Looking Through the Eyes of the Beholder

STEP Reflection                                                                                               Brent Cameron

 

 

Public Health Perspectives: Japan

 

My STEP signature project involved traveling to Japan to study Public Health over a three-week period. During my project period, I participated in several activities including going to the Fukushima reactor that had a meltdown, going to a safety station to learn precautions and proper handling of equipment for fires, earthquakes, and other natural disasters, and studied several diseases including Minamata and Itai-Itai disease.

 

My understanding of the world changed dramatically throughout the course of this trip. While in Japan, I was participating in an extremely homogenous society, and yet the treatment of our group was nothing but generous and kind. I was able to see the dramatic impact that diseases have had on several Japanese cities and was extremely fortunate to be able to hear personal stories from several that had been personally affected by these illnesses and disasters. By the end of my trip to Japan, I not only had a much larger appreciation for foreign culture, but also grew to appreciate how two different people from completely different parts of the world can connect and grow a close friendship.

 

The transformation of my viewpoint on foreign cultures and peoples came as a result of the personal stories that I was able to hear from those devastated from these disasters. Up until my trip to Japan, I have always had a large respect for and appreciation of foreign cultures, however, although disasters and events are written about and discussed in a lecture hall and in textbooks, students are expected to quickly move on to discuss other important topics. When going to Japan I was given the opportunity to learn about these events, and dive deeper into the cause, effect, and international consequences of these incidents. I was no longer reading about Itai-Itai disease, I was listening to an elderly woman sadly recollect the pain and trauma that it caused her and her family. I did not simply look at pictures of Hiroshima but visited a museum and discussed the second by second breakdown of the explosion with a survivor. These were not events that have come and gone, they were occurrences that broke and hurt others. I was witness to their pain, and through that was able to truly see the significance and power of these events that shaped so many lives.

 

 

 

My transformation of my viewpoint cannot be explained without first discussing a building known as the atomic dome or the Hiroshima Peace Memorial as it is now known as. The Hiroshima Peace Memorial was the only building left standing after the atomic bomb dropped on Hiroshima. It is a testament not only to the devastation of nuclear warfare, but the irreversible effect the bomb had on many lives. Gone was the old Prefectural Industrial Promotion Hall, now where it stood was a wiry mess of steel and concrete that represented to many the terrors of that bomb. But after much debate among the people, the structure stands, and is today a UNESCO world heritage site. This building stands as a solemn reminder as to the cost of nuclear warfare, but also as a beacon of hope, that we may remember Hiroshima and not repeat so grave a mistake again. That building to me stands as a key figurehead in the transformation of my viewpoint.

 

My transformation from viewing events through a passive lens to a more active one was also in part to the assistants who accompanied us. Throughout the duration of the trip we had several University of Tokyo students go with us to museums and events. This helped me understand through the viewpoint of a Japanese student, the importance and gravitas of several key events. Without the students accompanying us, I would be left witnessing stories but being unable to delve even deeper into the emotion and power of them. Being with and conversing with the Japanese students gifted me with the chance to understand how serious the bombing was, how potent the Itai-Itai and Minamata diseases were, how devastating the Tohoku earthquake and tsunami was. This was not dead history on a textbook, this had become living, breathing history that could be repeated if not remembered. Something that I will forever strive to do, that is the least I can owe to those affected by these disasters.

 

This transformation has become extremely valuable for me, as my experience in Japan will help shape and meld my future decisions and goals indefinitely, sometimes without me even realizing it. By experiencing these stories and learning about Public Health in Japan in an active, dynamic environment, I have been given valuable knowledge in the continuation of my career in Public Health. I will strive to be actively participating in and helping the communities I serve in an active light, finding the problem and learning about the problem are important, but to talk to the people it affects and to build a relationship with the people you serve is just as important. I hope to graduate with a bachelor’s in public health in 2020, from there I will pursue graduate school, and perhaps one day a Ph.D. My professional goals are still set on one day having a Ph.D or going to Medical School. But I am more open now than I have ever been to the possibility of a third option that I have not yet considered. Perhaps I could combine my love for medicine and science with my love for Public Health and working with the communities I serve. Whatever the case, I will always be a Buckeye, and the experience I have had in Japan will lead me forward, one step at a time.

Maji Marwa

My STEP project was a service-learning trip in Tanzania and was connected to my civil engineering capstone project. The project was called Maji Marwa, meaning water for Marwa, which is the village we were working in. My team was water quality, on this team we tested the water in different locations along the Pangani River.

