global grant

Exploring Chile's Atacama Desert: A Journey of Discovery and Reflection

Anonymous — Fri, 08 Nov 2024 17:03:17 +0000

Exploring Chile's Atacama Desert: A Journey of Discovery and Reflection Anonymous (not verified) Fri, 11/08/2024 - 10:03

Andres Almonte, an International Affairs major and IAFS Global Grant recipient, shares the unforgettable experiences from his study abroad journey in Chile, through the program ISA Chile: Valparaiso Latin American Studies & Courses with Locals. In his latest update, Andres recounts a remarkable October, highlighted by a trip to the awe-inspiring Atacama Desert, where he explored stunning landscapes and unique wildlife. His travels also offered a deeper perspective on globalization’s impact on local communities—a theme he connects back to his IAFS studies. You can see more photos of Andres' early adventures on this IAFS Instagram post.

I’d like to share my third update on my experience studying abroad in Chile this semester. Overall, October was a great month, and I have been having a very good time. Without a doubt, the highlight of my month was my trip to San Pedro de Atacama, the world’s driest desert. At the beginning of October, I travelled to Atacama with three of my good friends that I have met here in Chile. While there, we were able to participate in many activities and see truly amazing natural landscapes. For example, on the trip I visited natural hot springs, salt flats, and the “Valley of the Moon” where The Martian was filmed. Additionally, I saw many animals that are uncommon in the US: flamingos and alpacas.

While this was an amazing experience for me personally, I also was able to relate my experience to what I have been learning in IAFS as well as some of my classes here in Chile. In Atacama, I saw the clear effects of globalization as the town and its economy were clearly built to accept tourists, something that it has done successfully; when I went, the town was full of tourists from the US and Europe. The negative side effect of this is that San Pedro has become inaccessible for the average Chilean citizen because American and European tourists are willing to pay prices that are much greater than what most Chileans can afford. This trip was ultimately a good opportunity for me to reflect on the pros and cons of globalization in the global South.

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Twice the Adventure: Daisy Vu's Summer 2024 Experience in Costa Rica

Anonymous — Mon, 16 Sep 2024 23:03:16 +0000

Twice the Adventure: Daisy Vu's Summer 2024 Experience in Costa Rica Anonymous (not verified) Mon, 09/16/2024 - 17:03

Daisy Vu is an extraordinary CU ��«��Ƶ student! She is an IAFS Major, is minoring in Anthropology, History and Business, and is completing the Certificate in Peace, Conflict, and Security (PACS). She also has been awarded the Global Grants Scholarship twice for two summer study abroad experiences - first in Summer 2023 to Bordeaux, France and this past Summer 2024 to Costa Rica! Read about her time in Costa Rica below and enjoy the amazing photos she took!

Costa Rica’s charm and beauty has undoubtedly left an impression on myself, as a person, and my studies. It’s no secret that Costa Rica is home to 5% of the world’s biodiversity and contains many natural masterpieces, with its beaches, sloths, and monkeys, but something that is wildly underappreciated is the people, with Tico (Costa Rican) culture being overshadowed by the country’s ecological richness. As an anthropology course, we were encouraged interact with the people and critically think of tourism for all its merits and detriments to the community, seeing the human impact in addition to the ecological impact. In a way, the learning never stopped, and the classroom extended to the jungle and city streets, where every experience was an anthropological learning opportunity.

We exercised fieldwork activities that critically assessed the tourism industry. Despite not knowing Spanish, my openness to new experiences and interacting with others propelled my success in this program, having gained new cultural perspectives and insight into anthropological fieldwork. The program facilitated examining everything in a critical, academic lens, something beneficial in any situation, especially foreign. I learned all about Costa Rica’s place in international politics, containing expats of various origins, many tourists of different nationalities, and role in sustainable tourism with excursions into the national parks of Manuel Antonio and Cahuita. I also took part in a homestay program in a small town, concentrating on the belonging side, and learned of the community and Costa Rican culture, while giving back with a community project involving renovating an elementary school. All of our host families were so full of life and character, and I am super appreciative of my own host family for feeding me and welcoming me into their home, it was an amazing experience!

