Va, Va, Vamos Argentina. Vamos a Ganar!

Well this website is not letting me post any pictures so that stinks.  I try again later in the week if I have time but.  So i’ve been in Argentina for about 2 weeks and I was actually supposed to leave to start my study abroad program in Chile yesterday but I didn’t.  I really like it here… so much better the NYC.  The people, the culture and the language.  I think there Spanish is so beautiful.  And my home stay mom was one of the kindest women I’ve ever meet.  The first week I was here I stood in an hostel and meet so many different people from all over the world.  It was an amazing experience, I heard study abroad makes people find themselves but I feel like im finding the world.  The coolest thing about my hostel was that it had a bar and restaurant attached to it.  The hostel gave free entry to locals and residence of the hostel.  This one thing has defined my trip.  Because of this I made real friends from Argentina… people who leave here, work here and grow up here.  I’ve hung out with so many locals because of it.  I’ve made very few study abroad friends at my university… (I think Spanglish is really becoming my first language now as well they don’t say college in SA they say university)  But I like that I don’t really hang out with those people because now I am constantly surrounded my argentine culture and language.  It’s like I really living here.  Classes are really small here 2 to 3 students per class so you really get an intimate focus I like it.  THINGS I DONT LIKE…. Not to sound so American (SA’s hate when you say your american…. were from the united states) but they walk wayyy to much here.  Its about a 30ish minute walk to my school everyday… plus we walk everywhere when were going somewhere.  My legs like actually were in pain two days again and I had to chill.  I also really not to big on the food here.  It’s kind of bland and the dairy is weird.  Plus I’m a vegetarian and Argentine’s put meat in everything!  It’s almost impossible to eat here… I had a bread and cheese sandwhich the first 3 days I was here. Also Argentine culture is very touchy feely.  I am not about that.   A lot of these things I could get used to and are no way or how running my trip I did not expect anything to be perfect.  I’m really sad I am leaving in a week to Santiago, Chile.  Not that I won’t like the country but I do not believe ill be able to make Chilean friends there.  I love being imersced in this culture in wish I could stay longer.   I told my friends here that in argentina is in the finals of the world cup I will sell a kidney to get back here!  The way the country gets about soccer is so crazy but so drawing.  At first I was like who cares, but after attending 3 “partidos de futbol” I catch myself interested in the games and wanting to watch them when I can.  This experience has been amazing so far and I am so grateful.  Thank you to my parents, family and god for allowing this to happen. I will update you soon and hopefully I can add some pictures!

The Jamaican Experience.com!!!

Hey everyone!!!

We are in our last week of our study abroad trip with the Jamaica Service- Learning Program! Boy, it has been an eventful 3 weeks thus far!!! We continued to learn a lot about the history of jamaica by visiting many historical places such as the Bob Marley Museum [Bob Marley’s home till he died in 1981], Tuff Gong Studio [Largest Caribbean studio founded by Bob Marley], the National Gallery [public art museum], the Afro – Caribbean Institute of Jamaica and the Jamaica Memory Bank [collects documents and research about Jamaica’s cultural heritage], Emancipation park, and the Gleaner (Newspaper publishing company).

Here are some pictures of the wonderful, interesting, historical adventures of Jamaica!!!

2014-06-18 16.08.18(Emancipation Park-symbol of our Freedom to Hope, to Excel and to Be!)

IMG_20140609_120850(JSLP ’14 with Ky-mani Marley at the Bob Marley Cafe)

2014-06-09 13.34.03(real life size Bob Marley Statue #OneLove) IMG_3891 (after our Devon House Tour – Huge House)2014-06-12 13.10.12(Tuff Gong International #ONELOVE)

 

We have been staying at the University of Mona and everyone has their own rooms with common area to share. The girls are on one level and the guys are on the lower level. We enjoy our own rooms for personal space but at the same time, we all have had at least one or more conversations with the another on this trip within the common area.  We have cooked together, went to the supermarket to buy kitchen supplies and ingredients. We have played Uno, card games, dominoes and just laughed, talked while enjoying each others company. This trip has brought many of us closer than before (some more than others) but overall we have been enjoying our time and the company of everyone participating on this trip!!!

The food has been great!! We had the chance to try jerk chicken, curry, seafood, rice and peas, pasta and other regular american foods! I think our favorite thing to eat are riped plantains (it has been apart of every meal lol). Below are two pictures of food from the “streets” and a home made meal being cooked.

