Gianna Rotondo

ISA Summer Spanish Language, Hispanic Studies, and Electives- Madrid, Spain

For my STEP signature project, I traveled to Madrid, Spain, where I studied abroad for the month of June. I stayed with a host family in the heart of Madrid and took classes at Universidad Antonio de Nebrija. I also explored Madrid and learned more about the culture and history of Spain through excursions and activities such as visiting museums and palaces.

On the rooftop terrace at my homestay

This experience abroad had a significant and somewhat unexpected impact on my understanding of myself. I knew that I would learn and grow from studying abroad, but I did not expect the level of self-discovery that I encountered, nor did I expect to walk away feeling like a part of who I am is fundamentally different. Before going to Madrid, I had a lot of social anxiety and struggled when it came to meeting new people or being in a large-group setting. I would shy away from events or encounters that would require me to interact with unfamiliar faces. Additionally, I sometimes struggled with making conversation with people who I did not know very well. However, in Madrid I did not know anybody going into my abroad experience so every encounter I had initially was one that involved meeting somebody new. Throughout my time abroad, I became more at ease in these social situations that would typically be anxiety provoking to me. I made close friends in my classes and found it easier to be an active participant in our excursions or informal social activities. I also became more comfortable making conversation with individuals I did not know. I did not notice this change taking place while I was abroad, but once I returned to the States, I slowly started to recognize how much different this part of me had become.

I can think of a couple of experiences abroad in particular that contributed to this personal shift for me. First, when I got off the plane, I met a group of about ten other students in the abroad program and we got on a bus to meet our host families. This was the first time I had to throw myself into a mix of other people and make conversation. While at first I was anxious about meeting an entire new group of people all at once, we quickly found common ground and I was able to really get to know some of the individuals with whom I would be spending the next month.

With new friends on the roof of Palacio de Comunicaciones

Another situation that comes to mind is the first day of classes in Madrid. Although I had made friends in the program I was apart of, all of the students in my classes were studying in Madrid with a variety of different programs so I was once again in a group of people I didn’t know at all. I remember standing in line in one of the university offices waiting to buy our books, and two people in front of me were chatting about where they were from and why they decided to study in Madrid. In the past, I would have stood in line quietly and waited for somebody else to strike up a conversation with me. But in this instance, knowing that I wanted and needed to make friends and build relationships while abroad, I jumped into their conversation and learned about my classmates while waiting to buy our books. They ended up becoming two of my closest friends while in Madrid and we still keep in close contact today. Although this encounter is seemingly trivial, it was actually a stretch for me and ended up being a significant interaction in my study abroad experience. Had I not worked up the courage to jump into their conversation, I would have missed out on two close relationships and a lot of fun experiences with friends while abroad.
The last experience that comes to mind when I think about my personal growth in Spain is the one I had with my host mother. Upon meeting my host mother, I was overwhelmed by being in a new country, surrounded by a non-native language, and having to process this newness after a long day and night of traveling. My host mother asked me about my flight and told me about Madrid, and I remember really struggling to come up with things to say, as well as figuring out how to say them in Spanish. Over the course of the month, I found it easier to speak Spanish, which I expected given that I was surrounded by the language and taking three Spanish classes every day, but I also found that conversation in general was easier. I had things that I was excited to share with my host mother, or questions that I wanted to ask her. Before Madrid, I think it would have taken more than a month for me to grow so comfortable conversing with another person, but I felt at ease with conversation with my host mother after just a week of being in Madrid. Again, I did not quite realize the change that took place as it was happening, but looking back I can really attribute my newfound ease of conversation to my relationship with my host mother.

I think these changes happened partly out of necessity- I had to grow this part of myself in order to get the most out of my experience abroad. But after having experienced that growth in Madrid, and continuing to experience it in the US, I realize how essential it has been and will continue to be to my personal goals and future plans. One of my personal goals for this academic year has been to force myself to be more socially active and be a more active member of my service fraternity. Part of the reason I hadn’t been as active as I wanted to be in those areas was because of the anxiety those social situations brought me. I have noticed a significant difference in not only the quantity of social interactions I have with friends both within my student organization and outside of it, but also in the quality of those interactions. I have significantly more confidence and comfort in building and maintaining relationships, and I owe that to my experience in Madrid. Not only will this help me socially while at Ohio State, it will also help me personally and professionally in the future as I utilize this growth I had experienced in social and professional networking scenarios.

I knew that studying abroad in Madrid would be an incredible experience and one that I would always remember, but I did not anticipate how much of an impact it would have on my everyday life. I know that I will continue to experience change and personal growth throughout my life, but this is one of the most significant changes I have experienced and I owe that to my time spent in Madrid.

Julie Torres

Global May Madrid

For my STEP signature project, I chose to study abroad in Madrid, Spain. Throughout the program I was able to learn about Spain’s history and culture along with experiencing the culture first hand by visiting many historically important and beautiful areas of Spain.

Studying abroad in Madrid has been a very enriching experience for me in many different aspects of my life but especially academically. Being in the college of arts and sciences the only history classes I’ve had to take were for GE’s, which I had post secondary enrollment credit for when I came to Ohio State. Coming to Madrid to study has taught me so much about Spain’s history and has enriched my academics by helping me become well rounded and cultured. I have learned so much history through the walking tours, guest lecturers, group meals, visits to different cities in Spain, and through the free time I have spent exploring this beautiful country.

After spending near a month in Madrid there I have made many observations in comparison to our culture in the U.S. One of the hardest things to adapt to and accept in Spain is how strangers interact. In the U.S. it is common to see someone and just smile or say hello for no reason where as in Spain this is not common and is almost frowned upon. Interactions between strangers have been less polite, I rarely encountered someone who said “excuse me” or “sorry”. This is something that I have had trouble adapting to here. Another difference is the accessibility and use of public transportation in Madrid. With Madrid having one of the best public transportation systems it has been eye opening to see how much locals use the metro or buses here and it also did not take me long get it down to where I could successfully navigate throughout Madrid with just my transportation card. Another difference, which I think has been very eye opening for many of us students would be the drinking culture in Spain, it is much more moderated and controlled but also prolonged throughout the day here than in the U.S. There is no “binge drinking” here and people mostly drink with their meals and they drink to enjoy their drinks, where as in the U.S. many students “binge drink” every weekend and only drink to get drunk, which is not the case here at all. The biggest difference, at least for me has been the difference in the length of days here. The days are much longer here especially with the built in time for a “siesta” or nap. This has been hard to adapt to especially while I was jet lagged but you learn to appreciate the long days and get the most out of your experience.

