One of the greatest perks about studying abroad is the experiences students receive for the first time. Whether it would be your first time eating an apple pie, attending a rock concert, or seeing an amazing landmark.  Here at Al Jamiat, we are interested in hearing about your firsts and what they were like!

Shaheed Sabrin is a senior at USC School of Theatre, majoring in Theatre and minoring in Entrepreneurship with the USC Marshal School of Business. He was last Spring’s recipient of the Jack Nicholsan Award for Outstanding Undergraduate Actor and hopes to one day open a restaurant for his mother.

My first… time seeing the great pyramids of Giza

My first time seeing the great pyramids of Giza was such a rewarding and educational experience. I arrived in Egypt on my birthday, August 22nd, which was also the start of Ramadan. I contemplated not going with my University mates for the trip, but then realized the best time to go was with my school’s guided tour. I braced myself and overcame scorching summer heat in the midst of keeping my fast. As our bus approached the raised area of Giza, I stared in awe, wondering what genius went into constructing this massive structure of and all the history behind it. As soon as I stepped off the bus I was bombarded my children trying to sell me postcards for 5 Egyptian Pounds. Then, as I approached the entrance of the pyramids people tried hustling me into getting a 250 Egyptian Pound camel ride for only 2 minutes. I dismissed everything and headed straight for the pyramids.

Since the guards could tell I had some Egyptian in me, they rushed me to the front of the line where I approached a dark and humid entryway. My whole way up was extremely claustrophobic as the passage was narrow, but when I reached one of the areas that one of the tombs were held in, I took a breath of excitement. As I headed back down the pyramid, I made a promise to myself that I would not leave Egypt without knowing the significance behind Egypt’s fascinating monuments. Most of all, the great pyramids of  Giza inspired me to not just live in Egypt as a tourist, but as a student of the land, journeying into the unknown and educating myself all throughout the semester.

Interested in sharing your first experience?

Email allizon@al-jamiat.com with your story and see how you can contribute to the “My first…” feature!

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cc nimble photography

The idea of not being prepared or not knowing can be frightening. The world today relies heavily on Internet resources and it’s crucial to know them. There are multiple online sites that can really make your life easier. And while you’re transitioning into a new country and school, anything that could possibly make life simpler will be needed!

Here is a list of the top two sites for online calendars, music players, photo editors, and scholar search engines, all of which were resources I used non-stop as a college student.

Online Calendars: There is no option, you need a calendar/planner in college is you want to stay onto of your game. I suggest using an online calendar to organize class schedules, office hours, due dates, and meetings. It can start getting confusing if you don’t remember when and where you are supposed to be.

Google Calendar

30Boxes

Scholar Search Engines: Students write a lot of papers in college, so be prepared for tons of researching. Using a scholar search engine will provide you with scholarly literature that is more trustworthy and reliable than articles found with a normal search engine.

CrossRef

Google Scholar

Music Library/Player: If you are not the type of person to buy multiple songs from iTunes but still want to listen to good music, I suggest using an online music library or player. Playing music can do wonders for you. It helps some students work more productively and get in a better mood.

Grove Shark

Pandora

Photo Editor: Taking pictures is second nature while in college, and uploading them to Facebook is the obvious next step. Having an online picture editor is always handy to have around. You can use it for adding a fun effect to a picture of you and your friends, hiding that pimple you wish was never there, or straightening a tilted picture because your mom can’t hold the camera right.

Picnik

Phixr

Do you have any websites you can’t live without? Share what sites are the most helpful for you!

Allizon Munoz is a junior at Ohio Dominican University studying Public Relations and minoring in Marketing. She serves as the 2010-2011 Ohio Dominican PRSSA President and Vice President of Professional Activities for Delta Sigma Pi Omicron Tau.  Connect with her here: http://card.ly/allizonmunoz

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I spent my first holiday, away from my parents and siblings, with my German exchange students family. It was lonely, despite being welcomed with open arms by his family. The traditions seemed odd, despite the hours of study and discussion I’d had over the years about German culture and tradition during the holiday season. It was depressing, despite all of the fun I had hanging out with my exchange brother, his family, and friends. Overall, it was a very odd holiday season.

