Category Archives: Study Abroad

My study abroad to Beijing taught me how to take care of my health

Posted on May 18, 2012 by Deb| Leave a comment

WMU alum Keara Hopkins recalls her experiences abroad in China.

By Katy TerBerg

Keara Hopkins went to China’s Beijing Language and Culture University to further her education in a global way, but while there, unexpectedly learned a life lesson.

“One of the best things I learned from my study abroad to China was how to take care of my health. While there, I lost somewhere between 30 and 50 pounds,” said WMU alum Keara Hopkins, who earned her Bachelor’s in Global and International Studies in 2011. Hopkins spent a year studying abroad in Beijing.

“When we think of Chinese medicine, the first thing that people think of is a man in a room filled with the smell of incense,” said Hopkins.

“In reality, I found myself in a smog-filled city. People walked around in masks if the smog was bad enough; other times the masks were used by cooks and hospital workers. They didn’t always look like plain hospital masks. Lots of times, they had Hello Kitty, or a popular Chinese cartoon character, Xi Yang Yang,” she said.

After some time in Beijing, Hopkins and her friends bought 10 sessions with a personal trainer at the on-campus gym. While the gym looked like any gym you would find in America, the trainer, Dave, was brutally honest, criticizing her weight and appearance without reservation.

 ”It’s important to understand that Dave wasn’t saying any of this to insult me or belittle me. To him, this was just another fact. No need for him to use any tact…bluntness is widely accepted in Chinese culture,” Hopkins explained.

In addition to Hopkins’ interest in fitness, she developed a fascination for acupuncture and visited a Chinese doctor who practiced Traditional Chinese medicine. “He thought I was extremely cold and needed not only acupuncture but another treatment that I called the fire-stick. I decided to try it for weight loss. He suggested for the best results, I come in three times a week for both treatments,” she said.

“With this adventure in health, I learned quite a bit,” said Hopkins. “I learned as much about health and fitness in that one year in China as I learned in my classes.”

Links:
WMU Study Abroad

Study Abroad in Japan

Beijing Language and Culture University

 

Posted in Globally Engaged, Meet the Students, Study Abroad

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Undergrad earns fellowship to Columbia College for MFA

Posted on May 16, 2012 by Deb| Leave a comment

Creative Writing major Samantha Schaefer has been given the Follett Graduate Merit Award to pursue her MFA at Columbia College.

By Katy TerBerg

Samantha Schaefer, a WMU creative writing major who graduated cum laude from the Lee Honors College on April 28, is the recipient of a Follett Graduate Merit Award from Columbia College Chicago.

The award, offered to just four incoming students annually, recognizes outstanding accomplishments and the potential for continued excellence in the college’s Creative Writing-Poetry MFA program. Samantha will receive $12,100 toward tuition and fees each academic year. “It’s basically a merit award given to an applicant whose portfolio is considered of esteemed quality,” said Schaefer.

While a student at WMU, Schaefer was involved in a number of activities, including Gold Company II and Onomatopoeia Writer’s Society, a reading series for undergraduate creative writers that she co-founded. She also served for three years as the peer advisor and assistant of the Department of English’s Prague Summer Program, which she attended as a student in 2009.

“I studied abroad twice, once in Prague, Czech Republic and once in Rome, Italy,” said Schaefer.

Her writing has been published on campus in the “Laureate,” the “Albion Review” and “Asylum Lake Press.” Schaefer is the co-editor of the “Black Tongue Review (a charitable literary arts magazine based out of Chicago).”

“While attending CCC I plan on obtaining my MFA in Poetry as well as hopefully exploring alternative forms of poetry including Erasure poetry and three dimensional poetry. I am planning on taking a teaching pedagogy course this fall so that I can teach as an adjunct professor in the spring of 2013,” said Schaefer of her graduate college goals.

“My advice for any and all creative writing majors would be to find a mentor, said Schaefer. “Having a good relationship with my professors is what has really helped me to explore and develop as a writer. I would also advise students to study abroad if it is at all possible. One’s writing undergoes enormous growth under the pressures and joys of travel.”

Links:
Department of English
Samantha Schaefer’s blog
Follett Graduate Merit Award

Posted in Learner Centered, Meet the Students, Student Spotlight, Study Abroad

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Grad awarded Fulbright for study in Spain

Posted on May 16, 2012 by Deb| 6 Comments

Graduate Alicia Acosta is awarded the Fulbright scholarship to study in Spain.