There are many similarities and interconnections that I have also but the most shocking one was as the amount of immigrants here and as well as the situation for immigrants in Spain. Many times people say that the U.S. is a melting pot and it is so diverse but so is Spain. Learning more about immigration in Spain through our course has opened my eyes to the struggles with the southern border that Spain has, similar to that of the southern border in the U.S.

I have developed an ability to function in Spain through the guidance of my teachers and teacher assistants and through the experiences that I have lived throughout my time here. Having Spanish as my first language has definitely been a huge advantage in this country but it has also sharpened my Spanish skills and enhanced my knowledge of different Spanish dialects by ordering at restaurants, shopping in stores, and talking to new people. I have developed abilities to read maps and be able to navigate around an unfamiliar city for once by having to learn how to navigate the metro and bus system. I have also learned to deal with people from different cultural backgrounds by interacting with different Spaniards.

Overall my education abroad trip has enriched my academic experience at Ohio State by adding a whole other level of depth to my Spanish minor by allowing me to experience a different Spanish culture from my own. By experiencing the culture on my own it has added so much depth than just reading and learning about it in a classroom setting. Along with enriching my academic experience in regard to my minor it has also enriched my academic experience by helping me become a well-rounded student with more than just science classes in my curriculum. It has taught me so much of Spain’s history, which is something that I would have most likely, not have learned about had I not attended this program. The Global May Madrid program has enriched my academics in regards to history, culture, and language.

Brian Frueh

Public Health Perspectives: Japan

Please provide a brief description of your STEP Signature Project.

The STEP project I chose to do was a study abroad in Japan as apart of the Public Health Perspectives program. On this trip I traveled around Japan exploring many significant public health sites, hearing from various experts about the past and present state of the Japanese public health system. In addition, I went early to Japan before the program allowing myself plenty of free time to explore Japan semi-independently.

What about your understanding of yourself, your assumptions, or your view of the world changed/transformed while completing your STEP Signature Project?

I would say the first major change I underwent was a perspective change. This was the first country outside of the United States that I’d been to, and while I was expecting things to be different, it was almost like I expecting everything to be different. Once I was there it didn’t take long for this notion to be utterly destroyed. Japan has close to everything I could ever want or need from the states with the added benefit of having things that I wish did exist in the states. This combined with how the people acted really affected how I see the different peoples of the world. Nothing anyone did was ever too weird, and it made me realize that apart from some cultural and historical differences everyone is more or less on the same page. We work, buy things, have friends, have family, love, hate. I don’t know why it took a study abroad to have that click but I am happy I got the chance to experience it.

Before the trip if you were to ask me if I thought I could ever work in another country the answer to that would have been a flat out no. After the trip however, I’m not so sure that would be too bad of a thing. At first I thought the language barrier would have been too big of an obstacle to overcome, but Its not the deal breaker I once thought it was; at least for Japan anyway. I do think even learning a little of the language would make it a hundred times easier to navigate the country, but the point is you don’t have to be completely fluent to survive. So now I think it would be possible to work in another county for a time perhaps even permanently which before the trip would have been completely unthinkable.

What events, interactions, relationships, or activities during your STEP Signature Project led to the change/transformation that you discussed in #2, and how did those affect you?

During my time in the program I’ve had many encounters which have affected me in some way. Some of the most important ones occurring during my initial week in Japan before the rest of the group arrived. My very first night in Japan I got in late from the airport, meeting up with my traveling companion nearly 2 hours after we intended. By the time we figured out how money transfers worked and how to get in to Tokyo using the trains, we were beat. Rightfully I wanted to go to bed immediately, but as my companion plainly put it: we were in Japan, and we’re not going to bed without some food. So after wandering around nightly Asakusa and befriending a traveling Chinese man (who we shared many adventures with in the future) we would find a restaurant, well more of a dinner and its where I ordered my first meal in Japan. Now what I’ve just described sounds like an ordeal, and at the time it very much was. Thinking back on it however everything went really smoothly. There was no getting lost, hard time getting wifi, inability to ask for directions or anything else that I worried about occurring. In fact I’d say 90% of my worrying can be directly attributed to it being my first time in another country. By the end of the trip however, I was comfortable in Japan; at least for a tourist anyway, which led me to dispel the notion that It was completely impossible to stay in Japan for an extended period. Japan and the United States when it comes down to it are fully modern countries with very similar societies structurally even if culturally they are very different. This made it easy to navigate around and solve problems as they came up. Now for other people I’m sure it wasn’t quite the same. I know many people who by the end of the trip couldn’t wait to get back to America because everything was so different. I can say firmly that I wasn’t one of them, and while I don’t know if it would be different should I go to a less developed country, the fact remains that I felt comfortable in Japan. This is something I didn’t quite expect but something I’m now glad that I know.

During my time in Japan I met a fellow from the UK. He worked as a bartender up until he left his job and started to travel. He traveled to 16 different countries over 12 months on whatever money he had. If he needed money he would find work in whatever country he was currently in. I was fortunate enough to find him on the last leg of his trip before he returned home. He shared much about his experiences with me, all of which were impressive. Tons of traveling and to different countries no less with no language experience was more than I could ever imaging doing. However, after my interaction with him I began to think more about how such an arrangement could work. My full time spent in Japan and my interactions with him as well as others made me believe that a person can live relatively anywhere in the world. Although how easily would certainly depend on the country itself and how crazy the person was. But I’m sure anyone can do it, especially if the conditions are right. After my trip and interactions even I who had never before seriously considered living outside the United States could see the possibility of life outside of the U.S.

