Kia Ora! Hello! My name is Cosley Bruno. I am currently studying Communications at the University of Montana. During the fall semester of 2024, I had the opportunity to attend Massey University in Aotearoa, New Zealand. Kia Ora is a Māori greeting and is used widely throughout the country. My theme for the GLI is Culture and Politics and my focus abroad was bi-cultural societies and Indigenous policy. Spending six months in the Island Country, I was enhanced by the connections I made, in awe of societal norms created around the whenua (land), and it left me with a deeper appreciation for Pacific Nations.

My academic pursuits were immersive and complemented my efforts to learn outside the classroom. I took a Bi-cultural Psychology class highlighting Māori thinking paths, identity creation, and Hauora (interconnected well-being). I enjoyed this class because the teacher made it a point not to pit Western and Indigenous knowledge against each other but rather to see where they connect and where each of them could be uplifted by the other. This class helped me gain confidence in navigating multicultural societies with recognition, and respect while fostering a variety of interpersonal relationships I was able to make in New Zealand.

Māori carvings at the Pukeiti Gardens.

My Politics and Public Policy course was small enough that we decided to meet in the on-campus coffee shop for the latter half of our classes. I appreciated learning about New Zealand’s multi-party government, and it made me realize how removed I am from my political systems back at home. In this class we had the opportunity to take the train down to the capital of Wellington, to meet with members of parliament. One of the members we got to briefly see was Hana Rawhiti Maipi-Clarke who is a certified girl boss! She is a twenty-one-year-old member of the Māori political party and one of the youngest women in parliament. Our trip occurred at a pivotal time for the NZ government. The coalition government had just introduced the Treaty Principals Bill, which was set to alter the Treaty of Waitangi, an agreement between Māori and Pakeha (foreign settlers), and the country’s founding document. Upon taking a vote for the bill to go through for a first reading, Hana Rawhiti Maipi-Clarke, who disagreed with the bill, took a stand, tearing the bill in half and performing the Haka. The Haka is an act that is done in groups to demonstrate a community’s power, pride, and solidarity, such as before rugby games or to celebrate weddings. She was penalized for her disruption but went viral as an inspiration to Indigenous communities around the world. Look it up! You won’t regret it! Her action incited a Hīkoi (a march) from the trip of the North Island to the bottom that ended in the capital. I got to see bits and parts of this Hīkoi, which showed me the Māori people hold a deep-rooted strength and are a force to be reckoned with. Both of these classes enhanced my theme greatly. Muli-cultural societies are healthy when they reflect their diversity within their governing bodies. Aotearoa, New Zealand does a beautiful job of making room for a spectrum of opinions and debates with their multi-party government. 
 

My government Class in Wellington meeting with members of the NZ parliament.

Maunga (Mountain) Taranaki. 

My experience abroad was a fusion of small-town immersion and road trips around the islands. One of my favorite experiences was my time in the Taranaki region. Many of the friends I made at school called this area home, so it was nice to connect their stories to places. On a hike up to the base of Mt. Taranaki, I was in awe of the Mountain. Its volcanic peak looks over the Western Coast of the North Island and on a sunny day, it takes up most of the sky. Sitting with this view was a sublime moment of feeling small in the presence of nature’s immensity. And it was a moment of recognition of all the historical triumphs and trauma, I learned in my classes, and which this mountain has stood to witness. This perspective encouraged me to further my commitment to sustainable tourism by choosing Māori owned businesses while traveling the country. This was a small but conscious act to support their economic well-being and their narrative while on their whenua (land).

Sailing in the Bay of Islands, where the Treaty of Waitangi was signed.

Aotearoa, New Zealand is a small country but they a leading example to the world of how Indigenous policy uplifts relationships to land and fosters connections within multicultural societies. My perspective has changed through conversations with peers, teachers, community members, and members of the NZ parliament. I am still working to unpack it all, but I am eager to walk forward with a broadened view of the life forces I encountered at the Southern end of the Pacific. 

Hi! My name is Madelyn Bouchard, and I am a senior majoring in political science with a focus in international relations. I spent my junior year studying with the Faculty of Social and Political Sciences at the University of Lille, in northern France. My global theme is Inequality and Human Rights, which I was able to further explore in a meaningful way while in Lille. During this time, I formed amazing friendships and made connections that I’m sure will last a lifetime. I am grateful for the opportunity to have been able to experience the Flemish culture of northern France, and have grown in more ways than I previously thought possible.