By Katy TerBerg

“To be honest, I feel completely humbled and honored. I hope to be able to share with my Spanish students a little bit about American culture and to be able to bring back to the United States with me a little about theirs,” said Alicia Acosta, a recent Spanish secondary education graduate who has been awarded the Fulbright scholarship to study abroad in Spain.

Acosta learned about the Fulbright program several years ago while accompanying her mother in Romania, where her mother was starting a three year tour of Europe at the U.S. embassy. “When I arrived I was offered a position to work in the political section, which I thought would be a great experience,” she said.

“The Fulbright office in Bucharest worked closely with the U.S. Embassy and I learned about the different programs offered by Fulbright, never dreaming that one day I would be a Fulbright recipient,” said Acosta.

Acosta developed an interest in traveling to Spain at an early age. “My dad is Venezuelan and I spent the first 20 years of my life living in Latin America (Brazil, Mexico and Venezuela.) His side of the family identifies strongly with their Spanish roots, as do I,” she said.

Acosta will travel to Spain as an English teaching assistant. She will start her adventure in northern Spain by walking a section of “The Way of St. James,” an ancient pilgrim path.

“I hope to travel as much as possible throughout the country and to visit a small Basque town that bears my family’s last name, Acosta,” she said.

Links:

Press Release

Department of Spanish

Posted in Globally Engaged, Student Spotlight, Study Abroad

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Public Safety chief meets Spanish service learning students

Posted on April 22, 2012 by Deb| Leave a comment

Spanish students Conor McShane, Erica Pérez, Kristen Hartman, Hector Silva, Chief Jeff Hadley, Abbey Karlinski, Karmina Bryant.

Chief of the Kalamazoo Department of Public Safety, Jeff Hadley, came to WMU on Monday March 12 to meet the students of Dr. Michael Millar’s Spanish with Internship and Service Learning course (Spanish 4400).

Hadley talked with Spanish Service Learning students about current issues of community and public safety relations, racial profiling studies, the clear separation between local public safety and federal immigration enforcement, the need for more bilingual staff in public safety and possible career paths for bilingual graduates of WMU. Dr. Millar’s students spent more than an hour  with Chief Hadley discussing course materials that relate to his experience in law enforcement and public safety to gain a clearer understanding of multiple perspectives on these contemporary issues.

Hadley is one of several speakers from the Kalamazoo Community who have agreed to meet with Dr. Millar’s Spanish students. Other participants include: Thomas Thornburg, Managing Attorney with Farmworker Legal Services; MonaLisa Watson, Manager of Diversity and Inclusion at Bronson Hospital; Lori Mercedes, Interim Director of the Hispanic American Council; Kelly Alvarez, Principal of El Sol Elementary School; and Manuel Brenes, Coordinator of Bilingual and ESL programs for Kalamazoo Public Schools. Each of these guest speakers have offered Spanish service learning students valuable and experienced insight on a variety of course themes as well as the opportunity to converse about professional opportunities and expectations for bilingual graduates of WMU.

Millar recently was recognized with the 2012 WMU Excellence in Service-Learning Award for faculty instruction.

Millar started the Spanish 4400 the fall of 2008. Since that time, participants in the course have earned credits toward their Spanish major, while gaining valuable hands on experience in a variety of educational, professional and community settings. Spanish majors have collaborated with professor Millar to win grant funding from a variety of sources to support their course projects and have established many lasting professional relationships.

Currently, students of Spanish with Internship or Service Learning are working with Kalamazoo Public Schools, KCIS, KRESA, the Hispanic American Council, Farmworker Legal Services, Bronson Hospital and the WMU Division of Multicultural Affairs. The Department of Spanish offers this course for advanced Spanish majors each Spring semester.

…a closer look:
WMU Department of Spanish
Graduate Program
Undergraduate Majors and Minors
Service Learning at WMU
SPAN 4400

Posted in Globally Engaged, Learner Centered, Study Abroad

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WMU’s “Grand Tour” Provided Taste of Europe for Alumna

Posted on March 23, 2012 by Deb| Leave a comment

Ashley Fitzgerald, WMU alum and past Study Abroad participant.

By Katy TerBerg

If you had the chance, would you rather travel abroad in France, Italy or Switzerland? What about Spain—or England? Thanks to the 2009 Grand Tour of Europe, a WMU study abroad program, making that choice was a cinch.

Ashley Fitzgerald, CAS alum (B.A. Public Relations ’10), and past participant in the program, is enthusiastic about the opportunities available for students to study abroad.

“I took part in the Grand Tour of Europe a couple of summers ago and it was the most amazing, beneficial thing I’ve ever done for myself,” said Fitzgerald.

