Semester Off-Campus Student Blogs
Spring 2013
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Tori Nunnenkamp Semester in Spain Junior, Spanish major and English major ...On Thursday, I went out to meet my intercambio (exchange student) for |
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Rachel Clarkson GoEd Africa - Rwanda Senior, Christain Ministries major ...I have a strong interest in holistic ministry, founded in a belief that Christ’s |
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Jodi Van Gorkom CIEE - Senegal Junior, Psychology major ...The moment at which you have to decide if you will jump with the wave |
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Sarah Brase GoEd Africa - Rwanda Junior, Journalism major ...I have no idea what to expect living in Africa for four months. I feel Holding onto this truth tonight: “Come to Me, and relax in My Peace. I will |
Fall 2012
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Logan Burt Contemporary Music Center, Nashville, Tennessee Senior, Vocal Performance major ...Right now, I am sitting on a couch in my apartment in Nashville (technically Brentwood), Tennessee. Is this real life? That is something I keep having to ask myself, and I know I’m not the only one here feeling this way right now. It’s not even the kind of unreal where it’s unreal because you are on cloud 9 from excitement and all jazzed up. It just actually does not feel real. It doesn’t seem like I am working every day in a building with over a million dollars in musical equipment that I have 24 access to. It doesn’t feel like I will be living for quite a while in this apartment with these guys I don’t even know. It doesn’t feel like I have to face one of my biggest fears and get graded on writing songs every week, performing a live show every week, going on a tour. I don’t know that I am quite ready to except being in a place where I am judged on my talent… and that’s about it. |
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Rachel Elmer Universidad Veritas, San Jose, Costa Rica Junior, Organizational communication & Spanish major ...For those of you following my blog, I want to give a little background about my trip. For the next four months, I will be studying at Universidad Veritas in San José, Costa Rica. I am enrolled in three, month-long intensive Spanish classes and an elective class in Spanish with local students. During my time there, I will live with a host family near the university. As I reflect on the end of the summer and prepare to leave, I am reminding myself of some of the goals I set during our pre-departure orientation back at Fox:
These are just a few of my hopes articulated into “goal statements”. Though I will work hard to achieve these things, I want to be open to whatever the Lord and the people I encounter have to teach me as well. |
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Cosette Greeno GoEd Africa - Rwanda Junior, International Studies major ...Hi. My name is Cosette and I finally have conformed to the tumblr world for a number of reasons, actually for only ONE reason. In exactly 3 weeks I’ll be leaving my beloved home in the Pacific Northwest to take part in a semester abroad program in Rwanda. Yes that is located in Africa. Thus, I thought I’d start a little blog about what has lead me to this point in my life, and keep anyone interested in my adventures, up to date. Check back later to read the reader’s digest version of how God directed me towards Africa and other crazy things as I’ve been preparing for this experience! Peace out bean sprouts! |
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Aleaha Gregor GoEd Africa - Rwanda Junior, Christian ministries major, emphasis in missions ...Yesterday was a day filled with so many different emotions, goodbyes, and new adventures. I said goodbye to my family and my mom who came to D.C. with me to send me off and I miss them already, but I know that God has incredible things in store for me in the next 4 months that I am in Africa. I am reassured of his plan and willing to dive in deep into all that he has for me. |
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photo cred. Ben Holtrop |
Rachel King GoEd Mekong - Thailand Junior, Studio Art major ...There are only four weeks until I embark on my study abroad adventure to Thailand. I will be spending a semester abroad in Chiang Mai, Thailand with five other students from around the country (none of which I know) living in a house together, and we will all be taking the same classes geared toward learning about the poverty, socioeconomic status, and history of various hill tribes and cities in northern Thailand. Of course, the classes will not be our only focus while we’re there. I fully intend to eat as much authentic Thai food as I can, learn their artistic skills (especially in pottery!), make a fool out of myself as I try to learn the Thai language, visit the elaborate Buddhist temples, and perhaps ride an elephant or two. |
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Iishan Low Scholars' Semester in Oxford, United Kingdom Junior, Economics major ...Greetings from the great city of Oxford. For those who do not know what I am doing in Oxford, I will begin with a short explanation. I am doing a semester abroad in Oxford, organized by the Council of Christian Colleges. During my time here I will be an official member of the Wycliffe Hall and by extension the University. I will be undertaking several courses in Philosophy to supplement my studies in George Fox. The format of learning is going to be traditionally oxford tutorial style where I meet one on one with my professors and get my ideas torn apart. :S Its probably going to be a tough semester but I am thoroughly looking forward to it. |
