India's Identities

Take a journey with Maryville College and Elon University students to South India as they explore South India. 
Students write:

Elon and Maryville College students meet as they prepare for their study abroad program. Dr. Amy Allocco and Dr. Brian Pennington lead this journey.

 

"India’s Identities is a course that travels to Kerala and Tamil Nadu, two states in Southern India. This course emphasizes the diversity of contemporary Indian Identities, devoting particular attention to religion, caste and gender. Once the course has begun we’re going to be visiting religious spaces associated with Hindu, Jain, Muslim, Christian and Jewish traditions. We’ll be coming into contact with Indians from all different caste backgrounds, education levels and occupations.We’ll be looking at the cultural expectations attached to gender, seeing to what degree caste matters in modern India, and analyzing the complex interactions of tradition and modernity in the world’s largest democracy."

They are blogging at http://indiasidentities.wordpress.com/ 

January 4 January 5 January 6 January 7	Chennai (Hotel: New Woodlands) Acclimating to India Walking tour of Mylapore Bazaar Trails tour Directed Studies (yoga, cooking, etc.) Guest Lectures Dance Recitals/Music Concerts Fort St. George
January 8 January 9	Mahabalipuram (Hotel: Ideal Beach Resort) 7th century rock-cut monuments, including Shore Temple Work with sculptor-artisan community Beach and fishermen communities
January 10	Overnight train to Madurai Dakshinachitra Introduction to outsourcing and India’s call centers
January 11 January 12 January 13 January 14	Madurai (Hotel Supreme) Meenakshi TempleIslam and South India’s Muslim community Raffic: a contemporary Muslim collage artist American Institute of Indian Studies – discussion & interactions Sacred grove Pongal festival: ODAM NGO and 8th century Shiva temple at Tiruchuli
January 15 January 16	Thekkady (Hotel: Chrissie’s) Boat excursion on Periyar Lake Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary: full-day Jeep safari with jungle hike
January 17	Houseboat from Alleppey Organic spice garden Observing life along the backwaters
January 18 January 19	Cochin (Hotel: Old Harbour) Colonial contact Jewish synagogue and “Jew Town ”Dutch Palace Communist Party official/ Kathakali (?)
January 20	Village Homestay with Sunil’s family & friends Agriculture, irrigation, and local industry
January 21	Overnight train to Chennai Local tourist attractions
January 22 January 23 January 24 January 25	Chennai (Hotel: New Woodlands) Government Museum Additional/Remaining Directed Studies Coursework wrap-up Free time for shopping and exploring Farewell celebration (Depart New Woodlands ~9-10pm on 25th for airport)
January 26	Depart Chennai at 1:45am (~10.5 hours flying time) Arrive Frankfurt at 7:50am Depart Frankfurt at 11:20am (~10.5 hours flying time) Arrive ATL @ 3:45pm Course ends … travel on to final domestic destinations

Thoughts on Liberty and Freedom in America

Kensaku Yamazaki

Thoughts on Liberty and Freedom in America

The United States of America is considered the country that respects the liberty of people. People respect each other's individualism and accept many different ideas, cultures, and people. I think the idea of liberty and freedom American people have is more developed than them Japanese people have. The most impressive and surprising thing I experienced in the U.S. related to liberty and freedom is the different criteria for drunk driving between Japan and the U.S. While in Japan people are never allowed to drive a car if they drink even a cup of alcohol. In the United State, people are allowed to drive unless their blood alcohol level exceed limit number each state set. I think American people take more responsibility than Japanese people take in daily life instead of more freedom. In the U.S, people are allowed to drink some alcohol before they drive. However, it is their responsibility to think, by themselves, about how much alcohol will prevent them from driving safely. I think the punishment for drunk driving is harsher in the U.S. than Japan. Besides this difference in drunk driving, I can see several things that show this developed idea about liberty and responsibility American people have in daily life. I really respect the idea of liberty and responsibility in the United State of America and I think Japan should follow the U.S. in this part.

Never goodbye

Now that the time is soon coming to a close, mixed emotions are flying. I've made great friends and had a good experience overall. Yet at the same time I know I must go back to finish what I started,  one of my korean friends who went abroad to the States was trying to explain all these emotions I am feeling. I think to have friends that have gone through similar situations is what really helps. I think by trying to meet all sorts of people, has in a way been a stepping stone to me becoming a mature adult. But it's not just about meeting people that will help, but also the experiences I have had.

