International Trivia Night (Social Event)

On March 2nd, 2020, I attended the International Trivia Night Event in the sky lounge on the 10th floor of Smith-Steeb. There were 10 total International Affairs students, not including the member of the social chair. The trivia took place in the form of a Kahoot and covered a wide range of international topics.

I was familiar with the questions regarding the spread of the coronavirus as well as those focusing on the US election and Democratic Primary. However, I was embarrassingly unaware of Turkish and Syrian conflict, the Canadian rail blockade, and several travel bans implemented by the US government.

Personally, I have found interest in the coronavirus because of its increasing prevalence throughout the world and arrival in the United States. Also, I’m interested in a future in medicine so I have read about the virus and how it compares to other diseases such as SARS which have been international public health issues in the past. I was shocked to hear that the coronavirus scare has forced the closure of the Lourve which was one of my favorite places when I visited Paris. I have seen a lot of rioting and unrest already occurring in France and I’m sure the new fear of the coronavirus is making life difficult for French citizens. Also, coronavirus is a major concern for OSU as many students come from countries affected by the virus or are studying abroad in countries that are impacted.

I have briefly read some information regarding the democratic primary since it is my responsibility to inform myself to make the best decision possible during the election season. I am not as interested in US politics as most of the other international topics we saw questions on though. The violence in Syria is very sad because Syria has been a place of significant loss suffering many burdens for the past several years. In seems to be the case that many of the news topics were very depressing which is, unfortunately, representative of the state of the world.

 

STEP Exposition (Academic)

On November 20th, 2019, I attended the STEP Expo prepared in the Ohio Union for second-year students at The Ohio State University. There were probably over 200 posters/presentations when I visited from 4:30-5:30 PM. The posters had information for possible internships, job experiences, or study abroad opportunities. Personally, I visited about 6-7 posters that I found appealing or had to write about.

I spoke with an individual who had an internship with Hyland, a software company based in Ohio. Although the internship did not specifically relate to my interests, I did learn about the benefits of doing an internship. First, the money from STEP was more than enough to fulfill all financial requirements such as housing or groceries. I also learned that STEP money can be used to buy professional clothing. Currently, I do not have a lot of professional clothing as it is very expensive so that could be very useful. I think that I am leaning towards doing an internship or something close to home with STEP funds.

However, I did explore a lot of tables presenting on study abroad programs. I do not think I will be going abroad this upcoming school year or summer, but perhaps the summer after that. I visited tables where individuals studied abroad in Italy, Uganda, London, and India. The programs in Italy sounded like a great chance for immersion into art and culture, but I feel that it wouldn’t be the greatest use of STEP funds because it is distant from my field of focus. The trip to Uganda sounded interesting as it focused on international topics from government policies to environment change in Uganda. The immersion sounded better too because of the relationship that the student formed with her host family. The London trip was a STEM research focused trip so it directly applied to my major as the student studied the behavior of dogs. I think that an opportunity like this would be ideal if I was to study abroad. The India trip seemed to be very meaningful for the student who went on it, as she loved the ideas of yoga and integrative medicine applied on the trip, but I don’t think it would be fitting for me.

I found that the study abroad programs were VERY expensive in general, but most students said that the opportunities really were once in life, life-changing experiences. I was also encouraged to apply for many study-abroad scholarships which I had not heard about previously. Traveling abroad would also be strongly connected to international affairs as it is an unbeatable way to learn about international cultures, languages, governments, etc. I love traveling and hope it is in my future here at Ohio State. However, I have been focusing my STEP efforts on research opportunities because I could get my housing, professional clothing, and food paid for during the summer. This lab experience is something that I see as being essential during my undergraduate studies.

 

 

Service Event: 2019 Walk to End Alzheimer’s

On September 22, 2019, I participated as a volunteer at the Walk to End Alzheimer’s. The event took place at Huntington Park in Columbus, Ohio. There were almost 500 teams and over 4,000 participated in the ceremony, then in the walk which spanned a 1.35-mile distance through the downtown area. The goal of the walk was to raise money for the nonprofit organization called Alzheimer’s Association who was responsible for planning the event. A total of $801,933 were raised for the cause which is outstanding for a single day event.

