I will start by saying that I am glad I am still young because I am not sure if my body would be able to handle all of this zombie like walking, thinking, and eating. In probably the past 30 hours of being awake I have only gotten about 2 hours of sleep and even now I am having a hard time trying to get to sleep.
Arriving in Germany was exciting for me because it was something new to experience and with an open mind. As for first impressions it was a really great one. The city was beautiful, the scenery on the drive from Munich to Salzburg was breathtaking, and the little towns in between I just fell in love with.
Our first group meeting about ethnocentrism with our fellow students from the University of San Francisco went really well. I took in as much as I could while trying to stay awake after a very and I mean very long day. This week is going to be great because I see my fellow students who are just as eager as me to not only be here but to learn from each other and gain knowledge.
Thursday, May 22, 2008
OMG JET LAG
These past 24+ hours have been insane. I've never flown outside of the country, much less overseas, so this has definitely been a new experience. I got to the airport early, much to everyone's surprise, and got to say goodbye to my family. The plane trip to Philly wasn't bad...dinner was great. The trip to Europe wasn't as great though. I don't think I slept for more than 30 minutes the entire trip. I'm just not good at sleeping on moving things.
The trip itself wasn't so bad though. I love long trips...and they fed us and had movies and music available. It wasn't too hot or too cold. I just couldn't sleep. But let me tell you...it was all worth it as soon as we stepped off into the Munich airport. As soon as we arrived, I could tell we were in a different country. For starters, it was SO QUIET!! Then of course there were all the German-speaking citizens. So I've designated myself the group documenter...I've been taking so many videos! I can't wait to put them together into something.
So far things are going great. I'm just so tired. The trip through the countryside to get to Salzburg was amazing! It was so green! I'm sure everyone on the planet knows my thoughts on the green-ness by now. The Schloss is beautiful. It feels so twilight zone-ish to know we're staying here...an 18th century building that people pay 30 dollars to take pictures of...yet here we are! Living in this place for a week!
The climate is perfect, the food is soooo good. Especially the dessert. I can't wait to see what breakfast is like. And all the people here are excellent so far. The other group from California is also made up of all females and one guy. I've met most of them so far and have already gotten their stories (they've been here a few days) and their room numbers for future rendezvous. They are all very laid back, friendly people and I'm really relieved! I think the chemistry is perfect for some great discussion, especially since we're such a small group.
So we had our first session tonight at 7:30 (12:30 our time). I think it went well given the fact that it was our first lecture and half of us were the living dead due to the jet lag...I can't wait for tomorrow! Hopefully my youthful body can recover from this jet lag.................quickly!! *crosses fingers* I'm looking forward to more discussion and hopefully some free time in town.
This place is gorgeous! I'm so excited! I feel so blessed to be a part of this =)
The trip itself wasn't so bad though. I love long trips...and they fed us and had movies and music available. It wasn't too hot or too cold. I just couldn't sleep. But let me tell you...it was all worth it as soon as we stepped off into the Munich airport. As soon as we arrived, I could tell we were in a different country. For starters, it was SO QUIET!! Then of course there were all the German-speaking citizens. So I've designated myself the group documenter...I've been taking so many videos! I can't wait to put them together into something.
So far things are going great. I'm just so tired. The trip through the countryside to get to Salzburg was amazing! It was so green! I'm sure everyone on the planet knows my thoughts on the green-ness by now. The Schloss is beautiful. It feels so twilight zone-ish to know we're staying here...an 18th century building that people pay 30 dollars to take pictures of...yet here we are! Living in this place for a week!
The climate is perfect, the food is soooo good. Especially the dessert. I can't wait to see what breakfast is like. And all the people here are excellent so far. The other group from California is also made up of all females and one guy. I've met most of them so far and have already gotten their stories (they've been here a few days) and their room numbers for future rendezvous. They are all very laid back, friendly people and I'm really relieved! I think the chemistry is perfect for some great discussion, especially since we're such a small group.
So we had our first session tonight at 7:30 (12:30 our time). I think it went well given the fact that it was our first lecture and half of us were the living dead due to the jet lag...I can't wait for tomorrow! Hopefully my youthful body can recover from this jet lag.................quickly!! *crosses fingers* I'm looking forward to more discussion and hopefully some free time in town.
This place is gorgeous! I'm so excited! I feel so blessed to be a part of this =)
Sleeptyping
I think I just experienced a small dose of ecstasy and euphoria as I crawled myself into bed. I haven't slept a wink in almost two days and my body is protesting. Of course, to be fair, I should clarify that I'm not climbing into my bed in my room in Fort Worth....I'm climbing into bed in my own little room adjacent to an Austrian palace with mountains straight from "The Sound of Music" in the backyard. So I'm really not complaining.
The trip over here was pleasantly uneventful--no lost luggage or missed flights. I think our biggest crisis was deciding whether to have Japanese, Italian or French food for dinner in Philadelphia. And then we boarded our direct flight to Munich! I couldn't sleep on the epic flight over the Atlantic and was mourning my loss of rest until I realized that in reality, a 7.5 hour flight across the world is pretty revolutionary. This same journey, depending on the specific point in history, could have taken anywhere from days to weeks to months. I had it easy!