“I was able to see the world and learn about various cultures all at the same time,” said Fitzgerald. The pace of the trip may be quick, but students are able to experience many sides of Europe.”

Fitzgerald is currently the communications/web coordinator for Career and Student Employment Services at WMU. Previously, Fitzgerald served as an intern for the Comstock Community Center, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Kalamazoo, and WMU’s Parent and Family Programs Department.

To date there are 25 summer semester, short-term, study abroad programs offered through Western Michigan University’s Diether H. Haenicke Institute for Global Education. Fitzgerald, who graduated from WMU in 2010 with dual degrees in public relations and fashion merchandising, had a taste for cultural communication as well as the high fashions of the European scene. From Hoorn, Amsterdam and Paris to Rome and Vienna, the trip offered a real taste of European art and culture.

Fitzgerald is passionate about utilizing creativity, closing communication gaps, and building relationships. The study abroad program has enabled her to do just that, she said. By becoming exposed to several different countries, Fitzgerald was able to observe the differing styles but common links of communication.

On the whole, Fitzgerald lauds the experience as rewarding and life-changing. “Participating in any study abroad is definitely recommended!” she said.

Links:
WMU Study Abroad
WMU School of Communication
WMU Career and Student Employment Services

Posted in Globally Engaged, Study Abroad

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Department of Spanish Reveals Jeremy Sayles Study Abroad Award in Business and Spanish

Posted on February 9, 2012 by Deb| Leave a comment

by Helena Witzke

The WMU Department of Spanish will name its first awardee of a new scholarship for study abroad in spring 2012, thanks to the generosity of alumnus Jeremy Sayles (Business/Spanish ’96), who was recognized with the WMU College of Arts and Sciences Alumni Achievement Award in 2011.

Jeremy and Jackie Sayles at the WMU Campus Classic during Homecoming 2011.

The Jeremy Sayles Award in Business and Spanish is for students with a major or minor in Spanish and a major or minor in business. In addition, prospective awardees must demonstrate strong academic performance, financial need, and must use the scholarship to study abroad in a Spanish-speaking country.

Sayles graduated in 1996 with double majors in Spanish and business administration. He also holds a master’s degree in business administration from New York University’s Stern School of Business. While at Western, Sayles was one of six students chosen for the inaugural study abroad program in Queretaro, Mexico in 1995.

Sayles has had a successful professional career in marketing with more than 14 years of experience with leading Fortune 500 and global companies including Kellogg, Novartis, Nestle and Pfizer. He has led multi-million dollar brand positioning and promotional efforts, for such well-known brands as Pop Tarts, Eggo® waffles, Gerber® baby food, Ovaltine® drink mix and Advil® pain reliever.

During his career, Sayles has visited more than 30 countries, and traveled and worked extensively throughout Latin America, Europe and Asia. He is currently senior marketing manager (based in Madison, N.J.) for Pfizer Consumer Healthcare, and is  responsible for new product innovation efforts on the Centrum® multivitamin franchise.

During his visit to Kalamazoo during homecoming week, Sayles received his award from the college, then he and his wife, Jackie, ran the Campus Classic on Saturday morning and spent time with the Tortugas, the already famous team of walkers and runners of the Department of Spanish made up of faculty, graduate students and guests.

The now famous "Tortugas" from the Department of Spanish.

“We are very pleased to be able to offer this new scholarship due to the generosity of one of our former students here at WMU,” noted Dr. Michael Millar, associate professor of Spanish. There is no application process for the scholarship. Faculty from the Department of Spanish will nominate candidates for the award, and the recipient will be announced during the Department of Spanish’s Honors and Awards Ceremony in the spring.

LINKS: Department of Spanish newsletter-Somos y Estamos

Posted in Alumni Activity, Globally Engaged, Study Abroad

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French Student Finds Her Joie de Vivre with Study Abroad

Posted on February 7, 2012 by Deb| Leave a comment

By Katy TerBerg

WMU French major Erin Frame in Paris.

The French have a term for absolute happiness as a philosophy of life: joie de vivre. An exultation of spirit comes in many forms, but Erin Frame, a French major at WMU, finds her joie de vivre by immersing herself in the French culture.

For four weeks this past summer, Frame was part of a faculty-led study abroad program in Lyon, France.  During that period, she stayed with a family, studied, explored the city and attended the Institut de Langue et de Culture Françaises – Université Catholique de Lyon.

“This French language and culture study abroad worked out perfectly, and being faculty-led made it all the better. I’ve studied French for many years, but I knew in order to gain fluency and truly experience the culture, I needed to go to France,” said Frame.