My job as a volunteer was very simple. I passed out water and fans to the participants at a water station, directed the crowd, and cheered on all the walkers. The event took about three hours and I enjoyed myself more than I thought I would. It was very inspiring to see so many people who had been touched by Alzheimer’s and continued to fight and support a better future. I was also happy to see several Ohio State clubs and groups providing energy and help as volunteers throughout the day.

This event was impactful in my life for a couple of reasons. First, Alzheimer’s has affected a family member of mine as well as my neighbor so I have seen the effects of the disease firsthand. I knew my neighbor for almost 10 years, but I had to reintroduce myself to her every time we spoke nearing the end of her life because she did not recognize me. She required a great deal of attention and care as she could easily get lost or locked out of her home. Luckily, her son was able to be there for her, but it must have been difficult for him to see her in such a state. Finding a cure or a way to alleviate the neurodegenerative effects of the disease would be excellent as it would improve the quality of life for many people. I also felt a connection to this event because of its relation to my studies in school. In many of my classes, we have discussed the most recent research surrounding the cause, symptoms, and treatment options for people living with Alzheimer’s. As a student who is interested in doing undergraduate research, I think a lab involving Alzheimer’s would be an amazing opportunity.

Alzheimer’s is also an international issue. Its prevalence is rapidly growing throughout the world as over 40 million people now suffer from it. Just as vaccines for diseases like polio caused an incredible impact across the globe, I believe a medication or option for Alzheimer’s would send a wave of healing to millions. It is a serious public health topic, especially for the elderly population. Many people in the world may not have someone who can take of them when they get old and there are countries that have inadequate public healthcare options. Solving some of the issues surrounding Alzheimer’s could protect the elderly population in locations with poor services for older populations.

Education Abroad Expo (Campus)

On September 12th, an Education Abroad Expo was hosted in the Ohio Union. This was a campus event where a large number of study abroad entities gathered in one room and prepared presentations at their tables regarding their programs. Ohio State has a very wide range of opportunities to get out of the country to complete education requirements, and many of the most interesting ones were on display at this event.

This event was very interesting to me because it helped me realize the possibility of study abroad for myself. Three things that worried me about studying abroad previously were the cost, lack of STEM classes, and missing valuable time on the Ohio State campus. As far as cost goes, many of the programs would accept money from the OSU STEP program that I am involved in, so that would greatly alleviate the price. Furthermore, I did not know that there were various academic scholarships and need-based scholarships for students. There is even the Wolfe Study Abroad Scholarship for those who have never been out of the country before. Many of the tables also explained to me that there are many classes that could directly impact my science-related major. In fact, some programs were specifically targeted towards neuroscience majors such as myself.  Finally, there is also the possibility to do a “May-mester” during which, I would not be missing an entire semester at Ohio State.

One specific opportunity that piqued my interest was a study abroad program focused in Finland and Estonia. The trip explores the health care system and related public health topics in the two countries and draws comparisons with each other as well as the United States. As someone who has an interest in being involved in health care, I feel that this would be a valuable experience. Also, it would count as a credit in the college of medicine which would be valuable to my undergraduate experience. One of the most unique study abroad experiences I saw was a trip that happens almost entirely on a boat. I personally would not be interested in such a trip, but I thought it was a cool opportunity to have.

The Expo was relevant to the International Affairs Scholars because it is based on international travel. Studying international cultures, economies, healthcare systems, news, etc. is very important, but actually experiencing these things by traveling there is a completely new and exciting way to learn. I think that you can learn things that you would never find in a book by physically going to a location.

Traveling internationally is something I’d love to do in college and this experience helped me to realize that it is an attainable goal.

goBuckeye Day IA Scholar Open House

For my academic event this semester, I attended the goBuckeye Day IA Scholar Open House. This event was an experience in which future Buckeye undergraduate students had a chance to talk to a group of current International Affairs Scholars. The discussion took place in a room on the first floor of Smith-Steeb on Friday, April 5, 2019. I think it was a valuable experience because as current students, the IA scholars at the event were able to explain a lot of the more confusing or scary things about joining Honors and Scholars at Ohio State or becoming a college student in general. I know that I had a lot of similar questions as the incoming students when I was considering college decisions. The group of potential IA scholars who attended the meeting was academically impressive and involved and they seemed to have a good sense of exactly what they wanted to study.