My first impression upon landing in Munich was clean. Clean and modern, but with an undertone of loaded history. Like Julissa and Rusty said....I saw not a SINGLE piece of trash on the side of the road. Holy cow! That's so revolutionary to me as an American who is used to seeing the transportation system utilized as a secondary (if not primary) trash can. I was very impressed. Also the drive from Munich to Salzburg was charming, to say the least. Little communities of traditional German houses dotted the hillside the whole way and there were fields of flowers and forests everywhere.
Salzburg is breathtaking, especially Schloss Leopoldskron and the enormous castle overlooking the city. I can't wait to explore the city. I'm also looking forward to spending time in the library in the schloss. How cool is it that it has a hidden staircase built into a bookcase? It's like something straight out of Sherlock Holmes!
The food is delicious. The staff and faculty have already made a big impression on me. I know they are going to have a lot to say that I need to hear.
And now I need to go to sleep, because the words are blurring. Hopefully a more coherent post tomorrow.
The trip over here was pleasantly uneventful--no lost luggage or missed flights. I think our biggest crisis was deciding whether to have Japanese, Italian or French food for dinner in Philadelphia. And then we boarded our direct flight to Munich! I couldn't sleep on the epic flight over the Atlantic and was mourning my loss of rest until I realized that in reality, a 7.5 hour flight across the world is pretty revolutionary. This same journey, depending on the specific point in history, could have taken anywhere from days to weeks to months. I had it easy!
My first impression upon landing in Munich was clean. Clean and modern, but with an undertone of loaded history. Like Julissa and Rusty said....I saw not a SINGLE piece of trash on the side of the road. Holy cow! That's so revolutionary to me as an American who is used to seeing the transportation system utilized as a secondary (if not primary) trash can. I was very impressed. Also the drive from Munich to Salzburg was charming, to say the least. Little communities of traditional German houses dotted the hillside the whole way and there were fields of flowers and forests everywhere.
Salzburg is breathtaking, especially Schloss Leopoldskron and the enormous castle overlooking the city. I can't wait to explore the city. I'm also looking forward to spending time in the library in the schloss. How cool is it that it has a hidden staircase built into a bookcase? It's like something straight out of Sherlock Holmes!
The food is delicious. The staff and faculty have already made a big impression on me. I know they are going to have a lot to say that I need to hear.
And now I need to go to sleep, because the words are blurring. Hopefully a more coherent post tomorrow.
It's Beautiful Here!
Oh my! Salzburg, Austria is breathtakingly beautiful and green! As we drove in our two buses from Munich to Salzburg, the red roofs were a beautiful contrast with the fields of green and yellow. The lake and the mountain view from the veranda of the Schloss is a view I've always dreamed of seeing.
The Schloss Leopoldskren is a history lesson in itself and thus far the food has been wonderful. The main course this evening was Wiener Schnitzel -- nothing like Der Wienerschnietzel (hot dogs) at home! This was a tender, golden fried turkey breast served with cranberry sauce and then we had chicken crepes that were so creamy.
Traveling with this group has been a blast! Rusty is talented at turning the light on the airplane with his hip while he sleeps and Katy has proven to be a stealthy pillow stealer. Dan, there was an empty space in front of me for seven hours ... we miss you, but know that you are where you are supposed to be! Between Michelle and I, this group already hates seeing us come around with the camera (groan)! I am going to get some shots of Julissa to prove that she was in Austria!
Today was a day of introductions and getting to know one another. We have met a tremendous faculty and support faculty and I'm really looking forward to hearing from them throughout the week. This evening Chandelle, Julissa and I had the opportunity to sit with Dennis and Jill Jaehne from San Jose State University in California at dinner. What a special couple that have traveled all over the world and have taken many young people into their lives and hearts. He was such an encourager to the whole group as we introduced ourselves.
Tonight's session was on Ethnocentrism and Maps. How interesting it was to see maps developed of the world from different perspectives - which country was placed in the center, which country was bigger - causing us to consider the perceptions of others and consider the point of view we would use to look at the world.
This is going to be a week of much learning and head spinning for me -- I can tell! A week of introspection.
Dreams do come true! And I'm going to dream tonight sleeping in a horizontal position rather than vertical as we "tried" to sleep last night!
The Schloss Leopoldskren is a history lesson in itself and thus far the food has been wonderful. The main course this evening was Wiener Schnitzel -- nothing like Der Wienerschnietzel (hot dogs) at home! This was a tender, golden fried turkey breast served with cranberry sauce and then we had chicken crepes that were so creamy.
Traveling with this group has been a blast! Rusty is talented at turning the light on the airplane with his hip while he sleeps and Katy has proven to be a stealthy pillow stealer. Dan, there was an empty space in front of me for seven hours ... we miss you, but know that you are where you are supposed to be! Between Michelle and I, this group already hates seeing us come around with the camera (groan)! I am going to get some shots of Julissa to prove that she was in Austria!
Today was a day of introductions and getting to know one another. We have met a tremendous faculty and support faculty and I'm really looking forward to hearing from them throughout the week. This evening Chandelle, Julissa and I had the opportunity to sit with Dennis and Jill Jaehne from San Jose State University in California at dinner. What a special couple that have traveled all over the world and have taken many young people into their lives and hearts. He was such an encourager to the whole group as we introduced ourselves.
Tonight's session was on Ethnocentrism and Maps. How interesting it was to see maps developed of the world from different perspectives - which country was placed in the center, which country was bigger - causing us to consider the perceptions of others and consider the point of view we would use to look at the world.