2014-06-14 17.58.15(where we got some awesome food – we call it street food)2014-06-02 21.51.58(cooking in our kitchen at UWI- making boiled dumplings with salt fish and beans)

 

Aside from all the historical adventures we have spent a lot of time at the Alpha Boys Home! We have planned activities for both inside the classroom as well as outdoors for the boys to enjoy their time! In the classroom, we assist the teacher in charge or lead an activity. Outdoors we play all sorts of games with the boys! We definitely enjoy our time here at the Alpha Boys School!

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One more week, or just a couple of days and its all over 🙁

YESSS!! To the Experiences!!

Hey Hawks!

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How are you guys doing? Hope everything is well on your end.

 

I am doing great!! so no need to worry. I  just ended my second week and I am starting my third week  in Jamaica. I have been exploring this great big island of Jamaica with open arms and eyes. The sights are breathtaking and so is the culture. The experiences that I experienced are by far the best that I have ever had because each place and event that I have been to has something new to offer. Fox example, my group and I visited the Bob Marley Museum earlier this week. Although I am a Bob Marley fan, I thought I knew everything  to know about the greatest Jamaican artist but I guess I was wrong. While visiting and touring the museum, I learned even more information about who Bod Marley was. Towards the end of the tour we even ran into one of his sons Kymani Marley, who also is a musical mastermind as well.

IMG_20140609_120750 Kymani and I (Bod Marley’s son)

As the week continued, so did my adventures. We visited Tuff Gong Music studio, here we had a chance to meet where other legendary artist go to create music, Jamaica’s Fine Arts Galleria, Devon House whom was the first Jamaican millionaire, Ocho Rios beach and many more . I have come to learn that within the Jamaican culture music is used for and with everything. It has the ability to heal people, to create a community, to express yourself, to show passion and so much more.  I have experienced this while working at the Alpha Boys School each day. Our culture and experiences are indeed different but are similar also. Connecting with the Alpha Boys has been mainly through matching our cultures, music styles and experiences. It just warms my heart to see them so engaged with us.

The food in Jamaica is TO DIE FOR!! It is so deliciously fresh and tasty, literally I just can’t get enough. Since i love spicy food, Jerk chicken is my number one choice everywhere. They grill the chicken on a iron grill and it has the best spices and smells like heaven (or close to what I think heaven might smell lol). I will definitely have to learn how to cook this type of chicken so that I may share it with my family back home.

IMG_1751 Oxtail, rice and peas with festival

lg_29618_0 Jerk Chicken on the grill!!!

MY LITTLE FAMILY AT DEVON HOUSE!

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At Alpha Boys!

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Tuff Gong Studio

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Personal selfies!!

 

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First Week in Prague

Today I officially have been in Prague for eight days. I honestly did not think I was going to make it through the first week. I was hit by such an overwhelming amount of homesickness. I spent hours talking to my parents on Skype and cried for four days straight. I was worried that people did not like me, and repeatedly told my parents that I wanted to come home. I got angry with them for pushing me to study abroad, telling them I was not ready for such an experience. I am extremely close to my family, and I believe this is the main reason I was having such a hard time. I kept telling myself over and over again that there was no way I could make it through this trip, and enviously watched the other students in my group enjoy themselves.

Then a funny thing happened. Eventually I got better. I confided in my suite mate and her boyfriend about the tough time I was having, and they provided support, and listened to me vent. Classes started Monday, allowing me to settle into a routine. I made fun plans with friends throughout the week such as meeting up for dinner, and going to the John Lennon Wall. Before I knew it, I went a full four days without crying. I started to realize that right now I am more fortunate then a majority of people just by having the opportunity to study abroad, and tried not to stress out about the little things. Sure it is annoying when the laundry does not want to work properly or the fact that my internet barely works. Of course it is hard being away from family and friends. Yes it is rough trying to adjust to a new country, especially when the jet lag is lingering. However, I am in the Prague, Czech Republic, one of the most beautiful cities in the world. I am fortunate enough to be able to go to school here for a month and experience an entirely new culture. Tomorrow I travel to Berlin, Germany with some friends from my program. Not everyone has the opportunity to have such amazing experiences. However, I do and I am learning to make the most of them.

A Quick Recap on my stay in South Korea – Lots of 8’s

I am posting this 8 days after I have landed in South Korea, and I wanted to briefly mention a few of my initial reactions and my journey here.

