Taiwan | Discovering Taiwan

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By HAILEY MOTOOKA

I got off of the airplane having to pee badly. Like, very badly. I ran off the plane, through the gate, and into the nearest bathroom only to find out a) it was one of the squat toilets that basically resembles a hole in the ground and b) what the heck there was no toilet paper. If culture shock was a person, I had just been physically slapped in the face right then and there. So my first tip to any future travelers to Taiwan: buy your own toilet paper. Or, start practicing the “sit and shake” method because it really is a useful skill to have if you aren’t keen on carrying a roll in your bag.

The dreaded hole in the ground toilet

你好(Hi), my name is Hailey Motooka. I am a third year majoring in Biology and minoring in Asian Languages and I am currently attending the National University of Taiwan (NTU). I wanted to write this blog so that I may share my story with anyone who is interested in studying abroad in Taiwan, or anyone interested in studying abroad at all. I was born and raised in Hawai’i on the most fantastic little island, Oahu, and (in my unbiased opinion) it is one of the best places in the world. However, since it is a pretty isolated place in the smack dab middle of the Pacific Ocean, exposure to people from various cultures is rather limited. For this reason, I am more than ecstatic to be able to spend a semester here in Taiwan and immerse myself in this unique environment.

Before I left for Taiwan, however, I had to do a lot of preparation. I’m about to go into some logistical boring stuff so bear with me, folks, because I’m required to talk about this. Here are the main items:

  1. Passport—Now, this may seem obvious but for those of you that do not have a passport, or need to renew your passport like I did, the process can take up to eight weeks so prepare in advance.
  2. Health Forms—If you are traveling through the UCEAP program, they go over in extensive detail how to complete these. However, just a heads up that the NTU health clearance form requires a physical as well as a chest x-ray, both of which can be completed at the Ashe Center or with your local physician.
  3. Visitors Visa—The process to get a visitor’s visa doesn’t take nearly as long as a passport (around 1-2 weeks), but it does require the following items:
    1. Passport
    2. Acceptance letter from the University
    3. Travel itinerary—both departure AND return date
    4. Two recent passport sized photos
    5. Bank statement
    6. Visa application itself

Another thing I had to do before I left was sign up for my classes. This was probably the most stressful part for me because there wasn’t a lot of information on how the process worked, and all I remember thinking was “how am I supposed to physically fight people for my classes like I do here at UCLA when the other students are an entire ocean away?” Like, I couldn’t even bribe people to hold my spot in the classes I needed. Thankfully, getting classes at NTU isn’t nearly as competitive as getting classes at UCLA. Also, there’s an entire week after school starts that allows you to add and drop classes in case you don’t get the classes you need during the first and second registration periods. So don’t worry, there’s no need for violence or bribing of any sort! The orientation during the first week of school is also very informative and almost all questions will be answered during that time.

Orientation held for all International Students

Registration for UCEAP students

Once my classes were picked, however, everything else is very simple and UCEAP does a great job of making sure that you are prepared for the trip. The only thing that I was worried about was whether or not I would be able to make friends. I came to Taiwan not knowing a single person, which thinking back on it was probably the best parts about coming here. But don’t get me wrong, the idea of having no friends freaked me out at first, especially when I stepped on campus, had no idea how to get to my dorm with all my suitcases, and no one to call or ask for help. Thankfully, when I asked a student walking by if he could point me in the right direction, not only was he able to speak English but he also helped me carry one of my suitcases. Shout out to Gino, you’re probably never going to read this but dude, you’re the real MVP. It turns out that most Taiwanese people, despite their shy demeanor, are incredibly nice and helpful and very accommodating towards foreigners.

The dorms that I’m currently living in are the Guo Ching dorms. Now, I’m not going to complain about my living situation because I already did that for the first two days I was here, but the other dorms, the ShuiYuan Prince dorms, located on the complete opposite side of campus are more ideal (in my opinion). At first I didn’t like the idea of sharing a bathroom and shower with a whole floor of people as if I was reverting back to freshman year all over again. Not to mention the fact that there’s only one–THAT’S RIGHT ONLY ONE—toilet paper roll that runs out every Wednesday and gets refilled every Monday. So yeah, investing in toilet paper is key. On the bright side, the Guo Ching dorms do have a laundry room on every floor, a 7/11 right outside, as well as a restaurant and gym on the basement floor. It’s also significantly cheaper than the ShuiYuan Prince dorms if finances are a concern.

Interior of the GuoChing dorms

Some of the food served at the restaurant in the basement floor

Majority of international students are also assigned to the ShuiYuan dorms, so the atmosphere and dynamic between local and international students in the Guo Ching dorm is a bit different as well. It just means that you get to practice your Chinese more. But on the first day I moved in, the dorms were fairly empty so I decided to wander around the campus. Let me just tell you, the campus is absolutely stunning. One of the professors mentioned how she thought that National Taiwan University is one of the most beautiful universities in the world, and at the time, I remember thinking, “yikes, that’s bold you clearly have never been to UCLA”. However, as I meandered around the campus I stumbled upon beautiful ponds and greenhouses tucked away between buildings that are quite unlike any American university I have every been to before.

Eventually I got lost and ended up hopping onto a tour for international students. The tour was just ending so I didn’t really get an actual tour of the campus, per say, but it was here where I made my first friends. Most international students find themselves in the same boat in terms of not knowing anyone in Taiwan; so most people make an effort to put themselves out there. Like I said before, I was born and raised in Hawai’i so I was excited to travel and meet people from different places, but never in my life did I think I would become friends with people from Ghana, Croatia, Luxemburg, Australia, Spain, and so many other places that I am unable to point out on the globe mostly because my geography is lacking.