This is going to be a week of much learning and head spinning for me -- I can tell! A week of introspection.
Dreams do come true! And I'm going to dream tonight sleeping in a horizontal position rather than vertical as we "tried" to sleep last night!
The eagle has landed
We made it! I will say that I am very tired. Before leaving Philidelphia, I was pretty tired and thought sleeping the entire flight would be no problem. Boy was I wrong. For the life of me I could not get comfortable in that chair, and I became a little envious of the people at the front of the coach class the have tons of leg room. Poor Dee, she had to sit next to me and during my siesta on the plane I must have turned on the light a dozzen times! The Munich airport is way nice, they even had a small grocery store inside. The country side is so green and there is very little, if any, litter that I could see from the road. We were able to meet the other Salzburg participants today. The other halve of the group is from the Univeristy of San Fransico. There are not to many of us small so we should be able to get acainted with each other quickly. The food has been great; beat airline food into the dust. I do believe we will have our work cut out for us while we are here, but it will be most rewarding. I hope to not let the jet lag hold me back so I can get the most out of this.
ह्ह्फ़ असद
You would imagine that after spending almost two days now with very little sleep I would run up to my room and pass out. Instead, I am using the computers at the Meierhof, where our very spacious rooms are located across the Schloss, with a few classmates close by, to write about my experiences thus far.
The Munich airport is amazing. That pretty much summed it all up. Modern. Clean. Quiet. Beautiful. I wish we could have had the chance to explore the city of Munchen, or at least drive through it. But after arriving there, we got on two vans and drove about 2 and a half hours to Salzburg. The scenery on the way here was absolutely incredible. Most of the roads looked like they had just been placed in the middle of a forest or farms or local towns. I loved seeing the way the roads are made here. On the way, most of the them were one-lane roads, and there usually sideways for bikes. And they were actually being used!
The people so far have been very nice and polite. Everyone speaks English, which just makes me sad that I haven't picked up a lot of German, because I know I should attempt it.
I haven't had a chance to explore Salzburg yet, but we are doing a "self-paced" walking tour of the city tomorrow and I can't wait! It looks beautiful. Oh. The Schloss is fantastic. The building holds so much history and beauty, and the area around it is luscious green and, dare I say, inspiring. The weather, too, has been refreshing. It was about 55 degrees today. A nice change from Fort Worth.
I just got out of our session on Ethnocentrism, and though at first everyone was a little quiet, the conversation began to get really interesting and engaging. It really woke me up (I'm a little tired, as you can imagine). The session was much more interesting than I expected, and I hope that after we get to know the other students, discussions will be increasingly enjoyable and informative.
Well, I need sleep now.
- Julissa
The Munich airport is amazing. That pretty much summed it all up. Modern. Clean. Quiet. Beautiful. I wish we could have had the chance to explore the city of Munchen, or at least drive through it. But after arriving there, we got on two vans and drove about 2 and a half hours to Salzburg. The scenery on the way here was absolutely incredible. Most of the roads looked like they had just been placed in the middle of a forest or farms or local towns. I loved seeing the way the roads are made here. On the way, most of the them were one-lane roads, and there usually sideways for bikes. And they were actually being used!
The people so far have been very nice and polite. Everyone speaks English, which just makes me sad that I haven't picked up a lot of German, because I know I should attempt it.
I haven't had a chance to explore Salzburg yet, but we are doing a "self-paced" walking tour of the city tomorrow and I can't wait! It looks beautiful. Oh. The Schloss is fantastic. The building holds so much history and beauty, and the area around it is luscious green and, dare I say, inspiring. The weather, too, has been refreshing. It was about 55 degrees today. A nice change from Fort Worth.
I just got out of our session on Ethnocentrism, and though at first everyone was a little quiet, the conversation began to get really interesting and engaging. It really woke me up (I'm a little tired, as you can imagine). The session was much more interesting than I expected, and I hope that after we get to know the other students, discussions will be increasingly enjoyable and informative.
Well, I need sleep now.
- Julissa
First day
We arrived here in Salzburg around 1:00pm. Now it is 9:30pm here. I am a little tired so everything is rather surreal, but Salzburg is GORGEOUS! The Schloss is beautiful. It's older than America!
The trip over went smoothly. Only a 7.5 hour flight from Philly, so not bad at all!
Germany and Austria are extremely clean. I didn't see a single piece of trash on the side of the road for the entire 2 hour drive from Munich to here.
The other group of students here (aside from our group) are from the University of San Francisco and they are very nice. I sat with some of them at dinner and had really interesting conversation.
We just had a group meeting discussing enthocentrism (to explain mildy, it is the view that one's culture is superior to others) and how it effects our worldview. Very interesting!
What I foresee for the week: LOTS OF SLEEP TONIGHT! Also I think that I will learn a lot more "lingo" concerning international relation topics and such (e.g. ethnocentrism!). I am very excited to visit Dachau although I feel it will be a somber trip.
Well I am about to fall onto the keyboard from exhaustion, so I'm going to go now.
Auf wiedersehen!
The trip over went smoothly. Only a 7.5 hour flight from Philly, so not bad at all!
Germany and Austria are extremely clean. I didn't see a single piece of trash on the side of the road for the entire 2 hour drive from Munich to here.
The other group of students here (aside from our group) are from the University of San Francisco and they are very nice. I sat with some of them at dinner and had really interesting conversation.
