Post by Karla Chavez Hernandez, who reflects on the differences between Babson’s classroom culture and the classroom culture at Bocconi University in Milan, Italy. Click here to learn about the many opportunities to travel abroad at Babson.

After going to three different colleges in my lifetime I´ve realized that one of the most important aspects of a school relies in its classroom culture. In my opinion classroom culture defines everything; it defines your relationship with your classmates, your professor and your interaction with the courses. I´ve learned that the classroom culture should fit with your personality and should be parallel with your expectations on the course and the overall experience. The classroom culture at Bocconi University in Milan is extremely different from that of Babson´s. The difference of these made me value my time abroad and learn about the academic differences in both the American and Italian culture.

Babson has a very intimate classroom culture. With classes of average size of less than 30 students, Babson is able to provide students with a space for listening and constant participation. The professors are seen as more than just a learning source, but also as role models, mentors and facilitators. What I always say to people asking me about Babson is that I not only learn from the great faculty that we have, but equally as important from my classmates. Every class at Babson pays extreme importance to participation, thanks to that I´ve been able to hear from other people´s perspectives and that has helped me grow both academically and socially. Teamwork is another huge factor in classes at Babson. Every course requires teamwork, in order to simulate the real world and what we will face in the near future. More than lectures, Babson classes are debates and judgment-free zones.

Bocconi University in Milan is one of the best business schools in Europe and in the world. I went to Bocconi for a semester last fall in the hopes of learning from a great school and a great city such as Milan. The classes that I took would range from a minimum of 32 students all the way to some classes with 70 students. The classroom culture is very different not only because of the class size. Attendance to the classes is not mandatory and participation is encouraged but doesn´t play any role in the final grade. The result is a class in which professors speak for most of the time while students take notes and work on class activities. As a Babson student in Bocconi, I tried to participate actively in my classes and the professors felt really grateful about it. For example in my International Banking my professor only remembered my name and the names of other 3 people in the classroom by the end of the semester because we were the only ones that participated.

Even though the class was in English the Italians would be the ones that participated, but mostly just to ask questions. I had to adapt myself to the new system, as it was extremely different from what I´ve experienced at Babson and at my hometown in Mexico. I decided to three things: meet with my professors for a couple of minutes after class, go to their office hours if I was having trouble understanding a topic and lastly participated at least once per class. Those were three good solutions to the challenge and even if those are common to do at Babson they´re definitely not done by most of the students at Bocconi.

The legend says that if you pass in between the lions you will not graduate from Bocconi.

I´m extremely grateful that I chose Bocconi mainly because of its classroom setting. I still miss the freedom of going to the classes whenever you feel like going and talking without being forced to participate. At Babson on the other hand you have the freedom of speech and no-judgment. I don´t think that a classroom culture is better than others; I just think that every person has a classroom culture that fits them best. After all the purpose of travelling and going abroad is to experience different things and learn alternatives from what you´re used to do all the time.

Post by Molly Ronan, who recounts her experiences traveling alone in Taiwan, China. Click here to learn about the many opportunities to travel abroad at Babson.

I studied abroad for a semester in Shanghai but took a week trip to Taiwan during the Chinese October Holiday.  I traveled to Taiwan with my friend Roxy, but one day she was pretty sick and couldn’t go out anywhere. Not wanting to waste one of the few days I had, I took the suggestion of the family I was staying with and got on a bus tour to Lion’s Head Mountain. The mother of the family took me to the bus stop and she told the bus driver that I wanted to buy a day pass and then I was off.

Now once I was on the bus, I was excited, not really nervous. Traveling alone is a kind of adrenaline that you don’t get from anything else. You are in complete control. You can do whatever you want without having to consult what anyone else thinks. You are responsible for what happens to you. It’s pretty amazing. It may not sound like it but to me, it was possibly the best part of the trip. The story I tell the most often. I still feel excited thinking about it.

The first stop was Beipu. When I was getting off the bus the bus driver was trying to make sure I knew that this was Beipu, not Lion’s Head Mountain. He thought I was getting off too early. But I nodded and said “hao de” which is basically my limited Chinese saying, “It’s okay, I know.” I get off in this little town in front of a temple and the place looks pretty abandoned. It takes me a while but I finally find the main street with some stores.

