This is a student blog post submitted by Leah Emerson C’18. Leah is a Psychology and Advertising double major. Pictures featured in this post were taken by Leah.聽

For as long as I can remember, a goal of mine has been to visit all seven continents before I die. When it came to Asia, my first thoughts were always things like, 鈥淚鈥檇 love to see Thailand,鈥� or, 鈥淗ong Kong would be amazing.鈥� I knew that Taiwan was a country, but it has never been a country that crossed my mind when I thought of the places I wanted to visit. Not because Taiwan wasn鈥檛 interesting or worth my time, but because I just didn鈥檛 know enough about it. Yet, here I am writing about my first experience in Asia that took place in鈥攜ou guessed it鈥擳aiwan! Life is a funny thing.

The context of the trip is a Keystone course offered by 草莓影视 entitled 鈥淐ulture and Ecology of Asia.鈥� The course is exactly as it sounds. It is two weeks long and focuses on teaching students of all backgrounds about the culture鈥攃ustoms, societal norms, food, etc鈥攁nd the ecology鈥攍iving organisms and their surrounding鈥攐f Asia, and more specifically of Taiwan. The trip was led by Dr. Timothy Lin and Dr. Linda Vick鈥擠r. Lin specializes in the more 聽cultural aspect of the trip, as he is a Taiwanese native, and Dr. Vick specializing in the ecological aspect鈥攖eaching us about the unique organisms and living things in this unfamiliar part of the world.

This trip was more than just a class where we gained factual knowledge. It was an experience that we got to make our own. Throughout the two weeks we were there, we did more than sight-seeing. We did things that pushed us beyond what we are accustomed to which gave us the opportunity to see and experience the world, and engage with people in a way we didn鈥檛 know possible.

my biggest take away from this trip was this: mindset is everything

We spent one day at Tunghai University, 草莓影视鈥檚 Taiwanese partner school. During our stay at the University, each of us were paired 聽with a Taiwanese student from the university, and we spent the whole day with them. We talked with them and compared our lives, cultures, experiences, and so much more. It was things like that, having simple conversations, which really opened 聽our minds and created great learning experiences鈥攁nd many new friendships!

One of my favorite parts of the trip was traveling to the countryside of Taiwan and seeing all the rice fields. While we were there, we had the chance to eat dinner in a Taiwanese family鈥檚 home. The father was previously a professional chef in Taipei (the largest city in Taiwan), but due to health reasons, he and his family had to leave and move elsewhere. They decided they wanted to live a simple life, so they moved to the countryside and began farming. While in their home, he prepared somewhere between 8-10 courses for us to enjoy, all of which were grown and farmed locally, and his two little daughters and his wife served us the food. Afterwards, he came out of the kitchen and spoke with us (in Mandarin鈥擠r. Lin translated). He told us his story and answered questions we had. It was such an incredible and special experience, and the food was even better!

As much as I learned in the two weeks, my biggest take away from this trip was this: mindset is everything. It plays a crucial role when it comes to our outlooks on life. I left on this trip challenging myself to keep an open mind, and a willingness to try new things. I came home two weeks later with an entirely new perspective. That open-mindedness ultimately opened up my world. This hands-on learning experience allowed me to learn things about the world, myself, and others that I wouldn鈥檛 have learned otherwise; for that I am thankful.

This is a student blog post submitted by Rachel Weaver C’19. Rachel is transfer student majoring in Biology.

After months of anticipation, we are finally in San Salvador, The Bahamas!! This all started in the Johnson Center at 草莓影视. The first part of our Marine Biology course was spent in the classroom where we got to know each other and the marine creatures we are spending so much time with. We learned about different species of fish, coral, and invertebrates and how to recognize them in the field (don鈥檛 touch the bearded fireworms!). We practiced identifying the Caribbean fish at Chicago鈥檚 own Shedd Aquarium to test our abilities. In the Shedd鈥檚 Caribbean Reef Tank we got a glimpse of many of fish we had been studying in depth within the classroom; we were impressed by how much we could recall after such a short time.

If we thought fish identification skills were hard, picking out our snorkeling gear and choosing which colors we wanted was even tougher. With this difficult decision made, we used our new gear well in advance of the trip, practicing our snorkeling skills in a local pool. We developed the myriad skills needed to snorkel successfully and safely, including surface dives and mastering breathing through our mouths instead of our noses (it sounds easier than it is . . . try it for an hour straight).

Those who were feeling adventurous took the opportunity to become certified to scuba dive down to 60 feet deep. Getting certified was exciting and only took two weekends to complete. Our first open water dive took place in the 50 degree waters of Haigh Quarry, also affectionately called the 鈥淐aribbean of the Midwest鈥�; fitting for our future travel plans. Fortunately, we were in the real Caribbean within a week, where the waters are much warmer (80 degrees), the sun is hotter, and the aquatic life is more diverse. We will get to use our scuba skills toward the end of our trip.