First day in Taiwan with the international tour group in front of the Main Library

People say all the time that they want their study abroad experience to be “life changing”, and of course I do too. I mean, who doesn’t want to come back from the study abroad travels feeling like a changed person? But realistically, I don’t think my life will be completely turned around, and I don’t think I will arrive at some epiphany that the world is somehow a better place now that I have lived somewhere other than America for six months. However, I do think that I will learn a lot and–in the words of one of the greats, Kylie Jenner—2017 will be the year of just, like, realizing stuff. And I hope I do realize a lot of…stuff, and I hope to try new things and meet new people and explore new places and most importantly I hope that you all keep on reading because I promise, it only gets better from here.

Hailey Motooka studied abroad in Taipei, Taiwan, in Spring 2017: http://eap.ucop.edu/OurPrograms/taiwan/Pages/national_taiwan_univ.aspx

Sweden | Orientation Weeks

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By CHRISTINE PAHEL

Beep! Beep! Beep! I heard my alarm energetically call to me. Battling jet lag, I was not as enthusiastic to get up early in the morning. However, it was Wednesday—time to meet the faculty. It was the second day of welcome week, where department coordinators introduced students to their departments, and students finished registering for classes. Do not skip these meetings—no matter how tempting sleep may be—because they are essential to finish formally enrolling in your classes. Each major department holds their own meeting, so if you are taking multiple disciplines while abroad, you’ll have to go to more than one meeting. Since I am taking Political Science and Psychology while here, I attended both the Faculty of Social Science’s registration meeting and the Department of Political Science’s meeting. Below is a picture of one of the buildings in Paradise (Paradis), which is where the majority of the social science buildings are located.

That night was the Welcome Reception in the University Main Building (Universitetshuset). Located in the center of town, the cream exterior of the building contrasted with the black night’s sky. The top of the building has two gargoyles with human faces on either side. A large fountain sits directly center of the front of the building. Even though it was turned off because of the chilling weather, it still had a commanding presence. Nearly every day, I pass this building during my journey through town, and every day I am stunned by how gorgeous it is. I cannot wait to finally see the fountain turned on in front of it, and the plants on either side of it blooming in the springtime weather. Below I attached a picture of it in the daylight. While it is gorgeous at night, it is difficult to make out the finer details of the building in a photograph.

The inside of the building was equally impressive. Chandeliers lined the main room from the entrance to the stage. If you looked up, you could see the artfully crafted ceiling, which was painted in a pattern of beige, tan, and blue. The night started with a selection of traditional songs from Lund University’s Male Choir (Lunds Studentsångförening). According to the conductor, this choir is the oldest in Sweden, and their talent certainly spoke to that honor. While it is difficult to understand the lyrics, since most of the songs were purely in Swedish, the choir’s tones melded together in a beautiful arrangement of music. After a great round of applause from the audience, the host, the Vice Chancellor, welcomed the exchange students to Lund University. A university, he stated, that was created after the conquest of Skåne from Denmark. Skåne, the county Lund resides in, was given a university in order to aid in making the newly acquired territory loyal to the Swedish Crown. After the Vice Chancellor’s speech, we retired into the grand entrance room for some small desserts, sparkling cider, and light beer. There, exchange students had a chance to mingle with each other. When it seemed like the evening was almost over, a student joke band burst in and entertained us, giving us one last taste of Swedish student life before heading back home.

SUSA, the introductory Swedish language class for exchange students, comprises most of orientation. It is divided into two classes, SUSA11 and SUSA12. SUSA11 is for students with little to no Swedish skills, whereas SUSA12 is for those who have been exposed to Swedish prior to coming to Lund University and have a general working knowledge. Most exchange students, who elect to take a SUSA course, choose to take SUSA11. While SUSA is optional for exchange students, UCEAP has it as a mandatory component of their program. The language program has six language lectures and one lecture on culture. Don’t let the few number of lectures fool you. This course does cover a lot of information in the limited amount of time granted towards it. Some of the topics covered in the class include the alphabet, telling time, verb tenses, basic phrases, numbers, school subjects, and a lot of general vocabulary. After the ten blocks are covered, students are tested on the material in a 50 question multiple choice and true/false exam. By the time of the exam, the teachers expect you to be able to comprehend a long dialogue and text that is completely in Swedish. If you are studying abroad during fall semester, this two-week language course will be completed before any of your actual courses start. However, if you are studying abroad for spring semester, like I am, the latter week of the language course will likely coincide with your other courses. I suggest familiarizing yourself with some basic Swedish in order to take some stress off your plate during your first weeks in Lund, especially if you are taking regular courses at the same time as the language course. Otherwise, the class can get quite overwhelming at times.

While the SUSA course, in my opinion, was difficult, I do not regret taking it. I have been able to navigate around town much easier after taking the course because I have been able to identify which school building is which (class buildings are often only referred to in writing their Swedish names). Also, it has aided me in identifying food items in the grocery store and at restaurants. Most restaurants do not have English menus, and most grocery products are Swedish. Don’t be too concerned if you forgot or do not know the word because staff is more than happy to help translate for you. While most people in Lund speak very good English because it is a college town, once you travel outside of Lund, finding English speakers becomes a lot more difficult. I recommend taking the SUSA course quite seriously because it will definitely help you when you explore around the country. Also, I recommend getting the Google Translate App and downloading the Swedish/English dictionary, so you can use it when you have no internet. This app has saved me more times than I can count!

