globetrotter
reflections from study abroad
marist college spring 2011
Spring 2011 issue:
4 Why Study Abroad?
6 MIP Information
7 Letter from the
Editors
8 Scholarships for
Study Abroad
10 Student Essays
18 Interview with
Prof Luca Zoccadelli
20 Fall 2010 Semester
Study Abroad
Participants
21 2010 Short-Term
Program Participants
22 2011 Short-Term
Programs/Directors
24 Program Spotlight
26 Student Essays
40 MIP Student Photos
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globetrotter spring 2011
globetrotter
Editors:
Emily Fiore
Jaimie Little
Ray McGale
Photo Contributers:
Nora Barry
Colleen Bunce
Andrew Clinkman
Jacel Egan
Essay Contributers: Emily Fiore
Andrew Clinkman
Erin Fitzgerald
Esmeralda Diaz
John Florio
Catherine Espino
Danielle Francese
Emily Fiore
Megan Francis
Megan Francis
Katie Gallagher
Katie Gallagher
Cassandra Jesmonth
Lauren Hall
Jaimie Little
Jaimie Little
Carly Marshiano
Ray McGale
Rayna Mengel
Sarah Parsloe
Christina O’Sullivan
Daybelis Ramirez
Sarah Parsloe
Samantha Tobia
Kayna Pfeiffer
Nick Webster
Jonathan Porras
Brittany Thomas
Samantha Tobia
Nick Webster
Want to be a Contributer?
If you went abroad or are planning to
go abroad, you can be a Globetrotter
contributer! 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.
MIP Office:
845.575.3330
international@marist.edu
www.marist.edu/international
Front Cover Photo: Samantha Tobia
globetrotter spring 2011
3
Why Study Abroad?
John Peters
Dean of International Programs
While study abroad was once
considered a luxury, it is increasingly seen
in U.S. higher education, the private sector,
and government as a lifetime opportunity
that college and university students
cannot afford to miss. At Marist College,
study abroad is a priority, evidenced by the
fact that approximately 45 percent of the
graduating class of 2010 studied abroad
through Marist International Programs
(MIP) sometime during their Marist years.
One of the reasons Marist is able to send
such a high percentage of students
abroad lies in the institution’s commitment
to making study abroad affordable. Our
goal is that with the exception of airfare
and incidentals, a semester abroad
should cost no more than a semester on
the home campus. As such, in most cases,
financial aid in terms of a student’s grants,
scholarships, and loans, are available to
support the student’s abroad experience.
Marist students participate in a variety
of types of study abroad programs,
according to their individual academic,
personal, and professional objectives.
Depending on their field and overall
academic plan, students are able to take
4
core, major, minor, elective, or a combination
of these types of courses abroad, and have
those courses reflect directly on the Marist
transcript and fulfill degree requirements.
Several
types
of
study
abroad
opportunities are available to Marist students.
Approximately a third of Marist study abroad
students engage in some type of internship
or other “hands-on” experience as part of
their program. MIP encourages this, as the
combination of classroom and experiential
learning, in the context of a high-quality study
abroad program is particularly powerful.
For example, through our Hansard Scholars
Program, students interested in politics may
choose to study British and international
politics at the London School of Economics,
coupled with an internship in British Parliament.
Likewise, an art student may choose to
study Conservation and Restoration Studies
at the Marist College Branch Campus at
Lorenzo de’ Medici Florence, and combine
classroom lecture/discussion with handson experience in restoration of important
works of art, under the tutelage of leaders
in the field. Finally, a student of business may
engage with leading institutions of business
as well as programs tailored to the specific
needs of Marist business students at the
Aston School of Business in the UK, at Lorenzo
de’ Medici Rome, or with the
Asia Summer Abroad
globetrotter spring 2011
Program (ASAP), all of which offer
experiential opportunities to complement
first-rate classroom work. Such examples
are available in virtually any major or field.
For students not specifically looking
to take coursework in their major field
abroad but rather hoping to focus more
on core curriculum requirements, Marist
has affiliations with many programs
offering coursework across a broad range
of fields and core areas of study. Particular
programs where this broad curriculum
is served quite well would include the
Marist College Branch Campus at Lorenzo
de’ Medici Florence, the Foundation
for International Education Programs
in London and Ireland, the American
University in Cairo, as well as a number
of Marist affiliated programs in Australia,
England, Ireland, and Scotland.
Personal development is considered to be
a hallmark of study abroad. Study abroad,
where successful, challenges students to
explore outside of one’s comfort zone, in
terms of intercultural interaction, observation,
problem-solving, and independence. Study
abroad students return from abroad with new
skills and maturity, as well as a balanced and
pro-active attitude. This “capable” attitude
of study abroad returnees can thus help to
foster confidence, leadership, balance, and
flexibility – all qualities and skills necessary for
a vibrant, engaged life.
In terms of career development, study
abroad also holds particular advantages.
Of course, study abroad on the resume
helps one to stand out from the crowd,
and can be a door-opener in many cases.
However, the importance of study abroad
is much more profound. The world of work
is increasingly global, with careers in every
sector increasingly linked to the international
sphere. International experience thus offers
opportunities for students to become familiar,
on a first-hand basis, with the international
environment and the multi-national and multicultural contexts of today’s workplace. And,
it is precisely the types of qualities and skills
that employers routinely cite as important –
flexibility, problem-solving, creativity, and the
ability to work well in teams – that is so well
developed through study abroad.
globetrotter spring 2011
Jacel Egan
As to the question of “why study
abroad?” there are particular academic,
personal, and career benefits to engaging
in a formal program of overseas study as
part of one’s degree. Academically, study
abroad helps students to analyze the
material from multiple points of view, to
become more familiar with international
perspectives, and to experience the
international or regional realities of a
particular issue. Upon returning to the
Marist home campus, students are newly
equipped to better understand, explore,
and engage with the concepts and
material covered in their home campus
courses. Moreover, language acquisition
in the study abroad context can be
particularly rapid; it is highly recommended
that students of any
foreign language study abroad for at least
one semester, and preferably for a full
academic year.
5
MIP Information:
Marist International Programs offers a variety of study abroad experiences that support a broad
range of educational objectives, with program offerings at dozens of sites on six continents. We
offer semester, academic year, and short-term (1-3 week) programs, enabling Marist students
of any major to study abroad and graduate according to their planned schedule.
MIP staff information sessions, alumni-led information tables, semesterly Study
Abroad Fairs, and individual appointments are available to learn more
about our programs and to discuss particular educational objectives
and options. Feel free to call the office at campus extension 3330
or email international@marist.edu with any questions, and review
scheduling for information sessions at: marist.edu/international/
upcomingevents.
Prior to attending one of our information sessions, it can be
useful to review web-based information on our programs. The best
starting place is our website, at: marist.edu/international. Student
and staff photographs of our programs can be viewed at: flickr.com/
photos/maristinternationalprograms, and our blog can be found at:
maristinternationalprograms.worldpress.com. Interested parties are
also encouraged to follow us on Twitter (MIPstudyabroad)
for special announcements and opportunities.
Be more than a tourist – discover what it means to live
and study abroad!
Marist International Programs
John Peters
Carol Toufali
Jerald Thornton
Elizabeth Mulligan
Dean
Coordinator
Coordinator
Office Assistant
Meg Franklin
Christie Alfaro
Katharine Giglio
Molly Humphrey
Travis Mason
Linda Martorano
Joseph Giacalone
6
Director
Assistant Director
Assistant Director
Resident Director
Resident Director
Office Assistant
Director, International Recruitment
globetrotter spring 2011
Emily Fiore
Salamanca, Spain
Globetrotter Editor
& MIP Office Staff
Jaimie Little
Florence, Italy
Globetrotter Editor
& MIP Office Staff
Raymond McGale
Florence, Italy
Globetrotter Editor
& MIP Office Staff
Kelly Gallucci
Florence, Italy
LdM Office Staff
Julianne Homula
Florence, Italy
LdM OFFice Staff
Christina O’Sullivan
Marist College Lorenzo de’Medici
Florence Program
Student Workers
Letter from
the Editors
Emily Fiore, Spain
Jaime Little, Italy
Ray McGale, Italy
The Globetrotter is the official student generated magazine of Marist International Programs. It is a
great way for interested students to get an idea of all of the exciting places you can go as a Marist student.
For those of us who have studied abroad, integrating our international experiences into our daily lives is
an important part of keeping memories alive. The Globetrotter is also a part of the international community
here on campus, where we can begin to piece together the lessons we learn and how we grow as people
and citizens.
One of the most important purposes of the Globetrotter is to ensure that the memories and stories
created by students who have gone abroad are never forgotten. In these pages are a collection of essays
and stories that fulfill the purposes of enlightening prospective students of the adventures of past students
while also reminding those who have already gone abroad of the fun and grandeur of the rest of the world.
It is important that we who have already gone abroad never forget the experiences that we had. Keeping
these memories alive is essential to remind students of the lessons learned and the personal growth that
occurred while studying in another country. It is almost a certainty that all those who go abroad mature and
grow in relation to our awareness of the rest of the world. Retaining these memories and retelling these
stories are the best ways of fostering this growth while back in the U.S.
globetrotter spring 2011
Colleen Bunce
All three of us agree that it was an amazing experience working on the Globetrotter because we had
the opportunity to read about the many great abroad memories and experiences of fellow students while
also being able to relive our own experiences. Reading all the different articles brought us right back to the
countries we so luckily got to live in for our semesters abroad. By working on the Globetrotter, we learned
that studying abroad not only had such an impact on our own lives, but also on the many. We had the great
privilege to read each individual lesson that was so generously provided to us by the article contributors,
and smiles were brought to our faces as we looked at all the amazing photos that were submitted. The
combination of the articles and photos really makes the Globetrotter a special way to commemorate
study abroad experiences as well as encourage Marist students to make the decision to study abroad,
which will change their lives in the most positive way. Studying abroad is important because it matures
you and allows you to get a better perspective of the world and your nationality while instilling you with an
independence you never would have felt otherwise. We hope you enjoy reading the articles as much as
we did, whether they allow you to relive your own experiences or inspire you to study abroad.
7
Dollars to Go!
$
...And Dollars to Go Back!
$
Pat Taylor, Graduate School
and Fellowship Advice
F
or all students contemplating a semester or a year abroad, one consideration will always be the
cost of these studies. While most study abroad opportunities offered through Marist International
Programs have costs comparable to study on the Marist campus in the United States, students
should be aware of several unique scholarship opportunities for study abroad, both as a Marist
student now, as well as later, when the urge to return abroad recurs.
