Valencia Voyage / 2012

7amazing education

destinations

valencia ventures forth

CALLINGLondon

Semester

HonorBOUND

AT SEA

Tips+Top

Travel

Tricks

VoyageHorizons Await 2012

VoyageHorizons Await | 2012

WANTED:PHOTOGRAPHERSDid you take this picture? Do you know who did?

The photography in the magazine was used with permission of Valencia’s Study Abroad and Global Experience (SAGE) office.

If you or someone you know is the photographer of any of the beautifual images featured in our magazine, please let us know.

Contact [email protected]

Editor-in-Chief Shay Castle

Arie’l Austin

Jennifer DiDomenico

Francesca Fey

Juan Gutierrez

Fred Lambert

Edward Mueller

Sarah Pariseau

Amanda Smith

Anisha Tandon

Staff

Photographers Sebastian Arbelaez

Christopher Correa

Contributors Kent Nguyen

Brittany Rose

Mary Stevens

Ken Carpenter

Our mission as a publication is to introduce students to the many study-abroad opportunities available at Valencia and other colleges, and to prepare students to take the first step towards studying abroad.

Our Mission

ValenciaVoyage.com

Marianella Zapata NoriegaManaging Editor

2 Spring-Summer 2012

Faculty Adviser

Poland

ChinaGuyana

India

Italy

London, UK

Denmark

Trip Tips

No money? No Problem

Studying abroad is expensive, but help is available. Lucky you.

Ch-ch-ch-chaanges

SAGE is growing at Valencia.

Pay. Plan. Prepare.

Travel To-Do’s

We made a list and checked it.Twice. Now it’s your turn.

9

11

13 How to . . .

Pack to perfection

Take pics like a pro

Good to go guides

Lose the lag

14

17

19

21

venturesvalencia forth

7tripsthat will grow your mind

Starting on Page 22

Contents.

ValenciaVoyage.com Spring-Summer 2012 3

Journeys

Semester at Sea

Nicole Rosa spent 105 days sailing around the world. And earning college credit.

Global takeoverFSU students cover the globe to study in the world’s coolest places.

London Calling

74

80

85

Professor Marshall Hall extols the many virtues of London.

Coming to America82

Valencia College hosts its first international exchange student.

Confessions of a virgin traveler

A novice traveler chronicles the personal journey that comes

with new experiences.

84

Plantains, pineapples & super glueA writer learns the finer arts of commerce on the mean streets of Hanoi.

Contents.

Photograph by Nicole Rosa Provided by Florida State University Internatioal Program

4 Spring-Summer 2012

72

There are two rules that govern both traveling and journalism: 1.) Be prepared for anything.2.) The best stories come from the experiences you didn’t plan for.

These truths were proved by two situations that arose while the Voyage staff was in London this past spring.

Riding the Underground one afternoon, our crew struck up a conversation with a fellow passenger. The man, an American, had lived in London for 22 years working as a study-abroad professor. The perfect interview for this magazine had literally walked into the subway car with us.

We scrambled for our supplies. Did no one have paper or pen?!Thankfully, Arie’l did. She saved the day by being prepared, and we snagged a great story by being open to new experiences.

The next day, we were in a part of London that we hadn’t yet explored. We passed the London satellite of Florida State University, a campus abroad for students who study in London. Back in the States, we had contemplated contacting FSU to do a story about its program, and now here we were, standing on their doorstep.

Some students walked up as we took stood there, dressed in sweats and clutching bags of junk food. We were ready. Notebooks in hand, we captured a great story.

Valencia College encourages foreign study to prepare students for a global future. Studying abroad is a fantastic first step into the international community. This magazine’s mission is to prepare students to take that step.

We hope these pages are filled with knowledge, courage, and inspiration for you to take with you on your journeys.

Now go; a broad horizon awaits.

Best,

Letter

T

Shay CastleEditor-in-chief

See the interview on page 85.

Read all about it! on page 80.

5

Cover Photo

Amanda Smith-

PhotographyAll photographs provided by

Valencia SAGE unless otherwise indicated

-Special Thanks to

Valerie BurksRichard Gair

Deymond HoyteLee McCain

Gustavo MoralesSteve Myers

Bonnie OliverEileen Perez

-Sandy Shugart

-Valencia SAGE Office

Jennifer Robertson, DirectorJessica King, Assistant

-CIA World Factbook

-Fonts

“Motor Oil” by Mohammed Rahman

“Hit the Road” by Matthew Welch

“Arual” by Curtis Mack

“Like Giselle?” by Ammy K“Marker Palafotz” by

Manuel Palafox

Welcome to Voyage, which is focused on the amazing opportunities international travel affords all of us to learn and grow.

I was fortunate enough to attend school overseas to finish my high school education. While the school was exceptional, I am sure I learned more from everyday life in another country and culture than I did from the classes I took – more about them and more about myself.

In literature, there is a long tradition of journey stories, from the “Odyssey” to “Lord of the Rings.” I’ve always loved the metaphor of journey for our lives and for a life of learning.

Jump in and begin to dream about experiencing a world both larger and smaller than any of us imagines. Look for opportunities to connect travel to your formal learning. Learn a new language and test yourself in an immersion experience. Begin to make friends among the astounding diversity of students already attending Valencia from nearly 100 different countries.

The world is a book. Read as many chapters as you can.

Wise Words

“The World is a book, and those who do not travel read only a page.”— St. Augustine

Dr. Sanford C. Shugart, PresidentValencia College

WhiteHouse.gov

7

It Takes Some Courage,But Saving Money

Is Worth The Leap.

FeedThePig.org

Put Away A Few Bucks.Feel Like A Million Bucks.

Get Free Savings Tips

Valencia SAGE is constantly looking for ways to help you.

Stay up-to-date on trips, scholarships and helpful tips at

http://valenciacollege.edu/international/studyabroad/default.cfm

Free Money & more (but who cares about the other stuff?!)

Financial Aid Degree-seeking Valencia students can apply financial aid to foreign study programs as long as the course awards academic credit and grades go towards cumulative GPA. Eligibility is determined by the type of study abroad program you attend and the type of financial aid you receive. Check out http://www.nafsa.org/students.sec/financial_aid_for_study/ for more info.

Valencia SAGE office The Valencia SAGE office receives funding from student development and the Valencia foundation to provide scholar-ships for SAGE programs. Students can qualify for scholarships to pay for up to half of the program costs (amounts vary per student and trip.) To qualify: You must have at least 2.0 GPA and be enrolled in three credit hours minimum.

No money? No problemWhether your study abroad trip is a week or a semester long,chances are it will be expensive. Luckily for you, there’s help.

— JUAN GUTIERREZ

Additional funding sourcesThere are dozens of national and international scholarships available. Some are for particular majors, languages and fields of study, while others are gender or ethnic-specific. Several are open to all students or faculty. Visit http://www.studyabroad.com/scholarships.aspx for an extensive list of available scholarships.

Finance your FunThese simple changes will help you put some jingle in your piggy bank.

— SHAY CASTLE

Coffee-a-day habit?

Cut it out

120$

Cutting it out can save you . . .

a month($4.00 a day X 30 days)

Change it upSwap this . . .

. . . for this

and save . . .$180

(Value meal: $6.50; noodles: $.50)(Save $6.00 a day X 30 days)

a month

Trip Tips Pay.

9

© 2011 United Way Worldwide.

Client: Ad Council (AC)Product: United Way of America (UWA)Job #: M11AC001

Ad #: 10Headline: Different By NatureVisual: Cambria & PaulSpace/Color: Page Non Bleed - 4/CPublication: Full Page

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LIVE UNITED®®®®®®

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DIFFERENT BY NATURE

UNITED BY MISSION

We come from different places. We come to differentconclusions. But underneath it all, we share a passion for improving the human condition. When we LIVE UNITED, we create real, lasting change in the building blocks of life: the education, income and health of our communities, ourfamilies, even the person next to us. Real change won’t happen without you. SIGN UP TODAY AT LIVEUNITED.ORG.

Current funding modelValencia’s Study Abroad and Global

Experience (SAGE) office applies for funds from Student Development and the Valencia Foundation.

These funds are divided up among all study abroad students equally, usually covering 50 per-cent of program costs for students.

The 2011-12 academic year is the last year for this funding model.

“There is no way that the college can grow study abroad and continue to fund students at 50 percent,” Robertson said. “That worked when the same programs ran year after year and no new programs were approved.”

Financial aid“Students who qualify for financial aid can still

use it to cover the program costs,” Robertson said. “While the deposit is out-of-pocket, many students have been able to take advantage of the new pro-cess and use financial aid to cover some or all of the balance due.”

