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Postings from resident directors and students currently abroad, important announcements and useful infomation for planning your study abroad experience.
August 2007 Entries
Here are some fun food facts and interesting superstitions for the Abroadco program cities!
Bad news for those of you studying France! It is bad luck to eat bread fresh out of the oven. If you do, you may be a victim of immediate misfortune.
However, if you want curly hair, you should eat the bread crusts.
Many countries in Europe put a piece of bread in a bride’s shoe. This is said to bring her children in her married life.
Ever wonder where the Baker’s Dozen came from? Here’s the scoop. In Europe 12th or 13th century, Bakers were nailed to their doorstop by the ear if they were selling “light-weight loaves” (loaves with big air holes). So they would give the shops 13 loaves instead of 12. The  shopkeeper would slice off a portion of the thirteenth loaf and add it to the full loaf.
The History of the Croissant. In the 1600’s Turks invaded Vienna but were driven out. The Viennese then made crescent shaped pastries to celebrate. The crescent shape symbolized the Turkish flag as the Viennese swallowed the enemy by eating the crescent shaped pastry. Marie Antoinette (Queen of France) then introduced them to French bakers, who altered the recipe slightly to create today’s croissant.
In Europe, the salt and pepper shakers are placed in front of the guest at dinner as a promise of goodwill.
In Italy, rue is used to ward off the evil eye.
In Germany, eating sauerkraut on New Year’s Day is said to bring wealth, good health and other good fortune to the home.
In Europe, the egg was thought to bring life to various crops. Farmers would take an egg into the field to ensure that the grain would sprout and grow well.
In Europe, eggs are used to tell fortunes. An egg with a double yolk means an impending marriage, an egg with a dark spot on the yolk symbolizes a bad omen, and an egg without a yolk is plain old unlucky.
In China, they serve up a whole fish on New Year’s Day to ensure bounty throughout the year.
In Greece, Italy and Germany, the pig was believed to have magical qualities.
If you’re ever having a bad day, maybe you can chalk it up to what you ate and one of the above superstitions.
- Cassandra Trachy
This year the Gilman International Scholarship Program will provide 850 scholarships of up to $5,000 for U.S. undergraduate students to study abroad for up to one academic year. The program aims to diversify the kinds of student who study abroad and the countries and regions where they go. The program serves students who have been under-represented in study abroad which includes but is not limited to: students with high financial need, community college students, students in under-represented fields such as the sciences and engineering, students from diverse ethnic backgrounds, students attending minority-serving institutions, and students with disabilities. The Gilman Program seeks to assist students from a diverse range and type of two-year and four-year public and private institutions from all 50 states.
A limited number of $3000 Critical Need Language Supplements are available for students studying a critical need language for a total possible award of $8000. A list of eligible languages can be found on the Gilman website at http://www.iie.org/gilman
Eligibility: Students must be receiving a Federal Pell Grant at the time of application and cannot be studying abroad in a country currently under a U.S. Department of State Travel Warning or in Cuba.
The Gilman International Scholarship Program is sponsored by the U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs and administered by the Institute of International Education.
The scholarship deadline is October 9, 2007.
We're expanding our program offerings in Florence! Starting in Spring 2008, Abroadco will be working with the Institute at Palazzo Rucellai to offer students a wide variety of liberal arts courses along with Italian language instruction. Students will be able to take courses in anthropology, architecture, art and art history, history, political science, international business, psychology, humanities, and Italian language and literature.
The Institute at Palazzo Rucellai is a well-respected independent program deeply rooted in the American liberal arts tradition. Located in the heart of the historic center of Florence, the Institute is housed in a 15th century palazzo owned by the Rucellai family. Located on two floors of the historic Palazzo Rucellai, the Institute has large, ornately designed classrooms, a library, computer lab, and fine art rooms.
Students can study for an academic year, a semester, or a five-week summer program. As with all of our programs, the fee includes tuition, housing, airport pickup, medical insurance, excursions and immersion activities, cell phone, onsite staff, Let's Go guide and Abroadco backpack, and many other services.
Find out more about studying at the Institute at Palazzo Rucellai today!