Listed below are the details of each of these remarkable funding opportunities. If you are interested
in pursuing any of these, you should take special note of application deadlines and requirements,
and be sure to visit the Office of Career Services located in Suite 332 of the James A. Cannivino
Library, at your earliest opportunity. Advance preparation for these opportunities is absolutely
essential!
Contact us: In person in the James A. Cannavino Library 332, by phone at ext. 3547, or by email at
< career.services@marist.edu>.
Resourcestogetabroad…Now!
Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship
The Gilman Scholarship focuses on students with demonstrable financial need (indicated by
receipt of Pell Grant funding) and has a particular interest in students targeting less traditional
destinations (outside of Western Europe and Australia/New Zealand). Length of stay must be at
least four weeks, but the program expresses a clear preference for longer-term programs. The
scholarship awards up to $5,000 with an additional $3,000 available for those studying a language
considered by the State Department to be of “critical need.” Deadlines are twice a year, in October
and in March.
http://www.iie.org/en/Programs/Gilman-Scholarship-Program
Boren Scholarship
The Boren Scholarship emphasizes longer term study abroad, less commonly taught language
acquisition, and less traditional destinations – countries which are of central concern to the U.S.
State Department in terms of national security considerations. Students with little to no mastery
of the host country’s language are encouraged to apply. The Boren awards up to $20,000, and
recipients take on a service obligation to work following graduation for a year in any office under
U.S. State Department authority. Applications are due in early February.
http://borenawards.org
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globetrotter spring 2011
Resourcestogetabroad…Later!
Fulbright U.S. Student Program
The Fulbright funds nine to eleven months of research abroad – or the
same amount of time for Fulbright recipients of grants for teaching English in
another country. Countries under U.S. State Department travel warnings are not
included in this competition. Students devise their own research proposal; the
proposal must be one that can be completed in the allotted time, that promises
to enhance binational, bicultural understanding, and that the student is equipped
(both linguistically and intellectually) to pursue. Virtually any field of study is
viable for a Fulbright proposal, although individual countries often have research
priorities and restrictions. Research proposals require that the applicant receive
the endorsement of an in-country host affiliation related to the student’s topic.
English Teaching Assistantships are offered in a somewhat more restricted
number of countries; ETA’s are placed in schools or universities according to
the host country’s needs. Language mastery requirements for the ETA-ships
vary from country to country. All prospective applicants for the Fulbright face a
deadline falling in October of the senior year – or October of any year following
graduation.
http://us.fulbrightonline.org/home.html
The “Big Four” U.K. Advanced Study Scholarships
• The Gates Cambridge Scholarship
http://www.gatesscholar.org/
• The George J. Mitchell Scholarship
http://www.us-irelandalliance.org/wmspage.
cfm?parm1=34
• The Marshall Scholarship
http://www.marshallscholarship.org/
• The Rhodes Scholarship
http://www.rhodesscholar.org/
globetrotter spring 2011
Samantha Tobia
While these four opportunities are slightly different from each other in some
respects, what they have in common is their purpose and their high standards
of the applicant. All four fund graduate study in the United Kingdom, and all
four expect applicants to be academically strong students with demonstrated
leadership qualities and a commitment to the betterment of humanity. The
applicant needs to have a clear rationale for studying at a specific university in
the United Kingdom, as well as a compelling reason for studying in the country
itself. All four of these foundations expect that recipients will one day assume
leadership roles in their respective fields of endeavor. The Gates Cambridge
supports two or more years of study at Cambridge University. The Mitchell
Scholarship is tenable for a year of advanced studies at any Irish university.
The Marshall Scholarship funds either one or two years of graduate study at any
university in the UK and Ireland, while the Rhodes Scholarship is for masterslevel study at Oxford University. All of these competitions have deadlines in
October of the senior year.
9
(A)broadening
M
My Horizon
Initially, I chose to study abroad in Australia because it offered both an internship
program and a homestay option. I wanted to be in a place where I could completely
immerse myself in both the family and professional lives of the people. I knew that I
would most likely be lonely at first. And I was; it was difficult to make consistent contact
with students I met while commuting to school. My first internship was not a good fit, and
it felt strange to be eating food from someone else’s refrigerator. While I initially enjoyed
exploring all the nooks and crannies of Sydney on my own, after some wandering I had
a strange sensation that I was not quite “real.” They say that you see yourself in the way
that others react to you. Because I had no one to engage with, I had no one to generate a
reaction from.
My newfound attitude of outgoing curiosity worked well. It seemed that overnight
I had developed an entire support system that had not existed the month before. I had
friends who wanted to show me their city and their food, to feed me meat pies, lamingtons
and Tim Tams, and to take me to rugby games, city festivals, local concerts, and national
parks. When my internship decided they had a glut of staff and could not keep me any
longer, my host family was ready to call the internship agency, my youth group friends
were ready to pray over me, and my university friends were ready to empathize with me
and trash talk my initial internship.
Supported by this new net of “mateship,” I flourished. When the next internship
opportunity came along, I was no longer a timid little intern who dutifully took out the
trash. I became a full-fledged member of the office team, making suggestions to improve
the website, generating key internal e-mails, writing articles, and proofing corporate
literature. My new self-confidence made my coworkers comfortable around me. I fit in,
as my company’s Chair of the International Steering Committee would say, “like an old
sock.”
10
As I grew more comfortable with my life in Sydney, I pursued more experiences
outside of it. I planned trips to learn to surf, to go white water rafting, to go cliff diving,
and to snorkel at the Great Barrier Reef. I traveled to New Zealand to hike the Fox Glacier
globetrotter spring 2011
Sydney, Australia
Spring 2010
My discomfort forced me to expand. I began talking to anyone who looked friendly
enough. I talked at the dinner table, on the university shuttle, in the classroom. Australians,
being the friendly “blokes” that they are, responded well to conversation. I made friends
on buses, on trains, in museums, and in my classes. My host family began referring to me
as their second daughter, taking me to family occasions and proudly recording me as I
sang bits of opera and Broadway to entertain their friends.
Sarah Parsloe
ost people travel across the world to see new things. I was no different. I wanted
to see the Sydney Opera House, the Harbor Bridge, the Great Barrier Reef, the
Blue Mountains, and the Australian way of life. But my time in Australia represented
more to me than an extended sight-seeing holiday. I was not traveling simply to see new
things, but to be new things: to be confident, to be social, to be adventurous, to be bold.
And while I learned about the quirks of the Australian culture, the landscape of the New
Zealand islands, and the multicultural nature of Singapore, I also learned that sometimes
you have to travel 22 hours to find yourself.
and to go horseback riding through the Lord of the Rings scenery. The pinnacle of the trip was
the 43 meter bungee jump from the Kawarau Bridge. The bungee instructor told us that the most
difficult part of the sport was simply persuading oneself to step off of the platform, to trust that
something would catch you as you hurtled full tilt toward the impossibly blue river. I am proud to
say that I leapt without hesitation.
But all of this confidence building in Australia would prove to be the dress rehearsal for my biggest
challenge: presenting my academic research paper at a major international academic conference to
be held in Singapore. In my sophomore year, I had written an original piece of communication
research that was accepted into the International Communication Association’s (ICA) conference,
and had been working toward this conference for some time. The conference, to be held just eight
hours from Sydney in Singapore, is generally comprised of graduate and doctoral work. I would be
the only undergraduate with a paper in the conference, and would have to present it to a room full
of professors who were acquainted with the leading research in the field. The very idea of it gave
me sweaty palms.
However, I was determined to represent my research. My research at Marist had been supported
and mentored by Professor Cochece Davis from the Communications Department. However, I
was overseas and Dr. Davis was travelling with a Marist spring attachment study abroad program
in Australia and Samoa. As a result, I booked my flight and accommodation, registered for the
conference, and prepared a Power Point largely on my own. I arrived in Singapore and checked
into my hotel, confident that I would meet up with Dr. Davis at the opening reception. He would
introduce me to his friends from various universities, offer last minute tips on the presentation, and
help to field any particularly complicated questions from the audience.
“It hit me that my life in Sydney
had prepared me for this.”
Unfortunately (or so I thought at the time), things did not play out quite this way. Proud to
have successfully checked into my hotel room, I purchased a few minutes of internet time to check
messages. An urgent e-mail from my professor informed me that he had been grounded in San
Francisco, and would not make the conference in time for my presentation. Suddenly, I found
myself alone in a foreign country, with no cell phone and no mentor, and in the most intimidating
situation I had ever faced.
Although there was a moment of stark panic, it only lasted a moment. It hit me that my life in
Sydney had prepared me for this. After months of navigating Australia, I had little trouble figuring
out Singapore and getting to the conference on time. At the opening reception, I simply talked to any
friendly looking person, just as I had done in Australia. I soon had a notebook full of business cards,
an invitation to a party hosted by Michigan State University, and a young doctoral student friend
who enthusiastically agreed to tour the city with me. I realized that I could do this, and do it well.
During my time in Australia, I pet a kangaroo, learned what “fair dinkum” means, and ate emu
pizza. I tried to play the didgeridoo, saw a show in the Opera House, and went on a river safari in
search of crocodiles. Although I will always remember these travel adventures vividly, what will
remain with me more fundamentally is what I learned about my own limits. More specifically, I
learned that by simply stretching out of my comfort zone, I can meet the most amazing people and
achieve things I had thought were beyond me. In the end, I became a person who is willing to take
the calculated risk, knowing that only by leaping out into the unknown can we discover that part of
ourselves that catches us before we hit the river.
globetrotter spring 2011
Sarah Parsloe
When it came time to present my paper, I stood and faced an audience filled mostly with people
I had already befriended. It was not particularly intimidating simply explaining my research to
friends who nodded enthusiastically from their seats. Halfway through the presentation, I realized
that though I would have liked to have had my professor there during my presentation, I was capable
of presenting and discussing my work, confidently, on my own. I was a researcher in my own right,
and I had earned my place at the podium.
11
Bridging the
Spring 2010
South Africa
Great Divide
I just met kids who treat Kit-Kat chocolate bars like
edible gold, and I return home to a new Jeep Liberty. The
thoughtful gift from my parents (the Jeep) jolted me from
Sub-Saharan Africa back to the suburban comforts of my
hometown. I see perfectly placed pansies and clean-cut
lawns, tricycles and basketball hoops, brick houses filled
with families and (one hopes) love. Returning to the
USA from my short-term study
abroad program in South Africa
challenged my conceptions of
poverty and freedom. The impact
of my abroad experience still
resonates in my life today.