Toward the end of my trip I realized just how much of a normal country Japan really was. It might seem weird to say this, but I used to think Japan was kinda like a future country; with everything being a step above everything else. While it’s true that Japan is a leader in many technological areas and innovations, it is still just a regular country. This was made clear when we traveled to an area devastated by the 2011 earthquake and tsunami. I expected a lot more to be rebuilt by time we got there, but there were still huge swaths of land just filled with plots where buildings used to be. As reminiscent of any large scale natural disaster I don’t know what I expected. It takes years just to plan the rebuilding let alone the actual buildings. Nothing made it clearer to me of the total devastation occurred in the area than the still visible scar seen on the nearby mountain. Every single building must have been under water. Even the hospital we visited on the top of a really large hill had its entire first floor flooded. It was a very sobering experience that made me seriously question the insanity of natural disasters and the incredible fortitude of anyone who could withstand to rebuild after such an event.

Why is this change/transformation significant or valuable for your life?

This trip was probably the single most important trip of my life so far. It is guaranteed to remain in my memory indefinitely. That’s to say everything that went along with it. The excitement, the worry, the uplifting moments, the sobering moments, and of course the all the personal changes I’ve developed. The most important thing I’ve taken away form this trip that is currently affecting my life choices is my adjusted world outlook, as well as the ability to see myself living in Japan. I see the world now not as a distant uninvolved thing but something to be interacted with. This has led to my renewed commitment to my major, my language study, where I’m choosing to volunteer as well as my after college plans. For better or for worse this trip has helped spark a fire which I hope will carry me through to graduation and beyond.

This experience has helped me answer many questions I’ve had for myself and shed insight into the countless opportunities before me. However, with how helpful this trip has been at answering my questions it has been equally helpful in introducing more. Now that I’m back I’ll have to work harder to meet these new challenges, and figure out my life going forward. This trip has been such a magnificent journey that words alone cannot best describe it. I’ve learned much from my adventure and encourage anyone and everyone whether that be future STEP students or landed faculty with the means to go out and travel somewhere you’ve always wanted to go. Trust me the rewards are far beyond worth it.

Mundo Multicultural Histories and Legacies

Iman Eaton

This trip exposed me to the advantages and disadvantages people who are not American . We did this by going to different communities, hearing about different experiences, and exploring issues surrounding an integrated global community.

I would say that during my trip I became more independent. I was able to explore London and Paris by myself at times. I was able to become more comfortable about being on my own .I assumed that I would be scared and feel alone in a country that I was unfamiliar with and that didn’t speak my language. It gave me a desire to explore more places in the world.

My vision of the world hadn’t necessarily changed because I had visited London and Paris before. But it did affirm for me my privileges as an American citizen. The trip exposed me to the political and societal issues of another country instead of being immersed in our own. I saw this as we toured different communities and spoke with individuals that are unlike myself.

A key experience for me on the trip was volunteering at the London Action for the Homeless. I washed the dishes and helped prepare a meal for the homeless. I enjoyed being able to be of service to those who don’t have the same lifestyle as I. It was interesting to me to talk to them and hear their stories. It showed me that no matter where I am or how small the service I can always be a blessing to another person.

Another experience I had was witnessing the heavy security in Paris due to the terrorist attacks prior to my visit. It was like the country was in this state of paranoia, just waiting for something to happen for someone to strike. I remember walking to the subway with a friend and seeing a group of militia with large guns just on the street in broad daylight. It made me realize that there is a threat of terror everywhere and I cannot live my live in fear and not see certain places because of it.

My last key experience was the issue of Brexit, if the UK was going to leave the European union or not. It was interesting to witness because not living in the UK I don’t see the media coverage of their issue. All we see is coverage of the election. It was shocking to me that they decided to leave because I thought that the majority was in favor of staying.

The realizations and changes that I experienced on this trip  has shaped me personally. I am a lot more conscious of things going on in the world. I try to step outside the bubble that I feel I am in at Ohio State. I recognize my privilege, and I am going to use it for good and to shed light on global issues. I definitely want to work with people from different countries and travel more and be able to take my children to some of these places.

For my STEP signature project, I decided to take part in the Global May Hungary program. During the program, I learned about and took classes in Budapest, Vienna, and Warsaw. For the class’s final project, we broke into small groups to make a short video about a topic of our choosing, which in our case was Hungarian wine.

I’ve never been someone with an excessive amount of confidence. I’ve lived in pretty much the same area my entire life, and so I never really needed to expand my boundaries. I always knew that if I wanted to get shampoo, I could grab some from the Kroger’s down the street or the Wallgreens on the corner. If I needed a snack I could run down to dairy queen, or if I wanted something more substantial I had my choice of Chipotle, Skyline, or Subway. My family was never more than a phone call away, and I’d had the same reliable group of friends since middle school. Even coming away to college didn’t change things much. I spent a day or two re-calibrating to my environment, and then I was set. I was comfortable in my well charted world, and most of my insecurities had prevented me from leaving it. Until studying abroad, I’d never realized how restricted I’d been.

When I arrived in Hungary, I was in a land that I’d never seen, and didn’t know how to interact with. None of my familiar landmarks were there — I doubted Hungary had even heard of Chipotle, my family and friends were all sound asleep as I was shielding my eyes from the afternoon sun, and even if I used my phone (which would have cost me $10 every day I did) I wouldn’t know how to even begin to look up where I was or wanted to go. I’d been told the names of some important places to go to if I got lost, but the Hungarian alphabet itself was so different from the English one that trying to type out anything  was a formidable task. (They pronounce s as sh there. If you just want a normal s sound, you have to make it sz. How does that make sense?). Getting to the hostel was easy enough thanks to taxis provided by OSU, but after I got there, I had to contend with a problem I faced even in America: new people. My admittedly flawed strategy for meeting new people had always been to assume they’re scary and to sit and watch them suspiciously until either they proven otherwise or I could leave. Statistically speaking, I’m sure this had saved me from at least one serial killer, however, it did complicate the matter of making friends outside my current, well vetted circle. But I knew that unless I wanted to spend the entire month alone, I had to actually try and talk to people. At first, it was rough. I was certain I sounded awkward, whenever I talked about myself I was afraid I sounded weird or clueless, and during group activities I always felt like a 17th wheel. But around the second or third day, it got easier. By the end of the first week, it was as easy talking to some of the people on the group as it was talking to my oldest friends.