Thanksgiving, Christmas, Hannaka, Kwanza, New Years are all holidays where the importance of family, home, and being close to family and friends. It’s hard to get in the holiday spirit, when you have no family to go “home” to, and don’t want to spend your semester break recovering from jet lag or in busy crowded airport lines.

cc license, Rennett Stowe

To add to the lack of close family and friends, traditions in America will assuredly be different than those you might be used to. It could be a simple difference, such as not having a Christmas market downtown, or as drastic as normally not celebrating Christmas or understanding the customs around you. Going home with an American friend, while a great experience and a lot of fun, isn’t the same as being home with your family and friends, in settings you grew up around.

Like regular homesickness, there is no fix-all cure for holiday-homesickness. Even if you don’t celebrate the same holidays, it could be a lonely time. Most school dorms shut down for the two to four week semester break, and almost everyone goes home.  Plan what you are going to do ahead of time, so like your American-classmates, you have plans to look forward too. Share your customs with your friends, and they might be open to incorporating some of them in with their own.

Overall, though, enjoy the experience of being abroad during the holidays. While it can feel alienating and lonely, it’s an experience most people don’t get the chance to experience. Take in the differences, understand them, and relish the time you have abroad.

Elissa Yonkers is a recent graduate from Bowling Green State University, with a Bachelors of Science of Journalism with a focus on Public Relations, and a very strong minor in German. With several internship experiences under her belt, she is looking to widen her experience and knowledge with a job in corporate communications, public affairs, or work in a public relations agency. Connect with her here: http://sites.google.com/site/elissay/

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Ryan is ready for dinner.

I’ve never had a bad Thanksgiving dinner. The food is always amazing whether you are preparing a meal at home or spending it with family and friends somewhere else. I look forward to mashed potatoes, cornbread and of course turkey each November.  Many families have traditions in the foods they serve at dinner. Maybe grandma always makes the best sweet potatoes or Aunt Jody will definitely be showing up with her casserole recipe. When I studied abroad last fall semester I wasn’t sure what to except for Thanksgiving. It was the first time I had spent the holiday away from my family. I wondered if anyone would bother organizing a dinner. Should we just go out to eat or perhaps skip Thanksgiving this year?

Everyone hanging out in the appartment.

Luckily my friends are awesome and all wanted us all to plan Thanksgiving together. We created a sign-up sheet and divided dishes for people to prepare. I loved how everyone in the group was excited to make something different. Eric kept talking about a stuffing recipe from home and Nicole skyped her mom for instructions on their green bean casserole dish. I emailed my own house to ask how many potatoes I would need for a group of twenty-five (I’m clueless when it comes to cooking). We went grocery shopping and weren’t sure if they would have everything we would need, but we found most of it with a few substitutions. The funniest purchase was the turkey. They had the local butcher to prepare and cook it for us. It was probably the most expensive turkey any of us ever ate, but was worth the tradition.

A picture for Jeremy's mom.

There wasn’t a big space where we could host dinner so we met at our friend’s apartment. We fit about twenty-five people into a tiny two-bedroom apartment. Their table had four seats, so yes, it was a bit crammed. Even more crammed was the tiny kitchen. Dinner was served about three hours later than scheduled but it worked out because we were extra hungry by then. Jeremy brought over party poppers. He said they are a tradition at his house for Thanksgiving. They are paper tubes with little prizes, fortunes and a paper crown inside. We took pictures for his mom to send home.

My Thanksgiving abroad was very memorable and I’m glad I got spend it with friends. Do you have a study abroad Thanksgiving story to share?

