During the spring of 2015, I took an honors seminar entitled Exploring Global Studies. Throughout the course I wrote several reflective essays and read many books, including Palestine Speaks: Narratives of Life Under Occupation, compiled and edited by Cate Malek and Mateo Hoke, and Becoming World Wise: A Guide to Global Learning by Richard Slimbach. During class, we discussed these readings, sharing our unique interpretations and relating the text to our own experiences. Other ideas we covered during class discussions include tourism vs. travel, planning an itinerary for traveling abroad, the ways in which global conflict, politics, and economy impact study abroad experiences, the role of sports in global politics, and cuisine as a medium for cultural exchange. I also completed two larger projects during the semester designed to promote cultural exchange, my favorite of which was a scavenger hunt of sorts that took place during the annual UC Worldfest Week, a week full of talks, performances, and other events that serves to educate UC students about different cultures. While working on the project, not only did I learn from the presentations at Worldfest, I also discovered many international resources on and around UC's campus that I had never known about.
This course not only allowed me to build upon what I learned during my previous exchange, but also introduced me to new concepts and enabled me to see many points of view that I hadn't previously considered. I learned a great deal from both my professor and my classmates, as everyone had their own unique interests abroad and a different level of travel experience. I can't wait to apply everything that I've learned about cultural exchange and traveling mindfully to my next study abroad adventure! You can read my final reflective essay below.
This course not only allowed me to build upon what I learned during my previous exchange, but also introduced me to new concepts and enabled me to see many points of view that I hadn't previously considered. I learned a great deal from both my professor and my classmates, as everyone had their own unique interests abroad and a different level of travel experience. I can't wait to apply everything that I've learned about cultural exchange and traveling mindfully to my next study abroad adventure! You can read my final reflective essay below.