Guam | Prutehi Litekyan

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By Tecpatl Kuauhtzin

In class, we learned about a movement on Guam to protect a sacred site known as Litekyan. The local Chamoru community is trying to raise awareness and seize the destruction of the land by the United States Marines. The Marines plan to use a segment of Litekyan, which is currently open to all, to serve as a firing range. Although they will not use all of Litekyan, their environmental impact will damage the area and if they build their range, the entire land mass will not be available to the public, including the indigenous Chamoru people that have taken care of the region for thousands of years.

We were fortunate enough to engage in the demonstration and meet members of the community that were passionate about protecting their sacred sites. Being these reminded me of home and our Protect The Sacred rallies on the mainland.

I came across Amber, a Chamoru woman who was holding up a familiar sign. I introduced myself and my communities, explained what I am doing in Guam and asked her if I could take her portrait. Telling this story is important to me because it hits very close to home. Constantly, we are struggling against desecration of our sacred sites as Indigenous Peoples all over the world. Furthermore, we are constantly having to be at the forefront of environmental protection because it impacts our communities first.

It was beautiful to see families and youth demonstrating together. The signs the community was holding up were very thought provoking, and I was surprised to see that many cars passing by honked in support. The movement is growing.

Guam | Class Field Trip to Hagatna and the Town

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By Tecpatl Kuauhtzin

Every Wednesday, we have a class field trip as part of our course. This wednesday, we went to Hagatna and toured parts of the city with Elder Malia. One of the most notable parts of the trip was traveling to the canoe house where the most traditional canoes are still kept to this day. The Chamoru people are a canoe maritime people, and it was incredible to see their traditional structures as well as their contemporary changes. Malia was very knowledgeable about the history and language of her people, and shared in detail.

We spent some time learning about the importance of the canoe and how fast it was, as noted by Spaniards during the 1500s. It is truly remarkable technology, as the canoe is shaped differently than most canoes in the world. Instead of keeping a symmetrical shape, it is curved and this allows the air to flow differently, letting the small canoe soar.

Our next stop was the Guam museum, but on the way we stopped by the town’s Catholic church. Right in front of the church, there was a vendor selling Coconuts, and because it was a really hot and humid day, all of us wanted a coconut. He sold it with a straw and told us to come back when we finished the juice. He would then open it for us and serve it with soy sauce. it was delicious!

After being refreshed by the coconut, we headed to Guam museum! It was closed, but Elder Malia’s status as a leader in the community granted us access because she was giving us a tour. It was beautiful and had a really nice view of the town. As we all gathered on the outlook, Malia explained the history of this town center and how the Spanish gathered and displaced Chamoru people when they were colonizing the island. The Spanish relocated Chamoru people around the churches and the Spanish officials lived in the hills to police the community with a good view of the land.

Fortunately, we ended on a happy note as we then traveled to a Latte site where there were multiple giant Latte structures. Malia explained that these structures were used as foundations for the traditional Chamoru houses. They are found all over Guam and are reminders of its original inhabitants. The Latte are very important to the Chamoru.

Tecpatl studied abroad in Guam in Summer 2019. https://ieo.ucla.edu/travelstudy/asianam-guam/

Guam | Visiting the Island You Can Walk To

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By Tecpatl Kuauhtzin

We want to take advantage of our free time before classes start, so today we hopped in our rental cars and headed to a beautiful beach we found on google! It was relatively close, and it sure was beautiful. On the way there we told jokes and shared stories, getting closer with every passing minute.

There was a small island in the middle of the water, and I had the urge to try to swim to it. About 5 minutes out, I realized the shore was just not going to deepen. We ended up walking about 3/4 of the way to the island but some in the group were not comfortable swimmers so we decided to turn back and leave it for another day. We later googled it and found that on low tide, it is perfectly safe to walk to.

We then noticed a swing set in the water built out of wood and approached it. We figured it was there for the public to use and my classmates began doing photoshoots on it, haha. The tide was only knee high, so we were not able to use the swing set to jump, but nevertheless it was a good time.

Tecpatl studied abroad in Guam in Summer 2019. https://ieo.ucla.edu/travelstudy/asianam-guam/

Guam | First Visit With Guam’s Waters

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By Tecpatl Kuauhtzin

After our orientation and initial introductions, my group decided to take a sunset stroll to the beach by the University of Guam’s campus. It was a short 15 minute walk and allowed us all to get to know each other a little more. We talked about our majors and what each of us were hoping to get out of the program. After a bit of walking, we reached the shore and were amazed by the view. The water was also incredibly beautiful and warm, something I was not used to feeling. It was an awesome first day.

