Lindsay P.

Lindsay P. is a 20 year-old Keene State University student who studied with us in the Summer 2010 on our Summer Photography in Australia – Edge of the Outback program.

What classes did you take while abroad?
The course that I was involved in over this past summer (2010) was a photography program based in the outback of Australia. We learned about black and white photography, developing in the dark room, color photography, film cameras, and digital cameras. We traveled all around the outback  taking pictures and learning along the way. At the end of our program we got to present our work in an art show.

What was your favorite part and why?
My favorite part of the trip was our 3-day stay in the outback of Australia. I have never seen the sky so bright. It was something that I will never be able to explain in words.

What type of accommodation did you have? Did you like it?
10 of use stayed in a hostel near the University. It was nice to stay in a place of our own because we got to know each other very well and have developed long lasting relationships.

What were the most noticeable differences between your home university and your host university while abroad?
I didn’t find that many differences between my University and La Trobe because we are both very small colleges. I did find that the people of Australia in general were much more lad back then Americans.

Did you travel while abroad? If yes, where did you go?
After my stay in Australia my roommate and I traveled to Auckland New Zealand.

What do you miss most about your host country?
I really miss the people that I met. Everyone was so much fin and so nice. I will never forget them.

What was your most challenging travel experience?
Coming back from Australia and trying to deal with the time change was the most challenging. It took me 2 weeks to get back into my regular routine.

What are five things you didn’t pack that you wish you had?
1.    Winter clothing (because July is the middle of winter in Australia)
2.    More socks
3.    Winter hat
4.    Sneakers
5.    Blanket

Chelsea V., a blogger on myCISabroad.net, the CISabroad Online Community, provides some insight into a "typical" day in Florence.

The most basic of school days I spend in Italy consist of waking up, working out at Swan, the local gym I joined, making or getting lunch, wandering around Florence, and attending class. At night I usually go to the local pubs with friends, have a wine night on one of our porches, or do homework! On the weekends I travel all over Europe, usually characterized by a lack of sleep, tons of adventure (whether it be seeing sights or riding a camel), and meeting people from all different cultures. In this journal, however, I want to focus on my daily life in Florence, the city who has so kindly been a home to me for the past two and a half months.

Chelsea & friends in Italy

As I have mentioned in earlier journal entries, I share an apartment on Borgo Pinti (right near the Duomo!) with five other girls, four of which I had never met or talked to before we moved in. Our apartment is on the first floor and is very spacious. I share a room with two other girls while my roommates have a single and double. We’ve all attempted to get to know each other through what we like to call ‘family dinners’ and thus far things have been going well.

Along with my roommates, I have met some amazing people through classes, going out, and mutual friends from home. I would say I have a solid group of seven girls whom I have so much fun with! We do everything together! I was nervous, as you know from earlier journals, about coming here only knowing one person. Having these women in my life has made my experience all that much better! I have also connected with girls in my sorority in Miami who are abroad and others from my hometown in New Jersey!

Enough about my apartment and friends, let's talk food: the real reason people come to Italy . First off, I have had some of the best sandwiches, or 'paninis', I have ever tasted right here in Florence…

Read the entire entry

Check out more of Chelsea's journals

Read journals and view photos from other CISabroad participants

Due to the popularity of our "Fun Summer Happenings Around the World" post last week, we decided to zoom in on a location that is particularly happening over the summer: Italy! Below are some great events, recommended by CISabroad Italy staff member Romina Mar.

Perugia:

Umbria Jazz Festival
July 6-15
Featuring artists of the likes of Sting, Erykah Badu, and Stephen Marley.

Rome:

Rock in Roma
Tons of big name rock & hip hop bands, from Snoop to Radiohead
June – August

International Air Show
Air show and exciting exhibits, including flight simulators
June 1-3

Colosseum at Night

Moon Over the Colosseum
Guided tours at night of the impressive historical structure, which under a new light brings to life to places rarely seen
May 5 – October 6

Andy Warhol Exhibition
An exhibit focusing on the hammer and sickle, an imaged inspired by Italy
June 12 – September 9

Vatican Museums in Rome by Night
Avoid the crowds by visiting during the quieter evening hours, from 7 to 11pm
May 4 – October 26

Do you have questions about any of these events? Or, do you want to learn more about how you can study or intern in Italy? Email Keith: moc.daorbasicnull@nrobk

Do you have additional events you want to share with readers? Leave a comment here! 

