environment.
We were fortunate to have a
wonderful local guide, Jose, who was
proud of his Incan culture. Outside
of my conversations with Jose, Krista
and Jose spoke in Spanish.
One of my key impressions of Krista’s
commitment to two semesters
abroad, aside from the benefit to
her understanding of Spanish, was
a deeper immersion into the culture
than I had anticipated. Whether it was
participating in a lively conversation
with her host family in Buenos Aires
around the dinner table, helping a
child do her homework in a Mapuche
village in Chile, or speaking with the
Peruvian guide about traditional
Incan life during our trek through the
mountains, Krista had an acceptance
of vast cultural differences and truly
enjoyed the diversity. Witnessing
Krista’s meaningful contact with local
people was the most rewarding part
of my trip.
Krista Boni and her father, Tom Boni. Photo: Krista Boni
globetrotter
19
Morocco Exchange
Brianna Horiuchi, Daniel Turner, and Luis Castillo, with
Isabel Carrasco (Marist in Madrid Resident Director)
Each semester as part of the Marist in Madrid study abroad
program at Universidad Carlos III, students participate in
an educational excursion in Morocco, where the group
undertakes a series of lectures, discussions, and experiential
activities. The excursion explores the culture of Morocco
as well as the comparative Spain-Morocco historical and
political context. Participants are given the opportunity
to see an area that thrives on tourism as well as a much
smaller village where students stay with Moroccan host
families.
The Marist in Madrid program’s excursion to Morocco is
facilitated in partnership with Morocco Exchange (www.
moroccoexchange.org), which makes possible the
insightful meetings with Moroccan students, visits to sites
of historical and cultural significance, and enlightening
engagement with local communities. We hope that this
short article offers a sense of the amazing experiences we
engaged in as part of this program.
”Don´t tell me how educated you are, tell me how much
you traveled.” – The Prophet
Traveling to Morocco forced us to push some boundaries
and temporarily liberate our minds from stereotypes
and standards. Our Morocco Exchange guide, Mr. Allen
Hoppes, explained before we left Spain: “If you come here
looking to reaffirm your beliefs about Muslims, you will find
them. But if you come here looking to learn and find good
surprises, you will find that too.” The experience opened
doors to a newer and broader view of the world, allowing
us to grow as individuals. We believe that such personal
development is a fundamental aspect of life and one
in which anyone and everyone should take advantage.
The trip was an adventurous experience that was, quite
honestly, emotionally exhausting and exhilarating at the
same time.
Meeting People, Developing Connections
The call to prayer from the minarets, the exuberant nature
of the Atlas Mountains, the smell of spices and green tea,
Photo: Brianna Horiuchi, Daniel Turner, Luis Castillo, and Isabel Carrasco
Our trip to Morocco was an interactive learning experience
that taught in ways that go beyond the classroom. Before
the trip, our knowledge and awareness of Morocco and
Islam were limited. We wanted to ignore stereotypes and
preconceived notions and go with an open mind. By doing
this, we learned about Muslim culture, discovered answers
to questions we did not know we had, encountered some
of our own predispositions towards Muslims, and learned
quite a bit about ourselves.
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When meeting someone
for the first time, we have
only that person’s face
- the cover, the veil. We
need to find what lies
beneath. Digging below
the superficiality of a culture
allows us to penetrate the
intimacy of a destination.
Bringing people and cultures
together is a process of
unveiling. In the end, the
gift is as honorable and as
simple as the genuine and
sentimental connection between people - a magical
instant in which one feels like a citizen of the world. A most
telling example was our group discussion in Marrakesh
one morning. We gathered together and openly and
respectfully discussed our predispositions and questions
about Moroccans. In return, our Moroccan colleagues did
the same. It was a community of Americans, Moroccans,
Spaniards, and a Korean sharing and communicating
through various languages and cultural perspectives. We
quickly learned that, behind language and religion, we
are all people. As simplistic as a group of college students
sharing and debating in a hotel lounge may seem, the
experience was profound, deeply personal, and shared.
”Do not ask what the world needs. Ask what makes you
alive because the world needs people who are alive.”
– Howard Thurman
The trip to Morocco completely changed our way of
looking at someone who wears a veil or has a long
beard. Stigmas and inaccurate generalities can connect
particular cultures and societies to terrorism. In Morocco,
we learned that the stereotype could not be further from
the truth.
Terrorism. What is it? It is the act of causing fear. Everyone
with whom we had contact on our trip was open, extremely
hospitable, and engaging. Moroccans went out of their
way to make us feel welcome and comfortable. This was
shocking to us, given the picture of Islam that we often
see in the American media. As we came to learn, Islam
and terrorism should never be used in the same sentence,
as they stand for two completely different things. Through
Photo: Brianna Horiuchi, Daniel Turner, Luis Castillo, and Isabel Carrasco
the glorious architecture of
Marrakesh, and the humble
constructions of rural areas
framed our experience.
However, it was neither the
exotic beauty of Marrakesh
nor
the
honorable
unimportance of the small
village of Amizmiz that
provided the real scope of
the journey; the individuals
we met in these places were
the most beautiful treasures.
firsthand experience, we realized that American media
often cover the worst actions of a small minority of extremists
and do not engage the broader context and diversity of
Islamic life and culture.
Two men we met in Marrakesh are perfect examples of
how to dismantle these stereotypes. Their names are Fattah
and Omar and they were two of the most down-to-earth
people we ever met, joking around with us and wanting to
share their worldviews. Fattah and Omar emphasized that
they were not looking to fight anyone, and that nobody in
their religion should be doing so. Their message was of love,
peace, and friendship. Fattah and Omar demonstrated to
us the importance of seeing what is real with one’s own
eyes, and not through the lens of a stereotype.
Travel outside of the United States. Push yourself to see
the world from another point of view. Participate in the
Marist in Madrid program, or at a minimum, the Morocco
Exchange. You will have the experience of your life!
For more information on Morocco Exchange,
visit www.moroccoexchange.org.
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21
icole
: Li
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River
Photo
Photo: P
aris, Fran
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Photo: H
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Ivette Ro
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Radley C
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Hawaii
oto: Kona,
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22
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bin Min
dia - Ro
Photo: In
globetrotter
Photo: Dublin,
Ireland - MIP
i
tha Girard
- Prof. Mar
- Qu Ting Zheng
Photo: Hong Kong
Pho
to: C
Photo: Nic
e, France -
Dr. Elmore
Alexander
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- Sa
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son
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m, Israel - M
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Photo: Jeru
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e, Czech
hoto: Pragu
Republic -
anek
Laura Form
Photo: Akita, Japan
- MIP
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23
So, How’s India?
Update from a Marist Fulbright Scholar
Maybe I’ll say, “Oh, it’s
simply grand...”