So before I was even allowed on board, I had to change my already paid flight, and I had to buy an additional new flight because my original flight had me transferring twice in Russia. I do not have a Russian visa, thus, I could not step onto Russian land twice. Already my trip seemed to be going down hill. I had an 8 hour flight from JFK International Airport in New York City, to Sheremetyevo International Airport in Moscow, Russia. Then I had an 8 hour layover till my next flight which would get my to South Korea. Slowly my phone began to die, and because I did not have the correct plugs for the outlets in Russia, I could not charge my electronics: LESSON LEARNED, BRING NON-TECHNOLOGY TO KILL TIME – I will have a 22 hour layover when I return. After the dreadful 8 hours of waiting till my next flight. I finally got on board and was given a window seat, which I used to take many pictures of being in the clouds.

Finally, after a long journey, I landed in Incheon Airport, and went through customs, and baggage check. I also exchanged a bit of money at the airport – I suggest people to exchange from card to cash so you can take out a little at a time, this avoid losing money and in case you do not use up all the money you exchanged, there is no need to change it back to your home currency. I had a Dankook University student pick me and two other students at the airport, they were German and were teaching at the Cheonan Campus, I stayed at Jukjeon. I was excited to meet people from out of my country because it does not hurt to learn about more than one country while going abroad. Right across the highway from Incheon Airport to the rest of South Korea, we passed a mud flat – it was already 2 in the afternoon, so I was surprised that the river did not sweep over it yet. As we got closer to campus, I realized that South Korea had amazing infrastructure and landmarks – that was only the beginning. I finally got to campus and am currently living in the Woongbi Hall with my roommate, Susan, who is also from SUNY New Paltz.

To be honest, I still do not feel that I am in South Korea, despite the volume of Koreans, Korean language, and Korean words surrounding me. Instead I feel that I am in a really huge Flushings in Queens. The only possible distinctions other than the overwhelming Korean culture would be the infrastructure, and the amazingly priced food.

I have started teaching for the English Village and in my next post I will be mentioning a few things about how the English Village and teaching has been going.

안녕, V

Final Blog Post: El Fin

Almost two months back home and I’m already losing some of my Spanish! Yikes!

However, I’ve created a list of realistic goals for the next few years, which I think Ecuador had a BIG impact on.

 

1. ACTUALLY practice Spanish more! You didn’t learn it just to lose it!

2. Visit Australia and Mexico. Projected date: 2016

3. Get a job in the music field.

 

This summer I’m already working towards these goals. I landed an internship at Webster Hall in NYC so I’ve been staying with my sister in Brooklyn, and I just got hired on the spot for a job at Coney Island! I’m so excited to start this job because it means not being poor anymore! And this internship is great experience under my belt for when I graduate!

I’m so excited to go back to New Paltz in 2 more months as well, because I miss the swing of things over there, and it will be an interesting change after being away from the university for 8 months.

Below are pictures of highlights in my memories. I miss you, Ecuador <3

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Leaving

Pictureeeeeeee

So through the school I’m going to, the also have a school in Argentina.  So I decided to take classes there for a week as well.  My mom has been going crazy because I am leaving to go somewhere so far and so long.  So she has been freaking out for the past two weeks about packing and preparing.  I am really excited but also exhausted from filling out all the paperwork that comes along with study abroad.  Honestly feel like I have been doing stuff for this for months…(oh wait I have) But I leave tomorrow and I beyond excited.  I am lucky to have a great grandmother who help pack almost everything.  Everything is pretty much done now I just need to prepare myself for my 18 hour flight to Buenos Aires.  I called my host mom ahead of time to just say hello.  She seems really nice and I think she’ll teach me how to be a porténo!  I’m also really excited not just about the argentine culture but just being immersed somewhere that speaks Spanish!  Peace NY!  See you in 2 months!

Long Post

First, I would like to apologize for the long time since my last post. Especially because it was not a happy one. But now, if you indulge me we shall review the past nearly two weeks.

Last time I posted I was in a terrible mood and feeling bad about myself and the world in general. That changed that night a bit when I climbed an abandoned tower. Full discretion here, I climbed the dangerous abandoned tower to prove I could. Much of my life has been devoted to me proving I am not just the blind girl. Sometimes, when I mess up such as not learning an area as quickly as I thought I would, or needing help with something, I start to think people are right. Then I remembered that I came here and that is pretty impressive. So I climbed the tower. And you know what? It was really fun adrenaline rushes can be rather exciting. So after my trip to the top I came back to my room to mull things over.

The next day I went to Galway. It was a pretty fun day. My friend Lydia, does the most beautiful descriptions of landscapes. (leading to more blind guilt but whatever enough on that) We went to a wishing tree and a beautiful garden. We got to go to Galway city which was great because it is probably my favorite city in Ireland. The next three days were thrilling because I had classes!!! yayyy!

Actually I have learned a lot in my class despite the fact that I have more work than most of the other classes.