Similar to most countries
compared to the U.S., South
Africa’s poor are often poorer.
While touring townships and
cities, my eyes suffered from
trying to adjust to the radioactive
glare of wealth one moment and
the bleakness of poverty the
next. Bolts of ultraviolet rays
would blare off platinum-silver
Escalades and leave unsettled
shadows on the shanty-towns
(groups of make-shift houses
constructed of off-cut wood and
corrugated iron), sometimes
located less than two-hundred feet
away
But economic status is not the only division between
those with fancy cars and those with shanties in South
Africa. Race and ethnicity also divide. Although black South
Africans out-number white South Africans eight to one, in
terms of wealth distribution, this ratio turns on its head and
seemingly buries its denominator. Three hundred years
of colonialism and sixty years of a tyrannical Apartheid
Regime segregate people ethnically, economically, and
ideologically. Social movements, led by change agents
such as the awe-inspiring Nelson Mandela, Walter Sisulu,
12
Lauren Hall
and Desmond Tutu, combat the injustice of Apartheid. And
though they have had some success, “equality” is still a
distant dream.
Most citizens gained legal freedom only recently, with
Nelson Mandela as the first democratically elected leader in
1994. But history proves that legal freedom does not ensure
the sort of ideological and social
equality idealized in government
documents. An up-and-coming hip
hop artist I met in Zula nightclub
phrased it best: “the black youth
are free physically, but they are not
free in their minds.” Never have I
ever enjoyed a more genuine and
intellectual conversation at a dance
club than I did that night. Nino,
the hip hop artist, exuded passion
when explaining his reason for
becoming a musical artist. He
wants to free minds.
Similarly, as Professor Lee of
the University of Western Cape
explained to our group of Marist
students, hundreds of years of
a ruling culture insisting upon
the inferiority of one race can
“fundamentally undermine,” some
South African blacks’ ability to
fully value their culture and themselves. In so offering this
strong statement, Dr. Lee alluded to the reality that the
major players in Apartheid worked so hard to create. During
Apartheid, whites in power worked to hold blacks down;
their tactic of oppression was to convince blacks that they
belonged on the bottom. H.F. Verwoerd, commonly referred
to as the “Architect of Apartheid” and the man charged with
the development of the black South African educational
system, vowed “I will reform it [black education] so that
they will be taught from childhood that equality with
Europeans is not for them.” What he proposed, and what he
indoctrinated, was ideological genocide.
globetrotter spring 2011
Nora Barry
Compared to a world in which Mommies and Daddies
shower their children with everything from candy to (often
overstated) compliments, Verwoerd sounds like a villain
in a child’s story. His hate makes him seem like an evil
man from an evil place that enslaves the naughty children
who will not eat their vegetables. His mantra of black
education is incomprehensible. His words are an outrage
and a tragedy, but to South Africans, his words and policies
were reality.
and give them gifts. I am not critiquing my parents, as (trust
me) I am appreciative of the gift. “Jenny the Jeep” takes
me to a job, an internship, to friends and family, and to
adventures which all enrich my life. My parents, in trying to
quell my confusion and frustration after receiving the Jeep,
explained their reasoning: I deserved it. Their gift was not
meant to dote, but rather to empower. Empower me to see,
do, and achieve more.
“My abroad trip engendered
a sense of responsibility, and
reminded me that opportunities for
making a difference can be found
not only abroad, but also right
here at home.”
Experiencing
South
Africa brought the history
lesson of Apartheid to life
for me. My reality has
been changed. To be sure,
villains like Verwoerd scar
almost every country; the
U.S. has had a longer time for similar wounds to heal.
Even now, in post-Civil Rights America, after we have had
hundreds of years to untangle and diffuse the racial tension
instigated by four hundred years of slavery, electing a black
president was celebrated (or scorned) as a milestone.
Americans generally experience less poverty and enjoy
more freedom; my welcome home gift was a Jeep Liberty,
not a Kit-Kat bar. My intention is certainly not to bash
parents of better economic means who love their children
Moving forward, I am
able to utilize this new
understanding by using
words and education
to support and discuss
these complex issues
with others. While I
have worked with atrisk youth from the Poughkeepsie School District for some
time, I will now approach that work with a renewed vigor.
Education does not inherently produce a better society
and better individuals, but it acts as a foundation for both.
My abroad trip engendered a sense of responsibility, and
reminded me that opportunities for making a difference can
be found not only abroad, but also right here at home. I will
now be able to engage in a greater amount of community
work, and with the help of the convenient transport afforded
me by my parents’ most generous gift.
globetrotter spring 2011
13
Nick Webster
Florence, Italy
Spring 2010
Looking Through a
I
n the weeks before returning
home, I had talked to friends at
Marist who had recently returned from
their abroad experiences. Each of them
told me how they had experienced
some degree of “reverse culture
shock” as a result of returning home.
I had no idea how this was possible,
but of course I had not yet returned
to the United States, having spent the
last four months of my life studying
abroad in Florence. When first arriving
in Italy, culture shock did not hit me
very hard at all, so I was confident I
would be able to handle whatever
America had to throw at me when I
came back home. Re-adjustment to the
United States had not only presented
challenges but also opportunities and
new insights as well.
14
Different Lens
The first thing I noticed on my
Alitalia flight home was the national
pride I felt for my country while
observing Italian passengers admiring
the first sights of New York from the
plane window. I was proud to call
the U.S. my home and be a part of
everything for which this country
stands. Upon landing I immediately
noticed airport employees speaking
English, which had not been the norm
for me over the past few months. While
walking the streets of Florence, I had
become accustomed to people speaking
a variety of languages. It was a nice
relief to hear a language I completely
understood again, although this took
globetrotter spring 2011
some getting used to. Another initial
jolt I received was the realization that
people no longer paid in Euros, but
U.S. Dollars instead. Obviously prices
were now displayed with the dollar
sign too, rather than the Euro.
On the drive home from the airport,
it was a welcome comfort to see
so much green along the Thruway.
Although Florence was very beautiful,
it is composed primarily of stone and
brick. With the exception of the famous
Boboli Gardens, there is very little
green space to be found. I had never
been so struck by the vibrant green
Thruway landscape.
After a few more days, I began to
look at the American flag differently.
Obviously it has always been a symbol
of national pride to me, as an American.
However, the U.S. flag is no longer the
“default” flag in my mind, since I have
observed many different
flags while spending time in
those respective countries.
I now understand it to be
my nation’s flag, but have
a stronger awareness that it is not the
only one in the world, and that pride
in a citizen’s flag is not limited to the
United States.
months prior. It made me very grateful
to know I had seen this part of the
French Riviera with my own eyes.
Another such moment occurred when
I noticed a van with an advertisement
portraying a familiar building I knew I
Now that I have studied abroad and
have had the opportunity to see other
countries and experience different
cultures, I feel I am able to see things
in a more “balanced” way. Before, the
United States was the only country
I knew. After studying in
Florence for a semester, I now
have a strong appreciation for
different ways of life, as well
as an enhanced appreciation of
my own. I really did learn to “expect the
unexpected” during my study abroad
and will carry this positive attitude
forward. I do miss the small things
from my study abroad, like being able
to look down on the streets of Florence
from my apartment’s balcony each
morning. However, I am confident that
one day I will have the opportunity to
relive these experiences again, and am
thankful for the new perspective I have
gained.
“I really did learn to
expect the unexpected”
globetrotter spring 2011
Nick Webster
After studying abroad, I definitely
see the world through a more nuanced
lens. Visiting different countries
has aided me in developing a strong
admiration for cultures other than my
own. I have also enjoyed a couple of
lighter, “a-ha” moments, that have
reminded me of my time abroad. For
example, shortly after my return
to the United States, I went to the
movie theater to see Ironman 2.
I enjoyed the movie, but what I
found particularly exciting was
seeing the scenes filmed in
Monaco, where I had been
less than three
had seen before. Almost immediately,
I recognized the picture and wanted
to yell, “LA SAGRADA FAMILIA!”
the Catalan church famously designed
by Gaudi.
I have enjoyed both
the reflective as well as the lighter
moments since my return in thinking
through the meaning of my time spent
abroad.
15
Morocco and Roll
Spring 2010
Rabat, Morocco
Adjusting to a New Lifestyle
I
t was like a scene out of a film
when one’s life is drastically and
immediately changed. As I gazed out
the window at Casablanca, Morocco,
it seemed surreal that I would spend
the next four months of my life in
North Africa. I thought I was mentally
prepared for the different, slower
paced, less technological lifestyle.
From the plane, I saw highway exits
consisting of dirt roads; exiting the
plane, I walked forward into this new
culture. This essay will reflect on my
growth as an individual in a country
where most citizens’ material wealth
does not approach that which I once
took for granted. I initially struggled
in this context, but over time I realized
that reflection on these differences
was imperative to my personal
development.
To understand my study abroad
experience, it is important to remember
that Morocco is
16
Andrew Clinkman
a far less economically developed
country than the USA. While there are
similarities around the country such
as taxis, nightclubs, McDonalds, large
financial buildings, and groups of teens
at beaches, the material differences can
be striking. The Muslim nation is run
by a moderate monarchy that is making
many positive, modernizing decisions
for the African nation. However,
unemployment, living conditions, and
health issues remind the sojurner of
Morocco’s economic realities. During
my time there, I struggled with seeing
families sleeping on the streets and
relying on handouts to survive.
An example of adjusting to life
without the comforts of home was
the absence of something that college
freshmen are rarely without in their
dorm: a microwave. I realized this
problem the moment I walked into
my apartment in Rabat. My roommate
Cody and I were to subsist on food
globetrotter spring 2011
of our own cooking, which would
not have been a problem if we had
possessed a kitchen with all of the
appliances which I was familiar (or at
least a microwave and oven). However,
instead of putting a microwaveable
dinner into the microwave for five
minutes, my roommate and I would
spend hours preparing food for a meal.
All told, our sparse kitchen came
complete with dishes, a refrigerator,
a cold-water sink, and a hot plate. In
most American kitchens, this would
be seen as inadequate. However, in
Morocco, this was the norm.
Learning to cook without a wellstocked kitchen was initially difficult.
In the beginning, our meals never
ceased to involve pasta or hot dogs.
