Madison Kacmar – Global Interest

I got interested in international initiatives when I changed my major to International Studies. Through one of my classes, I got to visit the United Nations and it sparked my interest in working globally after college. I then became a member of the Global Ambassador program, which let me take part in many diverse activities.

These pictures are from the international student New York trip that I got to help lead. I learned that no matter what language someone speaks or culture they’re a part of, people tend to go through the same things and can always share a common interest. It has been so fun to get to know so many international students and see different perspectives.

I think everyone should get involved with the Office of International Programs & Services because it gives you a broad outlook on today’s society, and let’s you have a better understanding of the world. I’d also encourage students to become a Global Ambassador because it opens the door to a variety of opportunities you might otherwise miss.

Amber Yaw – Japan

I studied abroad in 2009-2010 at Kansai Gaidai University in Hirakata, Japan. I wanted to travel to a country that was very different from my own and push myself to be more independent. I quickly had to learn Japan’s culture and social rules. I was so far out of my comfort zone but I definitely came back more independent than when I went.

I was lucky to have had the opportunity to travel to Hiroshima to hear an Atomic Bomb survivor speak. It was such an intense experience and one of my fondest memories. I also got to see Okinawa, Fukuoka, and went to South Korea for spring break.

I currently live and work in South Korea. I’ve been teaching ESL for almost 3 years, 2 of which with the most amazing high school students on the planet. My first year in Korea I lived in Daegu, a fairly large city in southern Korea. I enjoyed the city but working with elementary students was not my thing. So I decided to move up to high school students after a year. I found a high school in a small rural city called Hongseong, and I’ve been here for about a year and a half.

I teach first and second year high school students, the equivalent of sophomores and juniors in the US. My students are hilarious but ask some very deep questions about all sorts of topics. I remember having a discussion about dog meat and how Americans think about Korea’s history of its consumption. I’ve learned a lot about the education system here and how much it differs from the States’ system. My students are at school from 8:30 am until 9:00 pm or later. I’ve learned how to adult in a different language which is sometimes frustrating but all the more rewarding after. I think that my time abroad during college really helped with my ability to navigate my life here.

Studying abroad will change your life. I know how cliché that sounds but studying abroad broadens your understanding not only of the world and how you fit in it, but of yourself and what you are capable of as well.

Do research. Go to the Office of International Programs and Services and ask questions. Go early and go often. Everyone is so kind and helpful. Look into different programs, both MU and not, to find the one that will best fit your needs. Prepare financially and emotionally. Finally, just go. You won’t regret it.

 

Dr. Jason Petula – Global Interest

Image above: Most unique trip – South Pole, Antarctica

First trip with students – Ix Chel Farm, Belize

Early in my teaching career, I made a bold decision.  I took my life savings – three figures at the time – and purchased a one-way ticket to Peru, with the plan to travel home by land.   The adventure fundamentally changed my identity and I learned more in those 8 weeks than my entire formal education.  So profound was the experience, I vowed I would try and create opportunities for others to experience authentic travel.  When the new school year started, I founded a non-profit. The next summer I led my first group of middle school students on an environmental education trip to Belize and Guatemala.  It gave me great joy to see the students develop global competencies from the trip, such as inquisitiveness, social flexibility, and self-confidence.  I think exploring the world made me a better teacher, as I could provide students first-hand experiences, rather than learning from a textbook.

First MU course taught abroad – Stockholm, Sweden

A wonderful collaboration between Millersville University and Internationella Engleska Skolan (IES) has expanded over the years.  IES is a school system in Sweden that provides students English immersion and an American style education.  The partnership started when MU alumna Nicole Doty – an IES teacher – came to campus for a recruiting trip several years ago.  Nicole’s visit resulted in an invitation to my department, and our students, to visit her school in Stockholm, to consider what was possible.   The school visit was amazing – thanks to my colleagues Dr. Powers for making the trip a reality and Dr. Neuville for introducing me to the school’s administrators. This past January, I returned to IES with Millersville University education majors to complete the capstone course of their Integrated STEM Education Methods (ISEM) minor.  Essentially, the ISEM students designed two units of instruction and then had the opportunity to teach the units to 4th and 5th grade students.  In a sense, the study abroad trip to Sweden is an opportunity for our students to consider working abroad, as IES comes to our campus every spring recruiting teachers for their schools, which are expanding across Sweden and into Spain and England.  This upcoming January, another cohort of Millersville University students will travel to Stockholm to complete their ISEM minor.  The next phase of the collaboration is to offer student teaching as an option in IES schools.  The project is special to me because it reveals how multiple stakeholders can collaborate to create a program that adds value to our students’ university experience.

