OSU Abroad « knowledge without borders

Alison Blazer is an International Ambassador for the International Degree and Education Abroad office. Alison is studying Speech Communication and Spanish. During fall 2012, Alison studied abroad at Universidad de Bío Bío in Chillán, Chile through OSU.

Last fall term, I studied abroad in Chillán, Chile for four months. This program is OSU specific and gives Oregon State students the opportunity to travel with fellow Beavers and complete the entire second year of Spanish language courses in just 3 months. I had an incredible experience living in a new country, immersing myself in a new language and culture, bonding with my host family and classmates, and learning about myself. Throughout my time in Chile, there were several unforgettable adventures, but the most memorable of all was my emergency surgery.

A few weeks before Thanksgiving, I was experiencing a lot of stomach pain. The pain became so bad that I could do very little other than sit in bed, so I talked to my program director, my mom and host mom- all of whom thought it was probably appendicitis, but hoped it was something different. When I finally conceded that I had to go to the doctor, my program director immediately put a plan into action.

Less than an hour later, I was in the clinic with my Chilean grandma and a close friend of my program director. My program director was unfortunately in Santiago (about 4 hours north) for the weekend and feeling just about as helpless as my mom back in California. There was an hour and a half wait at the clinic, but luckily a surgeon friend of the program director met us outside and saw me immediately.

I saw the doctor at 5 p.m. and was scheduled to have surgery at 6:30 p.m. The next hour was filled with me frantically trying to get a hold of my parents in the states and figuring out what the nurses were asking me in Spanish. My dad had taken off for a fishing excursion in Shasta before knowing about my operation, so my mom and younger sister were left alone to worry. Thank God for Skype!

A few of my closest friends in my program came to the clinic as soon as they heard the news, and my host parents rushed back to Chillán from a neighboring town where they had been at a barbeque. Luckily everyone got there before I had to go into surgery. They were so incredible; helping to connect with my family back home, distracting me while the nurse put my IV in, and asked me what I needed from my house.

A little after 6:30, I was wheeled into the operating room with my Chilean host parents saying that they’d wait there for me and not to worry. In the operating room, I was moved to the operating table and then came the worst part…..spinal anesthesia. I’ve been under anesthesia before- once for an eye surgery when I was nine years old and again briefly for my wisdom teeth removal, but never in a million years did I think that I would be receiving spinal anesthesia. So picture this: I’m sitting in the OR with a team of about 10 people (surgeons, surgical nurses, the anesthesiologist etc.) all of whom are speaking Spanish and I get told that they’re going to stick a needle in my spine with no prior wooziness or drugs coming my way. Safe to say it was one of the scariest moments of my life. They kept telling me not to worry. I tried to explain in Spanish that I wasn’t worried about the surgery. It would be a piece of cake. My problem was the fact that they were about to stick a needle into my spine. But hey, what can you do? After the piercing pain of the injection, my feet immediately got super-hot and went numb and that sensation continued up my legs until I couldn’t feel anything below my chest. The nurses put a curtain up separating my head from the rest of my body and I was immediately concerned that they weren’t going to put me to sleep.

About an hour later, I woke up in the recovery room, unable to move my legs and extremely woozy. I was filled with relief- I had made it through surgery in South America, thank God! Not being able to move my legs was an unpleasant experience, but my nurses in recovery were so nice and asked me how I was doing each time I managed to wake up for a few moments before falling back asleep. This went on for about two more hours until I was finally taken back up to my room and immediately greeted by my Chilean parents.

After that, I spent a couple nights in the clinic to be monitored and get medicated via an IV. My host parents, my program director and my friends all sat by my bedside in shifts over the next few days until I was released and able to go home. The main priority at the time was just to fully recover—I was planning on traveling to Peru to see Machu Picchu one month after surgery. If that goal was to be reached, I would really need to lay low and recover at my own pace.

It’s safe to say that I never thought I would have surgery without my parents present, let alone in a different country. I owe so much to my program director, my amazing classmates and my fantastic host family who were all there for me 100% of the way. They pulled strings to get me to see a doctor quickly, sat by my bed before and after surgery, and told me not to worry. It’s fascinating to me that even when sleeping alone in a Chilean hospital, I felt comfortable and sure that I was receiving the best care possible.

I truly believe that there is no better way to learn about oneself and your own strengths and abilities than traveling abroad. Any experience abroad is bound to provide students with a new global perspective and the ability to grow and learn at a new rate by constantly challenging oneself. Personally, I am so grateful for the opportunity to have gone to Chile in the first place and now each and every day I think about my experience, my health and the amazing support system I have here as well as below the equator.