When I first arrived in Cannes, it was peaceful beachfront city with scenic views and charming  streets. Within a week, however, I watched the city as it transformed into a film extravaganza complete with movie stars, night clubs, and screenings of the world’s hottest new films. It was not an uncommon sight to see men in tuxedos and women in ball gowns strolling along the main street at 2 pm, nor was it rare to find yourself in the presence of great movie stars. The school in Cannes granted us tickets on a first come first serve basis, and we were even able to see the winner of the Palm D'or, the highest award a film can win at the festival. By choosing to study through Abroadco, I was given the opportunity to experience the Cannes Film Festival and the lovely city of Cannes at a much cheaper rate than say, Angelina and Brad. I would recommend this program to any college student looking for a career in film or simply a month in one of the most beautiful and glamorous locales in the world during its peak season!
Abroadco students on the red carpet about to watch the winner of the Palm D'or at the Cannes Film Festival! (above)
Red Carpet After Party in Cannes during the film festival (left)
Check out the photo of the students at the AMfar Benefit hosted by Sharon Stone in Moulin de Mougins in "What Students Are Saying about the Abroadco Cannes Program" blog entry.
Coliseum – check, Vatican – check, Trevi Fountain – check, Rome Crime Museum – huh?
We all know that Rome is filled with famous monuments, churches, and the incredible Borghese Gardens, but did you know that you can also see a pyramid in a working class neighborhood and visit the Museum of Sanitary Arts, not to mention the Crime Museum? Discover some of the more off-beat treasures of Rome!
· Rome Crime Museum is housed in a former prison built for Pope Leo XII in 1827. The museum has three collections, including a rather macabre collection entitled “Crime and Punishment” that displays a wide array of torture devices.
· In the Testaccio neighborhood you can find a Roman pyramide. Built in 12 B.C. as a tomb for the Roman Gaius Cestius, the pyramide stands 90 feet tall.
· The Museum of Sanitary Arts is housed inside the Santo Spirito Hospital. Founded in 1741, the museum has a large collection of anatomical wax models, majolica pharmaceutical vases, as well as curiosities such as a cannonball size liver stone from a camel and some gruesome things preserved in bottles.
· The Church of St. Ignazio uses illusion to create the idea of a dome – look up as you walk under it and you will recognize the master hand of illusion. It looks like a dome, but it isn’t one.
· Have you ever visited a ghost museum? If not, visit the Museum of the Souls of Purgatory. The museum is part of the Church of the Sacred Heart of Sufferance and the collection includes photos and replicas of souls that have not succeeded in getting to heaven or hell.
· To the right of the Spanish Steps is the Keats-Shelley-Byron Memorial Museum. Keats died in this house and there are rooms dedicated to each poet, along with a large collection of locks of hair including Keats, Byron, Milton, and Elizabeth Barrett Browning.
· If you really are into the macabre, visit the basement of the Church of Santa Maria della Concezione. The crypt houses the bones of 4,000 Capuchin monks, some arranged in artistic designs!
· On a lighter note, the National Museum of Folk Arts and Popular Traditions, located in the Rome suburb of EUR, documents the life of various regional groups in Italy. There is a large collection of regional costumes, as well as exhibits on popular regional festivals and artisanal crafts.
What was your favorite part of the program?
Meeting new people from all over the world and the city of Granada. – Gina
I loved the excursions. Every one of them was amazing and I had a blast each time. I always felt like I never had to worry about anything and everything was all taken care of when I went on an Abroadco excursion. All I had to do was show up and be ready to see the sights and have fun...which I always did! – Molly
The rich culture and the beautiful scenery! I LOVED everything about Spain!! –Ashley
I really liked the atmosphere of Granada. It was a small town but still had a big town feel. There was always something to do and the people were always very friendly and helpful.-Kate
My favorite part of the program was exploring the city with my roommate and other programs members. I loved the excursions and the activites we did as a group. – Shazad
I would rate my experience as very very good because it was exactly the type of opportunity I was looking for for my time of studying abroad. I wanted a program that would allow me to go in the summer since my program of study at my home college was so intense. I loved the small size of the program in the month of June and the approach Abroadco takes in the program. I enjoyed going on outings and trips with Jaime and the program but also enjoyed the independent free time we had as well. It was a great balance. – Laura
What did you like most about your program city and country?