We just had a group meeting discussing enthocentrism (to explain mildy, it is the view that one's culture is superior to others) and how it effects our worldview. Very interesting!
What I foresee for the week: LOTS OF SLEEP TONIGHT! Also I think that I will learn a lot more "lingo" concerning international relation topics and such (e.g. ethnocentrism!). I am very excited to visit Dachau although I feel it will be a somber trip.
Well I am about to fall onto the keyboard from exhaustion, so I'm going to go now.
Auf wiedersehen!
Arrived!
We have arrived in Salzburg today after a day of traveling. Everyone is excited and a little tired but so happy to be here. We have our first session this afternoon and then this evening they hear the first presentation.
Okay for the students sometime at the end of this first day, you need to write about your first impressions both here in Salzburg, the travel and of the first group meetings! What do you foresee for the week?
Okay for the students sometime at the end of this first day, you need to write about your first impressions both here in Salzburg, the travel and of the first group meetings! What do you foresee for the week?
Wednesday, May 21, 2008
First person at the airport!
As you can probably imagine no one is here. I am a whole 4 hours early partly, because I have sent my son to Kansas City to visit relatives while I'm gone and I did not want to be held up at the check in. Check in did go rather well, I was actually shocked that I did not have to go through more security measures on account that I'm going out of the country.
I am really sorry to hear Dan won't be with us but I know how important family is and sometimes you have to make sacrifices. I was really excited to learn to do the "Irish Jig." Poor Rusty, he's going to be stuck with all of the "others" for a whole week. I just finished calling my mother and sending her all the necessary information just in case I get abducted by whom, I don't know. She wants copy of licenses, passports, phone numbers, addresses, a lock of hair, a vial of blood, DNA samples you know how mothers can be, it's endearing, I guess that where I get my feelings about my son from.
I have already had friends here in the airport. It's fairly easy to when the only electrical socket is in front of the mens restroom.
Ich schreibe aus Detroit.
(I will write from Detroit.)
*Gosh I love Google Translator!
(I will write from Detroit.)
*Gosh I love Google Translator!
Tuesday, May 20, 2008
Here we come
I have been spread very thin lately between work and life and preparing for this trip. Dan, you will be missed but I believe you are making a good choice to stay with your family. I believe when we put aside what we think we want for ourselves and put others needs first we find what we need. It never really hits me that I am leaving my home until I walk in the airport line, I am not sure why that is. As consequence I am a late packer; never fails. I love to fly but I have never been on a flight for more than four hours, so this is a whole new experience. I can't wait to see the Swiss Alps, this is a dream come true.
Leaving a friend behind
Well today we learned that we will be leaving one of our group behind. Dan will be unable to join us on our journey to Salzburg. His father is very, very ill and not improving so Dan made the good choice to stay in the country. We will miss his perspective and Irish humor! We will stay in touch and send Dan our best wishes for him and his family.
I'm Full!
Well, this afternoon at 2:00 pm I realized that I probably wouldn't be eating Mexican food for eight days (sniff, sniff). My sweet hubby took me to Posado's for my Mexican food fix, so I'm ready to go!
I still have to pack the "school" stuff (my communications textbook, the Salzburg preparation papers, communications research and my dictionary).
I'm not sure how much sleep I'm going to get ... I'm really excited about seeing you all tomorrow morning and joining you on this journey.
Sweet dreams!
I still have to pack the "school" stuff (my communications textbook, the Salzburg preparation papers, communications research and my dictionary).
I'm not sure how much sleep I'm going to get ... I'm really excited about seeing you all tomorrow morning and joining you on this journey.
Sweet dreams!
Collection Expansion
Some people collect records, coins or dolls, but I collect places--be it a new street I've never driven down or a new country I've never had stamped in my passport before (that would be most of them). I get so excited to go to new places and see new things and I feel so grateful to have been allowed to go on this adventure with such a great group of people.
Yesterday I was thinking about how long I've been waiting to go to this Salzburg Seminar. It's been almost a year and a half. I first read about it on the TCC website when I was living with my sister in Muscat, Oman in December of 2006. I remember going into her room and saying, "Hey! I think I know where I'm going next....Austria!" She laughed at me, but here I am, 18 months later, packing my suitcase for Salzburg.....
....okay, I admit, I'm not literally packing my suitcase. In all honesty, I probably won't do that until an hour before I go to sleep. I'm one of those last minute packers. I hate laundry and folding things and figuring out what to wear. It's requires way too much brainpower.
And speaking of brainpower, I had to use a lot of it to make it through this oft' harrowing semester. Dr. Wood and Mrs. Hunsberger made absolutely sure to prepare us in every way, shape and form for whatever might be required of us during the next week. I just finished my speech journal and it finished out at 43 pages--practically a small book. (a lot o' fun to grade, I'm sure!) So yes, I feel at least mildly confident in my own abilities as well as the abilities of our group as a whole to do well at whatever surprises we encounter.
I don't actually have a lot of concrete expectations for what my experiences in Salzburg will be like. Whenever I imagine how things will be in the future, it never, ever matches up to reality, so I've adopted a strict policy of surprise. Whatever I encounter will be totally unexpected and new! It's worked well for me so far. I'm completely open to whatever happens. My only real expectation is that I will come away from this trip with some new relationships, new knowledge and new abilities for understanding the world I live in and how to improve it.
