Insights from abroad

I started this blog soon after I returned from Europe (2 months ago now) so I am not sure exactly where I was going with it but here it is with some new additions:


I want to be a life-long learner. The cheesy and rehearsed college graduate goal, am I right? But I'm not talking formal, classroom instruction type learning with a notebook and pen (believe me, I've had enough of that)...I'm talking about the best kind of learning, requiring an open mind and at times a plane ticket as its course materials.

Traveling is education at its finest. When traveling there is learning on so many different levels...maybe that's why I crave it so much. The obvious learning comes from witnessing with your own two eyes the sites that you've spent hours reading about in textbooks...suddenly the majestic Coliseum in Rome where gladiators once fought, the masterpieces of Leonardo Da Vinci, and Spanish Gothic architecture seem a lot more interesting as you ironically find yourself returning to books to read about the facts you purposely pushed out of your head years before after that terrible history test.

Learning comes as you are immerse in a culture different from your own. Potato on pizza? Surprisingly delicious and something I never would have thought to try on my own had I not traveled through Italy. Language skills are acquired whether you are intentional about it or not. Hallo! Merci! No toque! Learning how to communicate and break down language barriers is so valuable and almost always hilarious, making the best kinds of stories to tell later.

And as selfish as it sounds, traveling is a great (and pricey) way to learn a lot about yourself in a short amount of time. The good and the bad, everything is revealed while traveling. How do I react under stress? How well do I interact with people in a completely new environment? How trusting am I of people, like the guy in the subway station offering directions? Am I a city or country person? Planner or no? Museums or clubs? Trains or planes or ferries? Here are a few things I have learned about myself throughout this latest adventure (mostly for my own records):
1. I will plan ahead...if it's absolutely necessary.
2. I am cheap. Regardless of where I'm at I will still probably order the cheapest item on the menu.
3. I judge how well I like a city on how my experiences with the people were while I was there...and the weather. Sorry rainy Rome, you're on the bottom of the list.
4. I'm not a museum/historical monuments person. I'd much rather be rafting in the mountains or swerving in and out of traffic through a city on a rental bike than walking through lavish art galleries (not that I don't appreciate art) with an automated voice describing its significance.
5. There's just something about Europe that makes me want to dance and drink (those don't necessarily go hand in hand) more than usual. I think it might have something to do with the large amount of techno enjoyed across the pond. Mmmyeah it just gets the blood flowing.
6. Schedules make me nervous, created to suffocate my free spirit-ness and make me commit to something. Also, I think I'm afraid of commitment...and may need therapy, help?
7. I'm a very trusting person. Perhaps dangerously trusting at times.
8. I LOVE meeting new people... and people watching. Particularly at arrival gate areas at airports. "red and yellow black and white, we are precious in His sight..."
9. I don't feel grown up.
10. I love love love love love my amazing friends Abby, Katie, and Jon. I think we made a pretty fantastic traveling team.

For more adventures and learning I am heading off to Ulsan, South Korea (home of Hyundai and Samsong) next week to try my hand at teaching English for the next year. Two months ago when I graduated I never thought I never thought I'd be doing this, especially since my plans were to be volunteering in Congo. Feelings of excitement are mixed with nervousness but I trust God will take care of me, direct and guide me. "Behold, I will do a new thing, now it shall spring forth; shall you not know it? I will even make a road in the wilderness and rivers in the desert to give drink to My people, My chosen." Isaiah 43:19

I'll continue to blog if people continue to care.... :)

Those Were the Days: The Weak Dollar Effects Summer European Travel

In the early summer of 1999 University of Northern Iowa History Professor Gregory Bruess and his wife Isabella Varela packed their suitcases and boarded the long flight to Greece. This was not their first time traveling to Greece but it was, however, their first time taking a small group of UNI students with, ready to experience, as Bruess refers to it as, an "experimental learning course."

Greece is one of the fifteen countries in the European Union that has adopted the Euro as its currency. Since their trip in 1999 the U.S. dollar has fallen 60% in value to the Euro. According to an article by the Associated Press on April 17th, the dollar is being devalued due to a combination of a poor U.S. economy and interest rate cuts by the Federal reserve.

But that has not stopped Bruess or the UNI students he takes with him from traveling overseas each year. In fact, 24 students will be joining Bruess and his wife this year, an increase of two from last year. "The more students we have going the more discounts we receive as a group," said Bruess.

The numbers of participants have stayed about the same for a separate group of UNI students who will be traveling for course credit this summer as well. Dr. Stephen Gaies and Dr. Konrad Sadkowski are taking a group to Poland for a five-week, six credit course on the Holocaust and national identity.

Poland does not use the Euro as its currency but rather their own Polish currency called the zloty. The U.S. dollar has been losing value to the zloty as well. It lost 20% of its value against the zloty. “This is not out of the blue, not a new problem. The dollar has been dropping against the zloty for four to five years now,” said Gaies.