However, as time went on and as
we longed for something tastier, we
journeyed outside of our comfort zone
to the local souks (markets), butchers,
bakeries, and fresh fruit and vegetable
stands. Going to one of these shops
was always an adventure. Sometimes
we would end up with mystery meat
and other times an overabundance of
spices. Over time, however, shopping
in the markets became routine as the
shop owners became accustomed to
seeing us, two American students
making fools of themselves using a
combination of hand gestures, French,
Arabic, and English to formulate
television, or steady cell-phone service.
Not having the ability to keep in touch
with my friends and family at all
times was initially a shock, but it was
something I learned to enjoy. There
was a feeling of liberation when I was
no longer controlled by the internet and
cell phone. I had some contact with
friends and family while abroad, but I
did not stress over a lack of constant
contact. In many ways, the world in
things which were essential in my life
before going abroad were no longer
as important when I returned home. I
am constantly reminded that I should
be gracious for the opportunities
that I enjoy and lose my attachment
to unnecessary things such as cell
phones, microwaves, and other nonessential items. Witnessing firsthand
the struggles of people to feed their
children is a vivid memory that will stay
“Not having the ability to keep in touch with my friends
and family at all times was initially a shock...”
requests. By the end of our semester,
however, cooking matured to the
point that our hotplate acted as our
stove, oven, and microwave. We
made delicious meals such as chicken
parmesan, beef stews, and authentic
Moroccan dishes. By the end of our
stay, it was the thought of eating
chicken nuggets or hot dogs on a
regular basis that seemed foreign.
Beyond the culinary context,
another area of my life in Morocco that
required perseverance was in adjusting
to life without the internet,
Morocco seemed more pleasant than
the hectic lifestyle of the northeastern
United States. Sure, it was a hassle at
times not being able to receive email,
check out sports scores, or log onto
Facebook, but, as with the microwave,
I was surprisingly able to survive
and flourish. Over time, I was able to
achieve a balance in communication as
my Study Abroad Center provided free
internet during the week that easily
took care of my needs.
In Morocco, I learned something
unexpected about my life. I found the
with me forever. In the wider context,
my experience allowed me to better
appreciate the fruitful, wonderful life
that I live in the USA. I look forward
to the day when I will again walk the
souks of Morocco and live the less
technological life, but even if that day
never comes, I will always remember
the lessons of my sojurn.
Andrew Clinkman
globetrotter spring 2011
17
Interview with Luca Zoccadelli
(Visiting professor from Florence, Italy)
1.HaveyouenjoyedyourexperiencethusfaratMarist?
Yes, it’s the first time that I’m in the States not as a tourist but working and living here for a longer period. I’m
experiencing daily what the USA is like.
2.DidyouexperienceanycultureshockwhenyoufirstcametotheUS?
Yes, I experienced some difficulties adjusting to the local way of living and organizing public and private
services. The biggest thing that initially disappointed me and made me feel frustrated, which I still can’t get used
to, is when people greet me, they say “how are you”, and as I start to answer the question, I see they run away
careless of my answer. I understand that this is not a question but just a way to say “Hi,” but still I wonder why
people just don’t say “Hi.” In my country this behavior would be strange, disrespectful, and unacceptable, and
it struck me as such.
I had another funny experience when paying at stores. Generally, one is supposed to swipe his own credit
card, whereas in Italy the clerk always does it for the customer. I often found myself in an odd situation where I
was handing my credit card to the clerk who was staring at me, in silence, with an inquisitive face as if I were an
alien. I felt very provincial.
Apart from these and other banal episodes, I could easily grow accustomed to the new American culture and
uses. Positive shocks were, one, finding very efficient customer service everywhere and, two, waiters are polite,
or I would say, overwhelmingly enthusiastic and attentive asking every other five minutes if it’s okay.
3.WhatarethebiggestdifferencesbetweenteachingatLdMandteachingatMarist?
It’s difficult to generalize, but I think that American students I’m used to teaching belong to a special group of
people who decided to make a great and challenging experience of studying abroad. This makes them different
in the motivation they have for studying Italian language and the possibility they have to experience it out of
the class room. Their attitude in class towards classmates and professor is more open, active and cooperative. I
didn’t expect that it could be so difficult to communicate some aspect of Italian culture out of Italy.
4.WhatarethebiggestdifferencesbetweenlivinginanAmericancitysuchasPoughkeepsieandan
ItaliancitysuchasFlorence?
Most Italian cities have antique origin and they have a historical center where you can admire beautiful
palaces, picturesque streets and wonderful monuments, or lounge in one of the coffee and pastry bars, tasting
delicious treats. In Poughkeepsie, or even in New York, they have different ways to
enjoy and spend their spare time. In Italy people tend to have a more relaxed
schedule, whereas in the States, especially in big cities like New York, people’s life is
more frenetic, and I discovered myself planning too many things in one day: trips,
museum visits, cocktail parties, dinners, bars, clubs, and concerts.
Another relevant difference I found, compared with Italy, are the big distances
one needs to drive to reach places for basic needs. If I didn’t have a car I
couldn’t go shopping to the supermarket or to the farms.
Concerning landscape and countryside around both Poughkeepsie
and Florence I was very happy to find beautiful woods and
reservoir where I could hike or practice horse riding.
18
globetrotter spring 2011
5. What’s your favorite thing you’ve done so far in the
US?
Visiting gospel churches in Harlem was an amazing
experience. I was also struck by how all museums are
wonderfully organized in space, showing and lights! In
Italy we have a lot of pieces of art in small museums so
that sometimes it’s difficult to appreciate them properly.
6. Will you have a different view of American
students studying in Italy after teaching in
America?
Sure. My working experience at Marist College for
Fall 2010 has been a very interesting opportunity
which allowed me to observe first hand and
better understand students’ expectations, our
respective cultures and learning environments.
My cooperation with Marist College contributed to my
personal and professional development. Working in Marist
College in a totally different professional environment and, with
new colleagues, led to a proficient exchange of ideas and thoughts,
from different points of view.
Luca a
t Mar
ist Co
llege
7.WhatwillyoumissmostaboutAmerica?
The pragmatic spirit of people and their way of communicating directly, less
ceremonious and formal than Italians. Italians sometimes are slaves to their social
or professional role and this affects their attitude making them more formal, or at
least worried, of their image and self-representation.
8.WhatwillyoumissleastaboutAmerica?
9.WouldyouwanttocomebacktoAmericatovisit?Anyfinalwords?
Yes, States are so big that I have experienced a little part of this universe. I basically
got to know Poughkeepsie and several areas and towns upstate, NYC, and Salt Lake
City with its State parks, lakes and mountains. There are so many more places left to be
discovered.
globetrotter spring 2011
Cassandra Jesmonth
Watching some TV news such as CNN broadcast caused me great anxiety, always
warning on threats and possible attacks by Muslim terrorists. Commercials on TV
made me feel the need to remodel my house, and buy a new super safe bathtub,
even if I don’t own a house.
It was funny to read constant reminders on obvious everyday life facts: coffee is
very hot and could burn, watch the step, watch before crossing the street, objects
in mirror are closer than they appear. But when I attempt to know the ingredients of
what I eat, I find vague information on what I’m putting in my stomach. Many foods’
packaging shows that the product is “good source of ...something...” such as vitamins,
minerals or antioxidants.
Finally, when I needed to go to the hospital the first thing they asked me at the
reception was my insurance and my credit card, and I had to ask permission to my
insurance company before I could benefit from it.