Touring a Flemish castle!

While there are so many positive things I could discuss about my Beyond the Classroom Experience, there are a couple moments that come to mind when I look back on the experience. For instance, with my faculty I was able to tour and participate in a seminar at the European Parliament, which included sitting in on a session and witnessing debate on the parliament floor. This was an amazing experience that allowed me to experience international diplomacy within the European Union, and gain a better understanding of EU operations. 

Additionally, I was able to visit the Carnival of Dunkirk for a day during the month-long celebration, which was an amazing insight into flemish-franco culture. The festival included lots of eccentric costumes and dancing in the street, but I was shocked to see that part of Carnival traditions included tossing herring from balconies into the crowds below! Going into this experience, I wasn’t sure what to expect, but I was pleasantly surprised by the rich culture of northern France. 

The Carnival of Dunkirk

Finally, as part of a trip with other international students, I was able to visit the gardens of Claude Monet in Giverny, France! This was truly a magical time, being able to witness the same gardens that inspired so many of Monet’s great works.

The gardens of Claude Monet

My Beyond the Classroom Experience was incredible, and something that I will remember for the rest of my life. I look forward to maintaining the connections I made there, and I will forever consider Lille my second home. I am immensely grateful for this opportunity as it was truly a life changing experience.

Hi! My name is Sydney Mace, and I am a junior majoring in business management. I did a semester abroad at the European Business School in Oestrich-Winkel, Germany. My global theme is inequality and human rights. I have been thinking about this blog for over a month now, and trying to put my experience into words without writing a 30 page paper is proving to be difficult! Throughout my experience, I made many amazing friendships, memories that are going to last a lifetime, and have overall grown as a person in more ways than I thought possible. I had many ups and downs throughout my experience, but overall loved it! My biggest takeaways from the experience is that everything will work out one way or the other, as well as the importance of resilience. 

I had the opportunity to tour two different concentration camps while I was abroad, Dachau and Auschwitz-Birkenau. Dachau is located in Munich, Germany, and Auschwitz is located in Oświęcim, Poland. These two experiences were extremely eye opening, and relate to my theme of inequality and human rights. As many people know, the prisoners of concentration camps were stripped of many of their basic human rights. They were treated horribly, and millions of people died. The saying “Arbeit Macht Frei” is on the entrance gate to both of the concentration camps. This translates to “work sets you free.” I overheard a tour guide at Dachau say that the saying was extremely misleading because in reality, prisoners were going to either be immediately murdered, or worked until death. No matter how hard the prisoners worked, there was no intention of setting them free. Seeing the concentration camps in person is extremely difficult, but I would recommend it to anyone who has the opportunity. Although it is a sad part of history, it is important for people to learn about and be aware of so we can assure nothing like it ever occurs again. I am extremely thankful I got the opportunity to tour both camps because I have a new and deeper understanding of horrors that occurred. 

A fun fact about Germany is that they have the most castles out of any country in the world. I got the opportunity to visit many of them, and it was magical. Each and every one is unique, and extremely interesting to learn about. They all have a different story behind them. My favorite castle that I got to tour was Neuschwanstein. This castle is located in Schwangau, Germany and is incredibly beautiful! It was built in the late 1800’s, but it was never fully finished because the king passed away and the construction was never continued. 

One of my favorite things I did while I was in Germany was Oktoberfest in Munich. I went on the first day of the opening weekend, and it was incredible. I did not know much about the festival before going, so it was a shock to me when I realized the size of the event. There were thousands of people, and finding a table in a tent to sit at was nearly impossible. Luckily my friends and I were all able to find tables in the same tent, and we made a lot of friends in the process! I will never forget the first beer that I was given, it was the size of my head! I felt very immersed in the German culture throughout this event. I wore a dirndl (a traditional German dress) and got to eat and drink authentic German food and beer.

Overall my experience was incredible. This is an experience that I am going to remember for the rest of my life, and I look forward to sharing it with anyone that is willing to listen. It has helped shape me as a person, and taught me many different life lessons. I am overall more resilient and independent, and realize that I can do whatever I put my mind to. I am grateful that I got this experience, and appreciate my friends, family, and the UM staff for supporting me along the way!