He sees the problem as two-fold. “In Poland, as well as in the rest of Europe, the costs of food, gas, and everything is rising 10 to 15 percent a year.” With the average costs of everyday living rising, the American dollar is buying less with that.

The numbers of students participating in the summer study aboard programs like Greece and Poland show no declines that parallel the falling dollar however. Although the students are feeling the impact with a bigger hole in their pocket this year.

“The trips are pre-paid in many cases so we ended up revising our summer program budgets that we provided to the students a year ago several times,” said Yana Cornish, UNI’s Study Abroad Program Coordinator. The program cost increases were nominal for most groups, totaling around $300 for the five-week Poland trip.

Cornish and those behind the scenes planning the trips are feeling the impact in other ways. Programs which normally stay open to students for as long as possible had to be closed at earlier dates to save costs by booking flights and accommodations earlier. “We really had to pressure students to commit earlier. Most students were pretty understanding of that,” she said.

Bruess, Gaies, and Cornish all attest that the falling dollar has not created any drastic alterations on their summer trips. “We’ve had to make some creative program arrangements that would save the students money. Really it just created additional work for our office,” said Cornish.

According to Gaies, the Poland students will have only a few adjustments in excursions and housing. Students traveling to Greece will experience similar adjustments in housing as well.

“If this trend continues it is possible we will have to vary our program. Instead of going to a number of the Greek islands like we do now, we may have to go to two or three places and stay there,” said Bruess.

Students travelers are not just looking to their savings or their parents to cover the costs anymore. Cornish has noticed an increase in student interest in financial aid for the summer and next fall. "The financial aid office is absolutely excellent in assisting study aboard students with their financial needs," she said.

The different colleges that make up UNI are, for the most part, very supportive of study aboard programs offering students scholarships or grants for participation. The study aboard office offers students scholarships as well. “This year we’ve had the highest number of scholarship applicants that we’ve ever seen...students need external funding now,” said Cornish.

While some universities across the nation are experiencing a new level of interest and participation in South American study aboard programs where the dollar is stronger, UNI is not. This may be due in part to the very particular programs, like language programs or social work, that are offered through UNI to South America. “But for most students the study aboard dream is Europe. Students are willing to pay slightly more and go to the place of their dreams,” Cornish adds.


Katie Paar, senior Spanish Education major, along with a few of her friends, is taking her dream trip to Europe the day after her graduation from UNI on May 10th. The continual “Dollar Hits Record Low Against Euro” headlines are not changing her travel plans, she said.

She plans to visit England, Austria, Croatia, Italy, France and Spain. All these countries use the Euro except for Croatia. “The way I see it is it’s one of those things that you can only do once. So you’ve got to do it while you have the chance, regardless of exchange rates,” she said.

Katie has sifted through the travel advice articles online to make sure she’s doing everything she can to save cash. “I've learned I have to plan ahead of time and book things early to spend as much as I can in U.S. dollars before I leave rather than pay in Euros when I'm there.”

“Any time you can prepay in dollars you will be getting a better deal,” agreed
Pat Belabarbelle, travel agent at the Travel Store Incorporated in Waterloo. She had noticed an increase in people purchasing prepaid packages for European travel this summer. Belabarbelle encourages that for people who do not like to bother with planning every detail of their vacation.

“Travel dollars in general are tight this year. The high cost of food and gas takes a big chunk out of people. It’s like a double whammy.” Knowing this she offers customers advice on how best to save those travel dollars. "Pick low travel days when booking your flights, book early, use your credit card to pay for expenses, and go to the places and restaurants off the beaten track from the hot tourist spots," were on the top of her money saving list.

Paar and her friends plan to save money by staying in hostels along their three week journey and in some cities by being hosted for free through a network of people known as Couchsurfing.

Couchsurfing is the new trend for the young and old traveling around the world. Friendly people in almost every city across the globe open their homes to travelers and show them the sites of their city. In return "surfers" or travelers are expected to host their home for travelers. Paar has heard good things about Couchsurfing and is excited to try it out.

"We also plan to buy most of our food at grocery stores along the way and cook for ourselves as much as we can," Paar said.

Cornish suggested being as creative and flexible as possible while traveling through Europe. "Maybe looking at more Eastern European countries as travel options as well." Cornish emphasized the importance of never compromising safety when looking to save money though. "Sleeping in a train station all night to cut the price of accommodations is not safe. Staying in a hostel is safe and not that expensive."

Both Dr. Gaies and Professor Bruess feel that traveling and study aboard are priceless experiences that every student should participate in when given the opportunity. "Students will say it's the best thing they've ever done. They want the experience even if it is expensive," said Gaies.

"Despite what the news may tell you, Europe is still affordable for students," said he added. "Trains fares are a real bargain and hostels too."

"The declining dollar shouldn't deter any students from traveling," said Bruess.