Kelsey F.

Kelsey F. is a 21-year-old Flagler University student who studied with us in the Spring 2010 on our Semester in Dublin. This school was great I loved the sports center and Nubar. My roommates and I went to wired life concert on campus and did tons of activities. I even joined trampoline club!

What classes did you take while abroad?
Belief and communication
International communication
Advertising
Intro to modern Ireland
Media Writing

What was your favorite class and why?
The best class was belief and communication. The professor was great and really intriguing. His discussions were always entertaining and relevant. I learned so much about religion in Ireland and Europe as a whole. We discussed the Burqa Ban and the reactions of Ireland and the Catholic scandal. We even did a webcam class with Marquette University in Wisconsin.

What type of accommodation did you have? Did you like it?
I lived in Shanowen Square it was located right around the corner from DCU and had a Eurospar right out front. The rooms were tiny tiny but livable. I enjoyed having my own bathroom and bedroom and through living in the apartments I met a lot of students. The one down side is that it was a bit of a walk to a grocery store or the bus.
What extracurricular activities did you participate in?
I joined trampoline and gymnastic club. This was so much fun. I am a cheerleader at my college so I wanted something similar and this was the best thing I could find. I loved everyone that was involved in the club they were outgoing and fun! I learned a lot about the sport and even got to practice alongside students that were members of the Irish national team.
What were the most noticeable differences between your home university and your host university while abroad?
The biggest difference was the size and the policies. My school is less than 5,000 students and DCU is a large university with a lot of commuter students. My campus does not have any coed dorms and is a dry campus. The events on campus at DCU were the best events of any school I’ve heard of. They had so much campus involvement it was insane. Nubar was a great place to hang out with friends and the lounge at the performing arts center was awesome.
Did you travel while abroad? If yes, where did you go?
I traveled a lot while abroad. I went to Budapest, Hungary and so far that is my favorite country that I have been to. I also went to Barcelona and the Canary Islands in Spain, Florence and Pisa in Italy, Glasgow in Scotland, and Northern Ireland.

What do you miss most about your host country?
I miss everything about being abroad. I loved living in Europe and having Dublin at my disposal. I went to town almost every week. I enjoyed going to the Erasmus nights at clubs and we all followed an avid social life. I loved days when sports games were playing. Pubs became full of life and the Superbowl was one of the best days I had in Ireland. The pub we attended was so packed they stopped letting people in at 8pm before the game had even started. The life, culture, and beauty of this country were amazing. The vast history captivated me the entire time and around every corner was another hidden gem.

What was your most challenging travel experience?
My most challenging experience while traveling was the volcano ash. On our way to the Canary Islands our flight was cancelled and rescheduled multiple times and we weren’t sure if we were even going to make it. The problem was that we had a flight from Spain to Italy in a few days that we couldn’t get our money back from. In the end we made it to the Canaries in time and had a blast, but it was stressful.

What are five things you packed that you wish you hadn’t?
I brought a straighter, which didn’t work with even with an adapter. I also brought a lot of clothing and I wished I had waited and bought more there because I didn’t have room to buy new things. I brought my glasses and they got bent even in their case on my way to Europe, so I wish I'd left those and gone with only contacts. I don’t really have anything else I regret bringing. Mostly, I thought I didn’t have enough clothing and that was mainly all I packed.

 What are five things you didn’t pack that you wish you had?
I wish I had had a television. I really think I missed out on not being able to watch Irish television. I also missed having a printer and my own cell phone. I wish I had packed nail polish and shorts warmer weather. For some reason I was under the impression it would never be warm or I would never visit a warm place. On the other hand I should have packed more than one jacket. I really could have used a better sweater or jacket when it was still cold. I wished I'd brought two purses. I had one, but it was a medium size and many times I wished I had a smaller bag

Jocelyn B.

Jocelyn is a student at the University of New Haven who went on our Summer in the British Isles program in 2010. She went to England, Ireland, and Scotland, all in one summer program!