Faculty program leadersUntil now, faculty leading study abroad trips

have paid their own way. Under the new model, students will cover the costs of program leaders.

“In order to grow study abroad, we decided to adopt the funding model that many other colleges and universities have adopted where students fund the program leader,” Robertson said. “While other schools also charge additional fees to students that cover all the costs of a student abroad department, Valencia College will not do that in order to keep costs affordable.”

Since faculty leaders plan everything about the trip, from the tour company to dining and housing arrangements, the onus will be on them to keep costs to students low.

“We will encourage our faculty to focus on keeping costs down for students; use providers that offer free tickets and apply for an Endowed Chair through the Foundation that could help offset costs,” Robertson said. “They are ultimately the ones who make that decision based on how they structure their programs.”

Ch-ch-ch-chaangesValencia is mixing up the way it funds study abroad. Here’s what you need to know.

— SHAY CASTLE

Trip Tips . Pay

11

Sebastian Arbelaez Photography

http://www.flickr.com/photos/54792550@N06/

Travel To-Do’s

6 monthsVisas - Needs change with every country, therefore, it is recommended that you contact the

Get your shots - Visit the CDC website for recommended vaccinations to protect

Passports - The process for a new passport typically takes 4 to 6 weeks. Renewals

6 weeks

Call for credit - Most banks and credit card companies will stop your card from being used

1 weekPlan for bills - Companies allow you to suspend service for the time

you are gone or make arrangements for automatic or early bill pay.

Hold your mail - A simple form is all that is needed. Visit your local post off ice,

Copycat - Leave copies of all documents with someone in case of an emergency, along with f light

expect to pay some hefty fees, typically $140-$170 for US passports.

Passports can be expedited in 2 to 3 weeks, or in some cases 24 hours, but

can take 1-6 weeks, depending on the country where the passport is from.

or go f ill one out at https://holdmail.usps.com/holdmail/

out-of-area unless your notify them prior to leaving. Let them know of your travel plans

about a month before leaving the country, and double-check closer to your travel date.

and hotel information. Also leave a detailed itinerary along with contacts.

The U.S. State Department issues travel

against food and water-born viruses common in less developed parts of the world.

Some, like the vaccine for Hepatitis B, must be taken in a series of shots 4-6 months

before departure, so go to your doctor as soon as your travel plans are conf irmed.

Go to http://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/destinations/list.htm

closest embassy for the country you are visiting 3 to 6 months before you are scheduled to

leave to get specif ic information about your application.

Visit http://travel.state.gov/ for more info.

Check this ou

twarnings about numerous countries.

Check out their website for up-to-date informationon places to avoid due to political and social unrest, natural disasters, high crime rates or terrorist activity.

You’ve booked your f light and hotel, and you think you’re ready to go. But not so fast- there’s a lot to do at home before heading off into the wild blue yonder.BY MARIANELLA ZAPATA NORIEGA

Trip Tips . Plan

13

The 4-1-1 On 3-1-1 3.4 oz. bottle or less; 1

quart-sized, clear, plastic,

zip-top bag; 1 bag per

passenger. If in doubt, put

liquids in checked baggage.

Roll It, Baby!Roll your jeans and shirts

up as tight as possible,

then, keep everything in

place by wrapping a belt

around your clothes.

Make It RainStuff long, skinny items

(like your umbrella) in

after everything is packed.

Fine LinesFold thinner items

lengthwise to line the

bottom of your suitcase.

All Wrapped UpPack your coat last.

Fold it horizontally,

lay it on top of your

packed clothes.

Packed to perfectionThink you can’t fit everything you need for a week-long trip in a carry-on? With these amazing tips, you’ll even have room left over for souvenirs.

Even more handy tips:

+

BY AMANDA SMITH & SHAY CASTLE

14

Know before you go Knowing what the

weather will be like where you’re going is vital.

Try to plan for every-thing. Layering is key. A travel-sized umbrella and good sunglasses are always a good idea, too.

Check or carry-on?Most major airlines allow

each passenger to have a 22 x 14 x 9 in. carry-on bag.

This size is great for mobility, but doesn’t allow for a lot of space.

Look for a bag with a durable zipper and wheels and easy-to-use handle.

Outside pockets are a good idea for easy access.

Minimum wardrobe; maximum style

Plan your outfits so that that bulky items (pants, sweaters, etc.) can be worn at least twice.

Go for basic pieces that you can mix-and-match.

AccessorizeYour choice of footwear

should depend on your destination. Most trips include lots of walking, so go for comfort over style.

You’ll be away from your hotel for long periods of time, so shoes that are water-resistant are a plus.

— ANISHA TANDON

Stay healthy and clean no matter your

destination by traveling with anti-

bacterial paper soap. They even have paper

shampoo, laundry detergent, and body wash!

Check it out at:

Don’t Know A SoleLay your socks flat along

the bottom of your shoes.

Bag It & Tag ItSecure your jewelry

and underwear in a

plastic bag. Use the

bag to separate clean

and dirty clothes on

the trip home.

Strap HappyThe luggage straps

that come in your

suitcase are you best

friend. Fasten them

over your clothes to

create a few more

inches of free space.

Suitcase strategy

http://www.flight001.com/anti-bacterial-paper-soap.html

Paper Soap

Things to think about before you start packing.

The coolest product ever!

Trip Tips . Prepare

15

Chris Correa Photography

http://www.facebook.com/chriscorreaphotography

http://www.flickr.com/photos/chriscorreaphotography/

Focus, baby, focusEven an untrained eye can detect an out-of- focus photo. Lightly tap the shutter release and give your camera time to focus before snapping the picture. If you need to zoom, zoom first, then focus your camera.

Too flashyThe flash on most cameras only covers about 10 feet. If you’re trying to capture a vast landscape or an active sport, your flash will not have any effect. Program your camera’s settings yourself and practice without the flash.

Practice makes perfectTake a picture and look at it. If you’re not happy, tweak the settings and shoot again. Once you get into the swing of things, you’ll develop a more accurate sense of what your camera can do for you and how you can personally determine the outcome and quality of your photos.

Can’t take it? Fake it!Still unhappy with your snapshots? Don’t give up.Anything and everything can be photo-shopped. The viewers of your pictures aren’t going to know what your photo has been through, only the fantastic final result.

Take pics like a proWhether you’re hiking through the rainforest or taking grandma to Bingo, you’re going to want top-quality pictures. Even an amateur can snapa fantastic photo by knowing these tips of the trade.

BY FRANCESCA FEY

Capture all of the action using the magic of mirrors. This lens lets you shoot 360-degree, interactive video. ($79)

Detachable magnetic rings help these high-quality lenses stick to any camera phone. ($49)

This handy tripod mount allows you to steady your camera for perfect pictures or video. ($20)Want to shoot professional quality

photos from your camera phone?All you need are these cool accessories, available from photojojo.com

3 Dot iPhone Panorama Lens

1 Telephoto, Fisheye & Macro/Wide-angle Lens Set

2 The Glif

Cool. Right. Now.

1

2

3Photograph by Kent Nguyen

Trip Tips . Prepare

17

There isn’t an app for this.

Live, learn, and work with a community overseas.

Be a Volunteer.

peacecorps.gov

Good to go guides

Appy Trails!Gone are the days of forgotten tooth-brushes, mis-translations, and aimless wanderings. You’ll be the smartest traveler around with these handy apps.

BY JENNIFER DIDOMENICO & SARAH PARISEAU

Trip Advisor It will suggest places to "Stay, Eat, and See" during your trip. By entering your loca-tion, its GPS will find all of the nearest hot spots, complete with reviews, pictures, and directions.

uPacki List It's an electronic packing list that allows you to personal-ize your own list of items to bring along, sorted into categories such as clothes, hygiene, preparations and etc.

Translator This handy app allows you to translate a phrase in 53 different languages. Just type in your phrase, and the translation will appear in text with an audio link.

DK Eyewitness Travel Best visualIt is divided into four parts: An overview of the subject nation replete with wildlife and history, a color-coded description of the country’s regions, a “Traveler’s Needs” section and a survival guide. With the diversity of information and eye-pleasing visuals, DK is well-balanced, but the luscious images give it an edge.

Lonely PlanetMost informativeMore details is the name of the game with Lonely Planet. The guide is packed with listings of everything a traveler needs, from environ-mental information to food and drink spots, city maps to language translations and common phrases. Common tips,warnings and advice for individual cities are also covered in rich detail.

National Geographic Most user-friendlyIf those seized by wanderlust need visual aids mixed with contextual explanations of history, region and culture, then the always-slick layout of National Geographic is ideal. The color maps, top-notch photography and effective layout makes this an excellent guide for travelers who don’t need an encyclopedia, but a basic overview to lead them along the right path.

