Returnee « OSU Abroad

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.

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.

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.

Natasha Badaa is a senior at Oregon State University. She is studying Business Management and French. During Fall 2012, Natasha studied abroad at Grenoble Ecole de Management in France through API.

During my study abroad experience in Grenoble, France, I had one goal: do something every day that scares me. Although I was a thousand miles away from what I called home, I dared myself to go outside my comfort zone in a foreign country and a foreign language. One of my favorite memories related to achieving my goal happened during a weekend trip to Marseilles, France with my friends. Marseilles is famous for the Calanques, which are a beautiful set of cliffs that extend off the coast. Tourists travel from near and far to hike the cliffs down to the Mediterranean Sea and swim in the private lagoons. My friends and I traveled by bus to the trailhead and hiked for over an hour to this unbelievable swimming spot surrounded by cliffs. There was something special about this place we found in the Calanques in the south of France. It was a place to escape from reality and immerse ourselves in the scenery of the rocks and sea. Climb one of the cliffs and perch up there for a while. Admire the humbling view. You’ll quickly see what I mean. The view extended for miles and miles above the clear, aquamarine water.

Tourists lined the rocks, jumping off one by one into the sea. Terrified of the prospect, I was determined to try it anyways. My friends and I climbed a huge cliff that was nearly 15 meters tall. I was shaking with the fear of slipping and falling. Frozen in this fear, I perched on the rock and refused to jump. It was not until my friend climbed back up and convinced me that I could do this. She reminded me about how great it would feel to accomplish something I was afraid of. Together we jumped off that cliff, together into the deep blue water.

My time abroad meant conquering fears and accomplishing goals that I never dreamed were possible. In five months, I traveled to new countries, became fluent in a language, hiked mountains in the Alps and jumped off cliffs in the Mediterranean Sea. I made friends with locals, went wine tasting in the south of France, and learned more about myself than expected. Studying abroad has changed my life in more ways than I could have predicted. I learned independence and confidence. I learned culture, American and otherwise. My biggest piece of advice to anyone who wants to study abroad is this: do not hesitate about anything. Be brave and jump off cliffs.

Diana Cardona is a Human Development and Family Sciences Major at Oregon State. She recently completed her internship with the Community Center in Argentina through IE3 Global Internships during the Summer 2012 term.

Although there were ups and downs, my experiences in Argentina have tremendously impacted my life. I have made personal and professional growth in the Engranajes association. I made many new bonds and felt like I left friends and family behind when returning home. I left with Argentina in my heart. My internship was an unforgettable experience and I am able to carry the lessons from my travels into my daily life.

Argentina is a country full of wealth. They are rich in art, and when I say art, I mean many things: art is found in their paintings, music, poems, writing, conversations, and politics. I am very happy that Argentina preserves their culture, traditions, and values. So many things I did in this country revolved around politics and I am glad I was able to see how important politics are in our lives. I have become more familiar with the political system and I want my voice to be heard. I know it is important to stand up for others and to especially speak out for children in difficult situations.

I learned that music allows us to fly, play, and grow, but more importantly it lets us be different from one another. In learning this, I decided to share some of my Mexican and American culture with Argentina. I learned that we are more similar than I previously thought. I learned that family is not only made up of people with whom we share DNA, but also those friends that you choose to trust. I especially felt this way about the family that shared with me their space, love, and culture. They opened my eyes to the value of living simply and respecting what you have. My conscience over politics and culture grew enormously.

The experiences with the children from the barrios taught me that children are pure joy, our future, and our present. It is important to stand up for them. I noticed that our presence made a difference in their lives. I realize that we are very privileged to live in North America and we are a country filled with opportunities. I changed my way of thinking. I opened my eyes to see that the most important thing in life is love. My family has now grown to include Argentina, Mexico and the United States.

Connie Lee is a senior at Oregon State University, majoring in Microbiology with a minor in Chemistry. Connie interned abroad at the Center for Social Medicine in India through IE3 Global Internships.

As I learn more about microorganisms, my interest in the medical field grew. The medical field can be broadly divided into two fields: clinical work or research work. I have researched in a laboratory setting as well as volunteered in a hospital. However, I have not been able to experience clinical work with doctors in order to gain a true feeling of what doctors do. Besides my background knowledge of medicine from science courses, I grew an interest in learning about cultural differences from my anthropology classes. Thus, in summer 2012, I participated in the public health and medical internship at Center for Social Medicine in Loni, India.