Christine Pahel studied abroad in Lund, Sweden in Spring 2017: http://eap.ucop.edu/OurPrograms/sweden/Pages/lund_univ.aspx

Sweden | Arriving in Lund

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By CHRISTINE PAHEL

Passport and boarding passes in hand, I was ready to board my plane. While checking in my suitcase, the lady at the front desk informed me that the plane had been delayed 40 minutes. Okay, I had an hour and a half layover. It’d be close now, but I would make it. After going through TSA and waiting for my plane to be prepared, I finally boarded. Over the broadcast system, the pilot states that Air force 2 has decided to leave when we are scheduled to. Since the Vice President has priority over our flight, we are forced to wait, and my layover time becomes shorter. We finally take off, and I am preparing my boarding passes for the next flight because I know there won’t be much time to spare. To people planning on studying abroad, I’d recommend having at least a two hour connection because delays are bound to happen.

As we are about to land, the flight attendant calls off a list of flights that have missed their connections. Luckily, mine wasn’t one of them, but I’d have to sprint. Hurrying through immigration and running across the terminal, I made it just in time. The plane was almost done boarding. An hour and a half into the flight, a passenger fell ill with appendicitis, and the pilot was forced to turn the plane around in order to ensure his safety. The man was escorted off the plane in Montreal, and after the plane refueled, I was on my way to Copenhagen once again. The plane arrived safely; however, my fellow UCEAP travelers and I were late for the program. Luckily, Lund students were still stationed at the Copenhagen airport to guide us to the university. They assisted international students in buying train tickets, and after a short train ride, we were in Lund.

When I arrived in Lund, I was escorted onto the top floor of the train station. Because Lund University was expecting approximately 800 students that day and only had 7 vans, I had to wait in line for an hour before I could be taken to Arrival Day. At Arrival Day, I was able to check-in my luggage before exploring the booths. There, one could check into one’s apartment/corridor and receive one’s welcome package. The welcome package came with a Swedish SIM card that can be placed into unlocked cell phones. One of the booths lets you fill up your SIM card, so your phone can start working abroad. UCEAP highly recommends that all students studying abroad have a cell phone in case of emergency, so I suggest loading the SIM card with minutes while you’re at Arrival Day. Additionally, there was a booth that handed out Jo-Jo Cards. These cards function as bus passes around Skåne (the county Lund resides in). Because Lund is so spread out, I recommend loading money onto the Jo-Jo card as soon as you get a chance, especially in the winter. It started snowing on my second day here, and it’s much easier to take the bus instead of trekking for forty minutes in the snow.

At Arrival Day, the teachers sell textbooks for the SUSA course, which is an intensive language course that is required for all UCEAP students. Luckily, the textbook is only about $2.50 USD. Also, you have the opportunity to buy event tickets. Keep in mind that these tickets sell out fast. By the time I came, they were already sold out of some of the events, so I recommend visiting that booth first. This year, the events included a welcome party, a tour of the Malmö Museum, a trip to IKEA, a hiking excursion, a meal of traditional Swedish cuisine, and a tour of the Lund Cathedral. These tickets are not expensive; however, the tickets must be purchased in cash. I recommend converting some money into SEK (Swedish Krona/Crown) before leaving abroad to save yourself some time and to help ensure you get a ticket to all the events you want to attend. I highly recommend going to as many events that seem interesting to you. In later posts, I’ll describe some of the events I went to.

Because of how late some flights arrive, you might be worried about having bedding for the night. Frankly, for me, there was zero time to go shopping for things like towels, sheets, and pillows because of the delayed flight and Arrival Day. Luckily, at Arrival Day, there is a booth that sells bath towels, hand towels, pillows, bedding, and shower curtains, so I didn’t have to figure out how to get all of that stuff to fit into my luggage. The only problem is that they don’t sell toilet paper at Arrival Day. Most of the housing provided by LU Accommodations have private bathrooms, and they do not supply toilet paper. Unfortunately, most students don’t realize this until they are back at their rooms late at night. Luckily, I had a chance to stop by the store before it closed. Make sure to schedule time to run to the store on your first day or bring a few pieces in your luggage.

After Arrival Day, the university vans drove me and my luggage to my dorm in Klostergården Student House. But, I only had time to run in and drop off my luggage before heading right back out. UCEAP had a mandatory meeting in the middle of town that I had to find my way to. The city is gorgeous with its brick buildings. In the center of town, one can see a castle and a cathedral that is nearly one thousand years old. However beautiful the city may be, I was not good at navigating it, especially in the dark. After getting lost a few times and asking quite a few people for directions (luckily practically everyone here speaks fluent English), I made it to the meeting. Linus, the UCEAP coordinator, introduced himself to us and went over some paperwork that would help us during our time in Lund. The meeting ended with me completely drained. I found my way back to my room and collapsed. I was happy to be here— completely exhausted—but excited.

Christine Pahel studied abroad in Lund, Sweden, in Spring 2017: http://eap.ucop.edu/OurPrograms/sweden/Pages/lund_univ.aspx

Barbados | Registration and Cruises at UWI

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By ANGELA HOWARD

Class registration at University of West Indies Cave Hill (UWI) was by far the easiest college registration experience of my life. At my junior college, everyone within a certain number of units could register at the same time (at 6AM no less!) on the same day which always made the system crash. At UCLA, students would cross their fingers that they had a good “first pass,” and sometimes that could determine someone’s entire quarter schedule depending on how impacted their classes were. At the University of Ghana (UG), the classes were not posted online. The students had to walk to each department, hope that the classes were posted on a bulletin board (some were not posted until after the first week of instruction had begun), hope the times did not conflict with other departments, and finally register in each individual department, as well as through the UCEAP study center. But not at UWI. UWI was easy. We went through the online schedule of classes (which was not available until five days before instruction began), chose classes that sounded interesting to us, and emailed the international students advisor with the course numbers. We did not have to wait for an enrollment time or walk to each individual department. We did not have to “cross our fingers” that the classes would still be available (I was even able to enroll in a class that was already over capacity). Plain and simple.

