Feb. 6, 2009

Postcard from the Mediterranean

Etienne Aida Reyes Le Blanc is a fourth-year year humanities student who went on a Group Study Program to the Mediterranean. “I believed that the value of internationalizing my degree (and more specifically, myself) would be incalculable.” Here is her postcard home.

View a selection of her photos and a slideshow on Flickr 

Only my Panama hat could provide shade at the Acropolis, Athens, Greece.

Why study abroad?

In the summer 2008 semester, I embarked on a six-week Geography Group Study Program in the Mediterranean. It was my second study abroad program; the first was a Group Study Program in Chiang Mai, Thailand in the fall 2007. I chose this particular group study mainly because I had had such a positive experience in Thailand and the thought of being able to explore such a different part of the world in a similar fashion was compelling. Also, this field school was being led by the same instructor (Aaron Williams) and I anticipated yet another extremely enriching experience with a knowledgeable and educated professor.

The Mediterranean study abroad program entailed an examination of geography from the micro to macro levels—the domestic, regional and global contexts—and provided an understanding of all the component levels of an international system. In the interplay of history, culture, government and outside interests can be found the keys to positive development and the necessary solutions to its obstacles. Through participative and real-life international education a student is brought that much closer to not only understanding such thorny and intractable global issues as climate change but to potentially finding solutions.

The essence of organic living, Pitigliano, Italy.

What specifics did you learn?

I found that the program afforded me a broader and deeper sense of the world and international issues especially with respect to physical, social, and environmental geography. For example, I was able to get an in-depth look at water sources, air pollution, and other important contributors to climate change—an issue that is a major concern for our generation. This was important to witness because, as one who has grown up in Canada, it is not often that environmental issues are brought to the fore. We are lucky to live in a part of the world rich in natural resources and, for the most part, the damage that we cause is out of sight (and therefore out of mind). In terms of social issues, this term abroad allowed me to witness the (destructive) impacts of tourism, an industry seemingly always on the increase.

Tell us about an adventure you had.

On the island of Santorini, Greece, I got disoriented (I blame the unrelenting and unapologetic heat), and unfortunately (or, fortunately, depending on how you look at it) I ended abruptly upon on a 300 metre-high cliff overlooking the collapsed caldera that was created by an enormous volcano eruption nearly 3600 years ago at the height of the Minoan Civilization. There I was. Me. Sitting on the edge of a cliff, staring at Nea Kameni, the newest mouth of the volcano. A bustling island town formed my backdrop as I watched donkeys slowly climbing the former inside walls of a massive volcano and I breathed in the plentiful fresh herbs that wafted on the gentle breeze. Staring at vineyards off to the south of the island I thought to myself, “Here I am, in the middle of the Aegean Sea, sitting in a volcano. Alone. With nothing but a field notebook, a bottle of water, sunscreen, and a bag of dried fruit.” I felt excited, anxious and lucky.

Marble columns at the Acropolis, Athens, Greece.

What did you learn culturally?

Being a Chilean-Acadian with genetic influences from the Chinese as well, it is often very difficult to discern just where exactly I am from. Interestingly and conveniently, I have something of a cross-cultural appearance and combined with a general fluency with languages people often mistake me for a local in whichever land I am visiting. I find that a correctly pronounced “Hello” in a country’s native tongue will get me into a lot of interesting situations and sometimes this has meant inexpensive prices, priority in restaurants, and even free local transportation. On the flip side, looking like a local meant certain expectations. I was often met with puzzled or offended looks if my head was uncovered as people thought that should be wearing an appropriate headscarf rather than engaging in the “lax rules” of a regular tourist.

Words of wisdom?

In my opinion, there is no better experience than being thrown into a situation (in my case, the Mediterranean) and really having to be accountable for your academic performance. In regular-day classes in a university setting, it is fairly easy to get by without really having to push yourself. In contrast, when you are studying abroad everything is unfamiliar, and the weather is hotter than you could have ever imagined, and you’re tired from travelling every few days, you realize that learning is 24 hours a day and studying is going to take a lot of effort both physically and emotionally. These experiences build tolerance, patience, independence in learning, and in working—skills easily transferable to other classes, jobs, and certainly future (smarter and more respectful) travel. When I reflect on this term abroad I can see that working independently and in very difficult and overwhelming conditions, having to participate in group work, and learning to trust myself and becoming a leader in my own learning are certainly positive aspects that stand out and are essential elements for personal, academic, and career success.

For more information on study abroad programs please visit the Centre for International Students and Study Abroad (CISSA) website (http://www.ucalgary.ca/cissa/). This postcard was supplied by CISSA.