With the sun of the equator, and the warmth of the Costa Rican people, Costa Rica has left its mark on me and I am extremely grateful to have been able to embark on this adventure and build bonds with my fellow buffs and the Ticos along the way.

Many thanks to Daisy for sharing about her trips with us and we are excited to see what you accomplish!

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Discovering Indonesia: Jackson's Journey Through Cross-Cultural Education

Anonymous — Sun, 21 Apr 2024 06:00:00 +0000

Discovering Indonesia: Jackson's Journey Through Cross-Cultural Education Anonymous (not verified) Sun, 04/21/2024 - 00:00

Hear from Global Grant recipient Jackson Marcus, who is currently studying abroad in Indonesia! Since arriving in Indonesia, he has immersed himself in Indonesian culture by exploring different regions, trying new foods, and interacting with locals. Read about his adventures below:

Update from February 2024

It's been a little more than two weeks since I arrived in Indonesia and it's been quite an experience so far. I spent my first two days in Jakarta where I took the most terrifying tuk tuk ride of my life (he was going over the speed limit on the sidewalk) and ate a lot of mysterious street food. After that I decided to take the train to Jogja which offered some incredible views. I had heard before coming here that Java was the most populated island in the world, but I've been pleasantly surprised to find a lot of rural areas and nothing that remotely compares to the chaos of Jakarta.

The people are incredibly friendly and hospitable. A few days ago a local student I had just met invited me to visit his village. His family are tobacco farmers from Temanggung province and almost certainly don't speak a word of english so it should be a real cultural experience. Last weekend I went with some other international students to a town called Pacitan about three hours away. We passed through some pretty remote villages that seemed untouched by the outside world which was really cool to see. This is easily the most naturally beautiful part of the world I've been to and I'm excited to explore more of the country.

Update from March 2024

This past month I've been settling into life in Jogja. The room I'm renting is immediately across from a mosque that plays what seems to me an exceptionally loud call to prayer before dawn everyday, but I've been able to sleep through it recently which has been a great development for me. Ramadan started a little more than a week ago and the whole town is much quieter during the day, but around 4 p.m. hundreds of street food vendors start to set up all around the city and the whole place becomes very lively. The food here is very delicious, I thought I might get sick of it but so far that hasn't happened. Last weekend I drove to a place called the Dieng Plateau and got invited to an iftar which is the fast-breaking evening meal. It started with a very sweet drink with lots of fruit and then fresh river fish with vegetables and the staples of rice and fried tempeh. Unfortunately my Bahasa Indonesia is still practically nonexistent so communicating was a challenge, but it was still a very cool experience.

Thanks for sharing, Jackson! We can't wait to hear more about your adventures!

Jackson is a Global Grant recipient, which is a scholarship exclusive to IAFS majors to fund their Education Abroad programs. The Global Grant Scholarship offers up to $3000 worth of funding to support your study abroad experience. The deadline to apply for this scholarship for programs next summer, fall, or the academic year is March 1st. More information can be found on the IAFS Global Grant webpage, and the application can be found on the Education Abroad Buffs Scholarships webpage.

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Hear from Global Grant Recipient Aspen Reeves

Anonymous — Wed, 27 Sep 2023 21:27:29 +0000

Hear from Global Grant Recipient Aspen Reeves Anonymous (not verified) Wed, 09/27/2023 - 15:27

Meet Global Grant recipient, Aspen Reeves! Aspen is currently participating in the ISA Chile: Valparaiso Latin American Studies & Courses with Locals program where she's spending the year in Vaparaiso, Chile. She's started classes with Chilean locals, and when she's not in class she's been exploring the city and learning about Chile's rich history. Hear from her below:

Hello again! August was certainly a busy busy month for me in Chile! Not only did I finish up my summer classes for the month long spanish intensive, but I went on my 1st ever solo-trip to a town called Vicuña in the Valle de Elqui (where author Gabriela Mistral lived and worked), went hiking at the famous National Park La Campana (which Charles Darwin summited and wrote about during his studies in Chile), and began my semester classes with local Chilean students!