Reliable guides are vital in foreign environments, directing wayward travelers toward grander sights, tastier food and an enhanced sense of surroundings. BY FRED LAMBERT

Trip Tips . Prepare

19

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This bracelet was a gift Amber Apodoca

received from the center where she helped teens with

drug and alcohol problems. She was wearing it

when an underage drunk driver took her life.

Friends Don’t Let Friends Drive Drunk.

126473 CLNTS 2 19:15 10/5/01 WV 110 DOLEV

NOTE TO PUB: DO NOT PRINT INFO BELOW, FOR I.D. ONLY. NO ALTERING OF AD COUNCIL PSAS.Drunk Driving Prevention - Magazine (7x10) B&W DD201-M-06177-A “Bracelet” 110 screen

Film at Horan Imaging 212-689-8585 Reference #: 126473

Lose

Resetting your watch after a flight is easy. Resetting your bodycan be a bit trickier.

Getting off a flight feeling lethargic and sluggish is no way to start your trip (or jump back into the daily grind after an awesome trip.)

Jet lag is caused when the body’s internal clock is thrown off by rapid travel. Usually associated with sleep deprivation due to a change of time zones, jet lag can affect your entire body, causing weakness, dehydration, loss of focus and even memory loss.

It typically takes three to four days to get your body back on track, but who has time for that? Here are some tricks to beat that blah feeling.

the lag

Eat light. No heavy meals before and during your flight. A fruit bowl or raw veggies and ranch dip would be a better choice.

Drink plenty of water before, during, and after your flight. Two eight-ounce glasses of water pre-flight followed by a liter for every hour during flight is recommended.

Stay away from alcohol, motion-sick-ness drugs and other depressants before and during flight to avoid that groggy feeling.

Get a head start on your new schedule. If you’re traveling east, go to sleep a half-hour earlier before your trip. If traveling west, do the opposite.

Change your watch before take-off.As soon as you board the plane, set your watch to your destination’s time-zone. If it’s night-time where you’re headed, take a nap on the plane.

By AMANDA SMITH

3thingsto bring

Eye MaskBlocking out the harsh airplane lights will help you nab some zzz’s.

Toothbrush & toothpaste Start vacation with funky breath? No, thank you.

HeadphonesTune out the bad in-flight movies and crying babies so you can rest.

These everyday items will make any plane trip more comforable.

BY SHAY CASTLE

Trip Tips . Prepare

21

CourseCourse

ActionActionof

22

7Valencia students trek the globe

on a quest to learn in 7 fabulous

education destinationseducation destinations

india1

24

Location: Southern Asia, bordering the Arabian Sea and the Bay of Bengal, between Burma and Pakistan

Total Area: 3,287,263 sq. km Land: 2,973,193 sq. km Water: 314,070 sq. km

7th largest country in the world

Slightly more than one-third the size of the U.S.

Climate: Varies from tropical monsoon in south to temperate in north

Terrain: Upland plain in south, flat to rolling plain along the Ganges

Population: 1,205,073,612 (July 2012 est.)

Quick Facts

Most students spend semester breaks with family or friends, lying on beach towels in the sand or relaxing at home, assignment deadlines far from their minds. But there is another sect of students, one who travels to remote areas of the globe for the chance to observe exotic animals and plants in their native habitats.

Far from hoping to avoid creepy-crawlers, these students seek out the deadly and dangerous in the name of education and conservation.

Professor Steve Myers bravely leads groups of students abroad twice a year, to India during winter break as part of his field biology course, then to Guyana in the spring for neotropical ecology.

SerpentineStudySTORY BY FRED LAMBERT

26

Myers has gone to India five times over the past six years. But the pull this South Asian country has on him goes back further — to his days as an undergrad at Florida State University.

He was 21-years-old, studying biology and had communicated with herpetologist and conservationist Rom Whitaker.

Whitaker, well-known through various PBS and National Geographic documen-taries, used the expertise of the Irula in the 1970s, after widespread snake-hunting for

profitable hides led to an explosion in local rat populations. Eventually, the snake trade was banned, and many Irula found them-selves without a way to make a living.

Whitaker set up a snake catcher’s co-op, known as the Irula Snake Catcher’s Industrial Cooperative Society. The Irula are paid to capture vipers for the extraction of venom (known as “milking”) for use in anti-venom drugs. The snakes are then released back into the wild to control of the rat population.

“These folks are the legendary snake trackers of India. They’ve got a sixth sense for finding them.”

“To me, traveling is empowering,” Myers says. “Don’t go with what other people say. Strike out and do it.”

27

“Don’t be afraid to travel. Take the bull by the horns.”

Clockwise from top left:Steve Myers and Rom Whitaker at the Madras Crocodile Bank and Snake Park. MacKenzie Norris gets up close and personal with a praying mantis. Myers and his students snap pictures while an Irula handles a King Cobra.

28

Students on the trips often work with the indigenous people to measure and observe snakes. The Irula’s unparalleled expertise in handling is an incredible learning experience for the students. Myers also takes groups to the Madras Crocodile Bank and Snake Park and Agumbe Rainforest research station in the Western Ghats, both established by Whitaker. These facilities are for the study and preservation of endangered species like the crocodile. Agumbe, which Myers calls a “biodiver-sity hotspot,” is the second rainiest place on earth, with 25 to 29 feet of precipitation annually. In one day, Myers and students

encountered five feet of rain. The Agumbe research station also doubles as the world’s first King Cobra preserve. Students have seen the world’s largest venomous snake - and their nests - in the wild during previous trips. “There’s an incredible array of species,” Myers observes of the area. “The Ghats is truly a gem and a place worthy of study.” Learning about giant pit vipers and undiscovered species is just part of India.Students visit Hindu temples, sample local fare, and learn traditional dances. “The India experience is one of total immersion in culture,” Myers says. “It is an amazing experience.”

29

guyana 2

30

Location: Bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, between Suriname and Venezuela

Total Area: 214,969 sq. km Land: 196,849 sq. km Water: 18,120 sq. km


Slightly smaller than Idaho

Climate: Tropical; hot, humid, moderated by northeast trade winds; two rainy seasons (May to August, November to January)

Terrain: Mostly rolling highlands; low coastal plain; savanna in south

Population: 741,908 (July 2012 est.)

Quick Facts

A remote nation full of undocumented species and unexplored terrain, 75 percent of Guyana is rainforest. Fifteen different biological habitats can be found in the tiny coastal country, from swamp to savanna to white sand forest, and more than a dozen areas have been identified as potential protected environmental zones.

“The reality is we know more about inner-space than we do about rainforests of the world,” Myers says. “I didn’t want to pick a country like Costa Rica, which more or less has become a resort. I wanted to go to a country where the interior is covered in rainforest and we can learn a lot.”

Myers and his students have encountered numerous forms of wildlife in Guyana’s interior, what he calls the “mega-fauna” of South America. Examples include the Harpy eagle, a jaguar (from a safe distance), giant anteaters, black caiman, a 15-foot anaconda and the arapaima, one of the world’s largest freshwater fish.

The group visits two Amerindian villages, Surama and Rewa. Amerindians are the indigenous people of Guyana.

“The intriguing part is not only are we learning plant and animal relationships” Myers shares, “we’re learning about the Amerindians.”

An Amerindian girl plays in the Kurpukari rapids.Left: A local fisherman hauls in his impressive catch. Right: Kaieteur Falls in central Guyana, one of the world’s tallest waterfalls, is twice the size of Victoria Falls in Africa and five times larger than Niagra Falls.

Land of PlentyGuyana:

STORY BY FRED LAMBERT

32

“It’s going to be future generations that are going to

save these places.”

34

The Amerindians utilize local vegetation for food, shelter, medi-cine and even transportation, according to Myers. Students dine on an Amerindian diet, which is heavy on fish due to the multiple rivers that snake through Gayana’s interior.

Myers also takes his groups to one of the world’s highest waterfalls, Kaieteur Falls, which is five times larger than Niagara Falls and twice the size of

Victoria Falls in Africa. The helicopter ride to the falls yields breathtaking views.

One of Myers’ most memorable experiences in Guyana was attending a shamanic religious ceremony.

“Shaman – the medicine men there – are a dying breed,” he says. Entering the shaman’s house to see the performance of rituals, an extremely rare event, was a once-in-a-lifetime experience for Myers’ group.

“Guyana is a very, very powerful trip.”

35

One of the best parts about study-ing in biologically rich areas is that students are working in the same places where professionals work.

“After we go to India, Rom Whita-ker will have a National Geographic special on India or conservation or snakes and crocodiles, and students will say ‘I was there,’” Myers shares. “That’s very empowering.”