Tecpatl studied in Guam in Summer 2019. https://ieo.ucla.edu/travelstudy/asianam-guam/

Guam | Native Justice: Social Movements in Guam

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By Tecpatl Kuauhtzin

My journey with the Native Justice program begins in the school year, during which I learned about the opportunity to participate in this travel study during an Asian American Studies course. Immediately, I was interested in learning more about the Chamoru people and Guam, and how their experiences relate to mine as a Native American youth living in a heavily industrialized and colonial space. I had always been interested in participating in a study abroad program, but never felt connected to one as much as this one. The scope of the program, from working with Chamoru community organizations to working with the environment, was important to me as a student focused on American Indian issues and environmental protection.

Fast forward to today, July 6, I am sitting in the airplane and will be arriving to Guam shortly to meet my cohort and attend our orientation.

Tecpatl studied abroad in Guam in Summer 2019. https://ieo.ucla.edu/travelstudy/asianam-guam/

Italy | Seeing the World, One Country At a Time…

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By Andrea Arredondo

I love to travel. To see different sights, hear different languages, taste different foods, experience new cultures. This is a quality that my father passed on to me at a very young age and has stayed with me since.

I was always curious to see what was on the other side of the mountain, or to find a new dish that I could recreate at home. That was me, always curious. As I became older, I began to find more and more opportunities to go abroad. There was only one problem: money. It can be expensive to travel to China or the Galapagos when you are still in high school and can’t work extensively. It can also be inconvenient to take a few weeks off because of school during the academic year and sport practices during the summer. As such, the idea of traveling to a foreign country in college always appealed to me. Traveling to a foreign country and getting class credit? Sign me up!

When I found out that I would be going to UCLA and that UCLA had study abroad programs, I knew that I had to make one of my priorities to spend a quarter or even year in a new location. So I did. After my freshman year, I studied abroad in Paris during the summer to fulfill my language requirements. There, I fell in love with croissants and French yogurt (it’s different, I swear). Abroad I met people from different universities and different countries. As cliche as it sounds, each day genuinely was a new adventure. With each commute home after class I discovered new restaurants and parks where I could read. On the weekends, I would travel to different towns in France. And when I was lucky, I would savor mouth-watering chocolate desserts that I had never seen before.

While I enjoyed that program immensely, around the start of my junior year, I felt like there was so much more I wish I had seen. Should I have visited other countries, I wondered. What if I did not spent enough time in Paris? These questions emerged at different points after studying abroad, but so did the question of going back. So once again, I walked back to Murphy Hall to see what programs were being offered.

As an English major, it’s easy to think that there won’t be that many classes I could take abroad in countries that don’t speak English. What I quickly found out is that that is NOT TRUE! In fact, there are programs specially created for people in my situation. When I was looking at different programs, I realized that I personally had to experience a different country than France. I loved it and I still love it very much, but the thought of living somewhere different felt right to me. Having taken some Italian classes, being an art lover, and interested in American literature, I decided that the “American Writers and Artists Abroad” program in Florence was a perfect fit for me.

Was it? Read more to find out (:

Andrea Arredondo studied abroad in Florence in Summer 2019. https://ieo.ucla.edu/travelstudy/English-Florence/

Italy | A Visit to Venice

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By Andrea Arredondo

During my time in Italy, I wanted to visit the city so many of my friends, family, and classmates had seen and fallen in love with. So one Sunday I decided that I would wake up early and see the city for a day. Unlike other Italian cities completely attached to land, Venice is composed of a small collection of islands that are connected by path or require the help of a gondola to reach. Small in size, these islands are rich in history and sites to see.

One of the first things I noticed on the train ride to the central station was an incredible oceanic view. Yet the serenity I felt on the ride to the island quickly vanished once the train pulled to a halt and thousands of passengers all of a sudden got off. I have been in crowded areas in Los Angeles, Paris, and Rome, but the amount of people that were standing, walking, eating, and posing for pictures outside the station was unlike anything I had ever experienced before. Just barely over five foot, the five minutes that it took for me to leave the station area consisted of me pushing through crowds and trying not to fall.

Eventually I made it through the masses and found myself in a little piazza-like sitting area. Already sweating from the intense humidity, I decided to take a few minutes to drink some water, reapply sunscreen, and plan what I would do in the few hours I had there. As scheduled, I soon commenced my walk throughout the islands. Not even ten minutes into the walk, I noticed a small little store which would alter the course of the rest of my day.

The Merchant of Venice is a small perfume shop that will capture the hearts and noses of any perfume lover. In Venice for decades, the bottles that line the fragrance house bring to life different elements of Venice and the maritime trade routes that ran through Asia and Africa. Uniquely designed, the bottles give the store a Willy Wonka’s chocolate factory appeal. Being a perfume lover, the story quickly pulled me in.

Bottle after bottle, the Merchant of Venice was my version of an adult Toys”R”Us. Like a cloud of perfume, I floated around the room. Soaps carved into roses and flasks of concentrated flower oil, I didn’t want to leave the beautiful store. But at last, my stomach commanded my attention and I floated over to the gelato stand right in front.