The Marine Biology course is one of the many field courses available at 草莓影视. What鈥檚 a better way to learn marine biology than to see the real deal? Here at 草莓影视, not only is Chicago our classroom, but so is the world.

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This is a student blog post submitted by Leslie Nelson C’19. Leslie is a Biology major.

Over these past two days through these experiences and countless others, our team was more excited than ever to see what San Salvador had in store for us.

Upon arrival at our home for the trip, the Gerace Research Centre (GRC) on the island of San Salvador, we once again encountered Bahamian island time contrasted with the military-style scheduling of GRC. At GRC, meals run like clockwork at specified times, no exceptions. If you show up too late for a meal, you won鈥檛 be eating. Further, there are other specific times such as quiet hours as well as the return of GRC vehicles. All this precise timing facilitates smooth function, courtesy, and even safety (many vehicles lack working headlights, wipers, speedometers, doors that latch shut, and other 鈥渦nnecessary鈥� luxuries). Additionally, the GRC guests are mostly scientists from around the western hemisphere with multiple research foci; strict schedules allow for better coordination across campus. Passing through the gate of the GRC puts you in a different temporal space than the laid-back style of the islanders, who never seem to be in a rush or even on a specific schedule.

Further, there seems to be a more welcoming attitude on the Bahamian islands than you would find in many US cities. This is most apparent while traveling the roads. Driving up to GRC following our arrival on San Salvador, we were told by the campus director to wave as cars pass each other on the Queens Highway, the one road around the island. Waving is part of the culture here on the island, as everyone knows each other and therefore there is an almost obligatory friendliness. Perhaps it is because everyone on the island is family, in some sense.

On Nassau, as well as San Salvador, honking on the road is more of a friendly 鈥榟ello鈥� than an annoyed 鈥榳hat do you think you are doing?鈥�

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This is a student blog post submitted by Leslie Nelson C’19. Leslie is a Biology major.

鈥淭he first time is the worst.鈥� The mini heart attacks subsided as we remembered that Bahamians do indeed drive on the opposite side of the road. Meanwhile, we were still trying to comprehend why half of the cars have steering wheels on the left side and the other half have them switched to the right. This is one of the first examples of merging cultures we experienced on arrival in Nassau in The Bahamas.

Another striking cultural difference noticed early on was between the leisurely island style and the bustling tourism industry. Tourism is the largest industry found on the Bahamian Islands. Once again, a merging of these two worlds became apparent in Nassau during dinner time at 鈥淒a Fish Fry,鈥� the local seafood strip. The restaurant owners persistently pursued us to get us to eat at their establishments. One owner even picked up a Chicago Cubs t-shirt worn by one of our group members, using this as a segue to talk us into his establishment. This kind of personalized attention is not as common in North American cities. We snacked on local delicacies like conch fritters and some members of our group even enjoyed a full conch meal!

However, there were also tastes of home. Dunkin Donuts. This time, donuts at the Lynden Pindling International Airport were the method by which cultures were fused. Dr. Rholl was the only brave soul who was willing to give a guava donut a try . . . he loved it. And these donuts appeared once again when multiple people traveling on our small flight from Nassau to San Salvador brought a box full of donuts to the island with them, a commodity which can鈥檛 be found on the out islands.

Beyond experiencing the unique culture of the Bahamas, we also found time to work on our snorkeling and identification skills. Two snorkeling sessions have already been squeezed in between flights and meals and catching up on sleep. To begin we checked out Junkanoo Beach in the heart of Nassau which is right next to the shipping lanes and a public beach. For our second session, we waited until San Salvador and walked across the street from our lodging at the Gerace Research Centre to the boat launch at Graham鈥檚 Harbor.

In just 24 hours, our eyes have been opened to a new world. In 1492, Christopher Columbus landed on the tiny Bahamian island of San Salvador. 525 years later, we are excited to see what else 鈥淐olumbus鈥� Isle鈥� has in store for us, both culturally and ecologically.

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This is a student blog post submitted by Kaylyn Sweitzer, C’19. Kaylyn is an English Literature and Creative Writing major.

Never have I felt so filled, yet so empty. Charles Dickens explains my situation well in the opening line of A Tale of Two Cities: 鈥淚t was the best of times, it was the worst of times.鈥� I felt completely torn between having the time of my life and wanting nothing more than to go home. Studying abroad is, in fact, the most fulfilling and rewarding thing you can do in college; however, I will be the first to say that it is also the most draining and difficult. But just because it was hard certainly does not mean that it wasn鈥檛 worth it. And I have to say . . . it was completely worth it.