Beyond biology and research, the greatest lesson that students learn is the preservation of national heritage.

“We talk about conservation in India or Guyana, or America, but it’s a global problem,” Myers says.

“As a planet, we need to consider conservation on a large scale.”

“No matter what part of the world

you’re in, we’re all people

that have the same needs and wants.

“Everybody is just trying to live.”

A Macushi Amerindian girl totes a hand-woven basket through her village in Guyana. Above: Christa Jones shows off her henna in front of a Nephila spider web in the Western Ghats.

36

Below: The crew goofing off with Rom Whitaker and Myers in India, winter break 2011. The group in Guyana, spring break 2012, at Kaietuer Falls, with professor Steve Myers.

“It becomes addicting,” Myers says of travel, which explains why he continues to lead groups to India and Guyana year after year. Multiple trips have allowed Myers to develop personal relation-ships with locals, so that all travel arrangements are made without the aid of a travel company.

Myers likes the independence this gives his students to truly immerse themselves in the culture of the countries, perhaps to a greater extent than any other study abroad program at Valencia.

Myers acknowledges the hesitation that some students have to traveling in remote locations,

but claims that bad experiences rarely occur on the trips. No one has ever suffered food poisoning or hurt by wildlife, even though good portions of the trips are spent handling crocodiles, poisonous snakes, and deadly insects.

Clean, safe water, always a concern when trav-eling overseas, is not an issue. Water is filtered at the facility in India and bottled in Guyana.

“Sometimes developing countries might be somewhat intimidating, but we’ve got excellent people we know in these parts of the world.”

“Our trips are one hundred percent safe.”

37

china3

38

Location: Eastern Asia, bordering the East China Sea, Korea Bay, Yellow Sea, and South China Sea, between North Korea and Vietnam

Total Area: 9,596,961 sq. km Land: 9,569,901 sq. km Water: 27,060 sq. km


Slightly smaller than the U.S.

Climate: Extremely diverse; tropical in south to subarctic in north

Terrain: Mostly mountains, high plateaus, desserts in west; plains, deltas, and hills

Population: 1,343,239,923 (July 2012 est.)

Quick Facts

Twenty years ago, China looked like Haiti,” professor Deymond Hoyte says. “Today, they have the world’s second-largest economy.”

Those are just two of the many reasons why Hoyte will be taking his ninth group of students to study in China this summer. Hoyte, who teaches business and computer engineering technology at Valencia College, believes studying in China will inspire innovative thinking in his students.

“Students benefit from seeing first-hand what drives other countries to be more productive than we are in certain areas, the cultural mind-set, the attitude,” Hoyte says. “The Chinese in particular have an incredibly strong work ethic.”

“When you’re actually there and experience it, it’s amazing.”

As the world’s largest exporter —or, as Hoyte calls it, “the world’s bread basket” — China plays a big role in the world economy.

“I wanted to immerse the students into China and give them an opportunity to see why China has become so successful in a short period of time.”

fortuneChina’s

STORY BY AMANDA SMITH & SHAY CASTLE

good

A common street scene in poorer villages contrasts sharply with the business districts in China’s biggest cities. Right: Bicycle taxi’s like these drive right alongside motor vehicles.

40

It is no secret that China is steps ahead of other countries. The fastest high speed train in America travels at less than half the speed of the trains in China. For an

American train, a trip from Shanghai to Beijing would average 150 miles per hour. That same trip for a Chinese train would be 300 miles per hour.

“One of the keys to their success is entrepreneurship,” Hoyte explains. “Go to China, on the streets, everybody is trying to sell something, manufacture something.”

Hoyte thinks the entrepreneurial spirit that once defined America has diminished.

“Our culture is driven by the idea that you go to college for four years, get your degree, maybe your master’s and then get a job,” Hoyte says. “ In China, you go to school, learn the skills and then do some-thing with those skills, put them to work.”

Hoyte feels that developing a driven culture should start in the classroom.

“The schools here, like Valencia, have to learn how to facilitate that creativity, that entrepreneurship. There has to be a culture and atmosphere that drives change on campus, that cultivates a culture of creativity, of entrepreneurship and idea.”

Hoyte has seen firsthand how his students have been inspired by the Chinese, bringing back the ideas of individual responsibility and personal motivation.

“They come back, and they focus like a laser,” he said. “I saw one student who’s graduating with his accounting degree. I said, ‘So what are you going to do when you’re done?’ He said, ‘I’m already signed up for my master’s degree!’”

“These are the same students I couldn’t get to come to class.”

41

Despite the success of trips to China in the past, Hoyte will not be leading a group there in 2013. Instead, he is working with Debbie Hall, an engineering professor, to develop a course focusing on alternative energy, with a new destination in mind as part of the curriculum.

“We want to combine engineering and business to form that bond that is needed for alternative energy projects,” Hoyte explains.

As part of the cross-major course, Hoyte plans to lead a study-abroad trip to Germany.

Germany gets much less sunlight than

Florida, yet 30 percent of their total energy comes from alternative sources. “They are miles ahead of the curve,” Hoyte says.

The field of alternative energy is ripe for business innovation in the Unites States, particularly in Florida. Abundant natural resources translate into unlimited potential for energy and, subsequently, jobs.

“We don’t take advantage of energy we have here in Florida,” Hoyte shares. “There are tremendous opportunities for energy and in turn for new business development. We need to push in a more futuristic direction.”

“If we wait for change from the top,

it won’t happen.”42

“There has to be a culture

Some of the group on the Great Wall during the 2011 trip to China and (below) in front of the 2008 Olympic Stadium in Beijing in 2010.

and atmosphere that drives change.”

43

london4

44

Location: Western Europe, islands, including the northern one-sixth of the island of Ireland, between the North Atlantic Ocean and the North Sea



Slightly smaller than Oregon

Climate: Temperate; moderated by prevailing southwest winds

Terrain: Mostly rugged hills and low mountains

Population: 63,047,162 (July 2012 est.)

Quick Facts

The Delta 747 from Miami touches down at London’s Heathrow at 8 a.m. The temperature is a cool 40 F, a steady drizzle falling from the overcast sky and slicking up the tarmac.

Ten journalism students, under the guide of Valencia College journalism professor Ken Carpenter, have just arrived in London for a weeklong global immersion in journalism course.

The group is whisked to their Central London hotel. It has been 12 hours since the students left Orlando. They are tired and stiff, but there is no time for rest, or even a shower, before a scheduled five-hour walking tour of the city.

“The first day was the worst,” Carpenter recalls with a smile, warm and dry in his office. “They were walking us around to see Big Ben and the Houses of Parliament, and was freezing cold and pouring down rain.”

During the course, students immersed them-selves in the workings of one the world’s most dynamic news and media hubs.

“London has a legitimate, competitive journalism marketplace,” Carpenter explains. “All of their media is national with some local sprinkled in, versus ours, which is almost entirely local with some national sprinkled in.”

London is home to several daily newspapers, from the venerable Times of London to an assortment of flashy tabloids.

London

TimesSTORY BY FRED LAMBERT

46

Carpenter and his students visited to major news venues, meeting with editors, PR agents and professional journalists.

The group toured the facilities at The Guardian, one of London’s oldest daily newspapers, and met with the readers’ editor and managing editor for a q&a session. They hung out on the set of CNBC Europe, where a live newscast on the European debt crisis was being filmed. They had breakfast with Marc Settle of the BBC, who trains reporters to use smart phones and social media, and dinner with a journalism grad student, to get what Carpenter calls “the student perspective on what they do and how they do it over there.”

The most memorable meeting, at least for Carpenter, was with Tracy Corrigan, the editor-in-chief of the Wall Street Journal Europe.

“The Journal was really good, in several ways,” Carpenter says. “They have a very large staff working there. I thought it was going to be 20, 25 people. They have hundreds.”

About two dozen reporters work exclusively for The Journal, and more than 100 others files stories to DOW Jones Newswires.

“We were in that newsroom, and it was electric,” Carpenter said. “I turned to our students and said, ‘Look at all these jobs.’”

“Journalism is perceived as a dying

industry, like there’s no jobs to be had,

and here was a room with 100 people

working on assignments.

“It was really impressive.”

A view of the London Eye from across the River Thames. Left: The western facade of Westminster Abbey, the popular name of the Collegiate Church of St. Peter at Westminster. A view of St. Paul’s Cathedral from the roof terrace of a shopping mall.

47

You will learn

London’s huge financial district is, in part, what drives the news market. Within London’s financial district is a one-square-mile area known as The City. More than 300,000 people work in the financial district, a melting pot of cultures, languages and ethnicities.