I began to realize that most of the insecurities that had held me back in America had really been unfounded. When I started a conversation with the mindset that the other person liked me, it was so much easier to talk than when I’d had the mindset that they vaguely resented me. Once this clicked for me, everything was so much easier. Beyond just bonding with the other people on the trip, getting around the city was so much simpler when I realized that I could simply ask people where things were. Even though English wasn’t necessarily their first language, most of the people I ran across could speak it well enough to give simple directions. Or, if all that failed, the Hungarian phrases I’d picked up could usually guide me on my way.

The ultimate challenge on the trip came at the end, when my video group planned a trip to a wine town called Eger to do some shooting for our project. Because it was out of the way compared to the metropolitan Budapest, it was a lot lest tourist friendly. Sidewalks weren’t a given, public transportation was hard to come by, and almost no one spoke English. But instead of allowing these challenges to discourage me,  as I might have at the beginning of the trip, they excited me. By this point, it felt natural to me to slip into my rudimentary Hungarian and ask a local when my group was lost. When we went to the winery, it was easy for me to pipe up and ask the wine expert for clarification or to expand when I didn’t feel like he was quite clear or hadn’t gone into detail on something I felt was important. And as a result, I like to think that our project overall was better.

Because of STEP and Global May Hungary, I am a much more confident and outgoing person. Outside of the obvious mental health benefits, this has made school so much simpler. I don’t feel afraid to reach out for help when I’m struggling in class, and I don’t waste time agonizing over whether or not to raise my hand in class. I just ask my question, my professor answers it, and I get more out of the rest of the lecture because I’m focusing on what I do know as opposed to zeroing in on what I might have missed. Also, it has made looking for an internship substantially easier. I got a lot more positive responses during the career fair, and the interviews I’ve had since then have been night and day compared to the ones I had last year. Without the development opportunities that STEP gave me, I sincerely doubt that I would be in as good a position as I am to achieve my future goals.

My STEP project was studying abroad in England and Wales with OSU’s Engineering of Castles and Cathedrals program. This gave me a two week opportunity to travel to other countries, learn about their history, explore castles and cathedrals, experience another culture, and make new friends.

This was my first trip I have experienced without any of my family. I was really nervous at first because I signed up to go on the trip without knowing anyone else that was interested in the same program. This lead me to believe that, being my introverted self, I would be hanging out alone for most of the time reflecting on the experience and taking in all that there was to offer, which I didn’t see anything wrong with so I pursued the trip. As we began meeting for the trip it seemed that most people were in fact in the same boat, that they themselves didn’t know anyone else going on the trip. Even with this I didn’t want to force any relationships and kept to myself. We were then assigned partners for the guided tours we would be giving at one of the sites. This gave us all the chance to get to know someone on the trip. The group then seemed divided as we always sat by our partners in the classes leading up to our departure. It wasn’t until the first flight delay that we really as a group truly bonded. The trip really pulled our group together to the point that I would have felt comfortable hanging out with any of them individually. They were all basically my family as we looked out for one another and made opportunities to do things together whenever we could. I still took advantage of time to myself for some journaling and reflecting of the trip, but I would have never seen as much of the cities we stayed in if it wasn’t for them. I learned that even a group so diverse could get along and have so much in common. Yes most of the group was engineering, but me as a medical dietetics major never felt left out. Our desire to travel and see the world shaped our experience as a group. That was our common bond even if we all weren’t experienced travelers.

The trip also helped me develop an appreciation for history and the beauty of other countries. America’s history is so shallow compared to European and Asian cultures. We are new when it comes to our country only being 238 years old compared to England that was settled by the Anglo Saxons in the 5^th and 6^th century. The study of the castles, cathedrals and other landmarks gave us a lens to look into the past. The structures that we went and saw told a story of the areas’ history and the people of the time. This and seeing the culture that is there now made me see that even a place like England (where America is founded from) and Wales can still have large differences from the way we live our lives in the States. The food, people, cities, streets, stores, and the transportation told a story all their own into the lives of the people that live there.

My STEP signature project was the most exciting, thrilling, nerve racking, fun I have ever had. We saw so many beautiful sights on our trip and went to so many amazing places while we were there. I think that this changed me a lot more than I realized until having to really sit down and think about it. For me my STEP trip was an opportunity to branch out and do something I have always wanted to do. I got to travel abroad, but this time without my family. I was really nervous thinking about leaving the country without my mom and sisters. I didn’t know if I would be able to handle the stresses of travel on my own and be able to enjoy the trip without the comfort of the familiar. I think that this trip broadened my horizons by not only latitude, but showed me what I was capable of. I like to think of myself as independent, but I really have never put it to the test. I was able to thoroughly enjoy myself on the trip even with everything being unknown. The people, the places, the travel, everything was new and exciting. I learned to roll with the punches and hiccups, that traveling usually causes, and enjoy every step and mile of the way.

In my initial letter to join my STEP program I spoke a lot about how I disliked history and how in a classroom setting I never liked it or thought of it as useful. By being able to see the sights of historic events whether they were in shambles or pristine condition there was so much to learn and remember for each sight. I am a very visual learner as each group gave a tour of their sight I can still picture how large or small, how beautiful and detailed, location and town that these sights were a part of. I do believe that seeing is believing and how thrilling it was to actually feel like a part of history and see the worth of it than to be there on the soil of where it happened and see for ourselves what each landmark represented. I have a deeper appreciation for architecture, art of storytelling, workmanship, and the ingenuity of the people of the time. To think that they went from a Mott and Bailey castle to the amazing structures of King Edwards castles such as Harlech, Conwey, and Caernarfon that form the ring of stone in Wales. These castles tell a tale of Kind Edwards quest to conquer and control Wales, but also the stories of the people that lived and ran the castles or for the cathedrals seeing how detailed and large these structures are is awe inspiring. They reached for the heavens and learned to let more light in through stain glass windows by adding flying buttresses. These landmarks took hundreds of years, some 800, and each one has a unique style and ideas to make it better than previous cathedrals. Take St Paul’s dome for example. This idea was not liked by most as it was not traditional at the time, but its great builder, Sir Christopher Wren, made it work by using 3 separate domes to create an illusion within and more structurally sound. He also had to deal with a sinking foundation and was still able to make adjustments so the overall cathedral is off by less than a foot. This took creativity and ingenuity to the max. The sights were more than just buildings and structures, but story tellers.