Hannah DeMilta is a senior at Otterbein College studying Public Relations with a minor in Deaf Culture and Language (ASL). She has studied abroad in Australia and loves traveling whenever possible. She has held several internships in the PR & communications field and hopes to work in the non-profit sector one day. She also loves speaking with students interested in studying abroad, so please feel free to start a conversation: http://www.linkedin.com/in/hannahdemilta

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Orientation

As a first year student you are most probably going to be required to come earlier than the upperclassmen for orientation. This is may be one of the most entertaining times of your university life and you should take full advantage of it. The couple of days of orientation are going to be a busy time and there will be little time for you sit down and think about your family and friends back home. I would advise you to meet as many people as possible. You may not be able to remember all of their names, but once school starts you will at least remember their faces.

Culture Shock

Moving into a new and vastly different culture than yours can be very daunting. The transition will vary from person to person; some people adjust to changes easier than others. Try to be open and understanding of the “new” culture that you are experiencing. You will find many things that are considered “normal” in the U.S. are unacceptable in your culture. Try not to be judging of the American culture because that could distance you and make it more difficult for you to make friends. Part of your university experience is about learning about the culture.

Academics

cc license, Colin Purrington

The U.S. universities are very unique and different than any other university system in the world. Usually, your professors will require you to complete any reading assignment before the lecture. This way you will stay on top of your material and be able to get better grades during the exams. In most cases your grade will not depend only upon a single final exam. Usually it will involve classroom participation, homework assignments, mid-terms and final exams. University level work is very intense and demanding. If you have already developed good study skills during high school you should be fine.

Extracurricular Activities

There are numerous organizations that exist on university campuses throughout the U.S. If you find that there are not enough clubs on your campus, then you can start your own club. Learning in U.S. colleges is not focused only in the classroom; rather you will learn much more about yourself and grow as a person outside of the classroom. The skills and experiences that you gain as a club member will help your future in the job place and the community where you live. It is very important that you stay involved on campus and do activities outside of the classroom. These will increase your chances of securing an internships and jobs. Being involved will demonstrate to the employer that you are able to handle multiple tasks efficiently. In addition to that, through your involvement on campus your can show off your variety of your skills and talents.

cc license, williamscollege

Money and Documents

Once you come in the U.S. you will most probably open a bank account. I would strongly advise you that you check your online bank status regularly. Identity theft can be very dangerous, so make sure that once you obtain your Social Security number you keep it in a safe and secure location. Also, make sure you make copies of your passport and visa and other important documents that you receive prior to coming. Without identification at the airport or in a foreign country, things can be very complicated.

Coming to the U.S. is a new experience for you. Make sure that you take full advantage of all resources that are available on campus. Be happy and proud of your success. Also, be sure to enjoy the rest of the summer with your family and friends before you leave!

Stefan Ivanovski was born in Belgrade, Serbia but spent most of his life in Macedonia. He studied at an international school from 8^th – 10^th grades in the Netherlands. After graduating from high school in Macedonia with an International Baccalaureate Bilingual Diploma he applied to study in the United States. Currently he is studying at Bucknell University, in Lewisburg, Pennsylvania majoring in International Relations and Spanish.

To read the complete article, please see our current issue of Al Jamiat Magazine.

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With permission, EmilyShuki

American college students love dressing up for Halloween. You will find costume parties on university campuses all across the country in the month of October. The outfit choices range from strange, scary, hilarious or risqué.

Ohio University in Athens, Ohio is known for its history of wild Halloween parties. According to the Athens County CVB, attendance estimates are anywhere from 10,000 to 30,000 each year for the party and the number fluctuates depending on the weather. Many come out of town to join the celebration.

Emily Shuki, a senior at Ohio University says that the party could easily be compared to Mardi Gras, but with lots of weird costumes and in Ohio. “It’s a big block party uptown where everyone goes to listen to the music being played on sound stages at either side of the street and where everyone is dressed in costume.”

cc license, rbatina

When in Athens you have to be especially creative in coming up with a costume. “I always appreciate the costumes that require some thought or are depictions of pop culture events or persons,” said Emily. “I saw a guy dressed as balloon boy this year, and lots of Lady GaGas.”