This project was such an important experience in my life. It allowed me to see such a different part of the world, how these people live and their culture. It made me see just how different our lives can be around the world depending on the place and circumstances we are born into. I think we all kind of know this, but really seeing it hits harder. Going on this trip really gave me a huge appreciation for all the opportunities I’ve been given and for my education and for all the things I don’t even have to think about. I have been given so much just due to where I was born, and I would like to use my privilege to help others.

One thing that led to this transformation, was doing the water quality tests. One of the most important factors we tested for was e. coli. We first decided to test the tap water at the motel we were staying at. At the motel, we had water on tap at the sinks and showers and toilet. This is not the reality in more remote and rural areas where the people must walk to the river for water. We decided to test the tap water at the motel just because we were curious. The test takes a day of incubation to get the results, so we were all eager when we finally received them. The results came back with all compartments green meaning there was over 100 MPN e. coli / 100 ml water. This was the highest result the test went and means the water is unsafe to drink.

Tanzanian drinking water standards require 0 MPN/ 100 ml for water to be safe to drink. It was crazy to us that the places where water was on tap wasn’t even safe to drink straight from the sink. That is something we really take for granted in most parts of the US, we don’t even have to think about it, water just comes out the sink when we turn the faucet on and it’s safe to drink. I really learned more to appreciate how important civil engineering is the world, infrastructure truly develops areas. Having water infrastructure can provide accessible clean water to people, and roads help connect us, and this infrastructure is beneficial to development if that’s what a community wants.

Another thing that led to this transformation is seeing the schools in Marwa and learning about Maasai culture and women’s role in it. We learned how a woman is married without a real say and the husband has multiple wives. The women don’t have the same rights as men and can never own land like men can. They also don’t get much of a say in who they marry. Also, we learned that the Maasai don’t really allow women to go to school. If they are going to pay for children to go to school, they would rather invest in the boys because they stay in the family. When a woman gets married, she becomes part of the man she marries family. I really saw the importance of education while being here and realized just how powerful it is. I am so incredibly thankful for all my opportunities and ability to get an education. Education allows you to grow and become more informed, educating women is so important because it gives them the ability to pursue more, they don’t just have to get married. At the school in Marwa, there were some girls in the class, and seeing them was so inspiring, I’m so happy they can get an education and I hope they will be able to continue it.

I am so thankful for this experience and I hope to do so much more for this project and other projects like this. I think this opportunity has helped me realize that I would like to do this type of work, and I really want to invest myself into helping others and communities. I am so grateful for the opportunity to get this education, and I want to use what I’ve been fortunate to learn to help. This experience has really opened me up and helped me to see what I truly care about, and that I really just want to help people.

 

Zambia Abroad! STEP Reflection

Description
My STEP Signature Project was traveling to Africa, specifically Zambia which is located in Southern Africa. This education abroad project not only allowed me to study Culture and Society, but allowed me to face fears and clear up a lot of stigmas pressed against Africa. 

 

Transformation

While completing my study abroad opportunity a lot about privilege and shock aligned with this trip. Privilege aligned when considering living conditions, food, market place, and just overall resources. When traveling through Zambia I experienced a lot of empathy that then aligned with sympathy due to just the overall conditions of most of society. That includes everything that I have easy access to like the internet, water, school, etc. Before traveling to Zambia I was already aware of the undeveloped economical status, but I had no idea what was keeping it down and that the United States played a tremendous amount of not sharing resources. Self-reflecting came when things that I wasn’t used to, like certain living conditions, food, etc., and made me realize though things aren’t what we’re used to its more than what people are provided, and its all about the perspective of the matter. Changing your perspective changes your thoughts, which feeds your intelligence.

 

Interactions

The very first interaction that really took a tole on how different, yet similar things were was visiting a realistic marketplace that people who are from Lusaka utilize. Instantly arriving there my group and I stood out tremendously, and if you were of lighter skin as I am, the experience was definitely different than being in the United States. Reason being is because I’d always heard about African men being crazy about light skinned women, but in a way it was kind of like I was a piece of meat for lack of better words. Now, I have never been on to confide in the social stigmas against light toned skin people because I identify as Black or African American so the Caucasian in me never really meant much, until traveling to Zambia and realizing that the stigma is misinterpreted because of outdated knowledge. Though this upset me, it taught me about how a lot of past history aligned with today, and how in Zambia any lighter toned skin was looked at as someone with some sort of valuable purpose to society, and that the teachings being taught there are diminishing self-love within society in Africa.

 

Another thing I noticed as an aspiring Social Worker, was that mental health is at a all time low, and it starts before a person of Zambia’s society is even born, again because of the lack of resources to gain help. When visiting a school the one social worker I met expressed to me how nobody there even knows that the profession Social Work exist. Counseling, or any other form of help came in the form of self medicating with drugs, alcoholism, etc. Even being of age to go in spaces of consumption a lot people weren’t drinking in celebration majority of the time, some seemed to go over their limits, and joked about how when all things fail they can brew up or get them a beer. This wasn’t really surprising, but it did allow me to realize how much work needs to be done not just in my backyard, metaphorically speaking pertaining to the United States, but internationally.