Last Friday we got up at an ungodly hour to go to Dublin. Surprisingly, being that I am not a sports fan I loved Croke Park. What I love most about the concept of Irish sports is that the players are not superstars who get paid billions of dollars. The guy who scored the winning goal in 2011 game was a high school science teacher. That is so wonderful to me. That people love the culture and tradition of a sport so much they will spend rather than receive money to play it.

I am not a traditionalist. I think nationalism is a disgusting form of religion but there is something so beautiful about a complex culture that people love. I am sure it is flawed but the ideals of Ireland are, from the outside, almost as beautiful as the countryside.

Lunch was a ridiculous experience because it was at this painfully fake American style place. Although, the Charlie Chaplain bathroom sign and rails made from motorcycle parts were pretty awesome.

For the weekend I went to stay in Galway with my lovely friend Sarah and her amazing family. I mean, her parents are amazing chefs. Especially the pavlova! I truly had a grand time. We went shopping and I danced like never before.

On Sunday I cycled 25 miles. I’d never do that at home. As I cycled around Galway Bay I felt so at peace. I felt the beauty of the place and the surreal fact hit me once again about what a wonderful trip this is and how much I love this country.

This week was filled with stress about class punctuated by a really fun excursion to the west of Ireland where once again I went to the flying boat museum. I took a picture with a statue of Richard Harris…This is a big deal people…He is the real Dumbledore. Then I got to learn some traditional dancing.

On the bus ride home we blasted music and sang our hearts out. This must have been terrible for the people sitting beside me because I am quite tone deaf but I enjoyed myself.

I have one week left in Ireland. I am going to the Aran Islands again tomorrow which I am incredibly excited for.

So I want everyone to know I am having an amazing time even with all the homework.

Prague Here I Come

It is officially nine minutes past midnight, so technically I am leaving for Prague today. I am wide awake, and wired on way too much caffeinated tea, courtesy of my best friend Kyle, who wanted to take me out for one last goodbye before my trip.  Even now I still do not believe that I will actually be arriving in Prague in about a day and a half. My flight leaves tomorrow evening, and I arrive in the Czech Republic on the afternoon of the 18th. I feel an overwhelming combination of nerves and excitement, coupled with mounting disbelief that this is actually happening. I have been telling people so often about my impending trip, that the words feel like second nature, somewhat rehearsed. I have gone through goodbyes to my family and friends. Did some last minute shopping, packed up my suitcase, and downloaded the latest version of Skype. I have my perfected my patient smile, listening to my family’s last minute concerns, and worries, and fears, trying to be empathetic, but beginning to lose my patience.  Never before have I traveled so far away for such a long amount of time, especially not by myself. It is such an amazing and empowering feeling taking on this sense of independence. I have been thinking about in a continuous loop about how excited I am to be able to learn in such a different environment and culture, and how much value there is attached to it. About the experiences I will have that I will keep with me forever. College is a rare time in a person’s life. Never again will I have this much time for self-exploration and reflection. I am grateful to have been afforded the opportunity to study abroad, and I cannot wait to make the most of my experience. Studying abroad, I believe,gives a person the type of learning experience, beyond the classroom, so unique in nature, and valuable beyond measure. I look forward to continuing my blogging while abroad, and sharing my experiences with all of you.

►01: Pre-Departure

Well, I can’t say this is going to be an exciting entry.

As of right now, I’m still sitting in bed, nothing’s packed and I haven’t really thought much about moving. It’s pretty relaxing, I have to say. Though documenting all of this doesn’t really make a great impression of me, nor this blog. But what can i say? I really am still sitting at home.

It’s going to be a week before I leave, and honestly the hype comes and goes. Sometimes I’m excited and drag my hands down my face like “oh my god I’m actually going to [South] Korea, hasta la laters family” and other times I wonder why I’m even awake. I haven’t left the country in years, the last time was about eight years ago to China, give or take a year. And my earliest memory (and practically only memory) of being on a plane was when I threw up. I was a wee child, so I don’t know how accurate that still is despite having  gone on planes after that. But a memory’s a memory and I’m sharing.

I suppose I should sound a little more enthusiastic about this trip, and talk about all the things I want to do, but I don’t want to ruin all the surprises for this blog. A little goes a long way, show don’t tell, and other miscellaneous sayings I learned in English. They all fit pretty well with the situation, and I’m going to have to write so I guess it’s appropriate. I think I’m more worried about the airport than anything, what if I lose my luggage? That would be the worst. But I guess I’d have to have a suitcase to lose first.

 

Crossing the bridge when I get there seems like a pretty good way to deal with these things.