Group costumes are also a popular idea to make a statement. How would you like to see 101 people dressed as the 101 Dalmatians, or a group of five people dressed as pieces from Tetris?

While most people in attendance are just there to have a good time, things do get out of hand at times. Emily said that someone set a couch on fire this year and every Halloween there are student and non-student arrests. “I think celebrations at any other school are probably similar to ours, it’s just the number of visitors we get here that make it such a crazy weekend,” said Emily.

Although Halloween this year and come past, it’s not too late to start thinking about your costume ideas for next year. “I think everyone looks forward to it, at least a little. It’s the opportunity to be someone other than you,” said Emily. “…college is one of the last times you can live it up without making a complete fool of yourself.”

Hannah DeMilta is a senior at Otterbein College studying Public Relations with a minor in Deaf Culture and Language (ASL). She has studied abroad in Australia and loves traveling whenever possible. She has held several internships in the PR & communications field and hopes to work in the non-profit sector one day. She also loves speaking with students interested in studying abroad, so please feel free to start a conversation: http://www.linkedin.com/in/hannahdemilta

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This year they sold 1,859,235 tickets for 2,098 shows in 265 venues with an estimated 18,901 performers. You can’t seem to go anywhere in Edinburgh and not find the Fringe. If you aren’t seeing a show at an official venue, you are probably watching a street performance or enjoying live music in the park. I even was told one of the shows takes place in a taxi – very unique?

Not only do people come from all over the world to attend the Fringe, but so do the performers. I actually seemed to run into more people from everywhere but Edinburgh. I value the idea of bringing different types of people together through the arts so this was especially cool to see. According to their website, the Fringe is an open arts festival, which means that anyone can perform without any constraints from the Festival Fringe Society.

Besides taking in the Fringe I also explored more of Edinburgh and took a trip to see the Highlands and Loch Ness (no monster sightings). This was my first time in the UK and Scotland made a memorable first impression.

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I found it surprising that I had never heard of the Fringe before this year. It made me wonder if there are other great festivals and events taking place all over the world I don’t know about yet. This trip forced me to recognize how much I have left to see. It also made me want to do my ‘homework’ to figure out where I can go next.

When a city is flooded with tourists for an event it might be harder to get a clear representation of that place. At the same time, I can’t help but love how alive it makes a city feel!

Do you have a favorite festival that is definitely worth the trip?

Hannah DeMilta is a senior at Otterbein College studying Public Relations with a minor in Deaf Culture and Language (ASL). She has studied abroad in Australia and loves traveling whenever possible. She has held several internships in the PR & communications field and hopes to work in the non-profit sector one day. She also loves speaking with students interested in studying abroad, so please feel free to start a conversation: http://www.linkedin.com/in/hannahdemilta
Photo Credit on Homepage: CC License, riggott

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When I studied in Austria, I had a month long case of Homesickness. From March until April (I had been there since the last September), I contemplated if I wouldn’t be better off, happier if I went home. I had my reasons, and they seemed to be piling up more and more each day. The people I was studying abroad with were getting on my nerves, the classes were getting more difficult,  I didn’t really want to learn German that badly, I missed my friends and family, I was missing important events at home. The more I thought about it, the more going home seemed like the most logical thing in the world to do.