 

Although I could go on and on about all of my experiences in Zambia, I think it’s important to point out is how religion is heavily weighted upon there both in a traditional manner. I am both proud, and ashamed of this because time changes, and so do people as the world progresses. We had dinner with some of the students at the University of Zambia and I was someone that stood out to the group because of my multiple my piercings, tattoos, and even how I spoke. Transformation wasn’t for me, but it was for the students who were curious about these things they wanted to explore, but because of tradition were forbidden to have. I felt like this dinner allowed for the students and myself to express ourselves with really no judgement due to religion, and really build a relationship to express our authentic selves in that little amount of time. Transformation for me was to allow myself to take constructive criticism, while clearing up stigmas held against all Americans.

 

Significance of Change

This change or development matters because in order to know who you are, you have to know who you aren’t. I’ve never traveled anywhere overseas before and you go in thinking its just gonna be culture super different, but yet societies are similar in their own unique ways. I never knew how much of a asset I would to people in Zambia, as they are in my learning experiences, it’s even led me to stay in contact with the people who I built relationships with. Personally this project allowed me to look at nature, people, politics, economics, history, etc., in a broader light. Professionally, my goals have been rearranged a bit because in the future I want to work with international children, and now I am more competent about just an ounce of Africa’s culture and society, while intrigued to learn more! This all matters to me because of what I stated earlier, perspective is the key to learning and looking at things in just one way dims your intelligence down. We have to find unity even miles and miles away to better one another both on a personal and educational level.

Means “Unity”, Kenneth Kaunda’s 1st Home

FEEP: Indonesia

In May of 2019, I traveled to Indonesia to participate in Ohio State’s Indonesia First Education Experience Program. Through this program, I was able to observe classrooms in another country that ranged in location and socio-economic status. As a group, we traveled throughout Indonesia to observe classrooms in a variety of settings, including schools in a low-income area, schools in the middle of large cities like Jakarta, and schools in rural settings. A service-based learning project was also incorporated into the trip; I had the opportunity to create and implement my own project into one of the schools that I was visiting.

Going into this trip, I expected to learn about the differences in education and life in Indonesia as compared to that of my personal educational experiences in the United States. I expected to learn about different perspectives on education and other aspects of life, and I do think that I was exposed to different ways of viewing and thinking about education. There are some aspects of education in Indonesia that are similar from that of the United States, and there are also some that are different. Exploring these similarities and differences helped me understand that there are so many different perspectives in the world that I can learn from.

One example of something I learned was the importance of STEAM in comparison to STEM from my time at Sampoerna Academy. Incorporating the arts and humanities into any curriculum is imperative to student success, as I have seen through my time at Sampoerna Academy that this can lead to students developing skills in communication, teamwork, public speaking, and empathy. As someone that aspires to teach high school chemistry, I have learned how important it is that I don’t limit myself to teaching students how to calculate molar mass, but also to focus just as much, if not more, on developing my students’ soft skills so that they are able to be excellent leaders, teammates, and people in addition to being great scientists.

Yet in reflection, I think that, over the course of this trip, the most significant thing that I have found is that there are many more similarities than differences between myself and the people that I met, especially in the underlying foundations of every-day life. In essence, I feel like I expected to be in a completely foreign place where I was much different from the people that I met, but I was humbled to find that everyone I met was not so different from myself at all. I was able to connect with new people on many levels, whether it was on the topic of typical high school issues with my partner at Bali Mandara or on the topic of finding a job after college with our guides. At the end of the day, everyone has a great desire to learn and will work hard to do their best, and we are really not as different from each other than I may have thought before.

In the past month, I think that I have become a little more comfortable with being uncomfortable. I have learned that it is okay to ask questions when I don’t understand, and I have learned that, although there may be some slight differences, at the fundamental level people are similar and that can be used to bring people together. Although it may seem intimidating, it really is possible to connect with anyone, even if they grew up on the other side of the world or if they are used to a culture that is much different from my own. Finally, I can see even more now that these connections are powerful and help us share our ideas and grow together.

My experiences in Indonesia have taught me a lot about teaching and about working with others in general, and I am grateful that I had the opportunity to go on this trip. I have learned so much about different ways of interacting with students that I know I will be able to incorporate into my future classroom and career as a teacher. In addition, I learned about different ways of learning that will help me in my own personal courses that I will take at Ohio State. I am hopeful that my experiences will contribute in shaping me to be the best educator I can be in the future.

