Dear Readers,
The BlogAbroad.com Express recently stopped to refuel as we prepared for the premiere of the exciting new season of BlogAbroad.com. With four great new bloggers, an all new website, and plenty of fuel for the long trip ahead, the Express is back and better than ever. We have four unique and interesting students going to many different fascinating countries, we have implemented new levels of interactivity, meaning the bloggers will be responding to more comments, and will also be posting more pictures.
It's going to be an amazing season, so either continue reading to find out more about our bloggers and their countries, or jump straight into this season and go to http://www.BlogAbroad.com to begin the adventure.
Please e-mail kim@blogabroad.com to give us feedback.
Sincerely
~The BlogAbroad.com Team (John, Matt, & Kim)
Operation BlogAbroad.com
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Mission Briefing
Four elite students have been chosen to share their study abroad adventures with the entire world. They must be smart, they must be funny, they must be able to write, and they must be ready to experience the unknown. They have received their mission. They are ready to go. They are:
Blogger #1 File
Name: Jonathan Jackson
Home: Ben Wheeler, Texas
School: Rice University
Destination: Dunedin, New Zealand
Foreign School: University of Otago
Field of Study: Cognitive Sciences with an emphasis on psychology or neuroscience
Classes: Two cognition courses, one on Maori Society, and another on New Zealand Literature.
Reason for Going Abroad: "The journey, the introspection, the self-discovery is one of the incredible driving forces that has motivated me to go abroad. I've never done it before; in fact the furthest I've been from my East Texas home is a far-off place I call... Wyoming. Southern Wyoming. Honestly, it might as well have been Colorado. This will be my very first time leaving U.S. soil and I'm eager to see what I can't see, to realize what I don't understand, and gain multifarious perspectives to be a better person."
Reason for Blogging: "I sincerely hope that my adventures in New Zealand - be they humorous, sobering, insightful, nostalgic, or just ridiculously fun - will serve to encourage others to take that first step outside of their cultural bounds and explore this breathtaking planet and in doing so, learn ever more about themselves. While I endeavor to stir others, if I manage to inspire but one individual out of one million, I will have counted my efforts an overwhelming success."
Blogger #2 File
Name: Vanessa Ruiz
Home: Miami, Florida
School: The Rhode Island School of Design
Destination: La Guaira, Venezuela; Salvador, Brazil; Cape Town, South Africa;
Mombasa, Kenya; Chennai (Madras), India; Yangon, Myanmar; Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam; Hong Kong; Kobe, Japan; Honolulu, Hawaii; and San Diego, California
Foreign School: Semester at Sea program - Onboard a ship
Field of Study: Photography
Classes: Global Studies, Abnormal Psychology, Small Business Management, and Women in Religion
Reason for Going Abroad: "Photography has become a vital part of my existence. I photograph my experiences as I interact with the world around me and then put them online to share with others (www.vanessaruiz.com). Being an explorer at heart I have found ways to travel with volunteer trips and study abroad programs. The images I have created on these trips are precious to me and most others are able connect to my experiences through them and find a new appreciation for these bits of life."
Reason for Blogging: "This coming Fall I will be embarking on my most exciting trip yet to 10 countries as I will be traveling around the globe with Semester at Sea. The combinations of peoples, cultures, places, and even foods will no doubt spark an explosion of creation that will last long after the semester has passed. I plan to fill my blog with experiences, information, and images. Being both a writer and a photographer, I feel that I can offer BlogAbroad.com the opportunity to not only 'hear' about my trip but become a part of it and absorb the international awareness which will no doubt impact our view of the world and each other."
Blogger #3 File
Name: Amy White
Home: Baton Rouge, Louisiana
School: The University of Colorado
Destination: Cairo, Egypt
Foreign School: Arab Language Institute
Field of Study: Post-colonial North African history / Modern, Standard Arabic
Reason for Going Abroad: "I want to learn Arabic because ultimately I want to work for a non-profit such as Human Rights Watch doing research on the Middle East to help inform the world about the often-misunderstood Arab culture. In Egypt I will explore the oasis in the west and the Sinai Peninsula while discovering the culture of Cairo. During my school breaks I plan to travel to Turkey, Greece, and Ethiopia. I am interested in previously colonized nations, especially North African and how they are currently functioning. Unfortunately many post-colonial histories have been written from the standpoint of Western nations, who did the colonizing in the 19th and 20th centuries. Offering a clear picture of both the Western and Arab perception will be paramount in furthering the discipline of post-colonial studies, and I want to play a role in this development. Once this history is better understood we can begin to resolve current issues between the West and the Arab world."
Reason for Blogging: "There has been steadily increasing contact with the Arab world by ordinary Americans who are trying to understand America's situation in the world context. I am excited to be an intermediary between these Americans and the Arab world. I hope to ease confusion among my peers and others over what is presumed about Arab/Muslim culture and what is factual."
Blogger #4 File
Name: Keri James
Home: Wellington, New Zealand
Destination: Oneonta, New York
Foreign School: Hartwick College
Field of Study: Sociology and Management
Reason for Going Abroad: "I was lucky enough to be given the amazing opportunity to temporarily quench my case of the 'travel bug' by studying abroad in America through my chosen sport, Water Polo. I was awarded a scholarship to further my skills both in and out of the water by attending Hartwick College and competing on the Division 1 Women's Water Polo Team. The opportunity to move to America and become involved in an institution like Hartwick College is something I would never have dreamed of. I have not only broadened my horizons by simply stepping out of my comfort zone, moving countries, and living with a different culture; but I have met some amazing people, taken some very interesting courses, and learnt considerable amounts about the USA and the important role that it plays in the world today."
Reason for Blogging: "I want to share some of my great travel experiences in the hopes of inspiring other young adults to get out and travel and experience their own wonderful moments."
Well, there's an update on our progress and an introduction to our new cast. As you can tell, this is going to be a phenomenal season. The first set of blogs are up, so get reading and live the adventure of a lifetime from the comfort of your computer chair.
And once again, this train isn't called Express for nothing. It continues moving whether you hop on board or not. So make sure you get in before the doors close. Uh oh, I think I hear the whistle. All aboard!
This is the first of many of Season 2's action packed newsletters detailing the adventures of Jon, Nessie, Amy, and Keri. We will continue to follow them as they explore the world. We will also continue providing useful information about studying abroad and blogging, as we feature different programs, provide answers to your questions, and more. Tell us what you would like to see in this newsletter.
