Tag Archives: Study Abroad

My Time Abroad In South Korea!

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Hello, my name is Eddy Gallegos. This past semester I studied in Seoul, South Korea at the University of Seoul. I am currently a junior majoring in Cybersecurity with a global theme focused on technology and society. Prior to my study abroad trip, I had never traveled far from home, especially not to a city of millions of people who have a different culture and language from my own. I originally came to Korea to observe how a society with such high technological standards interacts with its population, but I left with a better understanding of technology and my own personal growth.

Before starting my journey, I really didn’t know much about South Korea at all. Most of what I associated with it came from popular music and shows. Two days before my departure I started to overthink, I started questioning if I should really go. I worried about going through my daily life without being able to read,write, or speak Korean. I was nervous about being alone in an unfamiliar place. These worries were simply just worries. Once I arrived I met people from a wide range of backgrounds, many of whom I still text to this day. With these connections I found myself stepping away from my introverted nature and by the time the program came to an end. I was reluctant to return home.

My challenge was to see how a society with high technological standards operates. I personally have experienced the opposite during my time in Mexico where the same infrastructure is not present. One of these technologies was the subway system. This technology was completely new to me as I have never experienced it before. The Trains arrived exactly on time, the stations were well maintained and clean. It was easy to go from one place to another without any worry about how to get there. There were many other technical systems that took some time getting used to, but the overall benefits far outweighed any inconvenience. I’d go as far as to say that transportation was my least worry.

As the program went on, I found myself trying new things and becoming more social. It felt like I was living a different life, one that I find myself missing in a meaningful way. I spent a lot of my time going out with friends, exploring different parts of the city, walking through nearby districts, or riding the train or bus for hours just to see where I would end up. I also traveled outside of South Korea and visited Jeju Island, where I hiked the Hallasan mountain, the tallest mountain in Korea. I never realized I could be so outgoing and I discovered what I liked through my experiences with my friends. I always thought of myself as being very introverted and in my own lane so to speak. However in Korea that was just not the case, I would even go out alone at times just to explore new places and monuments.

My time spent in Korea also educated me on dealing with South Korean culture. Many Korean people were very nice and they mostly kept to themselves. Sometimes during my commute on a train some elderly people, Ahjussi or Ajumma would talk to me as best they could in English and I was more than happy to start a conversation with them. I never felt like I was alienated nor felt out of place while I was on the study abroad program. I also met a few Koreans who I became friends with and there I learned more about the culture and why they act how they act.

Looking back on my time in South Korea was an amazing experience, I never expected to do any of the things I did there and I would gladly do something similar like this again. This entire experience changed how I view myself inter-personally as well as how society operates over in the Asia region, something I was unfamiliar with before.

A Semester Of Good Craic!

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In Gaelic, ‘craic’ pronounced like the English word, ‘crack’ means ‘a good time’ and let me tell you, Ireland did not disappoint! I’m Brooklyn Grimm, a third year student at The University of Montana studying Elementary Education! I joined the Franke Global Leadership Initiative as an incoming freshman because I have always wanted to learn more about the world and explore other places besides The United States. My theme, Public Global Health, covers the different factors that play into the variety of approaches to Public Health and the varying challenges that may need to be overcome in order to promote Public Health in different parts of the world. For my Beyond The Classroom experience I chose to explore the Public Global Health theme further by spending my Spring 2025 semester in Cork, Ireland! There I had the privilege of taking several relative courses including ‘Intro to Public Health’ and ‘Public Health Issues’ which focused on Public Health problems specific to Ireland such as the over-consumption of alcohol and the way smoking tobacco has been normalized in most public spaces throughout the country.

University College Cork where I attended my classes!

Learning about the thoughtful ways in which Ireland has attempted to minimize alcohol consumption and unhealthy habits throughout the population was an eye-opening experience for me. One concept that really stuck with me throughout the semester was the importance of brainstorming ways to promote health without causing a larger social divide between differing demographics. For example, one approach to minimizing alcohol consumption was to raise the price of alcohol, however, some concern is shown now for those who may be experiencing an addiction to alcohol. Realistically, these individuals are going to find a way to drink it and raising the price of alcohol may only lead them to a darker financial place than before.