Global May Spain

1) During my Global May Spain trip the main purpose of the program was to understand the similarities and differences between Spain and the US in politics, trade, economy, and lifestyle. We all stayed with a host family to learn about their culture, lives, and food. We traveled to the Southern part of Spain to compare the history and lifestyle there compared to Madrid where the program was based.

2) During my time is Spain I started to learn a lot about myself and my abilities quicker than I anticipated. I went with very little Spanish and I knew I would struggle but I didn’t realize how hard it would actually be. I took Spanish for 5 years but it’s a lot different when all the people around you speak Spanish and English was the minority. My host family didn’t speak any English which made it much harder. I wanted to go on this trip to challenge myself and that’s exactly what this trip did.

Once the experience of culture shock disappeared I was able to get comfortable with my host mom and my roommate who was also in the same program. Once I started to trust myself with not only speaking the language but also just fully experiencing the culture in Spain I was able to learn about my own emotions. I was very anxious during most of the trip because I was’t able to let myself make mistakes because I was afraid of looking stupid or offending someone. But once I relaxed I was able to see that people were willing to help me and wanted me to talk and understand them and I was able to form meaningful relationships with the people in my host family.

3) I am very grateful for the group of people I was with during the Global May program. The friendships I made with them will last a very long time and I don’t think I would’ve gotten as much out of my experience without them or Dr. Haidt and the TA Justin. There was one night where a group of us went out to get tapas which was a traditional way to hangout in Spain by going to different restaurants and eating food. I realized that I was actually living like someone who was from Spain for a month and I was one of very few who was able to have this experience. It truly made me grateful for my life while in Spain but also in the US because I was given the opportunity to do something like this trip.

Something I learned about that also changed my view on things was a refugee camp in Cadiz. We learned about the political fight between immigrants and the government in Spain and surrounding countries. But we also learned about all the places that are willing to go against the government and sometimes its communities beliefs to help people in need find housing, jobs, and eventually help them get residency. It was a very eye opening experience because a lot of the immigrants who come to Spain don’t speak Spanish so we got to see what a Spanish classroom looked like while we were at the camp. It was eye opening because I know how hard it was for me to try to learn and communicate during my time in Spain so I couldn’t imagine trying to learn everything as an adult as an essential part to my survival in Spain. While we were at the camp, there was a girl there who was getting a new pair of shoes which she was very excited for. It made me realize to be grateful for what I have because so many people have much less.

The final interaction that made me realize that I was in a once in a life time experience was the relationship I made with my host mom and my roommate from OSU. We bought out host mom flowers for Mothers Day and she has so happy to have us there and grateful for the gift. We also just got to know her which she really appreciated. She said that she has been a host mom for many years and she said no one had cared to get to know her as much as we did. She really enjoyed our company just as much as we enjoyed hers. She always said that if we ever come back she wants to see us and she wants us to keep in contact while we are in the US and wants us to continue to keep us updated while in school.

4) The biggest thing I can apply to my academic career is showing the people I work with how it’s going to be okay to be vulnerable. My major is psychology but I want to go to grad school for social work. The kids I would be working with are probably going through a very vulnerable state and I want to show the kids that growth comes from vulnerability and making mistakes. I want to tell them about my experience and tell them that talking to people and making mistakes in life is how you grow and get better during a rough time in your life. I think this experience will allow me to have a connection with the kids I work with.

Madrid: Home Away from Home

Several weeks ago, I sat in the back of an Uber trying my best to make polite conversation with my driver while simultaneously trying to soak up every last view of Madrid.  After five months of studying and living in Spain’s capital, I was on my way to the airport with home as my final destination.  Home as in Ohio.  As I made my way to the outskirts of the city and eventually across the Atlantic, I reflected a lot about what “home” means.  Is it a feeling?  A sense of comfort?  Or merely a spot on the map?  Later that day I found myself pulling into my driveway, greeting my dog, and tossing my suitcase into my bedroom.  It was then that I realized my childhood address in Cincinnati, Ohio does not really elicit the feeling of home like it once did.  My experience abroad challenged me in multiple ways, but the greatest challenge was being pushed out of my comfort zone every single day.  As I ventured outside of my normal, I expanded my perception of home.  Home became the people I met, the cities I explored, and the person I became through these experiences.