Willen Sin is a student at Oregon State. He is majoring in Marketing and minoring in Asian studies. During fall term 2012, Willen studied abroad in Hong Kong, China through OSU: College of Business: Hong Kong, City University.

When I was in third grade, my dad was relocated to Singapore for two and a half years. He brought the whole family with him. My father was a huge fan of traveling, so each break we would take family trips around Asia. We went to Beijing, Shanghai, Hong Kong, Thailand, India, and Malaysia. Out of those places, I had a distant memory of Hong Kong. This memory motivated me to go back and relive Hong Kong as a young adult and remember this experience for years to come. I also wanted to improve my language skills. As a marketing and international business major, I wanted to be in an environment where I can strengthen my Cantonese and Mandarin speaking skills. It is really hard to master a language unless you are in the environment 24/7 and are forced to use it. Little did I know, when I got there, I would gain valuable wisdom that I could have never imagined.

Students have a different attitude when they are abroad. Everyone is open to meeting new people. Everyone is friendly, sincere, and genuinely interested in getting to know who you are and what your story is. Due to the fact that the majority of the students are going to this new country blind in terms of what to expect, there is an instant connection that you make as you’re able to lean on one another for guidance. During the first few weeks, you establish friendships that go a long way. Many exchange students talk about meeting new people as one of the many advantages of going abroad, but for me, it is more than just meeting these people. The experience is about establishing relationships with the people you meet and broadening your network across the globe. Being in Hong Kong allowed me to meet people from The Netherlands, Norway, Germany, Australia, India, Canada, and other countries. Now if I am ever in want of these places, I will have a network of people that I can reach out to for assistance. Trust me; this makes your budget a lot more flexible.

Even if it is expensive, one thing you cannot miss out on while abroad is the ability to travel. When I was in Hong Kong, I spent a lot of my time exploring different countries and new cultures. I was fortunate enough to go to Macau, Thailand, Singapore, Philippines, China, and Taiwan. Each had its own individual culture and story to it. Obviously traveling can be fun, but one valuable lesson I learned was how large this world is and how small I am. There is so much going on around this world at one time; it is hard to learn and know everything. The best you can do is try to engage, be aware, and do not be afraid to try new things.

Trying new things was a huge motto going into Hong Kong for the entire exchange group. One gruesome and exciting story that comes to mind is when a group of us decided to try snake. Coming from all different countries, snakes was one of the animals many cultures do not eat. . The shop had a few options: snake soup, snake wine, or snake blood with a twist. To no one’s surprise, a majority of the group stuck with the snake soup, but there was one brave student that was all for the snake blood. The twist was that you had to drink the blood fresh from the snake. You can see the commotion brought quite the crowd from the streets of Hong Kong as pedestrians, students, and families all watched this amazing, yet face-quenching scene.

I will end with that. You will hear this from everyone, but going abroad is one of the best times you will have in your life. From the places you go, the people you meet, the things you learn, and the stories you will share, studying abroad is a great investment in your education and your future.

Molly MacGraw recently graduated from Oregon State University. She received her Bachelor of Science degree in Human Development and Family Sciences with a minor in Human Services. During her last year, Molly interned for Pathways to Development in Phnom Penh, Cambodia through IE3 Global Internships.

My experience in Cambodia took me places I could not have imagined before I left home. The richness of the culture, the friendliness of the people, and the breathtaking landscapes of the country side left me itching with curiosity and wanting more.

Besides discovering the beauty and mysteries of the country, I learned who I am as a person at this point in my life. My experience forced me to learn, adapt, and change in ways that in the moment were incredibly difficult. Cultural differences, different structural working systems, drastically different climates, and language barriers caused me to reach inside myself and find a new gear. This new gear always consisted of patience and also allowed me to look at whatever situation I was in through a different lens and new perspective. Although these experiences were very difficult, these lessons and experiences are what I thrived on as an intern, traveler, and as a person.

One of many experiences that I still hold very close to my heart is the relationship I was able to create with my host mother in the remote villages of Takeo (a small province south of Phnom Penh). She didn’t speak a word of English and had endured a very hard life so far. She was the sweetest, most positive woman whose huge smile gave me so much comfort. It amazed me how we could communicate so well through a simple touch on the shoulder, a hug, a smile, or a wave.