London is one of the world’s most diverse cities, with over 250 languages are spoken.

“If it’s not the most diverse city, culturally, in the world, I don’t know what is,” Carpenter says. “It’s tremendous to get a look at another culture.”

“We live in this insular, little capsule. We think the U.S. is the best at everything, the newest at everything and the greatest at everything, and you learn we’ve got some work to do in certain areas.”

The London trip was the first time Valencia’s journalism students traveled outside the United States. Carpenter said he wants to do it again if students are interested.

“Contact professors, contact the SAGE office,” Carpenter urges. “Find a way. Valencia wants students to experience this.”

“Just do it.

so much and appreciate what’s going on elsewhere.”

48

The group in front of the British Museum in London, spring break 2012. Below: Hanging out at the headquarters of The Guardian.

“Find a way to experience this.”

49

poland5

50

Location: Central Europe, east of Germany



Slightly smaller than New Mexico

Climate: Temperate with cold, cloudy, moderately severe winters with frequent precipitation; mild summers with frequent showers and thundershowers

Terrain: Mostly flat plain; mountains along southern border


Quick Facts

Chelsea Olsen sits near the tracks that lead to the entrance of Auschwitz, the notorious World War II concentration camp.

These aren’t the sights you would expect a group of college students to be seeing on their spring break. Every year, professor Richard Gair ushers a group of student-sthrough World War II-era concentration camps and memorial sites to see the horrors of the Holocaust.

“This study-abroad trip is like visiting a classroom without walls,” Gair says. “The students are confronted with something they’ve never experienced before.”

Gair teaches holocaust studies, a three credit course, at Valencia College. This summer, the trip has been extended by two days to include Prague, in addition to the eight-day excursion in Poland.

“This is a life-altering program,” Gair says. “The trip is a crucial part of the class.”

College students shuffle through the dark, dusty chambers of Auschwitz where millions of European Jews once took their last breath in the Nazi death camps of the 1940s. In a glass area sits a pile of shoes, stripped from the feet of victims moments before their death. A pile of human hair rests on the floor, shaved from the heads of the prisoners before they were sent to their deaths.

moving past

JENNIFER DIDOMENICOSTORY BY

Poland:

52

“It’s challenging,but it’s important to know

what happened.”

Gair’s first visit to Poland made a large impact on his life. He knew that he wanted to take students there to study. He wanted students to feel the same impact that he felt the first time he visited.

Gair has the students gather as a group several times before traveling together. The group meets three times before departure: the first two meetings go over finances, boarding, safety procedures and other practical issues. The final meeting takes place at a Polish restaurant in Orlando.

He feels it is important for unacquainted students to get to know one another before traveling outside of the country, as visiting death camps can cause emotional stress.

“It is physically and mentally challenging,” warns Gair, “but it’s important for students to learn about what happened.”

In addition to visiting Holocaust sites such as the Warsaw ghetto, Auschwitz and Treblinka, students learn about the history and cultural traditions of Poland.

“This trip has a tight schedule,” says Gair. “There is very little free time.”

Along with sight-seeing comes a lot of hard work, since all Valencia study-abroad trips are worth three credits. The final project starts on the first day of the trip- worksheets guide the students through each site, daily. As they visit each location, they complete worksheets and take notes. At the end of the trip, Gair ships these workbooks off for binding, allowing the students to keep their personalized books as mementos.

53

This marker is one of 17,000 that honor towns and families decimated by Nazi forces. Below: Arielle Poliner pauses for a moment ofreflection outside of Birkeneau, the death camp of Auschwitz.

Gair also video records most of the trip. Along with taking video during the day, he captures nightly sessions where students discuss what they saw that day.

“I decided to do this with the students so they could have a place to express their feelings about the tragic sites they see,” Gair explains. “It’s a good way for students to deal with the stress.”

The video is uploaded to YouTube where students are able to share footage

with their families and reflect back on the trip. Gair also uses the footage as advertisement for the next year’s trip, to give students an idea of what to expect.

The sights aren’t easy for the students to see, but they are central to the experience.

“The death camps are really the most significant part of the trip, from an emotional point of view,” Gair says. “There are no bad experiences. The students come back completely changed.”

54

The group takes a break from serious study to have some fun in the city. Below: The group, with Professor Richard Gair, at one of the many memorials in Poland, summer 2011.

“This trip is a classroom

without walls.The students come back

completely changed.”

55

italy6

56

Location: Southern Europe, a peninsula extending into the Mediterranean Sea, northeast of Tunisia



Slightly larger than Arizona

Climate: Predominantly Mediterranean; Alpine in far north; hot, dry in south

Terrain: Mostly rugged and mountainous; some plains, coastal lowlands


Quick Facts

That’s the advice Catalina Perez has for students planning to study abroad as part of Valencia’s Honors Program.

Every year, a group of honors students spends spring break in a foreign country. Past trips have been to Peru, Greece, Morocco and Austria. The fabulous locations change, but the mission stays the same: immerse students in global culture, a hands-on, interdisciplinary learning experience.

“Going on trips, you actually see what you study,” says Perez. “One of the best things about traveling is that you learn so much and meet so many people that you become more open-minded. You stop judging those cultures.”

The goal of exposing students to new things has influenced the selection process when it comes time to decide who gets to go.

Students who well-traveled have more money to travel independently are less likely to be selected than those who have never traveled or can’t afford to. Students of the humanities also have a better chance of being selected.

Student and faculty input is considered when choosing locations for upcoming trips, something Valerie Burks initiated when she became the new honors director last year.

To select a new honors destination, Burks contacted Honors professors requesting suggestions. She received only one reply: Italy.

“Expect the unexpected.”

Honor Bound STORY BY EDWARD MUELLER

58

Burks felt instinctively that the historic location would attract interest, and the announcement followed days .

The decision has been met with great en-thusiasm. Chris Waltemate, a general education student selected for the trip, is very excited for the classic destination.

“We are going to so many amazing places; Florence, Venice, Rome, Pompeii,” he says. “It’s hard for me to decide what will be the best part.”

Walternate is looking forward to learning how to chemically restore artwork, in collaboration with chemistry professor Eileen Perez. Perez will lecture students on the

restoration of art while they tour museums in Florence and Venice, discussing how weather damages works of art and how a delicate chemi-cal processes can save them from ruin.

Bonnier Oliver, professor of business and economics, plans to help students learn aboutthe difficulties of economic integration within the European Union. Five countries face particularly grave troubles, including 20 percent unemployment rates. Along with Italy, Portugal, Ireland, Greece, and Spain share a nickname among the EU: The Five Pigs.

Besides rich culture and history, Italy has one thing that students relish; exquisite cuisine.

“We are going to so many amazing places.”

59

“Don’t ever compare things to the U.S.

People think, differently, act differently, talk differently.”

The Coliseum from the street and (above) from inside. Left: The Last Judgement by Giorgio Vasari and Federico Zuccari inside the Duomo of Florence at Basilica di Santa Maria del Fior.

Photographs by Christopher Walternate60

“Have an empty stomach,” advises Perez. “It’s not like here, where you see big, brand-names everywhere. There are actually really small local restaurants. They are the best, actually. Everything is homemade [and] fresh.”

Destinations for honors trips are often well-known locations, like Italy, that are portrayed heavily in movies and television shows, but Burks encourages students not to expect what they have seen on screen.

“Do not develop too many expectations, either for good or bad things that will happen,”

she says. “The good part you encounter is way better than you can imagine.”

Gustavo Morales, a geology professor, led the Honors trip to Spain and Morocco in 2010.

His best advice to study abroad students is to forget what they know and open themselvescompletely to the new experience.

“Don’t ever travel comparing things to the U.S.,” he says. “This is not the U.S. It’s this other place. People think, differently, act differently, talk differently.”

“It’s neither good nor bad, just different.”

YOUWANNAGO?You have to be an honors student and at least 18 to travel with the Honors Program.

Contact Bonnie Oliver for more information [email protected]

Application does not guarantee selection.

61

7 denmark

62

Location: Northern Europe, bordering the Baltic Sea and the North Sea, on a peninsula north of Germany (Jutland)

Total Area: 43,094 sq. km Land: 42,434 sq. km Water: 660 sq. km


Slightly less than twice the size of Massachusetts

Climate: Temperate; humid and overcast; mild winters and cool summers

Terrain: Low and flat to gently rolling plains


Quick Facts

Tiny Denmark is best known for its fierce Viking ancestors and its ability to turn teak wood into sleek furniture. The picturesque Nordic nation seems an unlikely place to study business, but Valencia College business professor Lee McCain thinks there is plenty to learn from the country that gave the world Legos and has led the planet in wind energy for years. “We think the way we do business in America is exactly the same way we do business everywhere else in the world,” McCain says. “That’s just not true.”