The woman I was staying with had told me to try this kind of tea and dessert which she had texted to me in English and Chinese. So I go up to a restaurant that looks like it sells what I’m looking for. I show the woman working there the text on the phone to ask if she has that. She looks at it and then takes my phone and brings it inside the store so I follow her. I see that she is showing it to a younger girl who speaks English! So the girl says to me “So you want to drink our tea and have this dessert?” And I responded with “Yes, please!” So she tells me to sit down and then I am served my tea and dessert! It was delicious! At this point I was pretty proud of myself for getting what I wanted without being able to speak the language. I was lucky there was that girl there who understood what I wanted! Plus it is so rewarding to communicate successfully on my own.

Next though was rushing back to the bus stop so I could make sure I got to Lion’s Head Mountain on time since the bus only came every hour. When we finally got to the mountain the bus driver pointed me in the direction of the information center. I got a map and decided on a trail and then I was off.

Now I was really by myself. Once I left the information center I did not pass one person on the trail. So it was just me and nature. And it was so great. The hike wasn’t too hard, but to me it was pretty tiring. There were a lot of steps but it was also exhilarating. It was so gorgeous. I have never done anything like that: hiking by myself in a foreign country. Not only did it feel good just to be moving and exercising, it felt amazing to be in nature after being in the huge city of Shanghai for the past month, and just be alone and know that I was okay. I was in a foreign country hiking a mountain and I was so okay. I was doing it and I was good. I was capable. I actually did it. Now I can say I hiked a mountain in Taiwan by myself.

These are the moments that really define a study abroad experience. It builds confidence in a way that nothing else can. It allowed me to take a chance I never would have otherwise. Now whenever I doubt myself or worry, I just remind myself that I hiked a mountain by myself in Taiwan.

Post by Laura Jiménez, who studied abroad through Syracuse University in Florence, Italy. Click here to learn about the many opportunities to travel abroad at Babson.

Housing was not a factor taken into consideration when choosing my abroad program. In fact, it was not until we were informed that we were going to move from the orientation hotels to our host family houses that I came into realization that I was going to live with strangers, with no idea if they could speak English, or how strict they were, or what were their traditions. Four months after the program started, I did not want to move away from my host family. My experience with them was PERFECT, in all senses, and these are some myths that I want you to disregard when avoiding living with a host family.

1. Lack of freedom:

Not at all! Most of them, if not all, work. That means that you will have time by yourself in the house, if you want to use the TV, the computer, use the bathroom, have some snacks that they leave for you. They will not be bothered if you want to go partying and return at 5 AM. They know you are abroad and that you also want to have fun! They are trained for that! From my personal experience, I was out 4 of the 5 days of the week, and returned late. That was never a problem, as long as I was quite when back home.

Soccer match: Fiorentina – Roma

2. Language is a barrier:

Yes, language will be a barrier if you are not open minded to learn the language. Going abroad means that you have to have the want of learning about the culture, including the language! They will all have a basic knowledge of English. Mine was fluent English, but still we spoke Italian because I wanted to learn Italian. I would watch the soccer matches with them, the news, or they would take me out for dinner and speak in Italian.

3. Conversations are awkward:

NO! Well, yes, at the beginning. But just be yourself and talk about your culture and opinions. They love to know more about the American culture! In my case, I was talking more about my own Dominican culture and my second hand perceptions of the American culture.

4. They judge your actions:

They know you are a teenager, they were one as well. In Italy, for example, people are very open about everything, and in family conversations, few things are taboo. Conversations are very open, and they will not judge your actions or thoughts, they will learn from them.

5. Not having friends over:

I don’t know if this is the case for everyone, but my host family invited my friends twice, for some wine, pasta and salsa dancing till one in the morning.

Dinner with friends and host family

6. Host parents will limit you:

No, on the other hand, they will open many doors for you. Because of them, I went to three soccer matches for free, I met towns outside Florence, I learned more fluent Italian, I went to the right places for nightlife, shopping and dinner, and I was connected to people from the city.

Host parents care about you. They will give you rides if you need to, they will take you on their scooters, like my host dad did to me, they will make sure you have what you need, they will lend you their clothes if you need a sweater for the cold, they will be like your parents but with more freedom!