It’s grand like the ubiquitous Taj
Mahal amid the squalor in the city
of Agra; it’s wintertime trekking
in the mountains that soar in the
shadow of Everest. It’s as grand
as the elephant I saw taking a
Sunday walk and that December
wedding with twenty thousand
guests. It’s the 1.2 billion people
that reside in this country; it’s
the girth of the well-fed aunties
draped in bedazzled saris and
clad with walking shoes in the
park. It’s the bulging wallets of
the Mumbaikars and the number
of people who live on less than
U.S. $2 a day. It’s the number of
fireworks exploding across the
horizon on Diwali - innumerable.
Counting them was like trying to
count the fleeting tails of shooting
stars in a meteor shower.
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It’s how the physics-defying
autorickashaws recklessly, yet
safely, careen through the city
streets; it’s finding peace on the
back of a motorcycle as it guns
through traffic knowing that if we
crash it’s not my fault. It’s giving
money in exchange for favors.
It’s the tin-roofed slums built along
the walls of a five-star hotel. It’s
the pelvic thrusts of Bollywood
superstars on every highway
billboard and the saddled camel
that trots beneath. It’s sitting on
the roadside amongst Doritoeating rats while watching a man
mold Caucasian-hued, rubber
prosthetic legs. It’s the “Burger
Barn” restaurant that doesn’t
serve hamburgers. It’s buying a
brown sack of sugary jalebees
outside the crematorium. It’s
the doorbells and truck back-up
alarms that chime Jingle Bells in
October; it’s the signs asking us to
obey the traffic laws (what traffic
laws?).
Sometimes, it’s tiring.
It’s the countless miles of travel
by planes, trains, automobiles,
and more; it’s the solo cab rides
to the airport and your second
layover by 10 am. It’s the night-tomorning Skype sessions with loved
ones around the globe. It’s the
sensory overload of blaring horns.
It’s being told that you can’t, but
trying anyway. It’s being okay
with the answer “because.” It’s
learning how to eat, to move, to
talk, and to understand again for
the first time. It’s embracing a new
culture.
Photo: Robin Miniter
Photo: Robin Miniter
...or tell you that it’s totally
perplexing.
Robin Miniter
It’s sometimes scary.
It’s putting your faith in other
people and trusting someone you
may have just met. It’s hoping for
the best outcome, but guarding
your expectations when even
the most concrete answers
can be uncertain. It’s watching
someone crash a bike headfirst.
It’s crashing your bike headfirst.
It’s being without any means of
communication - no Facebook, no
e-mail, no smart phone, no tweets
- in this hyper-connected world, or
having means of communication,
yet being unable to communicate
with those around you. It’s the
understanding that you are often
at the mercy of forces beyond
your control, taking the good with
the bad, and knowing there is
always good.
It’s learning to dance again. It’s
feeling, in a strange way, that you
belong here.
It’s worth it.
It’s letting go of misconceptions
and expectations and developing
a patient sense of anticipation.
It’s awakening your introspection.
You feel it in the small victories:
it’s ordering vada pav from
the roadside and having the
onlookers nod their heads; it’s
giving directions to a local; it’s
getting the newspaper and fresh
papayas after owning the road in
your running shoes before the city
awakens. It’s finding the freshest
sugarcane juice in town. It’s being
able to confidently say, “Spicy?
What spicy?” It’s watching a
team of deaf children learn to
play rugby. It’s the kids with toothy
grins who give you candy and
decorate your hair with flowers.
India is unapologetic. She entices
visitors to love her, but her honesty
may cause them to reel back. She
romances the traveler with ideas
of the exotic and tests them with
gruesome realities. India has many
faces at once. She is blatant and
intentional, and, if you let her (and
even if you don’t), she will be coy
and mischievous. India is about
believing what you are seeing for
everything it’s worth even if you
can’t find the right words.
Photo: Robin Miniter
…like the steaming, sticky masala
chai found by the sweet thimblefull on every street corner; it’s
the ghee dripping from the aloo
paratha that singes your fingertips
as you dunk it in your watery
dahi. It’s the night bus with the
malfunctioning air conditioner; it’s
the Goa sunburn that’s peeling
your skin from the bridge of your
nose layer by layer. It’s the rumflush in your numb cheeks from
dancing all night at a music
festival. It’s your kitchen heating
up from the gas burner after you
come in from taking pictures in
the monsoon.
Photo: Robin Miniter
It’s hot...
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25
The Light at the End of the Tunnel
Australia by way of New Zealand
Meghan Mahony
Eleanor Roosevelt said, “We gain strength, and courage,
and confidence by each experience in which we really
stop to look fear in the face…we must do that which we
think we cannot.” My experience studying abroad is
testament to such a statement. Fear is such a small word
that has a tremendous impact in our lives. If we let it, this
little word can hold us back from achieving our greatest
potential. Fear almost stopped me from going abroad,
and fear almost brought me home after tragedy struck,
but once I confronted my fears and realized that I was
stronger than my insecurities, I flourished. My semester in
New Zealand and Australia was not at all what I expected,
but the lessons I learned from my time abroad are among
the most important lessons of my life.
I had chosen to study abroad in Christchurch, New
Zealand, in the spring of 2011. I wanted to go to a place
that I would probably never have the opportunity to
venture back to, and the fact that New Zealand was
so distant was appealing. I liked the idea of going to a
place I knew nothing about and where I could be isolated
from everyone and everything I knew. Upon arrival, the
appeal of Christchurch instantly became a reality, as I was
enthralled with the beauty and welcoming spirit that New
Zealand offered. Being a native New Yorker, I was almost
taken aback by the amicability and openness of the Kiwis.
As I settled in and embraced the Kiwi lifestyle - beautiful
open-air markets and the “lax” customs that included not
wearing shoes…ever - I began to overcome the initial fear
of being far from home. I made great friends and was
Photos: Marist International Programs
In the month leading up to my departure, I struggled with
emotional and physical problems. I would find myself
crying for no reason and unable to get out of bed. I was
unaware of what was causing me so much distress until I
confronted my fear. Up until this point, I had never thought
twice about studying abroad. From the time I was in high
school, studying abroad was to be part of my collegiate
plan. The only question was figuring out where to go. But
as the time drew nearer, nerves and doubts nearly caused
me to withdraw from the program. I did not know if I would
be able to cope with being away from the comforts of
home and the inability to speak to my parents at my
leisure. However, with the help of a great support system
that included my family, friends, and Marist International
Programs, I was able to get back on track and in the right
frame of mind. Such an experience was to be embraced,
and though it would be challenging, I would come out a
stronger person in the end. I had never been one to quit
or give up, so I pushed myself to test my limits and to make
the most of such an incredible opportunity.
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Photos: Marist International Programs
looking forward to starting classes. But all of this excitement
would be short-lived.
A week into my time in New Zealand, I received news
that a teacher with whom I had been extremely close
had been killed in a car accident. I was overcome with
grief and shock, and was reminded of how quickly in life
things can change. But apparently the universe was not
finished reminding me of this: two weeks after my arrival in
Christchurch, a devastating earthquake shook the city to its
core. I had never experienced an earthquake before, and
this was undoubtedly the most traumatic and frightening
experience of my life. I will remember that day for the rest of
my life, fearing for my life, and feeling paralyzed by shock.