Playing Kubb (aka Viking Chess or Skulls & Femurs) as a team building activity

The Internationella Engleska Skolan (IES) Project and associated study abroad programs is similar to growing grapes.  Serious gardeners do not plant seeds in the ground and expect amazing yields.  Instead, they first work the soil.  Then, the seeds are planted, pruned, and prevented from fruiting for a few years; this is so the plant’s energy is devoted to the development of strong roots.  Only years later are grapes ready for harvesting. The IES project is flourishing because of the faculty from the Early, Middle, and Exceptional Education Department and support from the Office of International Programs & Services.

The logo for the Imagine the Possible campaign captures the very spirit of the Office of International Programs & Services: Together – Image the Possible.  Last spring I was struggling to find a way for students to join me at a conference in Europe.  A student walked by and inquired about the conference, which was an international gathering of polar scientists and educators.  The student returned the next day with three other students.  They wanted to go, but the cost of attending was prohibitively expensive.  Together, we connected with the team at the Office of International Programs & Services and they helped us make it possible.  The students hit an absolute grand slam with their presentation at the conference.  The compliments from attendees were so remarkable I wrote them down: These are college students, not professional teachers?  Are all teacher candidates at your university like this [great]?  My response to the last question was, “Yes.  What you see here at this conference is my entire university.  It is a university of excellence and its greatest resources are the people – students, staff, and faculty.”  Then, the President of Polar Educators International (PEI) invited the students to present at their conference next year at Cambridge University.

Millersville University students presenting at the POLAR2018 Conference – Davos, Swittzerland    

The world is rapidly changing.  Millersville University graduates are no longer competing for jobs with graduates from neighboring universities.  Our alumni are competing against the world.  The Office of International Programs & Services can facilitate students engaging with high impact practices; i.e., global studies, capstone course and projects, internships, etc.  I personally am happy to help anyone interested in study abroad or internationalizing their curricula.  Give me a call – together we can imagine the possible.

Natalie – England

I traveled to London during the Fall 2017 semester. I chose this location because London is full of amazing history and being in the city made it easy to travel throughout the city and surrounding countries.

While abroad I wanted to meet as many new people as I could. Meeting new people from different countries and different backgrounds gave me a whole new perspective of the world and people from different cultures. Academically, I wanted to improve my writing skills and learn more about the public relations industry within the United Kingdom. I was enrolled in a Public Relations Campaign class that explained the structure of campaigns for different companies in the UK. Our professor was in the PR field and had his own firm in London.

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I traveled to Nuremburg and Munich in Germany. I went to Oktoberfest with a couple of friends from University. While we were there, we stayed at a campsite. After Oktoberfest was over, we visited the Dachau Concentration camp that was located outside of Germany. Seeing the concentration camp was a life changing experience. During my semester, I also traveled to different parts of Italy, Ireland, and Northern Ireland.

I think Millersville students should study abroad because traveling outside of the United States and outside of Lancaster County gives individuals a well-rounded view of the world. It is amazing to get to meet new people from different countries and hear about their background and their own personal experiences. Studying abroad also gives students the opportunity to share their own background with the rest of the world.

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The best advice that I could give someone is, don’t have any expectations of what your time abroad is going to be like. This was the best advice my mom gave me. When I got to London, I had the most amazing experience because I didn’t know what to expect. It turned out to be one of the best experiences of my life and I think everyone should get the chance to experience studying abroad.

Karlee – Global Interest

I became interested in international initiatives when I first visited South Africa in 2012. It was my first time out of the country and after experiencing their culture and the diversity there, I wanted to learn more about other countries and their cultures. I became fascinated in learning about the diversity in the world and that helped shape my career path and college career as well.

