What do UCSB students say about EAP?
Allegra O’Donoghue – Cairo, Egypt – Year 2006-2007
Summarizing a year in Egypt, I can easily recount for you an endless list of sensory experiences: climbing to the top of Mount Sinai, diving to the bottom of the Red Sea, seeking refuge from Cairo’s chaotic streets in one of her many breathtaking mosques, engaging in conversations with my Egyptian and American peers about religion, culture and politics, forming what I hope are life-long friendships with people I never imagined I’d meet.
Egyptians will tell you “Masr om ad-dunya.” Egypt is the mother of the world. She is. The ancient wonder of the pyramids and temples, the modern shadow of dilapidated apartments teeming with cousins and uncles, the extreme poverty and unbelievable wealth, nearly collide like the 5 lanes of fiat taxis and the donkey pulling a wagon of melons below a skyline of billboards for cell phones and processed cheese. But I lived there for a year and never once saw a car accident. Some mysterious power, perhaps the gravitational force of the ezan paralleled with that of the desert sun forms the delicate balance that prevents it all from simply imploding.
Living in Cairo for a year proved to be very frustrating and overwhelming. The culture, crowdedness, pollution, and language were all hurdles I faced everyday. For every step forward it felt like I took two steps backward (walk like a study abroad in Egypt!). However it was these very challenges, paired with many delights, which TRULY enriched my experience. They proved a difficult test, one of patience. Patience with this bureaucratic, stratified society, and patience with myself and my clumsy progress trying to absorb and respect everything around me, letting it change me inevitably, and yet retaining my values and sense of self. Tears formed in my eyes when the plane took off from San Francisco. They were rolling down my cheeks when I left Egypt.
Lauren Blum – Edinburgh, Scotland – Year 2006-2007
I spent the last year of my life studying and living in the home of the largest art and cultural festival in the world. One of my first introductions to the city was the thirty minute long fireworks show that ended the yearly festival. Fireworks were set off from the over 800 year old castle and were coordinated to the National Symphony playing the score to Romeo and Juliet. The show was truly magical and I instantly fell in love with the city. I not only fell in love with the vast history and beautiful architecture of the city but also with the amazingly friendly Scottish people. I spent my time in Edinburgh attending classes, exploring the city and spending time with friends from all over Europe. I know that some of the friends that I made will be my friends for the rest of my life. Throughout the year I also had the opportunity to travel to 9 different countries and throughout Scotland. One of the highlights of my travels was going to Paris and staying at the home of one of my French roommates. I was able to meet her friends and family and was given an insiders tour of Paris. My time spent abroad will probably be the best year of my life and I would do it all over again in a heartbeat. Studying abroad is truly an opportunity that you can’t afford to miss.
Maegan Hendow – Lyon, France – Year 2006-2007
Spending my last year studying in Lyon, France was the most rewarding and enriching experience of my life so far. Lyon is known as the gastronomic capital of France, and I got to spend a year tasting all the wornderful dishes in the "bouchons," the small, friendly restaurants all over the city. France has tons of amazing dishes to try, and Lyon has even more! I got to try tasty salade lyonnais, roasted pigeon, and the famous wine of the area, the Beaujolais, among many other things. Lyon became my home away from home; I love every part of this city from the roman ruins to the 117 hectare Parc de la Tete d'Or with its botanical gardens and zoo, and from its history as the capital of the Resistance during World War II to the secret passageways scattered around the city. Getting to know another city, language, and culture other than my own was an invaluable experience that I couldn't have gotten just from the classroom and I hope everyone gets the chance to have.
Mairead Donahey – Madrid, Spain – Year 2006-2007
My
year abroad in Madrid, Spain zoomed by faster than any other time in my life. I was thrust into an urban lifestyle that I had never experienced before: taking the subway to school, sampling tapas at sidewalk cafés, hailing cabs after long nights out. Luckily, you can get away from the urban lifestyle without even leaving the city with el Parque de Buen Retiro and el Jardín Botánico a few steps outside the subway. Plus, since Madrid rests in the center of the county, you can take the train or bus to the South, the North, and the coast to get a taste of other unique regions in Spain. And the rest of Europe is just a quick plane ride away!