This internship was a great opportunity for me to experience the public health and medical fields in a completely different cultural setting. I participated in a huge variety of interesting programs, such as social programs for sex workers and mobile clinic services. However, the most life-changing experience occurred at the operation theaters, particularly the posting at the maternity ward.

To say the least, the experience at the maternity ward was very intense. I was already anxious about observing my first delivery. Half way through the delivery, I started to feel nauseous and dizzy to the point where I left the labor ward. However, I challenged myself to go back into the labor room and finish observing the entire birthing process. It was self-rewarding to return to the labor ward, because at that moment I grew personally.

The environment setting is very different for pregnant women in India compared to the United States. I noticed that the maternity ward was a lot more crowded, the resources were very limited, the deliveries were usually rushed due to the number of patients, and women did not normally receive individualized care during the actual labor. Ultimately, the standards in both of these countries are on completely different scales. However, I learned to respect that, although the delivery environment is very different through an outsiders’ lens, the system works for the local villagers. The services are provided with no charge to the patients, and babies are still born healthy. Although there are many differences, some even shocking, between the two medical systems, both strive for the same goal of providing health care to people in need.

Last but not least, my experience in the operation theater helped me confirm my interests in surgery medicine. I observed a variety of surgeries including, but not limited to, cataract surgeries, joint/hip replacements, medical termination of pregnancy, open/laparoscopic tubal ligations, kidney obstruction, hysterectomies and more. The experience was very eye-opening as I could never receive the same opportunity in the United States.

I enjoyed the environment in the operation theaters. It is a place where all doctors and anesthesiologist work together to help solve a patient’s problem. I saw how the surgeons work to find a solution, and their quick reactions to find alternative methods if the original method did not work. I found a passion for the human body; the human body consists of both delicate (eyes) and strong (bones) parts. Every part of the body works in harmony to allow an individual to function.

Erik Dove is a junior at Oregon State University, pursuing a degree in Biology with a minor in Chemistry and Spanish. He is an International Ambassadors for the office of International Degree and Education Abroad. Erik studied abroad in Salamanca, Spain, through API.

I have many fond memories of the summer I spent studying in Spain: relaxing on the beaches of San Sebastian; enjoying tapas in La Plaza Mayor in Salamanca; hiking in the Pyrenees Mountains in the north of the country; my time in Spain was entirely unforgettable. However, I came back to the states with more than pictures, souvenirs, and memories; my experiences abroad contributed to an overall change in my academic and personal goals and gave me the opportunity to experience a culture much different than my own.

I chose to study abroad because I wanted to increase my Spanish language proficiency. Living with a host family not only gave me this opportunity, but also exposed me to various aspects of Spanish culture. I experienced the value placed on socializing through observing my host family’s nightly outings to enjoy food and drinks with their friends. I was exposed to differences like the size of meals (small breakfast, large lunch, late-night medium sized dinner) and enjoyed the food-induced lethargy of the afternoon siesta. These experiences accustomed me to the cultural differences between the United States and Spain, and I came to appreciate the distinct aspects of Spanish life.

Throughout my experiences in Spain, I couldn’t help but think about how culture-specific aspects of life function in cross-cultural communication. Since my goal is to become a physician, I was intrigued as to how aspects of different cultures come into play in doctor-patient interactions. My experiences abroad inspired me to incorporate elements of culture, language and communication to my existing goal of becoming a physician. When I returned to Oregon State, I applied to the International Degree program to add an international dimension to my studies of Biology and pre-medicine.

As a whole, studying abroad was an invaluable and life-changing experience that enhanced my academic goals and inspired me to pursue international education as a secondary academic focus. I developed an appreciation for differences in cultures and an interest in how these differences affect interactions between people of different backgrounds. My study abroad experience in Spain has become a foundation for my academic and career goals, and has given me the drive to develop cultural knowledge and language proficiency to internationalize my education.

OSU Abroad

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Tag Archives: Returnee

The Pathways in Cambodia

Adventures Down Under

New Experiences in New Dehli

Conquering the Calanques

Chau Chau Argentina

A Mishap in the Maternity Ward

A Reflection on Study Abroad Experience in Salamanca, Spain

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