This past month has also involved taking a deeper dive into Chilean history and culture and I have learned a lot about the effect of the Pinochet regime on the Chilean people both in the 1970s and 80s and today; which included an excursion to Santiago to visit the Museo de la Memoria, El Cemeterio General, and Parque de la Paz Villa Grimaldi (an extermination and torture camp during the regime that has now been converted to a memorial site). With the 50th anniversary of the end of the dictatorship (which is not officially recognized as a such by a large portion of the country) coming up on September 11th- followed by the Chilean independence holiday on the week of September 18th- emotions are certainly high surrounding the topic of nationhood and human rights as of right now. As a student of international affairs, and as someone who has focused on human rights throughout my college education, it has been extremely educational and impactful to be studying here during this important time in Chile’s history.

Thanks for sharing, Aspen! We're looking forward to hearing more.

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Hear from Global Grant Recipient Sarah Bian

Anonymous — Wed, 02 Aug 2023 17:54:28 +0000

Hear from Global Grant Recipient Sarah Bian Anonymous (not verified) Wed, 08/02/2023 - 11:54

Meet Global Grant Recipient, Sarah Bian! Sarah is participating in the Global Internships: Amsterdam, Netherlands summer program where she's completing a software development internship. Hear about her experiences below.

I am at a software development internship at a local fintech startup in Amsterdam where I help develop an app that optimizes tuition payments, conversion rates, and wire transfers from students studying abroad at international universities. Not only do I relate intensely to the startup's goals as a student myself, but I am excited each day to learn and hone my skills in software engineering.

Amsterdam has been a wonderful place to work, and its history and people have been amazing to explore and get to know. I have never been to Europe before, and I haven't left the U.S. in many, many years. This was an entirely new experience for me, but I have loved snacking on bitterballen, hopping on trains to the Hague, biking on bridges over canals, and walking through the Rijksmuseum. My Dutch coworkers have been the kindest people, and working in a real office at a real company in the Netherlands has given me insight into the real, everyday life of a programmer. I've been able to help launch their website for the company, and now I'm helping deploy their mobile app.

We're glad you're having such great experiences, Sarah!

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Hear from Global Grant Recipient Daisy Vu

Anonymous — Tue, 11 Jul 2023 19:05:40 +0000

Hear from Global Grant Recipient Daisy Vu Anonymous (not verified) Tue, 07/11/2023 - 13:05

Meet Global Grant Recipient, Daisy Vu!

For a few weeks this summer, Daisy participated in the Global Seminar: French Connections in Bordeaux, France where she studied current events and issues in France and learned about the city of Bordeaux. Read about Daisy's experiences below.

Going to Bordeaux was not only a beautiful experience but also a very enlightening, enriching one, where the city showcased French culture and history without the cosmopolitan glam of cities like Paris. Something that attracted me to the city of Bordeaux, aside from the wine, was its history, which was proudly and gorgeously displayed in its churches and architecture. The first full day there we did a sightseeing walking tour of the city, seeing landmarks such as “La Grosse Cloche” (the fat clock), St. André Cathedral, Miroir d’Eau, Opera House, Monument aux Girondins, etc. I loved the stained glass windows of the churches, the ornamentation of the buildings, and the overall gothic and romantic style of architecture. It is all reminiscent of the 19th and 18th centuries, providing a stark contrast to the newer American buildings that I am used to seeing.

Specifically, St. Andre’s Cathedral was definitely a main attraction, with it being right next to the “Hotel de Ville" or town hall and its largeness. Its stained glass fixtures, huge organ, and worship memorabilia stood out at first stroll through. After the first day, I came back another 2 times with different people from my group each time. On the second visit, we paid 2 euros to go into a special museum area that displayed relics, a reliquary, and religious artifacts. I was in awe of how cool and old they were, some dating back to the 15th century.

