Studying Abroad Stands Out to Employers

The FSU International Programs trip to Moscow was the experience I needed as a student studying Russian and International Affairs to take my learning and post-undergrad career to the next level. I was able to apply much of what I had learned in class at Florida State, which allowed me to build upon that already solid foundation. The excursions and activities provided for us gave me a glimpse into the Russian spirit, its proud, yet somber, past, and its optimistic future. We were privileged to experience things that a normal tourist visiting Russia would never be able to experience. I explored the districts of Moscow, studied at the one of the world’s most preeminent universities, saw two performances at the Bolshoi Theatre and one at the Kremlin Palace, visited countless art galleries and museums, climbed the tallest tower in Europe, rode on the train of the Communist Party Elite to St. Petersburg, stayed in luxurious hotels, saw grand and historic cities, spent hours meandering about Gorki Park, gazed at historic and awe-inspiring architecture, walked the path of Dostoevsky, visited Tolstoy’s estate, marveled at the Russian countryside, ate some of the greatest cuisine Europe has to offer. And I was treated like a welcomed guest by tour guides and civilians alike. Any student who plans on specializing in Russian studies must do themselves the favor of going on the IP trip to Moscow. I am proof that the program is a sound investment in one’s future – especially if one wants a career in American-Russian affairs.

When I returned from Moscow, I applied to the Department of State’s Student Internship Program and Virtual Student Foreign Service Program. To date, I have received a total of four offers from both programs in fields pertaining to Russian foreign affairs. I received an offer from the Embassy in Riga to intern in the Public Affairs office to engage in outreach to the country’s Russian minority. The Embassy in Moscow contacted me soon afterwards to offer me a position in the Political Section to assist the political and military affairs team. Finally, I was offered a position to work in Washington D.C. with the Department of State’s Bureau of Research and Intelligence. I ultimately decided to take the position in Moscow because of my love and knowledge of the city and the fact that the position falls perfectly in line with what I would like to do as a career. The final offer I received came from the Department of State’s Virtual Student Foreign Service Program which allows students to work on different projects through different organizations. I was offered a position from the Embassy in Moscow to perform outreach to Russian youth and to provide a cultural bridge aimed at linking our nations together through mutual understanding and respect. This internship will last the remainder of fall semester and will continue while I am in Moscow for the spring. I could never have imagined so many opportunities falling into place after having studied abroad in Moscow. I can speak with confidence when I say that going on the trip was not only the greatest decision I’ve made, but also the greatest experience I have ever had. Thank you, Dr. Efimov, for making the program what it is. Thank you for convincing me to join, and thank you for doing what you do for all of your students. We know how much you put into this program and I hope that I can repay you in some small way in the future. But until then, you should know that you have sparked a love and an interest for culture, people, and a nation, and I will continue to keep that passion burning bright until the day I die.

Written by: Nate Lanaghan
Photos by: Nate Lanaghan

 

 

Students Reflect on their Amazonian Experience

“My time in Iquitos is one of the most significant periods in my life. I was not only challenged every day in Spanish conversation with my host family and locals (which allowed me to rapidly improve my skills), but also I encountered a variety of learning experiences, interactions, and activities that helped me solidify a new way of looking at the world. After my time in Iquitos, I feel like a citizen of the world and know I am competent enough to travel by myself for the rest of my life. I have to applaud the authenticity of the program. There was nothing fake or Americanized about this program. I stayed with a Peruvian family, worked with locals in a hospital and NGO, and visited several Amazonian communities. All of these opportunities allowed me to embrace the culture in its entirety while learning a great deal about my own. I certainly gained an awareness of many perspectives that cannot be found anywhere else and incorporated them into my own life. I can no longer view reality or humanity’s relationship with nature the same because of everything I learned. The combination of a traditional college class focused on the Amazon and its people followed by time in the basin itself allowed me to appreciate the trip as a whole because I could better grasp the processes behind the many things I saw. The trip was so influential that I am still not completely adjusted to being back in the States, and I wish I could spend more time in Latin America.”    David DeStephano (Summer 2015)