My only worry is that I will want to cram as many interesting experiences into one week as possible and we will only be able to do so much. I don't want to miss anything! I suppose I can always use that as an excuse to come back if I feel I've left anything out.
I guess I should also add under the worries category that I am a teensy-weensy-bit nervous to present my accumulated knowledge about listening styles to Carol (I'm definitely bringing my textbook). But, you know, other than me "teaching" an experienced professor about a subject that she is already incredibly familiar with, it shouldn't be a difficult project to research during the seminar. I'll just get to watch people. ; )
Yesterday I was thinking about how long I've been waiting to go to this Salzburg Seminar. It's been almost a year and a half. I first read about it on the TCC website when I was living with my sister in Muscat, Oman in December of 2006. I remember going into her room and saying, "Hey! I think I know where I'm going next....Austria!" She laughed at me, but here I am, 18 months later, packing my suitcase for Salzburg.....
....okay, I admit, I'm not literally packing my suitcase. In all honesty, I probably won't do that until an hour before I go to sleep. I'm one of those last minute packers. I hate laundry and folding things and figuring out what to wear. It's requires way too much brainpower.
And speaking of brainpower, I had to use a lot of it to make it through this oft' harrowing semester. Dr. Wood and Mrs. Hunsberger made absolutely sure to prepare us in every way, shape and form for whatever might be required of us during the next week. I just finished my speech journal and it finished out at 43 pages--practically a small book. (a lot o' fun to grade, I'm sure!) So yes, I feel at least mildly confident in my own abilities as well as the abilities of our group as a whole to do well at whatever surprises we encounter.
I don't actually have a lot of concrete expectations for what my experiences in Salzburg will be like. Whenever I imagine how things will be in the future, it never, ever matches up to reality, so I've adopted a strict policy of surprise. Whatever I encounter will be totally unexpected and new! It's worked well for me so far. I'm completely open to whatever happens. My only real expectation is that I will come away from this trip with some new relationships, new knowledge and new abilities for understanding the world I live in and how to improve it.
My only worry is that I will want to cram as many interesting experiences into one week as possible and we will only be able to do so much. I don't want to miss anything! I suppose I can always use that as an excuse to come back if I feel I've left anything out.
I guess I should also add under the worries category that I am a teensy-weensy-bit nervous to present my accumulated knowledge about listening styles to Carol (I'm definitely bringing my textbook). But, you know, other than me "teaching" an experienced professor about a subject that she is already incredibly familiar with, it shouldn't be a difficult project to research during the seminar. I'll just get to watch people. ; )
Austria, here we come!
Monday, May 19, 2008
Sha la la packing!
So I said I would start packing last Wednesday. It is now Monday, and I have not yet found my suitcase…I love packing! I usually end up packing the night before…but then again, I’ve never gone overseas! And not for this long either, without laundry service =/… This is truly going to be a challenge for me…trying to pack only the necessities. I am so excited though!
I’m not sure quite what to expect from this experience except that it is going to be amazing! I imagine it will be very busy and even more thought provoking. I know I’ll be completely engrossed in the lectures given because this sort of thing absolutely fascinates me. I’m so excited to be spending the week and working with everyone from our group and from the other school. I can’t wait to meet the students from Austria either. I’m looking forward to the tea breaks! I think that’s so wonderful…I love tea.
I feel so extremely lucky to have this opportunity…it still blows me away. I know that once I get there, I probably won’t want to leave, but I know that I’ll get so much out of it. I can’t wait to take everything I’ll learn and start applying it to my everyday perspective of things at home and globally. It might even guide me in the rest of my college career.
I’m especially excited to start my experimentations for my final in interpersonal communication. I got the lucky draw of physical space. I can already picture just how much fun I can have with that! I got so many ideas from Dee when we broke apart in groups. There are so many different circumstances involved with physical space and how we use it…whether it be gender, relationship, culture or age. I plan on trying out as many different combinations as possible. So beware, you might be the subject of one of my experiments! I’m also going to be doing a lot of observing to see just how everyone interacts and I want to watch the progression that occurs as the week goes on. I’d like to see how much the use of space alters as everyone gets to know each other and then compare the beginning of the week to the end. I think it’ll be especially fun once the banquet rolls around. It’ll be interesting to see how people in our group interact with each other, with the other group and how our culture will interact with that of the Austrians’. After the Space Invaders assignment we did, I’m sure I can come up with some pretty interesting situations.
Overall I just can’t wait to be on a different continent, walking through some of the oldest, history packed streets, in what I keep hearing is one of the most beautiful countries…I’m anxious to see how I’ll respond to the jet lag. And I can’t wait to see if Carol and I will actually discover who the American Idol is before we land the plane!!
For now…I just found my suitcase…so I’m going to give packing another try. More later…
Not Quite Ready...
As I am counting down these last few days before we leave the country my thoughts are everywhere; from I don't know what clothes to take, are the kids going to miss me, will I be prepared for whatever I am about to experience. My nerves are through the roof and I seem to be having a lot of anxiety. Packing right now consist of me making a list and staring at my suitcase that is in the corner of my living room.
