By PARIS SUMPTER
Paris explores her new dorm at International Christian University in Musashisaki, Japan.
Paris Sumpter studied abroad in Tokyo, Japan, in Summer 2017: http://eap.ucop.edu/OurPrograms/japan/Pages/language-and-culture-ICU.aspx
However, it does get challenging when I walk the 20 minute walk down to the grocery store, only to see they are out of stock of their veggies. This is not me being picky. When I say “out of stock” I mean, they literally have no fresh produce on the premises.
I have seen grocery markets at home be out of stock of a particular item, but not even around major holidays have I seen a grocery store simply not have any produce at all. Now whenever broccoli, cauliflower, carrots, green beans, onions, and potatoes are in stock, I buy three containers of each. Not only does it encourage me to eat more vegetables before they spoil, but it saves me an unnecessary and unsuccessful trip down to the grocery store.
Continuing with the theme of food, last Sunday I ate more calories in one day than I probably do during some weeks. The morning started by me desperately craving a breakfast burrito. I have been wanting one for the past several months, but unfortunately Ghana, South Africa, Germany, and Barbados all do not seem to make them. I had waited long enough. I was having a breakfast burrito. I haven’t seen any tortillas since arriving in Barbados, so I decided to make them myself. It was only a simple combination of flour, olive oil, and water, but I was very impressed with how delicious they tasted.
After I ate my delicious burritos, we were off to Harrison’s Cave in the Saint Thomas Parish as a part of the UCEAP program. (This was the only event of the day not focused around eating!) The caves are a popular tourist attraction in Barbados. My travel buddy, who happens to be an Earth Science major, loved learning about the formation of the cave. But it was also nice for those of us (like me!) who don’t happen to have any particular fascinations with rocks. The caves are still actively transporting water. We received “Cave Showers” and were thoroughly soaked by the end of our 45 minute long tram tour simply from the drops of water falling from the ceiling. If you’re ever in Barbados and looking for something fun to do, defiantly check out the caves. While we did the tram tour, which was very relaxing (aside from getting soaked) and came with a very knowledgeable tour guide, I’d like to go back at some point to do the walking tour. (Sorry the photos appear so grainy, it was very dark inside the cave!)
Now, back to food. After the caves we all went to the Coconut Court Hotel to eat their delicious buffet.
In one meal I ate three types of meat (lamb, chicken, and beef) and a delicious slice of the Bajan specialty “macaroni pie.” For anyone who has ever had macaroni and cheese South African style, macaroni pie is similar to it, only better. (Hard to imagine, right?!) Macaroni pie is basically a baked version of macaroni and cheese; however, Barbados has these incredibly thick noodles that I have never seen anywhere else in the world. The noodles are really what make the dish for me.
During one of our first nights here, we went grocery shopping and the only spaghetti noodles we could find were these thick noodles. At the time we did not know we were supposed to cut them up into small pieces and they were both challenging and quite entertaining to try to eat. Now, however, we have realized they have their own unique purpose.
In the evening we went to the Super Bowl party. Even the Bajans know that a Super Bowl party would not be complete without wings, tacos, and nachos. This year we watched the Super Bowl on the beach surrounded by huge HD TVs all broadcasting the game. In order to reserve a table outside there was an extra charge, and seeing as we are college students, we have to save money somewhere! It ended up working out in our favor though because about halfway through the game it started pouring rain and everyone ran inside the restaurant. Due to the fact that we were already inside, we were one of the few lucky groups that had a table (and we didn’t even have to pay for it!).
In case you missed the game or didn’t hear, the Falcons lost to the Patriots in overtime. This was the first Super Bowl in history to go into overtime! And even though the Patriots are my least favorite team in the NFL, I had a blast watching the game.
On a final note, since meat is often expensive here, I eat fish to get my protein instead. There is a fish market in Paynes Bay open Monday – Saturday from noon – 7PM. The fish prices change daily due to what they catch, but they’re always both affordable and delicious. I can get a pound of tuna for $5 US, whereas in California one pound would cost around $30. Keep in mind when you read the prices sign that “dolphin” in Barbados is actually mahi-mahi. Bajans don’t go around eating sweet innocent dolphins!