Business is one of Valencia’s most popular majors. McCain takes a small group of students in his event management planning course to Denmark every spring to glean knowledge from the people of the prosperous nation. “The Danes are very industrious people, very welcoming, very friendly and relaxed,” McCain says, “completely different from the American ‘go-go-go’ mentality.”

That cultural attitude, which McCain sees as key to Denmark’s success, is something that can’t be learned in a classroom, and one of the many reasons that studying abroad is so beneficial.

Roskilde, Denmark is home to the Viking Ship Museum, home to five original Viking ships found in Peberrenden, 20 km north of Roskilde.The excavation of the ships, started in 1962, took four months to complete.

to business Getting down

in DenmarkSTORY BY JUAN GUTIERREZ

64

After arriving in Copenhagen, students are whisked away for a bus ride across rolling green hills and through windmill-dotted fields to Roskilde, a town of 47,000, and the home of Roskilde Business College. Roskilde University is a public Danish univer-sity that was founded in 1972. The school hosts Valencia students for their stay. Last year, seven students lived and studied event management at the college for a week alongside local students.oskilde also hosts groups from Sinclair Com-munity College in Dayton Ohio, Roane State Community College in eastern Tennessee and the Institute of Technical Education (ITE) of Singapore.

“Denmark is an excellent place to study because of Roskilde and the schools they work with,” McCain says. “They have a good program.” Each student in McCain’s course is part of a team that puts together their own business

presentation event. Teams have one week to complete the entire event management process, from selecting a venue to the review process after the event. Last year, in conjunction with an event in the capital city themed “Green Copenhagen” teams brainstormed the various ways the theme could be interpreted and implemented to improve the community. One team developed “Place your butts here,” a campaign to place cigarette-butt disposal con-tainers throughout the city. “They plan an event, market and execute it. Af-terwards they discuss what went well, what they could do better, and what they would change if they could,” McCain says.

“It changes their lives.

Kronburg Castle, in Helsingor,

Denmark, better known as Elsinore, the setting for Wil-liam Shakespeare’s

“Hamlet,” was built by King Eric VII in

the 1420s.The fortress sits

on an island at the narrowest point of Oresund, the sound between

Denmark and Sweden.

After they do it, they understand what it takes.”

65

Each team is made up of one student from each American school, one from ITE Singapore and one from Roskilde in Denmark. This mix enhances the learning opportunity, as each student brings their own nation’s business practices and customs to the project.

Denmark’s business culture differs from America in several ways, according to McCain.

Danes are known as direct and frank commu-nicators. Sincerity and honesty are highly valued. McCain cautions that having the “gift of the gab” will get you nowhere if it’s not supported by logic or evidence, which is meticulously analyzed in any business transaction.

Students are able to observe these behaviors firsthand from speakers brought in throughout the course to discuss different aspects of the event planning and trade show business.

“It’s truly an experience they can only get in an international setting,” McCain says.

66

you can watch videos,

The drive from Copenhagen to Roskilde. Left: The group in 2011 at Kronburg Castle.

“You can read from books,

but nothing says getting to know it better than doing it.”

67

India Guyana

Vaccinations for typhoid, polio and

hepatitis are recommended, but

not required. Malaria pills doxycycline and malarone are also suggested.

The Hindi influence in India limits food choice. “There may be some chicken, but

Remember cultural sensitivities. Don’t be loud, rule or boisterous. In India, be respectful to street-beggars, don’t put your left hand on

dinner tables, and be wary that

In India,

grasping one’s ears

signifies repentance or sincerity.

shaking your head actually means ‘YES.’

30 different

languages

are spoken by more than a million

native speakers.2001 Census

for the most part it’s vegetarian,”

Myers warns. Indian cuisine also uses a myriad of spices, like curry.

It is illegal for foreigners to

import or export

Indian currency (rupees)

“Sometimes developing countries might be intimidating,” Myers admits, “but we’ve got

excellent people we know in these parts od the

world. Our trips are 100% safe.”

Myers suggests attire not unfamiliar to Valencia students. “Dress as cool as possible.”

“Bring insect repellant.”“As Floridians traveling to these places we’re

well suited for tropical climates.”

Guyanese food is influenced by

African, Creole, East Indian, Amerindian,

Chinese and European culture.

Vaccinations for typhoid, yellow fever and hepatitis are

recommended. Malaria pills doxycycline and malarone are also suggested.

The only

English speaking country

in South America.

The currency is the Guyanese dollar.

THINGS TO KNOW

68

China London

Censorship is very prevalent in China,

the government will frequently shutdown social media sites.

With over one billion residents, China is a very crowded country.

Don’t expect a lot of personal space,

and don’t be surprised if you are jostled while standing in line.

Don’t point or beckon with one finger.

The gesture is considered

extremely rude when directed at a

person.

Despite improvements prior to the 2008 Beijing Olympics, air quality remains poor.

Consider packing a cotton face mask.

Local residents, especially children,

openly stare and point at tourists.

Swastikas are widely

displayed in Buddhist temples.

The symbol was inverted by the

Nazis in the 1920s.

Be prepared for public transportation.

“The system is so incredibly good that you can get to

and from pretty much anywhere with ease.”

A week-long pass is a huge time saver, and it works on the underground, buses and trains.

Traffic comes from the left.

Carpenter’s advice to students who

are thinking about this trip?

“Just do it.”

London’s air quality is dicey. Many of the vehicles, like London’s famous black taxi

cabs, are diesel powered.

That soot soaks into everything;

hair, skin, clothes, and lungs.

Carpenter advises traveling light, ideally with one carry-on bag.

“When you check bags, you never know if you’re going

to lose them,” Carpenter says.

There are very few

garbage cans on London

streets.

BEFORE YOU GO

69

Poland Italy

This trip is very emotional. You will see personal items that belonged to the people who were killed, and walk through gas chambers where victims were executed.

The Polish are very old-fashioned when it comes to manners and etiquette.

Hats should never be worn indoors.

Polish people are proud of their languages, as they were protected at great cost during

the German occupation.

It is a faux pas to confuse German or Russian words or names with Polish ones.

There is a lot of coursework involved in this class.

Worksheets must be filled out at each sightseeing location, and students meet daily

for group discussion.

Poland is a staunch Catholic nation with a tradition of very strong gender roles. Although

more accepted in urban areas,

LGBT issues are still somewhat taboo

throughout the country.

You push to enter a place,

and pull to get out.

Exactly the opposite as in the

United States.

You can’t walk in a church with a tank

top or with shorts on. You need to be

properly dressed

to visit most holy places.

Credit cards are not widely accepted.

Always bring cash with you!

When walking into a store, especially clothing or shoes, in most cases you will have a shop

assistant with you at all times.

Sometimes you won’t be allowed to even touch

the things unless you’re trying them on.

Cappuccino is not forbidden

in the afternoon, it’s just

frowned upon following a meal.

Tap water is never served, restaurants only

serve bottled water. Despite the fact that it’s now safe.

70

Denmark

2012 - 2013

"Dress warmly," McCain advises. Spring weather in Denmark

can windy and chilly, with average

temperatures between 40 and 60 F.

An introductory business course is a prerequisite for

global perspectives in event management.

The course is available to take by McCain and other Valencia business professors.

McCain advises learning a few Danish wordsand phrases before you go.

“Tak” is Danish for “thank you,” “selv tak” means

“you’re welcome.” Surprisingly, there is no direct Danish

equivalent for ‘please.’

Regulations for tap water are more strict than for bottled water in Denmark, so it is not uncommon

for restaurants to serve tap water, or

refill bottles from the sinks.

Areas on the front and back of trains are

designated as “quiet zones.” It is considered rude to talk or make noise in

these areas.

Poland & Czech RepublicHolocaust Studies June 21 - July 2

Dominican RepublicService Learning June 23 - July 1

IndiaField Biology Dec. 26 - Jan. 5

GuyanaNeotropical Ecology Feb. 28 - March 9

EnglandLeadership March 1 - March 10

Italy & GreeceHumanities March 1 - March 9

FranceHonors Interdisciplinary StudiesMarch 1 - March 10

EcuadorSpanish Language & CultureMarch 3 - March 10

Italy & SpainEconomicsMarch 8 - March 16

DenmarkGlobal Perspectives in Event Management May 11 - 26

ChinaEconomic, Social & Cultural ImpactMay 22 - June 5

SpainComputer FundamentalsMay 31 - June 7

France & BelgiumInternationals PoliticsJuly 12 - July 21

SAGE Trips

71

Plantains, pineapplessuper

, &

Our first day in Vietnam. We find our hotel in the Old Quarter, shower and hit the town, eager to explore the muggy avenues. I exchange $25 into 505,000 dong. I figure that will be plenty of cash for the next few days on the streets of Hanoi.