Going into my study abroad experience, I tried my best to be open and to keep expectations from building up in my mind. I mostly arrived in Madrid hoping to improve my Spanish speaking skills, to travel, and to meet new people.  I knew the experience would have an impact on me, but I wasn’t quite sure what that impact would be.  After five months of learning and growing, I can safely say I have been changed for the better.  Not only do I feel like I have an expanded worldview and have become more mature, I feel that I have undergone a period of immense personal growth and independence.  Living on my own in a foreign city gave me the opportunity to truly handle situations independently.  Whether I had to navigate a new airport or set up a Spanish bank account, I was constantly challenged.  I started to get comfortable being uncomfortable.  I accepted the fact that my Spanish was a work in progress and that I would never be able to navigate the entire city of Madrid.  Any time I was invited to do something or to meet new people, I jumped on the opportunity.  With this attitude, I was able to immerse myself in the culture, the world of travel, and the people.

While studying in Madrid, I had so many opportunities to dive deeper into the European culture and lifestyle.  Through Spain’s laid-back, siesta-centered day, I was able to take time to enjoy the pace of life.  Meals were seen as social experiences rather than break times and could last for hours.  Walking and public transportation were the norms of everyday life, encouraging me to explore and see the city.  The culture pushed me to be more mindful of my day, my actions, and to be more present in my conversations.  At Ohio State, I am constantly moving, working, studying, or sleeping.  My work, school, and extracurricular calendar often overtakes my life and I find myself in a routine that becomes hard to break. Before studying abroad, mindfulness was very difficult to implement into my day.  In Spain, I was able to immerse myself in the easy-going lifestyle of the locals.  Cafes with “no laptop” policies encouraged me to reflect in a journal.  My classes did not require daily homework but were more centered on group projects and final exams.  The lack of daily busy work allowed me to be more present and to participate more fully in class discussions.  Overall, I became more aware of myself and my surroundings.  Incorporating mindfulness into my daily schedule helped improve my mental health and my mood.

When I wasn’t exploring Madrid and its treasures, I was usually traveling to other cities in Spain and throughout Europe. Traveling always came with its challenges – cancelled train rides, airport strikes, and the sense of always being a little lost.  From Dublin to Budapest, a trip never went completely smoothly.  And that was all part of the experience.  Adapting to the language barriers and the currency changes required me to think quickly on my feet and to be flexible.  Not only did I get to learn about many different cultures and histories, I learned a lot about myself and how I react to certain situations. I had the opportunity to meet and share my experiences with people from all over the world.  Whether I was getting life advice from elderly Irish women or grabbing dinner with my hostel mates, I heard so many stories and was exposed to so many different lifestyles.  I was able to see famous monuments and landmarks from all over Europe and to learn the history behind them.  In some ways, the world seemed bigger than before, but on the other hand, I felt as if I was seeing more of it than ever.  Traveling helped me to develop a more holistic, global mindset.  As I heard perspectives I had never heard before and ventured to places I had never been, my knowledge grew.

Although I met many people on my weekend travels, the most impactful relationships I developed were with the people at my university in Madrid.  By the end of five months, I had friends from all over the world.  Most of them spoke more than one language, were well-traveled, and knowledgeable about the world around them.  Although Ohio State is a fairly diverse university within the U.S., Madrid offered me endless opportunities to interact with people from diverse backgrounds. Making friends didn’t happen automatically though, and I often had to step outside of my comfort zone to make an extra effort.  Coming from different countries and backgrounds sometimes felt like a barrier, but it was truly an incredible opportunity to learn from each other.

Although I am now “home”, I know that this experience will continue to manifest itself in my life.  Being independent in a foreign country was intimidating at times, but it also excited me to continue to challenge myself.  The personal growth I achieved encourages me to continue to develop as a student and as a person.  Since arriving back in the U.S., I find myself seeking out opportunities to learn something new, to gain a new perspective, or to engage in an interesting conversation.  I now feel more prepared to enter the work force and to contribute to the community around me.  I will forever be grateful for this experience and the lessons it taught me. I no longer need to feel at home to feel confident in myself.  I know that I can take on any challenge that comes my way as long as I keep an open mind, a positive attitude, and continue seek opportunities to push myself out of my comfort zone.

Granada, Spain

For my STEP project, I studied abroad in Granada, Spain for 5 months through the International Studies Abroad program (ISA). I took classes at The University of Granada, some fully in Spanish, I lived with a host family, and I was able to travel to 10 other countries throughout Europe and Northern Africa during my time there. I went into this opportunity expecting nothing, making no assumptions on the culture or the people. This caused me to learn a lot about myself and the country I was in.

The main thing I learned about myself during these past 5 months was how hard my body could be pushed before it failed. I woke up early every morning, went to hours of class, hung out with my friends, spent time with my host family, shopped, and traveled to another country a majority of the Thursdays for 5 months, and still was able to survive and do more. A trip to another country or city in itself is a lot of work and tiring, but doing that almost every weekend, while in school, is a whole new level. I never thought my body could be that busy for an extended period of time, but as I now know, it can. Another thing I learned about myself was how good my Spanish actually was just from learning in the US before I went. Before I went, I remember thinking there is no way I will survive, I know no Spanish! But when I was forced into speaking the language at school and with my host family, I learned that I actually knew so much, I just never had the opportunity to show myself that, until this experience.