Thankfully, my friends and I were okay, but many others
did not fare so well. My university suspended classes until
further notice, and I was surrounded by chaos, fear, and
frustration. Many of my friends chose to leave Christchurch
immediately, but I could not bring myself to do the same.
Instead, I sat around without power or running water,
constantly on the phone with Marist and my parents trying
to find a solution. Every night I went to bed fearful that I
would be awakened by a powerful aftershock that could
be more harmful than the earthquake. My anxiety about
the situation nearly caused me to fly home, and in turn,
miss out on an abroad experience I would deeply regret
giving up.
I do not know if my teacher who had just passed away
was “up there” looking out for me, or if it was sheer luck,
but Marist came to the rescue and told me that a spot at
Deakin University in Australia had become available. I had
finally been granted a solution, but this too caused much
stress: the students I would be living with had already been
together for two weeks, and now I would have to try to fit
in. I cried to my taxi driver all the way from the airport to the
campus just thinking about my new transition. I wanted to
go back home, to be with my family and friends, and to get
my feet on the ground again. However, I quickly realized
how irrational I was being when I met Deakin staff who
comforted me and assured me that they would be around
if I needed anything at all. Additionally, they introduced
me to my housemates and helped me feel right at home
by keeping me busy and showing me around. Shortly after
that, classes began and I developed a daily routine and
met a lot of people who would become some of my closest
friends. It was as if I were meant to be in Australia.
I would not trade a second of my time in Australia for
anything, including all of the hardships and struggles I
had to overcome. Studying abroad taught me so much
about myself: my capabilities, my interests, my values.
Before I went abroad, I was unsure of what I wanted to
do with my life; I was a shy girl with big dreams, who kept
quiet and was afraid to speak out. Through my traveling
experiences I have found my calling, which is to work
professionally in the field of study abroad. I am currently
a student ambassador for the Australian Embassy, and it
is my job to tell my story to other students and introduce
them to the amazing opportunities Australia has to offer.
I cannot imagine what my life would be like and how
different my abroad experience would have been if I had
let fear dictate my actions. The most important aspect of
my experience abroad was proving to myself that I could
do it. I believe I accomplished that and so much more. I
became more confident, independent, and responsible,
but most importantly I learned that I can do anything I set
my mind to.
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27
Checklist 
Lisa Koehler, Italy
It all started with a list of things to do before I die. Learn
to play the drums, parasail in the Caribbean, win an
Academy Award, and see the world. My high school
psychology teacher, Mrs. R, made us write out a list of one
hundred things we hope to accomplish in our lifetime. We
turned them in as our final assignment in large, unsealed,
white envelopes decorated with our names and waxy
doodles. She said she would read them over and seal
them with a note for us to read in the year 2025. While
most of my friends tore their envelopes open as soon as
they were returned, my competitive nature inspired me to
take this list as a challenge and cross off as many points as
possible by my thirty-fifth birthday.
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I first heard of Marist’s study abroad program in my
freshman year of college. Why wouldn’t I do it? Live in
the city of my choice and travel throughout Europe for
a semester? The day I sent in my application to Marist
International Programs was the day I started to question
my decision to leave. Not a day went by without hearing
some version of, “Florence is beautiful ya gunna die! You
have to go, gorgeous, you just have to!” from my Auntie
Anne. Auntie is a full-blooded Napoletano who served
as a walking advertisement for anything Italy. I can recall
countless conversations in which she would wave her
oversized hands over her spiky red hair, describing anything
and everything about her Italian experiences - her penny
wishes at the Trevi Fountain, the spaghetti Bolognese at
Quattro Leone, her complete sense of awe at the timeless
art that decorated the city of Firenze.
Despite some anxiety, if not quite “cold feet,” I looked
forward to my journey. After all, I was about to score some
Photo: Lisa Koehler
“By recording your dreams and goals
on paper, you set in motion the process
of becoming the person you most
want to be.” - Mark Victor Hansen
Photo: Nick Webster
major points in the competition I began with myself as a
high school junior. Mrs. R would be proud. I couldn’t let
her down. I couldn’t let myself down. I couldn’t let fifteen
years pass by with nothing to show for them but a long list
of unchecked goals.
Thankfully, any initial apprehension about studying abroad
was short-lived. Two weeks into the semester I began to
see our rustic, sweltering hot Florentine apartment, one
hundred steps up from the street, as “home.” There were
eight of us, none of whom had ever traveled this far away
from home. Such freedom sounds great in theory but can
be quite daunting when actually granted. We were forced
to deal with adulthood responsibilities while also adapting
to a foreign culture. We discovered the difference between
bathrooms in Europe and the U.S., and that some overseas
clothes washers need less detergent - a fact established
as we filled our laundry room from floor to ceiling with
suds and shocked screams on our first wash day. When
we ventured into the city, my friends and I were far from
inconspicuous with our maps held straight out in front of
us as we scoured the streets in search of la supermercato,
la farmacia, and the academic buildings on Via Faenza.
However, every wrong turn led to my destination. Soon
enough, my confidence began to grow, and I began to
embrace my independence.
yourself. They talk about the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel,
the afternoon siesta, and the delicious tiramisu. They show
off the hundreds of pictures they have of the view from the
Duomo, the art in the Louvre, and the shores of Capri. They
tell you about their social lives abroad. But how have they
themselves changed?
In my case, I went to Italy with a list. A list of things to do
in my lifetime. When I got there, I learned to trust that my
instincts would lead me in the right direction. I learned
that the points on my list were more than just words on a
sheet of paper. They were goals that, in those four months,
had come to life. The pictures I brought back were not just
glossy stills of what I saw, but images to go along with the
stories I had to tell. They were not simple evidence of my
achievements, but memories that will stay with me far past
my thirty-fifth birthday. Home was right where I left it. School
was right where I left it. My giant white envelope was right
where I left it. But the person who returned to find all these
things had grown significantly. The experiences that I had
were unforgettable and irreplaceable, and they helped
me develop into the person I am today.
People say that once you have gone abroad and returned
home, you are changed, that the experience somehow
transforms you into a better, more well-rounded version of
“Such freedom sounds great in theory but can be quite daunting
when actually granted.”
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29
Who Says You
Can’t Go Back?
Brendan Mooney - Marist College, Class of 1971
In 1969, during my junior year at Marist College, I
traveled to Madrid, Spain. That year, I would study
the writings of Miguel de Unamuno, a nineteenthcentury philosopher and activist. He wrote:
La vida es un sueño y
Los suenos suenos son.
Life is a dream
And dreams are nothing but dreams.
It was to be an adventure of a lifetime.
I arrived at Barajas airport in Madrid. From the onset,
things were different: the police carried machine
guns and wore tri-corned, patent leather hats;
women seemed to be universally dressed in black.
Even the smell in the air was different. The adventure,
the dream, had begun.
