2 weeks down! I can already tell you that it’s been a shock to the system to have legit homework again, but it also no longer feel like I’m wasting a semester. Anyway, I’ve been pretty busy (and sick) the last two weeks and I thought I’d give y’all an update!
This semester I have a pretty fabulous schedule - which just goes to show the lovely breadth of optional classes available at BW. I’m in Dr. Oldrieve’s Celtic Myths and Legends class, yes, that’s right, Celtic myths and legends. We’re currently reading the Destruction of Da Derga’s Hostel and Bricriu’s Feast. Dr. O and Dr. E (Evans, from the History department) are well known for their love of England and Ireland, so it shouldn’t be a surprise that alongside the class I’m in, there is also an honors class called “Violence in N. Ireland and S. Africa” that has a required faculty-led spring break trip to N. Ireland where students get to volunteer in reconciliation organizations and meet local academics.
Sadly, I couldn’t afford that one, BUT next year there is also a class in the Spring with a trip to England and Ireland. This one can give you 4 credits of English OR of History, which helps to fulfill core requirements, and it is only a minimester. The plus side of how that one is set up is that you don’t actually travel abroad until after the semester ends (and you have longer than the honors class there, about two weeks) and you can take all the other classes you would want to take that semester with no problem.
Just a background on the two profs in charge: Dr. O is in the English department with a focus on Pre-Conquest/Medieval/Early Modern British Lit while Dr. E is in the History department with a focus on Tudor and Stuart England and forward, but both love to include experiential learning in their classes for participation credit - aka, you can go to an irish music concert, write a summary on it about what you learned, and get credit for class.
Well, that’s it for now. If you’re interested in different types of programs or classes, I would say check those trips or two professors out.

Most study abroad students will tell you that they miss union food; most students on campus would say this miss non-union food. Well, there are a bunch of different options aside from munching down in the dining hall every day, and that’s what this blog is about today. First and foremost are the vending machines. Not real food? Technically, I would agree with you; College-wise, you can easily live off of it. The bonus is that almost every building on campus has a machine hidden somewhere, some with certain items and others with different stuff, but you’re almost guaranteed that one’s nearby (except in Dietsch, you have to go next door to Marting for a drink ). However, I’m not as big a fan of the junk food as I am of the easy access to drinks that aren’t just water (have to carry a water bottle around in Spain because they don’t give you free water at any restaurants). Soda tends to be the mainstay, with coffee machines popping up in the big and/or academic buildings. For example, Carmel Living and Learning Center does not have a coffee machine, while MACS next door does (necessary for all-nighters).
Aside from the vending machines, you can either have your family/friends bring you food from home (if they live nearby) or use your jacket card on the three restaurants accepting the card. Domino’s, Oven Fresh, and Pizza King all accept the jacket card for delivery, or in house, orders but only during certain times (M-F after 7 pm and Sat and Sun after 11 am and until the stores close). This may not seem like alot, but there are rumors floating around that more restaurants may be signing on soon to the “Merchant Vendor” Program, as the school calls it.
Well, there are a few options. Hope it helps

