Global Studies

January-term Experiences

Arab and Jewish Influence in Spain and Morocco:
Southern Spain and Morocco

“Go out there and meet people and talk to the locals” in order to “get a better feel for the culture.” — Sigrid Barklund Sigrid was looking for a completely different experience when she applied to the January study abroad program. A biochemistry and philosophy major, Sigrid decided to study history with a professor from Augustana and found him “supportive and easy to talk to.” The students in Sigrid's course formed a very close-knit group. Sigrid says having male students around made for a markedly different atmosphere from St. Kate’s.

The language barrier was the most difficult aspect of traveling abroad for Sigrid because not knowing the languages made her dependent on others to communicate. But, she says, “Figuring out communication was part of the fun of it.”

Over the month, Sigrid’s group stayed in hotels in nine cities. Thanks to all of the traveling, Sigrid was able to get an idea of the “breadth of a nation’s culture.” She had frustrating moments in Morocco, where she was not addressed directly because she was a woman. However, Sigrid recognized that no one was trying to be disrespectful; in fact, not addressing her was a sign of respect for women in Moroccan culture.

Sigrid’s understanding of Islam grew during her course abroad. She says of the Moroccans she met, “they’re pretty much the nicest people on Earth.” Over the month, Sigrid did all sorts of new things — riding the subway for the first time, learning words in new languages, riding a camel and seeing snake charmers. After her wonderful experience over January, Sigrid is considering an entire year abroad.

The Politics of New Europe:
Poland, Ukraine, Belarus, and Lithuania

“Pack light, especially if you’ll be in more than one country — plan to use everything at least twice.” — Emily Spott Emily did not want to go to Western Europe when she was deciding on a course abroad. That resolution led her to a course studying the politics of four countries in Eastern Europe. Two St. Thomas professors taught Emily’s course. Her fellow students were, as in most UMAIE courses, from a variety of schools.		Emily with the U.S. Ambassador to Belarus in Minsk, Belarus

While they wound up “doing their own thing,” there were not any cliques dividing the students either. During class, some of the students’ perspectives were distinctly different from those Emily was used to at St. Kate’s, which she thinks was a very important experience to have.

Emily had to get a special visa for entrance to Belarus before going abroad. Though her group stayed in some of the nicest hotels each city had to offer. "You’re in Eastern Europe and everything is dirty,” she says. However, Emily found that everyone was friendly and interested in talking to her group.

Through her experiences Emily says, “I became much more aware of the importance of the little guys — the side stories of history.” The hardest part of the experience for Emily was “accepting that this is a different culture, especially in relation to women.” By respecting the cultures she was in, Emily says she learned from the differences she found. “There is a certain perspective you can only get from studying or working in a country…it’s not a vacation and with that mindset you get more out of it.”