Life’s Little Pressures by Cameron Glover

Playa del Carmen

Monday, grammar quiz at 9 a.m. Tuesday, third composition due. Wednesday, no classes but excursion to local businesses. Thursday, presentation at 11 a.m. Friday, Mayan language quiz. Saturday, excursion to Chichen Itza. Sunday, siesta!

While skimming through my planner for this week’s assignments and activities, it is easy to remember that I’m not on a 10-week vacation in the tropics. Nearly every night there are worksheets to complete, book passages to read and notes to study, and all of that is after four hours of classes. The work is more draining than difficult, though. A person would absolutely have to love the Spanish language in order to be thinking and speaking it constantly. Good thing I do.

I’m not trying to sound negative. I knew what I signed up for when I accepted the offer to study abroad – cultural immersion is necessary when learning a different language. Although, if it were not for the occasional free weekends and downtime, I would probably feel completely overwhelmed. And I like to think that our Ohio University group down here is one of a kind. Most of us are eager to practice our Spanish on friends and strangers who are usually eager to listen (cab drivers, especially).

Quinta Avenida (5th Avenue)

Fortunately, this past weekend a group of 15 of us decided to take a break from school and vacation in one of the most popular and beautiful cities in the Yucatan Peninsula – no, not Cancun. Playa del Carmen is a five-hour and 300-peso bus ride from Merida. Its famous Quinta Avenida (5^th Avenue) has more than enough to offer in terms of shopping and eating, and one can’t ignore the nightlife scene hosted on Calle 12 (12^th Street) on the weekends.

My favorite feature of our brief vacation was the ocean. I consider myself to be somewhat of an ocean enthusiast after traveling to many beaches in the U.S. and Mexico, but never had I seen water that clear or sand so white. The most enjoyable part was that you could walk into the ocean for yards while the water never passed your hipbones because it was so shallow. It was incredible.

And I’m sure we were a sight to see, all 15 of us, Americans, lined up along the water’s edge enjoying the ridiculously hot sun and cool breeze. Considering it was the last weekend in January, there were a good number of people there but it was far from crowded. I then had to consider myself lucky for being able to take advantage of such a random and relaxing weekend.

During the bus ride home, however, it was back to studying and preparing for next week’s assignments. As I mentioned before, we are learning a bit of the Mayan language in my Yucatan culture course and will have our first exam soon. We have covered just the basics – I know how to count to 10 and match colors with a few animals. For example, one black dog is “juntúul boox peek.” As far as pronunciation goes, I won’t doubt that YouTube has a Mayan tutorial somewhere in its archives.

My ultimate learning experience from this past weekend is that life’s little pleasures always outweigh the pressures. School and work are necessary but just as necessary as spending free time with friends or making sporadic and spontaneous trips to the beach. Although, some things are easier said than done.

When in Rome, do as the Romans do By Anna Luczkow

 

Although it has been three weeks since I first began attending classes in London, I would have to admit that the better part of my study abroad education has taken place outside the classroom.  Despite the four courses that I regularly attend, and various papers, speeches, and quizzes that I am expected to prepare for, much of what I have learned thus far has been acquired on my own time and not in a conventional academic setting.  At orientation I was told by my professors and instructors that the university at which I attend strongly emphasizes individual learning, which in my opinion, is a great reflection of what an abroad education should be and the manner in which one should study in a foreign country.  I have been observing more about my surroundings throughout my day-to-day ventures than even my Cross-Cultural Relations class could teach me.

 

I have been abroad a relatively short time and yet I can already sense a shift in the lens through which I view things.  I have developed a much greater curiosity for novel situations, rather than the apprehension I may have previously felt toward unfamiliarity.  I have also begun to show a greater acceptance of cultural differences and patience for impeding barriers.  And most importantly, I no longer look at other cultural mannerisms as different and strange, but see them in the context of their environment.

 

What has helped me most to broaden my perspective has been my weekend travels.  So far, I have visited Florence, Dublin, and Rome with a group of friends from my program.  Each time, the trips were entirely researched, booked, and planned by us.  Sure, we encountered some unexpected challenges along the way.  In Florence, my friend had her wallet pick-pocketed before we even made it out of the train station.  In Dublin, our hostel was anything but hospitable.  In Rome, the language barrier was at times so strong that finding our way around the city posed to be an issue.  Luckily, we began to learn that in foreign situations we simply shouldn’t let the little things discourage our visit.  Everything was strange and new to us, but in order to get the most out of our time there we just kept on moving forward past any cultural hurdles.