My name is Ada Scott and I am majoring in Philosophy with a minor in climate change.  For my global experience, I studied abroad in Hamilton, New Zealand. My global theme is public health and my challenge was “How to balance quality of life and climate change action.” 

The relation I see as most prominent between my experience and this challenge is the difference in day to day living between the US and New Zealand. NZ is more secluded than the states. Deliveries take longer, and the grocery stores are smaller and organized more sporadically than in the states. Attendance is never mandatory (everything was available online) and I had no classes before eleven. In Intro to Climate Change (at UM) we talked about the idea of taking a multi hour lunch break that would allow large sections of power to be turned off in populated areas. I think this idea exemplifies how a simplification of our lives can reduce emissions. Kiwis focus on a balanced approach to work with more laid back time than US citizens. I see that New Zealand culture exceeds us in this capacity. I found my education, nutrition and ability to get anything I needed was just as well in a slightly less at-your-fingertips culture. It actually made me enjoy the process of going about my day more. To quote Thich Nat hahn, “if you don’t enjoy every moment of washing the dishes, you should seriously reevaluate your practice.” Of course, he is getting at the bigger picture– if we don’t enjoy day to day tasks like cooking, cleaning, hanging our clothes to dry, or even our commute, maybe we need to change something (maybe we need to slow down).

 Orange bushes between student housing on University of Waikato campus

A question we often face when considering climate is whether our lack of action is a problem of worldview or of material availability. It has factors of both, but I think worldview has a big role to play. Finding happiness with less can play a part in shaping our future communities towards sustainability. Changing our culture to have a little more down time to be present might go strides to impact our day to day lives, and our ability to practice sustainability. It might not be in the drastic dose we need, but it’s obvious to me that a little climate action won’t diminish our quality of life. Our lives will just look a little different. 

Balloons taking off as part of the “Balloons over Waikato” event

Even as I consider the ways that New Zealand life may be more sustainable (compost bin pickup everywhere, no one uses a clothes dryer), the country still falls short on their climate action timeline. It may be obvious that a small amount of climate consciousness won’t diminish quality of life–  but where do we need to be to meet reasonable goals for our future? It’s not probable individual actions make a difference at all so is changing our practices even a place to start? And, how can we take knowledge from a variety of countries and different cultures to approach the issue together? 

Climate change is a multifaceted issue that can be approached from so many angles. I think I have a slightly better perspective on my theme and challenge, but comparing New Zealand and US culture goes little ways to comprehend the issue in its entirety. However, this experience has made me more confident in my ability to travel by myself and handle issues as I come to them. I think that these acquired skills will go a long way to exploring more and gaining further perspective.

Climbing near Kawakawa Bay

Hi, my name is Bree and I am a Communicative Sciences and Disorders major and my challenge is Inequality and Human rights. Summer 2024 I went to Salamanca, Spain. I am in love with the idea of interdisciplinary concepts, especially those bridging between the science and social worlds. One of my part time jobs is working at the hospital, where I occasionally encounter people whose primary language is not english and therefore communication issues arise. With many of these people being recent immigrants and refugees, it can be tough to be in a place where communication is limited. Being in America and especially Montana, I am primarily surrounded by one language which is english. only 20% of Americans are bilingual, a striking comparison given that  Over 56% of Europeans are bilingual. This statistic is enforced by people who claim that a person should only speak English, arguing against the benefits of learning a foreign language. This is why I decided that learning a foreign language can help bridge this gap, choosing Spanish as there are many people in the US that speak it!

In one of my Spanish classes here at UM, I was recommended studying Spanish in Salamanca, Spain at Colegio Hispano Continental. So I arrived in Salamanca and the entire time I took formal Spanish language classes 5 days a week, 4 hours a day. The school provided tours, event meet ups, and traveling experiences. I went to Segovia, Lastres, Aveiro Portugal and During my off time I explored the city of Salamanca, which is designated as a world heritage site. It was filled with architecture and had one of the oldest universities in Europe. During my entire stay I was hosted by a Spanish woman called Rosa, who only spoke Spanish, which was great because I was even more motivated to learn.