Being an American tourist, my attention is easily gained by a small Vietnamese man selling Zippo lighters with images of Ho Chi Minh and outlines of his country imprinted on the side. He wants 600,000 dong for two, about $30.

“No, thanks,” we say, and continue on our way, but the man follows us for several blocks trying to haggle. We offer 5,000 dong, or a few bucks. He laughs at us, but still follows us down the street as we try to shrug him off.

Another man begins to trail me, pointing at my sandals, which have a minor split in the heel. He starts fixing the heel without my go-ahead, wielding his small vial of super glue like a magic wand.

The lighter salesman is still quoting prices. Another vendor shows up, waving bootleg paperback novels in my face. I catch a glimpse of Joseph Heller’s “Catch-22” and Jack Kerouac’s “On the Road,” so he earns my respect and a thumbs-up for good taste,

but I am not buying anything. I now have three street vendors

in a frenzy around me. I keep saying, “No, com on” (no, thank you) but they didn’t seem to get it or care.

The glue man finishes and demands 200 dong for his efforts. I offer a hundred-bill and he insists, “No, 200.” It seems like too much, but I still didn’t get the currency conversion.

I pull out my cash and count it, looking for the right bill. They don’t have change, and I say stupidly that I don’t have enough, even though they have already seen my cash roll.The lighter vendor, the rudest of the three, calls my bluff. “No, you have lots of money,” he says.

The novel peddler is still shoving books under my nose, shouting prices.

The glue man, looking impatient, waves the hundred-bill I gave him and says, again, “No, 200.”

I toss another hundred-bill at him and get the hell out of there.

“How much is 200 dong?” I ask Stephanie once the mob is a couple of blocks behind me.

“Like, two cents,” she assures me.“Thank god,” I reply, amazed

at the unbalanced comparison of dongs and dollars.

. Journeys

How one writer learned the art of the hustle from Vietnamese vendors.

glue

STORY BY FRED LAMBERT

73

We stroll on down the street, feeling smug at having dispensed the locals for such a measly price.

Almost immediately, some local women approach us, donning conical straw hats and wood braces supporting roped fruit-baskets. They give a friendly greeting and try peddling some fruit. “No thanks,” we say, but they, like their male counterparts, persist.

One tiny, old lady puts the brace up on my shoulder and her conical hat on my head. It’s the perfect photo op, and Stephanie can’t resist. She snaps a picture.

The women swarm her with the same routine. One of them reaches for our Kodak and for a moment I expect her to run off with the camera. Instead, she takes a picture of the two of us, American tourists on the streets of Vietnam.

I give the lady back her effects, and she hands me a bag of plantains and cut pineapple. I don’t want it, but being polite, I ask, “How much?”

“One-fifty.”

I hand her another of my hundred-bills and she shows me an unidentifiable wad of blue and red dong, speaking her series of single-syllable words and shaking her head.

“One-fifty,” she says again, so I give her another hundred, expecting some change. She snatches it away and says, “For two, for two,” pointing at Stephanie, also being handed a bag of plantains from the woman who snapped her picture.

“Okay,” I say. As I turn toward Stephanie, the woman quickly disappears into the crowded street of vendors, clutching my cash in her hand.

Stephanie is arguing with her street vendor, who is looking unhappy as Stephanie keeps answering ‘No’ to the women’s unintelligible sales pitch.

I grab the bag of plantains, trying to explain that I already paid for them. Despite the language barrier, it becomes clear that both fruit sellers were independent from one another.

I sit the bag at her feet and quickly walk away, Stephanie in tow.We stop at a restaurant to collect our thoughts.

“So far I’ve spent 400 dong, and it’s only been five minutes,” I say. “That’s only like, four cents, right?”

Stephanie checks her iPhone currency converter app and confirms as I casually count my bills. Something isn’t adding up, and when I realize it, I choke on my water.I have 105,000 dong left, 400,000 less than I started with.

Instead of a comma after the amount (100,) the bills had a dot (100.) This must have made me think of American hundreds, but it still doesn’t account for the extra zero (100.000) and I realize my stupidity.

I had shelled out 200,000 dong for some super-glue on my sandal and another 200,000 for a bag of hot, old fruit.

That’s $19 American.

74

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How one student scored a semester at sea

STORY BY SARAH PARISEAU

confined to our own ways

Imagine earning college credit for spending 105 days visiting 11 different countries and

travelling the globe by cruise ship. It sounds like a dream vacation, but for Nicole Rosa, it was her version of a semester studying abroad.

“Semester at Sea” was first established in 1963 and is academically sponsored by the University of Virginia. Rosa, an alumnus of Rollins College, set sail as part of the program in the fall of 2005. The amazing experience left her with much more than credits.

“The voyage gave me a new

appreciation of the world outside of my own,” Rosa said. “Sometimes, we are so confined to our own ways of thought that we aren’t open to the good in the differences, among other cultures.”

Rosa definitely got the multi-cultural experience; her cruise took her to thirteen different countries; Bahamas, Venezuela, Brazil, South Africa, Mauritius, India, Myanmar,Vietnam, Cambodia, Hong Kong, China, Japan, and a brief stop in Hawaii.

“Sometimes we are so

that we aren’t open to the good in other cultures.”

Nicole Rosa at Agra Fort and (left) the iconic Taj Mahal.

. Journeys

77

Rosa, who double-majored in anthropology and religion, spent the voyage studying

intercultural communication methods.

She interviewed monks in Cambodian temples, and took breath-taking photographs in the Amazonian rain forests.

One of the experiences that sticks out the most to Rosa was watching the sunrise on the Great Wall of China.

“Every country had something incredibly special, from catching piranhas in the Amazon to seeing the neck rings of the Kayan

women of Burma. The entire voyage was life changing.”

Rosa also got the chance to listen to a series of lectures by

famed South African archbishop Desmond Tutu.“I scribbled this in my note-

book and it defines my greatest lesson: ‘I can’t be me, unless you are YOU. I need YOU for me to be me. My humanity is caught up in your humanity. Anything that diverts your humanity undermines mine. We are interdependent.’”

“The voyage gave me a new appreciation

of the world outside of my own.”

A rural roadside stand in India. Below: Golden Temple in Kyoto Japan.

78

Angkor Wat in Cambodia, the largest complex of Hindu temples in the world.

79

Many colleges and universities provide opportunities to study abroad. Florida State University offers 50 International Programs (FSU IP) in 20 different countries. These programs are consistently rated in the top 15 of U.S. study abroad programs. Each year, FSU IP sends 1,600 students around the world to any one of their many study abroad locations. Last month, a group of Valencia College journalism students studying abroad happened upon FSU student Kat

Porter-Wolf outside of the FSU IP facility in London. The students had an opportunity to speak with her about her experiences. Porter-Wolf, a freshman at FSU, is part of the First Year Abroad program. She saw a brochure highlighting the London program and knew right away it was something she wanted to be a part of. “I was very excited to go to London,” she said. “I was ready to spread my wings and see the world on my own.”

TAKEOVERBY SARAH PARISEAU

Students at Florida State University transform the world’s vacation destinations into virtual classrooms.

Global

80

Porter-Wolf is a creative writing major and is planning to double-major in psychology. “The classes here are great,” she said. “Also, the class sizes are relatively small, which is great because you really get that one-on-one time with your teachers, if you need it.” While she’s been living in London for the semester, she’s been able to partake in many extracurricular activities. “There are so many things that we’ve been able to do here in London,” Porter-Wolf said. “Our program assistants set up all sorts of day trips and tours around the city.” One advantage of living and studying in such a large metropolis is that there is never a shortage of things to do and see, and public transportation puts it all within reach. “My favorite part about living here is how close we are to everything,” Porter-Wolf said. “Most things that we need are at most,

a 15 minute walk away.” Adjusting to a different culture has been relatively easy for Porter-Wolf. The thing she misses most about home is the plentiful Florida sunshine. “My least favorite thing would have to be the cold weather,” she admitted. “We’ve honestly been really lucky. We’ve had some really mild weather.” Weather aside, Porter-Wolf has no regrets about this experience, one that she says has changed her for the better. “I would definitely recommend this program to other students,” she said. “It’s such a fabulous experience and it really teaches you a lot about yourself.” “This experience forces you out of your comfort zone and makes you try new things that you might never have dared to try at home. I’ve grown so much as a person [because of] the diversity of the people here.”

