Category Archives: Education Abroad Stories

Stories from the Education Abroad & Away at St. Cloud State University.

A Tea Lover’s Top 3 Teas from around the World

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A Tea Lover’s Top 3 Teas from around the World

By Rachael Gardner

The problem with coffee? It’s just not tea!

I know a lot of people are super into coffee. Coffee smells great, don’t get me wrong, but the taste and caffeine levels have never jived with me. My hot beverage consumption was pretty much limited to hot chocolate and apple cider until the fall of 2012. This thankfully changed through travel and exploration. As a part of my study abroad experience in Denmark, I traveled to the UK with two of my friends. It was on this trip that my love of tea was born. Not just the beverage itself, but the different cultural norms and values that come with tea.

A photo of me at my happiest – with a big cup of tea.

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Letter to my Pre-departure Self

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Letter to my Pre-departure Self

By Sophie Torgerson

Dear Pre-Departure Self,

You probably have a million thoughts racing through your head as you prepare to embark on your study abroad journey.  If this is your first time abroad, you’re probably especially curious about what it’s like going to another country.  What do you pack?  How long is the flight?  What should you expect while being 5,000 miles away?  As you wonder all these things, I’d like to offer a few tips that I wish I’d have known prior to departing, to put my mind at ease.  

  • It’s normal to be nervous, but you should also be excited!  Whether you’re gone for 2 weeks or 5 months, it will seem like a long time to be away, but as soon as you’re over there, the time will fly by.  So have as much fun as you can!
  • You don’t need to pack your entire life in your suitcase.  While you may be nervous about forgetting something, or needing something you didn’t think to bring, also remember that every item you pack makes your suitcase just a little bit heavier.  Not only will you have to bring your luggage everywhere, but there are also strict luggage weight limits at the airport, so packing as light as possible can help you avoid unnecessary baggage fees and stress.  Also remember that almost everything you pack can be bought over in the country, in case you do forget something.  As long as you have your passport, phone, and wallet, you should be all set!
  • Bring a journal, and actually use it!  One day, you will tell all these stories to friends and family, so logging your days can help you remember them better.  It also makes for a good keepsake for you to look back at when you’re missing your trip – and trust me, you will.
  • There will be obstacles along the way, but everything will work out.  No matter what that obstacle may be, you have so many resources for help when you study abroad through your college.  If you need anything, always reach out to your professor, local college, or study abroad team back home, and everyone will be happy and willing to help you.  
  • Lastly, keep in mind that you can’t prepare for everything that happens.  The best memories are unexpected, so don’t be afraid to try new things or meet new people.  If something doesn’t go as planned, it may lead you to a new experience that you’ll end up enjoying even more.

Travelling out of the country for the first time may seem scary, but it will be the best thing you ever do, and one day, you’ll be longing to go back.  Enjoy your journey abroad!

 

It’s normal to feel nervous about a new experience. We recommend for SCSU students to take advantage of all the support offered by the SCSU Center for Health and Wellness.

Singing to the Prince of Denmark

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Written by Olivia Way

We boarded the overnight bus, all of us a little out of breath from running to find the right exit in the endless Stockholm train station. The bus was already filled with travelers, most of them looked to be about our age; twenty somethings in search of an adventure that does not cost a fortune to find.  

Vasiliki was the leader of the group. Fearless and determined to find her way. She led us forward and we collapsed into bus seats that stank of past travelers.  

Yui is the sunshine that keeps us bright. Everything is astounding and worth celebrating. She is a good friend to travel with; even the most mundane becomes beautiful.  

Then there is me, I will call myself the narrator, and that is all I will say.  

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A Guide to Asian Street Vendors

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By Lucas Clasen

When studying abroad, I always find street vendors and street markets to be a highlight of the trip. Street stores are a great way to eat and buy authentic local foods and products and are a fun way to entertain yourself for several hours. Since my study abroad experiences have been exclusive to Asia, I am sure that street vendors would be different in Africa or Europe, but my suggestions will hopefully help you navigate and enjoy street markets while studying abroad.

Street market in Hongdae, Seoul

I would first recommend that anyone travelling abroad take a day or two to explore local street markets, as they are usually cheap and can give a sense of how locals live day to day. Many street vendors will sell unique food items, like bugs and odd meats. I recommend getting out of your comfort zone and trying as many oddities as possible, as these will create good stories to share with family and friends and will give you new experiences that would have otherwise never been possible. For some good examples, in South Korea I recommend trying tteobokki (spicy rice cake), kimchi-pang (kimchi pork bun), San-nakji (live octopus), and Mandu (dumplings). In Thailand or Southeast Asia, try pad Thai, Guay Tiew Reua (noodle meat soup), Moo Ping (skewers), and of course Ma Laeng Tod (fried insects), a personal favorite of mine.

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Others.

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Others.

By Jacob Hurajt

___

Across the world, over the waves,

Right next door, or very far away,

People are living life, like you or me.

They simply live life a bit differently.

Some live in castles, ornate and old.

Some live where its hot, some where its cold.

Some move around from year to year,

Others stay put to build their career.

 

Everyone, everywhere, is totally unique.

So why do some feel the need to critique

The lifestyle of those they know nothing about?

They stare and pry and laugh and shout

“Look, they’re different, oh what shame!”

As though all of them were exactly the same.