The River Lee I got to walk every morning with one of my closest abroad friends!

Aside from broadening my perspective on the Public Global Health theme, this study abroad experience altered my perspective on life as a whole. I had the opportunity to meet loads of people from diverse upbringings and cultural norms and learn more about how these things impacted them and their worldview. I made friends with other fellow Americans and in addition, I met people from Argentina, France, Germany, The Netherlands, Finland, Canada, and of course, Ireland! I would not trade the sunset picnics, coffee runs, beach days, craft and cooking nights, Irish roadtrips, and insightful conversations I had with these new friends for the world! Cork, Ireland is truly a sweet place with a mix of city and small town vibes and I loved getting to live there for those short four months of my life. I am simply overwhelmed with gratitude for this incredible opportunity and the fact that I have so many reasons to hopefully visit Cork and Europe as a whole again!

A portion of my new international friends at the Cliffs of Moher!

From Tāmaki Makaurau to Piopiotahi: Envisioning Sustainable Futures in Aotearoa New Zealand 

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Kia ora, hello! My name is Maiya, and I am a senior at the University of Montana studying Wildlife Biology with a Climate Change Studies minor and certificates in Nonprofit Administration and Global Leadership. For my Beyond the Classroom experience, I studied abroad in Wellington, Aotearoa (New Zealand) at Te Herenga Waka (Victoria University of Wellington). My Global Theme is Resources and Sustainability, and during my time abroad, I immersed myself in learning about New Zealand’s sustainability and climate goals and the history and culture of the Māori people. My classes at Te Herenga Waka covered a vast range of climate change impacts in Aotearoa and I furthered my learning outside of the classroom by having conversations with local people, visiting a diversity of natural spaces around the country, and experiencing the critical nature of having a connection to place. 

The famous Wellington sign in the country’s capital city.

New Zealand is home to tens of thousands of endemic species, meaning that certain plants, birds, reptiles, and other organisms are found nowhere else in the world. Being an island nation, Aotearoa also hosts a diversity of marine life, including dolphins, whales, seals, sting ray, fish, and marine invertebrates. Being from the United States which is not geographically isolated in the same manner as Aotearoa and not having had a lot of prior knowledge of endemic species, it was incredible to witness the plant life and wildlife that are Native to the country. Students and professors in the Ecology and Biodiversity Department at Te Herenga Waka nearly always refer to species with their names in Te Reo Māori (the Māori language). For me, this was a learning curve at first, as Indigenous language has never been a part of my education due to the systemic colonial thinking embedded in US academic culture. It was a beautiful and transformative experience to learn to speak about the land in Te Reo Māori. I will remain committed to decolonizing language and systems of thinking in my field of conservation, and I will challenge myself and others to continue to learn in this way, for it is so important to the knowledge of people, place, and our relationship to the natural world. I initially arrived in New Zealand thinking that policy would be my primary focus with regards to conservation and climate commitments, but came to be reminded of the importance of turning to Indigenous leaders for lessons in how we care for the Earth. From Pīwakawaka to Kererū, Ruru to Kārearea, and Kauri to Rimu, my time in Aotearoa expanded my understanding of the possibilities for the future of conservation and only made me love wildlife more. How can I continue to honor Indigenous tradition in my education, my career, and throughout my life? How does language shape the way we view the natural world and our vision for the possibilities of a future that exists in symbiosis with the planet?  

Hiking near Marlborough Sound outside of Waitohi Picton.

In addition to the unique wildlife and plant communities of the country, the geography of Aotearoa is absolutely stunning. Highlights of my time there include a weeklong bus trip across the scenic North Island with other students and solo travelers that took me from Tāmaki Makaurau (Auckland) to Te Whanganui-a-Tara (Wellington). Along the way, we stopped at the famous Cathedral Cove, Karangahake Gorge, Waitomo glowworm caves, Huka Falls, Tongariro National Park and Lake Taupō. I also greatly enjoyed my time on the South Island at the end of my trimester, as I travelled from Tāhuna (Queenstown) to Waitohi (Picton). Experiencing the splendor of Piopiotahi (also known as Milford Sound) on the South Island was one of the most magical moments of my time abroad because witnessing largely untouched and protected wilderness such as that is so extremely rare and precious. And of course, visiting a Kiwi bird rehabilitation sanctuary in Tāhuna is another special memory from the South Island. 