Before I lived in Spain, I had the view that I would never actually be able to learn Spanish, I had been taking it for 6 years in school and just never really could do anything with it, and also that it is impossible to create a relationship with someone that doesn’t speak the same language as you. This all changed when I met my host family. I never knew that being forced to speak the language (when the family you live with speaks no English) would actually force me to become fluent. I didn’t think I could just learn from hearing people speak Spanish all day. If you don’t know a certain word in the first place, how are you going to learn what it actually means just from hearing someone say it? Well, I learned that is wrong because that is how I learned almost everything while I was there, just hearing people speak it fluently. Secondly, I learned that it is very possible to create a relationship with someone that does not speak your language. Although the relationship may be harder and require more effort, I will always have my Spanish Family to look back on and visit when I get to return to Granada.

Along with my host family, some of the most important relationships I made that I think really changed who I am today, were with the American friends I made during these 5 months. We all knew that we were only going to be there for 5 months and we all live in different states back home, so we knew it would be difficult to really ever get to see each other again. This meant that we all became so close with each other as fast as possible because we didn’t have any time to waste slowly getting to know one another. These people will forever have a place in my heart. I spent every single day, and some of the most life changing experiences with them and I will never forget that. When I was exhausted or in a bad mood, they would push me to get up and go do something new and they really are the reason why my body was able to push itself so hard for 5 months.

I believe the most interesting and different type of relationship I have ever had was with my host parents. They only spoke Spanish but they were able to convey to my roommate and I how much they cared for us. They are there doing everything for us, cooking, cleaning, and just being our parents. It was very hard for me to be able to convey how thankful I was for them, even with my vastly improved Spanish, I still never had the right words. I usually showed my appreciation by staying at the dinner table a few extra minutes, maybe even hours, just watching TV with them. We ended up having an amazing relationship with them, not always through talking, but just by being with each other. By the end of the 5 months, I felt as if I had a second set of parents and I learned what it is like to have a relationship with someone that doesn’t even speak your own language.

Lastly, probably one of the most valuable personal changes I went through was learning how much work goes into planning a trip and budgeting. Before ever planning my own trip I remember thinking, how hard can it really be. I never realized how many different websites there were to pick a plane ride from there are or how you have to make sure your hostel is within walking distance of the city center. I traveled to 10 different countries and a good amount of cities within each country, including Spain. I had to do this travel planning many times and every time there was a new problem. My idea on this whole planning process had completely been transformed and I have a whole new appreciation for my mom, who is the one to plan all of our family trips abroad.

All of these changes or transformations have been very personal, and they all double as very valuable skills for my future. Having the experience of making friends so quickly will be so valuable for any future plans of starting a new job or just being in a new environment where I don’t know anyone. Secondly, knowing how to create a relationship with someone that doesn’t speak my language will be very valuable for me because due to my major, International Relations, I plan to be in situations like that one a lot. I now have practice and know what it takes to be able to foster a close relationship with people so different (yet similar) than me, and that will prove to be important later on. Finally, having the correct mindset when it comes to planning a trip and knowing exactly what goes into it, once again, will just be a valuable life skill whether it’s for a job or just for fun.

Overall, this experience was absolutely incredible and helped me grow so much as a person. Myself, and I believe everyone, needs experiences like this to be able to connect with people on a daily basis. We are not always going to be making friends that are exactly like us or even remotely like us, and having these skills under my belt will open up a whole new world for me in terms of relationships. I am so thankful I was able to live this experience in real life and I look forward to putting my new knowledge and skills to use in the future.

 

 

Broadening Perspectives

My STEP Signature Project was an Education Abroad experience based in Sevilla, Spain. Through the third-party program, CINECU, I was able to attend a Spanish university while I was living in Sevilla. Having a homestay experience in which I lived with a Spanish family for my time abroad was another great aspect of the CINECU program, as I was able to become more immersed in the culture and language.

Living in Spain for four months deeply transformed my world view. I had always dreamed of traveling to other countries and experiencing different cultures, but being fully ingrained in Spanish society taught me that many of my assumptions about the world were not necessarily true. People in Spain live life more slowly and leisurely, and I soon came to realize the urgency that most Americans live their lives is not as common throughout Europe. There is more emphasis placed on community rather than individual achievement and family life takes precedence over work life. Seeing how my Spanish host family interacted made me question American priorities of job security and financial success, while at times coming into direct conflict with family bonds and mental health as well. Throughout my time in Sevilla, I became less focused on material possessions and hallmarks of achievement and found myself focusing on friendships and relationships that truly made my time unforgettable. Not everything revolves around work and making money and that is something I want to hold on with me back in America.

