Berlin has long been an interesting city, but for vastly different reasons depending on the era. Its streets have seen a copious amount of bloodshed and sadness and even today the coldness of the soviet union hangs limply between grey buildings streets.

The “Fernsehturm” or TV tower in Mitte, Berlin. Shot on a Canon A1 film camera

However, when you look a little bit closer at this austere appearing city, you find a vibrant and pulsating atmosphere filled with art and artists, creativity and creatives. A new era of humanity has rebelled against the pain and reclaimed the hurt to create a beautiful and welcoming environment.

Berlin isn’t without its struggles and just like the rest of Europe is trying to figure out what type of player it wants to be in the world scene. As the seat of power in Germany, Berlin deals with its fair share of the new tide of populism and immigration is a top issue across the country.

I lived in Neukolln, which is a primarily arabic neighborhood home to refugees and immigrants from Lebanon, Turkey, Sudan, and Syria. During my stay in Berlin, I took language courses, interned at a radio station, and further developed my photography and storytelling.

January in Berlin, around the area I lived in for the first few months. Shot on a Canon A1 film camera

I spent a lot of time alone during my stay in Berlin and the many challenges of German bureaucracy and life in a foreign country were extremely formative in how I am now. I had to confront bias I didn’t know I had, I had to learn how to rely on myself, how to self-motivate, how to deal with language barriers, and much more.

Berlin wasn’t always fun and it definitely wasn’t easy, but it was the sort of experience that gave depth and meaning and fulfillment.

Tempelhofer Feld, a park that used to be an airport. 

This summer, I spent two months in the autonomous community of Galicia, Spain, in its largest city A Coruna. I traveled there to take Spanish classes and work for a local nonprofit to improve my speaking ability, but I learned so much more than Spanish, specifically in the realm of Culture and Politics.

Learning how to speak Spanish comes with understanding a different way of painting a picture with your words of what you want to say. And learning about a new culture happens the same way; one must observe customs and interactions from an outside perspective, and then they can patch together the cultural foundations of a nation.

Observing and interacting with the customs and people in Galicia taught me the importance of living all aspects of life with intentionality. In short, love your friends and family, eat with gusto, and celebrate the joys and wonders in the world with reckless abandon.

I studied, worked, and what felt like vacationed, in A Coruna, a town in the autonomous community of Galicia. A Coruna has an approximate population of one million people but feels like a small town with a walkable isthmus, safe, family-filled neighborhoods, and large beaches along every centimeter of the city.

Spaniards practice intentionality foremostly in the sector of fondness. Caring for the well being of one’s family, friends, and neighbors is of utmost concern. Contrary to the commonality of independence in the U.S., for example, the majority of young people aged 25-30 still live at home with their parents.

My fellow students and I had the pleasure of meeting and living with a variety of Colombian families who proved to be extremely welcoming, loving, and caring beyond belief. They cooked for us, hugged and kissed us, and gave us immensely wise advice. Not to mention that friends from work, neighbors, and seemingly Spanish strangers were more than willing to dole out an enormous amount of generosity and love at even a meek request. Learning from the loving Spanish lifestyle, our student group grew even closer as a result.

In Galicia, and in the majority of Spain, stores and restaurants close on Sunday to prioritize rest and family time. It was always a joy to be invited to Sunday lunch at the apartment downstairs and see people in the street traipsing to the homes of their parents and grandparents for lunch. Intentional care and quality time with loved ones was a marked cultural trait of Spain.

Just as Spaniards regard family, they regard food with a serious attitude. The Mediterranean gastronomy calls for quality produce and fresh seafood; food and drink should be fresh and flowing.

While “observing” the intentionality with which Spaniards regard their diet, and, by proxy, their health and well being, I happened to eat a lot of delicious fresh seafood, Spanish tortilla, and empanadas. The rich tradition of Mediterranean cuisine in Spain granted me the opportunity to learn how to make my own Spanish tortilla, which I completed on my own one time!

On another level, the meals are the gathering of family and friends, and restaurants in Spain cater towards this cultural tradition. In the middle of the day for “la comida” menus are designed for families to order shareable “raciones,” bread, and pitchers of beverages. It was refreshing to see a culture enraptured by food but conscious of the quality of the food that they were consuming and the context in which they did so; eating made for a delightful experience for the health, the social life, and the taste.

Spaniards, notoriously, also practice intentionality in the realm of festivities. It was breathtaking to live in Spain during summer, as there are a myriad of festivals and concerts all summer long. On June 23, we were privileged to witness the San Juan Beach Festival. On this night in A Coruna, where one of the largest celebrations of San Juan occurs, hundreds of bonfires light up the sky all night as people barbecue, dance, sing, and watch fireworks. Intended to honor the summer solstice and the magic in the air on this night, the festival also showcases the love that Spaniards have for enjoyment and partying when they have the opportunity.