Granada is a student oriented city. The way Granada is set up makes it convenient for a student. Everything a student could need is in walking distance. Granada has found a balance between  preserving their culture and rich history and tying it in to the modern, more western culture. Spain as a whole is a laid back and comfortable country. They have a vibrant, energetic and lively culture that cannot be found in America. – Shazad
The people and the culture. It was a smaller city so I was able to meet a lot of different people and stay in touch with them throughout my two months there. – A.J.
I loved the size of Granada and how I walked everywhere! I hardly took a bus the whole month unless I was going to the bus station to head out of town. Granada is a beautiful place to spend time since you can walk and explore the city and there are two different feelings within the city depending on if you are in the newer part or the older part, the Albaycin. What I loved most about Spain is the people. The people are so passionate about life and have such a rich culture about them. They enjoy life and savor it, which I could tell by the pace of their days that they held. – Laura
What I know now but wish I had known before:
Be prepared to not want to come home- Gina
I wish I would have researched more about the area and history of the places I would visit and discover while in Europe, so that I would have known more about them. – Laura
 Which one of the excursions was your most favorite?
I enjoyed all of them, but I think the last one to the beach was the most fun. After a whole semester of sight-seeing and learning, it was nice to just relax with my new Abroadco friends and enjoy the Spanish shoreline and climate. – Laura
There are so many and I loved them all. I guess our trip to Nerja was pretty great because it was the end of the trip so we were all really bonding and enjoying each other’s presence before we left.-Allison
I loved Sevilla because the city was so beautiful and we had fun seeing the sites around the city with Jaime and the other students. I also loved the Moroccan Teahouse and the Arab bathes!! – Laura
Additional Comments
Jaime found out more about how my roommate and I are nursing students in the US and said he could arrange a hospital tour for us in Granada. He made the extra effort to plan and to spend the afternoon with us one Thursday and take us around to the different buildings and afterwards he even took us for tapas. It was so fun! – Laura
Jaime was superb. We couldn't have asked for a better person to be the director. If we ever mentioned anything of intreset to us, Jaime would send us extra info about that particular interest. He made sure we were all contenet and enjoying out trip. He made our transition smooth and less "shocking". – Shazad
Spain was the most beautiful place I have ever visited. Just walking to school was amazing. Also, I learned a lot of Spanish and gained confidence in myself after knowing that I can travel half way around the world one four different planes and make it back. - Dana
I learned Spanish and met some of the greatest friends of my life while simultaneously learning a great deal about myself –Erin
It was the most wonderful time of my life. I became a whole new person because I had to adjust to a whole new life where I really didn't know anyone, the culture, my family; it was all new and wonderful. The thing that made my experience the best was my family. I love them sooooo much! We have talked on the phone every weekend since I got back and I can hardly wait to go see them again in May! –Allison
What did you like most about your program city?
Being there during the Film Festival was a once in a lifetime experience and I was able to see films and partake in the festival as if i were a resident of Cannes.- Annabel
I loved the film festival and the sense of culture that is definitely not found in Nebraska. Also, the south of France with its wonderful beaches made the environment more than comfortable. – Janine
The education is at a level of excellence. The teachers are funny and understanding. This trip was a once in a lifetime opportunity. I learned so much more about myself and what I can achieve. - Elizabeth
What was your favorite part of the program?
Living with people from all over the world at the college. –Brandi
My favorite part was going scuba diving with the school. We received a personal scuba-diver with us and swam all over the coast of Ile- St-Maguerite. The view was spectacular. –Elizabeth
My favorite part of the program was meeting people from all around the world because it is an International campus. I also liked that Abroadco let us go on three excursions with the school and also the cooking class was one of my favorites. – Lesley
How would you rate your experiences overall- why?
I learned so much about the language, the culture, and myself. It was an amazing experience in which I made tons of great friends and was able to change my thinking and broaden my horizons. –Brandi
I had a wonderful time in Cannes. Living on my own in another country showed me a side to Europe which I hadn’t been able to see in my vacations with family and school. I was truly able to see how the French way of life is different from American culture. –Annabel
We want to share with you what our students are saying about our programs, along with some photos of their experiences. Throughout August we will be posting entries about our diffe rent programs. Today we're starting with Aix-en-Provence!