Exploring the culture and life of the average Spanish civilian was amazing and incredible to experience. The city is very space efficient in space, and you could walk anywhere you needed to go in less than 15 minutes. The culture of walking is so normalized, that J-walking is super normal and less dangerous than America. While most pharmacies in the US seem to be cold and disgruntled, in this country they were on every other block and the attendants even came up to me to ask me what I needed! What a shock! The city really came to life at night, which is hard for me because I like to sleep, ha! My favorite culture moment was when famous soccer games were playing, and everyone was out on the street, cheering, eating and eating tapas.

My favorite moments were the ones I spent with the friends I made. All of the other students were from different countries and learnt the language alongside me. Lots of people in the US don’t take Spanish classes too seriously, so it was fun to be surrounded by people who were just as passionate as me learning spanish. We traveled, ate, laughed, struggled and explored this new country we were in, bonding over our experiences. A question that came up for me was why study another language, when English is already kind of a lingua franca? The short answer: to make more connections! The long answer: currently working on a project on that, stayed tuned for Winter 2025! The most valuable experience of my trip was being in a foreign country where speaking and understanding was difficult, and it really put into perspective what immigrants go through in the US.

My everyday walk!

My name is Tristan Clifford, and I’m a Management Information Systems major with a minor in Spanish. My Beyond the Classroom Experience was to Barcelona, Spain. My theme was Culture and Politics, and this experience changed my life in many ways and reframed my ideas of what Europe and Spain was and the people that existed inside of it. Being in one of the more radical regions of Spain, Catalonia, I learned a lot about the cultures, attitudes, history, and beliefs that Catalonians have.

Taking two of my classes in Spanish at the Universitat Autónoma de Barcelona (UAB) really challenged my Spanish and social skills. I needed to find friends in my Spanish classes that would help me with note-taking since native Spanish speakers speak way faster than I could possibly comprehend. This challenge needed me to leverage my, quite frankly mediocre, Spanish skills and become more outgoing in an unknown environment. One of my Spanish classes was on the Modern and Contemporary History of Spain which taught up from the late 1400s to Francisco Franco’s Reign in the 1930s. In that class I learned many things about the reunification of Spain and specifically about the very independent thinking of Catalonia, Basque Country, and Navarra throughout these time period. Catalonia today has regained its sense of individuality since the fall of Franco’s regime, and has wanted to separate from Spain for years now, often having protests for its independence. In the election for EU parliament this year, right-wing parties have gained more seats meaning that the social-democrat party, Spanish Socialist Workers’ Party, has to make a coalition government with these more radical left-wing separatist groups, including Catalonian independence parties.

While I did learn a lot about Spain, I would also say I’ve learned a lot about people from Europe in general. For some reason, I’ve always had the ideas in my head that Europeans were so far away, foreign, and different from me and that they seemed to live in some fairy tale world with advanced transportation, healthcare, and mental well being. In reality, it was nearly all of those things except the people were really really cool and not that different at all. I’ve met people from all around Europe in the many events I went to in the Erasmus organization that was at UAB. I’ve met people from Poland, Italy, Mexico, Germany, France, Ireland, Austria, Holland, and England, and they all had super fascinating views on policy, interesting, but mostly questionable, opinions about food, and had a very interesting way of seeing their identity that is very different to the United States. For example, if you have a pale skin color in the United States, you would just be considered “white” with maybe strong ethnic ties to Ireland or something, but in Europe everything is based on their ethnicity, their country of origin. It makes sense when I say it out loud, but it’s a very big deal over there. People from Southern Europe (e.g. Spain, Italy, Greece) are considered way different than people from Eastern Europe (e.g. Romania, Ukraine, Poland), even though in the US they would all be considered as “white.” However, even saying that would be controversial because I knew some Poles that don’t consider Poland a Eastern European country and would instead argue that its a Central European country since they don’t want to be associated with the poor, and stereotypically socially conservative Eastern European countries. Talking to my new friends about these random things really uncovered a microcosm in varying European values that I truly had no idea existed just several months before.

Studying Abroad was one of the best things that has ever happened to me, and I recommend it to anyone that even has a slightest desire to do so, since these experiences have become so valuable to me. Being able to network with other people while in another country where the national language is not English definitely needed me to be more assertive in introducing myself, being sociable, and it made me better solve the problems that would be constantly thrown at me, which really helped me improve my leadership skills. Taking a Spanish history class, going to landmarks and museums, and making friends from Spain and the rest of Europe really exposed me to the many different facets of European values and culture that I think is super important to understand in our interconnected world and I hope to use these experiences to help shape the solutions to problems the world has been struggling with for decades.