Although the relationship I had with my village host mom was rare and one of a kind, I found myself surrounded by many meaningful, beautiful, and genuine relationships by the end of my trip. This clearly speaks to how incredibly open and kind Cambodians are.

My time in Cambodia was wonderful, incredible, difficult, crazy, enlightening, and a very worthwhile experience that is hard to put into words. My international internship in Cambodia will stay close to my heart for a lifetime.

For an extended version of Molly’s story, please click here.

Malorie Reimer is an International Ambassador at the International Degree and Education Abroad (IDEA) office. She is currently studying Environmental Economics and Policy and Business and Entrepreneurship. As a native Canadian, Malorie gives an unique insight to the differences in the American and Canadian culture.

Right above United States of America, on the world’s longest land border, is an enormous country full of rich culture. Although it is the second largest country on the planet, Canada is often referred to as the upper half, or ‘Hat’, to The United States. Even though it is nearby, there are many differences between the two nations that are interesting to learn about.

Fun Fact: Canada has the 4^th lowest population density in the world. An average of roughly 3 people live in one square kilometer.

Before traveling to Canada, here are a few quick facts to start you out and help you learn about this diverse and wonderful country.

Population: 35 million (Nine tenths the population of California)

Official Languages: English and French

Vocabulary:

Canadian Word	American Translation
Tuque	Beanie or Knitted Hat
Loonie	One dollar coin with the common bird called a loon on it
Washroom	Restroom or Bathroom
The States	United States of America
Pencil Crayon	Colored Pencils
Tim Horton’s	The Canadian Equivalent of Starbucks, Famous for their donuts and coffee
Garburator	Garbage Disposal
Bunnie Hug	A hooded sweatshirt without a zipper
Kraft Dinner	Kraft Mac and Cheese
Chesterfield	Couch or Sofa
Brown Bread	Wheat bread
Parkade	Underground parking lot
Housecoat	Robe
Zed	The letter Z pronounced ‘zee’ in United States

Canadian Cuisine:

Poutine: A French Canadian Dish including fries smothered with cheese and hot brown gravy.

Smarties: Instead of the American Smarties that are a small powdery sugar candy, Smarties in Canada are like flatter M&M’s.

Nanaimo Bar: A dessert square that requires no baking. It contains three layers of deliciousness. The base is a chocolaty, wafer crumb layer topped by a layer of light vanilla or custard flavored butter icing and topped with melted chocolate.

Ketchup Chips: Possibly the most popular flavor of potato chips in Canada. Ketchup chips are a must try.

Butter Tarts: Like a mini American Pecan pie but without the nut topping. They consist of a sugar, syrup, and egg filling all within a pastry shell. Sometimes raisins are added in.

Timbits: These are essentially donut holes that are bought from Tim Horton’s that come in a variety of flavors.

Myth or Fact?

We say ‘Eh.’ On American TV shows and movies Canadians are often ridiculed for the way they talk. Our most common word is thought to be the word ‘Eh.’ Although it may not be used in every single sentence, they truth is that it is used quite often. FACT

We all speak French. Canadians are often asked if they speak French or not. Although it is mandatory for grades 4-6 to study French, it is not commonly a fluent language for most people living in Canada. In the 2006 census, it was recorded that only 21.3% of Canadians have declared that their first language is French. MYTH

We don’t have an Army. Due to Canada’s neutral nature we are assumed to have no army. The reality is that we actually do and they are called the Canadian Forces. The force consists of sea, land and air elements that include the Royal Canadian Navy, The Canadian Army and the Royal Canadian Air Force. MYTH

It is always cold. Many people think that we might live in Igloos. People outside of Canada imagine that the country is covered in year-round snow. The truth is that only the very north of the Northern Territories contains snow year-round. Instead, most provinces contain a summer season which can average around the mid 80’s Fahrenheit. MYTH

Our national sport is hockey. Due to the winning nature of Canadian hockey teams, hockey receives high recognition. Hockey was invented in Canada, is very popular, and is our national sport. But what most Americans don’t know is that hokey is our national winter sport. Our national summer sport is Lacrosse which was also invented in Canada. MYTH/FACT

Patrick Cousineau is an International Ambassador for the International Degree and Education Abroad office. He studied abroad at Deakin University in Australia through the OUS program for winter and spring term of 2012. Patrick is a Senior, studying Natural Resources at Oregon State.

Imagine if you were the only person on this planet. What an uncanny feeling that would be. On one hand you observe the peaceful tranquility and uninterrupted natural life around you, but on the other hand lurks an eerie feeling of emptiness. Although just a hypothetical scenario, there are still places left to this day that are so desolate and isolated that you truly start to feel alone.

