HMoob (Hmong) around the World Part 1: A Whole New Perspective

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HMoob (Hmong) around the World Part 1: A Whole New Perspective

By: Kameiko Vue (Class of 2020) and Tonny Yang (Class of 2017 & 2019)

Kameiko Vue in Vientiane, Laos (left) & Tonny Yang in Penang, Malaysia (right)

Kameiko’s Story

I took part in the South East Asia (SEA) study abroad program in the winter of 2017-2018. This study abroad trip included going to Laos, Thailand and Malaysia. I wanted to be a part of this trip because I wanted to explore the world and enrich myself in the culture, people and food. Because of this trip, I experienced riding on an airplane and traveling out of the country for the first time ever. Not to mention, I built ever lasting friendships with individuals that I will cherish forever.   

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Journey Across South Asia 2021 Event Highlights

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Thanks to a collaboration of SCSU student organizations, Journey Across South Asia, on April 10, was a success! Check out this amazing video that was created to highlight this great event!

Student Organizations:

  • Indian Heritage Club https://huskiesconnect.stcloudstate.edu/organization/india_heritage_club
  • Nepalese Students Association https://huskiesconnect.stcloudstate.edu/organization/nepalese-students-association
  • Pakistan Student Association https://huskiesconnect.stcloudstate.edu/organization/pakistan-student-association
  • Ayubowan Sri Lanka Student Organization https://huskiesconnect.stcloudstate.edu/organization/ayubowan-sri-lanka-organization

Welcome to CIS

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Hello Huskies!

We at the Center for International Studies (CIS) are happy to announce that we now have our own blog! We will cover topics for prospective, current, and past international students, as well as share information from our education abroad programs.

We have a team of knowledgeable and caring professionals who are dedicated and ready to assist you in your transition to the United States or to other countries like England, Germany and South East Asia for study abroad opportunities!

The Center for International Studies strives to create a community of international students and scholars by

  • Providing opportunities for international students to study at St Cloud State University
  • Creating international opportunities for U.S. students and Faculty for study, research, and teaching abroad
  • Assisting in creating international institutional partnerships which are designed to enhance the global dimensions of both universities

You are more than welcome to drop by the CIS office or contact us for any questions or concerns that you might have!

Follow us on our social media pages to keep up with the latest updates and events that we have!

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CISstcloud

Twitter: https://twitter.com/SCSUCIS

Instagram: @scsu_international

Tiktok: @scsuinternational

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCPejwpA76LBVdgPvUwNEHwg?view_as=subscriber

HMoob (Hmong) around the World: Series Introduction

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HMoob (Hmong) around the World: Series Introduction

By: Sabrina Nkauj Nag Yang, Education Abroad Graduate Assistant

I began graduate school in the middle of a pandemic and saw the devastating effects COVID-19 wreaked upon the Hmong student population at St. Cloud State. COVID-19 has waged its wrath through many different aspects of normal everyday life. In this place, right here in the now, higher education has been greatly impacted.

Opportunities in higher education that were created to foster academic growth and leadership opportunities were cancelled. Departments, like Education Abroad, lost the opportunity to engage and interact with students. Students have lost their sense of belonging at universities due to the COVID-19 pandemic, they hardly know their professors, and they barely recognize various departments that can be utilized to support higher education success. This especially holds true for many of the Hmong students struggling to stay afloat in their undergraduate career.

HMoob (Hmong) around the World was brought to life to inspire, to ignite, and to reimagine the hope of education abroad opportunities for students in the near future. I hope you find courage, I hope you find strength, and I hope you study abroad. HMoob (Hmong) around the World will showcase a series of testimonials from HMoob alum who look like you, speak the same language as you, and may have experienced similar things as HMoob (Hmong) American college students. These are their education abroad stories.

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My Fav Photo App to Use Abroad

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By: Spencer Rojas

Pictures are worth a 1000 words – but I think they are worth even more when you are studying abroad. My biggest issue was finding a fun way to capture these memories and live in the moment. I was able to make these moments even more memorable by using a cool app that is a little retro. Disposable is a free app that allows you to take pictures but does not let you see them until 9:00 am the next day. The photos have that disposable camera look and just give off a cool vibe. I used this app a lot because it was fun to take pictures without having to worry about how the pictures would turn out. It allowed me to live more in the moment. It was fun to relive the moments when the photos would show up at 9:00 am the next day. Now that I am back in the US, it is fun to remember all the good times I had in The Netherlands.

Check out some of my favorite photos taken using the Disposable app:

 

About the Author: Spencer is a Global Mentor in the Education Abroad office at St. Cloud State University. He studied abroad to HAN University – Netherlands and the Greece & Netherlands Political Science short-term program.

 

Novel Ideas for Your Next International Flight (or Quarantine)

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By: Jacob Mercer

Once on a flight from Seoul to Honolulu, I sat next to a young couple who opened matching blue backpacks and pulled out matching editions of The Descendants by Kaui Hart Hemmings. It was one of those “Now in Theaters” book jackets, same as the movie poster: George Clooney sitting at a bar, looking over his shoulder at his kids on the beach with this melancholy, indie-film kind of expression. “How’s the book?” I asked.

The man made a face. “Bad,” he said.

“But we love George Clooney,” the woman said.

“Did you see the movie?” I asked.

“We’re reading the book first.”

“Did you know the book was set in Hawaii?” I asked.

“Of course,” the man said. “We always read books about the place we’re traveling to.”

“Me too!” I said, taking out my copy of Hotel Honolulu—and then we all gave each other high-fives. (Or maybe we didn’t, but that’s how I like to remember it.)

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My Favorite South African Proverbs

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By: Karen Ortiz

Cultures all around the world have sets of proverbs they use which help shape their worldviews. So what is a proverb? A proverb is a short sentence that can be used to express some sort of valuable truth or life lesson.

During my time in South Africa I managed to hear a couple proverbs from some of my professors. I never fully grasped the meaning of these proverbs until I did more research. Lucky for me, through my research I found many more that resonated with me. I now try to put these into practice as much as I can. Here they are:

You cannot beat a drum with one finger
You cannot drink medicine on behalf of a sick person
When a bird builds its nest it uses the feathers of other birds

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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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