If your major falls under the “B.A. category” (or North Campus, as UCLA students say), you need to get prior approval to take classes in the College of Science and Technology. However, if you’re dead set on taking classes in that college, have no fear! As a North Campus major, I had no problem enrolling in three computer science courses and a math course for this semester. On that note, if you have always been interested in programming courses but never had time to enroll in them at UCLA, I would strongly recommend taking them here. The department is very welcoming to international students, and because UWI is on the semester system rather than the quarter system, the classes go a much a slower pace which really gives students the time to have the new material sink in.

But enough about registration. Let’s talk about the first week of classes. Courses at UWI are a lot more like UCLA (or “U.S.” teaching) than I had expected them to be. I think I expected them to be different because of my UCEAP experience in Ghana. In Ghana it was rare for my professors to use PowerPoint (due to the electricity being unreliable), professors would not show up to class until 45 minutes after the designated start time, and assignments would be extremely vague. At UWI, all my professors use PowerPoint, my lectures generally start right on time, and so far, all the assignments have been clear and manageable. After being on the quarter system at UCLA for so long, it’s refreshing to have a slower pace of class instruction.

The UWI campus is lovely. The best part about it is that I can walk across it in ten minutes. Sometimes at UCLA I could not even get from Powell Library to the Public Affairs Building (about .5 miles) in ten minutes. I am also pleasantly surprised with the food on campus. Recently I found a hidden smoothie shop very close to the gym, so sometimes after I work out I get a delicious protein shake. The shake costs $7 Bajan (or $3.5 U.S.) which is still cheaper than a smoothie at Juice Shack or Jamba Juice so I am happy with the price. There are also many traditional Ghanaian things on the UWI campus, that I never would have known where Ghanaian if I had not previously lived there. For example, on the entrance to the student’s affairs building there is the adinkra symbol meaning “with faith all things are possible.” Adinkra symbols were created by the Ashanti tribe (native to central Ghana, near Kumasi). They represent concepts and aphorisms and are frequently used in pottery and fabric.

Adinkra cloth made by UCEAP students in Ghana in Fall 2016

Gye Nyame” symbol on the student affair’s buiding at UWI

On the weekends (as well as during the week) there is always something happening! A company called Island Roots puts on events every weekend that are usually geared toward 18-24 year olds, though sometimes they attract an older crowd too. The events range in price from free to $140 Bajan ($70 U.S.) and are almost always cheaper if you buy your tickets in advance (such as from a R.A. in a residence hall or online), OR if you’re female. Sorry boys, the female cover charge here is almost always at least $10 Bajan cheaper than the boys cover, and ladies often get in free to events before a certain time.

Last weekend to celebrate the end of the first week of school, a large group of international students decided to go on an Island Roots sponsored cruise together. Like most things in Barbados, it was not punctual at all. According to the flyer, boarding started at 11 AM and we were to be setting sail at noon sharp. Naturally that meant we did not leave the dock until 1:30 P.M. But overall it was a lovely experience to sail around the western side of the island while simultaneously having a dance party with music so loud that it practically rocked the boat itself.

   

Last but certainly not least, Sunday is SUPER BOWL SUNDAY! Seeing as football is my favorite sport, I am very excited to announce that I have plans to go to a Super Bowl party on the beach. Food and drinks are included in the cover charge (and yes, it is cheaper because I’m female!) and I am quite excited to watch the Atlanta Falcons kick the New England Patriots’ butts! In 2012 when the New York Giants beat the Patriots I was living in Germany, so I will take it as a positive omen that when I’m living abroad the Pats will simply always lose the Super Bowl. (If you hadn’t noticed, the Patriots are my least favorite team in the NFL)I’m just grateful that the Super Bowl starts at 7:30 PM in my current time zone, and not midnight like it did in Germany! Go Falcons!

Angela Howard studied abroad in Cave Hill, Barbados, in Spring 2017: http://eap.ucop.edu/OurPrograms/barbados/Pages/univ_west_indies.aspx

Barbados | Arrival and Orientation

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BY ANGELA HOWARD

Before we arrived in Barbados, we found a duplex house (referred to as an “apartment” by the locals) to live in for the semester. The International Office at University of West Indies Cave Hill (UWI – pronounced [jʉi] in IPA or “yoou-ee”) was very helpful in providing phone numbers and email addresses for UWI off campus approved housing landlords. But more about housing selections later. After speaking several times with a landlord and seeing pictures of the “apartment” we decided to live in a furnished two bedroom “apartment” for a total of $1700 Barbadian (or $425 US per bedroom per month) for all utilities and amenities included. (Later, after we went house-hunting as part of orientation, we learned that the average rent per bedroom during peak season, January-May, ranges from $400 US to $450 US per month; however, electricity is not always included in the rent. Fortunately for us, it is.) Our landlord, who we later learned is a retired professor from UWI who founded the tourism major/department on campus, agreed to pick us up from the airport to take us to our new home. Although UCEAP offers to pick up students from the airport, we were arriving before January 11th (the first day where UCEAP was scheduling pick-ups), so we needed to find an alternative way to get to our new home. Here is the story of our arrival in Barbados:

From the moment we arrived in Barbados, we thought we might be in trouble. As we entered the immigration area surrounded by hundreds of German tourists, I saw a women standing at the front of the line holding a wooden sign. The sign read, “Ms. Angie Howard.” I nudged my travel buddy and said, “Look… my name is on a sign, did I do something wrong…?” As I approached the women and introduced myself, she immediately gestured for my friend and I to cut over 75 people in line. Now I really thought I was in trouble. In all my traveling, never before has anyone waited at the terminal gate with my name on a printed sign.