“The journey into Amazonia was breathtaking.  Everywhere I turned, I learned something new: a new perspective, a new language, and by the end of the trip, a new outlook.  My internship was working in a very poor community with the Organization Infant.  Infant’s main goal was to show the importance of the rights of children.  Every day I talked, read, did arts and crafts, and taught gymnastics to the children.  These children taught me more about life than any other experience I have ever had.  I left this trip knowing in my heart that I had made a difference, and that’s truly what matters to me.”   Angela Stein   (Summer 2015)

 

 “Going on this trip was the most rewarding experience of my life. I became more self-assured, confident and decisive. I learned about what I wanted and didn't want in my life; I matured significantly; and I took on responsibilities I previously thought I was incapable of handling. I learned a lot of my own value and developed strong ties with locals. My host family was warm and inviting. They said that I their house was also my as soon as I arrived. I felt embraced by a warm culture from the moment I got there, and personal challenges aside, I would do it all over again.” Stephanie Strickland  (Summer 2015)

“This cultural immersion program was a major stepping stone for my personal growth. I was looking for a program where I could experience something to remember for a life time and something completely extraordinary, and Journey into Amazonia was definitely it. I had the unique experience of living with a wonderful family, working for a program that highly impacted the community, and traveling into the Amazon rainforest with amazing people while studying the culture and language of the Amazon. My internship taught me so much by working hand in hand with communities in need and by giving me an opportunity to offer my help. The excursions were greatly structured and offered the students so much exposure of the genuine culture of the Amazon. Studying the beautiful plants and animals helped me gain a stronger connection to the Earth and gave me a stronger drive to protect it. I was honored to be able to have these experiences. They are ones that cannot be found elsewhere. I am so grateful to have had the opportunity to be a part of this program; this experience was one of a kind and has had a strong positive impact on my view of life.”  (Dora Fish, Summer 2015)

                       

"The Service and Learning Journey to Amazonia was an unforgettable experience. I learned so much about the culture and the indigenous cosmovisions. Camping in the primary forest and learning about the importance of the medicinal plants was extremely fascinating.  Living with a host family was fantastic. They were very kind and accommodating. The food they prepared was always delicious. I was always comfortable and I felt at home. It was also great for constantly improving my Spanish. I'm positive I will return to the amazon to learn more and to visit the life-long friends that I met there.  It's difficult to encompass all of the feelings I have about my time in Iquitos. It was overwhelmingly different but beautiful. I am so thankful for this experience!" Shannon Morris (Summer 2015)

"My time in Amazonia was the most influential experience I could have hoped for. From the first day I arrived in Iquitos till the very last day of the program, I was always enriched by the culture. Amazonia allowed me to open my eyes to real world problems that are occurring not only in Peru, but all around the world. Amazonia also allowed me to open my heart; it taught me how to help others in the most effective way possible. From this program, I truly felt as though I was a part of positive change. Not only did I gain knowledge of people and our environment, I also learned a lot about myself. My time in Amazonia made me more confident and caring. It also allowed me to narrow what I would like to focus on in my academic future.” Malia Byrtus (Summer 2015)

 

    

“I always knew that there was a different way of life out there, but after experiencing it first hand, my views are forever changed. Being in Peru taught me to not take for granted any of the things we have in the US, especially my car; although, the motokars there are most fun transportation ever! Also, the family bonds run so deep in the Amazonian culture that it made me reconsider my family relationships/values and make changes. Even teaching English at UNAP has made me become a better student this semester at FSU. The people of Amazonia have very few possessions, but the love and wisdom they give you makes you feel like the richest person in the world. And even though I am not fluent in Spanish and that was the most difficult aspect of my trip, I would go back to Iquitos in a heartbeat.”  Jennifer Law (Summer 2015)

“My time in Iquitos was nothing short of life-changing. During my month there, through intensive cultural immersion, I was shown a vastly different reality than my own- which resulted in me gaining an entirely new perspective. This program gives you the tools you need to make the most of your experience, to truly immerse yourself in the culture and interact with the locals, who are incredibly warm-hearted and generous people. I made life-long friendships and connections while I was in Peru, and I would go back in an instant.”  Shauna N. Gillooly   (Summer 2015)

Please visit http://fla.st/20CaZy7 for more information.