The southernmost point of the North Island at Cape Palliser, Aotearoa.

My time in Aotearoa challenged the way that I think and enhanced my ability to evaluate how language shapes our relationship to the world and each other. I met some incredible people who welcomed me to a new place with compassion, curiosity, and warmth, and for this welcome I will always be grateful. I found joy in learning about species I had never known, like the Tuatara, hiking to an eight-hundred-year-old Rimu tree and stumbling upon a huge Fur Seal community at the southernmost point of New Zealand’s North Island. I believe we should always learn from our local, national, and international neighbors with humility because there is a lot to know, and it is always worth taking the time to listen. I am tremendously grateful to the Franke GLI for helping to make this experience possible and for encouraging me to seek unique paths along my educational journey that open doors such as this. I look forward with great excitement to my next adventure.  

The Remarkables mountain range in Tāhuna Queenstown, Aotearoa.

My Semester Abroad in Athens, Greece

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My name is Kalei Smith and I am from a small town in North Idaho. I grew up in Lolo, MT but we moved to Idaho to be closer to family when I was in seventh grade. I am studying Elementary Education here at the University of Montana. I have always loved Missoula and when I was looking at colleges, I originally was going to go to a school in Idaho, but as soon as I toured UM, I knew I wanted to attend. I have never felt homesick or out of place while I have been in Missoula because Montana was home to me for so long that it is just comfortable. Here is a picture of little me and Monte. 🙂

I studied abroad in Athens at The American College of Greece. In high school I always loved the idea of traveling to other countries and experiencing new cultures, so studying abroad was always in the back of my mind. I never thought it would actually be possible though, until I found out about GLI and decided to apply. The only country that I had been to before studying abroad was Mexico, and I loved getting to meet new people and see their culture, so I knew I would enjoy being in a new country. When I originally started planning my study abroad experience, I was thinking about going to Spain or Italy, but the schools I was looking at in those countries did not have many classes that interested me and it wasn’t guaranteed that those classes would be taught in English. The American College of Greece was appealing because everything is taught in English.

Once I was accepted to ACG, the process for getting my visa began. This was probably the most stressful part of the whole experience, because there were so many things that you had to have before you went to your appointment. Once I had my visa, the rest of the process was pretty simple. I browsed the course catalog to plan what classes I wanted to take and I had to set an alarm to register for classes at 2 a.m. I was able to register for classes that only took place on Tuesdays and Thursdays, because I wanted to be able to travel to other countries in Europe while I was studying abroad.

This is the Panathenaic Olympic Stadium. We visited this our first weekend in Athens and it was a trip we could sign up for through ACG. At the end of my semester in April, I had the opportunity to watch the Olympic Flame handover ceremony to France for the Paris 2024 Olympics.

January came around and thus my adventure in Greece started. I enjoyed my time in Athens so much. While abroad I could explore the city of Athens, learn more about its history, and meet many amazing people. I loved being able to see the historical parts of the city as well as the more modern parts. Seeing the Acropolis has always been on my bucket list and it was amazing to see it in person.

While at ACG I took four classes, Greece: The Birth of a Modern Nation, Modern Greek I, Infancy and the Preschool Years, and Myth in the Ancient Greek and Roman World. My GLI theme is culture and politics and my class Greece: The Birth of a Modern Nation served as my connection to my theme. The class talked about the politics at play when the Ottomans occupied Greece and what their government looked like after the Ottomans were defeated. Modern Greek I was a great way for me to introduce myself to the Greek language and learn some basic conversational phrases.

