Follow the blog written road

Check out some of our favorite student blogs from this year!

This is the place to be if you are considering study abroad and not sure where you want to go. Why not scope out what your peers are up to? Ask us if you’d like to be put in touch with someone! For a full list of student blogs, click here.

* Mattie K. is wrapping up her academic year in England with Westminster University and having a brilliant time (pip, pip, cheerio). Follow her adventures on the other side of the road at A Study in the Smoke.

* Erika B. spent her semester in Florence, Italy with Lorenzo de Medici and was able to travel frequently. See her tales from Germany, France, Greece and more at Ciao D’Italia!

* Anna S. spent her final semester as an EIU student student teaching in South Africa with the Consortium for Overseas Student Teaching (COST). Via her blog South African Adventure, you can read about her ups and downs in and out of the classroom. Plus safari photos!

* Nakita L. made her own way in South Korea with Ajou University. From cherry blossoms to kimchi, her photographs will blow you away. You can find her at Happy Hangul.

* Haley P. went all the way Down Under for a study abroad experience in Australia with University of Wollongong. Catch her kangaroo, koala and possum pics (among others) at AustraliAdventure.

Indian Culture is Celebrated at Eastern

Reblogged from EIU Reporting:

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Eastern Illinois University welcomes students from all over the world. With approximately 150 international students each semester, Kelly Holland said one-third of them are from India.

Holland, EIU's study abroad coordinator, said she is pleased to present the first HOLI festival right here on the library quad on Eastern's campus April 26.

HOLI is a traditional Indian celebration of colors and springtime.

Read more… 430 more words

Great event coverage from Brittany Borthwick on EIU Holi!

Going Back to Italy [recap!]

I’m back! It’s been nearly two weeks since I returned from the best spring break trip ever and I’m still weaning off of my Italian high. Before I left, I was anxious. In fact, I wrote about it. I was curious about how I would feel returning to where I studied abroad. But as soon as I arrived, I felt right back at home, like I had never left. The immediate love I gained for Italy during my semester abroad hit me just as hard the second time around, however things were a bit different returning as a tourist and not a student. I quickly realized that my spring break trip could best be described as a giant tease.

My 6 short days back in Italy consisted of seeing friends and new places. I spent the majority of my trip in Rome, visiting a friend who is currently studying in the region (I’m very jealous). To ensure I was able to do all I wanted during the week, I was forced plan out every minute of my trip, which was something I never had to do when I lived there before. Luckily I scheduled time to see the sites of the Pantheon, Trevi Fountain, and Spanish Steps. I also made sure to indulge in thin crust pizza, stracciatella flavored gelato, and even find time to purchase a fabulous pair of Italian leather shoes (I mean, how could I not?!). However, what I realized I missed most from my first time in Italy was the abundance of time I had. I missed the freedom of being able to wander the streets without any planned schedule. I longed to forget about the decreasing number of days I had during my trip, and hoped get lost and explore for hours like I how I used to.

The biggest tease came when I arranged a day trip back to the city of where I studied, beautiful Florence. As soon as I stepped off the train flooding memories of my days living within the Florentine walls danced in my mind. As I started going down memory lane, I wished I had more than 24 hours in the city that changed my life. I was able to visit my favorite squares, restaurants, and people of the city, as well as touch the door that led to the apartment where I spent the best months of my life. Emotions were present, and as great as it was to relive those happy days, grief struck when I understood that my spring break trip couldn’t compare to the time I experienced in Florence a year prior.

Going back to Italy for spring break was a gift I couldn’t be more thankful for. I was enchanted once again by the beautiful culture, and saying goodbye the second time around may have actually been harder than the first. Italy has a way of grabbing my hand, and squeezing so tight that I feel as though I cannot let go. Returning as a tourist was not my ideal way to spend time in my favorite country, but I’m confident one day I will be able to return again in future for a longer stay, and just like I used to, be able to wander through the streets for endless hours once again.

Adventure a la mode

Whenever we talk to students about their study abroad experience after coming home, there is a recurring theme that each and every student will talk about for hours.

Food.