Paris

By Kristen Wharton

Where to begin with Paris? Paris leaves you breathless.

It has captivated the young and the old, been the catalyst for countless creative endeavors, and inspired dreams by the thousands. The allure of this city is truly undeniable.

A view of the Eiffel Tower

There was one day in particular that I set out to spend the whole day meandering around the city. I had hit all the main attractions at this point and just wanted to wander. With school and other time sensitive events, the busyness of my schedule did not allow for unrestricted frolicking, as I’ve since coined it. My day began near Notre Dame and consisted of dipping down side streets, dropping into secondhand bookstores (there are a plethora here and they are one of my favorite things about Paris…in fact they are another reason for my lack of comprehensive exploration…I drop in these and stay for hours), but mostly today revolved around observing and trying to become more familiar with the city’s layout since I have relied so much on the metro.

Walking along the Seine is a spectacle in itself. This river is Paris’ life source. You can get to any main juncture from its banks while being provided with a scenic route along the way.  It is overwhelming! Walking along the river, Notre Dame and the spire of Sainte Chapelle behind me, the Invalides coming in on the left, and just a bit further I have Pont Alexandre to my right. The Eiffel Tower, towering over it all in the distance.  Ok Paris, let’s be real, this is a constant visual stimulation is almost cruel. -- buildings and monuments, each representing a crucial time period in history of the city, all coming together in unity along the Seine. It is a feast you can never digest in entirety.


You leave these cities yearning for more. Knowing you’ve barely scratched the surface. 

The Seine

Florentine Memories

By Kristen Wharton

My time abroad began in Florence, Italy. As an Art History major, this city captured my heart, mind, and soul. The quintessential Florentine streets lined with facades of rusticated stone were a constant thrill to meander through. In the winter especially, this city maintains much of its 16^th century charm. If the architecture itself wasn’t enough, the general ambiance of this city has the ability to transcend you to the time when the Medici family, Brunelleschi, Donatello, and Michelangelo roamed these very streets.

But Art History nerd in me aside, this city is truly breathtaking. I remember at the end of my first week in Florence I went for a run from our home on Via Romana down to the Ponte Vecchio and along the Arno, then up the hill to the stunning Romanesque basilica, San Minato al Monte. The road that sits right below the church, ropes around the hill to reveal the most wonderful panorama of the city. I was running along this road, literally watching this city reveal itself step by step under the “pre-sunset” sky. So captivated and entranced by the beauty of this city, I wanted to capture it and hold on to this moment forever. 

I decided to run home to grab my camera, hoping to make it back up to this spot to catch the sunset. Sprinting down the narrow streets, Italians staring at this clearly crazed foreigner, I quickly grabbed my camera and took back off towards my spot. So excited that I made it in time, I went to take my first shot…..only to find I had drained my battery while uploading pictures the night before. I just kind of gave an accepting smile, a bit humored by the fact that life always has a funny way of making the most memorable moments at a time when it is impossible to capture them in any other form but in your mind.I should know by now that putting a camera up to your face separates your eyes from your memory. Maybe it is best that instead of taking the picture with a machine, I captured it entirely naturally. A raw memory only for me.  

Here, I had found my sanctuary, a place of peace and clarity, of pure, uninhibited beauty. I had also just experienced something quite remarkable, almost like a physical burden being lifted off my shoulders, for it was at this moment that I allowed myself to let go.

The Trevi Fountain in Rome