I studied abroad in a small town in south eastern Australia, situated right on the Southern Ocean. It’s not what first comes to people’s mind when they think of Australia, but the Southern Ocean is the coldest, windiest and most unforgiving ocean on this planet. Gail force winds from the Antarctic send monstrous waves to the southern coast, creating some of the most spectacular and intimidating sites imaginable. For obvious reasons, the Southern Ocean is one of the least explored regions left on this planet. It is no wonder why it can seem so lonely.

Every once in a while the conditions would cooperate just enough to be able to go surfing. My Aussie roommate and I would set out at around 5 am to avoid the wind that generally picked up later in the morning. We would drive sometimes for hours, looking for the perfect spot and wave to surf. The surf spots couldn’t have been more inaccessible, with strenuous hiking, traversing, and climbing required just getting to the waves. For that very reason, and the fact that most ordinary people would rather be in bed than jumping into 45 degree water at 5 am, there was never another person in sight. I could look for tens of miles in every direction and see no signs of civilization. In all my years of surfing, I have never felt so small, vulnerable, and alone than I did while surfing in Australia’s Southern Ocean.

Looking back, I am so fortunate to have had an experience like this. It has made me realize that we are just small components to a greater and more powerful world. A world that can at any time unexpectedly change our lives in ways we had once thought to be beyond the bounds of possibility. Studying abroad in Australia has given me a new perception on life. It has made me realize that your personality is a function of the experiences that have accumulated throughout your life. The more you immerse yourself in new, uncomfortable situations, the more you learn about yourself and ultimately grow as a person.

Carly Clark is a junior at Oregon State. She is majoring in History and minoring in Spanish. Carly studied abroad in Chillan, Chile, fall term 2012 through OSU: Universidad del Bio Bio.

Three months, four countries, and countless unforgettable memories later; I accomplished a childhood dream to study abroad. During fall term 2012, I had a once in a lifetime opportunity to travel abroad and study Spanish in the South American country of Chile. I traveled to Chile with 17 other students from Oregon State in search of life changing experiences and a unique opportunity to study Spanish in a native Spanish speaking country. What none of us expected is that we would create deep roots and a second home in Chile.

During my time in Chillan, Chile, I had the unique experience compared to the rest of the group. I arrived two weeks later due to my sister’s wedding. The rest of our group had two weeks to get use to the new surroundings, the language barrier, and ultimately settle into our new lives in Chile. At the beginning it was difficult, overwhelming and unlike anything I have ever had to overcome, but in the end it did not hold me back thanks to the help of my host family, friends, and our program coordinator. Through everything, I have created lifelong friendships and our group has become my second family. Our classes were very different than I expected. Our professors were very easy going, patient, and encouraged us to travel and to learn more about the Chilean lifestyle and culture.

The Chillan, Chile study abroad program offers students an unique opportunity to fulfill their Bachelor of Arts language requirements in three months, while learning about an entirely new culture in a foreign country. My initial intention to study abroad was to finish my second year of Spanish in three months, but what I did not expect to happen was to find a passion in learning Spanish and to continue my education working towards a Spanish minor. Oregon State offers a wide variety of study abroad programs with endless possibilities. I considered studying abroad in Spain or Costa Rica, but something stood out about the Chile program. When talking to the program coordinator, Lucia Robelo, and past program students, I could see how enthusiastic they were about the program – learning a foreign language and most importantly how their lives had changed. Chile had become their second home. In the end, I felt Chile was the best program for me, and I was right!

During my time in South America, I traveled to Argentina, Uruguay, and topped it all off with a trip to Machu Picchu in Peru. Buenos Aires, Argentina, the birth place of the Tango and some of the best vino (wine) y carne (steak) in the world. Six other students from the program and I ventured to Buenos Aires in early November. We spent a week in the country’s capital as well as a day in Uruguay. We drank the wine, ate the steak, danced the Tango, and experienced the Argentinean lifestyle. Uruguay was an unplanned day trip, but ended up to be one of the most memorable adventures I experienced in my three months abroad. Rounding out my three month stay in South America, two others and I traveled to Peru in early December to visit one of the 7 wonders of the world, Machu Picchu. After living out of a backpack for 7 days and hiking through the Peruvian rain forest in a straight down pour, we finally arrived at the city of Aguascalientes below the site of Machu Picchu. Machu Picchu was one of the most remarkable and breathtaking experiences of my life that I will never forget. Throughout all my trips, nothing was more important and exciting than meeting natives from the different countries I visited. I truly enjoyed learning about their experiences and culture.