Thousands of people, including families, friends, and neighbors, lined Playas Riazor and Orzan all day Sunday, playing music and waiting for the sun to set to begin preparing the celebratory meal. At our bonfire spot, we had over thirty people talking, dancing, and singing all day; members of our exchange student group, all the neighbors from our apartment building, the friends of our neighbors, and even strangers that barely knew us felt it was important to spend time on the beach and celebrate. The love for celebration and genuine enjoyment was enchanting as the sun set on the beach and the fireworks came out.

We enjoyed many more fiestas throughout the summer, including free concerts in the Plaza, la Feria Merival, and even a German festival! Coming from the U.S. where there are few days of rest from our busy lives, let alone national festivals, it was refreshing to view the way that Spaniards prioritize celebration and enjoyment in their lives in such an obvious manner. They party often and party hard, and seem better for it.

I observed the festivity habits of Spaniards but also the working conditions, as I interned with a non-profit that assists refugees and their children called Equus Zebra.

Observing the work environment in Equus Zebra provided another lens to understand the culture and politics in Spain. First of all, Spaniards work very hard. Despite having the ability to take a siesta from 2-4pm for lunch, my coworkers and I started work at 9am, worked until 2pm, and then returned at 4pm to work until 8pm.

Not only was the duration humbling to observe, but observing the immigrants, neighbors, and customers that entered and exited Equus Zebra was enlightening. Equus Zebra stretches their thin, non-profit budget to help refugees and their families from many countries in Africa and South America. They provide food, housing and job opportunities, schooling, and childcare to families in need. In addition, the non-profit is majorly supported by profits from the thrift store that operates in the front of the building!

Equus Zebra’s mission and hardworking staff work extremely hard to provide love to all of the people that they assist. I was particularly enamored with the efforts of Mar, the children’s activities coordinator who worked with all of the kids all year round, 5-6 days a week, for 9 hours a day, completely volunteering. Compared to her, I felt like I was doing the absolute minimum feeding and teaching fifteen 3-6 year olds for five hours a day for three weeks!

The kids were so smart and engaging, the neighborhood community was so supportive of Equus Zebra, and it seemed like Equus Zebra garned a positive and happy environment for refugees that were not supported by the majority of the surrounding Spanish community. The Spanish government provides a variety of services to children of refugees, while their parents can barely apply for housing or work in the private sector. The director of Equus Zebra explained to us this dichotomy by pointing out that while working in Equus Zebra you see the children having fun, but when you leave the building and begin your walk back home, you see many adults of African or South American descent selling wares in the street to make ends meet.

A microcosm of Spain’s proclivity for intentionality in action and a prolific supporter of a political minority, I am thankful to have observed and worked with the hard working people and genius students at Equus Zebra.

I miss Spain, writing this from U.S. soil. I miss hugging and kissing the Colombian neighbors in my building every day, drinking 1 euro coffee with friends, and walking by the beach and through my neighborhood with all the kiddos from Equus Zebra. I miss the attitude, the language, and the lifestyle. And, for now, Spain is far from me. But its unique cultural components, which made it an inspirational place to live, study, and work, no longer sit misunderstood or far from my mind. Being surrounded by intentional Spaniards all summer, I was challenged and pushed out of my comfort zone but also garnered an immeasurable amount of love, for which I am immeasurably thankful. Te amo, y hasta pronto, ojala.

“Suicide isn’t a national problem. If someone is so weak that they kill themselves to avoid facing life, it’s not my issue.” The statement wasn’t terribly shocking to me (although I did ask Galya to repeat it, to make sure that I  hadn’t translated incorrectly), as the woman I was interviewing regarding mental health was a fifty-six year old Russian, but when I relayed it to my friends a few nights later, they looked as though they had all been slapped in the face. I grinned slightly. Before living in Russia and Ukraine for a year, such a statement would have simply angered me. However, when you’re living in another country, it is not your job to pass judgement on their cultural attitudes, unless it directly affects your safety. Your primary job is to observe.