Indeed, I did not look into housing options when choosing my semester abroad program. But now, I am planning on studying abroad again, and this is a ‘must requirement’ when choosing my program.

Post by Yan Hou, who spent a year in England studying at the London School of Economics (LSE). Click here to learn about the many opportunities to travel abroad at Babson.

Studying at LSE is quite different from studying at Babson. Firstly, courses are huge. When I was at LSE, two of my courses comprised more than 500 students (the two courses are Principles of Finance and Macroeconomic Principles). The professors actually needed to have lectures in the theatre, with students sitting in front of the stage like audience. Each course has lecture twice per week. After the lectures, there will be classes (once per week) held by PhD students. Secondly, there is not as much homework as we usually have at Babson, and homework is usually not graded. Generally, class teachers will go over the homework questions during the class instead of teaching new stuffs. Thirdly, courses at LSE are mostly on a year-long basis. Within the year, students do not have any midterms or quizzes to keep them on track. Therefore, studying at LSE is more on a self-initiated basis. Students do not receive much one-to-one focus.

As I was used to Babson’s teaching styles – having many quizzes, midterms, and much homework – to keep myself on track, I felt lost when I was studying at LSE, especially given that I took two economics courses (the course Macroeconomic Principles has a failure rate of over 20%) and one Finance course in addition to my “entry-level liberal arts course”. Without having quizzes or midterms to evaluate how much knowledge I had absorbed, I sometimes lost track of my study progress. More importantly, LSE is at the center of London, and there is quite a lot for me to explore every day. As a result, when the Easter break ended (the last break at LSE during the term time), I was shocked that my exams were coming so soon that I did not think I had time to prepare. Honestly, I freaked out for a few times during the summer term, known as the “final preparation period.” Luckily, I was able to manage the finals at the end (though painfully), and I have concluded multiple tips for those who may find themselves suffering during the final exam period at LSE.

Tips for Tackling LSE Finals:

1. Start your final preparation early. Since most courses at LSE are year-long courses, it is not easy to review for the finals in a short period of time. I once asked one of my LSE friends who majors in Actuarial Science about how long he usually starts his final preparation. He said that he would start at least two months before his final exams. However, if you study very hard during the term time, you may need less time to review for the exam.

2. Have a study plan and prioritize your work. Generally, LSE students take four full-unit courses each year. Nevertheless, as general course students (i.e. students who study abroad at LSE) enjoy the flexibility of selecting courses across different departments, sometimes they might have half-unit courses (usually maths courses) and take more than four courses for the year. Therefore, it is very important for you to plan your review process based on the exam dates. If you review too early for an exam, you might risk forgetting some of the topics at the day of the exam. More importantly, you should prioritize your work. You might have “easy courses” and “hard courses” (you better do!). Prioritize your review for the hard ones or parts that you do not understand the most, as they will take you more time to digest the materials.

3. Closely manage your pressure. It is common to freak out during the final preparation period, especially at LSE. I freaked out once because I had my two hardest exams back-to-back (Principles of Finance on Wednesday and Macroeconomics Principles on Thursday), and in the evening right before my Macroeconomics Principles exam, I found myself exhausted and my mind went blank under such huge pressure. It is fine to have pressure during the exam period, but do not let the pressure destroy you. Try to calm yourself down as soon as possible by taking a walk, having a good meal, or even having a nap. Our brains function slowly and poorly under huge pressure, so you should release your pressure frequently. For those who live at Bankside House (student residence hall), try to have a walk from Bankside to National theatre along the Thames River. You will be amazed by how beautiful it gets at that time and thus forget your pressure!

4. I hope you all survive your LSE finals next year!

Take a look at your “home” during the final exam period : )

Post by Mercedes Sierra, who studied abroad in Paris, France. Click here to learn about the many opportunities to travel abroad at Babson.

Studying abroad is something every Babson student should do! Even if you are doing a double concentration, it is still possible! I am proof of this. Babson offers different alternatives and programs in order to match everyone’s needs making the options fit to each one of us. I decided to study abroad in Paris, France and based on my experiences there, I will tell you why I think a Babson Student should study abroad, whether it be an elective abroad, a semester or a year.