Homesickness, like any sickness, has various cures. None of them are guaranteed to work every time or for every person. Here are some suggestions to getting over homesickness that worked for me:

1. Recognize you are homesick. There’s a saying, “The first step to recovery is admitting you have a problem.” This is probably the one step to getting over homesickness common to every person. It’s hard to solve a problem, if you don’t realize there even is one. It’s ok to be homesick, so admit it to yourself and do something about it.
2. Stay Active If you are homesick, take a look at your schedule and be honest. Have you been finding reasons, like your favorite TV show is on, in order NOT to hang out with your friends or go to meetings and events? Be honest. If so, get your butt into the meeting. Keep involved and moving, especially when you are homesick. You’re less likely to think about how much better it is at home, if you’re having a blast at a group meeting or hanging out with a bunch of your friends there.
3. Find something new. Remember the days, when everything around you was a breath taking sight? Studying abroad was new and exciting, and every new experience was etched into your mind? Find something you haven’t done, and do it. It may be as big as going on a weekend trip to a new city, or as small as checking out a new coffee shop. Even the smallest of college towns will have something new to do.
4. Email, don’t phone, home. This might seem counter-intuitive. After all, your homesick brain wants to hear the voice of your family and friends, wants to talk with them and complain about how bad life abroad really is at the moment. If that’s the case, stay off the phone. Modern technology created email to write and let family and friends know about that type of stuff. Hearing their voices, and listening to their small talk and comments will only make your homesickness worse. Emailing them lets you stay in touch, but it probably won’t make it worse. If your family and friends at home are annoyed you never call, write them and tell them why you don’t want to call. They will understand.
5. Indulge yourself. Cook yourself a meal that reminds you of home. Look through photos of your family and friends. Listen to some music from home. Watch a favorite movie.  It’s natural to miss family and friends, so let yourself miss them for a day or two, and then get a move on with life. If you spend all your time looking at their photos, and feeling sorry for yourself, you won’t have any stories to tell them when you get back. Then you really did was your time abroad.
6. Be patient. As much as you might want your homesickness to disappear, it probably won’t go away overnight. Realize that homesickness is part of the adjustment to a new and different culture.

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During orientation for my study abroad group, we went abseiling (rappelling) in the Blue Mountains outside of Sydney. I was really put to the test of trying new things, since I’m terrified of heights and didn’t like the thought of lowering myself down the face of a cliff. I pushed myself to try it anyway and now I’m grateful I did. Not only was abseiling a lot of fun, but I also think it helped set the tone for the rest of my semester. I went on to try many new things and met a lot of really amazing people because of my efforts.

“Stripped of your ordinary surroundings your friends your daily routines your refrigerator full of food your closet full of clothes – with all this taken away you are forced into direct experience. Such direct experience inevitably makes you aware of who it is that is having the experience. That’s not always comfortable but it is always invigorating.” -Michael Crichton

It’s definitely not easy to step outside your comfort zone, especially when you’re surrounded by new people in an unfamiliar place. It would be my challenge to every student to try and break down those barriers holding you back. Whether you are spending a semester abroad or seeking your full degree, push yourself to try new things and take every opportunity presented to you.

Next week I’ll be taking a trip to Europe with a class and then traveling a couple weeks with my sister. I’ve already made plans to meet up with a group of locals I’ve never met before to have coffee one morning. I have that anxious feeling again, and I’ve never been more ready. I’m anxious to meet new people and start another adventure.

What story would you share about a time you stepped outside your comfort zone?

Hannah DeMilta is a senior at Otterbein College studying Public Relations with a minor in Deaf Culture and Language (ASL). She has studied abroad in Australia and loves traveling whenever possible. She has held several internships in the PR & communications field and hopes to work in the non-profit sector one day. She also loves speaking with students interested in studying abroad, so please feel free to start a conversation: http://www.linkedin.com/in/hannahdemilta

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They are looking for photos of people working or volunteering abroad, interacting with locals, or participating in a cultural practice. You can check out the rules of the competition and enter here:
http://glimpse.org/contests/

You can see some of the winners from the last contest “World Styles” here:
http://glimpse.org/stories/view/photo-contest-world-styles/

This is a great contest for anyone who is doing some amazing work this summer to enter, so lets see what you’ve got.
Let us know if you enter or win!

Timbuktu, Mali - Tuaregs Photo by Taylor Delph

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