Any student planning to study abroad will be excited, eager, and energetic to experience a new culture and learn how to see the world in a different light. We all, for the most part, accept this as a wonderful thing. What is more difficult to accept is that seeing the world in a different light doesn’t always mean seeing the world in a positive light. Sure, there are aspects of Slavic culture that I wish we would incorporate into American cultural behaviors. Russians have such a loving respect for elders, and a diehard passion to remember, mourn, and memorialize those who suffered through unimaginable evils so their descendants could live better lives. I feel that is a quality that is too often lost on young Americans. When it came to mental health though, encountering such a stark contrast in fundamental understanding of a topic was challenging. It was arduous on both an academic level, as I accumulated research for my cultural project, but also on a personal level. Trying to talk about medical help for people suffering from depression is difficult when the person with whom you are speaking doesn’t agree that depression is a real illness. This doesn’t mean that either person is somehow less intelligent, but it does highlight how almost unbelievably varied cultures can be. It is simple to pick apart why different cultures have different languages, foods, clothing, and so forth. It is trickier when you try to explain why not everyone has the same moral standards, or how something like depression can be seen as a serious, life threatening illness in one culture, and a mildly irritating symptom of adulthood in another. Going to Ukraine and Russia didn’t change my opinion in any way. I still think that depression is a serious clinical illness, which requires medical treatment. Yet I don’t doubt that my Russian friends and acquaintances have incredibly valid reasons for thinking that depression isn’t as serious of an issue. 

Culture is impossible to measure or categorize, yet we attempt to set boundaries in order to try and process it. For example, borshch is typically associated with Russia, and seen as a national cultural cuisine. Most Russians feel strongly that borshch belongs to Russia. Ask a Ukrainian, and they will tell you that Russia took borshch from them, and that it is their dish. Some Russians would counter that with we are all one Russian people, Ukrainians included. A Ukrainian might respond with physical violence, depending on which part of Ukraine we are in. Culture is complicated. It is a messy, living organism that evolves as humans do. I’ve learned lots while abroad, but it would be impossible to shortly and robustly summarize all of the wonderful, boring, terrifying, asinine experiences that I lived through while in Eastern Europe. If I had to pick a takeaway that has stuck with me the most, it’s that it is okay to disagree with another cultural practice. This sounds a bit stupid and obvious, but prior to my trip, I was conditioned to treat studying abroad as something that would be absolutely magical at every turn. I was told I would love everything about it, and that I would learn so many positive things about different cultures that I never could in the states. I did learn many positive things about Slavic culture while away. I also learned some horrific things that put my own upbringing into perspective. I came away with a newfound love for my own country, and a strong desire to want to change the imperfections I see here. G.L.I. is all about global problems. However, I didn’t understand how messy any cross cultural problem was until I lived in a nation vastly different from my own. If there is one lesson I learned from all this, it’s that a perfect culture does not exist. 

Hi blog! My name is Erika Byrne and I spent the summer of 2019 interning in Washington, D.C. as a Baucus Institute Fellow. To be specific, I interned for Senator Chuck Grassley, but more on that later.

Some background about me: I am a Junior at the University of Montana currently majoring in Political Science with a concentration in International Relations and Comparative Politics. I am also pursuing a minor in Business Administration. My GLI Global Theme and Challenge, as you may have already guessed, is Culture and Politics.

My internship came about through the Baucus Leaders Program. I applied to the program on a whim, thinking I had no chance at getting in. A few months passed and I was eventually notified that Senator Grassley’s office had chosen me to be one of their summer interns. When I first heard the news, I was shocked. Senator Grassley, a Republican farmer from Iowa, serves as the President Pro Tempore and is the Chairman of the Senate Finance Committee. In other words, he’s kind of a big deal.

While interning in Senator Grassley’s office, I got to experience things that I never would have been able to in any other position. I wrote speeches and op-eds, attended landmark committee hearings, and met some of the most influential people in American politics. At one point, I was even able to introduce myself to all three of Montana’s congressional members at their weekly Montana Coffee. (Here’s a tip for anyone interning on the Hill: Networking is heavily stressed. Attending events like these or asking people to coffee is expected.)

As for my global theme, this experience aligned perfectly with Culture and Politics. Not only did I learn more about American politics, I also learned a lot about how the U.S. functions internationally. A lot of this education can be attributed to the office I was able to intern in. Senator Grassley, being the Finance Committee Chairman, is a very outspoken supporter of the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA). This trade deal is critical for American businesses, seeing as so much of our exports are to these two countries. Without this deal, we would miss out on billions of dollars worth of revenue. I was able to watch debates about the issue in real time and even got to draft an op-ed outline for Senator Grassley. It was an incredible experience to be up close to the action. I was also able to attend a Foreign Relations Committee Hearing where they talked about the Ebola threat. Listening to an expert panel brief the committee on actions that are being taken in the realm of disease control was eye opening to say the least. It puts into perspective how small the world really is and how important it is that we work together globally to secure a better future for us and those who come after.