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I have  volunteered with Ubuntu Leaders of Lancaster and I am a part of a social work organization where I organized a Zumba fundraiser event for disaster relief for Puerto Rico. I have done volunteer work with Love. Give. Live. to learn about fair trade and NPO’s. I have also participated in many service learning trips to South Africa where I assisted with planting agricultural plots in Cape Town. Along with this, I have been to Northern Ireland where I learned about the troubles and the walls, to Nicaragua where I worked with rural communities to respond to issues related to poverty, to Mexico where I used expressive arts to work with youth to raise awareness about social injustices, and to Honduras where I worked at medical clinics. I also presented a poster on the research I did on the medical clinics at the Rural Social Work Conference.

Some things I have learned while participating in these programs are responsibility, organization, how to be a leader, how to be a global citizen, field work, accomplishment of goals, and career interests. I have also learned about social change, diversity in the world, and differences between cultures.

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Other students should get involved with Global Education to become a better global citizen. Studying abroad not only makes you more aware of various cultures but also, while you are interacting with others from around the world and hearing their stories, it enhances your compassion and humanity toward others. Therefore, you are more inclined to respond to social injustices and able to see what you can do to help.

 

 

Anyi – China

My name is Anyi Cai, and I am a sophomore this year. I am studying as a piano performance major with Dr. Pan. I also started taking harpsichord lessons with Dr. Horton last year. I am a part of the university’s women’s choir, and I also accompany for other instrumentalists in the department. I won third place of the Lancaster Instrumental Competition in 2015, and am also a recipient of the 2016 Dutcher Memorial Music Scholarship.

Taylor – France

I studied at l’Université de Caen in Normandy, France for a semester. I chose this program because I wanted to improve my French language skills, as well as explore the French culture and meet new people.

My personal goals from this experience were to meet new people, gain more confidence in myself, and, for once, really step outside my comfort zone. I feel that these goals were met. I met amazing people from all over the world and really pushed myself to break out of my shell- something I never felt ready to do in the past- by participating in more social events and even venturing out alone. For academic goals, I wanted to improve my French verbal and written communication while completing credits for my major. I definitely completed these goals. As for professional goals, I did not really set any before I left, besides maybe having something for my resumé. However, having had so many new experiences, upon my return, I have really begun questioning what direction I would like to go in my professional career.

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At UniCaen, there are many opportunities to participate in excursions around Normandy and close to Paris. I visited Versailles, Monet’s House, Honfleur, Etretat, and also a trip exploring how Normandy’s two finest products were made- cheese and apple spirits. These trips were a great opportunity to learn about France from both a cultural and a historical perspective. The ERASMUS group also hosted social events to meet new people. During my time in Caen, I was also able to participate in the Carneval d’Etudient, the largest student carnaval in Europe. It was a fun day spent with friends, dressing in silly costumes, and enjoying music.

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Students at Millersville should study abroad because there is nothing more beneficial than building a new perspective of the world. I sometimes feel that we get caught up in our own little bubbles that we forget there is a whole world out there that has a ton to offer us in terms of different ways of thinking and living. Studying abroad really places you in that world. You are there simply to learn and explore, meaning leaving behind some of those responsibilities that can sometimes weigh you down at home, giving sometime to reflect on what direction you should take, but through a new pair of eyes. Also, you get to try new things, and from that, find new things you like.

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My advice to students interested in studying abroad is to just go for it. The amount of benefits you reap from this experience is more than you would imagine. I really feel like a new person, with new goals and new views. This experience was priceless. Going to another country is scary and you have to put your life on hold in the United States to experience it, but you will come out of this experience with a different outlook on life and a true understanding of how capable of you are at adapting to a brand new environment.

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Alex – Italy

I studied in Florence, Italy. As an art major with a minor in history my professor last spring really pushed for the Florence program in her classes. I have a real love for art history and I had learned a lot about the Italian renaissance through her classes and I decided that I would check out the program and go from there.

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My goals were to learn to live like the locals, experience works of art like Artemisia Gentileschi’s Judith Slaying Holofernes, Masaccio’s Trinity, and the David. I also wanted to leave being able to say that I learned an incredible amount about the history of Italy and their art. I accomplished all of my goals and then some.