She brought us to the immigration booth, where our passports were stamped, and told me to find her after we collected our luggage. Not only did we have no idea about what was going on, but the luggage collection was particularly stressful because on our previous flight to Germany three weeks prior, my checked bag from Ghana did not arrive until three days after us.  Fortunately, our bags were the first ones off the carousel and everything arrived in one piece! We exchanged our Euros to Barbadian dollars (for an excellent exchange rate might I add) and found the woman who collected us at the terminal.

Barbados Tip: Almost everywhere accepts U.S. currency for a constant exchange rate of $1US to $2 Barbadian. (I’ve even paid with Barbadian dollars and received U.S. as change from grocery markets and restaurants!) That being said, if you plan on carrying around Barbadian dollars for the first couple of days (which I recommend), the airport exchange kiosk has the best exchange rate I’ve found thus far on the island if you’re exchanging $100 U.S. or less. The fee is $5 or 5%, whichever is more. All the banks we have tried have higher ATM fees than this.

As it turns out, because our landlord has connections in the tourism industry he asked the woman to wait with my name on the sign so that we could get out of the airport faster to get home. (We arrived in Barbados around 8PM, so after immigration and luggage it was getting late.) What we originally thought might be trouble turned out to be us being treated like royalty!

The night we arrived our landlord gave us a short tour of the island on our way to the apartment, driving us past places such as the ever so popular joint Oistins Fish Fry, UWI, and one of the main super markets. At first I simply thought we had the nicest landlord in the world, (and he is very nice) but later I learned it’s by no means uncommon for the UWI affiliated landlords to give the international students a short tour of the island. Barbadian (or Bajan –pronounced [bɛʃən] or ‘bashun’) hospitality is amazing.

After a couple days of wandering the island, it was time to go to orientation. My only experience with UCEAP orientations was very extensive. In Ghana, our orientation was 2.5 weeks long, and was so intense that we received four units of UC course credit for it in African studies. We took field trips, had mini-lectures, and learned the basic necessities of Ghanaian life, such as what we could eat, what to do when the water went out, and not to use our left hand for anything because the left is considered sinister in Ghanaian culture (not to mention it’s the hand everyone wipes with and many Ghanaian meals are eaten without utensils).

That’s why I was shocked when the informational part of the UCEAP Barbados orientation lasted less than two hours. We received an information packet that had fun activities to do in Barbados for the semester, a map of UWI, and a pamphlet of clubs we could join at the university. After some general FAQ and explanation of class enrollment, the orientation was over and we were free to do what we wanted to for the rest of the day. My travel buddy spent a UCEAP semester in Ireland and said that the orientation there was similar. I was so accustomed to all the necessary hand holding in Ghana in UCEAP that then my orientation was so short, I thought truly they must be not telling me something! As it turns out, they gave us all the pertinent information we needed to know and sent us on our way.

The second day of the orientation weekend consisted of the UWI International Student Orientation which basically was a reiteration of the information from the previous days orientation, only all of the international students where there (rather than just the UCEAP students). I was surprised to learn that aside from the UC students, there were only three other American students, and most of the other international students were Canadian or from Europe.

In the evening we all went out to Oistins Fish Fry, “the place to be” on Friday nights. While it is rather touristy, it makes for a fun evening. There are vendors selling knickknacks of all sorts, loud music, and plenty of delicious places to get your fish fix!

The third and final full day of the orientation weekend, UCEAP organized a house hunting afternoon for all of the students that did not yet have accommodation, but that will be for another post as it was a very long and informative afternoon.

At first we thought we simply unfortunately lived near a rooster that liked to crow at sunrise. As it turns out, they are all over the island. Here are the three that woke us up at orientation. On the bright side, getting up at literally the crack of dawn helps to start a productive day!

  

On a final note, I found the Bajan equivalent of Diddy Reese during orientation, and while nothing can compare to Diddy Reese, it sure is delicious!

Angela Howard studied abroad in Cave Hill, Barbados, in Spring 2017: http://eap.ucop.edu/OurPrograms/barbados/Pages/univ_west_indies.aspx

Barbados | Study Abroad Spring Semester Packing List Part 2

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By ANGELA HOWARD

Last week I talked about the essential luggage and clothing to bring to Barbados, but there is so much more! Let’s start with essential items. 

Essential Items 

  • Passport (plus copies)  

This is probably the number one most important thing you can bring it for obvious reasons. Without it, you cannot get into the country! I recommend making a business card sized copy of the passport page with your name and picture on it. Then write COPY on this and get it laminated. This allows you a durable passport “copy” to carry around in your wallet so that you can keep your actual passport stored at home in a safe place.  

  • UWI Offer Letter 

The UWI Offer Letter will be sent to you from UCEAP and is something you need in order to get into the country. You will need to present this to immigration once you arrive. Be sure to have a printed copy that is easy to reach in your carry on.  

  • Return Ticket 

The Barbados student visa requires students to have a return ticket in order to enter the country (which means it needs to be purchased BEFORE you enter Barbados). You will also need to have a copy of this for when you enter the country. Not all immigration officers in Barbados will ask to see it, but I’ve heard stories that some officers make you purchase a ticket while standing there in the airport before they let you pass through customs and immigration.   

  • Sunscreen, Bug Repellent, and Aloe Vera 

Bring two to three bottles of both sunscreen and bug repellent, more if you have fair skin. Barbados is quite a bit closer to the equator than L.A., so even if you have a darker skin tone, it’s important to wear sunscreen in order to protect your skin. Also bring aloe vera (I love the Fruit of the Earth brand as it doesn’t have added chemicals). Bug repellent is especially important because some of the mosquitos in Barbados carry Zika virus. I particularly enjoy Sawyer Picaridin Insect Repellent for bug spray. It doesn’t make me feel sticky, and the best part is the bottles are 3 OZ, so I can take them in my carry on! 