19
Fall 2010 Participants
Argentina
Greece
Cultural
Experiences
Abroad
University of
Indianapolis
Buenos Aires
Krista Boni
Australia
Melbourne
Deakin University
Vincent Ginardi
Thomas Graziano
Lynde Kayser
Gregory Sulik
Queensland
Griffith University
Kimberly Conlon
Nicole Romano
Sydney
Australian Catholic
University
Rebecca Dimler
Julie Doboszczak
Larissa Gojdycz
Macquarie
University
Lauren Chicolo
Kacie Reilly
Samuel Rodriguez
Caitlyn Rowan
Czech
Republic
Prague
CIEE
Meghan Barbour
Laura Formanek
20
Athens
Lindsey Flanders
Nina LaMonica
Ireland
Cork
University College
Cork
Katherine Wetzler
Dublin
Foundation for
International
Education
Janeen Featherston
Colin Fitzgerald
Limerick
University of Limerick
Sarah Black
Shannon Tota
Italy
Florence
Lorenzo de’ Medici
Stephanie Accetta
Grace Andruszkiewicz
Nicole Aquila
Stephanie Bacilo
Jacqueline Barrett
Lindsay Blevins
Hillary Boz
Patricia Brennan
Christopher Bryan
Deirdre Burns
Mariam Calleja
Kerry Caputo
globetrotter spring 2011
Toniann Carlone
Christina Carmona
Daniel Collery
Nicholas Corso
Cherilyn Crema
Danielle Dacchille
Marissa DeAngelis
Milena DelVecchio
Rebecca Demetriades
Amanda DeTurris
Thomas DeVaney
Emily Dinova
Tena Elman
Kristen Epifania
Melody Felix
Leigh Fleming
Lauren Foster
Margaret Frenzel
Erika Giannelli
Lisa Glover
Jaclyn Goldbaum
Megan Grogan
Elizabeth Hemmer
Brenna Igoe
Jack Kensil
Jessica Kent
Lina Kirby
Jessica Kliwinski
Lisa Koehler
Alexis Kroll
John Lacey
Katherine Leonard
Gina Luciano
Hannah Magargel
Lauren Mazzola
Richard Minieri
Robert Nixon
Kaitlyn Northrop
Gina Orlandi
Michael Ozolnieks
Christine Palermo
Ashley Lynn Paveglio
Daniela Pereira
Kaitlin Pfister
Krystin Prastil
Ariel Puccio
Taylor Raab
Vincent Ricciardi
Steven Rizzo
Samantha Rooney
Ayla Rosen
Ryan Royce
Lindsey Sacco
Kristyn Sarro
Angela Scherba
John Sowulski
John Vernazza
Stephanie Waring
Kristen Wieber
Nicole Zuar
Rome
Granada
Academic Programs
International
James Morrow-Polio
Madrid
Universidad Carlos III
Stephanie Caraballo
Kristy Cosgrove
Kristine Horwitz
Jennifer Levine
Lindsay Piasecki
Peter Rottenbucher
Marissa Sala
Molly Sloan
Nicholas Smith
Lauren Strumpf
Lorenzo de’ Medici
Seville
Japan
Angela Borge
Katie Meena
Allyson Swedler
Alexandra Vucetic
Storm Heitman
Tokyo
Temple University
Academic Programs
International
Caroline Kim
United
New Zealand Kingdom
Cantebury
University of
CanteburyChristchurch
Sophie Ordway
Spain
Barcelona
IES
Margaret Kolb
Renee Remi
Academic Programs
International
Danielle Provost
London
Foundation for
International
Education
Vanessa Adamo
Allyse Bamonte
Crystal Barnett
Kaitlin Barrett
Madeline Bergeron
Jacqueline Brophy
Teresa Cardillo
Michelle Carpenter
Carolyn Chisholm
Christina Choi
Emma Curtis
Carly DeCoursey
Madeline Deneen
Brandon DeWitt
Megan Fuchsius
Melissa Gallagher
Katelyn Gillet
Patrick Gonzales
Rebecca Gretschel
Emily Knapp
Katherine Kondraske
Erin Lynch
Jessica Mennis
Kaitlin Mullan
Oludara Oni
Morgan Powers
Nicole Radassao
BreeAnne Rodriguez
Stephanie Rosen
Mary Roth
Sarah Schmidt
Paula Somlo
Laura Sumich
Rachel Sweeney
Kaitlin Vanderhoff
Stacey Vespe
Elizabeth Wesley
Amanda Weston
Nicole Wilson
Hansard Scholars
Programme
Kelsea Burch
Matthew Freed
University of
Westminster
Peter Vinnicombe
globetrotter spring 2011
21
2010 Short-Term Participants
Australia,
New Zealand
and Samoa
Advanced
Communication &
Culture
Prof Cochece Davis
Toni Ann Arrigo
Jenna Colin
Thomas Durante
Cassandra Fernandez
Melissa Hansen
Patrick McDerby
Amanda Nasner
Andrew Peters
Renee Rumpf
Christopher Sharkey
Ryan Sharkey
Necla Uluc
Barbados
Alyson Laverty
Kimberly Lyons
Shaun Morrison
Mary Roth
Katelyn Rotondaro
Samantha Sitler
Kaley Skoglund
Jessica Stevenson
India
Global Aspect
of Technology
Management
Prof Beate Klingenberg
Prof Eitel Lauria
Laurie Andreola
Ryan Bingham
John Bubenheim
Luis Castillo
Theresa Dowden
Philip Horgan
Sampathku Swaminathan
Jeffrey Weiss
Pyschology of
Interpersonal
Communication
Israel
James Barrett III
Nicholas Basile
Kimberly Birch
Sean Cox
Matthew DeMayo
Samuel Green
Courtney Jackson
Colleen Kopchik
Brendan Regan
James Reid
Patrick Sheehan
Myriah Anderson
Matthew Lubrano
Nicholas Mayr
Scott Mayr
Timothy Owen
Shannon Tota
Prof John Scileppi
Berlin & Prague
Principals of Judaism
Prof Steve Sansola
Elyse Brendlen
Thomas Dekeyser
Darcie Derrico
Storm Heitman
Gregory Kaplan
Taylor Raab
Jesenia Sanchez
Kim Stagg
Michael Steier
Edward Ybarra
Greece and
Turkey
Intercultural
Communications
Prof Subir Sengupta
Julia Capodicasa
Stephanie D’Adamo
Alexandra D’Ercole
Katharine Fox
22
Jesus and the Prophets
Prof Tim Massie
Japan
Visions of Japan
Prof Richard Lewis
Maxwell Carow
Jessica Chiarellla
Rachael Chiarella
Tonimarie Chiarella
Sam Curcio
Peter Esposito
Anthony Figalora
Caroline Greer
Nicole Khoueiri
Amanda Letchko
Brian McMillan
Keith Moran
Jonathan Porras
Rebecca Smith
London, England
Shakespeare
Prof Richard Grinnell
Sophia Bulahan
Caitlin Colquhoun
Emily Dinova
Michelle Gebele
Katrina Kass
Katherine Leonard
Victoria Mather
Tiana Pappas
Daniel Pearles
John Sowulski
globetrotter spring 2011
London and
Barcelona
Global Fashion
Prof Sonia Roy
Lindsey Anderson
Emily Banas
Jacquelyn Dubicki
Samantha Gioffre
Julia Janicelli
Brooke Kristensen
Amber Lopez
Victoria Minkel
Ashley Newell
Nicole Percacciolo
Sara Roberts
Paris, France
The Paris of Impressionist
Painters
Prof Anne Bertrand-Dewsnap
Arianna Cesa
Cynthia Dagenais
Milena DelVecchio
Caroline Martin
Alanna Miller
Nicholas Seinfeld
Melissa Sonier
Julianna White
Kristen Zirkel
Paris Fashion
Prof Radley Cramer
Patricia Fairclough
Lauren Foster
Laura Knight
Andrew Ludington
Kaitlyn McGann
Gina Orlandi
Jennifer Williams
Kate Zagami
Peru
Business and Culture
Prof Joanne Gavin
Adam Barlow
John Cram
James Daly
Ashley Huffman
Emily Kaplan
Melissa Kark
Kelly Motley
Daniel Parcells
South Africa
South African Culture
Prof Eddie Summers
Nora Barry
Nelson Benitez
Janeeka Benoit
Brittany Bonesteel
Emily Callahan
Cara Cannone
Lauren Hall
Jeannie Lukin
Bryan Mccarthy
Myles Williams
2011 Short-Term Programs/Directors
Winter Intersession
Barbados
Psychology of Interpersonal
Communication
Prof John Scileppi
Spring Break
Ireland
Dubliners and the Literature of
Ireland
Prof Tommy Zurhellen and Prof Lea
Graham
Israel and Jordan
Religious Studies
Prof Tim Massie
Spring Attachment
Brazil
Brazilian Fashion: Workroom to
Runway
Prof Sonia Roy and Prof Radley Cramer
England
Ghana
Politics, Community
Development, and
Entrepreneurship
Prof Eddie Summers
Hawaii
Culturally Responsive Education
Prof Martha Girardi
England, Scotland and Ireland
Business in England, Scotland and
Ireland
Prof Joanne Gavin
Paris, Geneva and Amsterdam
Intercultural Communications
Prof Subir Sengupta
Turkey and Greece
Religious Studies
Prof Tim Massie
More information on our short-term
programs can be found at:
http://www.marist.edu/international/
shortprograms
Shakespeare in London
Prof Richard Grinnell
globetrotter spring 2011
23
The Asia Summer Abroad Program
Kelly Gallucci, Office Staff
After working in the abroad office
for nearly two years, I know the drill. At
the start of each semester students begin
rushing into the office with questions
about application dates, deadlines and –
the million dollar question – where they
should go?! Most majors adapt fairly
easily to the constraints of going abroad.
Literature majors find England’s past
authors inspiring, Fashion Merchandising
find fashion courses in Italy. But what about
those majors that struggle to find the place
where their future goals join with a cultural
experience? For Business majors, they
may find this melding in
the Asia Summer Abroad
Program, or ASAP.
The program, a joint effort between
Marist and program founder Dr. Wesley
King from the University of Dayton, offers
students a way to expand their resumes,
making them attractive to employers
looking for students with diverse
international experience. David Newman,
a Marist student and alum of the program,
believes that it did just that. “Globalization
is upon us,” Newman shared. “We must
compete for jobs globally; this program
shows participants how competitive Asia is
in the global market.”
With such a large focus on travel and
visiting various countries, many students
applying worry about how classes with
be conducted. Each student is expected
to enroll in a minimum of four courses,
but these courses will be unlike anything
they have ever experienced. Classes can
meet on the road, on the weekends, in
the early morning or late at night. As for
the traditional classroom setting, students
should leave all ideas of that behind. From
business conference rooms to the roofs of
Buddhist temples, these “classrooms” are
sure to keep a student interested in what
they are learning.
“But what about those majors that
struggle to find the place where
their future goals join with a cultural
experience? For Business majors, they
may find this...in...ASAP.”
As the name suggests,
ASAP occurs over the
summer and is a fulltime semester abroad
experience that has been
taking business majors and minors to Asia
since 1998. Under the helpful guidance
of five to six U.S. American university
professors, students do not simply settle
down in one country, but rather travel
to a variety of places, learning about
business
administration,
economics,
communications, religion and cultural
differences along the way. The tentative
itinerary for the upcoming 2011 summer
includes the countries of Cambodia, China,
Japan, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand, Tibet
and Vietnam. Students generally
leave for the program halfway
through May and return in
August.
24
Newman discovered the program when
searching for an abroad opportunity that
catered specifically to business majors.
He had always wanted to go to Asia, and
the program seemed to be a perfect fit.
“Nothing was as I expected,” Newman
said. “Each country was different because,
despite being in Asia, every culture is
unique. Everything was challenging,
whether it was ordering food or trying to
be polite in situations that do not exist in
the U.S.”
globetrotter spring 2011
Newman concluded
by saying that he could
not think of a single
downside to the program.
He came away with
excellent skills such
as adapting to diverse
and dynamic international situations
and “learning to communicate with
people without understanding a common
language or culture. The world is vast and
I walked away from the program with a
new understanding of what it means to be
American.”
Interested in applying? Shoot an e-mail
to international@marist.edu if you have
any questions. More information on the
program is also available on the Marist
International Programs website (http://
www.marist.edu/international/asap.
html). Happy travels!
The Florence Freshman Experience
Kelly Gallucci, Office Staff
As the stress of finals begin tearing at
us all, we tend to forsake our homework
for moments of wistful dreaming. Perhaps
you think of your warm bed, or of eating in
a place other than the basement of James
Cannavino Library, or (if you are like me)
perhaps you think of someone handing you
a plane ticket and saying go to Europe and
leave school behind. In my senior year of
high school, this is exactly what happened.
I received a phone call that seemed
like a hoax. A woman was telling me that
instead of spending my freshman year at
Marist College I could board a plane for
Italy. Sure I’d still be in school and I’d have
homework. But I would be
spending a year in Florence,
Italy where Dante penned
the Inferno, where Da Vinci
painted and Michelangelo sculpted? I said
yes immediately and two months later I
was leaving JFK with twenty strangers,
hoping I had made the right choice.
Cinema Club, Writing Club and Dance Club
during her year abroad. Once back at Marist
she followed the same pattern and today is
the Vice President of the Student Body.