On my last day in Chile, I was very excited to board the plane and begin the long 22 hour trip home to the U.S. After the plane left the runway, I knew I would not be saying “goodbye”, but “see you soon” to my Chilean family, friends, and my second home in Chile. In the future I hope to return to Chile to visit my Chilean family and friends, but until then we all have remained in close contact. My study abroad experience was like nothing I have ever experienced or expected. It was BETTER! I was emerged into an unknown culture, community, country, language, and overall way of life. I can proudly say I have grown as a person and have the utmost respect for other cultures in the world. I would recommend studying abroad to any student interested. It is not impossible!

If someone were to ask me when I was beginning my first year of Spanish if I planned to study abroad or if I would continue studying Spanish after I fulfilled my foreign language requirements. I would say it was very unlikely. However, the unexpected happened; I studied abroad in South America and I am currently six credits away from completing my Spanish minor. After my experiences abroad, my life and goals have changed for the better. I graduate next spring with a degree in History and a minor in Spanish. After all the life changing adventures I have been fortunate to experience within the last year, I have created one life goal for myself: to maintain my Spanish language skills.

Monica D’Angelo is a Public Health Major at Oregon State. This fall term, Monica completed an international internship in New Delhi, India with MAMTA.

My trip to India has become one of the best decisions I have made. It was a positive and enriching experience that I never could have imagined. When the MAMTA internship was presented to me during class, I was quickly drawn to the subject. It sounded like something that I should learn more about. After attending a few information sessions, I was convinced that this was the internship I needed. Once the ball started rolling, time flew by, and soon enough I was packing for the trip of a lifetime.

When I arrived, I found out I would be living with two Oregon State interns and ten other interns from all over the world. It is safe to say that the culture shock set in quickly, and lasted about two weeks. Once I started to feel more comfortable with my surroundings, I became much more open-minded about my experiences. Simple activities that we are all accustomed to in the United States became huge struggles that I had to relearn in my new environment. Plugging in appliances were never a simple task and power outages were common. Lighting the stove on our single gas burner made cooking a challenge. Grocery stores were almost non-existent in comparison to what we have access to in America. If and when we decided to buy food, it was coming from what is most similar to a convenient store. It is not hard to imagine that our diet was not on-point during these three months, while most days we would eat our or order in simply because the convenience and lack of access to well-balanced home cooked meals.

Our mentors on site at MAMTA Health Institute were very accommodating to the ideas and passions that I have for Public Health. There were able to tailor projects to each of our interests in order for us to work directly with adolescents in the slums. We created a risk analysis in order to understand the health risks facing these 100 adolescents, as well as how their activities of daily living in the urban slums may affect them in years to come. Working with the community and being hands-on in this way opened my mind to so many things that I had never encountered before, including a life of poverty that is so normal for many people in India. The poverty and filth I saw in these areas was overwhelmingly powerful, real and eye opening It is sad to say that with the internship only lasting ten weeks not much could be done as far as creating changes within the community. In reality, outreach and awareness is something that I would have loved to become more involved with in order to allow for positive changes to help these families with their overall health and wellness.

On our off time, we were able to travel and learn more about the country that we were living in. Aside from the initial tasks that we learned while getting to and from work every day, like crossing through lanes of traffic on the overcrowded streets of Delhi, catching a rickshaw or bartering with our drivers, we also learned a lot from the other students we lived with; simply though the differences and experiences we each have by being from different countries and cultures.

We were able to take amazing and unforgettable trips like to The Taj Mahal, camping on the beach in Rishikesh, and rafting on the Ganges River. We had the chance to paraglide through the Himalayas during a weekend trip to Manali and Kasol, and ride elephants and camels in Jaipur.

It is difficult to encompass everything that I was able to experience in words during my trip. However, I know that it was an experience and adventure that I would never want to change. I am so thankful to have had this opportunity present to me by Oregon State and their partnership with MAMTA. It allowed me to work abroad hands-on with the community in order to set the framework for me to preform international Public Health outreach and awareness to underprivileged children and families.

OSU Abroad

knowledge without borders

A Surprising Surgery in Chile

The Traveler’s Tale

The Pathways in Cambodia

A Pocket Guide from your Northern Neighbors in Canada

Adventures Down Under

Seven Wonders of the World

New Experiences in New Dehli

Contact Info