One thing that I also wanted to do while I was abroad was travel to other countries and I was actually able to visit four other countries as well as a few different Greek Islands. The different countries I traveled to were the United Kingdom, France, Hungary, and Malta. Out of these four, I think the UK and Malta were my favorites. I also traveled to Santorini, Aegina, and Hydra, which are all Greek Islands. It was super helpful to not have classes on Mondays and Fridays because we were able to have longer trips to each of these places. I am super thankful to have had the opportunity to visit other places as well as the experience of studying abroad. I had such an amazing time and I keep telling everyone that I talk to that they should think about studying abroad because it is such a great way to learn not only about yourself but also about a new culture and new people. I never thought that I would actually have the chance to study abroad but I am extremely happy that I did and I would do it again if I could.

Semester in Athens, Greece! Spring 2024!

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Hi blog! My name is Faith Marshall. I was born and raised in Missoula and attend the University of Montana. Studying abroad has always been a dream of mine, especially having watched my older cousins study abroad in Australia, Wales, Italy, etc. Further, as someone who attends a university in their hometown, I knew that studying abroad would be a great opportunity to see more of the world while having structure through school. While looking at universities as a junior and senior in high school, I was fond of the opportunities that the Global Leadership Initiative presented at UM and it was definitely an aspect of UM that brought me here. And then began the journey through GLI and applying to study abroad!

Through traveling with my parents prior to studying abroad, I knew I loved London and Paris. However, there were not great options for me to study abroad in Paris. London did have 1-3 options, but after more research I decided they were not meant to be. After a few trips to the Global Engagement Office, the American College of Greece began feeling like a very realistic and awesome option. It checked lots of the boxes. I had only been to Greece once in 2023 (and loved it! Even saw ACG’s campus.) and because it’s in Europe, I could travel to other European countries. Additionally, as I began browsing the course catalogs, it became very reasonable to be able to have classes on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays with no classes Friday through Monday. This seemed to be a great option to be able to travel on the long weekends to other places around Europe.

As far as the application process goes, it seemed to be a breeze. However, as preparation progressed, it was increasingly more stressful, but surely worth it. The visa process was especially stressful. The necessary materials, the expense to travel down to San Francisco to the Greek consulate, and finally the appointment at the Greek offices to apply for the student visa, wow! The preparation for studying abroad, on top of extra-curriculars, and taking 21 credits, I could not wait to just be in Greece, sit down, and take a deep breath.

January 2024 was the beginning of one of the most amazing experiences in my life thus far. There were amazing chances to meet new people from the United States, Greece, and other places such as Egypt, Turkey, and many others. I also loved the classes I took, Modern Greek, Modern European History & Politics, and Tennis, along with three online classes from UM and Helena College. It was a huge bonus that all classes were taught in English! Modern Greek was a great way to learn more about Greek culture while learning the language. I can go to the grocery store and have a conversation in Greek now! Further, as an American student, Modern European History & Politics was very enjoyable in learning more about European history from a Greek/European professor. This is especially true because we go through many series of learning about American history with US History, American Government, etc. and seem to rarely learn about European history.

Continuing on with the experience, I saved as much as possible to be able to travel to as many places as possible on the weekends. Along with a friend from UM, our travels began in January with a weekend in Bucharest, Romania. In February, we went on trips to Milan and Venice, Italy, Barcelona, Spain, London, and Paris. In March, my mom came across the pond to meet me in London. Then, we visited another friend who was studying abroad in Ireland over St. Patrick’s Day, and had a friend from home visit during UM spring break to travel around Greece. At the end of March, we went to Rome, Italy over Easter weekend. Then, off to Malta in April and towards the end of our experience, we visited another Greek island and my parents came during finals week to see more of Greece and go to Spain to begin a cruise along the French and Italian coasts. Finally, coming home was just as wonderful as being abroad. In different ways of course, but I was ecstatic to see my friends and family after four months and to have an awesome summer in Montana. Studying abroad is an experience I would recommend to anyone who is considering. I reflect on the friends I made, professors teaching styles, new daily routines, the uphill walk to the ACG campus, the time change from home, the yummy Greek chocolate, and finally, how well I know the Athens airport now. And looking back, I feel very thankful and wouldn’t change a thing.

My Semester in Athens, Greece

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Hello Everybody!

