Sunday was an unbelievably long day as we journeyed back to the US. However, the nine hour flight back went by much faster than anticipated. I was able to finish two books on the flight back and watch a movie as well. I also had time to reflect on how amazing this trip was and how lucky I am to have participated in a class such as this. I can confidently say that this is the most interesting and enjoyable class I have taken in college. Meanwhile, I found it all to be highly educational. Experiencing other cultures and lifestyles allows us to have a greater understanding of the diversity of the people we encounter. I love experiencing new people and places, since it allows me to continuously grow. Furthermore, learning the history behind a lot of the science I have learned in classroom settings and visiting sites of significance puts greater meaning to the science and allows for me to have a greater comprehension of its value. I truly believe that I will never be able to have an experience like this one and for that, I am quite grateful to have gone. Yet, as the day came to an end, I was finally hit by how tired I actually was and hurried off to bed.
Emily,
I really enjoyed reading your journal. I appreciated all the different ways you took advantage of the trip to explore scientific ideas and at the same time opened yourself up to the culture in both cities. I would say you were on the very adventurous side when it came to the food, for sure. It was also nice to hear that despite the fact that the trip can be a real rush of activity, that you took time to relax, sip tea and read, and appreciate your time away from the routine of campus life at home. I was just slightly disappointed that you did not make conversation with the British students you mentioned. What would be the worst thing that could have happened if you were to join in? In general, though, I think you participated in both the in-class portion of this course and the travel portion, exactly how we as instructors would hope, with curiosity and thought. It also did not go unnoticed that you were always prompt. Personally, I looked forward to seeing you at breakfast in the mornings, since we seemed to be the first to arrive there most days. Overall, I am very happy you joined this trip and glad you feel it was such a meaningful part of your education at OSU.
JC