1. You are Exposed to  New Languages which is Essential to Learning a New Culture.

In my case, I had learned French in High School so by going abroad I was able to further develop my skills and practices since I almost never spoke in Spanish or English while at France. I practiced my French in school, when ordering in restaurants, when visiting museums, when meeting new people, etc. It was definitely a big change, but these are things that a business student will have to do when interacting and doing business with other people around the world. If you don’t know the language of the location in which you are studying, there are levels of learning the language so you will be able to develop your skills and meet other people that are learning at the same time that you are. It is amazing learning a new language and being able to dominate it in a different country!

2. Living in a Country is Not the Same as Visiting a Country.

There is a difference between the two as you are exposed to different situations due to cultural differences. You are able to be more independent and solve problems and encounters that may arise. It can be as simple as learning how to use the metro transportation system. You grow as a person being in a different environment and when coming back to Babson classes you have more knowledge than ever. You are contributing to class with a different mindset than others and have a larger view of how the world works. By living in a different country you are also able to learn about yourself in terms of strengths and weaknesses.

3. New Friends.

Babson is known for its entrepreneurship leadership as well as its diversity. We are a campus that represents more than 80 countries and to continue this path, studying abroad allows for this exposure to be even further. You will not only meet people from the country you are living in, but you will be exposed to others. As a Babson student, the networking opportunities are endless. During my time studying in Paris, I not only made friends from there, but made very close friends with people from Germany, Japan, Switzerland, Spain, etc. It was incredible seeing all the things we had in common!

4. Different Education System.

By being exposed in a new education system different than your own, you are able to learn and adapt to the culture even faster. It is a different teaching, grading and interaction style. This allows to develop adaptability skills and looking at aspects with a different perspective, especially in the business world.

5. Innovation.

Babson promotes innovation and going abroad is something new and innovative in your life! There are new business out there and ideas you are not even aware of!

6. Different Culture.

By learning different cultures you are even more intelligent and are able to read people more quickly. At the beginning, it can be a culture shock learning things are done differently, but it is all worth it! Learning how even say hi in a country in the appropriate way will open many doors for you in terms of business negotiations as well as creation of friendships.

7. A Plus for your Resume.

The percentage of students going abroad to study is not very high, and this is something recruiters look at. Have you been exposed to things that are out of your culture zone? How did you adapt? Were you able to incorporate yourself into the country’s culture? Going abroad means you can be independent, you enjoy challenges, you are responsible, and many other things!

8. Travel Experience.

Studying abroad allows you to travel to other parts of the world of which you will be able to speak about in the future. While I was abroad in Paris, I was also able to travel to other parts of Europe like for example Spain, London, Venice, Florence, and Rome. All wonderful places!

9. New Perspectives.

You won’t look at a piece of paper the same way you did before. You won’t see the classroom interaction the same way you did before. It is incredible seeing this change within you and have a new global mindset in the entrepreneurial world. I was able to be part of an Entrepreneurship Forum my university at Paris hosted. I had the opportunity of meeting different business executives in this country and it was an amazing experience.

10. Lifetime Opportunity.

This opportunity is very rare to occur after you graduate from college therefore it is extremely important to take advantage of it! You will not regret it and it will be beneficial for your personal and professional goals.

Babson gives us this opportunity to be global and has a variety of programs where you can find the perfect fit for you! It takes aspects of entrepreneurship and globalization which are incorporated into your day to day life. Studying abroad is not just a new opportunity, it is a new way of seeing the world and making an impact in business. 

Post by Lana Le, who spent a semester studying abroad in Singapore. Click here to learn about the many opportunities to travel abroad at Babson.

Last year, I was granted the opportunity to study for a semester abroad at Singapore Management University.  This experience not only gave me the chance to explore and live in a different country, but also experience third-world countries within Southeast Asia.

During my 4 months studying in Singapore, I was able to travel to Cambodia, Thailand, Indonesia, and Vietnam.  These countries are dramatically different from Singapore or the United States.  Traveling to these third world countries was an extreme culture shock but at the same time, very eye-opening and dramatically increased my adaptability.  Traveling around this part of the world made me experience different ways of life.  While we often learn about these countries or view things over the media, being immersed in the culture and lifestyles of these countries was something truly different.