Lastly, I think the people on the trip made this better than I could have imagined. I am a very introverted person, my mother showed clear signs of worry when I told her I didn’t know anyone going on the trip. I sat in class with them a few weeks before we left and I did get to know my partner Siena a bit and I would be living with her as we traveled, but I never imagined getting to know everyone that went on the trip. We first bonded on the lay over between Columbus and Chicago. We got to learn names, play games, introduce ourselves, and got to open up to one another. We all clicked from that point on.  I think we all understood that we all had a reason for going on the trip even if it was different than our own we were all in the same boat. We didn’t know anyone, but wanted to go on this amazing adventure and we were not going to let the fact that we didn’t know people stop us. Over the next two weeks we all hung out. We went out on adventures at the different cities we stopped in and enjoyed the culture of each location together. Without them on this trip dragging me along, I would have stayed in the hotel room, which I did on occasion to journal or write, the whole trip and I would have missed out on a lot. I still stay in contact with most of them as we have a European baking club that we started after a group of us fell in love with sticky toffee pudding. We also still all communicate over our group me and continue to stay in touch with both of the mentors that took us on the trip.

I believe that these changes or developments have definitely made me closer to the person I want to be. Being independent, adaptive, appreciative, and developing a love of learning are very important to me. I might not have gone STEP experience knowing that these characteristics of me would be put to the test and therefore developed. I think that being independent is important as a college student getting ready to enter the professional world because it gives me the ability to take on the world and make it my own. That I understand what it takes to be independent, but that doesn’t mean alone. I have my friends and family to support me as they did on this trip and the people I meet along the way that will challenge me to grow, change, and do things I wouldn’t have done otherwise. Being adaptive is really a great strength to develop because since when does every little thing go right? It doesn’t! There are always twists, turns, and wrecking balls that come in and change your course shattering what you were planning to do. This can’t be the end though. You have to get up, keep trying or start again. I think that by always having to be on my toes and learning to enjoy something even if it isn’t as planned it’s a wonderful lesson. We all have the decision to have a good day or not, we can let curveballs wreck our plans or we can adapt and knock them out of the park. I have learned to appreciate more. I think this is the whole story telling aspect I touched on earlier. I think that now I see things for more than what they are and see that everything has a story. I think has developed not only an appreciation for things, but also people. Each individual has a story he or she possesses and is waiting to be told. It has sparked a love of learning not only about other places, and people, but myself as well. I no longer see myself as stagnant, but I am a structure being built. I have my foundation yes, but foundation is what will support growth and while my core stays the same there is always room for improvement and change.

In May of 2016, I boarded a plane bound for Central Europe, uncertain of what my STEP signature project held in store.  For the next four weeks, I and twenty-four other students devoted ourselves to studying the history, culture, geography and politics of the region, taking classes through Budapest Metropolitan University and exploring the cities of Budapest, Warsaw, and Vienna.  We were challenged to examine the urban development and the everyday life of each city, culminating in a multimedia film project focusing on some aspect of Hungarian culture.

The month I spent in Europe was transformational in multiple ways.  Navigating airports, international flights, and public transportation on my own gave me a greater sense of confidence and independence.  Working on the final project grew my teamwork skills, and the fact that there were only three engineering students on the trip enabled me to gain insight into the lives of people with different backgrounds than myself.  The insight provided by city tours, museum visits, and individual outings also were tremendous.  I learned to question why cultural standards are cultural standards.  I grew accustomed to watching how others behave, and how their behavior changes in different situations, so I could learn how to behave myself.  The underlying narratives behind even museums, which I had always perceived as factual and angle-free, became less foggy.

A walking tour of the Jewish Quarter and POLIN Museum in Warsaw awakened me to the underlying angles and narratives that exist in even those sources that seem the most factual.  The act of going on a guided tour by itself removed some room for individual interpretation.  The POLIN Museum has recently been renamed the Museum of the History of Polish Jews, but it has previously been known as the Museum of the History of Jews in Poland.  Yes, the semantics are important.  It was fascinating to learn how something as simple as a name can hold different political connotations; in this case, the intricacies relate to whether or not this ethnic/religious/national group can even be considered citizens of a country.  Beyond this, the tour guide was not of Jewish heritage, made multiple references to “my country,” and rushed through the section of the museum that focused on the Holocaust.  Overall, we came away with a very Polish nationalist impression.  Many other museums revealed different narratives, but it was interesting to begin picking these presented stories apart.

Witnessing the laid-back nature of European life challenged me to reconsider how I approach living.  Whether we were visiting the up-scale New York Kávéház in Budapest or the hipster-oriented Café Hawelka in Vienna, the basic café culture persisted.  People stayed there for 2-3 hours, perhaps drinking a few cups of coffee, but primarily focusing on indulging in conversation with friends.  Servers rarely came around to check in on customers, and if you were ready to leave, you had to go out of your way to ask for the check.  People on the streets leisurely strolled to wherever they were headed.  If you were to meet someone new, the first question you would ask would not be the standard, American, “What do you do?”  Instead, people talk about their families, about art and culture, about their passions.  Witnessing this different pace of life has inspired me to be more intentional about not getting caught up in the busyness that my own culture strangles itself with.  Additionally, it has made me think more about how I am not defined by what I do.