Whether it’s Italy’s  pasta, Spain’s churros, or Asia’s curry, the tastes of our destinations stick with us. Like an old song, we seek out those forgotten flavors in hopes of recreating our experiences abroad. But no matter how great the corner bakery may be,  it’s just never the same as snagging a market baguette in Paris, is it? Not.Even.Close.

Instead of paying oodles to try (and fail) to recapture what you ate while abroad at an American restaurant, I suggest making it yourself.

When I was in Rome, I had the unique opportunity to take a weekend cooking class with a few other students through my host institution, the Lorenzo de Medici. Our chef/teacher/guru was Giordano Franci, a professor at LdM Tuscania campus. He was trained in Rome, Paris, Munich, Chicago, Los Angeles, New York, and probably a hundred more places I could only dream of. He was a real professional and a great teacher. We started with ingredient preparation and ended with true, Italian-style pasta, complete with homemade pesto, steak, and  mustard sauce garnish. I used to frequently over-cook my steak. Now I can tell when it’s done with one touch. We learned how to properly present a meal and the importance pairing wine with the flavors of a dish. It was perfect.

I always say that learning is the best souvenir one can bring home. Instead of trying to describe how awesome that pasta was, I was able to come home and make it for my family. They got a small taste of Italy through me, and they loved every bite! Whether you are practiced in cooking, or brand new to the kitchen, I encourage anyone to take at least one cooking course while abroad.

Now whenever I start to feel nostalgic about Italy, I don’t have to rely on the sub-par spaghetti bolognese from an over-priced restaurant. Instead, I whip out my noodles, boil some water, and get to work. Taste aside, the cooking brings it all back.

Happy about Holi

It was cold and dreary outside as we tugged old white t-shirts over our heads, and huddled against the side of Buzzard Hall with three bowls of dye and a spray bottle full of water. What is this, an art project? We braced ourselves against the spray of cold water and closed our eyes. This, is Holi.

“Just hold still, Nate.” Sara says, dipping her hand into the small bowl I’m holding and pinching bright pink dye between her fingertips. She flicks her fingers and – splat – a burst of color on Nate’s face. A quiet pause as we admire her colorful handiwork and then.. it’s on.

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Our office has been planning the Holi festival of colors since January. Now that we are a month away from our event on campus, it’s all we can talk about. We met up with one of our returning students who agreed to photograph our pre-Holi festivities. You know how we love our photo shoots. With the weather leaning toward winter, we had to control our colorful selves indoors. But as you will see below, the results are beautiful (big thanks to Geoff ZuHone, our fearless photographer). We also were able to answer a few questions about the dye and it’s effect on our clothes and skin.

* Will the dye stain my skin or hair? No. Even two hours after original contact, it washed off of our faces and hands with water and soap. When you exit our event on April 19, we’ll have a washing station near Doudna so we can hose you down before you go wandering off into the Union.

* Will the dye stain my clothes? We haven’t done laundry yet! While I’m not sure if my old high school t-shirt will ever be white again, that’s why we wore old clothes in the first place. That being said, the company we are purchasing the dye from notes that a regular laundry cycle and stain remover (if necessary) should do the trick. Read more from PurColour here.

* What if I get the dye in my eyes? A few of us wear contact lenses, and we didn’t have any trouble. Health Services will provide several bottles of eye wash so we can access them if needed, and walk you over to their building if you do need to flush your eyes. Again, the dye is approved by the FDA so there are no crazy weird artificial ingredients.

Now for the most important question. Will you have a good time?

We say: a colorful, unanimous, YES! See you on the Library Quad on April 19, 2:00 – 4:00!

Dr. Lania Knight, English

Adam W., Psychology

Sara B., College Student Affairs

Paige C., Comm Studies

Nate F., Comm Studies

Shondell B., Sociology

Going Back to Italy.

It’s hard to believe a year has passed since I began my study abroad experience in Florence, Italy. During my time overseas, I fell deeply in love with the Italian culture, and fully realized the potential and importance of travel for a young student. My time abroad brought out inner passions I never realized I had, and helped me grow into the worldlier person I am today. And I miss it so much. Since returning to the United States, not a day has passed that I don’t reminisce my time in Italy. The food, the people, the history, all the vespas, everything! The best part about falling in love with a foreign destination, though, is that you can always return. In fact, as you read this post, I’m making my way to O’Hare. Today, I’m hopping a plane back to Italy, the country that still tightly holds my heart.