Hey everyone!
So, since I’ve decided to come back to BW in the Spring, I need to register for classes, right? (I’m sure you’re thinking, well, duh, lol). Well, there are a lot of different systems colleges use for their students to register. There is one girl here who had to register LAST Spring for this coming Spring because her school (Westminster College in PA) functions on a paper system, which she fills in and then has her advisors sign off on. BW has evolved a bit more, technologically speaking, and all registration occurs online (such as you will find if you look at big schools, like OSU).
Webexpress is the name of the site used. It has many functions, but all primarily correspond with that of classes and registration. One option is the Academic Evaluation which shows how many credits you still need and what requirements, for your major/minor/core/etc. (I don’t know what etcetera would be, but I’m sure there is something), so that when you go to register, you know exactly what you need. My favorite part of Webexpress, however, is the Search for Sections (which is really Search for Classes). Even while registering, if you aren’t into planning your classes before your actual time of registration, you can search classes and then pick from the list of all those offered from a department, or that fit a core requirement, and click to register them. For example, if I were to put in Term: Spring Semester 2010; Subjects: English, History; Core Requirement: International; Hit Submit: Then a list comes up of the 10 English classes being offered this Spring that would count as International classes for Core and 9 History classes show up (this is only counting titles, all the classes are shown multiple times for each different time slot they are offered, but I didn’t count them that way). The basic information that shows up is whether the class is Open (meaning there are spots available) or Closed, the entire Section and Name (such as HIS-313I-S01 Renaissance & Reformation), the meeting information (dates the class runs, what hour, what building, which room), the faculty member teaching the class, the number of seats available and the maximum allowed (aka, 12/25 would mean there are 25 total seats and only 12 are still open), the number of credits and the academic level of the class (undergrad or graduate).
There is one complication with BW’s system, and it can be both good and bad. After registering for classes, each student’s advisor has to approve the courses chosen. All freshman are required to meet in persont to discuss options (preferably before registration) and then again after registering to make sure they chose wisely. All other students are recommended to go in person and see their advisor. Normally, I stop by one of my two advisor’s office, talk for 5 minutes while he approves the courses and then that’s that; however, I’ve found that it is a bit more difficult while you are overseas. BW is small enough that my advisors will at least remember my face, but that does not mean that the minute they get my email requesting class approval, they are going to drop everything and do it. There is also the downside of not being able to go in person and watch as they approve (electronically) your choices, as being there physically makes it really hard for them to forget! So my advice for incoming freshman and any other college students who read this, if you plan on studying abroad, have a nice long chat with your advisor about what you except to take when you come back and what you expect from them while you are abroad.

Freshman are allowed to have cars on BW’s campus. Definitely a bonus for those students who live far away and in comparison to many schools that actually ban freshman with cars. At the beginning of the school year, or rather, right before school starts, you will receive an envelope in the mail that has a bunch of things in it, including information about getting a parking pass. It is actually very easy to do. It costs $60 a semester, or $120 a year, and you just fill out a basic form that includes information about your car (that way they can tell that you haven’t stolen the pass from someone else). There is a slight backdraw for study abroad students, at least those in the fall, that I would like to point out on top of all the bonuses that come along with them. The form has to be turned in via mail, by hand into the office, or by fax. It would be very expensive to try either of those three from Spain, where I am, so if you plan to study abroad, buy your parking permit early (you can buy one for the Spring in the Fall I believe).
Just an fyi

Traveling is a bonus most people try and exploit when they study abroad. However, where you decide to go on one of BW’s numerous programs also affects where you can go (obviously) and how much you are going to be paying to go. Europe is expensive. Latin America is cheap. Africa (South to be specific) is cheap. Australia – I have no clue. These are generally true for BW programs and surprisingly enough, most people still choose Europe, like me. Although mentally you may be prepared for the bad exchange rate going in favor of the Euro, it won’t really hit you until you are in country and taking money out of your home bank account. It is always fun to see the 150 euros took out equate to $240 on your bank statement.
If money is not a concern of yours, or you think you might be receiving help from the parental units, then focus more on where it is you would like to travel to when you have breaks in classes. A combination of these both being taken into consideration, you should enjoy your time abroad.
Then there is the possibility of doing a faculty led trip, which while tending to range of the expensive side, are in fact cheaper than what you would get if you tried to arrange the same trip on your own. For example, this fall there is a Faculty led Seminar of Ecuador. The students participating, after going through a grueling interview process and paying around $3000 more than their regular tuition, stayed on campus until Oct. 2nd, taking classes focused on the country, and now they are studying in Cuenca, a southern city in Ecuador, for 5 weeks. Once those 5 weeks are over, and their Spanish significantly improved due to exposure with native speakers and language classes, they will explore the country and go to places such as Otavalo (known for its indigenous population) and the Galapagos Islands. Normally a trip to the Galapagos Islands would cost you $1000 all on its own. So for $2000 more, the students get the benefit of living in country for 5 weeks as well as traveling and seeing the REST of the state. There are many other similar Seminars led by BW faculty.