In Warsaw, we spent part of a day exploring the birthplace of Frederic Chopin.  The property was expansive, filled with green fields, trees, and gardens that retained a special wildness.  A piano concert was held, and I spent much of my time wandering between benches, gazebos, and flowery hideaways in an effort to see what the music sounded like throughout the entire property.  I spent most of that day by myself, and even when we left to go to a nearby restaurant, I felt as though I could have spent my entire day wandering through the gardens, appreciating the quiet lilt of a piano mingling with the humming of bees.  This day in particular reinforced the importance of rest and self-care, especially in the midst of busy schedules.

Though my group’s final project focused on the history, impact, and memorialization of the Hungarian Revolution of 1956, the experience challenged me to expand my teamwork skills.  I had to reconcile different work styles, striking a balance between my desire to “think first” and my teammates’ desire to “figure it out as we go along.”  Additionally, our initial visions and expectations for the film differed widely.  Our team had to engage in group discussions, analyze our resources, and examine our limitations in order to forge a middle ground and create a short video that met our narrative intent.  Our final video can be viewed below!

New perspectives on the world were also plentiful throughout my experience.  On one hand, I embarked on the trip with a group of 24 other Ohio State students, only two of whom were in engineering.  Their daily insights and often spontaneous approaches to life were enlightening, and I am proud to have had the opportunity to get to know them and call them my friends.  Additionally, the Hungarians, Poles, and Austrians we encountered on a daily basis challenged many of the pre-conceived notions I had been raised to believe.  For example, the American educational system often presents socialism and communism as predominantly negative schools of thought.  However, I had the opportunity to speak with a woman who had been raised in the Hungarian period of “goulash socialism” and who actually remembered it fondly.  The German occupation memorial in Budapest, which has become one of my favorite monuments to discuss, has elicited a dialogue between the current government (who in essence are trying to distance themselves from responsibility for the Holocaust) and the Hungarian people (who are demanding that they admit their responsibility).  True to its café culture, central Europe is a place where different perspectives are given strong voices.

My experience in central Europe was truly transformational, and I know that all of the lessons I learned there will carry with me through the rest of my life.  Whether I end up teaching students as a professor or working in a research lab, this experience will enable me to challenge others to approach problems from different perspectives.  Broadening the outlooks of people whom I work with will ultimately benefit our projects, as fresh perspectives and innovative ideas are what will drive them forward.  Beyond this, I have developed a more global perspective, which will benefit my relationships with a diversity of individuals and enable me to be a more effective citizen.  I have also fed my inner nerd, as learning is something I value highly.  Though I wish I could return to my beautiful city of Budapest, I am confident that my experience will continue to influence the rest of my life.

For my STEP Experience, I will participated in an education abroad with the Global May New Zealand program, where I completed a linguistics course at the University of Canterbury, located in the contemporary city of Christchurch. During my three and half weeks there, I had the privilege of delving into the culture and history that delineate the rich linguistic landscape of New Zealand, as well as explore the breathtaking scene in and around Christchurch.

From this trip, I’ve come to understand several things. In no particular order:

1. Be kinder to the earth – there’s only world for all of us to share.
2. Friendliness should not be a difficult or even conscious decision – it should be a way of life.
3. Relax more – being laid back isn’t a crime; in fact, it’s  much nicer way to spend your days.
4. Respect indigenous species – they have so kindly welcomed you into their land.
5. Explore more – nature is not as scary as you would think.
6. Leave your comfort zone – that is how you will grow and learn the most as an individual.

One of the first things you’ll notice about New Zealand is how much cleaner the air feels and smells. A few days in, I realized how eco-friendly New Zealand is, which is funny because they probably weren’t a very wasteful country to begin with (unlike the United States). I guess kiwis (the colloquial term for a New Zealander) are just friendly people to other people, but even to Mother Nature. Speaking of friendliness, kiwis really do live up to their reputation of being extremely friendly. And extremely laid back, too, judging from the vague closing times for establishments, to not even wearing shoes around campus. You will also notice the culture of New Zealand’s indigenous population, the Māori people, seep into various aspects of the country’s culture. The people of New Zealand are much more celebratory of their native people than the United States is. I was initially afraid of leaving my comfort zone to expose myself to this culture shock, but New Zealand was a culture shock in all the right ways.

Their intricate trash system separates bins for recycling, trash, and organics, all neatly color-coordinated. The flushing system for toilets have different buttons to release different amounts of water for the purpose of water conservation. They don’t have paper towels in public restrooms – either a reusable towel sterilized by UV light or air dryers. And I think the biggest difference was the fact that people actually abide by those systems in place, for the most part. I find many Americans, would find the intricate systems for environmental protection both cumbersome and beneath them; many people in my dorm are too lazy to even walk the extra 10 feet to the recycling bin to throw out recyclable waste.

The immediate, non-hesitant welcoming of my homestay mother, Margaret, almost threw me aback. I’m just not used to making myself feel at home anywhere other than my own home or dorm room; but I found that the unwavering kindness and genuine nurturing attitude to make me feel totally comfortable in a new place. This attitude that all kiwis seem to share probably began with the native the Māori, who graciously welcomed European settlers into New Zealand in the mid-1800s. One first field trip showcased that – Willowbank.

Willowbank is a wildlife reservation that included a “Māori cultural experience,” and it easily became one of my favorite things we did on the entire trip. It started with walking through a conservatory for the endangered animals of New Zealand, almost like a miniature zoo, where we got to see the much celebrated (and much endangered) national bird, the kiwi. But what came afterwards was even more spectacular – the Hongi & Hāngi from the Māori people. That was one of the coolest experiences of my entire life; it was such a sacred and traditional greeting from the native people. The Hongi is a traditional greeting by the Māori people, where two people touch their noses and foreheads together, symbolizing sharing the same breath and by extension, the same land. The Hāngi was a traditional Māori four-course meal (named after the way they prepare the food, typically for special occasions), which we had after our welcoming ceremony; goodness, that was some of the best food I’ve ever had. I would kill to have Hāngi food again. I think the biggest takeaway from this very special and ancient New Zealand experience is that New Zealand is much more celebratory of their indigenous population than the United States is. I’m a firm believer that the only true Americans of our country are the Native Americans, and the rest of us are immigrants. The US could learn a thing or two from NZ.