The Foreign Languages Study Abroad program to France is one of many currently offered by WMU. The Department has 12 faculty-directed study abroad programs, and more than a dozen exchange programs in China, Egypt, France, Germany, Japan, Quebec, and Russia.
During her stay in Lyon, Frame focused her energy on “exploring the city,” but made sure she had her work done. Frame studied 1-2 hours every night to accomplish the academics portion of her study and attended classes 17-20 hours per week.

“The institute where I studied was very nice and I learned a lot,” she said. “However, I learned the informal language, socializing, youth culture, and family dynamics from staying with a host family. There is nothing else comparable to the cultural exposure you get from staying with a French family.”

Frame’s love of French culture, food, music, and art was magnified after her stay in Lyon. “It’s really a great city; very rich with history and culture. It was a good fit for me because Paris can be a little overwhelming at times, and doesn’t always give you the true French culture. Lyon was ‘true France,’” she said.

Frame highly recommends the study abroad program, recounting her experiences as “fantastic.”

 

Hear from other students about WMU’s Study Abroad experience in France:

See more WMU Study Abroad opportunities with the Department of Foreign Languages

Haenicke Institute for Global Education link for Study Abroad

 

Posted in Globally Engaged, Study Abroad

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Grad student is First Generation Grad After Study Abroad in Europe

Posted on January 26, 2012 by Deb| Leave a comment

Anastasia Lopez, College of Arts and Sciences graduate assistant and TRIO intern.

By Anastasia Lopez

I studied abroad in Rome, Italy for five months in the fall 2007 semester. I grew up very Mediterranean (primarily Greek), but never knew much about my Italian heritage and roots. I chose Italy to learn more about my Italian heritage and it made my family very proud. I worked full-time at a hotel as a guest service rep for almost three years saving almost $10K of my own money for this experience of a lifetime.

I got permission from the Italian Consulate in Pittsburgh to visit Greece prior to when I was to leave for Italy. I made all of my own travel plans for every country I visited, budgeting for each one, and integrated myself in the full culture. I am blessed to say that I experienced Athens, Greece and five islands (Corfu, Crete, Santorini, Mykonos, and Kalymnos); Rome, Florence, Pisa, Naples, the Vatican, and the island of Capri in Italy; Brasov, Romania; Prague, Czech Republic; Budapest, Hungary; Barcelona, Spain; Paris, France; Frankfurt, Germany; Amsterdam, the Netherlands and Dublin, Ireland.

I met family in Greece on the island of Kalymnos; visited the healing hot springs of Santorini; met my high school international exchange pen-pal in Ireland; learned about Anne Frank and the Nazis in the Netherlands and Germany; attended a real European soccer game in Barcelona; soaked in the thermal baths in Hungary, visited countless museums of art and history in Italy, Czech Republic and France; learned and studied international tourism and European economies, Italian language and culture, and visited some international institutions like Trinity College, for example.

I learned about the cultures and histories of all of these delightful countries, sampling cuisines and making international friends and trying to speak the local languages of each. There were beautiful castles, ancient churches, and so much history and culture to go around—it was a fulfilling five months.

My five months in Italy are hard to describe in short paragraphs because it was so much more than all these words combined. It changed my life! It opened my eyes and heart to things I did not fully know. How much poverty there is, how I took for granted things like toilet paper and clean fresh water! I feel so blessed that I have had this experience. I learned a lot in those five months, including more about myself and what I wanted out of a career.

I came home and did several internships in international education, volunteered a lot of my time to several different causes like Walk for the Homeless, Paws with a Cause, and several other non-profits to “give-back”—I feel it is very important to pay it forward.

I do hope that other college students will get the chance to live and study abroad. It changes you. You WANT to learn about other cultures around the world; you WANT to invoke change; you WANT to do something to help others. I can say that, now that I have gone abroad, my curiosity is heightened to the max to see and experience more and also to pair service learning with study abroad, which I think is important.

I’m a first generation college student and graduate. If I can do it, so can you. Hard work, determination, and the want and need to be globally competent will only make the work that you do that much better. To be able to converse in other languages and make international friends is important. To budget in a foreign currency, to navigate around cities and towns that you have never explored before—helps you know what you, as a person, are capable of in unfamiliar environments. Study abroad is only the beginning of the wonderful things that can come out of it. It is truly life-changing!

Lopez currently serves as a Global Education Editor at Wandering Educators; as a TRIO Intern at Western Michigan University; and as a Career Educator and Advisor graduate assistant for the College of Arts and Sciences at Western Michigan University.

Posted in Alumni Activity, Globally Engaged, Study Abroad

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