Another historical point of interest was the Musee d’Aquitaine where Bordeaux and France’s history is long and deep, stretching so far back, from prehistoric times to now. It was interesting going through time with prehistoric landmarks and fossils, Romans, feudalism, slave trade, French Revolution, Napoleon, and contemporary history.

Within class, we learned all about French culture utilizing American perspectives as a point of contrast and comparison. Subjects of interest included wokism, feminism and gender, identity, pension and protest, and race. It was really fascinating how the French and Americans have similar views of secularism, freedom, and equality, but enforce or try to achieve the same goals in different ways as a result of their differing histories and perspectives. This is striking especially when talking about identity politics and race, in how the French don’t like to track or talk about race in order to maintain equality and liberty, which is jarring from the American perspective in which not talking about race is racist in itself, as it would be seen as marginalizing racial inequality.

On another hand, wine is a huge part of culture in France! Bordeaux, known as the wine capital of the world, hosted “La fete du Vin” which is known as the wine festival over the weekend, and it was a really fun experience! There were many types of wine to try, from the reds, merlot and sauvignon, the whites, sauvignon Blanc and sémillon, and the rosés, and many professionals there to teach about the regions and what differentiates each. At St. Émilion, we hiked all the way up to the town, getting a first hand look at the vines of the vineyard and castle. Another highlight of the trip was an excursion to Chateau Olivier, where we saw the winemaking process up close while learning about what it takes to run a quality vineyard, from the equipment, acreage, and grapes. The most educational wine experience though was the wine tasting class in which we learned about what to look for in a wine and how to identify the main characteristics with what it looks like, how it smells, and how it tastes.

Overall, I really loved Bordeaux! Not only just because of the city and it’s beauty (historically and aesthetically), but I loved it because of the people I met there. The CU ��«��Ƶ group was full of some of the most interesting, kind, funny, and cool people I’ve met with such diverse experiences and point of views. I feel like we bonded as a group and I can happily say I’ve made at least 19 friends on this trip. Additionally, the local people I’ve met were so kind and generous, especially the service workers who engaged in speaking French with learners and gladly answered questions about their life and France. I already miss Europe and France and am super grateful to be able to go on this trip, but I am glad to be home in Colorado!

We're glad you had such an amazing trip, Daisy!

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Hear from Global Grant Recipient Tali Ortega

Anonymous — Thu, 15 Jun 2023 17:50:11 +0000

Hear from Global Grant Recipient Tali Ortega Anonymous (not verified) Thu, 06/15/2023 - 11:50

Tali Ortega, an International Affairs and Political Science student, spent a few weeks of her summer in France. She was chosen as a Summer 2023 Global Grant Recipient and went on the "Doing Business in Europe" Global Seminar where she spent 2.5 weeks in the city of Aix-en-Provence learning about business in Europe. She went on business visits, heard from guest lecturers, and experienced the beautiful city filled with French culture. Hear about her time abroad below:

To begin, I'd like to express my sincere gratitude for those who helped make this trip possible! I never could have imagined just how much I have learned and honestly grown in the past 2.5 weeks. My seminar was designed to have 14 businesses. Here's a list of the companies that we visited: Airbus Helicopter, Parfums de la Bastide, Calissons Factory, Pellenc ST, Mediadev, STMicroelectronics, Biopool Tech, Chateau de Beaupre, Zebox, CMA CGM, and Two Worlds Whiskey. Now I wanted to list all of the visits to help you get a grasp of what an amazing mix and variety we were able to learn about!

Arguably, my favorite visit has been a sustainable pool company, BioPool Tech. Overall, I found their ability to rise again after bankruptcy, into a flourishing and healthy business to be very inspiring. It's nice to learn that even if you fail, you can build yourself up and still succeed. I am very honored to be able to learn about what makes a good company. In the future, I plan to use what I've learned when job hunting, as work culture is an important component of the difference between a good and "not-so-good" company.