One thing I didn’t expect this trip to teach me was how much I love hiking. I’m don’t live for the outdoors – I’m a sheltered girl from the suburbs, and I am happy sitting at home watching Netflix, thank you very much. Plus, I don’t think I’m the only one who finds walking uphill to be repulsive – and I’m not going to lie, my body ached for a day or two after some of our uphill treks. But they were oh so worth it. Those views – those views you only see on postcards, and then realize that postcards never did those panoramas justice. I would do the painstaking climbs all over again in a heartbeat – but I’ll admit, hiking in New Zealand has definitely spoiled me. One of our trips was to Castle Hill, which you might recognize as the filming location of the final battle scene from The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe. I don’t think words are needed for this.

And lastly, leaving the comfort zone. I’m the youngest in my family, and both my parents work from home, so I’ve really had any room or opportunity to branch and grow as an individual. And to be completely honest, I was totally fine with that. I was fine not rushing into independence and responsibility, and staying coddled in the safety, comfort, and familiarity of my home. But I knew it was doing nothing good for me. And that’s why this trip was more than to quench by want/need for travel, but it was an act of defiance. It’s interesting being a child of Indian immigrants – the culture of India is extremely different from the culture of the United States. India is a collectivist society, with a heavy emphasis on the fluid progression from adolescence to adulthood, and always having family to fall back on. In the US, we have an individualistic society – there’s a mentality of “figuring things out on your own.” And I can’t really say it does or doesn’t work – it just is.  And that puts me in flux, because I have parents who want to coddle me in a society that tells me to grow up, so I feel like I’ve never really learned how to do anything on my own. Which is why this trip was so important and enlightening for me – I did something for myself. Something really important – taking a pretty sizable step in becoming (more) independent. I am eternally grateful to my parents for being so readily supportive of me my entire life. But whether it’s a good thing or not, I need to be on my own more.

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This experience was also documented on the TEDxOhioStateUniversity blog.

My STEP Project entailed traveling to Ottawa, Canada to participate in the Canadian Parliamentary Internship Program. During this experience, I lived in dorms at the University of Ottawa and worked full time in the Office of Borys Wrzesnewskyj, Member of Parliament. I worked doing research for Borys, handling correspondence and office duties, and drafting statements, letters, and even a Private Member’s Bill that will hopefully be introduced to the House of Commons during the current session. I also got to extensively explore Ottawa, travel to Quebec City and Montreal in French speaking Quebec, and visit Toronto for a day.

The main way that this experience changed me was through my view of the world and America’s place in it. This was my first time out of the country, and I loved getting to find out how a people with many similar cultural and societal norms viewed us as neighbors. Hearing criticisms of our country from the people of another country brought to light many of the apparent weaknesses that the American system has. Many were things that I had heard of before, but to see an improvement on something we do here manifested in another country really made me understand just why some of our practices are in my opinion deficient. This trip also reinforced for me that I would like to lead a life and career of working for others or for a cause. While this may not be in elected office or in a government position, I found seeing the work of Canadian Parliamentarians and their service to the people of Canada as an inspiration for me in my future endeavors.

The main way that I experienced the transformation that I did was simply by keeping my eyes and ears open as I worked and enjoyed Canada. This was especially true in watching and getting to be a part of the legislative process of the House of Commons every day. Getting to watch Members of Parliaments, Ministers, and especially the staff of my own office taught me a lot about what it means to be a public servant, both the good things and the challenges and difficulties. In talking with different Parliamentarians, especially my own office, I learned a lot about America’s image and significance to others in the world.  This came about not only through their comments on the state of American politics, but through watching them go about their jobs and duties as parliamentarians. I was able to watch Question Period every day, and saw the major issues of the day being debated between both sides. I was amazed at the passion of both sides of the political discourse, but also the civility and respect both sides had for each other. While partisanship obviously played a large role in the discourse in the House of Commons, there also exists a desire to get things done, and try to work together.

Another way in which I learned a great deal about life and politics in general was through my conversations with my fellow interns, both American and Canadian. It was very interesting to find out all the little things that make the Canadian experience as a college student different. It made me look at our education system through a more critical lens, and see the pros and cons of both systems. I also learned a lot by just being able to live and interact with such bright young minds as the people I worked with. It was very worthwhile to be able to learn about the others’ interests within the world of politics, and their passions that drive their interests. I feel like it made me more knowledgeable in so many ways, and informed my interests in the politics and life.

The third way that this trip changed my worldview was by being able to live in and experience a Canadian city, and travel to French Canada. I found that while Ottawa obviously had its problems, it was one of the safest and cleanest cities I have ever been to. It seemed to be avoiding many of the problems plaguing some American cities. It made me think about what Canadians do differently that allows many of their cities to be less violent and cleaner. Traveling to Quebec and specifically Quebec City and Montreal was also an incredible experience in itself. As someone who had never left the country, I was amazed at just how embedded the Francophone culture is there. It was here that I really felt most like I was getting an international experience. Quebec City especially was unlike anything you would find in America. It really gave me an appreciation for the history and the different founding stories of both our nations. This was also true of seeing the prominent place that First Nations (aboriginals) had in Canada. I feel that seeing their issues so well addressed in Canada made me more cognizant of the issues of Native Americans in this country. Getting to experience all of this in one trip made me more appreciative of the different mosaic of cultures of our very similar countries.

This experience definitely helped and transformed me in my pursuit of future academic and professional goals. This was my first hands on application in the world of politics, and gave me a greater sense of direction in my future goals. The idea of working international always interested me, and this experience definitely confirmed my interest in that. Canada served as an excellent first step for me in the process of moving towards that goal. I see this program as being an excellent experience to draw upon as I pursue my goal of working for the State Department in an embassy abroad. I also feel that getting to be so immersed in the political process helped to inform my own passions as well, and make me more aware of them. This immersion helped me to decide to that I really have a lot of interest in the realm of environmental politics. This is the field I would like to work in one day, preferably internationally. Canada is a worldwide leader in IEP, and I learned a great deal both in preparation for this experience and during it. Most importantly, I feel stronger than ever about my desire to have a career in public service, and this experience is most definitely responsible for strengthening that

For my STEP signature project, I went on a three week study abroad course to South Africa. The course’s focus was exotic animal welfare and behavior and is offered through the CFAES. Throughout this program we visited many animal facilities such as Kruger Park, sanctuaries, and farms. We also met many professionals working in various branches of the exotic animal field.