The dream did not disappoint. Since my semester
abroad in 1969, I have traveled back to this second
home approximately twenty times because the
friendships and experiences I acquired that first
year have endured my entire life. Over the course
of forty-one years, my roommate, Xose Ramon
Portilla Pardinas, and I have kept in contact. And I
never knew it when my in-country Marist advisor,
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Ernesto Belanger (brother of the late Br. Joseph
Belanger), dropped me off with my Spanish family,
the Sanchezes, but forty-one years later, I would
still call them my friends. Ernie and I have become
closer than ever, to the point where I have brought
my entire family to visit over the years. We are family.
Two years ago, I challenged myself to walk the
Camino de Santiago with support from Ernie and his
wife, Alicia. The Camino is a 1,200-year-old Christian
Pilgrimage trail that runs from Germany through
France and Spain to the medieval city of Santiago
(St. James). It is believed that the bones of one of
Christ’s first disciples, James, are buried there. At the
ripe age of fifty-nine, I hiked the 800 km trail (550 miles)
in September 2009. With much guidance from my
Spanish friends, I completed the Camino in twentyeight days.
This past April, inspired by Ernie and Alicia - both
volunteers on the Camino Frances - I returned and
became a hospitalero. In this new role, I performed
an ancient Christian task of catering to those traveling
as pilgrims (kind of a modern-day concierge). This
ancient job was originally based out of hospitals
because many of the pilgrims were injured from
the long walk - hence the name hospitalero. After
taking a three-day course (I was the only Yank in the
class of thirty) in the Basque Village of Pobena, I was
formally inducted into the ranks of this ancient order
of Knights, Los Hospitaleros. From there I was assigned
an albergue or “hospital” from which to serve: Santo
Domingo de La Clazada, where I worked from 7
am to 11 pm, meeting whatever needs the pilgrims
might have. I advised them on where to purchase
food and where to do their laundry, and I even
Photo: Brendan Mooney
In 1969 I walked through a door called Spain and
fell in love with the heart and soul of a people and
a culture. For all this and more, I am forever thankful
on behalf of that “twenty-something” who, forty-one
years ago, began his journey to a life full of Iberian
experiences, friendships, and life lessons.
A central lesson from all of this, and one reinforced on
the Camino, is this: although life may be short, it can
be full. Yes, there are valleys and hardships, but there
are also pinnacles and joys on the way. The trick is to
not only be mindful of how brief the trail may be, but
also to realize that it is up to us individually to grab life
Brendan Mooney
The Camino is more than a hike; it is a metaphor for
life. Many of the lessons one needs to learn in order
to travel the road of life are experienced on the
Camino: learning to live with less; the importance of
finding peace in the basics of life, including shelter,
food, and companionship; placing oneself in the
moment; and not preoccupying oneself with the
things we cannot control.
Photo: Brendan Mooney
translated for an injured pilgrim at the medical clinic.
It was a daily act of giving, of renewal of soul that first
began at Marist schools, including Mount St. Michael
in the Bronx, Marist College, and Marist High School
in American Samoa.
Class of Hospitaleros, Pobena, Spain. Author is third from left,
second row.
and walk that path rather than allow time to pass us
by. Once again, this message appeared to me on
the Camino as I passed a rural graveyard and saw,
carved on a tomb stone:
You are what I was once and
You will be what I am today.
Photo: Brendan Mooney
Today is all what we have, but Marist has allowed
me to fill every day over the years with a lifetime of
memories that last. Today’s twenty-year-olds who
are considering study abroad are at a crossroads. I
say choose life, and experience it all. Or, as Charles
Baudelaire, a nineteenth-century French romantic
poet, wrote about life:
“Be drunk on poetry, or on virtue as you wish...”
Alicia and Ernesto Belanger
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CUBA
Marist College - University of Havana
Caribbean Studies Program
Opening academic year 2012-2013, this new program is
open to Marist as well as non-Marist students!
Recent changes in U.S. law have once again made study
abroad in Cuba possible, and Marist College is proud
to be one of the first to re-engage with this culturally
rich neighbor. The Marist in Cuba program is offered in
partnership with the University of Havana, which was
founded in 1728 and is one of the first universities founded
in the Americas.
Coursework will be complemented by educational
excursions to destinations such as Las Terrazas (ecovillage and UNESCO Reserve); Cayo Jutía (tropical
island off the northwest coast of Cuba); Soroa (Castle of
Clouds); Trinidad (UNESCO World Heritage Site); Santa
Clara (Capital of Villa Clara); Cienfuegos (UNESCO World
Heritage Site); Oriente (Capital of the Eastern Province);
and Baracoa (Cuba's oldest city).
Program participants must have strong Spanish language
skills, as all courses are taught in Spanish.
More information on this exciting new program is available
on our website: www.marist.edu/international.
Photo: Marist International Programs
The program includes a pre-semester intensive advanced
Spanish language course as well as an interdisciplinary
course covering the culture, politics, and economics of
the Caribbean. These two courses have been designed
specifically for Marist in Cuba students, and provide a
common experience for all program participants. Students
will also enroll in three regular courses at the University
of Havana in the areas of Latin American, Caribbean,
and Cuban art; music; Cuban and Caribbean culture,
literature, and history; philosophy; and the cultural and
political processes of Cuban society.
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MOD’SPE
Marist College - Mod’Spe Paris Fashion Program
Opening academic year 2012-2013, this new program is
open to Marist as well as non-Marist students!
Marist International Programs and the Marist Fashion
Program are pleased to announce the Marist-Mod’Spe
Paris Study Abroad program, open to Marist as well as nonMarist students. Marist-Mod’Spe Paris Fashion represents
a most unique study abroad offering and serves as an
outstanding opportunity to experience in-depth fashion
study at the center of the French fashion industry!
•
•
•
•
•
•
Study in Paris with leading fashion industry professionals.
Live in secure student housing in the beautiful Latin
Quarter of Paris.
Explore fashion merchandising, product development,
trend forecasting, and more.
Examine French culture, fashion history, and language.
Enjoy classes that are conducted in English (excluding
French language study).
Also available: A full year of study, plus internships in
Paris for qualified students.
Photo: Mod’Spe Institute
The program will be offered fall and spring semesters, with
an optional six-week summer internship. This is a small,
highly-focused program created for fashion majors or
minors or other students who seek a fashion-intensive study
program in Paris.
Academic options vary by semester including such courses
as Intercultural Management, Product Development,
Textiles, Fashion Trend Forecasting, Production and
Sourcing, and other options, as well as French culture and
language. Coursework is designed to take full advantage
of Paris as “the classroom” and will examine the historical
and contemporary contexts of fashion. Participants gain
key insight into fashion merchandising through classroom
as well as experiential activities and assignments, industry
visits, and workshops.
Program participants include students from the Marist
Fashion Program as well as students of fashion from the
U.S. and other countries. Participants will also have the
opportunity to interact and network with French students
at the Mod'Spe Institute.
More information on this exciting new program is available
on our website: www.marist.edu/international.
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ASAP
Marist College - Asia Summer Abroad Program
This program is open to Marist as well as non-Marist students!
ASAP is a full-semester abroad experience particularly
suited for business majors/minors seeking unparalleled
insight into international business through industry visits
and both planned and serendipitous interactions with
local businesses and cultures. Using a “living classroom”
philosophy, a defining feature of ASAP is that company
visits are fully integrated into the curriculum with groups of
students analyzing each company to learn its management
and organizational structure, market position, marketing
practices, production mix, innovation strategy, stock
valuation, and long-term marketplace viability.