No matter how much I have studied, read, learned, and comprehended, I never actually feel ready for what I am about to do or say. The whole giving a presentation idea, especially in front of strangers, makes me very uneasy. Yes I can get up in front of a room full of people and speak, but it never fails that my thoughts in my head are being processed a hundred times faster than my mouth is able to speak and then everything becomes jumbled. Someone please look and me and give me sign to slowdown and take deep breaths, and don't forget to smile at met to make me feel like I am doing a great job :)
The thing I am looking forward to the most is when I step off of the plane in DFW on May 29 and give myself a great big pat on the back and say, "Chandelle you did it, and it was great!"
As for my final exam in Speech and teaching a teacher a thing or two in their area of expertise is going to be challenging but rewarding. I will truly be able to enjoy being the observer and sometimes the instigator in the great thing we call communication. I hope to become an expert but I also know it takes trials and errors in order to learn.
See everyone Wednesday morning and enjoy your last days before our lives become transformed by this journey we are about to embark on.
No matter how much I have studied, read, learned, and comprehended, I never actually feel ready for what I am about to do or say. The whole giving a presentation idea, especially in front of strangers, makes me very uneasy. Yes I can get up in front of a room full of people and speak, but it never fails that my thoughts in my head are being processed a hundred times faster than my mouth is able to speak and then everything becomes jumbled. Someone please look and me and give me sign to slowdown and take deep breaths, and don't forget to smile at met to make me feel like I am doing a great job :)
The thing I am looking forward to the most is when I step off of the plane in DFW on May 29 and give myself a great big pat on the back and say, "Chandelle you did it, and it was great!"
As for my final exam in Speech and teaching a teacher a thing or two in their area of expertise is going to be challenging but rewarding. I will truly be able to enjoy being the observer and sometimes the instigator in the great thing we call communication. I hope to become an expert but I also know it takes trials and errors in order to learn.
See everyone Wednesday morning and enjoy your last days before our lives become transformed by this journey we are about to embark on.
Preparing for An Austrain Adventure
We'll be going to Austria in less than two days! I literally can't believe it. It's hard to acknowledge the fact that I'm going to be in another continent. It hasn't really hit me yet.
I went to the store yesterday and bought things I'll need: travel-size toothpaste, shampoo, band-aids (just in case). I bought a converter and I hope it works this time. I had bought one before going to France last year and the plug wouldn't fit. I also bought new shoes, and used this trip as my excuse. With all of that, I started to pack today. Just the little things. And I'll finish tomorrow.
I think I've learned a lot both in speech and history, and hope to put that to use at the seminar, but really I'm prepared to learn more while I'm actually there. That's what I'm hoping for, anyway. I'm kind of nervous about the whole experience of meeting everyone and have discussions and whatnot. It's intimidating, though I'll try not to let that affect me so much. I'm also a bit shaky about the airport. I've only been on an airplane once, so I don't really know what I'm supposed to do! I should get through it, though. Can't wait.
Oh. I am also quite terrified about talking to Carol about my topic (Relationship Models of Development). :)
- Julissa
I went to the store yesterday and bought things I'll need: travel-size toothpaste, shampoo, band-aids (just in case). I bought a converter and I hope it works this time. I had bought one before going to France last year and the plug wouldn't fit. I also bought new shoes, and used this trip as my excuse. With all of that, I started to pack today. Just the little things. And I'll finish tomorrow.
I think I've learned a lot both in speech and history, and hope to put that to use at the seminar, but really I'm prepared to learn more while I'm actually there. That's what I'm hoping for, anyway. I'm kind of nervous about the whole experience of meeting everyone and have discussions and whatnot. It's intimidating, though I'll try not to let that affect me so much. I'm also a bit shaky about the airport. I've only been on an airplane once, so I don't really know what I'm supposed to do! I should get through it, though. Can't wait.
Oh. I am also quite terrified about talking to Carol about my topic (Relationship Models of Development). :)
- Julissa
And what is ethnocentrism, anyway?
Carol said, "a phenomenon does not exist if there is not a word for it."
So as I sit here nervous, with butterflies and bucking horses in my stomach I come across the word "ethnocentrism" in our syllabus information for the seminar. So I "googled" it and "wikied" it and based on information learned I have been suffering from this phenomenon of a tendency of looking at the world primarily from the perspective of my own culture.
I was at one of my jobs and a woman asked me a general question in reference to gas prices and my response to her was, "I'm sort of grateful about our gas, other countries have been paying exorbent amounts of money for gas for years, we have been getting over for some time now."
In her instantaneous defense she stated, "I don't like to be compared to other countries, they are nothing like us. Americans should be better than this."
There is was, if I had no knowledge of the word ethnocentrism and it's meaning, would her comment even appeal to me?
There is even a special name that they give "us" Americans that suffer from this, it's called American Exceptionalism. Which basically means that we as Americans think that we differ on a higher degree of subjectivity from other developed nations, because of our national credo, historical evolution, or distinctive political and religious institutions. Generally we Americans think that we are superior based on a rationalization or explanation that may vary greatly depending on the historical period and the political context, essentially our rationalizations could change tomorrow, depending on the situation. The term can also be used in a very negative way referring to a willful nationalistic ignorance of faults committed by the American government.
So how do I convince other people from other cultures other than my own that I am not like this? Conflict Styles? If you examine our government and political ideals we are earnestly "forcers" not necessarily taking into consideration other people or cultures. Take for instance "Manifest Destiny" our idea that in a sense the American government was "destined" to establish uninterrupted political authority across the entire North American continent, from one ocean to the other. Not that we should bond with the existing cultures but, we should take over and conquer.
