Archive for date: February 6th, 2020

By Kyra Baffo

There is something about studying abroad in your own country. Although we only switched coasts, New York felt like a new world. At the conclusion of the program, I honestly felt like I hadn’t even scratched the surface of all the city had to offer, nonetheless, traveled to neighboring Boston, Philly, or D.C. If you are planning on embarking on your Travel Study experience, I urge you not to rule out domestic locations. I must say, it was nice to know we did not need to deal with new international rules and customs, passports, or language barriers. The familiarity made it our experience more seamless and flexible. New York is a great city to dissect, and I can assure you that you will have just as much (if not MORE) more fun than your peers studying abroad in other locations. Plus, if you are participating in the Global Studies Travel Study program, you will be in the best location to learn about primary international institutions that govern our world.

All in all, my experience in New York was unforgettable. Our cohort of 25, whom many I did not know upon starting the program, became some of my closest friends. The lack of a “campus” at NYU meant that as soon as we left the comfort of our dorms, we were fully immersed in the hustle and bustle of Greenwich Village. Washington Square Park was a city in itself, and was the study spot of choice for those of us looking to get some fresh air and people watch. The sheer accessibility of everything in the city due to the incredibly efficient transportation system made exploring new areas a breeze, and stumbling upon hidden gems happened constantly. I will leave you with my biggest words of advice for prospective NYC Travel Study Participants:

1. Don’t overpack. Yes, you will be here for a month. But most of the items you’ll need for your dorms can be purchased at CVS/Target/Kmart upon arrival and it will help you avoid having an overweight suitcase.
2. Stay ahead on the readings and make sure you familiarize yourself with the speakers beforehand.
3. Try something new in the city everyday. And don’t be afraid to explore on your own. It’s not the scary, dangerous city that is often depicted on television. It really is quite safe, especially since you will be based in Greenwich Village. So, don’t be afraid to do a little solo traveling.

4. Eat lots and lots of food. If you are a ramen fan and/or if you are ready to try the greatest ramen of your life, check out Tabetomo. Deli fan? Katz Deli is your spot. In the mood for delicious falafel, lentil soup, and baklava? Check out Mamouns (Right around the corner from the dorms!)

5. Enjoy the city’s nightlife. Rooftop venues never get old.

6. Bring a camera. Time flies when you are on this program and before you know it, you’ll be flying back to LA. You will want to cherish every memory because when else will you be having the time of your life in NYC with your peers.

7.Don’t take the shuttle to the airport. Slight chance you might miss your flight.

Kyra studied abroad in New York in Summer 2019. https://ieo.ucla.edu/travelstudy/GlobalStudies-NewYork

By Kyra Baffo

There is no better time to be in New York than for the 4th of July! Well, except maybe New Years. Some of us had initially planned to spend the 4th in Boston or D.C. but instead decided to explore what activities were going on in the city that day. As expect, Washington Square Park was vibrant with red, white, and blue throughout the day.Ourmission for the day was clear and simple. Find a great spot to watch the annual Macy’s 4th of July Fireworks. We took the train down to Battery Park, a super cool park right on the southern tip of Manhattan. We were welcomed with scenic views of the Statue of Liberty, Governor’s Island, Jersey, and Brooklyn. The park itself has a number of fun activities, ferries, carousels, oyster bar, memorials and monuments, and it happens to be a great spot for biking.

We arrived with about an hour left before the fireworks started, and due to our mediocre navigating skills, weren’t entirely sure we were in the right place. We eventually ran into hoards of people camped out at the end of the park, facing the water and statue of liberty. We decided to try our look and get an even closer spot. We dove passed herds of crowds heading in every direction imaginable. Every seemed to think they knew the best angle to catch the fireworks. The NYPD had blocked off significant portions of the city surrounding the park, making it difficult to locate a better spot. We quickly grew anxious. We had about 10 minutes until the fireworks show was about to begin, with no consensus on the best angle to watch. We were holding hands and we tried to stick together while maneuvering through crowds.

Finally, we found what appeared to be enormous storage containers right behind the South Ferry Station. We proceeded to climb on top of them (you know, for the best view) and thus, found our perfect 4th July viewing spot. For future Global Studies cohorts, I do not advice you to try this method. It’s probably a better idea to just arrive on time! Turns out, our determination inspired others desperately seeking a great view, and by the start of the show, we were joined by a few other groups.

It did end up being worth it in the end. The views were priceless and we were able to avoid huge crowds for the majority of it. After the works ended, we headed towards the Oyster bar. On our way, we decided the only way to celebrate our favorite holiday was to proceed in patriotic song and dance, and a few 8 claps. We literally skipped through the streets of New York City singing Party in the USA and My Country tis of Thee. And believe it or not, we got TONS of people to join in our singing. People cheered us on from the sidelines, and a group of kids even joined our group for awhile. Shocking, I know.