Moreover, I have really enjoyed living with my homestay “mom,” and have bonded very well with my two roommates. We have had fun exploring the city of a thousand fountains, eating delicious foods, bowling, going to the beach and connecting with French culture. I always looked forward to having dinner as it was full of amazing food and tons of laughter. I also never expected to learn as much about Aix and French customs as much as I did! The first few days were admittedly rough as culture shock hit pretty hard but having amazing students around me really helped me adjust. Ultimately, I am so happy and blessed to have been able to come on the trip.

All in all, this trip has gone above my expectations and I am so grateful for the experiences and opportunities.

We're so glad you had a wonderful time, Tali!

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Hear from Global Grant Recipient Lillian Bisantz

Anonymous — Wed, 22 Mar 2023 18:27:59 +0000

Hear from Global Grant Recipient Lillian Bisantz Anonymous (not verified) Wed, 03/22/2023 - 12:27

Global Grant recipient, Lillian Bisantz, is currently studying at the American University in Cairo (Cairo, Egypt). Read about how her experience has been so far!

I have been in Cairo, Egypt for just under a month and it has been a whirlwind to say the least. Already I have visited the pyramids (twice), spent a weekend in an oasis in the Sahara desert, been to an Egyptian engagement party and spent the weekend with a family friend’s grandmother, been on a Nile river cruise for dinner, had a party on a boat called a felucca on the Nile, wandered through the leafy neighborhoods along the Nile in the city, attended Cairo Photo Week, and navigated language, transportation, and cultural differences (for example: I am not allowed to have any of my male friends over for dinner or lunch). I am caught between the desire I have to create a routine for myself while I am here and the reality that my time here is fleeting and it is possible for me to be busy every weekend and even every evening. Cairo is truly the city that never sleeps.

I am living in campus housing about a five minute walk from campus in an area called New Cairo. Unfortunately this neighborhood is about an hour away from the city and there are a lot less cultural outlets here for me to explore so I find myself in buses and Ubers 4-5 times a week as I head downtown. This has however given me an intimate look into the seeming chaos that is driving in Egypt.

Although I have taken three years of Arabic at CU, it turns out the formal Arabic I have been learning does not help me much in navigating the Egyptian spoken dialect. This has been a humbling experience. I have signed up for an additional “Pre-Semester Survival Arabic Course” through the American University in Cairo that is focused on the basics for navigating Cairo which I am very much looking forward to starting. I have class four days a week on AUC’s beautiful campus and even while it is an American University I have found the differences between student’s study habits and general campus vibe to be very different.

I have connected quickly and easily with many of the other international students which I feel so grateful for and living in campus housing has also provided an outlet for meeting others. I have also been in contact with some young Egyptians outside of the university that are related to one of my friends back home which has been an invaluable contact.

There is a feeling of aliveness here that I have missed in my life thus far. I am already falling in love with this city. In the coming month I will be running the Cairo 10k; hopefully visiting the coast (Alexandria); and starting the celebration of Ramadan.

Thank you Lillian for sharing your story with us! If you would like to help other IAFS students study abroad and enrich their CU education, you can learn about the Global Grants scholarship or donate here.

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From CU to Mexico: International Affairs in the Real World

Anonymous — Tue, 28 Feb 2023 19:49:11 +0000

From CU to Mexico: International Affairs in the Real World Anonymous (not verified) Tue, 02/28/2023 - 12:49

Stephanie Ahlgrain graduated from CU ��«��Ƶ in 2013 with a double major in International Affairs and Anthropology. While at CU, Stephanie received a Global Grant to participate in the CIEE Nicaragua: Managua Social Justice and Development study abroad program. Her experiences abroad and her interest in locally-led social and environmental projects brought her to Mexico City (pictured above) where she has worked for the past eight years. Stephanie first taught English through the Fulbright Program, then worked at the Mexican nonprofit Amextra, and currently is a Capacity Development Officer for Resilient Civil Society Activity, a 4-year initiative funded by the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) and implemented in Mexico by the nonprofit organization FHI 360.

What is your favorite memory of your time CU?