Before this trip I knew very little about South Africa’s culture so my original assumptions of how this project would benefit me were a bit vague. I knew that this program would give me a better understanding of exotic wildlife and how it affected daily life. However this experience gave me so much more than I could have imagined. The Exotic Animal Welfare and Behavior trip to South Africa has opened up my mind from a global perspective. I now see the importance of knowing how other cultures and countries function. South Africa in particular is impacted greatly by the native wildlife.  A significant portion of the population is involved with animals in some way, such as game farming, the national parks, wildlife rehabilitation centers, animal sanctuaries, and agriculture. Witnessing South Africa’s native species and their natural behaviors firsthand was truly amazing and something that will stay with me forever. Since I stayed in South Africa for three weeks, it allowed me to immerse myself in the culture and see things from a new perspective. This trip has re-sparked my interest in exotic animals and has inspired me to be more proactive with global conservation issues.

The exotic animal behaviors witnessed throughout South Africa were truly amazing and gave a huge insight to how these animals fit within the food chain and society. In most zoos, animals that naturally live in large ranges or fields are confined to smaller spaces and thus are not as active as they would be in the wild. Because of this, many natural behaviors are not present within a zoo setting. Within Kruger Park, we witnessed numerous exotic animal behaviors that we most likely have never seen before. We saw large herds of elephants playing in water holes, fighting with each other, and traveling far distances that would never be possible within a captive setting. Some of the coolest behaviors we witnessed involved different species interacting with each other. For example, we stumbled upon a small pack of hyenas feasting on a recent kill along with some vultures and even a jackal. Seeing the predator vs prey relationship in the wild was extremely insightful to the overall food chain in Africa. All of the impala and antelopes were always on edge and constantly looking for predators, while the African cats spent their days lounging about in the sun. These examples of natural exotic behaviors and relationships are ones that could never really be seen in a captive setting and were truly amazing to experience

Outside of Kruger Park we didn’t see the same types of exotic behavior, but we did obtain more knowledge on certain animals’ physiology, health, and public’s opinion. At the Elephant Sanctuary we had a very informative lecture on the anatomy of an elephant. I was shocked to see how thick and wire-like the hairs on an elephant’s tail was and was surprised to hear that people pluck them to make jewelry. We also got to feel the cushions in an elephant’s heel which allows them to move softer and more quietly. We saw this firsthand in Kruger when herds of elephants moved practically silent. At the Moholoholo Rehabilitation center, our guide Oscar showed us a short presentation of habitat loss within South Africa. I was shocked to see how little land was devoted to the animals within national parks and how this is usually the only place they can live. It is especially problematic with predatory animals whom claim their territories and do not welcome other members of their species lightly, such as leopards and marshal eagles. Most of the animals we saw within the facility were captive bred and could not be released into the wild. Oscar informed us that most injuries they receive are from animals who get caught in snares or poaching traps. The snares were often set up by farmers whose livestock were being attacked from predators such as leopards. This shocked me since I see leopards are gorgeous amazing creatures while many South Africans viewed them as pests. Another animal that the public had negative views on was the hippo. I was unaware of this until we visited Jessica Hippo. Andy brought to our attention that hippos are seen as violent and annoying and are often shot if seen near people. Since hippos kill more people than any other animal in South Africa I can understand why society is not fond of them. Being close to Jessica was definitely intimidating, especially when she opened up her mouth. She was an amazing animal, but I was concerned about her health especially her nutrition and sugar content. I also did not think it was a good idea that they rescued another baby hippo, especially a male. Other than that though it was cool to interact with such a magnificent species and Jessica is a great hippo to help bring more positive views to her species.

In my opinion, the most important activity we did in South Africa was visit John Hume’s rhino farm. Before this trip I did not know much about rhino poaching or anything about dehorning. I knew that poaching was evil and dehorning did not sound very pleasant, but didn’t have the details. However after visiting Hume’s land, my opinion has drastically changed. The value of rhino horns astonishes me along with how violent and desperate the poachers are when obtaining them. While we were on Hume’s farm we heard gunshots in the distance and felt complete terror from the potential poacher threat. That moment really stuck with me. I now realize how important the current poaching issue is. The fact that in 15 years rhinos will become extinct worries me extremely. Not only do the poachers endanger rhinos, but also the people of South Africa. The poachers also target and murder anti-poaching workers and their families. This makes the issue far more significant to South Africa and the world than most people think. From a personal level this poaching problem really caught me off guard. The people of South Africa were extremely concerned while back in the US I never really heard about it. This has caused me to be extremely more open to hearing and seeking out current global issues.

As a pre-veterinary student I am always constantly thinking about what I want my future to be like. There are many types of animal fields out there, but exotics has always been something of my interest. However since the beginning of my college career I drifted away from the idea of working with exotic animals, feeling discouraged about the competiveness and difficulty of the field. This program has reinstated my initial desire to work with rare species and has opened my mind up to even more possibilities for my future. My newfound knowledge in exotic animal behavior and welfare will greatly benefit me in my future career.

Even if I am not able to work in the exotic field, this project has shaped me in ways that will benefit me in the veterinary/animal world and in my professional life. I am now open to more ideas and views, globally and locally. I have noticed my interest and curiosity in current issues to have grown, especially in the animal fields. Being in South Africa felt like being in a completely different world. I witnessed unique characteristics not seen in other countries such as the exotic wildlife, South African culture, breathtaking natural wonders, and many more unforgettable experiences. This trip was incredibly life changing to me and I thank STEP for supporting me throughout this extremely transformational time.