Kyra studied abroad in New York in Summer 2019. https://ieo.ucla.edu/travelstudy/GlobalStudies-NewYork

By Kyra Baffo

Little Italy and Chinatown are conveniently located right next to each other, and offer incredible options if you are in the mood for Italian or Asian cuisine. We got here via the subway (just hopped on the D line from Washington Square Station and go off at Grand Street Station). We kicked off our evening in Chinatown, we feasted on sushi and chicken teriyaki before making our way up north to Little Italy. There are literally endless places to eat, so it might be helpful to come with a few ideas in mind on what you want to try. Or you can take the spontaneous route and find something along the way that looks tasty. A little warning about Little Italy, you will be approached by tons of restaurant owners offering you delicious pasta, pizza, and appetizers. And perhaps discounted wine in order to convince you and your friends to eat at their restaurant. Don’t be fooled! Maybe I am a little pessimistic, considering a group of friends walked into one of the restaurants only to find that the menu they were shown outside of the restaurant had double the prices once they sat down! As you can see, you definitely want to watch out for petty scams like that- as this is a very touristy area of the city. There a dozens of dessert stations, that serve world class cannolis and cakes. If you’re looking to find a few discounted gifts to bring back home to your family then this is the place to shop. There are tons of gift stores around this area that sell NYC paraphernalia and clothing. All in all, Little Italy and Chinatown are must dos on your NYC itinerary. Come on an empty stomach and maybe a few restaurant ideas in mind beforehand and you will have a great experience.

Little Italy and Chinatown are conveniently located right next to each other, and offer incredible options if you are in the mood for Italian or Asian cuisine. We got here via the subway (just hopped on the D line from Washington Square Station and go off at Grand Street Station). We kicked off our evening in Chinatown, we feasted on sushi and chicken teriyaki before making our way up north to Little Italy. There are literally endless places to eat, so it might be helpful to come with a few ideas in mind on what you want to try. Or you can take the spontaneous route and find something along the way that looks tasty. A little warning about Little Italy, you will be approached by tons of restaurant owners offering you delicious pasta, pizza, and appetizers. And perhaps discounted wine in order to convince you and your friends to eat at their restaurant.

Don’t be fooled! Maybe I am a little pessimistic, considering a group of friends walked into one of the restaurants only to find that the menu they were shown outside of the restaurant had double the prices once they sat down! As you can see, you definitely want to watch out for petty scams like that- as this is a very touristy area of the city. There a dozens of dessert stations, that serve world class cannolis and cakes. If you’re looking to find a few discounted gifts to bring back home to your family then this is the place to shop. There are tons of gift stores around this area that sell NYC paraphernalia and clothing. All in all, Little Italy and Chinatown are must dos on your NYC itinerary. Come on an empty stomach and maybe a few restaurant ideas in mind beforehand and you will have a great experience.

Govna’s Island (Governor’s Island)- truly a land of dreams. Just for a little background, the island is just south of Manhattan, accessible via a $2 ferry, and its existence dates all the way back to the American Revolution. Today, the island mostly serves as a day-trip destination and offers visitors a number of interesting recreational activities. The catch, however, is that you need to make sure you check what activities you are interested in doing before you make the trek. My group and I were interested in ziplining, kayaking, and riding bikes on the island, only to find out that nearly every outdoor activity was reserved for the weekend (we were there on Wednesday). We ended up renting Surreys, which are basically group bicycles, while some others rented their own personal bikes. If you are going with a large group then I would definitely recommend renting Surreys, as they make it cost efficient for everyone and allow you up to 45 minutes to ride around the island. If you end up going on a weekend, you will find plenty more activities to try out. This island is pretty small, but manages to host a number of events. Just to name a few- they have gardening, museums, parks and hammocking areas, a really interest junkyard playground, and festivals. There is not many shady areas around the island, so please do not forget sunscreen and/or a parasol when you visit. Have fun! ?

Kyra studied abroad in New York in Summer 2019. https://ieo.ucla.edu/travelstudy/GlobalStudies-NewYork

By Kyra Baffo

What do you envision when you dream of your ideal workplace? A cool office space? Vending machines? Or bean bag chairs? What about a majestic 20th century townhouse? Well for those lucky enough to obtain employment at the Council on Foreign Relations, their workplace resembles an elegant ballroom with beautiful marble floors and historic furnishings. The Council on Foreign Relations is nestled on East 68th Street, just blocks away from Central Park and appears rather inconspicuous from the outside.