  • Electronic Devices 

Barbados has the same voltage as the U.S. (110 volts) so all of you U.S. electronics and plugs should work in Barbados without any adaptors. The only electronic devices I have been traveling with are my laptop and my cell phone, and fortunately I have not had any problems with theft. However, if an item of yours gets stolen on your trip, be sure to check out the UCEAP Theft Insurance policy! 

  • ATM Cards 

Transaction fees can add up fast, so be sure to check with your local bank to see if there are any fees associated with international transactions or withdrawals. Consider opening an account with a credit union for the semester. I bank with a local credit union in Northern California which has no international credit feeds; however, I get charged $5.50 from the Royal Bank of Canada (RBC) ATM here in Barbados every time I withdrawal money. But if I had Wells Fargo I would get charged $5.50 from RBC and $5 from Wells Fargo. It is also important to have at least two ways to access your money (two different ATM cards) in case one gets lost or stolen. Finally on the note of money, I’d recommend having an emergency fund of at least $1,000. Especially for students who are accustomed to working a part time job in school, this will save you a lot of stress in case your financial aid does not come through in time. For example, even though I have a UC SHIP grant, I had to pay my UC SHIP (approximately $1400) out of pocket before I got reimbursed. If I did not have an emergency fund, I do not know how I would have paid for it. 

  • Enough prescription medication to last the length of your stay  

Unfortunately, prescriptions written in the U.S. are not valid in Barbados so you probably won’t be able to get your prescription refilled, but still bring a copy of the prescription slip! Be sure to bring enough of any prescription medication to last the entire length of your stay, and double check to make sure that your prescriptions are legal in Barbados. For example UCEAP advises students not to bring pain killers containing aspirin into Barbados. 

Additional Things 

  • Snorkel and Mask 

Snorkelling with turtles is a definite highlight of Barbados! In fact, it’s so much fun, that you will want to do it again and again. Save yourself some money by bringing your own snorkel and mask. This way you can go as many times and you want without needing to pay to rent gear. (If you’re buying a snorkel and mask for the first time, be sure to test them out in a local pool before you leave. It would be a shame to get the mask all the way here only to find out it leaks!)    

  • Swimmers Ear Plugs 

If your anything like me, too much swimming gives you swimmer’s ear infections. A great way to prevent this is by swimming with ear plugs to keep water out of your ears! 

  • Toiletries 

Shampoo, conditioner and other toiletries are easy to find in Barbados, but if there is anything you MUST HAVE, I would bring it. Living on an island limits your choices sometimes. 

  • TOWELS! 

Towels are something I always forget when packing. I brought two travel towels, which I would strongly recommend. They’re easy to fold, don’t take a lot of space, and dry 20 times faster than regular towels. Perfect for Barbados. [Symbol]  

What NOT to Bring 

Alongside the obvious things like firearms, illegal drugs, and porn, Barbados has a couple specialized things that travellers are not allowed to bring.  

  • Camouflage clothing 

Wearing camo is illegal for civilians in Barbados. Camouflage clothing is restricted to only members of the military. 

  • Fruit, Vegetables, Seeds, or any other agricultural product 

While this is a common thing around the world (some fruit is even illegal to bring into California from other states!), it should be mentioned. Traveling with fruit from country to another is dangerous because the fruit could contain insects that are damaging to Barbados’ agriculture and environment. Sorry Californians, this means no avocados during the Spring semester months!! 

Hopefully this list will give you a head start on planning your adventure. Good luck!

Angela Howard studied abroad in Cave Hill, Barbados, in Spring 2017: http://eap.ucop.edu/OurPrograms/barbados/Pages/univ_west_indies.aspx

Barbados | Packing List Part 1

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By ANGELA HOWARD

You’ve decided to Study Abroad in Barbados. CONGRATULATIONS! You’re about to embark on one of the most exciting, culture-filled experiences of your life! I’m sure your head is whirling with ideas of what you will see and do. Let me assure you, living in Barbados truly is living in paradise. But to enjoy paradise to its fullest, be sure to come prepared and pack responsibly!  

First Things First: Get the Right Luggage 

I have been living out of one 60 L backpack and one small gym duffle bag for the past 8 months so if I can do it, you can too! A lot of international students travel with TWO FULL SIZED SUITCASES. Granted I am a minimalist at heart, but personally I think extensive travel with a suitcase is just too much. They are hard to get around, and don’t always fit well in the trunks of smaller cars in other countries. Not to mention, most airlines allow for one checked bag free for international travel. This means that you would have to pay extra both ways for your second checked bag. If a second checked bag is a must for you, at least bring a relatively empty one so that you have space to bring back souvenirs and gifts.

I bought my backpack at Big 5 (I worked at Big 5 for four years to help pay for school, so most of my gear is from there) three years ago $64 with a coupon while it was on sale. It has been one of the best purchases I have ever made.

I also bought my Under Armour duffle at Big 5 for $35. I am not usually loyal to any particular brand, but I decided to go with an Under Armour bag because most of them are water resistant and I knew I would be traveling through rainy/snowy areas this year. That being said, you can find large brand non-specificduffels for around $15. Personally, I prefer not traveling with black luggage so that it is easier to spot coming off the airport carousel.

 Packers Tip: Be sure to pack AT LEAST one change of clothes, PJS, and basic toiletries in your carry on. While traveling from Ghana to Germany my checked bag got lost (don’t worry, it was found and delivered to my house five days after I arrived) and I made the mistake of not having extra clothes. Fortunately, my travel buddy and I are around the same size so I could wear her clothes for a couple days. Now I travel with all my socks and underwear in my carry on because it’s easy to wear the same shirt a for a couple days, but it’s always nice to have clean underwear. 