I remember Cambodia was the first country that I traveled to while living in Singapore.  My friends and I booked roughly a 2 hour flight to Phnom Penh (the capital) and within the two hours, our environments changed dramatically.  Even though I knew that Cambodia was a third-world country, I assumed that the capital would have a less shocking experience.  However, immediately upon arrival, we noticed the vast changes in where we were 2 hours ago versus our current environment.

Firstly, the roads were filled with people driving mopeds as oppose to cars.  There was very little regard for traffic rules, people were cutting in front of others, and it seemed almost impossible to even cross the road.  There was an abundant array of vendors sprawled across the streets selling food and other products.  The fast-paced, busy nature was far different from anything I’ve experienced in any city in the United States or Singapore.

Despite these vast differences, the beauty of these countries was still overwhelming.  I observed beautiful architecture, ate amazing food, and experienced local culture through engaging in conversation with locals. Although adjustment was difficult at times, I was able to push my boundaries and truly enhance my adaptability through being in such different environments.  Things such as limited communication with locals, navigation through hectic streets, and being aware of my surroundings were challenges that promoted personal growth.  Through my travels abroad, I learned how to embrace different ways of life and understand the beauty in each.

National Museum of Cambodia

Post by Josephine Osei, who studied abroad in London, England. Click here to learn about the many opportunities to travel abroad at Babson.

Early on in my college career, I had set studying abroad as one of my top goals. I had longed dreamed of travelling the word and immersing myself in a new culture. I deeply appreciated that Babson made studying abroad so accessible and had a great selection of programs to choose from. However, I had never anticipated that I would live in another country for an entire academic year. When I learned about the General Course at the LSE everything changed. I am so glad that I took a risk and studied in London for a year and would do it ten times over. While studying abroad in any capacity is sure to be an incredible experience, an academic year abroad is definitely worth considering.

Be More than a Tourist/Visitor

Prior to studying abroad, I had heard from several friends how quickly their semesters abroad had gone by. If nine months in London went by too fast, I cannot imagine how quickly 3-4 months would fly by. An academic year abroad gives you more time to process changes, adapt, and immerse yourself in a new country. Living in London for the year allowed me to become more than just a tourist or a visitor. A year gives you more time to explore a new culture and familiarize yourself in your new surroundings. I got to experience traditions by being in the city over the course of several holidays from Christmas to the variety of UK ‘Bank Holidays.’ Furthermore, I was able to gain a greater perspective on social and political issues by getting to witness the full course of the UK general elections. Living in a different country for a year allows you to go beyond the surface level and have a far greater experience than you would otherwise have as a casual tourist.

Forge Close Bonds

Not only does an academic year abroad allow you to form a deeper connection with your host country, but it also allows you to form deeper relationships with locals, friends, teachers, etc. I met so many amazing people while studying abroad. I was able to engage in meaningful dialogue in and out of the classroom. The opportunity to foster these relationships throughout the year enhanced my experience. As part of my particular program, I was directly enrolled, which made me feel as if I was an actual student. I formed close friendships with classmates/other General Course students and got to know my professors better.

Further Your Personal Development

Studying abroad involves pushing yourself completely out of your comfort zone. A year abroad truly furthered my personal development. I really learned how to manage my finances from weekly grocery expenses to traveling through Europe on a budget. Studying abroad deeply fosters independence and your ability to overcome obstacles. A year gives you more time to accomplish the goals you set out to achieve in your host country.

This is a re-post from the News & Announcements blog. Congratulations to our Glavin Global Fellows and our Global Scholars!

Three Babson Undergrads, who are Glavin Global Fellows, took home the first place $2,000 cash prize in the Brigham Young University Business Language Case Competition last week in Provo, Utah. Babson won the Spanish division/category.The Babson team–Maryam Aram B’18 of Texas; Kamil Altintasoglu B’17 from Craiova, Romania; and Claudia Ogrezeanu B’16 from Moreni, Romania−outperformed at least seven other schools with strong international business programs, including BYU, American University, Emory University, University of Arizona, University of Washington, University of Nevada, and Indiana University.

This is a re-post from IES Abroad, a study abroad provider. You can learn more about IES Abroad by clicking here. To learn more about the many opportunities to study abroad through Babson, click here. 

Last week, we were pleased to award two $2,500 IES Abroad scholarships to Babson College students: Matthew Batista and Therese Macalintal. These scholarships were made possible through the generosity of an IES Abroad alumnus.