This event impacted me because it made me reflect on my personal experience as an IA scholar and freshman at OSU. Being a member of International Affairs helped me acclimate to Ohio State and also expand my educational horizons. Having a floor full of other IA students helped to create a community. It always surprises me when I go to other dorms where the residents do not know the other students living around them. I also love living in Smith-Steeb because it is one of the nicest dorms on campus as it has air conditioning, a kitchen, study rooms, and nice rooms. Besides the community aspect, being in IA has also benefitted me educationally. Being in a STEMM major isolates me from a lot of important news or political topics unless I actively look into these topics on my own. The seminar helped catch me up to speed on a lot of global topics and hear the opinions of many other students in the class. Also, the weekly updates for IA are very useful because I can see what is happening on campus so that I can be active or go to fun events. The monthly requirements are usually beneficial and I think the social events are probably my favorite. Going to the movie theater with other members of IA or have a joint breakfast with the PSL scholars are great community building activities. I feel like being in the Scholars program helped make campus feel a lot smaller since I came into school knowing a lot more people than I otherwise would have.  

I hope that the future students pick International Affairs as their Scholars group. It is a huge benefit that a lot of other universities do not offer. I was very impressed to learn how much IA Scholars accomplish as well. Many of the members end up becoming the presidents of clubs, student government or are highly involved in other ways.

STAR House Service Event

Ohio State International Affairs Scholars and Neuroscience Scholars joined together to do service at the Columbus STAR House together on February 16th. The Columbus STAR House is a drop-in meant to serve and help the homeless youth of Columbus from ages as low as 14 to ages in the low 20’s. STAR House has strong connections to Ohio State because it was founded as an Ohio State organization. It was initiated in 2006 by an Ohio State graduate as a federally funded study to help homeless youth. The STAR House is able to help by providing a kitchen, meals, clothing, toiletries, and a warm place to stay and rest. When I first stepped foot in the building, I saw several young adults in the kitchen getting a warm meal or resting in the living area.

During this service event, I participated in two different activities. The first was picking up trash around the STAR House and the businesses surrounding it. It is important for the area to keep up its appearance, and the cold weather had made it difficult for the employees to spend much time cleaning outdoors. Following this, I went inside to help fold and organize clothing in the STAR House warehouse. The warehouse has a large number of clothes including t-shirts, short, pants, coats, socks, underwear, etc. to help clothe the homeless individuals who visit. The STAR House receives so many clothing donations that their warehouse cannot hold all of it and they donate the extra elsewhere. The warehouse also has many other important necessities such as toiletries that they can provide for those who are in poverty.

The STAR House proved to be a learning experience for me and many others. Before it existed, research to produce evidence of youth homelessness in the Columbus area was greatly lacking. The founder of STAR House recognized this and provided substantial research in order to receive funding for STAR House. I personally did not understand how prominent the issue of homelessness was in youth in Columbus. It is not a topic that is covered extensively in the news and it is usually just a statistic swept into the broad category of poverty. Seeing others, who are a similar age to me, that have to drop into STAR House just to meet end’s meet is very saddening. However, organizations like this make me hopeful that people are indeed fighting towards a resolution to the problem.

This issue is related to international affairs because of the universality of the struggles of poverty and homelessness. Homelessness is a major problem seen all across the globe, even in young ages. Studying methods of alleviating the problem in Columbus, Ohio could propagate into improved plans to help combat homelessness elsewhere. Also, international affairs are usually associated with studying topics all across the world, but sometimes it is more important to fix problems at home before looking abroad. Perhaps the United States can even learn to help our poor populations from the influence of other countries.

 

Coffee & Diversi(tea) Discussion & Trivia (6:30-7:30 PM, 8 Steeb Common Area)

“Coffee and Diversi(tea)” was a presentation and trivia opportunity led by John Bates that discussed various cultures around the world where coffee and tea play a major role in the culture, economy, or history. The event began with a brief history and continued into an explanation of topics including colonialism, anthropology, imperialism, geographical importance, and fair trade products. Coffee and tea have been important parts of cultures for hundreds, and maybe thousands of years so it is interesting to hear how the two popular beverages have changed to become what they are today.

Before college kids drank coffee and tea in order to pull an all-nighter to study for exams, many people believed that coffee and tea served medicinal properties. In countries like Ethiopia, where coffee was first discovered, coffee was considered a magical fruit to help those with ailments. Drinks like chamomile tea are still used to help alleviate sore throats or other various cold symptoms. With time, however, people quickly began to drink tea and coffee for pleasure and popularity spread.