Working on the Hill was only part of the experience, however. Living in D.C. for six weeks comes with many opportunities and challenges. First and foremost: D.C. summers are absolutely brutal. You don’t know discomfort until you walk to work every day in professional clothes (think pants and a blazer) when it’s 80 degrees Fahrenheit outside with 90% humidity. Living in a big city was also an adjustment. For example, I am now comfortable navigating public transportation with a million other people. Speaking of people, dealing with so many personalities was it’s own challenge. Although these personalities can be overwhelming or even intimidating at first, I quickly realized that it’s really not that big of a deal. At the end of the day, everyone is trying. Trying for different reasons or with different intentions, but trying none the less. I think that’s the biggest lesson I learned while in D.C. and it can also be applied to other areas in life (especially when in a leadership position).

I can confidently say that being in the “room where it happens” taught me more than any classroom or book ever could. Not only did it give me the tools and knowledge to grow professionally, this experience aided in my personal growth as well. I’m so grateful to have had this opportunity and I look forward to my future adventures as a global leader.

My name is Carmyn Wahl and this fall I am entering my senior year the University of Montana. I am earning my finance and international business degree along with a certificate in global leadership. I had the incredible opportunity to spend the spring of 2019 in the vibrant city of Barcelona, Spain. This was my first experience living outside of the United States and while I knew the culture and lifestyle would be different, I did not expect to have my eyes opened to a completely new way of living life. Moments after stepping off the airplane, I was overwhelmed with changes and new thoughts and ideas. I was standing at the baggage claim in my UM sweatshirt and leggings standing next to an older man in a three piece suit. And I was the odd one out. I knew immediately the next five months of my life would be the most influential part of my college experience. 

The global theme and challenge that I chose to focus on is natural resources and sustainability. Although I was unable to directly learn about sustainability from my university, I used every day as a new chance to learn from other students and the community. A few things stood out to me about Barcelona and other Spanish cities green initiatives. First was their waste collection system. Largely different from the United States, every street is lined with giant recycling bins that are color coordinated with what their specific purpose is. Yellow for cans and cartons, blue for paper and cardboard, green for glass, brown for organic waste, and gray for other (non garbage) waste. Garbage and recycling is a community effort rather than individual, which I believe is a considerable step in the right direction for fighting against climate change and conserving our fragile world. This system is also a great example of the rich community lifestyle that many cities in Europe possess. 

While attending Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, I was able to take an extensive marketing class which will help enhance my communication and pitching skills; something that is sometimes overlooked yet crucial to any job or project. I also took a Spanish taxation class, which, I know, sounds extremely boring, but it ended up becoming my favorite class to attend in Spain. The professor related every concept and idea back to the European Union and the United States. I now have an intermediate understanding of how the US relates trades and interacts with Europe. I have dreams to work in Spain (or anywhere in Europe, really) in business and environmental conservation and this framework of information will be more than beneficial in what I eventually pursue.

I feel much more prepared to fulfill a leadership role now and in the future because of the multitude of knowledge I absorbed in this foreign environment. I cannot thank the GLI and the Franke family, fellow students, and my professors both here and abroad enough for shaping me into the confident and dream driven person I feel I am today. 

Mason Dow – University of Montana – Universidad Adolfo Ibanez

Entrada Uno: el 22 de febrero a el 18 de abril

Soy Mason, de Estados Unidos. Nació en un pueblo en el sur de Oregon que se llama Ashland. Vivo y estudio en una puebla en el estado de Montana se llama Missoula, a la Universidad de Montana. Estudio negocios internacionales, marketing y cambia clima. Ahora, estoy estudiando a la Universidad Adolfo Ibáñez en Vina del Mar. Me encanta a hacer trekking, esquiar, escalar y viajar a lugares nuevos.

Llegue a Chile en el 22 de febrero. Pase dos semanas de explorar la ciudad de Viña, antes de la empieza del semestre. Visite Chile por vacaciones en el año pasado durante el mes de enero. Pase un poco tiempo en Valparaíso, pero nunca en Viña, entonces necesitaba aprender la ciudad que ha pasado los seis meses próximos. Fui a las playas diferentes y algunos restaurantes, bares y clubs. También, fui a las dunas y playas de Concón a surfear. Soy terrible a surfear.

No pude mandar en el departamento que ha planeado a mudarme cuando llegaba, entonces necesité mudarme en un hostal en el sur parte de Viña. Ese fue bien hasta los cinco o seis noches, porque tenia una habitación a mi mismo y también un baño y ducha que no necesitaría compartir. Por ahora, estoy viviendo con mis compañeros de cuarto; un amigo chileno se llama Ricardo y una amiga de alemana se llama Terri. Nuestro edificio Coraceros, muy acerca de la playa.