Humans are humans, that’s all that matters,

So everyone should simply mind their manners.

 

But the things some people do to those ‘others’,

They would never do to mothers or brothers.

And our families are the same as them,

When seen through the eyes of those we condemn.

So why treat anyone any differently?

Treat them the way you would want to be,

And then, just maybe, if we’re lucky,

The world will become a little more lovely.

Study Abroad as an Introvert

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Written by: Belinda Lee

I am a self-proclaimed introvert who enjoys traveling internationally. My strong personal preference for peace and solitude helped me understand myself more when I study abroad in Alnwick, England. One misconception about studying abroad is that only extroverted students participate. Or that studying abroad is for white students from financially supported backgrounds. It is not always the case. When you go abroad, you will meet other international students and connect with domestic students. You will engage in community events, talk about yourself during ice breakers (shivers), and participate in group discussions (double shivers). This is all part of the study abroad experience (Yay, me!).

Students who study abroad are not split between extroverts and introverts. They move between the extroverted/introverted spectrum throughout the course of their study abroad program. Some students may pace themselves on one side, while others might move from one side of the spectrum to the other. On the Alnwick-England program, we all built different relationships with one another. By the third week in, we fell into a routine and surrounded ourselves with individuals whose company we enjoy. When we go out as a group, I knew when I have had enough time socializing and want to return back to the castle. It is about creating and establishing a balanced social and self-care network.

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My Experience in 5 Pictures

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My Experience in 5 Pictures

By Spencer Rojas

The most impactful thing that I have taken away from my study abroad experience is the people I met and the friends I’ve made. In this picture are a few of the people I’ve gotten to know and lived and studied with. This photo was taken on my birthday! I got to live with students from all over the world and I made so many connections and friends I can’t imagine my life now without them.

 

 

Next is a picture that signifies the amount of cheese I consumed in the Netherlands. I took a day trip to Amsterdam with my friend Maddy and we decided to make it a cheap day and eat a bunch of free cheese. If you are ever in Amsterdam looking for a cheap way to eat, hit up all the cheese shops and museums and sample all the cheese you want. Being in continental Europe it is really easy to travel, and from Arnhem, I was super close to Amsterdam and Germany. Unfortunately, I was not able to travel much, but I love Amsterdam so much that it was worth it.

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Making it Work

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Making it Work

Written by: Pa Zong Moua

“No, I don’t have the money. No, it’s not time yet.” All I heard was excuses I made for myself to stay where I am comfortable.  I knew that graduation is around the corner and a long-term study abroad experience had been on my mind since the first year I entered Saint Cloud State University.

I chose South Korea because of the budget that I have. I have two other siblings that are also studying at SCSU, in total 4 kids in the family that are still depending on my parents’ help. My parents are by no means rich, they are minimum wage workers. They made it clear that I would need to save up for myself. South Korea was the final choice because of the Global Village Program. I get to study in a different country, mentor students learning English, receive a stipend and a free room. How sweet and awesome is that!

pz2

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Books I Read While Traveling (and would read again)

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Written by Olivia Way

Call Me by Your Name – André Aciman 

I picked up Call Me by Your Name while I was traveling through Spain for a long weekend off from school at Södertörn University in Sweden where I was studying abroad for the semester. It is romantic and warm and will leaving you lusting for a sweltering summer day in Italy. Dreamy right?  

Call Me By Your Name (Call Me By Your Name, #1) by André Aciman

Under the Tuscan Sun– Frances Mayes 

This is a book of heart and soul and olive oil. A nonfiction story about the trials of remodeling a home in Tuscany, Italy. Years before I ever read this book, I went to Tuscany on a trip with the History Club at my high school! Under the Tuscan Sun is packed with picturesque details of Italian culture, language and of course, food. If you need a book to bring some sunlight into the upcoming gloom of Minnesota winters, this is the one for you.  

Under The Tuscan Sun by Frances Mayes - Penguin Books Australia

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Hygge

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Hygge

Written by Sophie Torgerson

One of the coolest words that I learned while studying abroad in Denmark, is the word “hygge”.  “Hygge” (pronounced: hyoo·guh) is a Danish word that has no direct translation in English.  It’s a word that can be used as an adjective or noun, and can be described as a type of lifestyle or feeling that one experiences when they are happy or content.  It may be experienced while alone or while surrounded by others.  Many describe “hygge” as a feeling of coziness.  To them, “hygge” may be curling up by the fireplace while reading their favorite book, or baking some holiday treats with loved ones.  It may also be going to picnics with close friends, or having a nice, warm day at the beach.  “Hygge” can really be anything that brings you peace and happiness.  What it cannot be is spending the entire day staring at your phone, or not allowing yourself to take a break and relax doing something you love once in a while.  

Although most people in the United States don’t know or have never even heard the word “hygge”, I think it’s a fun and unique word to learn and start practicing.  In Denmark, many Danes would bring up “hygge” in conversation.  The word was also seen on many souvenirs, from t-shirts, to mugs, to keychains- you name it!  “Hygge” allows you to enjoy simple pleasures and get away from the busy and hectic world we live in sometimes, so it’s definitely something everyone should incorporate into their lives.  It doesn’t have to be anything expensive, only doing something you love, whatever that may be.  My trip to Denmark definitely allowed me to experience “hygge”.