My understanding of myself was also a transformative journey, as I realized that I am much stronger than I thought. Uprooting myself from all forms of normalcy and putting myself into a culture I had never experienced was the furthest I could get outside my comfort zone. It was in those somewhat uncomfortable moments that I discovered I have the ability to adapt, that my sense of self is secure no matter where I go and that I can make connections with people even if we may not have obvious things in common. While there were times I struggled, whether it be with culture shock or homesickness, I was able to manage these difficulties and I am stronger because of it. While it could have been easier to stay at Ohio State for the spring semester, I gained so many unique experiences abroad and made so many new friends than I could have imagined.

The interactions I had with my Spanish host family were a great influence on the transformation of my perspective on the world. Seeing how a family in a different country, speaking a different language interacted, in ways both similar and different from my own made me realize how complex we all are as humans. Certain times, my younger host sister would get in fights with the host mom, and would end up having her phone taken away, a common occurrence in my own home when I was growing up. Other times, the high importance placed on family meals, especially lunch, made me realize that eating is a communal experience and it is important to communicate and engage with one another, not just have the TV on in the background when eating at the dining room table. Small differences like so, made me ponder how my own family interacts, and the times when we were together we may not have actually been spending quality time around each other. 

The ease with how my Spanish teachers led class discussions at the university was also surprising to me, as for many it was not so much about having the “right” answers but rather encouraging independent thinking from the students. The lack of structure at times was frustrating for me, for example not knowing what a professor exactly wanted for a paper, but it also challenged me to be more of a critical thinker, to develop my own opinions and be able to defend them with proper facts and research. The manner in which school and education as a whole is treated in Spain made me reflect how in America, it is not necessarily learning that is placed as the foremost priority, but rather the ability to memorize and regurgitate information to prove to teachers that you can mirror what they say. Seeing how so many of the Spanish teachers had a wealth of knowledge that went far past their area of expertise inspired me to continue to seek knowledge beyond the classroom. At times, I felt like my classroom experience carried far outside the walls of the university, as I learned so much from my interactions with local people from Sevilla. My love of learning, that for so long had been diminished by the pressure of academics in America was reignited in Spain when the focus was on gathering knowledge and not just on receiving the highest grades possible.

Having the opportunity to travel extensively while living in Spain also shaped my worldview. From the different countries I have visited, I was able to experience so many cultures. Being a visitor in a foreign country was not only humbling at times, as I was reminded how I at times need to ask for help and that I do not have the answer for everything, but made me realize how people from other cultures are so welcoming. There were many instances in which I had asked locals for directions or recommendations on where to travel. In these scenarios, I am reminded how in America this same friendliness might not be bestowed on travelers. It yet again reminded me that cultural respect and understanding is more common in Europe than it is in America. The ease in which I could travel to other countries compared to how it is to cross borders in the US also pinpoints the differences in immigration views.

The development I underwent in Spain has greatly impacted my academic goals. Just realizing how there is so much about the world that I still have not yet experienced or know about has given me motivation to continue my studies and succeed so that I can be in the position to continue to travel after graduation. In my professional goals, I have grown to desire to work abroad and have global impacts through my time in Spain and seeing how other societies operate. My future goals in general now revolve around wanting to live in a different country and being open to new experiences.

“The U.S., Europe, and the Second World War- Interactions in 20th Century History” STEP Reflection

1. For my STEP signature project, I completed the “The U.S., Europe, and the Second World War- Interactions in 20th Century History” abroad program. During the Spring 2019 semester, I took two courses on World War Two. In may 2019, I traveled abroad in Europe with my class for three weeks to visit the important sites we learned about in class.

2. After completing my STEP signature project, I now realize that my view of the world has changed, and I am so much more confident in my abilities to explore the world. Before my project, I did not know much about other cultures of the world, both current and in history. I was able to transform my opinions on world history and the decisions that were made in the past. I did not know much about the political decisions behind World War Two before my program. I knew what decisions were made, but now why these political decisions were made. Now, I have transformed my understanding of these historical events and why the world leaders of the time made the decisions they did. Also, I have a better understanding of the current cultures of the countries I visited. I assumed England, France, Poland, and Berlin were all culturally similar, but they are not. Each country had their own unique culture, and I transformed from someone who thought most cultures were similar, to someone that now understands how different and unique each country is.