What classes did you take while abroad?  British Cultural Identity, Writers of the North, Irish Cultural Identity, and Harry Potter to Highlanders.

What was your favorite class and why?  British Cultural Identity. At that time, we were still at Edge Hill and were encouraged to talk with the British students about cultural differences they had noticed and ones we had noticed. It really forced us to take a look at all the societal differences without judgement, and to open our selves up to new experiences in our host country.

What type of accommodation did you have? Did you like it?  A room in the halls at Edge Hill and then various hostels and hotels throughout the UK and Ireland. My room at Edge Hill was much nicer than the dorm I had at UNH, though bare since I was only there for three weeks. The hostels weren’t always the best, but definitely made me appreciate the times when we were in hotels; and some of the hotels we stayed in were quite amazing. (One such hotel was in Ireland when my roommate Mimi and I were put in a triple, so decided to push the 3 beds together to create MEGABED.)

What were the most noticeable differences between your home university and your host university while abroad?  I’d say the most noticeable difference was just the openness of the student body. We had talked in class about how New Englanders are pretty much stereotyped as being cold people and being at Edge Hill didn’t disprove that at all. Even just walking around town or in Liverpool, if you came across someone who talked to you, they'd always be so excited meeting an American. That, and the kids who I met in halls weren't shy at all about making conversation. Within being at Edge Hill for two hours, we were already approached by a group of 5 or 6 kids who offered to take us out and show us around that night.

Did you travel while abroad? If yes, where did you go?  Yes, we traveled as a group all around England, Scotland, and Ireland and even took a day trip to Conwy, Wales. We had the opportunity to go to so many different places, many of which I hadn't heard of but was very grateful I got the opportunity. Besides Edge Hill, our week in Scotland was the best part of the trip. We got to go to both Edinburgh and Glasgow and experience city life, but also travelled all the way up to the Orkney Isles to visit Skara Brae, which was fantastic.

What do you miss most about your host country?  Nearly everything! But the people were really just the most amazing part of it. The kids in my hall were so welcoming and accepting of us that it really made me a bit spoiled. Their culture was so much more open and friendly–even in Scotland and Ireland–that coming back to Connecticut was a really big change for me. (I can't say that it's a completely American phenomenon, however, as some of the kids from the south said that southern hospitality isn't something of myth–they really are just generally nice people.)

What was your most challenging travel experience?  Having to carry my enormous bag up stairs and on trains. I didn’t pack well at all. And, as there was a shortage of boys but a plethora of girls with too many suitcases, I didn't really have any help lugging it around the country.

What are five things you packed that you wish you hadn’t?  A towel, too many shoes, shampoo, conditioner and body wash. I realised that it would have been so much easier if I had just bought smaller toiletries in England rather than travelling with them from home. And as I shopped probably too much, I had to send two heavy boxes home that cost me £110.

What are five things you didn’t pack that you wish you had? An umbrella–though I did end up buying one anyway; my straightener and hairdryer–as they're dual-voltage and small, they wouldn't have taken up too much room, but as it was, I had to borrow from the other girls or just do without; more variety in the clothes I brought–I didn't think too much about it being freezing one day and then hot the next, so my closet wasn't really what it should have been. Other than that, I wish I had just brought less of everything because it really was just a pain in the end trying to downsize an already oversized bag.

How will you be spending your summer? Hanging out at the pool? Taking boring summer classes? Visiting relatives in another state? Well, just think that if you were studying abroad you could be hanging out at bustling beaches, taking super engaging classes, and visiting friends in other countries or continents! Below are a few events going on this summer at some CISabroad sites.

Bastille Day in Paris, France – July 14
Similar to the 4th of July in the U.S., Bastille Day is a patriotic celebration centered largely around daring fireworks displays. People take to the streets to enjoy tons of live music, parades and dances. It's a commemoration of the anniversary of the storming of the Bastille, a French fortress, which played a large part in French reconciliation and nationalism.