Las clases ha empezada, pero solo tengo clases en los días de martes, miércoles y jueves. Por esto, yo fui en muchos viajes de trekking y escalada en las semanas tempranas de mis estudias. Describiré esos con fotos y capciones abajo.”

Fui en ese viaje con Alison, quien conocí en el primer día de clases. Este fue la primera vez de trekking por ella, y ella estaba legítimamente orgullosa para completar los caminos de senderos. Después de Cochamó, fuimos a Bariloche en Argentina a trek a Refugio Frey. Fuimos juntos con un amigo se llama Erik de los Estados Unidos, que le conocimos en Cochamó.

Conocí un hombre de Australia se llama Paul, que me convenció a juntarte en una ruta de escalar tradicional. Escalábamos mucho durante la noche, pero todo fue bien y después de lo completamos, celebramos con las cervezas

Despues de mis aventuras de trekking en Cochamó y Frey, me acomode en mi vida y rutina normal en Viña. Disfrutaba la vida noche de las ciudades de Viña y Valparaíso con las chicos y chicas extranjeros y nuestros amigos. Conocí un grupo de escaladores chilenos, y fuimos en algunas excursiones para escalar. Pasaba mucho tiempo de escalar en el lugar en campus, que estoy muy agradecido por. Iba a la playa con frecuencia, y disfrutaba las puestas del sol casi cada noche. También, tuve la oportunidad a ir a mi festival de música primera en Santiago-Lollapalooza Chile. Vi algunos de mis artistas favoritas, como Kenrdick Lamar y Portugal the Man.

Tengo las clases de Cultura Chilena, Marketing en Latín América, Negocios Sustentable en Sudamérica y una clase que compara los sistemas de gobierno de Socialismo, Capitalismo y Comunismo en Sudamérica. Mis estudias son diferentes de que estadio en la Universidad de Montana, y agradezco por las opiniones y maneras de pensar de los profesores acá en Chile.

En la empieza de abril, fui a Patagonia con un grupo de estudiantes internacionales a hacer el trek “W” en Parque Nacional Torres del Paine. A hacer eso fue un sueño mío. Pasamos cinco noches en el sendero, y encontramos muchos tipos del clima. En el segundo día, había lluvia v viento mas fuerte que había experiencia. Pero en los días próximos, tuvimos sol y temperaturas buenas.

Las cosas que pudimos ver fueron increíbles, como la Glacier Grey y Los Torres. Despertamos a las cuatro en la mañana para ir a Los Torres durante el amanecer en el día final en el parque. He incluido fotos y videos de ese viaje abajo, y también mi vida en Viña del Mar.

Entrada Dos: el 19 de abril a el 23 de mayo

En esos meses de abril y mayo, fui en muchos viajes a partes diferentes de Chile. Mi amigo Dan y yo pasamos un día de trekking en Cerro la Campana en la cordillera central, a la este de Viña del Mar. El camino fue muy difícil y escarpado y caminamos por todo el día. Fuimos con otros chicos chilenos y conocimos amigos nuevos. También fui a el desierto de atacama con algunos amigos. Alquilamos coches y conducimos a muchos partes acerca de San Pedro de Atacama. Exploramos algunos géiseres, termas, salares y valles. Hicimos un “tur de las estrellas” donde encontramos mucho sobre las constelaciones del hemisferio del sur. Eso fue un viaje muy lindo para mi, porque el desierto siempre me da un sentido como estar en otro planeta. Todas las vistas, colores y las puestas del sol eran increíble.

Tambien, pasamos un buen rato en una puebla pequeña, y hablamos con un hombre atacameño. Escribí ese lo mismo día describiendo mi experiencia con el y sus palabras:

Hernesto Álvarez Colque tocaba su guitarra por nosotros, y nos explicó sobre su esposa quien esta escribiendo un libro sobre su vida para preservar la historia. Hernesto esta analfabeta. Vive en la puebla de Machuca, donde el ayuda a mantener la iglesia y celebrar la cultura de su gente. Ellos dan gracias a Pachamama con las ofrendas de vino y hierbas. Esta seguro que la historia de los Atacameños continuará por sus hijos. Gracias a Hernesto por la música y palabras.

Entre los viajes a partes diferentes de Chile, hiciera tarea y otras cosas para mis clases, como escribir y leer. Encontraba muchas cosas sobre la historia de Chile. Encontré la historia de guerra naval en el Museo Marítimo en Valparaíso y escribí un papel sobre los eras de negocios internacionales en los siglos de los 1800’s y 1900’s. Tambien, aprendía mas sobre la era de Pinochet y todos los golpes de estado durante ese tiempo. Ahora conozco la plebecita y la campana de “Si”.