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While in Italy we get to go on options trips to the Amalfi Coast, Rome, Sorento, Sienna, Pisa, Pienza, Montepulciano, and much more. Each new place was different from the last despite being in such close proximity to one another and their traditions changed as well. In Sienna, we got to see children playing soccer beside the church of Saint Catherine. In Assisi, the home of Saint Francis, as well as in Vatican City I got to attend mass. While on the Amalfi coast we got to take gondolas into the blue grotto one of the wonders of the world. I also got to go through the canals of Venice in gondolas while we were in Venice. At the end of it all, I was able to go on another trip into Lugano Switzerland where we traveled through the Italian section of Switzerland and got to hike to massive waterfalls, swim in lakes and streams, and take amazing pictures at the top of mountains.

 

Studying abroad is a life changing experience. Being a way from home is admittedly hard for everyone, not just some but as an individual, you grow much more than you could even imagine by traveling alone.

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My greatest advice is that no matter how much the money may seem like, studying abroad is possible. If you want something badly enough you can achieve it with a little bit of perseverance and struggle. As far as students looking to study in Italy, don’t take large bags, carry around smaller bills, eat all of the gelato that you can, and aperativo starts at 7-7:30 so if you want a cheap meal that’s where you should be!

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Carmen – Spain

  • Carmen is an international exchange student from Spain
  • She attends Universidad de Burgos

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I came to study at Millersville because my home university organised an exchange with Millersville University.

While at Millersville I learned about: the Amish and went on the Amish trip with Global Education. I visited Washington and Philadelphia. I went to the Fist Friday in downtown Lancaster. I will go to New York also with Global Education.

One new cultural thing I learned is: There is more tolerance in this country.

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What would you like to share with the campus community about your culture or country? I would encourage everybody to travel and visit another countries and cultures.

I am glad to have this opportunity of studying abroad, I am so pleased and I will like to promote the idea of studying abroad.

Tara – England

  • Tara studied abroad in Oxford, England as part of the MOSAIC summer 2017 study abroad program through Maryville University.

I chose this location for the courses being taught: Brexit and British Politics. I figured, being an International Studies major, there is no way I could pass up the opportunity to study Brexit while in England as this is still an ongoing and persistent issue.

My goals were ultimately to enrich my knowledge on the British governmental system, as well as to push myself academically. This was also a test to myself to travel abroad, alone and with others, and to experience other paths of life. This was a true test to myself. I had many breakdowns and long nights thinking about my future and where to go in my life from here. I had the realization that I want to work in America in a government or humanitarian focused, work to help those abroad. Oxford, and the Bookmillers (Dr. Kirsten Bookmiller and Dr. Robert Bookmiller of Millersville University), pushed me in my thought processes, my activity, and my work. This was an altering experience and I already miss it, the atmosphere, and the people I have met along the way,

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As a part of the MOSAIC program, we went to Blenheim Palace, Stratford On-Avon, London multiple times, had a boat ride on the Thames, etc. As a part of my Bookmiller courses, we went to Parliament, The Welsh National Assembly (gorgeous!), and Westminster Abbey. Everything was so wonderful. We were provided with access to so many wonderful buildings and tours, that would not be so easily accessible to the public on the daily.

It’s our future. What is going on in the world now will affect all of us; we need to experience what will change our daily lives. Furthermore, there is so much beauty for every kind of person in the world! There are beautiful waters, forests, cities, open planes, etc. There is something for everyone in every country. You meet so many diverse, funny, amazing, loving people from all over the world. Study abroad honestly has no drawbacks. Even when you feel you are alone or at a breaking point and missing home, I do not see that as a drawback. That just enhances your gratitude and love for your home and your life back home. That’s such a positive thing and strengthens you as a person, your relationships to those you have left behind, and your whole life. It is all 100000% worth it.

Do it! Why not? I dare you to give me one reason.

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Take advantage of the opportunity. Soon after college, your availability decreases, the cost increases, and your length of stay decreases. Submerge yourself in the world while you have the time. Live in another culture to fully appreciate your own culture. There is nothing wrong about being homesick, but don’t be sick of your home. And to not be sick of your home, you must explore a little.

Study Abroad has given me the best of friends outside of PA (basically all from Illinois), I have new connections, new memories, new loves, and critics about the world. This experience has probably been one of the best I have ever had in my life to date. I cannot wait to study abroad again – studying abroad junior year in Marburg!

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