So using my conflict styles, I'll listen more trying to accommodate and collaborate during discussions. It might even be necessary to even compromise sometimes, yes, I the classroom "shark" is considering compromising. Compromising is a characteristic that benefits everybody and allows both parties to see the perspective of the others and still be respected for your own values.
Auf Wiedersehen. Ich werde sehen, jeden Mittwoch.
(Good bye. I will see everyone Wednesday.)
Audrey
So as I sit here nervous, with butterflies and bucking horses in my stomach I come across the word "ethnocentrism" in our syllabus information for the seminar. So I "googled" it and "wikied" it and based on information learned I have been suffering from this phenomenon of a tendency of looking at the world primarily from the perspective of my own culture.
I was at one of my jobs and a woman asked me a general question in reference to gas prices and my response to her was, "I'm sort of grateful about our gas, other countries have been paying exorbent amounts of money for gas for years, we have been getting over for some time now."
In her instantaneous defense she stated, "I don't like to be compared to other countries, they are nothing like us. Americans should be better than this."
There is was, if I had no knowledge of the word ethnocentrism and it's meaning, would her comment even appeal to me?
There is even a special name that they give "us" Americans that suffer from this, it's called American Exceptionalism. Which basically means that we as Americans think that we differ on a higher degree of subjectivity from other developed nations, because of our national credo, historical evolution, or distinctive political and religious institutions. Generally we Americans think that we are superior based on a rationalization or explanation that may vary greatly depending on the historical period and the political context, essentially our rationalizations could change tomorrow, depending on the situation. The term can also be used in a very negative way referring to a willful nationalistic ignorance of faults committed by the American government.
So how do I convince other people from other cultures other than my own that I am not like this? Conflict Styles? If you examine our government and political ideals we are earnestly "forcers" not necessarily taking into consideration other people or cultures. Take for instance "Manifest Destiny" our idea that in a sense the American government was "destined" to establish uninterrupted political authority across the entire North American continent, from one ocean to the other. Not that we should bond with the existing cultures but, we should take over and conquer.
So using my conflict styles, I'll listen more trying to accommodate and collaborate during discussions. It might even be necessary to even compromise sometimes, yes, I the classroom "shark" is considering compromising. Compromising is a characteristic that benefits everybody and allows both parties to see the perspective of the others and still be respected for your own values.
Auf Wiedersehen. Ich werde sehen, jeden Mittwoch.
(Good bye. I will see everyone Wednesday.)
Audrey
Sunday, May 18, 2008
Me?! Blogging?!!!
I have really enjoyed the times we have gotten together so far and am soooo excited about the trip. I am counting down by the number of shifts I have left to work at each job, 1 each. I have been really off balance the whole last year and thought that once the spring semester was over I could breathe, apparently it was just a warm up. I am looking very much forward to the actual plane ride where I can sit still and not run around hither and yon. I still have much to accomplish before my daughter takes me to the airport and have only packed my toiletries for real, the rest is virtual, on lists and in my mind.
I am concerned about doing well at the conference and these classes even though most of the coursework is completed. My social self is the part of me that is in major transition and this trip has a lot to do with that. My topic of expertise is Culture and Language. Although I have lived in other cultures, it never occurred to me to analyze it from that perspective. And yes Carol in this particular assignment, I find you quite intimidating. This stuff is woven into the very fiber of your being, you are so accomplished and I could hardly ever imagine being able to "teach " you anything about communication.
Well back to the laundry so I have clean things to wear in Salzburg. See you all Wednesday morning!
Leaving my Son
I wonder would they notice if I packed my son in my luggage. I have never left my son, sure he has left me to go on over nights at his grandmothers, sleep overs at friends homes, but I have never left him. As the days come nearer I had been unconsciously convincing myself that maybe I don't deserve this experience, I'm nervous. I am scared out of my mind, I have only traveled east of the Mississippi, once to California, and there was that time my mother took me to Tijuana, but that doesn't count, everyone spoke English.
What if I don't say the right thing or I say too many wrong things. Do I say hi or is it okay for a woman to give a man a good firm hand shake. What do I wear?!? What will my son think? He is happy for his mommy, then again he doesn't realize that I'm leaving him or maybe he doesn't really mind and I'm being too critical of him.
What if I don't say the right thing or I say too many wrong things. Do I say hi or is it okay for a woman to give a man a good firm hand shake. What do I wear?!? What will my son think? He is happy for his mommy, then again he doesn't realize that I'm leaving him or maybe he doesn't really mind and I'm being too critical of him.
Friday, May 16, 2008
I've Never ...
Well ... I've never "blogged" before, never been to Austria, never participated in anything like the Salzburg Seminar and never, ever dreamed I'd really see "Maria's Mountain!"
Yesterday's meeting at Starbucks was a wonderful prelude and preparation time for the Salzburg Seminar. I am looking forward to our experiencing Salzburg together as a team. Carol and Dr. Wood have done such a wonderful job through their teaching and assignments to prepare us as we interact with each other and others from around the world. They've taught well, now I just hope that I've learned well!
I've just finished my journal for Interpersonal Communications and next plan to research and as Carol says, "become an expert" (ahem) on "Cultural Differences in Intimacy and Intimacy in Computer-Mediated Communication." I will be studying the people around me and how they interact in social relationships as well as investigating how computer-mediated communication (CMC) can be just as personal as face-to-face interaction.