I spent the remainder of the day walking around Venice. When roads are narrow, it can easily take some time to get anywhere. After my initial plan was cancelled, I realized that just walking throughout the city was an even better alternative. That way I was able to explore Piazza San Marco where I found Caffè Florian, the second oldest cafe in the world. In the same area, I was able to find a tour service that offered discounted gondola rides!

In a small touristy area, it is easy to get caught up in stores and tourist traps, but it definitely is possible to visit Venice without spending a ton of money. Prioritize what you want to see from what you need to see and start with those places. Most importantly, if you plan on going to Venice remember to be on the defense. Venice is wonderful, historic city to visit, but during peak tourist season there are so many strangers around you that you never want to let yourself be injured or taken advantage of. Enjoy your time, but remember that you are in a foreign country.

Where else did I go in Italy? Check out my other posts to find out!

Andrea Arredondo studied abroad in Florence in Summer 2019. https://ieo.ucla.edu/travelstudy/English-Florence/

Italy | Thanks Google: How A Week in the South of France Helped Me Save on Flight Expenses

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By Andrea Arredondo

When I found out that I would be studying abroad in Florence over the summer, I was stoked. A fan of opera, art, and ice cream, the idea of spending a month in Italy while also fulfilling two of my major requirements sounded incredible. Immediately, I started to look at flights and was quickly surprised by how much less expensive it would be if I flew into Paris, London, or even Rome. 

Hoping to strategize my spendings, I wanted to get the lowest priced flight I could find. Booking a flight early helps reduce the amount, however something that I had not thought about which was recommended to me was flying into a different airport and taking another flight or public transportation to my final destination. While more time consuming, it made more sense for me to spend a little more time traveling to my destination knowing that I could spend more later on if needed. 

After spending a few weeks tracking prices on Google Flights, I now understand how some people grow obsessed with bargain hunting. Like an analyst on Wall Street, my heart raced when seeing how flight costs changed from the previous day. From one airline to the next, flying on one day versus the following, weeks later I finally found my solution: I would fly into Nice a few days before the start of my travel study program and would later take the train to Florence. 

As an English and French major, my love of France is extensive. For that reason, the opportunity to spend some time along the French Riviera was an experience I could not miss. Not only was I saving flight money by flying into a smaller airport and then booking my train tickets to Florence, staying in a hostel or Airbnb is a great alternative to staying in a hotel. 

The idea of traveling independently scares some people. It certainly made me nervous the first time I did it. But as a woman barely over five feet, believe me when I tell you that it isn’t as scary as you think. On the contrary, traveling alone gave me the freedom to go where I wanted when I wanted… and for me that meant breakfast all day, long museum visits, and ice cream on the beach. 

The French Riviera has some of the most incredible view I have ever seen. From the rocky shore to stunning azur blue waters, the beaches along the Côte d’Azur brought back memories of old movies that were filmed in the South of France. With each walk though the real-life movie sets that were Marseille, Nice, and Menton, my artistic energies started to revive. 

On one day in particular, I decided to bring out my art supplies and look for other painters in the area. If you weren’t already aware, like Florence, the South of France is full of artists. As such, I was quickly able to find a community art group that welcomed me on their painting hike along the hills of Aix-en-Provence. While I had never met anyone in the group or been to this small city just a short train ride away from Marseille, I packed my supplies and hoped for the best. 

Channeling Paul Cézanne, a French artist who worked in Aix-en-Provence, a few other women and I spent a few hours walking throughout the city looking for the perfect spot to paint. When we finally reached “Les Peintres,” the same location where Cézanne used to paint, we set up our gardening chairs and started to wet out paint brushes. Painting the same mountains that Cézanne is famous for depicting, there were moments when I would look at copies of his work and feel inadequate. Yet, each time I would speak to the other artists, they too would share their artistic insecurities, reminding me that even the most talented people judge themselves harder than others. Despite the social pressure to strive for perfection, at the end of the day what I most enjoyed that day was spending time with other artists.

That’s the thing about traveling: there are people that share your same interests no matter where you go. They may not look like you, be the same age, or even come from your country, but having a positive mindset and willing to be flexible go very far in making your experiences abroad memorable in the best ways. 

My five days in France flew by faster than a bullet train. At the end of the week, I had not done everything I wanted and was sad to be leaving. However, as you will find out in a later blog post, I am nowhere short of artistic inspiration in Florence!

Andrea Arredondo studied abroad in Florence in Summer 2019. https://ieo.ucla.edu/travelstudy/English-Florence/

Italy | Arrivederci, Roma

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By Jessica Helfond

Friday, July 26th. The final day of our month long program in Rome. Waking up in the morning was a mix of emotions. There was some stress about finishing up our final projects and finals for classes, excitement about going home to see our families (and sleep in our own beds), but more than anything, sadness about our program being over. It went by way faster than any of us could have thought. The month was filled with so many fun, new experiences, we were sad that it was drawing to a close. But before we went home, we had a farewell dinner with all of the program participants, directors, and professors.