Flooding thoughts distract me as I prepare for my trip back. I daydream about the monuments I have yet to see, the food in which I will indulge, the culture in which I will re-immerse, and the old memories I will reminisce upon. Bittersweet feelings sway over me when I get lost in these thoughts, and I’m curious to know how I will actually feel once I’m there.

Will I feel grief? Will experiencing the wonders of Italy once more make me long for the memories of my study abroad semester? Or will those old happy feelings will resurface? I know revisiting my old apartment building, school, friends, and my favorite square that overlooks the entire city of Florence will bring back memories that truly changed my life. I spent countless moments discovering myself at these places and with these people, and experiencing them again, with a year’s perspective, will be…what, exactly? I’ll let you know when I find out!

Regardless, I am beyond excited. I can’t wait to tour the Sistine Chapel, a long awaited visit I can’t wait to see in Rome. I burst with happiness when I think about reuniting with friends that still live in Florence, as well as indulging in my favorite delicacies from the local cafes and restaurants. I plan to fill my days with Italian fashion, cooking, scenery, and culture to recall on all of the intense amounts of joy I felt during my study abroad experience.

Above all, I hope to spend time reflecting upon the way my study abroad experience has helped define who I am. I hope to come home even more grateful for my time spent studying and sightseeing in Italy, and as motivated as ever to continue to my travels of the world.

Holi 2013!

Get.Excited. On April 19, we will be celebrating Holi on the campus of EIU!

What is Holi?

Holi is a traditional spring festival celebrated by Hindus, commonly known as the “Festival of Colors.” Celebrated all over India and Nepal since ancient times, Holi’s precise form and purpose display great variety. Originally, Holi was an agricultural festival celebrating the arrival of spring. This aspect still plays a significant part in the festival in the form of the colored powders: Holi is a time when man and nature alike throw off the gloom of winter and rejoice in the colors and liveliness of spring.

How is Holi Celebrated?

Based on tradition and rooted in Hindi legend, large bonfires are lit to ward off evil spirits on the eve of Holi. On the following day, people flock to the streets, armed with smiles and Gulal (colored powder). Children, parents, and even grandparents can be can be found splashing water and Gulal on friends, family, and passers-by.

EIU Celebration!

We’ve got plenty of Gulal. We have water, and music, too. Spring is coming and we’re celebrating! Join us April 19 from 2:00 – 4:00 on the Library Quad (between the University Union and Booth Library). Wear a white t-shirt!*

 

*We will be using PurColour Celebration Powder. It can stain cloths and the skin, but typical machine washing, with stain remover, removes the stains.

[Guest Post] Everyday abroad: Carnaval del Toro

Everyone was dressed up in different costumes. I saw a cat, even a tomato. The air was filled with excitement.  After all, it was Carnaval del Toro! We meandered through the streets, admiring the festivities and costumes, and eventually saw the fences in the distance. We headed in that direction and found a spot on the fence. The bulls would be running by any minute!

The Carnaval del Toro run isn’t nearly as large as the famous running of the bulls in Pamplona each summer, but it was exhilarating none-the-less. Before  we knew it, the bells were ringing to announce that bulls were in the streets. Five of my friends were standing in the road across the fence from us, ready to face the beasts. As the bulls got closer, the bells started ringing louder and faster. It wasn’t long until we could see the herd and even hear their footsteps. My friends’ eyes were full of terror. In a flash they took off running with hearts beating out of their chests. In a matter of seconds, both my friends and the bulls were gone.

Once the running was over we walked down the street to meet up with the rest of our group. Luckily, everyone made it and none of the bulls got out of control. Overall the Carnaval del Toro in Ciudad Rodrigo, Spain was a wonderful cultural experience. Hands down, it was a great way to kick off the ending of my college career since I’ll be graduating in May!

Elisha Alto is a senior Spanish major studying abroad at the Universidad de Salamanca in Salamanca, Spain this spring.