Upon my return from studying at SVF in Sweden, I was frequently asked the convenient conversation starter, 鈥淗ow was Sweden?鈥� To which I found myself providing a variety of answers. I openly shared personal details and anecdotes with some people, while shielding aspects of my experience with others. No one knows the true story of my time in Sweden鈥搉ot even me. It already feels like a distant memory. I look at the photos see the familiar faces of the friends I spent both the most rewarding and challenging four months of my life鈥揳nd it just doesn鈥檛 feel real. I have pictures of me standing in front of the Eiffel Tower, the Roman Colosseum, and Big Ben, but I am still struggling to process the fact that I was there just a few months ago. I spent a semester on another continent, in a different country, learning an unfamiliar language, and eating cultural food; however, since I鈥檝e been back at 草莓影视, that experience has felt like more of a fantastical adventure. And in a way, it was. I was living in a dream鈥搈y childhood dream of traveling Europe. It was euphoric, incredibly brilliant, simply life-changing. But it was also taxing, strenuous, and exhausting.

In the wise words of Bilbo Baggins, 鈥淚t鈥檚 a dangerous business going out of your door. You step into the road, and if you don鈥檛 keep your feet, there is no knowing where you might be swept off to鈥� (LOTR). By moving to a different country, I had exposed myself to the elements of the world. In America, I know what to do, where to go, what to say . . . for the most part. I am comfortable. Living in Sweden, I was surrounded by a new language and culture. By the end of the day, I was exhausted and not just from the wear and tear of going through the day. It was partly due to having to adjust to a different environment and way of life. Even trying to process the Swedish language wore me out. I was uncomfortable, but I was thankful to be. We grow and change when we鈥檙e uncomfortable and when we鈥檙e challenged and pushed to our limits. In those moments, we don鈥檛 break鈥搘e rise. So even though I felt strained and overwhelmed by the unfamiliarity, I knew that the familiarity and comfort would come with time.

With each passing day, I appreciated the country and culture of Sweden, along with my overall experience, more and more. I appreciated walking out of my dorm every morning to see the sun rising over the city of J枚nk枚ping and Lake V盲ttern, Friday fika and Ica runs, the peace and quiet of SVF, having late night talks with my roommate, FaceTiming my family from the basement of my dorm at midnight, Pepparkakor and gl枚gg, having to use a converter whenever I needed to charge my phone, daily morning fika, and having to wear reflective bracelets to avoid being hit by cars since it would get dark by 3:00. It would鈥檝e been so easy to take the little things for granted, but the little things are what made the opportunity so special.

I really enjoyed getting to know Sweden鈥檚 lifestyle. Generally speaking, life in Sweden simply happens at a slower pace; people aren鈥檛 in as much of as rush. They multitask less and focus on the moment more. Swedes also tend to be more reserved and humble and not as showy and flashy as Americans. I love how Swedes routinely pause throughout the day for fika breaks; they鈥檙e very good at being communal and forming deep relationships over time. And that鈥檚 another thing I appreciated about Sweden鈥攖hey take all relationships seriously.

Studying abroad pushed me to grow in ways I hadn鈥檛 anticipated beforehand. I grew in my confidence and independence, and I learned to rely on myself in a whole new way. It was the longest I have ever been away from my family, meaning that I had to accept the fact that I couldn鈥檛 always rely on them to hold my hand. Apart from relying on myself, I also had to rely more heavily on those around me. I had to accept the fact that I needed to place my trust in my peers and to accept the idea of vulnerability. Sweden did leave me vulnerable鈥攙ulnerable and raw, my protective walls peeled away. Shedding these skins hurt, but it allowed new ones to replace the old, and these new skins have made me stronger and more resilient than ever before. And I owe all of this change to my decision to leave my comfort zone and take on an adventure of a lifetime, my adventure in Sverige.

This is a student blog post submitted by Melanie Lofgren, C鈥�18. Melanie is a psychology major, with a biblical and theological studies minor. She spent her spring break in Italy with a group of 12 students and two professors. On the trip, students considered the continuity between the life of the earliest Christians in their cities and present-day Christians in the city of Chicago.

Today I’ll share about something I鈥檓 not very knowledgeable about, and yet find incredibly interesting and thought-provoking.

Rome and art.

I鈥檒l start at the Vatican. We went to the Vatican museum on Tuesday and spent the day in our groups viewing, listening, and reading. Everything was simply beautiful. The artworks expressed feelings, depicted moments or a series of moments in time, or the feeling of multiple emotions, history, and so much more!

I want to focus on the Sistine Chapel. No pictures were allowed, as I was sternly told by a clearly aggravated Italian man shaking his hand at me. So, sorry, I don鈥檛 have any photos. The effort and thoroughness Michelangelo used to paint the chapel are insane to think about, not mention painful with the method he had to use. He depicts the final judgment, stories of Moses, moments in Jesus鈥檚 life, prophets, the book of Genesis, the apostles, and more. The amount of Christian history and significance in that room is incredible. Couple that with the one who painted it, and where . . . I was standing in one of the most significant places for Christians, and I鈥檓 Protestant.