My Internship Experience in the U.S. Senate with Senator Mike Crapo

This summer, I had the incredible opportunity to intern in the U.S. Senate, working for Senator Mike Crapo of Idaho. This experience was not only transformative but also provided me with a deep understanding of the legislative process and the inner workings of the federal government. I was able to secure this internship through the Baucus Institute, a program dedicated to providing students with opportunities to engage in public service and gain hands-on experience in government.

The Beginning of My Journey

Walking into Senator Crapo’s office for the first time was a surreal moment. The office was a hub of activity, filled with staff members dedicated to serving the people of Idaho. As an intern, I was quickly introduced to the day-to-day operations, which included answering phones, and assisting with administrative tasks. Although these responsibilities might seem routine, they were vital to the efficient functioning of the office. They also gave me a strong foundation in understanding how constituent services are managed, which is a critical part of a Senator’s duties.

Montana Coffee: A Memorable Highlight

While every day brought new learning opportunities, the highlight of my internship was attending Montana Coffee with the Montana Congressional Delegation. This weekly event is a tradition where Montanans visiting Washington, D.C., can meet with their elected leaders over a cup of coffee. It was an incredible experience to interact with fellow Montanans, hear about the issues they care about, and discuss their perspectives on current events. Engaging with Montana’s elected leaders and fellow Montana interns in this informal setting was both inspiring and grounding. It reminded me of the importance of staying connected to your roots and the people you serve, no matter how far you are from home.

A Glimpse into the Legislative Process

One of the other highlights of my internship was attending a Senate hearing on the state of the economy. The hearing featured testimony from the Chairman of the Federal Reserve offering his perspective on the nation’s economic challenges was very cool! Witnessing the legislative process in action—how a bill is debated, amended, and sometimes stalled—was both fascinating and eye-opening. It underscored the complexities of governance and the careful consideration that goes into crafting effective legislation. The experience gave me a new appreciation for the work that goes into policymaking and the impact it has on the lives of everyday Americans.

Networking and Professional Growth

Another significant aspect of my internship was the opportunity to network with professionals from various backgrounds. I met interns from across the country, each bringing their unique perspectives and aspirations to the table. Additionally, I had the chance to interact with experienced staffers who were generous with their time and advice. These interactions were invaluable, providing me with insights into potential career paths in public service and the skills needed to succeed in this field. The relationships I built during my internship are connections I will cherish as I move forward in my career.

Reflection

As I reflect on my time in the Senate, I realize how much I have grown. This internship taught me the importance of attention to detail, the value of persistence, and the need for collaboration in achieving common goals. It also reinforced my belief in the power of public service and the significant impact that dedicated individuals can have on their communities and the nation as a whole.

My name is Bella Wengappuly, and I am a wildlife biology/computer science dual major pursuing a career in wildlife research. I am a student in the Davidson Honors College, Global Leadership Initiative Certificate Program, and a third-year Resident Assistant for the University of Montana. My GLI Global Theme is Natural Resources and Sustainability and my Global Challenge is “How to conserve ecosystems and biodiversity through sound research, ethical data collection and community collaboration”. This summer I had the opportunity to spend three months in the Limpopo Province of South Africa exploring different conservation efforts and gaining practical field experience. The first two months of my experience were spent working at a wildlife rehabilitation center, a wildlife monitoring program and a captive breeding program for cheetah conservation with other interns and volunteers from around the world. The final month of my stay was spent studying at a field guide college on the Marataba private wildlife reserve adjoining the Marakele, a South African National Park. 

Now to dive into what I learned! After deboarding the airplane in Johannesburg, finding out that my luggage was still in Dallas, Texas, and finding my internship supervisor, we drove to the Johannesburg Wildlife Veterinarian to pick up a banded mongoose (formerly a pet, which is fairly common) for transport to the Umoya Khulula Wildlife [rehabilitation] Centre. I spent three weeks at the Centre preparing food for the animals, cleaning and refurbishing enclosures, and creating enrichment items. I learned about the workflow of wildlife rehabilitation, how to sew medical stitches, and discussed conservation ethics and the effects of animal trafficking with other interns. We worked with many smaller animals (bushbabies, three species of mongoose, baby wildebeest, baby hippo, owls, warthogs, caracals, tree squirrels) and with pangolins, which are the most trafficked mammals in the world. This was my second favorite part of the three-month trip. I was inspired by the other interns’ past experiences and appreciated the excellent management.