If you are unfamiliar with the organization’s history, CFR is a nonpartisan membership based foreign affairs think tank founded after the failings of any substantial peace dealings falling World War I. The founders wanted to create a platform for the discussion and inquiry in global relations. You are immediately greeted by security upon entrance and swept away into Peterson Hall, a spacious conference room featuring copies of the latest Foreign Affairs magazine, and water glasses. We felt like royalty. We met with Adam Segal, the Ira. A Lipman Chair in Emerging Technologies and National Security and Director of the Digital and Cyberspace Program at the Council. Segal also happens to be a renowned expert on China, and spent most of his discussion with us highlighting the increased tensions and growing interdependence of China and the U.S. He covered everything from ‘good’ hacking vs. ‘bad’ hacking, trade, and cyber security issues.

My greatest takeaways from Segal were in the realm of the evolving relationship between the U.S and China. As China becomes an increasingly dominant economic player in the world, the U.S will be in the best position to combat this by investing in our own growth- As opposed to slapping tariffs on China and being skeptical towards Chinese students studying in America. His argument speaks volumes within the current political climate we live in, and honestly makes a lot of sense. Segal underscored an important talking point for a number of law makers and advocates who believe that America’s best defense resides in our own human capital and continued innovation.

Following Segal’s presentation, we were given additional information on internship opportunities at CFR. For those of you who are interested in potential internships with the organization, here are the biggest takeaways: Internships are based in either New York City or Washington D.C (Unfortunately for us UCLA students, these internships are offered on a semester basis), they are unpaid, and require (16-20 hours) per week of commitment. For those from diverse backgrounds CFR offers the Robina Franklin Williams internship program which pays at an hourly rate.

The perks of interning with them are hard to overstate; professional development and networking opportunities, experience working on critical policy issues at one of the most prestigious foreign affairs think tanks in the world! It was clear by the end of our excursion most students in our program had decided that they could imagine a future career at this premier organization. CFR was definitely one of my favorite excursions on the program.

Kyra studied abroad in New York in Summer 2019. https://ieo.ucla.edu/travelstudy/GlobalStudies-NewYork

By Kyra Baffo

Our first excursion was a goody.. We got to explore one of the most influential international bodies to ever be created. The United Nations was formed in response to the widespread devastation of the World Wars, and in the hopes of creating a platform for dialogue and international peace and stability between the post-war global powers and original members of the General Assembly. For those who are unfamiliar with the set up, The UN is divided into 6 main organs: The Security Council, the General Assembly, The Secretariat, the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC), Trusteeship Council, and the International Court of Justice (ICJ).

Most of us are familiar with the Security Council, the most powerful voice within the institution. The Council has 15 members, 5 are permanent (The U.S, China, Russia, France, and the UK) and 10 are non-permanent rotating members. Together, the Security Council is responsible for maintaining international peace and stability, and is given sweeping privileges to employ force in achieving those efforts. However, the permanent members exert absolute control over the agenda and what actions the institution can undertake. If any one of the permanent members casts a veto- the action is effectively dead.

It quickly became apparent that the power of the veto has been an ongoing point of contention and debate both within the UN and among critics who feel like the system prevents meaningful action from ever being taken. One great example of this is in regards to human rights abuses. China, (a country that employs an onslaught of human rights violations- especially the current crisis in Xinjiang), is known to be on the defensive when it comes to addressing human rights abuses, and generally emphasizes the important of national sovereignty. That plays into a larger issue within the institution- the geopolitical divides that constitute the Security Council. China and Russia are the only powers that represent the Eastern, often ‘anti western bloc’, whereas the U.S is paired with France, and the UK. This is the perfect recipe for gridlock, and resistance towards unified action in a variety of politically charged crises- a problem that has received widespread attention from frustrated members of the GA and critics of the UN.

So, what were the main takeaways from our trip to this vast institution? Well for one, the UN is an incredibly important body. The world organization represents 193 nations, and fosters important initiative under bodies like ECOSOC that work towards global standards for human rights, gender equality, health, the environment, and economic development. Forums and conferences held by the organization create a platform for leaders, diplomats, and ngos to discuss the most prevalent issues facing our world. Notwithstanding, however is the lack of enforcement power that the organization actually has. Though many heinous crimes and abuses are enshrined in international law, that carries virtually no ground in our Westphalian world where concepts of state sovereignty take priority.

The most surreal issue facing the institution though, resides in its obsolete structure. As countries that have historically been confined to the Global South continue to see substantial economic growth, so too will their desire to have a greater influence within the organization. Countries like Brazil and India are the most obvious examples. Will the institution undergo structural reforms that will help expand the Security Council? Or, perhaps give more weight to the General Assembly? These were the concerns most widely discussed in our analysis of the UN. How will the world organization progress into a rapidly changing geopolitical arena? One can only speculate.

Kyra studied abroad in New York in Summer 2019. https://ieo.ucla.edu/travelstudy/GlobalStudies-NewYork