Alumni of the program report ASAP to be a life-changing
experience, and one that offers real-world exposure
to international business, Asian cultures, and personal
development opportunities. Marist senior David Luisi calls
ASAP “the experience of a lifetime,” and continues to
emphasize that on the program he “learned more than I
had ever anticipated.” Similarly, Marist junior Qu Ting Zheng
calls ASAP an “eye- and mind-opening experience,” and
notes that “the strength of the program is that we learn
theories and models in class, but then we see it in real life.”
More information on this program is available on our
website: www.marist.edu/international.
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Photo: Marist International Programs
Course offerings vary each summer depending on
emerging educational opportunities as well as student
need. Courses usually offered include Business Ethics;
Operations Management; Organizational Behavior;
Marketing Principles; International Marketing; Economic
Development; Organizational Writing; and World Religions.
As noted, course offerings depend in part on the curricular
needs of the group of students participating in a given
year.
Photo: ASAP
In this travelling program, participants earn 12-15 credits
of upper-level business credit, with further options for
coursework in the liberal arts. A typical itinerary for the
program includes Cambodia, China, Hong Kong, Japan,
Laos, Myanmar, Thailand, Tibet, and Vietnam.
EXCHANGE
EDHEC Business School & Reutlingen University
EDHEC Business School, with
Campuses in Nice and Lille, France
Created in 1906, EDHEC Business School is one
of the leading business schools in Europe. The
EDHEC curriculum emphasizes international
business and practical application of course
material. With a highly international faculty
and student body, students on this program will
benefit not only from first-rate business courses,
but also from a strong co-curricular program with
many activities. Both Nice and Lille are beautiful,
vibrant French cities with numerous opportunities
for cutural activities and entertainment.
Marist finance students are directed to the
EDHEC campus in Nice, and those with business
management, marketing, etc. backgrounds
enroll at the EDHEC campus in Lille. Students
at either campus will enroll in three to four
management and business courses, taught in
English, as well as one French language and
culture course. No previous study of French is
required to participate in this program.
Reutlingen University, Germany
Founded in 1855, Reutlingen University in
Germany is today a leading business school
with strong ties to German and international
industries, a vibrant student life, and interesting
business courses taught in English. Coursework,
co-curricular programs, and other activities
at Reutlingen emphasize the international
context, practical application, close facultystudent mentoring, and research projects. With
an undergraduate population just under 4,000,
the university enjoys a close-knit, dynamic
atmosphere and a large international student
population representing over 80 countries.
Marist School of Management students will enroll
in three to four business courses at Reutlingen
as well as one to two courses emphasizing
German language, culture, and area studies.
The International Programs office at Reutlingen
is particularly active in organizing fun and
educational excursions and activities.
More information on these exciting new programs
is available on our website: www.marist.edu/
international.
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Photo: Marist International Programs
Marist International Programs and Marist School
of Management are pleased to announce
two new reciprocal exchange programs.
Exchange programs place Marist students at
overseas partner colleges and universities, and
in turn bring students from those institutions for a
semester or year of study at Marist. Building on
the success of the Marist College-Aston Business
School exchange, two additional opportunities
are now available:
35
Where in the World Are
Marist Students?
Spring and Summer 2011
Australia
Geelong/
Melbourne
Deakin University
Julia Capodicasa
Emily Clarke
Catherine Favrot
Jacqueline King
Meghan Mahony
Lauren Rawan
Brianna Rosamilia
Christopher Samela
Kayla Zappi
Queensland
Bond University
Leeann Harridsleff
Griffith University
Kimberly Bartlett
Sydney
Australian Catholic
University
Kailey Fitzgerald
Emma Schultz
Macquarie
University
Alexandra Christodoulou
Sarah Jensen
Kristen Lafferty
Madelyn Muldoon
36
Perth
Egypt
Chile
Myriah Anderson
Jeffrey Hausner
Murdoch University
Lauren Cole
Santiago
SIT Study Abroad
Krista Boni
China
Hong Kong
Hong Kong Baptist
University
Helen Chang
Michael Kurtz
Costa Rica
Atenas
School for Field Studies
Sarah Cafran
Heredia
University of Heredia
Gloria Reyes
Czech
Republic
Prague
CEA - Anglo-American
University
Colin Rochstein
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Cairo
American University
in Cairo
England
Cambridge
Cambridge
University
Danielle Lawne
London
FIE Study Center
Robert Bicocchi
Yasin Binda
Ashley Days
Rachel Edmonds
Stephen Finelli
Lauren Fitzpatrick
Daniel Fitzsimons
James Fuchs
Danielle Gelok
Kellie Hayden
Michelle Kennedy
Sarah Khazzam
Christopher Monitto
Vanessa Rannazzisi
Gabrielle Ricci
Stephanie Scully
Jillian Tompkins
Megan Walsh
Megan Warne
KEI - London South
Bank University
Jomar Benoit
David Cohen
University of
Westminster
Kayla Burton
Stephanie Robinett
Morgan Rusk
Kaitlyn Sammon
France
Aix-en-Provence
Institute for American
Universities
Katie Raitz
Paris
UNCW - Sorbonne
Aurora Heller
Greece
Athens
University of
Indianapolis
Nora Barry
Ellyn Brancato
Madison Brickley
Carley Keefe
Michael Lois
Hungary
Budapest
Budapest Semesters
in Mathematics
Thomas Murphy
Ireland
Cork
University College
Cork
Jade Brewer
Kelly Buchalski
Marlene Dunfee
Christine Malkinski
Dublin
FIE Study Center
Colleen Delaney
Emily Desmonie
Meagan O’Connor
Kathryn Rizzi
Allison Waters
Italy
Florence
Lorenzo de’Medici
Allisyn Abrams
Andrea Andersen
Russell Anderson
Danielle Aveta
Nicole Bonacuso
Christina Cavallo
Laura-Ann Chambers
Kristin Conte
Jonathan Cooke
James Cronin
Kathleen Daugherty
Marissa DiBernardino
Richard Doyle
Sarah Dubrule
Robert Ferrigno
Kayla Foley
Cristina Giansante
Alyson Green
Alexandra Guglielmo
Ciara Hoare
Andrew Loveland
Brian Maher
Patrick McNerney
Lindsay Mesh
Dorian Misitano
Kate O’Brien
Julia Quigley
Chanel Rivers
Amy Schneider
Brittany Sepe
Cynthia Shuttleton
Samantha Sitler
Kaley Skoglund
Ryan Stevens
Molly Swenson
Brittany Tommasone
Cassia Varvaro
Nicolas White
Annmarie Zito
Poland
Lorenzo de’Medici
IES Abroad Center
Rome
Claire Daly
Courtney Meek
Jessica Stevenson
Krakow
KEI - Jagiellonian
University of Krakow
Krystian Witkowski
Scotland
Fife
University of
St. Andrews
Heather Kerr
Salamanca
API - University of
Salamanca
Kevin Peterson
Seville
API - Pablo de Olavide
University
Chelsi Beauregard
Patrick Curry
Lucas Szabo
API - University of
Seville
South Africa Mary Treuer
Cape Town
CIEE - University of
Cape Town
Alison Carter
Spain
Barcelona
Thomas Belmonte
Samantha Bruno
Patrick Couden
Kara Lightowler
*****************
Asia
Summer
Abroad
Program
Multi-country
David Luisi
Qu Ting Zheng
Netherlands Madrid
Amsterdam
SIT Study Abroad
Robin Miniter
New
Zealand
Auckland
University of
Auckland
Amanda Murphy
Marist College Universidad Carlos III
Emilie Britton
Timothy Garger
Nicole Gendjoian
Samantha Gray
Jennifer Levine
Yashira Llanos
Charles Mimken
Julie Moller
Peter Rottenbucher
Megan Sardinia
Molly Sloan
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37
Where in the World Are
Marist Students?