 

I think my most important lesson was learned this past weekend in Rome, where I realized the true meaning of the quote “When in Rome.”  From my experience, I firmly believe that a visitor should always try to behave in the style of the culture they are visiting.  The most authentic way to explore any place is by engaging in its customary way of life.  What has made for such a flavorful experience on these trips has been my ability to immerse myself in new surroundings, rather than trying to seek out the familiarities I am used to.  For instance, I have found it to be much more fun eating at little hole-in-the-wall restaurants experimenting with the local cuisine, rather than searching the menu for something I would normally get at home.  It’s intriguing to take the local modes of public transportation and observe people during their daily routines.  It’s also quite an experience to explore the nightclubs and local shops, especially to observe the different behaviors of other cultures.  Communications should also be attempted, even if it only includes simple words such as “grazie” (“thank you” in Italian.)  You would be surprised, but the simplest attempts at assimilation can help provide much insight into the culture with which you are interacting.

 

Although London is not as exotic as the places I have been touring, I still have much to learn about the British lifestyle and plan to take away from my traveling observations that will help me further adjust to life here.   By going to local pubs, conversing with the locals, and exploring the local markets and art galleries, I am beginning to recognize first-hand the daily routines followed by most Londoners.  Although I do not plan to completely mimic these folkways, I do intend to follow a similar guide to living my life here.  As I stated in my previous post, I am still me no matter where I am.  Although I may be influenced by London fashion, develop a likening for “the local grub,” or socialize in the manner they do, it will not change me.  It will only help to broaden my perspective on life by giving me the opportunity to play a part within a completely different walk of life.  After all, I will return to the “normalcy” of America I am accustomed to, but I will only be on this trip once.  So I might as well start living like the Romans do, or in my case, the British.

Seeking Spring Foreign Correspondents

Will you be traveling abroad this spring or summer, have a passion for writing, travel, and culture and would like to share your experience with the Ohio University community? If so, you could be the perfect Office of Education Abroad Foreign Correspondent!  

Please email Tiffany Smith at ts794106@ohio.edu if you are interested in becoming an Office of Education Abroad Foreign Correspondent, or sign up in the Ohio University Office of Education Abroad in 185 Lindley Hall.

Ohio University Office of Education Abroad
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Walk-In Advising: Monday – Friday, 1:00 -4:00
Phone: 740/593-4583
e-mail: education.abroad@ohiou.edu

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Dreaming in Spanish by Cameron Glover

Cameron's favorite place she's visited so far has been Uxmal. This photo is a side shot of the Governor’s Palace.

Cameron on top of the palace grounds with part of the ruins in the background. To the right is the top of the Pyramid of the Magician and to the left is the Nunnery Quadrangle.

Some people believe that when you start dreaming in a foreign language that means you are becoming fluent in it. Well, I’ve had my fair share of Spanish dreams, but I know that I am far from fluent. Sometimes I wake up not even understanding what was said. Maybe my dreams are only trying to encourage me to keep working on my Spanish, and then I will be able to translate my nighttime visions into something more meaningful.

After studying the language on and off for five years, I’m not surprised that it has made its way into my dreams. It only happens about once a week, and I think it started right before I left Ohio for Mérida. Logically thinking I would have to blame it on anxiety and apprehension, but that’s really no fun – I would much rather believe that I’m close to fluent in such a romantic language. Wouldn’t you?

My first two weeks in Mérida have been full of fresh memories and strange but exciting surprises. The group (about 45 Ohio University students including myself) has already traveled to an archaic Mayan cave and two Mayan ruins. A few days ago we went to a local University to speak Spanish to its students while they practiced their English on us. Their campus was gorgeous and very open, and the 80 degree weather didn’t damper anyone’s mood, either.

I have decided that it is significantly more difficult to understand people who speak Spanish who are close to my age more so than the adults. It makes sense, though – imagine your closest group of friends talking a mile a minute and using your specialized phrases and vocabulary, which are far from what everyone learned in Spanish 101. I will never forget that biblioteca (library) was one of the first Spanish words I learned; yet it has only been referenced once since I have been down here and that was when the students from the University were showing me where it was during the campus tour. Now I realize why it was suggested to watch some Telenovelas (Spanish soap operas) before I left so I could get use to the speed at which young people like to chat.

No complaints here, though – I know I’m improving. I have also come to appreciate the Mayan culture that is still present around the Yucatan Peninsula. Everything including the food, clothing and speech is a bit different than the other parts of Mexico. All people have a deep sense of pride in the area’s past and continue to reflect that through their actions and beliefs. It’s quite inspiring.

Every now and then my host Mama will teach my roommate and I a Mayan word or cook a Mayan meal. “Sólo en el Yucatán,” she says. Only in the Yucatan can I munch on the most delicious panuchos in all of Mexico. Only in the Yucatan can I learn about the legend of Sac-Nicté, princess of the Mayapán people who was kidnapped by the king of Chichén-Itzá.

Who knows? Maybe I’ll start to study the Mayan language more seriously. It does seem like a large feet for now, but if I start dreaming in Mayan I’ll be sure to let you know!