As I mentioned back in August in one my blogs, I originally signed up to study in Spain for the entire year. I had plans of traveling, getting to know new people, and try and perfect my spanish. Seems reasonable right? Well, a number of factors have occurred that have made me reconsider my decision and I would like to report back that BW´s Study Abroad Office as well as the rest of the Spanish department have been very supportive of allowing me to reach a choice and help with whichever I choose. Financially it is incredibly difficult to study in Europe, as the dollar is less than the Euro in exchange rates, and classes-wise, I got all of the class I NEED to take for my major this semester. So traveling and perfecting my Spanish are kinda being achieved, but can be checked off my original list. Meeting other people has always been something difficult for me, and if you are a BW prospective student who is a little quiet or shy when first meeting people - don´t worry about that on campus; after the first semester I guarantee you will be firmly established in a group of ppl, and if you aren´t, no one minds if you become friends after the first semester! However, in Spain it has been a bit of a different story towards meeting people.
I had been debating about trying to switch programs since back in the Spring when I was going through all the work to obtain a visa and the feeling solidified after arriving in Madrid and going through orientation. I emailed the study abroad office and while they asked that I give Spain more time to endear itself to me, they also provided the information on when I need to make a decision by and then how I would go about getting everything settled. I waited a bit and have officially sent out emails explaining my decision to return for the Spring and all offices have been very encouraging and helpful in this regard. I know people at BW complain about the administration sometimes, I can´t lie cuz I´ve certainly done it on various occasions, but for Study Abroad, they respect the student´s assessment of the situation and let you make your own decision, which is a nice outcome in relation to all the numerous horror stories revolving around difficult study abroad procedures at other universities.

You just finished high school and you´re ready to go, get away from that town you´ve spent however many years stuck in, and be an adult. You swear you are not going to miss home. After about the first half of the semester, most people get a bit sentimental about their dog or their room back home that they didn´t have to share with anyone, etc. Most of those with homesickness had the exact same viewpoint as above: I won´t miss it.
A fact of life is that whether your university feels like home or not (as BW does for a big portion of the campus population) it is still highly likely that you will miss your real home,at least a little bit. BW is great for helping new students adjust to campus life. Next to two orientations (although the second one will feel a little long), one in the summer and one RIGHT before classes start, there are many floor activities to get to know the others in your building and the College 101 class, which I know is a hard choice to make on whether you should take it or not as it doesn´t really count towards anything, helps you meet other freshman who are not in your major or dorm. I highly suggest College 101 primarily for that reason. It is also not that difficult academics-wise, so it serves as a nice break from the stress that most people feel in their first semester classes.
If you ever decide to study abroad, be fully aware of homesickness there as well. It is much, much, much stronger than when you are at BW (at least this is true for me). While college life is almost a whole culture separate from regular, everyday to day life in the US, living abroad is worse due to the difficulty in communicating with home (think different time zones) as well as different surroundings. I recently went to Valencia and Murcia with a friend and we loved Valencia a lot more due to two simple reasons: it had a really wide and nice park that ran through the center of the city and it reminded us of home. Aside from Madrid, Valencia is the only place in Spain where I have seen a starbucks. You might be thinking, ¨you study abroad for the experience, you shouldn´t do/watch/eat anything american¨ but it´s a comfort zone that you´ll find yourself needing while overseas. We had starbucks almost every day.
So what is the purpose of this blog? This is me trying to say enjoy your time at home, the summer before leaving and especially senior year of high school, and try and bring things that when you are missing, oh, Skyline Chili (for other ppl from Cincinnati like myself), will help brighten the day a bit by being from home.