Angela Howard studied abroad in Cave Hill, Barbados, in Spring 2017: http://eap.ucop.edu/OurPrograms/barbados/Pages/univ_west_indies.aspx
BY ANGELA HOWARD
Every country I have lived in has their own unique perspective on time. In California, people generally try to run “on time” meaning arriving within a +/- 10 minute window of the event start time, with the main exception being “fashionable late” to parties. In Germany the stereotype about Germans being punctual is an understatement. In northern Germany in particular, if you are anything less than 15 minutes early, you are late. Before I understood this nuance of “on time” I would often arrive to upset company. The conversation would generally go something like this (but keep in mind it probably sounded must harsher as it was in German):
Friend: “Angie! I was so worried, where have you been!? We agreed on meeting at 12:17*. It’s 12:18!!!!”
Me: “…Sorry I was one minute late.”
Friend: “ONE MINUTE?! I expected you here 16 minutes ago!”
* It was common for meetings with people to start at oddly specific minute increments.
In Ghana there was GMT. Not Greenwich Mean Time, but rather “Ghana-Maybe-Time.” (Ironically enough, Ghana actually is in the GMT time zone!)
UCEAP Advisor in Ghana (during orientation): “If an event is scheduled to start at 10 a.m., arrive at noon and bring a snack and a book. Or simply be mentally prepared to wait until it actually starts.”
GMT was very subjective, sometimes events would “only” start 30 minutes late, and other times they would not even be set up by the designated start time. Even my courses at the University of Ghana would frequently start 30-45 minutes late. Being someone who is very involved in German culture, it was very difficult for me to adjust to GMT; however, it most definitely taught me the virtue of patience.
In Barbados the phenomenon is referred to as “Island Time.” Island Time is known as “a certain slack attitude toward the clock” and to be honest, I’m still unsure how much time to allot myself (or not to allot myself rather) before getting to an event. For example, a few weeks ago I went on a cruise around the west coast of the island. The flyer for the cruise said “Boarding at 11 a.m., Setting Sail at Noon Sharp.” Not wanting to miss the boat, I promptly arrived at 11 a.m. only to find that the crew for the ship had not even arrived yet. We finally set sail until after 2 p.m. When people invite me to events, I generally have to ask what time they actually want me to arrive. One would think that after seven weeks of living here, I would finally understand the time schedules; however, unfortunately I do not. I can say that “Island time” and Ghana’s GMT have taught me to relax and reflect in situations where I would not normally do so. It’s liberating to not live the fast paced city live I had while attending UCLA.
Seeing as UWI is in the middle of midterms I have spent most of the past week studying (and catching up. I got behind when my family visited last week). I have also been resting because I caught a double ear infection cough from too much swimming.
I did have time to make delicious banana bread. Food is expensive here on the island because just about everything has to be imported, so we followed the recipe as close as we could… and I accidently added a third egg because I wasn’t paying close enough attention. But it turned out delicious so no complaints! We also don’t have a beater, but we figured out that when we are improvising, a blender works just as well! There’s also always time for ice cream, no matter how much studying you have to do!
I was texting an old friend this morning on WhatsApp, and as they exclaimed how excited they were that I was coming home soon, it made me realize how little time we have left here in Barbados. Sure, we still have two and a half months left, but in the grand scheme of being gone for 11 months total of traveling, two and a half does not feel like long at all. We are on the last leg of our trip, which means graduation and job hunting are right around the corner. I think I will seize my island time experiences as much as I can for the next couple months before getting back to bustling California.
Finally, sports are picking up right now. Possibly one of the only reasons I am looking forward to coming back to California at the end of May is so that I can watch the SF Giants at AT & T Park again. I’ve watched the Giants BEAT the Dodgers at Dodger Stadium in the past two years, but I have not been able to catch a Giants game at AT & T Park since I have been living in Los Angeles. I always wear my SF Giants baseball cap to keep the sun off my face here, so it will be nice to see the team I have been supporting internationally!
Don’t forget to watch UCLA in the upcoming weeks! UCLA basketball is currently RANKED THIRD IN THE COUNTRY! With March Madness right aroundthe corner, this is particularly exciting! (For those of you that do not know, March Madness is a huge NCAA college basketball tournament that runs for the last two weeks of March every year.) This year, I have been teaching some of my Bajan friends about basketball, in exchange for them teaching me the rules of cricket, and we have all agreed to watch and support UCLA in the tournament. I wear UCLA affiliated clothing most days, simply because it’s what my limited wardrobe consists of, but I wish I had larger sizes to distribute for everyone to wear. As long as they don’t wear red, we should all be in the clear! GO BRUINS!
Angela Howard studied abroad in Cave Hill, Barbados, in Spring 2017: http://eap.ucop.edu/OurPrograms/barbados/Pages/univ_west_indies.aspx
BY ANGELA HOWARD
Barbados
Living in a country less than one third the size of the city of Los Angeles would make you think it would be easy to get around. But while there are many busses on the island, as a foreigner, they can be quite challenging to navigate. So here it is folks, “The Foreigner’s Guide to Understanding Bajan Buses!”