Countries all over the world now have their own different types of coffee and tea and their own different ways of making the drinks. In the “Coffee and Diversi(tea)” presentation, various different types of fair trade coffee and tea were shared with all those in attendance. Coffee and tea from Ethiopia, Vietnam, the United States, and various other countries were taste tested and compared. The importance of purchasing all the drinks from fair trade locations was emphasized because of the importance these drinks for the economy of certain areas. In smaller African countries the majority of tea is provided by small local farmers so it is important that they get the fair price.

Following the tea taste testing and presentation, everyone participated in a 32 question quiz. The questions in the quiz involved questions that further explored topics previously discussed. From the questions, I was able to learn about more than just the tea and coffee of countries. There were questions regarding the most prominent religion of countries or the most commonly used language. Other trivia facts were just for fun such as the invention of the cumbia dance in Columbia. My guessing in the trivia was pretty good too so I won some free coffee from Ethiopia.

This presentation was related to international affairs because it covered a topic that has affected nations all over the world. Coffee and tea are important parts of society and the economy of many countries all over the world. Personally, I learned about how countries that were colonized and oppressed by imperialist powers still must rely on natural resources as a major part of their GDP. Many of these countries have crops as their major export product, but countries like the US make a significant amount of money on highly developed goods such as aircraft. I also learned a lot more about the fair trade movement. When I make purchases I usually just aim for the most affordable item for myself. It is very easy to overlook the struggle of small producers in underdeveloped countries who cannot compete with the production power of larger corporations.

Service at the Columbus Global Academy-CRIS Tree of Life (12/1/2018)

The event I attended was a service event hosted by CRIS at the Columbus Global Academy on December 1, 2018. The Columbus Global Academy is a school for refugee students and immigrants who are seeking to learn English and become acclimated to education in the United States. The service project involved the painting of a mural inside the school. International Affairs Scholars have visited this school before and painted other murals or small pieces of artwork throughout the school. The mural we focused on painting was called the Tree of Life. The Tree of Life painting contains a variety of animals surrounding a tree with one small child reading a book. The animals that are depicted represent symbols from folklore and stories gathered from various cultures from around the world. Ideally, these animals from certain stories and cultures will help connect to the international students at the school.

The painting process was an enjoyable experience and it did not feel like a challenging community service task. It was a relaxed environment that involved tracing the artwork and then actually painting it. I believe the event was a valuable community-building experience for the international affairs scholars who attended because I had a chance to meet and interact with various students in International Affairs who I had previously never met. Personally, I thought it was a worthwhile experience because it will help the students at the Columbus Global Academy feel more comfortable, or possibly make them happier. I think any way we can help improve their school is very important.

Helping with refugees is an important experience for me because, in high school, I participated in a senior capstone project focused on the Syrian Refugee Crisis. During this time, I learned a lot about how refugees would struggle when they would move to America and I met several refugees who went to high schools in my local area. I believe the students at the Columbus Global Academy are much like the refugees from my hometown so I can only imagine how difficult it is for them. The CRIS staff member on site, Jeremy Hollon, mentioned how some of the students in the school are greatly traumatized by the situations they have experienced. Specifically, he mentioned how the bells in the schools have scared students, causing them to flee the building because those students are traumatized by loud sounds such as gunshots or explosions.

This service site is related to international affairs because the school itself is focused on international students. The refugee crisis facing the whole world is a massive issue that affects international affairs on a broad spectrum, from human rights violations to foreign policy. Furthermore, the education of people coming to America will help them become accustomed to living in the US and learning in the US school systems so that they will have a brighter future here. In class, we have discussed a few examples of countries where refugees are coming from and there were presentations given about specific countries with refugee problems.

 

After watching this, your brain will not be the same…

Academic Requirement

10/24/2018

Ian Carmody.39

“After watching this, your brain will not be the same” Ted Talk and Discussion

At this academic event hosted by the RAs on Smith-Steeb floor 8, the participants watched a Ted Talk titled, “After watching this, your brain will not be the same” and engaged in a conversation. The Ted Talk, by Lara Boyd, discusses the neuroplasticity of the brain and how the brain is always changing. Certain portions of the brain can be developed more than others based on how the brain is used. However, not everyone can develop their brains in the same way and many people learn differently from the same situations. There is a tremendous amount of variability among all people when it comes to plasticity in the brain and learning. In the discussion, led by John Bates and Juliya Hsiang, the seven types of learning, visual, aural, verbal, physical, solitary, social, and logical were all talked about and each individual in the group related to what style of learning was most effective.