Mi compañero de sala, Ricardo, necesita estudiar mucho y no tiene mucho tiempo libre. Los dos de nosotros estamos pasando semestres muy diferentes. Estoy encontrando sobre Chile en mis clases y también con mis ojos y orejas cuando visito esos lugares.

Cuando tenia tiempo libre, paso mucho tiempo en la playa enfrente de mi edificio. A ver los puestos del sol encima del mar. Me aparece cada tarde hay colores diferentes y fantásticos.

En la semana pasada, fui a Pucón con algunos amigos. Pasamos un fin de semana muy activo; mandamos bicicletas y hicimos rafting en el Rio Trancura. Por el día final, mis amigos Max, Gugi y yo mandamos bicicletas a un parque a la oeste de Pucón. Había senderos que los mandamos muy rápido, y empujé pasada mi limite. Me calle algunas veces y duele la mano-el sendero fue difícil porque era muchos pierdas y roca volcánica en polvo. En total mandamos mas de 60 kilometres y pasamos todo el día por nuestras bicicletas.

Entrega Tres: el 24 de mayo a el 19 de junio

Eso es mi ultimo entrega en mi blog acá en Chile. Decidí para no irme en mas viajes afuera de la región de Valparaíso. Quería explorar eso parte de Chile mas y entender mi hogar mas. También tenia mucho sueño por los viajes pasadas que hice. He sentido que mi vida era pasando por cien miles por hora, y quería reducir la velocidad. Entonces pase el tiempo por hacer cosas mas tranquilas. Mis amigos y yo cocinábamos muchos platos en casa; berenjena de parmesana, pad thai, burgers y tacos ricos, pizzas personales y un gran “brunch” con crepes, huevos revueltos, ensalada de fruta y mimosas.

En muchas noches, mis amigos y yo hemos vuelto a un departamento de alguien, y pasamos noches tranquilos con juegos de cartas, vino y te. Se enseñábamos nuestros juegos favoritos de nos países de origen. Alison y yo aprendimos un juego nuevo cuando estábamos haciendo trekking en Argentina a la empieza del semestre de dos hombres de Isreal. No lo tiene un nombre, entonces el grupo necesita hacer un nombre nuevo cada vez lo jugamos. Aprendí los juegos italianos clásicos de Scopa y Briscola de Gugi, y esos son divertidos también.

Pase algunos fines de semana por el surf en Playa la Boca de Concón. Por la empieza, no pude hacer nada en la tabla-no levantarme ni nada. ¡Pero, con practica y tiempo, me mejore y ahora puedo coger una ola y surfear a la izquierda o derecho! Eso es una habilidad que no creía obtener en mi vida y ahora tengo emocionado para ir a playas diferentes y intentar para surf allá.

Las semanas pasadas ha marcado por algunos altos y bajos. En lo mismo tiempo estoy intentando a disfrutar el presente, con mis amigos nuevos de acá y la experiencia de vivir en Chile; pero tengo mucho emocionado para reunir con mi familia. He faltado muchas cosas importantes en las vidas de las personas de mi familia. Mi hermano grado colegio y mi hermana grado Universidad en las semanas recientemente.

He buscado por una manera para decir adiós a esas personas. En realidad, es probamente que no voy a ver muchos de ellos otra vez en el futuro. Todos de nosotros vivimos en lugares diferentes en muchas partes del mundo. Y yo vivo en montana; casi la media de ninguna parte, y por eso es improbable que voy a recibir visitantes en el futuro.

Me encanta todos de esas personas que he conocido de los cinco meses. Ellos serian mis amigas mas cerca en si viven los estados unidos, y creo que la amistad ir mas allá de las fronteras y océanos. Voy a faltar mis amigos de escalar (los monos), mis compañeros de sala y todos de los extranjeros de intercambio.

Voy a necesitar para reflectar y entender todo mi tiempo acá y que me significa. Para vivir en un otro país, aun un otro lugar es para aprende mas sobre se.

A ellos digo; gracias por todo. A Chile digo; gracias por todo.

I thought maybe she was going to survive.