Hold on tight, you’re in for a treat! Most buses in Barbados have rails and handles bolted to the walls and seats for people to hang on. You’ll want to hang on even while sitting down, trust me! Buses in Barbados can feel like roller coasters without seatbelts.
Keep in mind that in Barbados people drive on the left side of the rode and the driver’s side is right. There have been many times in low traffic areas where I have waited for a bus on the wrong side of the road.
Most busses in Barbados do not have set time schedules. It would just put more stress on everyone if they did, because they would never be on time. Rather than leaving at a certain time, they leave once they have reached max (or close to max) capacity. If you get to a bus terminal and are directed to hop on an empty bus, you might be waiting for quite a while. There are three main types of busses in Barbados: ZRs (pronounced Zed-Rs), Minibuses, and Blue buses. Please note that all buses charge the same fare regardless of distance: $2 Barbados.
ZR
ZRs, also known as music busses, are modified 14 passenger vans owned by a private company.
The original seats have usually been taken out, and new ones are brought in to maximize seating. I’ve traveled in ZRs with over 30 people packed into one. The “mate” who collects the money from passengers is a master of human Tetris. They always seem to find new innovative ways to cram more people inside to maximize profits. (There was even an event at UWI Sports Day called “Pack a ZR!”) These buses are well known for blasting Bajan music, zooming down roads at racing speeds, and stopping wherever people ask (as compared to at bus stops) even though getting off a bus anywhere other than a bus stop is illegal. They can be identified as white vans with a maroon stripe. The ZRs usually take shorter routes along the South and West Coasts are more commonly seen driving through residential neighborhoods. Usually there is a doorbell to press to signal to the ZR driver that you want to disembark. The horns that these buses use sound like squeaky brakes! While I would not recommend the ZRs if you are severely claustrophobic or prone to motion sickness, I think that they are a blast and everyone visiting Barbados should experience them!
Pros:
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Minibus
Next we have the Minibuses which can be identified as being yellow. I’ve been on quite a variety of Minibuses. Some are nicer than Californian public busses, and others are completely falling apart. You never know what you’re going to get until you get on the bus. While these busses run the occasional secluded route, I most frequently see them traveling from Bridgetown (the capital of Barbados also known as B-Town) in the south to Speightstown (SP-Town) in the north. While the Minibuses often accept bills larger than $2 Bajan, they do not always, so it is a good idea to try and have exact change when getting on these buses. Unlike the ZRs, the Minibuses do in fact pick up and drop off people predominantly at bus stops. Particularly during rush hour these buses get very full but seldom decline entry to new passengers. While locals are accustomed to this, I have seen tourists have panic attacks due to the capacity of the bus. Finally, in order to get on these buses you must gesture to the bus driver to stop by holding your arm out at a bus stop. If you simply wait at a bus stop and do not flag the bus down, they will not stop for you. In order to get off these buses, there are usually doorbells on the sides of the bus; however, sometimes you must press a lump in a black strip that lines the ceiling. (I assure you, that will make much more sense if you are on the bus!)
Pros:
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Blue Buses
Finally, on the bus front we have the blue government operated buses. These buses require exact change. If the smallest bill you have is $5 Barbados, then you are going to be out $3 after paying for bus fare. However, these buses do have an online posted schedule. That being said, I have never seen them run on time. The blue busses travel all over the island, whereas the Minibuses and ZRs are more heavily concentrated on the south and west coasts. In order to get off these buses, you usually have to pull a black string attached to the ceiling. If you press the red “stop” buttons, nothing happens (as I learned the hard way) and the bus will not drop you off at your intended destination.
Pros:
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Rather than buses having flashing neon signs with destinations like Californian buses, most Bajan buses have a laminated sheet of paper on the front windshield that states the bus’s final destination. The ZRs also have numbers on the back that indicate a certain route. If you’re ever unsure if your intended stop is on the route, simply ask the driver. They are very friendly. Very few minibuses and ZRs run on Sundays, as it is seen as a day of rest.
Unfortunately Google Maps has not been programed to handle the Barbados public transit system due to unset schedules and constant changing routes. If you’re ever in doubt, just ask a local, they are always eager to lend a helping hand!
Angela Howard studied abroad in Cave Hill, Barbados, in Spring 2017: http://eap.ucop.edu/OurPrograms/barbados/Pages/univ_west_indies.aspx
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.