Florence has proven to be an excellent
location for the freshman travelers because
they find themselves accompanied by a
variety of other Marist students. This is
because Florence is one of the top study
abroad locations for Marist students and has
been for over 15 years! So if you missed
out on the Freshman Experience, there are
plenty of chances for you to find your way
over there later on.
While the cultural exploration of Italy is a
key part of studying abroad, so is the school.
Students are expected to take 12-16 credits
each semester. With over 400 classes to
choose from, it’s easy to find something that
fulfills a requirement. Most take a language
class to help them get by and many students,
like me, do use some electives for things
like cooking class! This is mostly because
there are no meal plans in Florence – and
why should there be? Once in Italy, you’ll
be surrounded by such amazing food it will
inspire you to try your hand in the kitchen.
So pack a cookbook because experimenting
with recipes is one of the best parts of the
experience.
“You can spend days just in Florence
and still not see everything there is...”
Today, I am a senior back in
Poughkeepsie and spending a year in
Florence was the best decision of my life.
I gained confidence, made friends I’ll
never forget and carry with me stories that
entertain and amaze all that I share them
with. A huge part of why my time was
successful there was the fact that Lorenzo
de’ Medici (the school in Florence) is a
branch campus of Marist. This means that
one floor of their academic building is a
Marist office, stocked with staff who were
always ready to leap to my aid whether it
was worries over living in Gartland or Foy
(I chose Gartland) or what classes I needed
to complete my major on time.
Once the hub of the Renaissance,
Florence continues to be rich in a variety of
art forms : from music to fashion to writing
to painting! Essentially, if you want to do it,
you can do it in Florence. Because the city
is constantly alive and abuzz with activity,
classes often go on field trips for more
hands-on learning. It’s a location designed
for students who are highly motivated and
interested in absorbing another culture.
Julianne Homola, a Florence alum, found
herself never wanting to leave the city. “There
is always something to do in Florence,” she
said. “You can spend days just in Florence
and still not see everything there is
with secret hideaways and fun
stores tucked away.”
Are you itching for a
plane ticket yet? Are you
ready to experience an Italian
slice of pizza or some smooth gelato? Can
you handle an impromptu conversation with
your favorite grocer, who teaches you the
Italian words for apples and oranges? Can
you afford to miss the opportunity to try?
If this sounds like a chance you can’t live
without, head over to Marist International
Programs. Current Marist students hoping to
get away soon ask for Carol Toufali or call
845– 575–3330 to schedule an appointment.
Any future Marist students reading this who
want to try for the Freshman Experience,
shoot an e-mail to ldmitaly@marist.edu.
Happy travels!
Heather Staats, a fellow FFE
alum, had the same experience. “My
advisor was fantastic!” she shares.
“She helped me make a plan for
the next three years at Marist (a
plan I still follow religiously).”
Staats also appreciated the
variety of opportunities
the school offered for
involvement. She was an
active member of the
globetrotter spring 2011
25
The 24 of March
th
Samantha Tobia
Spring 2010
Argentina
26
globetrotter spring 2011
O
Samantha Tobia
n March 24th all work and classes are cancelled in Buenos
Aires, Argentina. It is a different type of holiday. There are no
super-sales at car dealerships, no mad rushes of busy buyers at department
stores. No traditional dishes are prepared, no particular gifts are given,
and no special clothing is worn. The only thing that is different from the
rest of the sweltering, hot, fall days is what takes place in the Plaza de
Mayo.
As I scale the stairs out from the subway, I can already hear drum
beats and shouts. It has a beat, a rhythm, a message. The pace of my
footsteps and the pace of my heart quicken. Barely any cars are passing
on the busy streets, but people are everywhere. I have five minutes until
I need to meet my professor and classmates on the corner of Avenida de
Mayo and Tacuarí. Our assignment for the day: observe. Be a part of what
is going on. Pick a street, march on it, and end in the Plaza de Mayo.
The Plaza de Mayo is located at the tip of the city, right on the coast of
the Rio de la Plata. While not in the center of the city, it is the heart of the
city. The presidential building, the Casa Rosada, sits regally at the head
of this rectangular plaza of manicured lawns and palm trees. In 1810,
the plaza was the starting point of the revolution that led to Argentina’s
independence. It is here where Eva Peron delivered her many passionate
speeches in the late 1940s. Yet, on March 24th, 1976, President Peron
was overthrown in the Casa Rosada, and the pride and passion of the
citizens quickly transformed into fear and silence.
“No matter how packed the
street may be...or how tired
we are, it doesn’t matter,
because we are all here.”
March 24, 1974 marked the official start of the military dictatorship
or “dirty war” that trampled on human rights, used fear as its most
powerful weapon, and ultimately led to the “disappearance” of 30,000
people. Mothers of the disappeared can still be seen protesting each
Thursday evening in this plaza, wearing white headscarves. Light blue
numbers that have been delicately stitched into the headscarves detail the
day, month, and year that their daughters or sons disappeared. While
the military regime has long ended, the testimonials of survivors have
not. They are still echoed in court rooms, documentaries, museums, and
history books, as well as present in the shouts, drum beats, dances, and
marches of the thousands of citizens that rally each year in the Plaza de
Mayo.
The streets are packed with people and a contagious energy. There is
this feeling that something fantastic is about to happen. No matter how
packed the street, no matter how bright the sun, or how tired we are, it
does not matter. We are all here, alive and able to be a part of this together.
We are all able to remember that this happened together, tell our children
about it, and hope that it never happens again.
Thousands of people march from three separate streets and pour into
the Central Plaza. Young adults start chanting a song to the beat of the
drum, while waving their hand-made banners above their heads. Children
sit on the shoulders of their parents, holding the black and white portrait
of a family member – perhaps an aunt they never met – who disappeared
years before they were even born. A group of photographers have found
their perfect viewing spot on the top of a metal, green newspaper stand.
The huge lenses cover their serious, professional faces.
Words are everywhere – on signs, on flyers, on banners, in songs,
in chants, in shouts, in protests: juicio, castigo, no olvidamos, justicia,
memoria, los desaparecidos, la verdad, nuca más. Faces are also
everywhere. The hopeful face of a young man who is holding the framed
picture of someone he resembles to his chest. The passionate face of a
middle aged woman, with a megaphone pressed up against her mouth,
as she leads a LGBT group in song. The tear-stricken face of an elderly
woman, who is crying because she is now so heavily reminded of her
25 year-old pregnant daughter, who has been missing for the past 34
years. There are also the eerie black and white faces of the disappeared
themselves – one banner of portraits runs the length of the street, lifted up
by hundreds of marchers.
The ebb and flow of the marching ends in the Plaza. Everyone
congregates to hear the words of mothers, fathers, siblings, friends, and
survivors who clearly remember what this country was like 34 years ago.
I have no idea what they went through. I cannot even begin to comprehend
what it is like to have someone you love disappear suddenly, never to
return. So while March 24th was a day I know I will always remember,
I also felt rightfully disconnected. It was almost as if certain emotions
were reserved for those in the march who had actually lived through this
experience. Yet, while my participation in the commemoration alongside
Argentineans on March 24, 2010 was essentially that of an observer, I feel
the better for it and appreciate the new perspective I have gained. And
indeed, if perhaps we better document and better remember what little
mistakes or terrible atrocities we have committed, we, as members of the
human race, can prevent similar events from occurring in the future. “Sin
memoria, no hay justicia ni futuro.”
globetrotter spring 2011
27
Cultural Lessons in
Florence, Italy
Spring 2010
Unlikely Places
Before living and studying in a
foreign country, I gave little thought to
what makes (U.S.) American culture
unique. And when I did give it thought,
I could not quite put my finger on what,
in some sense, unites us as a collective
people in the U.S. I have learned that
understanding culture is akin to holding
a book too close to one’s face and trying
to read it. Just as holding a book further
away sometimes displays the text more
clearly, grasping cultural traits are
sometimes also best when viewed from
a distance. A semester of study abroad in
Florence and three insightful encounters
abroad later, I have gained new insight
into not only Italian, but U.S. culture as
well.
After only one Sunday in Italy, I
was already starting to discern potential
cultural nuances about Americans that I
had not noticed before. I had my first
epiphany during an excursion to, believe
it or not, Ikea. The morning started off
great; we missed the first shuttle as the
meeting point was not clearly marked. I
felt agitated. When we finally did board
a shuttle, we stood and gripped overhead
handles for the full 45-minute ride. I felt
like I had completed a full-body workout by the time of our arrival at Ikea.
While I had never been to an Ikea store
before, I was hoping to be in and out
within an hour.
My expectations did not fit the
reality. I was in Ikea for close to four
hours. It was congested — seemingly
more crowded than American highways
during rush hour. Finding things was
difficult for me, as everything was in
Italian and there were many aisles and
sections. On top of all this, it struck me
that Italians appeared to walk much more
slowly than many Americans. Agitated,
tired and with little patience, I walked
out of the store at about 5:30pm, the
shopping experience taking me nearly
four times longer than I had expected. It
was another two hours before I made it
back to my apartment.
When I arrived home after 7:00pm, I
was overcome by the realization, that as
an American, I have very little patience.
I need fast-paced environments and short
lines. Or at least, before studying abroad,
I thought I did. Now, I have come to
learn that a little waiting can be good for
the soul — especially when the sort of
lingering involves sharing a five course
Italian dinner with dear friends, family,
and a bottle of Italy’s finest Vernaccia
wine.
My next cultural breakthrough
occurred in a café, called Piero and
Sandra’s Bar. My teacher was Piero, a
portly, balding, Italian man – probably
in his fifties or sixties. I remember the
first time we met, it was a rainy Saturday
and I wanted nothing more than a large
cup of American-style coffee. I walked
into his bar very nervous to order my
first coffee the way the Italians do.
Piero spoke broken English, but was
sympathetic to my same inability to
conquer the language barrier. He brought
Megan Francis
28
Megan Francis
globetrotter spring 2011
great day. On the surface, our culture
seems driven by superficial elements
such as time and money, but beneath it
all, we are all people who could benefit
from interacting with someone as nice as
Piero.
My final cultural lesson came from
a man who makes leather boxes for
a living. I met this man as part of an
educational excursion for one of my
art courses in Florence. This man was
faster and more popular each month; our
culture is all about the fast train. Living
in Italy, and meeting the happy man that
makes leather boxes for a living, helped
me realize that the option to live slower
in other countries is certainly something
under-appreciated.