Fall 2011
Australia
China
Deakin University
IES Abroad Center
Melbourne
Jonathan Maraglino
Brennan McGrath
Emily Reale
Laura Tafuri
Queensland
Griffith University
Traci Marie Baydala
Abigail Bodnar
Kelsey Raynor
Sydney
Macquarie
University
Hallie Glassman
Molly King
Austria
Vienna
Central College
Marissa Davis
Costa Rica
Heredia
Heredia University
Ryan Karpisz
Kayley Morphet
Abigail Jones
38
Beijing
London
FIE - London Study
Center
England
Michael Bernardini
Emily Bodiford
Alexandra Cavaliere
Emily Griffin
Kelly Grouss
Colleen Horigan
Laura Janeczko
Ashley Jensen
Stephanie Johnson
Meredith Lowe
Kailee McEvoy
Megann McGinnis
Brenna McKinley
Kelsey Odom
Ellen Penchuk
Monica Peters
Annie Rosenthal
Devon Ross
Michelle Scarr
Jennifer Smith
Kelly Weissner
Heather Weldon
Ryan Zaccaro
Aston Business School
Bryan Estey
Chelaine Eliazar
KEI - University of
International Business
and Economics
Nicole Chin-Lyn
Hong Kong
Hong Kong Baptist
University
Edward Solar
Czech
Republic
Prague
CEA - Anglo American
University
David Cassin
CIEE - Charles
University
Lindsey Klein
Birmingham
Joanna Vetere
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Hansard Scholars
Programme
France
Paris
CEA Global Campus
Claire Bevacqua
Cathryn Callahan
Kyla Spivey
CIEE - Center for
Critical Studies
Lauren Orichio
UNCW - Sorbonne
Cynthia Elliott
Greece
Athens
University of
Indianapolis
Aaron Bairos
Maia Lemonedes
Keira O’Reilly
Elizabeth Velez
Ireland
Galway
API - National
University of Ireland
Danielle Crigler
Kelsey Donohue
Megan Downey
Erin Martin
Italy
Florence
Lorenzo de’Medici
Luis Alicea
Kareem Bakr
Emily Banas
Meghan Berry
Taylor Bisanzio
Rachel Bremer
Victoria Brienza
Courtney Britz
Devon Callari
Kathryn Cangemi
Kristin Cappiello
Calli Carfello
Talia Cerniglia
Nicolette Coan
Karen Conroy
Lacey Coppage
Sarah Corrigan
Allison Coyle
Amanda Curry
Cassaundra DelValle
Maria Demereckas
Melanie Deskin
Samantha Dickerson
Cassandra DiMicco
Samantha Duke
Amy Ferro
Danielle Fiore
Rachel Forlifer
Courtney Frevola
Alexander Garry
Julia Giantomasi
Jaclyn Greiner
Samantha Halliday
Amanda Hopkins
Kevin Hunker
Corinne Iaia
Gabrielle Iorio
Michelle Kalinowski
Elizabeth Kaufman
Alexandra Kibbe
Arielle Klein
Marta Koscielniak
Brian Lasser
Jillian Lear
Katherine Leland
Jennifer Lenihan
Aislinne Lutz
Tiffany Mazzacone
Alessandra Mazzella
Shannon McKenna
Danielle Molins
Marisa Monte
Lauren Napoli
Aimee Nienstadt
Tamara Obradovic
Stephanie Ondra
Julie Owens
Alyssa Pallotti
Lauren Palmiere
Lora Paolino
Danielle Parascandola
Emily Pasquerello
Michelle Pellizzi
Rebecca Penn
Nicole Percacciolo
Corinn Piazza
Gabrielle Piazza
Francesca Pickel
Sarah Pilinko
Daniel Rankin
Chelsea Richardson
Natalie Rowland
Ailish Rowley
Carly Russo
Gabrielle Sabatino
Alyssa Saunders
Jillian Schmidt
Nicolette Shkreli
Catherine Silva
Tierney Smith
Thomas Snyder
Stacy Stavella
Sara Stewart
William Streeter
William Tedesco
Christina Traficante
Marissa Valent
Kayla Villante
Nicole Weir
Rome
Lorenzo de’Medici
Nicholas Carr
Lia Champa
Danielle Ferrara
Kevin Marquis
Carolyn Onorato
Francis Ottomanelli
Japan
Tokyo
Temple University
John Matcovich
Shannon Tota
Netherlands
Amsterdam
CIEE - University of
Amsterdam
Dean Silfen
Russia
St. Petersburg
CIEE - St. Petersburg
State University
Christopher Vanzetta
Scotland
Fife
University of
St. Andrews
Sean McNeill
Senegal
Dakar
SIT Study Abroad
Kendra McKechnie
Spain
Barcelona
API
Diana DiMartino
Emily D’Ambrosi
Ryan Devir
Garrett Maloney
Maria Martin
Megan Rutkowski
Kevin Slavin
Olivia Trogisch
Granada
API - University of
Granada
Marcela Desemone
Lorelyn Fitzgerald
Katheryn Roberson
Madrid
Marist College Universidad Carlos III
Patrick Benoit
Luis Castillo Jr.
Lauren Colleti
Brianna Horiuchi
Courtney Morrissey
Daniel Turner
Seville
API - Pablo de Olavide
University
Lauren Hickey
Kiley Ogden
Megan Safino
Switzerland
CEA Global Campus
Michael Dier
IES Abroad Center
Geneva/Nyon
SIT - Study Abroad
Diana Smith
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39
g
Where in the World Are
Marist Students?