As I entered the cramped slit in the wall where the prostitutes live the smell of stale body odor and feces hit me. It was gross, but after two and a half months working in these conditions the smell was all too familiar. I had been working in the Kisenyi slums since my first week in Uganda. Kisenyi was where a lot of the homeless boys and girls of the capital city, Kampala, would stay. It was fairly safe, and there was plenty of metal scraps they could salvage to make a little money. On this particular day we were doing HIV testing for the girls. They were 12 to 21 years old and had to prostitute themselves to pay for the area they called home. I use the term home loosely for I could hardly call it a place of comfort and security, something a home should be. There was two sets of beds drilled into the sides of the wall stacked three high, six beds total. On each bed slept 4 to 5 girls and whenever one of the girls had to do “business” with a client the others girls in the bed would move to another bed until they were finished. If you looked closely enough at the beds you could see little bugs scampering everywhere, I thought at first they were lice then I thought they were termites after awhile I didn’t really care what they were.

As I was outside doing HIV testing one of the girls came up to me. “Uncle,” she said, (all the kids would lovingly refer to the white people as Aunties and Uncles), “will you go check on Fatimah? I think she is sick.”

After I finished testing all the girls and some of their clients (all of which were HIV negative to my suprise) I went into the area to check on Fatimah. As I entered the little slit in the wall a nasty little man came out. He reeked of alcohol and was tightening up his belt, it was clear he just finshed up his business. Fatimah was on the bottom bunk in the first room with her little baby sleeping at her feet. I felt her head, she was running a fever and was sweaty. It looked like she had just finished a marathon. Her eyes were half closed and all I could see was the whites of her eyes. I snapped my fingers in front of her face in an attempt to wake her up, no response, and gently placed my fingers on her carotid artery to feel her pulse.

Bump…Bump…Bump…

It was so slow. Not even close to the heart rate of a normal person. Her breathing was shallow and strained. She needed to go to a hospital. I walked out of the room and found Fred. Fred was my translator and one of the most amazing people I have met, he dedicated his life to the boys and girls of the streets,

“Fred, Fatimah needs to go to a hospital right now.” I said, hoping the urgency in my voice would be clear.

“She’s fine, man. I talked with her yesterday.” he replied.

“No she’s not. She has gotten worse, if she doesn’t go today then she will die.”

Fred’s eyes flashed wide with surprise. He went into the room and checked on her. After seeing her he knew I was right.

“We can’t afford to take her in, Canyon. It is too expensive,” he said.

I pulled out my wallet and gave him 100,000 Ugandan shillings, about $27 U.S. dollars.

“Taker her to the hospital right now.”

I returned to see the girls three days later. I met up with Fred and the look on his face was a clear indicator of what he was about to say. Fatimah had died the night before. The doctors tested her the night we brought her into the hospital and found that she had advanced-stage HIV. She had been taking the drugs that suppress the virus from spreading but stopped taking it several years ago because she could never remember to take them everyday so she just quit. Before she died one of the doctors asked if she knew who might have given her the disease. She didn’t know. It could of been one of her three boyfriends, or the roughly 15 clients who regularly see her. She was 16.

I think often about Fatimah. It hurts me to think about a life cut so tragically short. The entire time I had known her she was very sick but she still managed to be lively and cheerful every time I visited. Whenever I came to visit I always brought her and the rest of the girls some candy. They loved taffy and would always make sure I got a piece too. I always insisted the candy was for them but they still wanted me to have some. Even in the worst of conditions they always wanted to give. I was humbled by their generosity. She loved that baby of hers. I never learned the little ones name but he was so cute. The first time I held him he had this look of shock on his face. I don’t think he had ever seen a white person before.

What is going to happen to her baby? I often wonder but I know the answer. It will either die or live long enough to become another child of the streets, that is what happens to almost all of the orphans.

When Winston Churchill first visited Uganda he called it the Pearl of Africa, and I’d have to agree with him. There is an abundance of beauty every where you look. The massive Nile River meanders through the country and gives life to everything. Lions, hippos, rhinos, and elephants roam freely in Murchison Falls National Park. One of our closest relatives, the mountain gorilla, survives in the dense Bwindi Impenetrable Forest thanks to the hard work of many conservationists. Ugandans from the city to the countryside are some of the kindest, most-giving people in the entire world. Though with the good comes the bad and there are reminders everywhere which never let you forget that suffering exists. Homeless kids sniff jet-fuel on the streets to numb the pain and hunger. A HIV-positive mother of three can’t afford to send her children to school. Guards are stationed by every single surviving rhino in the country, a reminder that there are people who want to kill these animals for their horns.

So yes, this country is a pearl, but a pearl with cracks.

I will never forget my time in Uganda. This country whipped me back and forth across the spectrum of human emotion and I don’t believe I am the same person I was before I left. Now that I am back home I find there is a whole lot less to complain about and a whole lot more to be thankful for. A good reminder for everyone born into a life of privilege.