Jaimie Little
me my Café Americano within minutes.
Then he started singing to me — in
Italian. I had no idea what he was saying.
Overcome by the amount of attention he
paid to me — one foreign customer, I
was too startled to say anything more
than “bravo” to him. We exchanged
names and smiles, and I continued to
come back to his bar a few more times
that same week. Then I started coming
multiple times a week for the rest of
the semester. He was very eager for me
to learn Italian so that we could
have more in depth conversations.
But that took time and patience,
of which, to my surprise, he had
a lot. I brought my friends to his
bar, and they fell in love with
Piero’s gentleness and jolliness just as I
had. I even brought my parents to meet
him. After only two months, I was able
to have basic conversations with Piero
in Italian, and he was just as thrilled as I
was about that.
American culture is something I
cannot change. However, as I write
this and sip my Starbucks frap with
Facebook minimized, after having just
sent 5 different text messages to
friends, I realize I have the power
to change my own life. I may not
ditch the cell phone and laptop
tomorrow, or bike 15 miles to
work like the man who makes
leather boxes, but I can definitely be
friendlier to my Starbucks barista. Sure,
he probably won’t sing to me, or teach
me a second language, but I am optimistic
that there are other things he could teach
me. I still hope to never go into another
Ikea for a long time, but now I do not
mind if people walk a bit slower in front
of me. Thus, a sincere thank you to all
my teachers: the Ikea store, Piero, and the
happy man that makes leather boxes for
a living. I have come to grasp American
culture with a newfound understanding,
and better understand both Italian as well
as other perspectives and world views.
Whether the Italian way is a better or
worse way to live, I will leave that to
the reader to decide. What I can say for
certain is that there is no single way to
live, so appreciate the differences, and
take a step back to see them first-hand,
and in full-view.
“I have come to grasp
American culture with a
newfound understanding.”
I will never forget my most prized
lesson I learned from my interactions with
Piero: how humbling genuine friendships
with complete strangers can be. As kids,
many Americans are taught “never talk to
strangers,” and, as New Yorkers, we are
taught to avoid eye-contact when walking
the streets. I have come to see much of
that as a tragedy. I think about America
and its coffee shops lined on every
corner. Though the workers at these
shops are always friendly, I could never
picture myself developing such a bond
with a Starbucks barista. However, after
my trip, I do look at strangers differently.
Who knows — maybe the Starbucks
barista really does want me to have a
one of the happiest, self-fulfilled men I
ever met, yet I only spoke with him for
about an hour. I learned that it takes three
weeks minimum to complete one leather
box by hand, but he enjoys what he does
so the time does not bother him. Every
day he rides his bike fifteen miles to
and from work, and at noon he takes a
break from working to have a homemade
lunch with his mother. In his spare time,
he learns as much English as he can. His
love for learning is almost as deep as his
love for living the “simple life.” As he
phrased so nicely, in Italy, there are two
options for transportation: the slow train
(which costs less), or the fast train (which
gets to a destination in half the time but
costs double the price). My leather boxmaking friend prefers the slow train
– both literally and metaphorically. In
American culture, the slow train is often
not an option. We are a country where text
messaging, instant messaging, socialnetworking and other technologies get
globetrotter spring 2011
29
Eyjafjallojokull:
A Volcano of
Emotion
Katie Gallagher Spring 2010
Dublin, Ireland
30
globetrotter spring 2011
“I came to understand how valuable it is to completely
immerse yourself in the culture as much as you can for the
time you are there. It slips away too quickly, but the
memories you make will last forever.”
the chance to live in another country for, literally,
months. Use the opportunity to the fullest extent by
truly interacting with your surroundings. Do not just
“study” the culture, but become a part of the country in
which you choose to stay. Try not to latch on to other
Americans entirely; this is the easy route, but you will
miss out on a big part of your study abroad experience.
While I made sure I visited all of the typical points of
interest, one of my fondest memories of Ireland was
having breakfast or lunch at a neighborhood café where,
after four months, the owners knew my usual order, and
the people greeted me with familiar smiles and nods.
It is not everyday your flight gets cancelled due to
a natural disaster. The emotions shared among fellow
American study abroad students were a mixture of
fear, excitement, anxiety, and confusion. The airport
was bombarded with
panicking
Americans,
some
looking
into
booking a boat back to
the states, others trying
to book flights to other
European
destinations
that may have had a
better chance of flying on
to the US. No one knew
what to think or expect.
We had no idea how long
it would be until planes
would start flying again.
Further, upon reflection I also realized just how
important the internship that was required as part of
my particular study abroad program was to my overall
experience. An international internship is a great way
to feel the soul of the
city and culture in which
you are living. For my
internship, I worked as a
teaching assistant at the
Dublin Business School
and had the opportunity
to converse with college
students and professors
from Ireland. It was a great
way to familiarize myself
with Dublin, and to get a
sense of college life from
the perspective of Irish
academics and educational
administrators and staff. Rushing down the busy streets
of Dublin or crowding onto the Luas during rush hour
to or from my internship gave me a sense of the rhythm
of the city. My advice is to dive into the culture head on
and get the real experience. Do not be on vacation…
live it!
In retrospect, however, I am quite thankful for the
extra week I had to spend in the Emerald Isle. Indeed,
my study abroad program had given me the opportunity
to learn about the robust Irish culture, but it took an
erupting volcano for me to realize how incredibly
blessed I was to have the greater opportunity to live
among the incredible people of Ireland. During the
additional unexpected week I spent in Dublin, the Irish
people went out of their way to make sure we were
comfortable and at ease. I was glad that I had spent the
previous weeks learning, working, and living with the
citizens of the Emerald Isle.
I came to understand how valuable it is to completely
immerse yourself in the culture as much as you can for
the time you are there. It slips away too quickly, but
the memories you make will last forever. You have
Following the “bonus” week I spent in Ireland
due to the volcano eruption, and after five days of daily
trips to the airport therein, I finally got on a flight back to
the U.S. with the help of a kind and caring ticket agent
at the Dublin airport, who recognized me in a long line
of hopeful passengers and managed to book me on the
next plane out. While I will never be able to pronounce
the name of that volcano in Iceland, I will always fondly
remember the name of my Irish ticket agent…Catherine
MacDonald…a true Dubliner!
globetrotter spring 2011
Katie Gallagher
My four exciting months of studying abroad in
Dublin, Ireland ended quickly. From traveling all over
the country, as well as all over Europe to countries such
as Italy, Spain, Holland, England and more, the days
slipped away too fast. I packed my luggage to make the
trek back to the US. I checked the flight status before
going to bed, to confirm my plane from Newark Airport,
headed to Dublin (the plane which would take me home
in just a few short hours). To my surprise, at the crack
of dawn on April 17th, I woke up to find that the flight
from Newark had been turned around mid-flight due to
the ash in the sky from a volcanic eruption in Iceland.
31
Living Under a
Florence, Italy
Spring 2010
Jaimie Little
Stereotype
It’s not hard to write about all the
amazing experiences one has while studying
abroad. However, it is important to realize
that not all experiences are, at first glance
positive in nature. I found through studying
abroad that it is possible to learn and grow
from all types of experiences, and here, I
would like to share one difficult experience
and discuss the lessons I’ve learned from it.
sidewalk, I heard the infamous bicycle
bell sound as well as the shrieking
voice of an old woman. When I turned
my head to see who was yelling, I saw
an older woman on a bike, which was
clearly abruptly halted, screaming at me
in Italian for getting in her way as I was
crossing the street. I stood with one foot
on the sidewalk and one foot on the street
to learn from the experience and move on.
One obvious lesson that I learned was
that I shouldn’t be talking on a cell phone
while navigating around the streets of any
city because it becomes very distracting and
causes an unawareness of surroundings.
Because it distracts you from what’s going
on around you, you put yourself as well as
others in danger. Once I
had a clear head after the
incident, I realized that
a large majority of the
woman’s anger toward
me could have been a
reaction to the danger I
was putting both of us in by talking on the
phone and thus becoming distracted. The
other lesson I learned is that media and the
actions of some Americans have caused
Americans, in some situations to have a
certain stereotype in other countries, just as
some nationalities have stereotypes in the
United States.
“I realized that there was something
to be learned and appreciated
about the way Italians live”
Jaimie Little
It was a particularly
busy day in Florence; I had
class from early morning
until the afternoon, and I
had decided to pick up a
package sent from home
after class. Little did I realize how far I had
to walk in order to pick up the package,
and the further I walked the more I became
convinced that I was lost. I called my mom
so that she could look up the address and
tell me if I was going in the right direction.
As I was on the phone, I started to walk
across the street, and before I barely
put one foot on the ground
off the
I was attempting to cross in awe. I could
hear the sound of my mom’s voice in my
ear rattling off directions, but I felt like I
could barely hear her. I was dumbstruck
as this woman continued to scream at
me. I apologized in Italian, and even with
the language barrier I could tell that in
her response she was mocking me. She
angrily sped off on her bike, and left me
standing there feeling like I was going to
burst out in tears. The sound of my mom’s
voice brought me back to reality,
and I was forced
Perhaps there is something to this
steriotype, stemming from the way some
Amiercan travelers before me have
behaved and carried themselves overseas.
Therefore, when my friends and
I encountered any negative or
discriminatory attitudes
32
globetrotter spring 2011
while we were abroad, it was important
for us to realize that it wasn’t personal but
rather a reaction to a stereotype that’s been
developed over the years, just as stereotypes
have been developed in America about
certain nationalities.
positive Italian influences and took back
parts of their culture.
were not present in every Italian citizen I
came across. However, it was an interesting
experience being treated a certain way by
some Italians because of my nationality.
I learned what it was like to live as an
immigrant or minority. Because of these
lessons, my point of view about the United
States and its diversity shifted. I learned
how to be more welcoming in
my own country and how to
be more humble about, though
appreciative of, my nationality
and country of residence.
Through studying abroad, I
learned how to appreciate the
way I live in America while
also realizing that people live
differently from my way of
life. These are very important
and difficult lessons to learn,
and I am grateful I had the
opportunity to learn them. Just
as this is only one point of view
of an American student who
studied in a foreign country,
read the interview with Luca
Zoccadelli on page 18 to read
about the point of view of an
Italian professor teaching in
America; it definitely allows
Americans to view other enlightening
perspectives of their country.