My name is Hannah Davis and I’m a current senior at the University of Montana that is majoring in Theater and a minor in Music. This spring semester for my junior year, I went to Athens Greece for my Beyond the classroom experience. For four months, I have partaken a few gen ed classes, a theater class and music classes at the American College of Greece including a social inequality class for an approvement on my inequality and human rights topic for my global theme. Also, I was able to find a club that involved with womans rights and a foundation for woman to do fundraisers and show the empowerment of working together known as the American Woman of Greece.

Coming to Greece was a process to be experiencing air travel to another country and being able to get through to my next destination was worth it. I was able to meet my new roommates and I had great time getting to know them. It took me time to adjust being away from home and my roommate was so kind and respectful to what I was going through. Soon, the Adjustment became like a second home and that my roommates were like family.

I got to perform in a concert for the music program over there and went to go see a musical known as the Phantom of the Opera. Certain activities I did was going to gift shops on the islands, took tours that were being offered in places I was at, went clubbing for the first time and went island hopping. My island-hopping experience was so much! I met a lot of great people on the ship including trying great food, great company, adventure a little bit on the islands, got to see dolphins and went swimming in the beautiful blue ocean.

I had visited places that were very historical, breathtaking and I had so much fun. I was to afford going to travel different places and islands that were offered such as Italy, Crete, Seces and Many more. From Historical downtown Athens that had a lot of stores, people, wonderful Cuisine and very creative artists on the street. The Athens temple to Parthenogen had such an historical background and mythological effect towards making truly beautiful. I was able to visit the city of Delphie was so beautiful and being to learn how certain parts of them that was run by leaders, kings, and mythological gods.

Above All, this beyond experience had been Absolutely amazing and Unforgettable! I learned more about myself as a person and being able to explore my horizons on this journey of exploring new possibilities. I truly enjoyed my experience and I’m still shocked that I went to one of the most beautiful places in the world and I still miss it. It’s Worth It!

Classroom to Coastline: Studying in Malta

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Arriving on the island of Malta felt surreal. As I left the airport, I was greeted by sunny skies, limestone buildings with the most colorful balconies, and the clearest water I had ever seen. Surrounded by the Mediterranean, my island home and classroom taught me so much.

Hi, I’m Danielle (or Dani), and as I write this, I am currently a senior musical theatre major. I left for Malta in the spring of my junior year and spent five months abroad. I partook in various theatre and music classes at the University of Malta (L-Università ta’ Malta in Maltese) and a social work class in agreement with my global theme of Inequality and Human Rights. Beyond that, I traveled quite a bit, helped write and perform a short musical, and learned the ins and outs of the small island I called home.

Moving to college and learning to be on your own is difficult, but moving to Europe and learning to be on your own is a whole new level of independence. Adjusting to the new structure of schooling and meeting new people was a challenge, but it was so gratifying. Days were up and down, but I slowly became accustomed to this way of living. My local Maltese classmates welcomed me with open arms and made me feel at home. As I mentioned, I took this opportunity to do some traveling. While I saw beautiful places like Italy and Spain, traveling came with its own challenges.

While typical travel annoyances arise (hostel stays, airport security, etc.), the problems my travel partner and I ran into were much scarier. Our classes had ended for the semester, and while we had been to quite a few places already, we wanted to cover as much ground as possible. So we planned a long two-week trip. Our first stop was Spain; little did we know it would also be our last. On day four of our trip, my friend Anika got sick. We got her to a doctor, and it was very little help. Eventually, we ended up in the hospital, and after much testing, she was diagnosed with viral meningitis. Long phone calls with insurance and a language barrier made this scary experience even scarier. After the discharge, I played caretaker, and we spent two weeks in a Spanish hotel while I tried to navigate a culture and language barrier. We made it through, and the two of us got home safely. Now, we have a lot to make up for in the future. 

Overall, I am grateful and overjoyed to have had this experience. I learned so much about myself and have significantly broadened my worldview. I am still in awe of the beauty I witnessed, but truth be told, I never missed home more than when I was away.