Students at Tyrrhenian Sea in Italy

Summer Olympics in London, England – July 27 – Aug 12
Tourists, foodies, culture vultures and sports fanatics unite! The Summer Olympics in London have been eagerly anticipated and will draw in millions of visitors, not only for the games themselves, but also the festivities surrounding the games. Visitors will enjoy concerts, festivals, open air art galleries, street vendors, museum disounts and the fanfare and nightlife that millions of people will bring!

Fiesta San Juan in Barcelona, Spain – June 23
This modern-day tradition has its roots in celebrating the shortest night of the year and both literally and figuratively "burning the candle at both ends," as the Spanish do oh so well…People party all night on the streets and beaches around bonfires and set off fireworks during the "night of fire." The party continues well into the night, culminating at midnight when old furniture is used to create massive bonfires that attempt to stave off the inevitable (albeit temperate) winter in Barcelona.

San Govanni Feast Day in Florence, Italy – June 24
This holiday celebrates the patron saint of Florence, San Govanni Battista. The city celebrates with various parades and fireworks. Restaurants mix in with the street scene, keeping their patios open all night. There are various sporting events such as a rowing competition down the Arno River, soccer games with people dressed up in costumes, and a late-night marathon.

Do you have other summer activities you know are going on this summer and you'd like to share them? Either leave a comment here or write to CISabroad Blog Editor, Keith, at moc.daorbasicnull@nrobk.

"Check, please!"  Most of us have said these two simple words a countless number of times and can do the process that follows in our sleep…“service good, times point two, carry the one, total looks good and sign”… In the U.S., it is ingrained in us that tipping anything less than 15 percent on a restaurant bill means that you were very unsatisfied with your service or meal.

CISabroad Welcome Dinner in Perugia, Italy

Servers in the U.S. rely heavily on tips to make up their wages but in most of Europe a tip is only supplemental to their already sufficient wages. When sitting down for your first delicious meal, the first step is to check the menus for any included service charges or taxes. After that, follow these guidelines for when that check comes!

In Italy, Portugal, France and Spain - No tip is required or expected. Only tip 5-15 percent if you were exceptionally happy with your service. Rounding up to the next euro and leaving coins are completely acceptable and appreciated.

In Germany, Czech Republic, England and Ireland – A small tip is customary. A tip of 10 percent means that you were satisfied with your service and 15 percent means you were delighted.

Taxi! When taking a taxi in Europe, in general, it is not necessary to tip the driver. Rounding up to the next Euro is appreciated by the driver but not mandatory.

Check back for more of Kailee's travel tips.

Kailee Sanchez is the Student Advising Coordinator at CISabroad, preparing students for life-changing experiences overseas. You can reach her at moc.daorbasicnull@zehcnask.

Role at CISabroad: University Relations Representative – Midwest

Study abroad experience: My first abroad experience was in high school when I spent a summer working on a friend of a friend of an acquaintance's dairy farm in northern Germany. After that, I was hooked, and spent another summer backpacking Europe. I did my study abroad in Germany as well, but this time in Freiburg, in the warmer black forest. After graduating, I spent a year teaching in backwoods Austria.

Ben in Lederhosen

Biggest faux pas you've ever made abroad: When I was working on the dairy farm in Germany in high school, the family decided to take a trip to the local swimming hole for a dip on a particularly hot day. I didn't have a swimsuit, but they had an extra one and told me that they would bring it for me. We arrived at the glorified pond to find it crawling with people. We eventually found a spot near the water and they gave me a towel with the swimsuit wrapped inside to go and change. I ran off to the changing rooms and set my things down. Unwrapping the bundle that I was given, I looked down and found, lost in the folds of the towel, the tiniest most honest-to-goodness man-thong I have ever seen. I considered my options for a while and decided, in the end, that I was comfortable in this culture, but not quite that comfortable. I told the family that it didn't fit (because, you know, spandex doesn't stretch or anything) and spent the day getting my tan on instead.

The next country you want to visit: New Zealand is the first country on my list of places to visit. Everyone who I have ever talked to who has been there has loved it, and how can you not be blown away by the pictures and videos you see of the landscape? I'm more of a fan of wide-open spaces and natural beauty than I am of bigger cities and man-made attractions as well. Additionally, the fact that I come from a long and storied history of sheep farming, I would more than likely feel right at home too. As if I needed more reasons, I had a professor in undergrad who was from New Zealand and listening to his accent probably accounted for the fact that I didn't miss a class (probably the only time that happened for me in college). Anyone who's seen Flight of the Conchords knows what I'm talking about here.