My name is Morgan Sarmento, and I am a Media Arts Major with a focus in Digital Art and Technology. For my Spring semester, I got the amazing opportunity to go to Cork, Ireland which is the largest county in Ireland. I got to meet so many people while also learning about Irelands history, culture, and music. I studied some Marketing classes to help with my Global theme of Technology and Society. While taking my courses, I was able to lean some ideas about sustainability and how Ireland is an amazing example of how to be a greener country by both big and small changes.

When I started my adventure in Ireland, I wasn’t sure what to expect. I had been prepared by different organizations and learned a lot from others who have been there before, but there is so much more to Ireland than meets the eye. The first day that I arrived I knew that it would be a great time because of my encounter with my Taxi driver. Although I couldn’t understand some of the things, he was talking about due to his thick accent I knew that he was trying hard to help me understand the layout of Cork before classes started and help me so I wouldn’t get lost in such a big city. That to me reminded me of the kindness that Montana is known for and made me feel more at home in such a strange country.

During the semester, I chose classes that would be a great way to learn about Ireland from a more academic standpoint. I took an Archeology class while I was there and learned about the history behind Ireland and how it came to be the way it is today. That class also took us on field trips to various places in Ireland that had a historic meaning. We even got to see a Tower house that was renovated in 1885 and has stone carvings of the occupant’s names and the year that the new window was put in. It gave me a sense of just how old Ireland is compared to a lot of landmarks that are considered historic in America.

One of the other courses that I took which by far was my favorite was the learning the Irish language in an Irish speaking county. This class was a week-long trip where you got to go and live in a county that only spoke the native Irish language. I was able to learn some Gaeilge while also learning some of the other aspects of Irish culture that are important its rich history like the art and music and traditional dances. I also got to do some fun activities while there as well like a 14-mile bike ride along the coast and even visited a crystal shop that made the Crystal bowl that is given to the President as a gift from Ireland.

Aside from classes meeting the people and learning about their history and daily lives was fascinating. I went to a nail salon and was able to get to know the nail tech that has lived in Cork all her life. I got to learn what she does for fun as well as learn just how different Montana and Ireland are. I had a wonderful conversation with her about the difference in temperature that it was in Montana versus the Temperature it was currently there and I also got to explain to her what a traditional fair and rodeo  was and she thought that it was interesting the tradition and that she hoped to go to America one day and see a rodeo for herself. This experience overall was amazing. I learned so much about myself in such a short period that will help me in the future. I was able to learn and grow my knowledge and it broadened my creative horizons and I was able to meet people that have now become my best friend that I wouldn’t have otherwise. I now know what it’s like to truly be on my own and how to navigate living and working and schooling in a completely unfamiliar place and the tools that I have learned to cope with that will help me in the future so that no matter where I end up in my career or life, I will be prepared knowing I can handle anything life throws my way.

Hi my name is Makkie and I study Political Science and Communication Studies at UM. I spent this past summer in Washington, D.C. interning with the Youth Programs Division of the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs at the US Department of State. The Youth Programs Division is responsible for implementing all of the exchange programs that the State Department funds for both American and foreign high school students. 

My global theme is politics and culture and my challenge was figuring out how to promote cross-cultural understanding by engaging youth. Working with the Youth Programs Division was the perfect fit for me to explore this as I believe exchange programs are one of the best ways to promote this. Another reason I chose to intern with Youth Programs was because of my personal connection to one of their programs.  I was able to spend the summer after my senior year of high school studying Arabic in Morocco thanks to a State Department Program called the National Security Language Initiative for Youth (NSLI-Y) which is implemented by the office I worked with this summer. This program was life changing for me and sparked an interest in dedicating my professional career to helping others get the same global exposure I did through this program. 

There were about 20 employees in my division and only 3 interns so we were able to experience a wide variety of the work that they do. During my internship, I helped to compile grant packages, take meeting minutes, prepare briefing materials for senior department officials, write press releases, facilitate diplomatic simulations, and represent the Youth Programs Division at conferences and while meeting with members of congress. My favorite task of my internship was being able to help plan events for students who were either beginning or ending their exchange programs. Having the opportunity to interact with both American students and students from around the world and hear about their experiences was very inspiring and motivating. 

Overall, this experience further enforced the value of exchange programs for me and opened my eyes to many different career possibilities that I hadn’t previously considered. I also gained a much deeper understanding of and appreciation for all the behind the scenes work that goes into making these programs possible. I really appreciated having the chance to interact with people from so many different cultures and learned so much from each of them. I never would have thought I could have had such an international experience without even leaving the country! Thanks so much to the Franke Family and the GLI program for making this experience possible for me!