3. One of the events that led me to this transformation was visiting some of the museums we did during the program. For example, we visited the Winston Churchill War Rooms and Museum in London, England. In this museum, I was able to see the actual rooms that were used during Churchill and his team while the Allies were trying to defeat the Nazis. Many of the original plans used by Churchill were still in the museum, and I was able to read them. This allowed me to get into Churchill and his team’s mind and understand why they made each decision they did during World War Two. Without visiting this museum and reading the plans, I am not sure I would have been able to fully comprehend the decisions.

Winston Churchill War Rooms

Another event that helped with my transformation was visiting the beaches of Normandy in Bayeux, France. I had learned about D-Day all throughout spring semester, but no amount of learning could prepare me for actually standing on the beaches that so many allied soldiers fought on to defeat the Nazis. D-Day was a turning point in The War, and visiting the beaches furthered my appreciation for the men that stormed the beaches that day. I would not have been able to feel such gratitude and appreciation without visiting the site.

In Poland, we visited the concentration camp, Auschwitz-Birkenau. It was one of the most impactful days of my life. I cannot believe the atrocities that took place at these two camps, nor can I comprehend what the victims went through. My view of my own pain and suffering was changed after visiting the camps. I am now so appreciative of what I have, and I see that my problems are so small compared to the victims of the camps we visited.

A fourth transforming place I visited during my program was The Wannsee House, which was the site where the Nazis decided upon the “Final Solution to the Jewish Question.” Seeing the original meeting minutes, I was able to transform my understanding of the Nazis decisions. Everyone knows the Nazis are bad and they did bad things, but I did not know how systematically bad they were. I was able to understand the discussions behind the terrible decisions the Nazis made in terms of The Final Solution. I would not have been able to fully comprehend all of this without visiting the Wannsee House.

4. These changes and transformations are valuable to my life because I now understand history much more. As I go into my professional life, I need to understand history and why historical decisions were made, so I can learn from them and use this knowledge in my future life decisions. As a future Physical Therapist, I need to be able to make decisions that will affect people. My program has helped me understand human interactions and reactions, which will be helpful when interacting with my patients in my future career.

STEP Reflection for Global May Great Britain

For my STEP Signature Project, I traveled to London, England and Edinburgh, Scotland with a group of 20 students and learned about the countries’ history. We traveled for 4 weeks and had classroom lectures as well as daily excursions to different museums and historical sites. a

My understanding of myself as well as my assumptions and views of the world have transformed quite a bit while completing my STEP Signature Project. Going into my trip, my perspective on what it means to be British was very amateur as I had never really studied Great Britain or visited Europe at all. I only knew that Londoners had accents that I was fond of, lived under a royal family, and were very fashionable as London is a very fashion staple city like New York in America. I now have learned plenty more in depth information about their religion practices, school systems, and history behind some of the buildings, museums, and monuments. Now that I have returned from my trip,  feel like I am much more educated on the current living style of the United Kingdom as well as its history.

Some events and activities we participated on my trip that led to this transformation of my assumptions and views of the world were visiting Westminster Abbey and Oxford University. In addition to this, the relationships I formed with my professor as well as the conversations I had with tour guides really helped me deepen and broaden my education of the topics discussed in class. Another part of my trip that really enforced all the information I learned was the group of friends I made on the trip. They exposed me to things they were interested in and provided me with new perspectives on the content we were learning which enhanced my learning experience as a whole.

Visiting Westminster Abbey was something completely new and foreign to me. I had never really visited a memorial building where royal and famous people were buried. Prior to visiting the museum, we learned all about the history of the royal family and some of the life stories of the main people who were buried there. This was one of the very first visits we made on the trip and I think it really opened my eyes right away to the diverse amount of history that London has to offer. Since this was so early on the trip, it gave me a good sense of background information for the rest of the places we visited and history we learned.

Another trip that we went on that contributed to this transformation was touring Oxford University. It was very interesting to me to learn about the similarities and differences between colleges here in America and schools in London. One of the tour guides told us that their curriculum differs from ours when it comes to exams. He said that rather than having exams throughout the semester, they only have papers and finals at the end of the term, so their “finals week” is much more stressful and has a lot more on the line than ours. Learning this and plenty of other facts about education across the world, it made me curious about how schools and colleges are in other countries as well.

This transformation was valuable to my life for a number of reasons. First, I think now that I have been guided through different countries by locals, my professors, and tour guides, I would feel more comfortable making a trip like this on my own. In addition to this, I think knowing the current political situation as well as the history of London will contribute a lot to my knowledge of international issues since now I have an additional perspective. This knowledge has obviously developed my academic goals, but has also added plenty of value to my personal and professional goals as well. I now have more conversation starters to make me sound more appealing during networking events or interviews which could make me seem more fit for certain positions. Overall, this trip has educated me on many topics I wasn’t exposed to previously and gave me plenty of skills and knowledge to apply to my daily and future life.