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Rebecca Muller Lithuania International University (LCC) Junior, Organizational Communication major ..."Be mokymosi be akis" in Lithuanian means "without learning, without eyes". It is an old Lithuanian proverb, or word of wisdom, and I have taken it up as my motto for the time I spend abroad. I'm taking "without learning, without eyes" as seriously as I can while I am over there. I know I am going to see some incredible sights, but unless I can take the time to learn something about those cultures, too, I won't really be seeing anything. |
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Jamie Neavill Universidad Veritas, San Jose, Costa Rica Junior, Spanish major ...It has been a week since we arrived in San Jose, Costa Rica. Everything has been a little crazy because we are four foreigners without understanding of the systems of this country.But almost every experience has been positive in some way because I have learned from every experience. I really enjoyed this week with my friends from GFU. We have already experienced much together, we have spent almost every moment together, the four of us, and I have already learned more about each person and myself. This week we spent about a day in San Jose and then left for Quepos which is a beach town. We walked much these days. They fed us breakfast in the hostel (always gallo pinto<rice&beans&seasonings> and tropical fruit), we bought beans in a bag, avocados, spinach, cucumber, bread, and tortillas to make lunches. Oh! and bananas! Of course. Ay, the food! It always lifts me up. |
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Kassi Vanderkwaak GoEd Africa - Rwanda Senior, Biology major ...I am leaving for my semester in Africa in just about 2 weeks. This has been a trip that I have been preparing for and praying about for a while now, I can't believe I leave so soon! I'll let you know when my life gets a little more exciting when I actually start my trip - Stay tuned! |
Spring 2012
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Mikaela Alexander GoEd Africa - Rwanda & Uganda Junior, Christian ministries major - emphasis in missions ...It has been two weeks since I first walked in the gates of Center for Champions…and I wish time would pass much more slowly. I am not only having the time of my life doing exactly what I love, I am also learning so much valuable information. I feel like I have lost my heart to this place—and I don’t care if that sounds super cheeseball! Just getting to know the students here, knowing some of their stories, seeing the joys and the trials of their lives…it is heart-wrenching and heart-warming at the same time. I see some of the ways God has worked here, changing the street kid mentality that many of them have. They amaze me with their resilience and their strength. I don’t think they realize how much I admire them. |
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Emily-Grace Cropper Nazarene International Language Institute, Quito - Ecuador Senior, sociology major, spanish major ...On Friday our group left for Otavalo, the largest indigenous market in South America. On the way we stopped and got delicious biscochos—biscotti’s—with mani—dipping carmel—we also stopped at San Antonio de Ibarra, also know as Wood town, where the majority of the people have worked with wood and carving their whole lives. There were several beautiful pieces of art, as well as opportunities to see art being made. We also stopped at town—Cotacachi—which also houses an “active” volcano with a lake at it’s center. We were taken out into the part of the lake where the bubbles from the volcano arise. |
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Katrina Cunningham Semester in Spain, Sevilla Junior, english & spanish major ...We went on a group trip with the school to Córdoba, home of La Mezquita de Córdoba. It was beautiful on its own, but it was even more interesting because we had been studying it in art and our art professor (Carmen) was our tour guide while we were there. Since we’re so used to her lectures, I forgot that she was speaking in Spanish – I just understood her without translating every word in my head. Pretty exciting. |
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Jenna Eliel Universidad Veritas, San Jose, Costa Rica Sophomore, international studies major, Spanish minor ...I can't believe I've already been in Costa Rica for 3 weeks! Each day is a new adventure and I think I am improving with my Spanish, but it is an elevator of success and frustration. Some days I feel like I'm spitting out Spanish like a pro, other days, I'll hit that black wall where I can't remember a certain word or phrase and I can't make myself understood worth beans--or should I say worth frijoles. |
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Kelli Hoecker GoEd. Africa - Kigali, Rwanda Junior, elementary education major ...I have witnessed enormous amounts of brokenness and suffering while I have been here in Rwanda, but it is through these situations that I have also been able to experience the power of love and forgiveness. Though it's difficult to understand how there can be such great suffering in this world, I know that God is faithful. I have seen it in the lives and stories of so many here in Rwanda. |
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Allysa Johnson Cornerstone Institute, Cape Town, South Africa Junior, psychology major ...I have become surprisingly comfortable in this country. I feel like I sometimes have to remind myself how far I am from home because it just feels normal to be here now. There are definitely still the “only in Africa” moments but I have fallen into the routine of life here. It is a beautiful place and full of beautiful people as well. It is still a very broken society from the system that apartheid put in place but I have enjoyed learning and being with these people. |
Fall 2011