       I didnt do anything like go to concerts or anything big; but the small moments--visitng families, actually starving for a weeks, going through depression, laughing with friends in their room, having hot chocolate with a professor and classmate. These are what made my trip worth remembering, so that as I continue my adventure elsewhere, I will not forget what I went through in Korea. I think now that I am able to sit and ponder, its finally hitting me that I want to come back and maybe teach children here for awhile. I know that I want to go to grad school, yet at the same time I want to do something different than sociology for right now. If I allow myself to explore a little more, I truly believe that when it comes time to go to grad school, I will be ready with a purpose and course of action.
     Yesterday was great, I had hot chocolate with one of my  professors and a classmate, but I also got to meet a grad student at Yonsei--sociology major actually. I really enjoyed talking with her, though she is just beginning grad school; it was nice to get her thoughts.
  The one downfall of this, the classes were good but they didnt give me any homework :( Yea that I wasnt prepared for and didnt know how to cope while others had lots of homework. And of course now that it is getting down to the end, they want to give essays and finals. But in all honesty, I'm taking four classes, one class I have quiz every week and one final, my other three I just have final essay and thats it. Easy ride all the way through.  I will miss my professors, they truly made me feel welcomed and valued my input as a foreigner.

Thank you Korea^^ Lets meet again! The plane ride home was not the best because I truly was not ready to come home.

Explore Tennessee Program - Summer 2012

This summer, Maryville College’s Center for International Education led a group of 11 ESL students across the state in our first Explore Tennessee study-travel program.  During the first two weeks in July, students practiced and developed their English skills while experiencing the culture of our great state of Tennessee.  We took a whole language approach to developing our students’ English where they practiced all elements of the language: reading, writing, listening, and speaking. During the trip, students had to participate in scavenger hunts that required they read or start conversations with Americans in order to find specific information about the places we visited.  They also created and maintained a written blog about their experiences.  At the end of the trip, the students worked in groups to make movies about their experiences.

Student Blogs from Explore Tennessee.

Liu Ke Blog
Woojin's Blog
Peijue's Blog
Li ya's Blog

Moudhi's Blog
Nawaf's Blog
Junyoung's Blog
Raed's Blog
Sangnam's Blog

One of the highlights of our trip included being a part of the nature and beauty of East Tennessee.  The students went on a rafting trip down the Ocoee River, famous for hosting water sports during the 1996 Summer Olympics.  We visited Nashville in Middle Tennessee, which is not only the capital of the state but also the Capital of Country Music.  In Memphis, in West Tennessee, we went to several museums, including Graceland, the home of famous musician Elvis Presley, and the Lorraine Motel, the place where the Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was assassinated.  These are just a few of the highlights of our trip.  I’ll let the students tell you more about it in their blogs, using their own words and pictures.  Thanks again to all the students and staff at CIE for making our first Explore Tennessee a success!

Sincerely,

Delie Bancroft

ESL Instructor, CIE

Simplicity

Time doesnt seem to care what you are doing, or even where you are at. I still can't believe that I've been in South Korea about four months. I can still remember going through security and boarding the plane, wow, time sure does fly. I have enjoyed every moment of my journey and still am; I have had the opportunity to meet new people, eat great food, and see another part of the world that some might never get to see. The moments that I have gone through, I think have helped in some way shape my character. It will later reflect later in life, when I am in a job or interacting with other people in another country. I recently just returned from a small town on the outskirts of Seoul with a friend of mine. I loved it so much that I didnt want to leave but I knew that I had to :( While with my friends, we visited family and there I got to see how the family interacted. I had the opportunity to help with making kimchi (below picture, getting excess water off cabbage for kimchi) plus

 samgapsa (grilled pork, which is this picture to the right) all of it was delicious. It was fun being surrounded by the family who loved having me.
  My classes are fairly easy and are taught in English, though my one professor after lectures if there is time left over will give a Korean overview of the lecture for the Koreans in the class. I stay and listen which makes the material a little more interesting. I think all my classes are fairly interesting because each has something unqiue about them. The only downfall is the reading, I don't have homework just reading :-/ I have to say that this is way better than loads of homework but after awhile it becomes boring.
Weeks ago, I had an encounter with a mother and baby at the red light. We were waiting to cross the street together and I couldnt help but look over and there was a mom with a baby strapped to her in the front. The baby was all cheeks and just stared at me, well I couldnt help but smile and try to make the baby smile. No such luck, the baby kept staring and nothing else. The mom who noticed my attempt smiled at me and would occasionally look at her baby to see the reaction. The babies I noticed are in my opinion a little more cuter than some American babies; I'm not sure if it's because of the extra chubbiness or what but they are.
  Only five more weeks and then vacation. I won't know what to do with myself but when it does come, I'll only think about eating, sleeping and relaxing!