There is still quite a bit of reading for me to do in preparation for the discussions of world events and cultural perspectives. I'm a little nervous about the expected work but am looking forward to meeting new people, working with our TCC team, and participating in cultural exchange activities in Austria and Germany. I know that our visit to the Dachau Concentration Camp Memorial will be somber experience.
After seeing pictures of the Salzburg Global Seminar library online, I'm really looking forward to using the resources there! I worked in a very small library for 16 years ... studying in this library is going to be ... Oh my! If you haven't looked at the pictures of Schloss Leopoldskron ... DO! This is definitely NOT a sight-seeing trip, but I'm hoping to see Mozart's birthplace too. I'm taking my camera so I'll be zapping lots of pictures of the grounds at the Schloss and am hoping that I can get in a position to take pictures of Salzburgs land and cityscape. If the TCC team is willing, I'll be snapping their pictures as they are working on their assignments and enjoying the air of Austria! I won't be able to download pictures in Austria though (sniff, sniff) the files are too large and I take WAY too many!
I'm almost packed ... Katie, I borrowed my daughter's rain jacket! She wore it when she was in Salzburg in 2003 on "holiday." I need to leave a little room just in case there's time to shop a little. I'd really like to bring home some Christmas ornaments from Salzburg. Hmmm ... I collect clocks ... I wonder how much it would cost to ship an Austrian clock to Texas? Sssshhh ... I haven't told my sweet hubby yet!
I'm really trying very hard to maintain some self-control and be giddy about getting on a plane to go to a foreign country with 11 new friends that I'm looking forward to knowing better! I'm trying to maintain some self-control at the possibility of seeing sights that the von Trapp family saw before their immigration to the United States. I saw "The Sound of Music" in 1968 (now you know that I'm an oldie) and have been intrigued by their story ever since. If you hear "The Hills Are Alive" next Thursday -- know that it's me living out a dream from long ago as I twirl like Maria did on the mountain! Even if we don't have time to take "The Sound of Music Tour," I WILL be singing next week!
So ... like have I written too much for a "blog?" Audrey and Michelle, after our discussion yesterday, I KNOW that you are great bloggers! You're going to have to help me! It took me about 30 minutes to figure out how to even start this post. Well TCC team, I'm thinking about you all as you pack and am looking forward to reading your posts. See you on Wednesday my friends!
In Him,
Dee
Yesterday's meeting at Starbucks was a wonderful prelude and preparation time for the Salzburg Seminar. I am looking forward to our experiencing Salzburg together as a team. Carol and Dr. Wood have done such a wonderful job through their teaching and assignments to prepare us as we interact with each other and others from around the world. They've taught well, now I just hope that I've learned well!
I've just finished my journal for Interpersonal Communications and next plan to research and as Carol says, "become an expert" (ahem) on "Cultural Differences in Intimacy and Intimacy in Computer-Mediated Communication." I will be studying the people around me and how they interact in social relationships as well as investigating how computer-mediated communication (CMC) can be just as personal as face-to-face interaction.
There is still quite a bit of reading for me to do in preparation for the discussions of world events and cultural perspectives. I'm a little nervous about the expected work but am looking forward to meeting new people, working with our TCC team, and participating in cultural exchange activities in Austria and Germany. I know that our visit to the Dachau Concentration Camp Memorial will be somber experience.
After seeing pictures of the Salzburg Global Seminar library online, I'm really looking forward to using the resources there! I worked in a very small library for 16 years ... studying in this library is going to be ... Oh my! If you haven't looked at the pictures of Schloss Leopoldskron ... DO! This is definitely NOT a sight-seeing trip, but I'm hoping to see Mozart's birthplace too. I'm taking my camera so I'll be zapping lots of pictures of the grounds at the Schloss and am hoping that I can get in a position to take pictures of Salzburgs land and cityscape. If the TCC team is willing, I'll be snapping their pictures as they are working on their assignments and enjoying the air of Austria! I won't be able to download pictures in Austria though (sniff, sniff) the files are too large and I take WAY too many!
I'm almost packed ... Katie, I borrowed my daughter's rain jacket! She wore it when she was in Salzburg in 2003 on "holiday." I need to leave a little room just in case there's time to shop a little. I'd really like to bring home some Christmas ornaments from Salzburg. Hmmm ... I collect clocks ... I wonder how much it would cost to ship an Austrian clock to Texas? Sssshhh ... I haven't told my sweet hubby yet!
I'm really trying very hard to maintain some self-control and be giddy about getting on a plane to go to a foreign country with 11 new friends that I'm looking forward to knowing better! I'm trying to maintain some self-control at the possibility of seeing sights that the von Trapp family saw before their immigration to the United States. I saw "The Sound of Music" in 1968 (now you know that I'm an oldie) and have been intrigued by their story ever since. If you hear "The Hills Are Alive" next Thursday -- know that it's me living out a dream from long ago as I twirl like Maria did on the mountain! Even if we don't have time to take "The Sound of Music Tour," I WILL be singing next week!
So ... like have I written too much for a "blog?" Audrey and Michelle, after our discussion yesterday, I KNOW that you are great bloggers! You're going to have to help me! It took me about 30 minutes to figure out how to even start this post. Well TCC team, I'm thinking about you all as you pack and am looking forward to reading your posts. See you on Wednesday my friends!
In Him,
Dee
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