Next, I learned about wildlife monitoring, research, and management from Siyafunda, a wildlife monitoring group based in the Greater Makalali Private Game Reserve. Siyafunda works with many international conservation organizations and with reserve management to combat poaching and inform wildlife management decisions. Siyafunda has recently begun assisting a National Park in Zimbabwe to establish their own wildlife monitoring program. We would go out on two drives daily and log data on every animal we saw, then return to camp and process trail camera photos from the water holes within the reserve. We also assisted with road clearing and river cleanup weekly. This project reinforced the importance of being informed about the ecosystem of managed areas to make educated management decisions and understanding the effects of those decisions. 

After that, I learned about endangered species conservation at Running Wild Cheetah Conservation, the only facility in the world that breeds cheetahs for reintroduction to the wild and has their cheetahs consistently succeed and breed with wild populations. Over three percent of South Africa’s wild cheetah population can be traced back to Running Wild’s efforts. I was again exposed to the effects of the exotic pet trade and profit-centric safari industry. Cheetah cubs are sought after within illegal markets, which is a driving force behind their low numbers in the wild, as well as habitat infringement. Private reserves maintain high lion populations to cater to international guests’ preferences, and lions drive out or kill cheetahs in their territory. This makes it difficult to find suitable habitat for cheetahs to be released. I had seen this happen on the Makalali reserve, where the three resident cheetahs were forced to live along the fenced edges of the reserve due to the extremely high lion density. The patterns were coming full circle. 

The last month was my favorite, largely because it was spent learning about the nature around us and about life in South Africa from locals. I studied at a field guide college with South African students and staff in a truly immersive experience. These students from various backgrounds (law, IT, tracking, adventure guiding, university) were on a six-month course to become certified safari field guides. Most of the people I had interacted with in the last two months were American or European, so this new cohort was a breath of fresh air. I ate local cultural food, learned a few words of greeting in various local languages, watched rugby (practically a religion for South Africans), and even learned a traditional victory dance. 

Our days were packed with game drives, lectures, and studying to teach us how to identify the plants, animals, and signs of animals within the reserve. I loved it. I learned to identify wildlife tracks and signs from our two students who were professional trackers at every opportunity. I asked endless questions and took more notes during drives than I do in university classes. Every moment was a new learning experience, even more so because the flora and fauna were all different from anything I had ever seen before. One of our instructors would often say, “Bella is thrashing you. All the way from America and she knows more than you,” to which the students would reply jokingly, “That’s that first-world education for you.” We all became wonderful friends and I am looking forward to hearing about where they go in life from here (as well as going back to visit). 

The most important thing I learned during my GLI Out of Classroom experience was how to approach the multitude of people and interests involved in natural resources, wildlife in particular. Conservation decisions must be examined from the perspectives of each demographic involved and thorough communication and education must be employed to ensure the decision carries through as intended. We must get to know one another despite our differences and form a bond as fellow humans before we come to the meeting table. Forging personal connections first leads to much more meaningful and productive discussion, which in turn yields well-rounded, robust answers to multifaceted problems. We must be human first before we are anything else.

Words and pictures cannot express how much those three months in South Africa, particularly the final month, impacted me and the people I met along the way. I believe that the friends I made in South Africa came away just as changed as I did, which is a wonderful thing. This internship has painted issues such as the exotic pet trade, poaching, corruption, and wildlife rehabilitation in painfully vibrant color. It has also shown me the ways in which people are working to make their world a better place in their own way, by cultivating community and educating others. I have learned so much: wildlife rehabilitation, wildlife monitoring, data processing and research, wilderness first aid, wildlife photography, wildlife management with local communities, and wildlife tracking. This experience really has been a life-changer on my journey to become a globally-minded wildlife researcher working in conservation. This well-rounded experience would not have been possible without the support of the Franke Global Leadership Initiative Fellowship, other scholarships and our University of Montana community. Thank you.