As I stood in front of piece after piece in different museums, I felt something like what I like to believe the artists were feeling. It鈥檚 all subjective and can be interpreted differently, and yet each piece is timeless and has a story. Most Roman art we saw conveyed a historical event or religious belief.

Take the painting by Pietro Aquila, for instance. Located in the Room of Triumphs in
the Capitoline Museum, the battle scene depicts the victory of Alexander over Darius (ca. 1650鈥�92). I am initially frightened because I am extremely uncomfortable, afraid, and disapproving of the violence. However, as I take a closer look I see a deeper message. This is not simply a battle between Alexander the Great and the ultimate defeat of Darius, but it elevates Alexander to a higher level than previously. The sky is clear and bright revealing that this is a good scene. The bird flying overhead could be a scavenger waiting for a meal, a symbol for the inevitability of death. There are faces full of terror and ones of absolute confidence and power.

Before I go, I want to share my favorite painting with you; it鈥檚 the fresco of the riot between Pompeiians and Nucerians, 59 A.D., Pompei, Volume IV, plate XXXII by Fausto and Felice Niccolini. This is an illustration of a riot that occurred outside of the amphitheater in Pompeii in 59 CE, speculated to have been between organizations from different towns. It鈥檚 distinctive because the artist decided to paint this event rather than a gladiatorial fight, which was the most common use of the amphitheater. They鈥檙e also what you鈥檇 assume people would want to remember in a painting. It may be that the artist was connected to the riot somehow. The piece takes a bird鈥檚 eye perspective which removes the artist from the scene, whether that be to distance themselves to not be triggered by the event or because they were not there, I cannot say. It also is very spread out; each brawl and element are separated from each other, this is very different from the other art we saw during this time and that made it even more interesting. It is just so cool!

This is a student blog post submitted by Melanie Lofgren, C’18. Melanie is a psychology major, with a biblical and theological studies minor. She spent her spring break in Italy with a group of 12 students and two professors. On the trip, students considered the continuity between the life of the earliest Christians in their cities and present-day Christians in the city of Chicago.

Over my spring break, I traveled with a group of 11 other students and two professors, all of us ranging in academic and professional disciplines . . . and in prior knowledge of Rome and Christian history. Despite being a Junior and a BTS minor, I actually haven鈥檛 taken many Bible or theology classes. I also never learned much of Roman history in junior high or high school, so this trip was going to be a whole new world and wealth of knowledge for me. Before the trip we read some books to brush up, or in my case learn about Christian and Roman history (it was a lot of information that did not care to remain in my brain during the trip).

As soon as we arrived, we were herded to our first three sights of the trip: The Pantheon, the Church of the Gesu, and the Ara Pacis. It鈥檚 important to note 鈥渉erding鈥� is a very appropriate term. We walked everywhere, led (or shall I say shepherded) by our two professors; we probably looked like a herd of unusual American tourists, and this is exactly what we were.

Stepping outside of your comfort zone is one of the greatest gifts God has given us and that we can give to God.

Professors Willitts and Veeneman know how to travel. If there鈥檚 one thing I took away, it was how to be a traveler. We had free audio guides (courtesy of Rick Steve), and guide books that had enough information to spark conversation while not overwhelming us. I loved all the walking, and I chose to walk when given the option, even going on a mini 鈥減ilgrimage.鈥� Walking is a great way to see the city. Walking through Rome made me take in more of the city, see the neighborhoods and their aesthetics change, experience the interactions between people, not look like a tourist (a huge plus for me), get great exercise (and not feel guilty about all the pizza and pasta I consumed!), and it helped me navigate and understand the city. Although taking a bus everywhere may have been less tiring, I wouldn鈥檛 have been able to grasp the immensity, extravagance, and culture nearly as well.

Let鈥檚 get back to what we did though. Every day we saw a few different places of significance to the Christian faith, to the Roman Empire, to western theology, and any combination of these. In this blog series, I鈥檒l talk about the places that I found to be the most intriguing, the knowledge and relationships I gained, and the topics that still lurk in my mind all while relating it to my life back in Chicago.

Before I wrap up this first post, I want to encourage anyone reading this to a) continue to read the rest of my series, b) study abroad or travel to other countries, and c) go on this trip! Traveling and experiencing a new culture is daunting and nerve-wracking. It is a humbling experience if you let it be (please let it!), and although the cons may seem to outweigh the pros in foresight, you will never regret the experience in hindsight, no matter how unplanned, disorganized, chaotic, and scary it may turn it out be.聽You still learn things years afterward, and stepping outside of your comfort zone is one of the greatest gifts God has given us and that we can give to God.

Interested in traveling with BTS next spring break?

ROME and POMPEII SPRING BREAK 2018 TOUR INFO MEETING