Our program director surprised us with a rooftop dinner on our final night. The view was breathtaking. It seemed like the perfect place to commemorate our month long adventure abroad. There was a wide variety of appetizers served, and we were able to eat while spending some final time with the friends we made over the course of the program.

With it being our final night, and being in such a gorgeous location, there was an entire portion of the night dedicated to taking pictures for the last time with our friends and professors.

I have to say, the faculty on this program were absolutely incredible. Andrea Moudarres (our professor) and Federica Di Blasio (our TA) are two of the best faculty members I have had during my time at UCLA. They were both great at teaching their classes, but what really made them incredible was how we were able to bond with them. Because of all the time we spent with them, we were able to get to know them more than you normally would be able to know a professor on campus. Additionally, they both cared so much about our wellbeing, both academically and personally while abroad. They knew taking classes while trying to enjoy being in a foreign country was difficult, and did the most they could to make our time abroad as enjoyable as possible. I could not recommend them more, and I think the program was as great as it was largely because of them.

I also have to say how amazing the students on the program were. There was such a wide variety of students on the program, from history to biology majors and everything in between. Despite all of our different backgrounds, we were all there because we wanted to experience a beautiful foreign country and culture. It was so fun being with such a great group of people, and I can honestly say that I made some friends that I wouldn’t have met otherwise.

As the sun set on our final evening, it was extremely bittersweet. Our professors started to say goodbye to us all, and reminded us to come visit them on campus to keep in touch. And then came time for us all to say goodbye to each other. There were so many hugs, exchanging of social media to make sure we could keep in touch, and even some tears. Our month in Rome, although full of challenges, was a once in a lifetime experience. I can honestly say it’s an experience I won’t come close to forgetting any time soon. 

So thank you for reading all about the Rome Summer Travel Study program, and I hope you consider studying abroad yourself. It is a life changing experience to experience a new culture with incredible people, and an experience that I cannot recommend more.

Jessica Helfond studied abroad in Rome in Summer 2019. https://ieo.ucla.edu/travelstudy/italian-rome/ 

Italy | Villas on Villas

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By Jessica Helfond

It’s Week 3 of the program. Classes have picked up the pace, we’ve started getting comfortable navigating throughout Rome, and we have our first field trip of the week. This time, it’s to a different city: Tivoli. About an hour bus ride from Rome, this city sits in the hills, overlooking the Roman countryside. The goal for the day was to visit two villas: Villa Adriana, and Villa d’Este.

Our first stop was Villa Adriana. The massive villa is almost two thousand years old, and was built as a retreat for the Roman Emperor Hadrian. At the entrance, there’s a long pool that reaches all the way to the edge of a cliff. If you look out over the cliff, you can see all of the countryside between Tivoli and Rome, and even see St. Peter’s Basilica on the horizon. It’s no wonder that Emperor Hadrian wanted to build a retreat here. It’s a serene, remote location, far enough away from the chaos of Rome.

The majority of the rest of the villa was composed of the remains of what once was there. There were the remains of various buildings, from temples, to living quarters, and even to bathing areas. In one area, you could even see some of the original marble that the entire building was once covered in. It was a glimpse into the past at what once must have been an incredible building. It’s insane to think that the ancient Romans were capable of building an entire villa that is able to remain two thousand years later.

After visiting Villa Adriana, we drove a short distance to the other end of Tivoli, where we reached Villa d’Este. This villa is unlike any property I’ve seen before. Inside the villa, there is exceptional art on the ceilings and walls, but what this villa is really known for is its gardens. The gardens are terraced all down the hillside outside of the villa itself. However, what makes the gardens even more magnificent than the beautiful greenery is their fountains. The villa employed an extensive irrigation system that connected numerous extravagant fountains all throughout the property.

The fountains range from small to big, anywhere from a small stream out of a wall that you can drink from, to huge spouts of water that reach multiple stories in height. In the fountain pictured to the right, you could even walk up onto small terraces between the spouts of water that looked out onto the remainder of the property. The fountains were so extravagant, there was even one that could make music. As water flowed into the fountain, it ran through the different pipes of an organ, creating beautiful music that played in conjunction with the running water. It was exceptional, and something I couldn’t have even fathomed existing.

We finished our tour of the villa with one more incredible view, standing on a balcony overlooking the countryside between Tivoli and Rome. The day trip was full of unexpected beauty, and was the best way to kick off our second to last week in Rome.

Jessica Helfond studied abroad in Rome in Summer 2019. https://ieo.ucla.edu/travelstudy/italian-rome/