What did you like about your program city?
I love that Aix is a decent-sized town, but feels very small and cozy and is so walk-able. It's not as overwhelming as I feel Paris could've been. It's easy to run into people you know or even get to know some of the people who work in town. And France, well, I like that they speak French and have all of these little cultural differences that one discovers throughout their time there. Also, Aix/France are good locations for getting to see more of Europe rather easily. – Valerie
How would you rate experiences abroad overall?
Everything just sort of came together for me. Of course, it's tough at the beginning getting adjusted and bombarded with French everywhere when you're not used to it, but as long as you know that upon arrival and trust that you'll get settled... it's great! -Valerie
I branched out a lot - met many new people and saw basically all of Europe. –George
I felt though I had an absolutely fantastic time abroad due to the extraordinary good luck I had in roommates, and the flexibility that I learned. I enjoyed being in Abroadco quite a bit because the program was very small, making it easy to make pretty lasting and deep relationships with the other people in the program. – Kelsey
It was challenging moving to France and having no choice but to adapt and learn the language and culture, but it was extremely rewarding. I left France with a passion for travel, an appreciation for French culture and way of life, and a deeper knowledge of the French language. – Lindsay
I had the time of my life! Part of it was luck, I loved the people on the program, but largely it was a well-organized, fulfilling program. –Joanna
What was your favorite part of the program?
I loved the complete immersion (French language in school), and the opportunities for travel during breaks. –Lindsay
What was your favorite class?
My core language class. Had the best professor ever and learned SO much, whether it was grammar, idiomatic phrases, vocab, history/evolution of French, or just general culture. – Valerie
What I know now but wish I had known before I left
I wish I hadn't been as hesitant to speak French as soon as I arrived in France. The people of Aix on a whole are extremely patient and appreciate students who make the effort to speak French. – Lindsey
How delicious quiches can be! – Martine
Housing
Our host mother was amazing, cooked GREAT food, and was really, really fun! We lived with a cat, and an older lady, and I think that my French got much better just thanks to her speaking to us all the time. She also took us to awesome places with her on the weekends some times (ie. Marseille, Sauccet des Pins, and Puyricard). –Kelsey
Homestays are the only way to go. My French is way better almost entirely due to staying with a family. – Avery
My host mom and her sister are extremely nice people who appreciate the company of the young students they host. It is nice to feel like you are making these women happy by bringing some diversions to their lives. They are retired and do little during the day but love to chat with us about our days and like most of all to see our outfits when we get all dolled up for a night out dancing. – Joanna
Why would you recommend this program to a friend?
Because studying abroad enables you to become a more well-rounded person and having a small group like Abroadco, you get a little more special attention. The decision to study abroad was one of the best decisions I have made and I am so thankful I decided to go. Abroadco was great. - Lacy
I can't believe that this is my last day here in Spain. It feels like I just got here. Where did the wonderful dream go? These people were really good to me. When I first got here Marga, said that she wanted me to feel at home, and I sure did. I still have 3 housemates here; one is staying here till Dec. and the other 2 have 2 more weeks here. But my roomate left last nite. It was so sad 3 of my housemates cried, and I got a little teary eyed. I went with padre Jose to take Leo and her brother to the bus station. Padre Jose is so funny. He is one of those that like to play (bromas), jokes on people. I am really going to miss my host family, I had lots of fun with them and their kids. I really got attached to the little boys, they liked coming in my room and jumping on my bed, and asking me every 5 seconds what I am doing, I will miss that.
Granada was a very beautiful city. I am so glad that I decided to stay with a host family, that was probably the best thing that I have done. I really enjoyed eating the delicious Spanish food (paella), and learning about the beauty of the Spanish culture. Jaime was incredible. He was always there for us when we needed him. We all enjoyed having Jaime as our Abroadcom guide, and yes I would do this again with Abroadco, and I would recommend Abroadco to others. From the begginning to the end Abroadco was a great program overall. They were always whenever I had any questions or concerns, which I very much appreciated.
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