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Dana Bowers Universidad Veritas, San Jose, Costa Rica Senior, Social Work major, Spanish minor ...Literally, we live in a video game here. The other morning, we were rushing to school, racing against our clock to leave our house to get to the next level, if you will. As we progressed to level two, our mission was to find the school transport before he got on the freeway. We had to run and dodge a few cars to get there, but we did! This moved us to level 3: Traffic jam. We took a long detour to avoid the jam, but ended up stuck in it anyway, observing a large population of rats by the side of the road. We narrowly escaped their attack by zooming across the freeway, we made it the final level; the sojourn to school. We literally had to drive around a man in the middle of the street swinging probably a 15 foot ladder around, dodge some other students, and finally made it to school on time. |
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Kaylee Leddy GoEd. Africa - Kigali, Rwanda Junior, elementary education major ...During our worship time the other night we sang “Let It Rain.” The lyrics go like this, “Open the floodgates of heaven, let it rain, let it rain.” Apparently, God was listening because yesterday, it rained. No, it didn’t rain, it poured...Becca and I were walking back from the market and right as we reached our road, it began to rain cats and dogs. Literally, dog-sized raindrops were hitting me in the face. Naturally, every person ran for cover. Have I mentioned how the world stops here when it rains? Well, it does. Everyone just runs under the awnings of the shops and stands there until the rain stops. We considered it, but decided it was such a short walk home. And, I’m from the Northwest, this kind of stuff is like child’s play. I forgot that I am usually equipped with my waterproof rain jacket and my longest walk is usually from my house to the cafeteria. We were soaked by the time we reached our gate, but we had arrived home. |
Spring 2011
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Shelly Bjorklund Cornerstone Institute, Cape Town, South Africa Sophomore, elementary education major ...I’m a hugger, and I think people hug a lot here. It’s actually quite beautiful. Africans have a word they use called “ubuntu” and it is considered a way of living. It means community. It doesn’t matter whether we met 5 seconds ago, or 5 years ago, they don’t shake hands…they hug. |
| Aaron Swor Australia Studies Centre, Sydney Sophomore, english and theatre major ...Yesterday was exactly what the doctor had ordered. A little taste of home through skype & a visit from a friend followed by an outrageous night with some of the funnest, most genuine, caring people I’ve met. It has been so beautiful to watch how this community looks after each other & how they have invited me right in. Up until yesterday, I was doubting how this semester was going to go, but now I know that I am going to have a hard time leaving & I’ve only been here for 3 weeks. |
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Tyler Zimmerman New York Center for Art & Media Studies Junior, journalism major ...When I was new to the city, I had a mental list of things I thought might happen to me sooner or later. For example, falling down when the subway starts– done. Seeing a B-list actor walking on the street– done (thank you Lee Pace). This list has also included things that, against the odds, have not yet come to pass. I still haven’t been hit by a cab or a bicyclist even though I take the “frogger” approach to crossing streets in Manhattan. BUT just minutes ago, IT happened. This IT is highest on the echelon of ITs, as in, I said it would happen, but I never really thought it would...A bird flew into my face. |
Fall 2010
| Issac Berg Nazarene International Language Institute, Quito - Ecuador Senior, elementary education and Spanish major ...On Sunday mornings my friend Miguel and a few others from his church have a really cool routine: they climb the nearby mountain to spend some quiet time and pray. I decided to tag along and it turned out to be a really neat experience. We left the house at four in the morning and hiked for over an hour until we reached the top. From where I sat I was able to watch the sunrise next to Cayambe, Ecuador’s third-highest peak. |
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Nick Culbertson Universidad Veritas, San Jose, Costa Rica Junior, elementary education major, Spanish minor ...On Saturday My friend David and I went surfing. It was my first time surfing ever, and I was really excited to try it. We rented the board and got lessons for only $20 total. The instructor was very helpful (and the lessons were in Spanish, I was proud that I understood them). After about 10 minutes on the beach practicing laying on the board and standing up, we hit the water. |
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Rachel Lyda AMBEX American Bavarian Exchange Junior, interdisciplinary studies major; music and business ...In the land of ancient ruins, crystal blue waters, delectable cuisine and vivacious people--Athens possesses enough charm to pave the city streets. Upon arrival to Athens on a sunny, Saturday afternoon, my first impression could not be anything but described as both completely surreal..and terrifying! I quickly discovered that crosswalks are far from a safe zone, but rather an elusive interchange of running for your life and following the native Greek's example of survival. |
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Nick Ogle Scholars' Semester in Oxford, England Junior, philosophy major ...The first case study was somewhat overwhelming, since I don't think I've ever written an 8 page research paper on a very complex subject I knew nothing about before hand. The first was on the philosophy and theology of John Duns Scotus and William Ockham. I was researching how Ockham challenged Scotus's work. |
The opinions and views expressed in this content are not necessarily those of the George Fox University Center for Global Studies. If you have any questions or comments, please email globalstudies@georgefox.edu