Kayna Pfeiffer
After studying abroad, I also realized
that
fellow
American
students had a tendency
to stereotype Italians. One
popular stereotype is that
Italians are crazy drivers.
Just as Americans feel
unfairly
stereotyped
in
foreign counties, Italians
and many other nationalities
feel unfairly stereotyped by
Americans. Instead of getting
offended or discouraged by
any rude remarks or adverse
attitudes, my friends and I
considered them a chance for
a learning experience. Each
time we were treated unfairly
because of our nationality, we
realized that this is how some
minority groups feel in our
own country every day. As
such, we all made a promise
to treat all with respect when
we returned. We learned that although
we often laugh about stereotypes of other
nationalities, it’s not as funny when you’re
part of the nationality being targeted. I also
personally promised to change the way
Americans are viewed in other countries; I
made a promise to change the stereotype. I
acted the way I wanted to be perceived. I
had fun but I wasn’t obnoxious, and I made
an effort to show respect for and adapt to
the culture I was immersed in. I realized
that there was something to be learned and
appreciated about the way Italians live;
they work to live rather than living to work,
their society is more relaxed as a whole,
families are closer and meals are meant to
be long periods of time where families and
friends can gather and socialize. Rather
than contributing to a stereotype that’s
already been created, I absorbed many
Studying abroad was an experience that
taught me a lot about living in another
country as well as how other countries
view America.
Of course discriminatory
attitudes and actions
globetrotter spring 2011
33
A Night in Rome
Ray McGale
Spring 2010
Florence, Italy
Jaimie Little
34
globetrotter spring 2011
“This situation alone boosted my sense of self
awareness and ability, and the rest of my stay in
Italy followed in the same fashion.”
When I first decided to go abroad, I was not all that
convinced of my capacity to succeed on my own. I had
survived for two and a half years on my own at Marist,
but there was always some sort of fallback; something to
bail me out if I messed up. This time I was on my own in a
foreign country trying to figure out how to handle whatever
situations may come my way. Although my confidence level
was not very high before I left for Europe, I was incredibly
surprised when I returned home. When I came back home,
I felt more able, conscious, and aware. I felt like a different
person.
In 2005, the horror movie “Hostel” was released. It
tells the story of a group of college kids backpacking
through Europe and, through a series of bad choices, wind
up not making it back. The focus of this movie is on these
kids hastily checking into a creepy looking hostel and in
turn being manipulated by the staff. The whole movie is
implausible, but it does point to the importance of planning
and exercising caution. One might relax in the thought that
you could pretty easily avoid having to check into a sketchy
hostel or hotel with advance planning. That is a comforting
thought until all plans fall through and one winds up having
to check into said sketchy hotel or hostel. I learned this
lesson the hard way in the form of missing the last train back
to Florence from Rome one night. Over spring break, my
roommate and I visited Dublin. The trip was incredible, and
since all the flights for Dublin leave out of Rome, it was
an excuse to be in Rome for an additional few days. When
we flew back into Rome from Dublin, our plan was to take
the return shuttle to the train station from the airport, and
then hop on the soonest train to Florence. This plan was
great in theory, with emphasis on the phrase “in theory.”
Unbeknownst to us, the trains to Florence from Rome stop
at roughly 9:30. Unfortunately, we arrived back at the train
station at roughly 9:35pm.
We wound up back at the station close to midnight, out of
luck and lacking a place to stay. We decided we would hang
out in the station, where it was slightly less homeless-filled
than the streets, until the first trains started at around 4:00
am. I was not particularly happy about this but it was at least
a plan. This worked for a bit, until it was announced over
the loudspeaker that the station would be locked up in a few
minutes. My stomach dropped when I heard this, thinking of
having to wander the streets of Rome for hours in the dead
of night. This seemed to be our destiny until a man walked
up to us offering us an inexpensive hotel room. Although
this man seemed fairly nice, I immediately had a flashback
to the movie “Hostel.” Still, we needed a place to stay, so we
talked the price down to 20 Euro each in broken Italian and
followed him to the building. “Sketchy” would describe this
“hotel.” However, we were able to get into the room, make
sure we were secure, and get a little sleep. A few hours later,
we were on a train back to Florence.
On the ride back, all I could focus on was how impressed
I was with our ability to handle the situation. When it seemed
like everything was going wrong, we managed to make our
way home; making all negotiations in another language
none-the-less. Although the situation seemed hopeless at
the time, we were able to work things out and keep our
heads throughout. This situation alone boosted my sense of
self awareness and ability, and the rest of my stay in Italy
followed in the same fashion. I feel that after the experiences
I had abroad, I am a 100 percent more capable person than I
was prior. In conclusion, go abroad. And to anyone who has
any doubts about their ability to make it…you will surprise
yourself. Believe me.
Upon making the immediate realization that we were
stuck in Rome for the night, I was more annoyed than
freaked out. It seemed like more of an inconvenience than a
threat. However, after a few subway rides, we soon realized
that most hostels at this point, being spring break and all,
were either booked or extremely expensive. This was when
annoyance turned into worry.
globetrotter spring 2011
35
There’s No Place Like
Home?
Emily Fiore
Fall 2009
Salamanca, Spain
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globetrotter spring 2011
My plane ride home from Spain was
easily one of the most surreal experiences
of my life. I was suspended, in all senses
of the word, between my two lives: one I
had been given and one that I had made
all by myself. Now leaving the latter and
returning to the former, in a sense, I felt like
I was being “dumped.” The people around
me happily chatted about their plans for
Christmas or their own semesters abroad in
Greece or Italy. Clearly, they just did not
“get it,” and how could they? They had
not tasted Paquita’s (my
host mother) bocadillos
or made friends with the
baker on Calle Zamora,
or studied at an 800 year
old university, or become
accustomed to the most
wonderful of cultural habits – the siesta. I
felt blank, thinking of all my new friends
spread out all over the country, and Paquita
all alone in her apartment with no one to
watch TV with.
coming from? We wandered around trying
to decide what to buy, and suddenly we
were all very cranky, our respective blood
pressures steadily rising. My friend looked
at me and said, “Is this what going home
is going to feel like?” I do not precisely
remember how I responded, but it was
likely something reassuring and vague. But
I remember thinking that I knew that this
was EXACTLY what home would feel like,
and I did not like it one bit.
back. Living and interacting with me on a
daily basis was likely horrific in those early
days following my return, and I have since
apologized to all those affected.
After three months of moping,
however, I came to appreciate how unique
my time in Spain was and how much I had
changed. Once I began to form a picture of
who I wanted to be, I was impressed at how
“fearless” I had become through my study
abroad. I left Marist unsure of myself,
very worried about how I
was perceived, and with
a false sense of identity.
I had been putting up a
“front” to make sure no
one knew that I had no
idea what I wanted from
life. I returned, however, with a head full
of new ideas, and the confidence to admit
to myself and everyone else that in some
ways, I was more confused than ever. Some
people come back from study abroad with
a clear direction and a sense of purpose,
and that is beautiful. I was not one of
those people, but I was, and am, ready to
admit this, which is almost as liberating as
being on my own for four months. While
I am still decently confused, I feel I have
been set on the course of exploration. My
intention is to continue to explore (literally
and figuratively), engage in further travels,
and keep my Spain memories fresh as my
journey as global citizen continues.
There’s no place like home?
“I returned...with a head full of new
ideas, and the confidence to admit
to myself and everyone else that...I
was more confused than ever.
I had experienced a little taste of what
going back to the States might be like on a
weekend trip to Cordoba, a tourist city in
the south of Spain known for its enormous
mosque. Shortly after our arrival, we settled
into our hostel and went looking for the
only grocery store in town, which happened
to be situated in a “super shopping center”
– a Spanish version of a mall. The five of
us stood for a minute, overwhelmed with
anxiety. Why is it so loud and bright? What
are all these people doing here? Where
is all of this heinous Christmas music
I landed in Newark weary and haggard;
it was snowing and my luggage was lost.
Perfect. My lovely family was there to
greet me with a sense of patience and
understanding. They had seen my life in
Salamanca and understood that I was not
eager to leave it. We got into the car and
I fell asleep, emotionally and physically
exhausted, and I largely remained that
way for the next three months. For some
time after my return, people would asked
me if I was happy to be home, and I would
answer, “Frankly, no.” I spent most of my
time communicating with my friends from
Spain and trying to figure out ways to go
Emily Fiore
globetrotter spring 2011
37
Spring/Summer 2010
Photo Contest Winners
Third Place, Nora Barry, South
Africa, “Children”
Fourth Place, Samantha
Tobia, Bolivia, “Market”
First Place, Cassandra Jesmonth, Italy,
“Fruit”
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globetrotter spring 2011
Fifth Place, Christina O’Sullivan, Holland,
“Tulip Field”
Second Place, Brittany Thomas,
Morocco, “Stairs”
Photo Contest
Honorable Mentions
Nick Webster, “Mediterranean Sea”
Jonathan Porras, Japan, “Food”
Colleen Bunce, France, “Bikes”
Rayna Mengel, Italy,
“Watching”
Jacel Egan, Ireland, “Trees”
globetrotter spring 2011
39
Other
Amazing Photos
From Abroad
Nora Barry, South Africa, “Cape of Good Hope”
Nick Webster, France, “French
Riviera”
Samantha Tobia, Argentina, “Natural
Salt Deposits”
40
Danielle Francese, Italy, “View of Lake
Garda”
Jonathan Porras, Japan, “Mouth of the
Dragon”
globetrotter spring 2011
Jaimie Little, Italy, “Roma at Sunset”
Carly Marshiano, Italy, “Graffiti at Piazza
Michelangelo”
Erin Fitzgerald, London, “Statue in London”
Andrew Clinkman, Egypt, “The Great Pyramid
and The Sphynx”
Brittany Thomas, France, “Eiffel Tower”
globetrotter spring 2011
41
Erin Fitzgerald, London, “Graffiti”
Nora Barry, South Africa, “Zebra”
Melissa Sonier, France, “Versailles”
Jacel Egan, Germany, “Berlin”
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Colleen Bunce, Italy, “Venice”
globetrotter spring 2011
Brittany Thomas, Spain, “A View of Sevilla
from El Catedral”
Cassandra Jesmonth, “Monaco”
Mark McGoldrick, “Ireland”
Nick Webster, Italy, “Florence”
Samantha Tobia, Argentina, “Japanese
Gardens in Palermo, Buenos Aires”
globetrotter spring 2011
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Dig in!
Come out of your shell!
Come along for the ride!