. Journeys

For more information on Florida State’s IP programs,

go to http://international.fsu.edu/

81

http://international.fsu.edu/

What did you study at Valencia?I am in my fifth semester of my Bach-

elor in Leisure Management. I had to take six classes which were tied in with my study in Denmark. At Valencia, I took macroeco-nomics, introduction to humanities, fitness and wellness, introduction to business, sound for media, and business of music.

How many others came with you? I was the only one!Other students from my class went to

Australia, London and Amsterdam, but I was the first student from my area of study in Denmark to go to the States.

How long were you in Orlando?My trip was for almost five months. I

arrived at the beginning of August and I left Orlando at the end of December.

How was the flight?It took 10 hours to get to Orlando. I

had a one-hour flight from Copenhagen to Manchester and then nine hours from Manchester to Orlando.

It was a long trip but I didn't mind. It gave me time to think about all the things I just left and the things I was about to face. What did you find the most surprising about the United States?

I was surprised about how open and friendly everyone is. You don't know any-one when you get there, but everyone is very kind and curious.

I really enjoyed hanging out with everyone I got to know.

Another thing that surprised me was the culture, which I find very different from Denmark. People talk a lot about money and work. In Denmark it's quite different because we don't.

Semester at Valencia

Michelle Steffensen of Denmark became the first exchange student in Valencia College’s visitor program to spend a semester here, traveling to Florida to learn about business, fun and the American dream.

Coming to America

“I learned a lot about myself. Today I would do it again without hesitation.”

INTERVIEW BY SARAH PARISEAU

82

What did you discover about yourself during the trip?

I learned a lot about myself. I was very nervous about going, but today I would do it again without hesitation. I realized that it is very important to me having people I love around me. My family and friends are what I really value in life, above everything else. Money is less important to me. Of course I want money. I need money. But I don’t need a lot of money to just buy stuff that I don’t really need. What was the first thing you packed in your suitcase?

The first thing I packed was my com-puter. It was important to me to be able to go online to talk to family and friends while I was gone. I wanted to stay in touch with them to know about their life in Denmark and to tell them about my life in Orlando.

My sister-in-law was pregnant at the time I left Denmark, so it was important to me to follow her pregnancy. (FYI, she gave birth to a beautiful little girl five days after I came back to Denmark.)

Favorite memories?I have a lot of great memories from this

trip. I got a lot of new friends and got a lot closer to all of them during my stay. I still talk to them often and there is no doubt that I will visit them again.

Did you sample any new foods during your trip? What’s your new fave?

I was living at a friends' place and they are all from Brazil. They moved to Orlando five years ago. They made me a lot of Brazil-ian food; hotdogs, Brazilian BBQ, cheese bread etc. It was really good. American food is pretty similar to Danish food. They just eat a lot more fast food than we do.

What would you tell students who want to study abroad?

I participated in an international event at Valencia College where students came to talk about study abroad. I also went to four classes at Valencia to talk about my study abroad program and to give them informa-tion about studying in Denmark. I wanted to make the students curious about going abroad to study. Not only to Denmark but anywhere.

My experience of the American people is that they never really leave the States, so I wanted to give them the impression that going abroad is a very good thing and will give you a personal development you will never be able to get if you just stay home all the time.

Why is travel important to you?It is important for me to take risks and

challenge myself, to experience different cultures and meet new people. That is the way I feel that I develop.

For me it is important to explore my own personality. I can’t do that by just staying in my home country, working and buying stuff. I need to see the world!

“It is important to take risks”

. Journeys

83

I’m back from London, and it was awesome! Riding the Underground, trying all the new foods (some of which I will not be trying again), and seeing the London Eye, Big Ben and Westminster Abbey: I’ll never forget it.

The hardest part for me was being away from my mom for the first time. I spent the first two days constantly thinking about her.

I felt insecure at times, being such an inexperienced traveler. But a little encouragement from my classmates gave me the confidence I needed. Everyone

looked out for one another. We were no longer just classmates, we became family.The best was standing on the set at CNBC Europe, seeing how everything works

and the roles that each person plays, everyone working their hardest.At that moment, we weren’t just visiting. We were journalists, living a dream.

March 12, 8:23 p.m.

I’ve never had a passport before, and holding one in my hand for the first time made me realize: I’m going to London!

The thought of being away from home for a week seems scary, but more exciting than anything. I think that my mom is more worried than I am.

She told me, “Don’t end up like the girls on “Taken”, stay in groups.” She got her passport too, “‘just in case I have to jump on a plane to save you,” she said. She’s crazy, but I love her.

It’s going to be hard being away from her for a whole week.

Feb. 23, 4:07 p.m.week to departure

ConfessionsBY ARIE’L AUSTIN

1

There is a lot to think about: How to pack (will I have enough room for all of my clothes? What about souvenirs on the way home?) where we’ll be staying (I hope it’s clean and safe!), and what the weather will be like.

I’m not worried about flying; it’s just the wait that’s going to get to me. I wish I could just snap my fingers and be there.

I’m looking forward to riding the London Eye, eating authentic fish-and-chips, and sharing it all with my classmates.

I’m more than ready for my first trip overseas. I just hope London is ready for me!

March 1, 11:07 p.m.Night before departure

of a virgin traveler

.Journeys

84

London Calling

How long have you been teaching and living in London?

I moved to London to join the American College in London in June 1993 and it was supposed to only be for one year. Twenty years later and I’m still here.

What classes do you teach?I teach Learning through

Internships at CAPA, a private organization that contracts with American universities to do semester-long study abroad programs in London. The students come from universities and colleges all across the U.S.

The classes are intended to help the students gain as much as possible out of their London experience. We do this through cultural comparisons of U.K. vs. U.S. workplace environments, gender roles and stereotypes and multiculturalism.

What are the the best things about living in London?

I sometimes take London for granted, and occasionally have to remind myself that I’m living in one of the world’s great cities.

You can’t live here and not be aware of the history, architecture, and multi-culturism of the city.

What is the best thing about studying abroad?

It is a great educational experience as well as culturally and personally developmental. Most of my American students are with me for three months or more and in that time I can see a difference in them, especially if they’ve never been out of the U.S. before.

Have you taught in any other countries?

I’ve delivered guest lectures in probably 20 different countries.

I delivered a six-month university program in Pune India several years ago. How different! The students stood up when I came into the room in the morning and in unison said, “Good Morning, Professor!”

What advice would you give to a student who is hesitant about doing a study abroad program?

Work closely with the study

abroad advisor at your home university to ensure that the classes will count towards your major.

Pick your location carefully. The language of instruction should play an important role in that decision. That’s why London is such a good choice.

Budget carefully even if money is not a challenge. Students are often surprised and money worries can really detract from their enjoyment.

Don’t hesitate. It can change your life for the better.

Are you ever coming home?I told myself that this was a

temporary situation. I came to realize that I had an image in my head of what I was returning to, and each time I returned, that image changed. Family passed away, architecture and streets disappeared, friends moved, and cultural values and norms became unrecognisable. Slowly, [the U.S.] became the foreign country.

I have come to believe that this is my permanent home.

“Don’t be hesitant. It can change your life for the better.”

Professor Marshall Hall left the States in the early ‘90s for a one-year job in London. It’s been over 20 years, but he hasn’t come home yet. We caught up with him on the Underground for a little chat about studying, teaching and why London is one of the coolest cities ever.

. Journeys

INTERVIEW BY JUAN GUTIERREZ

85

My trip to London has become my most popular conversation piece.

“I went to London for spring break,” I often find myself saying, especially when engaging a woman.

“What was it like?” she asks.“We went to Windsor Castle,” I

start, her eyes brightening. “There were rooms with ceilings twenty-feet high, and the walls and furniture were covered in gold.”

Sometimes, I make use of my iPod to invoke visual stimulation.

The images tend to make the story feel more real, but my words and pictures merely echo an experi-ence that I will never forget.

Before this trip, I interviewed many students and professors who offered advice and shared stories.

Professor Gustavo Morales told me a touching story about the

honors trip in 2010 when he saw the Rock of Gibraltar for the first time.

At one point in history, people thought that it marked the edge of the world. This was his first time seeing the rock, despite travelling to over 50 countries in his life, and quite literally left him speechless.

I hadn’t thought at that time about how many extraordinary firsts I would experience on my own upcom-ing adventures in London, but if a man of years and experience can still be so moved by a long-documented article of geology, then you better believe that there is something out there that will leave you awed.

The truth is that no picture, magazine, counselor, or professor can prepare you for immersion into a foreign culture, let alone the global world. If you really want to know,

. Beginnings

you have to go find out

for yourself.

BY EDWARD MUELLER

Start your own story

86

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Valencia Voyage / 2012

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