My Beyond the Classroom in Tokyo Japan

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My GLI Global Theme and Challenge is dealing with Human trafficking and global awareness. My experience in Japan gave me a chance to see one of the largest cities in the world, Tokyo, and the ability to look further into global cultures and see how they treat information gathering as well as communication.

Due to being in Tokyo, I was able to gain an eastern perspective on America and realize how selfish our culture is. While we talk a lot about individualism and making sure everyone is ‘accepted’ as different, we always seem to focus on the individual, not the collective. If we have our individual rights that don’t ‘hurt’ someone else, then we do not seem to care. However, in Japan, they care a lot more about the collective. For instance, in America we have a hard time being quiet in public, not disrupting class, not talking over each other, and waiting in line, and stealing bags, bikes, or even CHILDREN that are left unattended. These are common in most areas of the united states. I find this very discouraging. However, in Japan, specifically in Tokyo where I stayed, these issues are not really an issue. Why? Because everyone thinks about everyone else. You are not loud because you could be bothering someone else. You do not steal wallets, or purses, or bikes, or kidnap kids, because that is just not okay to upset someone else. You also stand in line patiently, get up on the train so elders can sit down, and be quiet in public places and on public transportation, because it is rude to your fellow citizens if you are not. These things show how much society cares about what other people think and feel in Tokyo.

Despite all these things, there is a down side to that exact mind set as well. Since the mind set is ‘you before me’ in Tokyo, often molestation cases go unreported. This is extremely the case in public transportation. I believe the statistic I got from a Japanese Professor of mine was that 1 in 5 women are molested on the train. Though that number is skewed because most do not report it because they do not want to take up someone else’s time during the day. Things like this would not be stood for in America. There is still yet a silver lining. Because women do not report these things, often a man will step in if he notices and ask the other guy to stop. This is not always the case, society has its flaws, but it does happen.

Beyond that. I have also realized how universal racism towards foreigners is. Japan hates foreigners even more than Americans do. We pretend to be okay with foreigners, we even have advocacy groups and active groups helping to incorporate foreigners in our country because, technically, most of us are at least partial foreigners when it comes to ancestry. However, in Japan, they want you to fit in, they want you to blend and do as the collective does, and most foreigners do not do that. Naturally these points I mention are extreme cases. But they are still cases. I was called on not just one occasion a ‘baka gaijin’ which literally translates to (rudely) “Idiot Foreigner” this is a derogatory term for anyone who is not Japanese and does not necessarily understand the culture. Does that mean I did something to piss these Japanese people off with my excessive loudness or rudeness? No. Not necessarily. I was called this name twice because I was wearing a rather gothic style shirt in a public area when out with friends both times. This earned me a very nasty look from two old men, separate occasions, who then proceeded to say I was an idiot foreigner. They of course probably did not account for the fact that one, I did hear them and two, I do understand a bit of Japanese, especially mean words. So yes, Racism is still a thing even in foreign countries, it also made me realize how silly ‘white washing’ in American films are because Asians do it too. Yes, they watch American films, but have you ever actually seen a movie, drama, or play from China Japan or Korean? The actors are… Japanese Chinese or Korean. They don’t really let in foreign influence. Yes, I did model in Japan, but I never became famous and was not even signed to an agency, I was just freelance and paid 10,000 yen each day I worked. That is roughly less than 100 dollars USA money. Which, for a model, is not that much. For anyone really since I was working eight hours a day. So Racism is pretty universal.

I feel like I have a better understanding of how Japan deals with such topics versus America. For instance, Japan has a lot of gang related issues. Despite this, they do not really talk about it. You do not even mention the Yakuza, and you sure as heck do not show off tattoos in Japan. Yet, world wide the sex trafficking and human trafficking is largely impacted by gangs in Japan. Japan does not talk about the bad points of the society though. They do not really talk about it at all. Americans are quick to point out the faults in our society, quick to judge and diminish our own worth, but Japanese people hide all the bad stuff. They only talk about the good things. This was something I found interesting. They promote their country in a way that sweeps all the negativity under the rug, so unless you are actively looking for it, or very aware of their culture, you do not actually see it. This conclusion led me to understand why human trafficking is so big in Japan; Its ignored.