2011 Short-Term Programs
Barbados
Psychology of
Interpersonal
Communication
Prof. John Scileppi
Ryan Bowler
Daniel Conner
Nicole Dopp
Caroline Martin
Kathryn McBride
Darian Milera-Rivera
Lydia Murray
Elizabeth Oggeri
Solomon Picou
Zachary Stumpf
Olivia Vilord
Whitney Viola
Angela Wrigley
Brazil
Brazilian Fashion:
Workroom to Runway
Prof. Sonia Roy
Bianca Bossbaly
Courtney Cantara
Patricia Fairclough
Rachel Forlifer
Christine Harris
Mackenzie Hirt
Elora Laughrey
Amber Lopez
Casey Niper
Melissa Reyes
Jaime Vigliotti
Madeline Waxler
Madison Weber
Dublin
Irish Literature
Prof. Leah Graham
Prof. Thomas Zurhellen
Jessica Chiarella
Rachael Chiarella
40 40
Toni-Marie Chiarella
Daniel Conner
Theodore Kunzik
Connie Lee
Kelly Mangerino
Brenna McKinley
Rebecca Rotondo
Kelly Weissner
England
Shakespeare in
London
Prof. Richard Grinnell
Samuel Green
Allison Haugh
Lauren Hickey
Noel Imbriale
Katherine Krieger
Robert Peterpaul
James Rizzi
Kaitlyn Sommer
Amy Strachan
Amanda Urban
Daniel Pearles
Lauren Pecoraro
Francesca Pickel
Michael Quinn
Darci Rowe
Nader Saadawi
James Scahill
Thomas Scimonelli
Gabrielle Sitkowski
Angela Verdirame
Marissa Vila
Christina DelGenio
Elizabeth Hoey
Kelly Kline
Joseph Komorowski
Maria-Cristina Lubo
Jennifer Marchiano
Alyssa Moirano
Kathleen O’Connor
Shannon Rhatigan
Lauren Schultz
Meghan Talotta
Prof. Eddie Summers
Prof. Tim Massie
Fr. Richard LaMorte
Ghana
Politics, History, and
Community
Development
Alexandra Burgess
Kelly Campbell
Cinnamon Johnson
Colleen Kopchik
Jeannie Lukin
Ryan Mooney
Amanda Tuck
England, Ireland,
Greece, Turkey,
Scotland
Global Business
and Italy
Prof. Joanne Gavin
Prof. Dana Gavin
Prof. David Gavin
Alyssa Bradt
Ryan Cicchese
Edward Crean
Thomas Dolfi
Courtney Ferguson
Lauren Ferrio
Courtney Finnegan
Lisa Franks
Christopher Kane
Brittany MacLeod
Alexandra Makowski
Christine Mulé
Steve Nardi
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Varieties of Religious
Experiences: The
Church in Rome
Israel and Jordan
In the Footsteps
of Jesus and the
Prophets
Allison Burke
Samuel English
Colleen Kopchik
Emily Schroder
Ashley Wells-Wood
Paris, Geneva,
Amsterdam
Intercultural
Communications
Prof. Subir Sengupta
Emily Bales
Megan Birch
Sophia Bulahan
John Boss
Merve Ertugrul
Colleen Griparich
Melanie Lamorte
Sheila Martinez Gonzalez Janae Myers
Christie Serigano
Amber Pineda
Katherine Wall
Albertina Pitta
Meagan Yorio
Katelyn Rotondaro
Gina Sirico
Hawaii
Kaitlin Wasylyk
Prof. Tim Massie
Fr. Richard LaMorte
Culturally Responsive
Education
Prof. Martha Girardi
Jillian Aquila
In Fall 2010, I studied abroad in London through
the Foundation for International Education (FIE)
program. During my stay, I was fortunate enough
to be offered an optional study trip to Istanbul
through my “Islam and the West” religious studies
course. Traditionally, students who study abroad
are always posting photos of trips to France, Rome,
and Spain . . .but Turkey? I was absolutely thrilled
at the opportunity to push my comfort zone and
grasp the opportunity of a lifetime. After arriving
late in the capital city and enjoying a rooftop
feast of aromatic spiced auburgine (eggplant),
kebabs, meze appetizers, and a variety of taste
bud-jolting yoghurt sauces with Naan bread,
we rested and prepared ourselves for the next
day’s ambitious itinerary. We toured the Hagia
Sophia, lost ourselves at the Grand Bazaar, sailed
on the Bosphorus River, and attended lectures at
the Sultan’s Topkapi Palace during this four-day
excursion.
The most memorable site was the Sultan Ahmed
Mosque, more commonly known as the Blue
Mosque. Each morning, we could hear the call
to prayer ringing from the pencil-shaped minaret
towers in the corners of the religious sanctum.
The blue tiles adorning the interior of this mosque
were designed to resemble architecture of both
the Byzantine and Ottoman empires as imagined
by Sultan Ahmed in the early 17th century. On
the inside, walls of blue paint and stained glass
windows colored the rays of natural light that
flooded intricate ceramic tile designs. Visiting
Istanbul was the perfect complement to my
London-based course as well as a wonderful,
unique, and unforgettable exposure to Middle
Eastern culture.
Rebecca Gretschel
FIE - London, England
Fall 2010
Photo: Istanbul, Turkey
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41
alumni advic
RefleRcetflioencs o
e
tionnSstuodnyAAbbrrooa
ad
Lisa Glover:
Florence, Italy Fall 2010
What is your best memory from
your abroad experience?
Cliff jumping on the Amalfi
Coast. It is something I never would have imagined myself
doing, but I went for it anyway. Most of the time you end
up saying to yourself, “When will I ever be able to do this
again, or say that I did it?” And when you realize that the
moment is right, you end up taking advantage of it.
What was the best/worst/weirdest food you ate?
I cannot complain much about the food in Italy. The
gorgonzola tortellini at il gotto e la volpe is definitely my
favorite dish.
What was one thing you wish you had brought with you?
BOOTS!
What is one piece of advice for students going abroad?
Experience as much as you can.
What was your favorite thing to do in your host city?
Aperitivo nights. Different restaurants offered something
called aperitivo where you order one drink and have
unlimited appetizers. It allows you to taste samples of
different dishes.
What was your favorite place in your host city? Why?
Piazza Michelangelo. It has a beautiful panoramic view
of Florence. You can see everything from the countryside:
the Arno River, historical architecture like the Duomo, and
the Ponte Vecchio! It is a big, touristy spot for pictures
because of the amazing backdrop, and it is a good
workout because it’s an uphill hike.
Did you travel while abroad?
Barcelona, Spain: so much culture and history in Barcelona,
and seeing all of Antoni Gaudi’s work was an invaulable
experience.
If you could do it again, what would you do differently?
Travel more. I didn’t realize how easy it would be to travel
once I got there, so I didn’t budget myself as well as I
would’ve liked to. I wish I had planned out my trips earlier
so that I made it to a few more countries.
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How did you deal with reverse culture shock?
Being home with my family is something I was definitely
looking forward to by the end of the semester. It was
difficult trying to explain the “love” for studying abroad
and traveling around Europe to my friends who did not
study abroad. It felt like they did not care as much and
it was upsetting that they were not as interested in my
experience as I would have hoped. I found myself being
closer with the friends I studied abroad with, because they
understood all the emotions I was feeling.
Would you go back? Would you go to a different place?
Absolutely. I think that studying abroad should be
mandatory because it is an experience that you will never
be able to live again. You learn so much about yourself
and it truly ends up being one of the best semesters of
your life. Nothing will ever compare. If I had the option of
studying abroad for a second semester, I would spend it
in Barcelona.