One of my favorite memories of CU is participating in the Global Studies Residential Academic Program (GRAP). It was a huge privilege to live with classmates and have guest speakers from around the world host talks right in the lobby of our dorm. Most of my best memories from CU are with friends I met in through GRAP, some of whom I’m still friends with today. It’s inspiring to see where those friends are 10 years after graduation and how they’re contributing as journalists, teachers, entrepreneurs, doctors and members of the community that are always looking for a chance to learn and be better humans. Several of these friends have visited me in Mexico City and we often talk about our experiences at CU.

What aspects of your IAFS studies did you enjoy most? What were the hardest?

What I enjoyed most is that my classes felt applicable to the real world. I’ve seen this since graduating as I’ve had several personal experiences with issues that were essay prompts during my undergraduate studies. For example, I wrote a final essay in a Spanish class on the treatment of garbage in Mexico City. Years later I ended up working at Amextra, a nonprofit that has an education program serving the same community of pepenadores (people that earn their living from recycling materials) that I had spent time researching for my essay. In another class, I wrote about the total abortion ban in Nicaragua and shortly after, conducted field research with doctors and patients affected by this law during my semester abroad.

At the same time, the hardest part of my IAFS studies were those same open-ended research prompts that I now appreciate. Prompts such as “write a paper on an environmental issue in Latin America,” led to overwhelming possibilities, requiring hours of research and decision-making even before beginning to write. But now I realize that flexibility allowed me understand what issues I truly care about and is one of the aspects I most appreciate about the program.

What advice would you give to current students on how to develop employable skills as they consider what courses to take at CU ��«��Ƶ as International Affairs students?

My biggest piece of advice is to take classes you are interested in even if you think it’s just a personal interest, not necessarily a professional one. I took classes on Nutritional Anthropology and Nutrition for Health and Performance at CU because I was interested in them, not necessarily because I thought I’d use them professionally. After graduation, my first job was as a Bilingual Case Manager at a family practice clinic in Denver, where my baseline knowledge in nutrition along with speaking Spanish helped me excel.

Can you share with us how your Global Grant study abroad experience influenced your life after graduation and your career choice?

My semester in Managua, Nicaragua (pictured) was one of the best experiences of my IAFS career. My program combined a seminar component with taking classes at the national public university. In the seminar course we learned about the history of social justice and development in Nicaragua and traveled to different social projects both in the capital Managua and in rural areas. Participating in classes with local students had its own benefits, but the field experience facilitated by the seminar course was what really influenced my life and pursuit of a career in social justice.

In addition to helping me decide my career path, my semester in Managua also taught me that I felt at home in Latin America. Mexico is very different from Nicaragua, but the larger capital and cooler climate made it just the right fit for me.

You have had professional experience in different fields such as healthcare, education, fundraising and most recently, philanthropy. Can you share the process of how you gained skills or reframed skills you already have to a new context?

Sometimes I look back at my career since graduation and think there is no way I could have planned for how my career has panned out. For me, one of the best lessons is to take your career one step at a time, because one thing leads to another and in a few years, you may be doing something you never planned on.

When I look for a new job, I don´t have an exact idea of what I want, only a list of skills I have and a vague idea of what aspects from my current job I want to pursue further. This ensures I have the experience necessary to excel in my new job, but also that I learn something new. In my most recent job change I went from being a fundraising manager at a small Mexican nonprofit to working with a nationwide grantmaking and capacity development program. I knew I had fundraising and grant administration experience and I wanted to share those with a larger organization or with multiple organizations, but I was open to doing that in any number of ways. My advice is to embrace uncertainty and never underestimate your ability to love a career path that you can’t even imagine right now.

Where do you see yourself going in the future? Do you plan to stay abroad, or have you considered returning to the United States?

I see myself living in the U.S at some point in the future, but I haven’t settled on how or when! For now, I’m content in Mexico City. Although I truly miss my family and some elements of life in the U.S., professionally and personally, Mexico City is the place I feel the best for now.

If you could give one piece of advice to IAFS majors interested in an international career, what would it be?