I feel my experience in Japan did not fully help my leadership skills to be honest. I did do a lot of translating for some foreign exchange friends when talking to Japanese people, or even explaining cultures and cultural gaps, but I felt more behind then I ever have in my life. There was definitely a steep learning curve in Japan and that made me kind of have to take a back-seat approach and learn more than lead. I think the time I got to lead the most was in a culture class I took. We were discussing the idea of individualism, the American view, versus collectivism, the Japanese view. An American student did not understand how one could ignore their own needs and really think about others before them. He was a classic example of a bad tourist, even if he was a nice guy by American standards. Japanese people that I talked to did not like him because he was loud, obnoxious and self-centered. When I talked to Japanese people, they said that he was what they imagined Americans to be like. That hurt. During the culture class where we were discussing these differences I was given the chance to talk to him and express why the views were different. He finally understood how the Japanese people could put others before themselves, but I don’t think he ever actually embraced it as he was still just as loud and obnoxious as before. Yet, still, I feel a few other foreign exchange students from other countries were also very avid to hear what I had to say because after class I got more questions about the different views and ideals. This was really my only chance to play ‘leader’ as I kind of ‘led’ a cultural knowledge moment.

The questions I have now are more based on how I can more aptly get people to understand Japanese culture, so that when they go over to Japan they better represent a positive American vs. the stereo type of loud and obnoxious. However, also the idea of how one could better traffic knowledge about sex and human trafficking to japan without it being totally rejected.

Over all though I must say my experience in Japan was extremely Positive. I had a lot of fun, made some good friends from around the globe, and gathered some knowledge from all kinds of countries about different issues and why they are an issue in those specific countries. This increased my cultural knowledge for not only America and Japan but other places as well like Sweden, Norway, Germany, Ireland, South Korea, and the UK. My room mate was also from the States, so I even got a state to state different view point. That was also a lot of fun. We did a few different things and honestly most of my adventures were outlined on a blog, but I will add a few photos with captions here just to keep things interesting.

Rikugien Garden Semester 1
Kanji Calligraphy
Visiting a Temple

Holiday in Cambodia

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My first trip outside of Thailand was with a friend of mine, Juliette, to Siem Reap, the capital of Cambodia. We had decided to travel there for five days, because our visas required us to leave the country once every three months in order to remain valid. But really, that was just an excuse. We desperately wanted to get out of Thailand and see how the rest of Southeast Asia compared, and it had also been a dream of both of ours to see Angkor Wat. The flight from Bangkok to Siem Reap was very short, and before we knew it we had landed and were taking a tuk-tuk to our ($3-per-night) hostel. The difference between Siem Reap and Bangkok was very striking. While Bangkok was a bustling metropolis, it still seemed somewhat less modern compared to European and American cities, but Siem Reap made us realize exactly how modernized Bangkok was compared to its counterparts in the area. Many of the roads were unpaved, the sidewalks were few and far between, and there was a noticeable lack of streetlights. Despite this, our hostel had an incredibly fun and relaxed environment and we enjoyed swimming in the pool and getting to know the other guests before heading off to bed.

The next day we woke up around five a.m. to get ready for our sunrise tour of Angkor Wat. I will never forget driving around the corner and seeing Angkor Wat against the barely-lit horizon. Our entire tour group sat still and watched the sun slowly crawl up behind the temple before our tour guide ushered us on to go explore the inside. The structure was ancient, and absolutely amazing to look at. It reminded me of Thailand’s temples, but somehow also seemed reminiscent of ancient Aztec and Mayan temples I had seen pictures of before. Juliette and I were incredibly glad that we booked a sunrise tour, not only for the view, but because of the fact that after 10 a.m., it became almost unbearably hot, so the sunrise tour gave us a few hours of exploring the temples without melting.

cambodia

Angkor Wat at Sunrise

The area of Angkor Wat is actually incredibly large, and covers about 500 acres with dozens of ancient structures on it. Our Cambodian guide told us about the history of the buildings, which was interesting to hear. The most striking part of it for me was physically seeing how the Khmer Rouge regime in the 80’s had destroyed some of the buildings during the Cambodian Genocide. We saw several temples with bullet holes in the walls, areas where land mines had been detonated, and even one temple that had been almost completely intact for hundreds of years until the Khmer Rouge destroyed it in the 1970’s.