Follow International Student John Robertson's blogs....

John Robertson, our resident student from Scotland, is blogging about his life at MC. Check it out at http://gomaryville.com/meet-john-robertson/

Have to crawl to walk, walk to run

Hey guys,

I know it seems like forever since I wrote here; I guess you can say I was waiting for something inspirational to hit me before I wrote senseless words. It seems that so much has happened to me since I've been in Korea but at the same time nothing has happened. I know that doesnt really make sense, but its the way that life is going for me. Classes are pretty easy here and I am rather sad because of that. When I was preparing to come to South Korea, I was prepping my mind for hard work and nothing short of that. Yet once I got here I still had that mindframe that classes were going to be tough or equal to Maryville, but sadly I was mistaken. I am taking only four classes--simple I know but I was not sure how classes really worked over here and instead of overwhelming myself; I kept it nice and easy. My professors are pretty laid back guys who expect me to do my work and be able to have fun. Though I must say, its hard to have fun especially in my one class because I'm the only foreign English speaker. I can say one thing for MC though, since they have a variety of international students I am able to be around a lot of different people and not feel sense of loss. I am making friends with some of the Koreans here and when we meet, its nothing but laughter from both sides.
  I am still the same as I was in Maryville, but now I think that my persception of those around me has changed to adapt to those who are here with me. I still remember the one afternoon walking with my one Korean friend and we were talking on our way to the library. I forget what the conversation was about, but he stopped me in mid-sentence and said, "Can you slow down a little." I had completely forgotten that his listening skills were not as fast to pick up my English; I slowed down but our conversation didnt stop. I have found that once a Korean is approached more than once and each time talked to, they seem to open up. This seems to me almost like an onion, to get to the heart, each layer needs to be pulled back--almost like befriending a Korean.  My one friend Jiwon is simply adorable!! I still remember how we became friends-- I was waiting on one of my classes to start and I sat down beside her, but she was giving out information for a new club on campus. We struck up a conversation and she invited me to the club event. I had already been invited by the president, but I didnt let her know and this was how even today we are still good friends. Both of us like music so we try and share what music we like.

 

  Right now I am learning Korean, the grammer is hard like English and those in my little class now know that I don't like grammer in both English or Korean. It's fun learning though I'm a little sad that I couldnt take the actual classes like some of the other people I know here. I hope that when I go back home that I will still teach myself Korean. I am losing my other language--American Sign Language, this was bound to happen since I don't know anyone who signs here. The Korean Sign Language is totally different from American, but I have seen it on T.V when the news comes on. It's a little weird to watch especially since I don't know the language. Though while watching I saw the same gesture and wondered what they were signing that could have the same gesture over and over.
  So now I'm enjoying myself.. Midterms have passed and I only had one midterm in class and the rest were take home essays. I am a little angry that my one professor has yet to write the essay questions for my take home midterm essay. But until he does, I'll just relax and do what I normally do--nothing :)

~"Enjoy the journey, enjoy ever moment, and quit worrying about winning and losing. "

International Student of the Week: Eunkyung Oh

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Rachael: “I love traveling, blogging and playing the piano”

By Cosset Avalos

Eunkyung Oh, or Rachael as her American friends call her, is an exchanging student at Maryville College, who came this fall to study for one semester. She was born in South Korea and her major is Business Administration and her minor is psychology.

Before coming to Maryville she spent time in San Diego, but then realized that she wanted to be in a smaller place to make friends and practice her English. So she chose to come to Maryville.

Here at MC, in addition to studying, she uses her free time to blog and, because she loves to travel, plan her future trips. In fact she has traveled to several cities in Asia, Europe and America.

“I love to see different places, experience other cultures and meet other people. Travelling allows me to always learn something new. Also, on every trip I take pictures so I can then publish my photos and my travel stories on my blog.”

Rachael also plays the piano in her spare time. "When I was in middle school I used to play piano, but then college life was very intense and I had no time to do so. Now in Maryville College I am taking piano lessons, and I'm also playing piano whenever I can, almost five hours a week”.

In December Eunkyung will travel to New York, Boston and Florida. Then she’ll return to South Korea to continue her studies at Yonsei University.