On the academic side of things, nothing could have helped my language aquisition more than my two semesters at a host university learning alongside Spanish students....except maybe living with other international students who are trying to learn the language too, that helped immensely. I'm biased towards Spain, but I honestly recommend studying abroad SOMEWHERE to EVERYONE, it'll be the highlight of your college career.
Ramón Rodriguez – Rome, Italy – Spring 2007
Living and studying in Rome was a phenomenal experience. The Rome Through the Ages Program allowed me to work toward my History major while living in another culture. Each day there was something new. When I wasn't having class in the Roman Forum or in St. Peter's Square, I was practicing Italian with my host mother or tasting Italian cuisine. Even my daily commute was an international adventure. The UC Study Center was located in the Vatican Building, meaning that each time I entered the Palazzo for class, I was leaving Italian territory. After years of studying History in the typical classroom setting, I finally got to see everything I had once only seen in books and pictures. The site visits and excursions organized by my teachers were great. Even though they were in English, my Italian has improved tremendously. In four months I went from only knowing how to say "Ciao" to testing into Italian five. My experience in the Eternal City, however, was by no means a walk in the park. After living in Isla Vista, constantly surrounded by friends, I found myself living in a neighborhood with complete strangers who did not speak English. It was truly humbling and I appreciated those who formed part of my life more than ever. My only regret about studying abroad was that I did not stay longer!
Robby Greengold – London, England – Year 2006-2007
Imagining spending a year in another country seemed daunting to me at first. While exploring my options to study abroad as a music composition major, I received mixed advice from many different people - telling me where I should go, how long I should go for, and some telling me I shouldn't go at all.
I studied in London for the year. It was the best decision I ever made. No place else in the world could have given me the kids of opportunities that came my way during my year there. I was able to study trumpet performance at the Royal Academy of Music and composition at King's College, London. Staying in regular student flats at King's, I had the chance to live with students from all over the globe - some of which traveled with me throughout other parts of Europe.
My daily walk to class was never dull - going by the London Eye, over the River Thames with Big Ben on the left and the Tower Bridge on the right, and dodging double-decker buses kept me on my toes - literally. Every street in the city has something new to offer - and I walked everywhere to see as much of it as I possibly could.
The classroom dynamic is much different in Britian. Wine is provided at school functions, and having a couple of pints with the professor is a common practice after lectures(or during lectures - any time is a good time for a pint).
While in Europe I was one of thousands to break the world record in the World's Largest Coconut Orchestra at Trafalgar Square in London. I spent a couple fo nights sleeping on the grass in front of the Coliseum in Rome, I did research at Auschwitz and played
fútbol with the locals in Barcelona.
Of course UCSB has tons of opportunities as well, but remember that you will come back home...and everything will be right where you left it and everyone will be thrilled that you are back.
My one regret is that I was never able to pick up the sexy British accent that American girls love so much.
Wesley Holzer – Taipei, Taiwan – Fall 2006
My best quarter at UCSB wasn't at UCSB at all. In fairness, it was my second best, academicallly, but definitely the number one in terms of experiences. Living in Taiwan is the most fun, productive, and above all else sobering experience I've had, and am likely to have for awhile. I got not only a first-hand understanding fo the political and cultural climate of Taiwan - including a crash course in history and government that could only be gotten through daily conversations with the locals - but also a newfound self-reliance when faced with a foreign, albeit inviting, society. Of course, the temples on every block, the beautiful Chinese architecture everywhere, the extraordinarily friendly people of Taipei helped contribute to the growth of my enthusiasm for the culture, my Mandarin proficiency, and my self confidence and decision-making skills. To this day, my proudest moment is buying a pair of pants at a night market without asking my friends' advice!
Alumni Comments:
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