Clothing and Accessories

(Seeing as I am only speaking from first-hand experience, this section is geared more towards females. Sorry guys!) 

The average day time high in Barbados is between 75-85 degrees Fahrenheit. Take the heat in addition with humidity and it can get quite warm so bring comfortable, flowy clothing. Don’t bring anything you absolutely love. Between the massive amount of bug repellent,

the sunscreen oils, and the suns rays, most of your clothing will get destroyed. My ex-favorite pair of short shorts now look like “mom jeans” on me, and all of my shirts are several shades lighter than they were when I first arrived in Barbados.  

  • 7 shirts/dresses 

Bring enough shirts/dresses to last you one week of wear. Clothing is affordable in Bridgetown (I have purchased several shirts and dresses for between $7.50 and $20 U.S.) and a lot of the styles are quite cute.  

  • 1 pair of jeans 
  • 2-3 pairs of shorts 

 Bring at least one pair of jeans, but nothing designer. They will get ruined whether it be from the sand, the sun, or a number of other things. Also, it’s way too hot to wear jeans during the day. The humidity affects us Californians, it’s VERY different from dry heat. I live in shorts, day and night here. I miss sleeping in pajama pants, here it’s too hot for me to sleep in anything but shorts and a tank top. 

  • 2-3 “night on the town” outfits and one pair of “going out” shoes 

Barbados is paradise, and in paradise there are plenty of places to go out and have a good time. While several places are casual, it’s nice to have a couple “nicer” outfits to go out in. When I go out, I usually wear jeans and a nice blouse because if I wear a dress I get eaten alive by the mosquitos.  

  • AT LEAST two bathing suits 

International students are well known for always being at the beach here in Barbados. It’s true, we simply cannot get enough of the crystal-clear water and white sandy beaches. Sometimes I even wear my bathing suit under my clothes and head down straight after class! I brought a one piece that I purchased in South Africa, and a two piece from Old Navy. Because I have very

fair skin, it’s nice to have a one piece as it allows me to go to the beach but keep my stomach out of the sun.  

  • 1 rain jacket

I bought my Columbia rain jacket on Amazon for $40 (vs. paying over $200 at REI) and I love it. I suggest getting one with zippers under the armpits to help keep you cool. I also love mine because it can fit inside it’s pocket to make it compact for packing purposes! 

  • 2-3 shorts and tank tops for sleeping

 It’s always nice to have a comfy pair of shorts and a tank top for sleeping or lounging around your house/dorm. Especially if you’re trying to adjust to sleeping in a climate that is MUCH warmer than California’s winter. 

  • 2-3 hats and 2-3 pairs of sunglasses 

Especially if you have fair skin, bring at least two hats. While I admit that my naturally curly hair is sick of me wearing hats all the time, but skin is very appreciative. I would also bring multiple pairs of sunglasses in case one pair breaks or gets lost.  

  • 2-3 sets of workout clothes/1 pair of running shoes 

I have my spandex tights/shorts and running tank tops, which make it much cooler for my morning runs. UWI also has a (VERY) small gym that is free for all students.  

  • 2 pairs of comfortable walking sandals 

 Some days it is simply too hot to wear closed-toed shoes outside. This problem is solved by getting a comfy pair of walking sandals (bonus points if you can wear them in the water!). I have a lovely pair of Keens that are great for long distance walking and wading in the water; but sadly they’re not the most stylish shoes on the planet. If you have more of a sense of fashion than I do (and let’s face it, most people do, I have no “sense of style”), I would recommend Chacos or Born sandals. They’re both on the pricier side, but your feet will thank you for it after you walk endless miles in them. And they last forever so it’s worth the investment. Be sure to check your local Ross or TJ Max. I found a pair of Born sandals last summer for $30 at TJ Max when they retailed for over $100! 

  • All the socks/bras/underwear you have! 

Really, a traveller can never have too many pairs of socks or underwear. I bought Under Armour “one size fits all” underwear before I left. It’s quite expensive ($12 a pair!) but I’m really grateful I brought them because after living in West Africa, I lost a lot of weight so it’s nice to have underwear that still fit me well.   

Unfortunately that’s all the time I have right now. Tune in next week for the second half of the Packing List which will include things such as toiletries, mosquito repellent/sun screen recommendations, and bank card advice! And don’t worry. It may seem like a lot of work to get ready, but soon you will be living in paradise!  

Angela Howard studied abroad in Cave Hill, Barbados, in Spring 2017: http://eap.ucop.edu/OurPrograms/barbados/Pages/univ_west_indies.aspx

Sweden | What You Need to Know Before Studying Abroad in Lund 

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By CHRISTINE PAHEL

Sweden

Deciding to study abroad is a big decision—let alone trying to determine where you are going to study. Somewhere where you ski on your weekends? Somewhere where you can travel to different countries easily? Somewhere where you can learn a new language or maybe you want to test out the language skills you learned in high school? I know before I studied abroad, I had a lot of questions I wanted answered, and for many of these questions, it was difficult to find a clear answer. In this blog, I will endeavor to answer some of the questions I had before coming here. 

Are classes offered in English, or are you expected to speak Swedish in your courses? 

At Lund University, luckily, there are courses offered in English. If you want to test your Swedish skills, courses in Swedish are available. There are also language courses you can take throughout your time in Lund in order to become proficient in the Swedish language. 

Do I have to take any language classes while I am here? 