The most amazing part of neuroplasticity is that the actual structure of the brain changes when learning occurs. The structure of the brain, for example, the regions for spatial recognition actually can expand or change shape based on how often they are used. Taxi drivers in London who memorize the map of the city are recorded having certain portions of the brain that are more developed than other people. Athletes, or people who complete certain physical tasks repeatedly, will also have other parts of their brain with a different structure than an average person. The chemical structure of the brain can change as well for learning processes. This learning can be both positive and negative. It is positive when certain neurotransmitters are released during good activities such as exercise. However, certain negative behaviors can reshape the brain, such as drug addiction. Doing drugs increases the tolerance the body has to certain neurotransmitters and may require a greater dosage of drugs to feel the same effect. Changing the chemical balance can be very dangerous because the body may not be able to function without the drugs that the body is addicted.

This topic is related to international affairs because it discusses ways of learning and comprehension of how everyone is different. It is important to understand in international education that not everyone learns the same way. Also, people are so varied so they have different understandings of the same situation and past experiences may give them special insights. This is why it is important that the opinion of all people from many different cultural aspects are allowed to share what they feel and believe. Everyone’s brain has been developed by the way they grow up to understand situations differently and everyone must understand one another’s points of view. In international situations, there are always boundaries created by cultural and social beliefs or misunderstandings. This video helped me relate my major, neuroscience, to my international affairs scholars group because I understand how the neurogenesis and neuroplasticity can be applied to international affairs situations.

“Rising China: Trade and America’s Pacific Posture”

Non-IA Requirement

Rising China: Trade and America’s Pacific Posture (09/06/2018, Mendenhall Lab 100)

“Rising China: Trade and America’s Pacific Posture” was a presentation led by a panel of two experts on the topic, Bin Yu and Phil Levy. This topic is related to international affairs because it covers US foreign policy, specifically in regards to the economic stance the US is taking with China. In recent years, China’s GDP has soared to encompass 20% of the total GDP of the global market. In order to compete with China, President Donald Trump imposed a trade tariff against imports from China and a ban on investing in Chinese products. Trump intended to spark an increase in domestic economic growth, but it his plan has ultimately backfired.

The price of many products in the US have increased because the Chinese can manufacture many goods for less which has resulted in American consumers paying more. Also, in response to Trump’s decisions, the Chinese government retaliated with similar tariff policies against American products. Phil Levy described this as the beginning of a trade war between the two nations. He also noted that the United States and China have issues plaguing their dialogue making it very difficult to find a resolution. Both countries have a long list of demands which must be met and this is ineffective for solving the problems at hand. It is evident that the trade war is damaging the American economy, and a resolution could help build a strong relationship with China that would help both countries flourish economically. However, it is up to our leaders and negotiators involved in international affairs to ensure that this is possible.

A better relationship with China could help the United States reduce their 375 billion dollar trade deficit. According to the official figures presented by Bin Yu, the US imports three times as many products from China as they export to China. However, Bin Yu also points out that many important numbers are left out of this figure. There are an additional 380 billion dollars made by US companies’ sales in China, service exports, and Chinese students in the United States. The statistics and numbers prove that China isn’t making a lot more money, and it is important for politicians and negotiators to realize this. I believe that taking a less aggressive stance and being more open to communication could solve many of the problems between two countries, both economically and diplomatically.

Prior to this informational session, I knew far less about the trade relations between the United States and China. I wish the speakers would have gone into more detail about possible solutions or looked into the future of the problem. The presentation generally covered the history of this “trade war” explained by Phil Levy and the statistics as provided by Bin Yu. When asked about a resolution to this problem, Phil Levy did not give a clear answer, though it was implied that a new president could be a good start in fixing the problem. This discussion also made me curious as to whether there are any benefits to the trade policies imposed by the US government, because if not, why haven’t we reverted back to whatever foreign policy we had before? “Rising China” proved to be a valuable learning experience for me as I learned more about the trade crisis we currently have with China and it made me curious as to whether there will be a solution soon, or whether this crisis will continue to hurt our nation.

-Ian Carmody.39