My advice is to be realistic about the skills you offer if you are considering working abroad. The skills you need for a certain career path in the U.S. may or may not be the same in that same sector abroad. For example, I loved my first job after graduation as a Case Manager at a family health clinic. After finishing my Fulbright program in Mexico, I looked for a similar job as a social worker in Mexico. I quickly learned that the skills and experience I had gained as a Case Manager with immigrant populations in the U.S. (such as speaking Spanish and being familiar with U.S. social services and legal systems) weren’t helpful for being a social worker with immigrant and refugee groups here. Here, organizations and agencies were looking for more case workers who speak French, not English.

Eventually I realized I needed to broaden my horizons and applied for jobs in fundraising, not social work. I ended up loving the administrative side of nonprofits. This openness to try something new is often necessary abroad and can help you make more valuable contributions to your new country.

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Diving into Barcelona's Rich History: A Global Grant Update

Anonymous — Mon, 23 Jan 2023 20:14:52 +0000

Diving into Barcelona's Rich History: A Global Grant Update Anonymous (not verified) Mon, 01/23/2023 - 13:14

Global Grant recipient, Kyrianna Krzystek, is currently studying in Barcelona through the CIEE Spain: Barcelona Liberal Arts Program. Krzystek is double majoring in International Affairs and History, minoring in Spanish, and planning to graduate in May 2025. After graduation, her long term education goal is to attend law school. Read how Kyrianna's first month in Spain has been!

At Park Güell in Barcelona, Spain.

My first month in Spain has been a busy one. I have been a part of many activities from day trips to the mountains of Montserrat to family gatherings for Dia de los Tres Reyes.

Shortly after meeting my new host family in Barcelona, they graciously invited me to join them in celebrating a famous holiday in Spain, Dia de los Tres Reyes. I quickly learned that this day is similar to our Christmas, each family spends it differently but the general principles are the same, the Kings bring everyone gifts and in the late afternoon everyone eats a big meal together. I was taken to my host mother's childhood apartment first, where the kids were sent to another room to eat by themselves. I joined the "kid's table," although everyone there was over the age of 18 but too young to join the mature adults. Immediately, all of the cousins burst into Catalan, a language I unfortunately do not know and for most of this meal I was trying to understand what juicy stories were being told about past years. A common tradition during this holiday is to eat a King's Cake at the end of the meal.

Similar to Mardi Gras in the U.S., this cake contains a porcelain king and a bean. If you happen to get the king, it is said you will have good luck for the next year, but if you eat the slice with the bean, you have to pay for the meal. I was fortunate enough to get the king during my first celebration of Dia de Tres Reyes!

Spain is known for its unique architecture due to the various influences of different cultures, including Islam, Roman, and Gothic styles. Barcelona in particular stands out because of one man, Gaudi. Many of his designs appear from around the city, including La Manzana de Discordia, La Sagrada Familia, and Parque Guell (see photo above). His style has been named modernist and neo-gothic for its unique combination of colors and organic shapes, alongside fortified buttresses, common during the Medieval era. One warm evening I accompanied a friend to Parque Guell where we were met with plenty of tourists alongside gorgeous landscaping and buildings. At the top we were greeted with a beautiful sunrise next to the city view of Barcelona.

With friends in Montserrat, Spain.

One of the many perks of the CIEE program is their day trips to neighboring cities that are stunning and incredibly ancient. I joined a trip to Montserrat, Spain along with other CIEE students where we learned about the importance of this place, religiously and culturally. The Basilica of Montserrat houses the Black Madonna, a statue that was said not to move due to divine intervention. The mountains themselves also hold a special spiritual importance to the people of Catalonia as the jagged nature of these rocks were said to be sawed by the angels. I hiked to a nearby cathedral where pilgrims from the 1300s passed to see these mountains and appreciate their beauty.

My stay in this lovely country has already been an incredible experience and I cannot wait to learn more about the people of this country. Barcelona has an incredibly rich history which I hope to dive into more and more throughout my stay.

Thanks to Kyrianna for sharing her experiences with us! If you would like to help other IAFS students study abroad and enrich their CU education, you can learn about the Global Grants scholarship or donate here.

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