UCEAP requires you to take an introductory language course while you are at Lund University. This class only takes two weeks. If you arrive in the fall, this class will not interfere with your regular classes. If you arrive during the spring semester, there will be a week of overlap between your regular semester courses and the language program. Note: it does say that the Swedish language course (SUSA) is optional on Lund University’s website. However, this does not apply to UCEAP students. Unlike for other international students who are attending Lund University, this program mandatory. If you are worried about the class, you can take it pass/fail instead of for a letter grade. 

Do I need to use Swedish in everyday life? 

Because Lund is a college town, most people speak English. At the stores or on campus, you just merely have to say “English,” and the person you are talking to will flawlessly switch into English. Every once and a while, there will be a language barrier (especially once you head out of town); however, most places have at least one person who can speak to you in English. If there isn’t, you can always use Google Translate. I get around just fine without knowing how to speak Swedish. However, learning how to read a little Swedish (which you’ll learn in your SUSA class) is helpful for figuring out buildings, grocery shopping, and reading signs. 

I have no idea what Swedes eat besides meatballs. How does the food compare to America? 

The food is not what I was expecting. Every corner has falafel, burgers, or pizza, so the food is pretty typical from an American point of view. There are lots of cafes and a few Asian restaurants.  The biggest difference is in the grocery stores. There is a lot more pork and cheese for sale than back home. So, if you like pork and cheese, you are heading to the right place. 

How does housing work? Am I guaranteed a place to live, or am I expected to find my own housing in a foreign country? 

Not all international students are guaranteed housing, but, as a UCEAP student, you are guaranteed housing. You do not have to accept your housing offer through LU Accommodations, but I highly recommend doing so. The housing market in Lund is extremely competitive, and you don’t want to risk not having housing when you arrive. 

What kind of money do they use in Sweden? How do I get some Swedish money? 

Sweden operates on Swedish Crowns (krona). This is abbreviated as SEK. This is different than what they use in neighboring Nordic countries, so if you are taking a day trip to Copenhagen, keep in mind that some places may not take SEK. To get Swedish Crowns, you have three options: bring it from home, exchange money at the exchange office near the Lund Cathedral, or draw out money from the ATM (which are located throughout town). Some of the nations also may give you cash back if you use your credit card, but unlike in the U.S., grocery stores do not give you cash back. 

Sweden is freezing, right?  

Sweden is quite cold, especially if you are used to southern Californian weather. So far, the warmest it has been since I’ve arrive is 63 degrees Fahrenheit. Most the time in the winter the temperature hovers around freezing, so you will need a warm jacket. It doesn’t get too much colder than 30 degrees, so you don’t have to be as bundled up as you may think. It snows fairly frequently in the wintertime and rain is not unusual, so be sure to pack an umbrella. If you can’t stand cold weather, unfortunately this is not the place for you. However, if you love snow, rain, and cloudy days, Lund is perfect for you. 

I need to conduct research to stay on track with my program. Is there research offered? 

Research is offered at Lund University, but it may not be set up in the way you are used to. Unlike the UC schools, getting a research position is generally not a formal process. In order to become involved with psychology research, I emailed a variety of professors whose work seemed interesting and asked if they had any research I could be a part of. There is no general listing of open research positions (at least not for psychology students), so you have to be a little more resourceful than back in the states. 

Do you have time to travel while you are taking classes? 

Classes are quite a bit different than back home. As a social science major, I only have class one to three times a week. Most of the work for my classes (Political Science and Psychology) consists of take home exams and take home assignments. As long as you are good at staying on top of your work, you should have plenty of time to travel. If you are in the harder sciences, you will have class more frequently; however, many of these classes have breaks. Since so many countries in Europe are close to Sweden, it is practical to travel on your weekends and study during the weekdays. 

England | Navigating Airports

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BY SAVANNAH SHAPIRO

I have never been on a plane by myself. I have never left the country. And the furthest flight that I have ever been on was from California to Arizona. That flight lasted around 35 minutes… Needless to say, I was a little nervous to be flying by myself on a ten hour flight to another country. My flight left at 6:00PM a day before my English program started giving me one day to explore the city. When I arrived at LAX, I was feeling both nervous and excited. My cousin gave me some advice prior to leaving that was extremely helpful for me.  

  1. Give yourself plenty of time before your flight. My flight left at 6:00PM and I was at LAX around 2:40. I wanted to give myself as much time as possible so I could learn how to navigate the airport.  
  2. Take everything one step at a time. Once you arrive at your airport, you check in with the airline you are flying with. You can stand in line to have your boarding pass printed, or you can choose the faster option and go to the automated stations that prints both your boarding pass and luggage tag. Your luggage must be under 50lbs (I had to put my chucks in my carryon because I was a little over oops!).  
  3. Security. Going through security is very simple and easy. You put all your carryon items up on the table and just wait to go through. If you are traveling with a computer, you must take the computer out of its case and put it in a separate bin! Because my cousin told me this before I left, I didn’t lock my carryon and I purposefully made my computer easily accessible. This saved me time and kept me calm throughout the process making everything much easier!  
  4. Landing. The great thing about airports is there is always someone there to help you. Additionally, there are multiple signs with arrows that lead you in the right direction. Once you start walking through the airport, you will go through immigration where you show your passport, an immigration card that your flight attendant will give you (they are also available everywhere in the airport), and proof that you are studying abroad (don’t worry, the IEO office will give this to you).  
  5. Heathrow Airport to London. It’s time to navigate yourself from the airport to the dorms. I landed in Heathrow at noon London time and decided to Uber from the airport to my friends apartment on near Clarkenwell. The Uber cost around $57 in U.S. currency. I wanted to learn more about the city before I traveled on the Heathrow Express and the Underground.  

Quick Tips: 

The app “Citymapper” is extremely helpful when trying to navigate the city. The app has bus routes, times and routes of the Underground as well as the fatest and cheapest options to wherever you are trying to go.