Later in the trip Juliette and I went to a museum in Siem Reap dedicated to the history of the Cambodian genocide and military struggle surrounding it. It was a simple museum, mainly consisting of tanks, deactivated land mines, and other wartime memorabilia sitting in a mango grove, but it was amazing in the sense that every single one of the guides had personally been through the genocide. I had been to war museums before, but never one like that. One guide was missing an eye a limb and several fingers from fighting in the military during that time. He spoke about his experiences, which included killing a khmer rouge soldier. Another guide spoke about how he watched his father murdered with a shovel during the genocide, and how his grandfather had disappeared and was never heard from again.

I can’t stress how amazing, and horrifying, it was to hear firsthand accounts of a historical event such as this. It was even more amazing to see the effects from it that were still around today, from the physical damage of temples and buildings, to the extreme poverty and political corruption that is still very present in the country, to the column of  real human skulls that sat near the center of the city, many of them bashed in or filled with bullet holes, all of them unidentified.

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Seeing living history like that was not easy, but I had such a greater appreciation for the country and its people after seeing how they have begun to progress from that dark period.

Bangkok to Phuket

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It was nearly midnight on New Year’s Eve when I stood in line at Thai immigration to get my passport stamped and be officially welcomed into Thailand. After nearly 27 hours total of flying, on top of a fifteen hour time difference, I thought I would be absolutely exhausted, but as I stood around looking at the holiday decorations throughout Suvarnabhumi Airport I couldn’t have been more excited. I finally made my way to the front of the line and had my passport and visa stamped by a friendly immigration officer who wished me a Happy New Year before ushering me towards baggage claim. I glanced at my phone on the way and saw that the date now read January 1, 2016. I had begun the New Year nearly 8,000 miles away from home.

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A Ronald McDonald statue sitting outside the McDonald’s near my apartment doing the “wai”, a traditional Thai greeting and sign of respect

Bangkok was going to be home for the next six months, and I can honestly say that I fell completely in love with the city after only a few days. It’s certainly rough in some places, rightfully known for it’s atrocious traffic and filthy streets, but all of that is completely forgivable once you taste the food, meet the incredibly kind locals, and see your first glittering temple or golden Buddha amidst the concrete buildings.

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The Grand Palace is not only the historical home of the Royal Family, but Bangkok’s main tourist attraction. Dozens of buildings and temples sit in the complex, all covered in glittering tile and intricate mosaics. 

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A golden Buddha meditates at the Grand Palace.

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These are just a few of the buildings that form the Grand Palace.

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A pair of massive demon guards stand by the gate to the palace.

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Spires at Wat Pho, located next to the Grand Palace. The Wat Pho is one of the most famous temples in Thailand and was historically used by royalty.

While Bangkok was where I spent most of my time, I also was fortunate enough to explore the rest of the country as well. I traveled with a large group of friends to Chiang Mai, the largest city in Northern Thailand, where we rented motorbikes to drive through the mountains, hiked and even got to meet some friendly elephants.

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A meditating buddha rests under lanterns at a temple in Chiang Mai.

I also traveled down to the Southern Islands of Thailand, probably the most visited and recognizable area of the country. It was a bit cloudy during my trip, but that didn’t make it any less stunning. We snorkeled, boated, swam and took in everything we could from Phuket and Koh Phi Phi.

All of these places were gorgeous, but one of my absolute favorites was a small island called Koh Samet, which was accessible from Bangkok by a three-hour bus and ferry ride. I went here twice during my semester, once with my exchange student friends and once at the very end of my trip with my boyfriend. Koh Samet had the most beautifully colored water I had ever seen, amazing bars, and even had fire shows for entertainment on the beach at night. Besides Bangkok, Koh Samet was probably my favorite place in all of Thailand.