Teachers from different cultures have their own way of doing things, and this is no exception if you are in the US or Spain. BW has many teachers from different countries – Puerto Rico, France, Usually someone from the Arabic world in the language department, China, and those are just the ones on the top of my head. In the US, the student goes to class, takes notes, usually there are some papers involved and the midterm/final exams, but the grade is not based on a large quantity of work (although this might change depending on the topic of the class). I don’t think I’ve had a BW class yet where attendance wasn’t watched though and counted as part of the grade – just a forewarning, as many college students think they can show up when they want, but check with your syllabus or professor before doing so.
At the moment I am in the middle of the intensive Spanish language month before semester classes start here in Spain, but I can already tell you some big differences I’ve noticed. One: according to all the teachers here, unlike in the US where you can build up a rapport with your favorite professors (especially at BW where the class sizes are small), in Spain the teachers show up, teach, and that’s it. They have office hours to help, but usually they do not go out of their way to see students unless it is during those hours. Two: Today in class one of the girls suggested that every Friday we should go to tapas during class. The teacher’s response? “Si, vamonos.” Everyone gathered their things and we went down the street to a tapas bar, where with our sodas (I think one guy ordered beer) we got a free pizza that we split between everyone. When was the last time I remember a professor in the US permitting the class to be done outside, let alone a bar? I can’t. Just an observation 

Sleep is one thing you miss while in college. There always seems to be something going on, and BW isn’t an exception. True, it’s not as big a party school as Ohio University, but many clubs and groups enjoy having activities planned for weeknights as well as weekend nights. Then, on top of that, you add the hw which takes you (Depending on what you major in and the classes) between 2 hours a day to all night (my suitemate from last year is currently planning on 2 hours of sleep a WEEK. I told her to switch to 2 hours a day. Hopefully she listened, but she usually pulls 2 or 3 all-nighters a week) AND just plain hang out time or, for those who need to save up, work. It’s really not as scary as it sounds, but in the end, most people end up sleep deprived in some way or form. Which is why I think all college students should adopt at least one Spanish cultural activity (although it’s slowly disappearing here too) – the Siesta.
This is not a 3 or 4 hour nap in the middle of the day (although some exchange students sleep that much because they’re busy exploring all the discotecas and bars at night here), but rather, around 30 minutes of sleep. It helps reenergize a person in the middle of the day, which is especially helpful when you’ve had a rough night or even after a hard day at school. I have to admit that I normally don’t do the siesta deal. It’s incredibly hot here at the moment, so going out is pretty much suicidal between 2 pm and 5 pm, but since my apartment has internet, I have other ways of entertaining myself than many foreign exchange students who have to go the program office to get free wifi (pronounced wee-fee). However, as you sit and you feel your eyelids start to droop – don’t worry, take a siesta.

Host families. Should you or shouldn’t you? Dormitories like those in the United States, and epitomized by, in my opinion, the Carmel or Constitution dorms on BW’s campus, do not exist in many foreign countries. Normal services at US universities include: laundry, air conditioning, beds, bathrooms, etc. Some even have their own kitchen. The main point of positivity for freshman, or really anyone, is that there are no parents. Next to the RA’s, who are also students with their own lives, and the Resident Director, who you usually only deal with if you have been caught doing something wrong, there is no one there looking over your shoulder saying you shouldn’t be up so late, you shouldn’t drink so much soda, etcetera etcetera. However, don’t let the lack of dorm life throw you for a loop when thinking about studying abroad. Depending upon which BW program you decide to tip your hat at, there may be dorms (like in Australia and England) or residencias (the Spanish version).
The main reason many people do choose homestays over residencias is because you can get pretty immersed in the culture of the country, not the culture of exchange students. If you are studying in a country with a language different than English, then there’s the added bonus of getting to hear a native speaker every day who can help you with grammar, vocabulary, etc. Most foreign students coming to BW are placed in the dorms, since they are an important part of our college culture, but in Spain, for example, it is more typical for a Spaniard to go to university near their home and to commute for classes. Some important questions to ask yourself are: How independent are you? Would you be okay with a host family that you’d have to notify every time you’d miss a meal or come in late? How important is it to you to immerse yourself in the culture? My last word(s) on the topic is that if you are one of the BW students to be lucky enough to have a foreign student as a roommate, remember, it takes a long time to adjust to a new place, especially one with customs you don’t know.