David Luisi:
Asia Summer
Abroad
Program
(ASAP) Summer 2011
What is your best memory from your abroad experience?
My best memory is going out in the mornings and finding
whatever I could eat on the street. Asian street food is
great, and there is something captivating about exploring
unknown areas and streets in an unfamiliar setting. It is an
experience I will never forget.
What was the best/worst/weirdest food you ate?
Best: Shanghai dumplings. Worst: Beijing hot pot. Weirdest:
frog skin.
What was one thing you wish you had brought with you?
I did not forget anything that I needed.
What is one piece of advice for students going abroad?
Take advantage of the opportunity presented. Immerse
yourself in the culture and do everything that you can. The
education and experience that you will receive will be
invaluable.
What was the best/worst/weirdest food you ate?
I ate kangaroo for dinner at my friend’s house, and it was
actually amazing! I felt so bad about eating kangaroo,
but I didn’t want to be rude and not try it. As cruel as it
sounds, I’m glad that I did because I really enjoyed it!
What was your favorite city? Why?
My favorite city was Bangkok. The mixture of the
atmosphere, setting, food, culture, and night life really
made it a unique, fun place that immediately connected
with me.
What was one thing you wish you had brought with you?
I wish I had brought more things and pictures from home
to show my friends what life in New York is like.
Did you travel while abroad?
ASAP is a traveling program, so you travel to many cities.
I enjoyed my time in Tibet. Due to its remote location and
isolated society, it made for a truly unique experience. It
is one that I will probably never get to do again. I love the
Tibetan culture that we experienced and the Himalayas
setting was mind-blowing. I want to go back if ever
possible.
If you could do it again, what would you do differently?
Absolutely nothing.
How did you deal with reverse culture shock?
I did a lot of reflection upon returning home. I observed
and analyzed Western society as I saw it now compared
to how I saw it before. It was an eye-opening experience
which led me to see what I thought I knew differently.
Would you go back? Would you go to a different place?
I would go back in a heartbeat. I loved every minute of
the program, both the challenging and fun times. They all
led me to become a better person. While I would love to
visit the same places again, I also hope to someday visit
other places in Asia such as Korea, Malaysia, India, and
Indonesia.
Meghan
Mahony:
Geelong,
Australia Fall 2010
What is your best memory from your abroad experience?
My last night in Australia. There was an “End of Exams”
party sponsored by my university at a local club, and
everyone from school was there. My friends and I had
a song, “Give Me Everything Tonight” by Pitbull and Neyo. As soon as we heard it, we all stopped what we were
doing and met each other’s eyes and started crying. We
didn’t have to say anything, we just came together and
cried as the song played, and laughed incessantly about
it the next morning.
What is one piece of advice for students going abroad?
Don’t be afraid to put yourself out there! People want to
get to know you, so don’t be shy.
What was your favorite thing to do in your host city?
Driving around with my housemates. We would drive with
the windows down and the music loud, enjoying each
others’ company and seeing what the city had to offer.
What was your favorite place in your host city? Why?
The waterfront. The pier was absolutely beautiful and it
offered a great view of the bay. I loved walking along
the beach at night, getting a glimpse of the lights of
Melbourne, and exploring the little shops along the street.
Did you travel while abroad?
My favorite trip was during my spring break when I traveled
to Byron Bay and the Whitsunday Islands in Australia. I
met so many other students from around the world. Byron
Bay reminded me of a little beachy town on Long Island,
where everyone knows everyone, and there isn’t a place
more than a 10-minute walk away.
If you could do it again, what would you do
differently?
I would have taken greater advantage of the city’s public
transportation so that I could explore more on my own.
How did you deal with reverse culture shock?
I think I am still dealing with reverse culture shock, actually!
This is so terrible but my mind sometimes slips while I’m
driving on back roads and I find myself driving on the
opposite side of the street for a second! Other than that,
I am still getting used to the somewhat unwelcoming,
cold attitude of Americans. In Australia, everyone was
so friendly and approachable. I miss the outgoing and
friendly personalities of Australians. And though there are
Americans who are just as nice, literally every person I met
in Australia was not only willing, but eager, to talk about
anything.
Would you go back? Would you go to a different place?
I would go back in a heartbeat. I would not trade a
second of my time abroad for anything in the world. I
had the time of my life, and made great friends who have
become family. I definitely left my heart in Australia and
would love to go back!
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43
James
Morrow-Polio:
Granada,
Spain - Fall
2010
What is your best memory from
your abroad experience?
The entire four months felt like a
surreal experience and I don’t
remember anything but being completely invested in
the time. Meeting people from other parts of the world
and discovering something entirely new together was an
amazing experience.
What was the best/worst/weirdest food you ate?
Tapas are by far the greatest thing ever invented particularly in Granada. Worst food was the strange
seafood that some folks in the south of Spain seemed
intrigued by. One night at dinner we were eating pieces of
meat, but we couldn’t get an explanation from the server
what exactly it was. We suspected it was some strange
part of the animal, though it was lost in translation.
What was one thing you wish you had brought with you?
A visa that would have let me stay longer!
What is one piece of advice for students going abroad?
“Go for it.” Your time abroad will pass with such astonishing
speed that you really cannot afford to go halfway.
Do everything you can with the people you meet, try
everything you can, and make the most of your time.
If you could do it again, what would you do differently?
I would have spent the entire year abroad instead of a
semester.
How did you deal with reverse culture shock?
Your friends will be your best resource here. Speak to
people who have returned from abroad, as well as your
peers who traveled abroad the same time you did.
Keeping in touch with your friends from your time abroad
can also help.
Would you go back? Would you go to a different place?
I would go back in a heartbeat. Granada was the most
amazing city and even while I traveled to other places I
found myself missing my host city. Being in Granada felt like
home right from the start, and if the opportunity presented
itself, I would move there.
MARIST INTERNATIONAL PROGRAMS
WHAT ARE
YOU WAITING
FOR?
What was your favorite thing to do in your host city?
At night, we would walk between bars and clubs and
spend time outside. The city came alive at night and was
always begging for a good time. Spending time outside
amidst a city older than our own country was incredible.
What was your favorite place in your host city? Why?
The Alhambra and the entire Albaicin made Granada
unique and was a spectacular attraction right in our
backyard. During the night certain parts and paths of
the Alhambra were open to the public, and we walked
through a few times. There truly is nothing more beautiful.
What was your favorite trip?
By far the best experience I had was traveling alone. I
went to meet friends in Amsterdam and again traveled
by myself to meet Marist friends who were studying in
Florence. The process of doing something entirely on my
own was enlightening and worth every second.
44
globetrotter
EXPLORE YOUR WORLD!
www.marist.edu/international
globetrotter
45
Photo: BreeAnne Rodriguez. Photoshopped by Marist International Programs
Dr. John Hope Franklin
Photo: Marist International Programs
“We must go beyond textbooks, go out
into the bypaths and untrodden depths of
the wilderness and travel and explore and
tell the world the glories of our journey.”