Ben will be heading across the pond for much of this summer, visiting CISabroad programs in England and the Czech Republic and assisting our customized, faculty-led programs in Austria and Germany.

Want to pick Ben's brain about lederhosen, European bathing suits, or German language and culture? Write to him: moc.daorbasicnull@tsnreb

James H.

James is a 20 year-old Keene State College student who studied abroad with us on our Semester in Sydney in the Fall 2011.

What classes did you take while abroad?
Resource Management, Environmental Decision Making, Australian Media, Intro to Indigenous Studies

What was your favorite class and why?
Australian Media was my favorite because I was taught all about the Australian culture. This class had really helped me grasp life in Australia better.

What type of accommodation did you have? Did you like it?
I had stayed in international student apartments. They were great because everybody was from different states or countries and wanted to be social.

What do you miss the most about your host country?
I really miss the culture. The laid back Aussie style is my favorite. The beaches, weather, and friendly Aussies really helped to make this experience my favorite ever.

What was your most challenging travel experience?
The most challenging travel experience that I had come across was having to navigate the country on my own. Just learning how to act and finding out what were the socially accepted things to do.

What are five things you packed that you wish you hadn't?
I had packed too many clothes, so I would say that I wish I had not packed as much. Also leaving room in your suitcase to bring souvenirs home would have been a great idea.

What are five things you didn’t pack that you wish you had?
I did not know how expensive blankets would be. I wish that I had packed a blanket, sheets, more toiletries if anything. Otherwise, I really think that I had packed everything I needed.

Is there anything else you'd like to add?
Being in Australia was the greatest time of my life.

Ilse D.

Ilse is a 21-year old student Worcester State University student who took her internship with us through our Intern in Barcelona program.

What classes did you take while abroad?
While I was abroad I did an internship at BEdeluxe, a start-up internet company that specialized in luxury discount goods, services and experiences. It was a small office of less than twenty employees and a young office, launched in May of 2011.

What was your favorite class and why?
My favorite thing about my internship was the experience that I was able to get while working in the marketing department. I loved being able to strengthen my Spanish skills with my co-workers and learning what it was like to work in a foreign country, while also learning the ins and outs of marketing. It was cool to see how such a young company goes about day to day business and seeing some of my translations on the website was an awesome feeling!

What type of accommodation did you have? Did you like it?
While in Barcelona I stayed in a two bedroom apartment with international students. I really liked living in the apartment; it gave me a sense of independence and allowed me to learn about the city as well as other international students. I spent a semester in Valencia with a host family, so it was nice to see the other aspect of living abroad.

What do you miss the most about your host country?
The thing I miss most about my host country is the culture. It is so different in Spain and I love the way they stress the importance of family and friends over there. Barcelona is such an interesting city with so much to offer culturally, and I really miss waking up every day and learning something new about the amazing city. Food is definitely a close second!

What was your most challenging travel experience?
Some of my friends and I went to Amsterdam for a weekend getaway and were supposed to meet my Uncle at the airport. He had sent a driver to pick us up and told us where to go, but when we arrived the driver was nowhere in sight! None of us knew the address of the hotel we were staying at and were getting very worried after we called to see where the driver was and he still was not there. Luckily after about a half hour of searching, we found him and arrived at the hotel safely. For the time it was scary feeling stranded in a foreign country not knowing where we were supposed to go!

What are five things you packed that you wish you hadn't?
My hair dryer, hair straightener, hair products, high heels and towels

What are five things you didn’t pack that you wish you had?
MONEY, books, rain gear, medicine, a fan

Is there anything else you'd like to add?
Given the chance, I would go back to Barcelona in a heartbeat! I wish I had more semesters left in college because I would definitely go abroad again. It was one of the best experiences of my life and I miss it everyday. I was able to learn a lot about the great city of Barcelona, and also a lot about myself as well. Interning abroad has opened up a lot of doors for my future and I am so thankful I was lucky enough to experience it!