Gretchen Cook-Anderson and staff from the Glavin Office of Multicultural and International Education congratulate Therese and Matthew

Therese Macalintal and Matthew Batista

This article is re-posted from IES Abroad and written by Gwendolyn Lee, who is studying abroad in Paris.

I have found a home away from home in a cozy “chambre de bonne” in the sixth arrondissement (section of the city). A chambre de bonne is a tiny room on the sixth, the highest, floor of the building, away from my host family who live on the first floor. In France, the ground floor is the “Rez de Chausée” and the second floor is called the first floor. Usually, in apartments here, the ground floor is just an entry because most apartments here have shops on the ground floor. My host building has a bank on the first floor. My chambre de bonne has a sink in the room but the toilet is across the hall. Fortunately, no one lives in the rooms next to me so I don’t have to share the toilet. I need to go downstairs to my host family’s apartment to shower though. French people usually keep their shower and toilets separate. It’s quite efficient.

Everyone in my program has had such diverse and interesting first days in Paris. It’s like the first day of college again being introduced to your new living situation and home for the next semester. It’s fascinating and relieving to finally see the places you’ve been wondering about ever since getting your housing assignment. Some chose to stay in dorm-like apartments that house other IES Abroad students. Others live with relatives and family friends. Most chose to live in a homestay like me. The homestay makes me feel like a real French student. I highly recommend living in a chambre de bonne with a homestay. It allows you to have the freedom and privacy of living in an apartment as well as the family life aspect of a different culture. I don’t have to see them every time I leave the building or go to the bathroom but I have dinner and breakfast with them and I get to have conversations on a French level that they personalize to my level of knowledge. I learn most of the culture by simply watching them live their lives.

My host family is beyond wonderful. I called them the minute I hopped into the fake taxi from the airport and when I arrived, they buzzed me in and welcomed me into their home. As many non-French people do, I awkwardly went in for the hug when they went in for the “faire les bises”, two kisses, one on each cheek. I adjusted positions from hugging to kissing and kissed the air next to their cheeks while my arms hung in the air awkwardly. My host mom gave me a quick tour of her apartment and then took me up to my chambre de bonne. Knowing that I was jetlagged and tired from taking in all of the newness of being in another city, she gave me some alone time to unpack and take a nap. I slowly got acquainted to my new room by unpacking and figuring out where to place all of my knick knacks.

The whole introduction to my new home passed by quickly. In a blur, I was in Paris, in my new room, and settled physically. Mentally, I was overwhelmed. I sat on my bed and felt a flash of panic as I looked around at my room that was finished being set up with all of my stuff. Why did I come here? I stink at French. I don’t really know anyone here. I miss my friends and family at home. Going to my college back in the states would have been so much easier. Everything was more familiar in the US. Here, I knew nothing. I don’t belong here. I couldn’t text my friends because time difference. Everyone I knew was asleep. I didn’t know anyone in the program yet except for Marvin but I was sure that he was busy with his own host family. I couldn’t figure out the wifi in the room. I was a mess.

Thankfully, the bed was soft and my worried thoughts drifted into a tangent which slowly put me to sleep. After a solid nap, I woke up refreshed. All I needed was some sleep. The plane ride and time difference contributed the fatigue that caused me to have a minor panic attack. But I was fine after my nap. I heard the weird ambulance siren outside my window and the siren oddly reminded me of a honk that a clown car would make. It didn’t imply emergency at all. I looked out the window and saw a man in the building across from me running around and scrambling to get out of the door. He looked like I do every morning before class. It made me laugh. And even better yet, the wifi had finally connected to my phone and laptop so I read all the messages from my friends wishing me luck and telling me how jealous they were of getting to study in one of the best cities in the world. I quickly remembered what a gift it was to get a one of a kind experience like this.

If you’re having any doubts about leaving your comfort zone, whether it be for an out-of-state college or out of the country, know that the experience of being away from what you’re familiar with will teach you so much that it would be a real loss if you succumbed to the horrible anxiety that comes with the fear of the unknown. Studying abroad in Paris is awesome!

Bonne Journée!

Gwen

– See more at: http://www.iesabroad.org/study-abroad/blogs/glee3babsonedu/homesickstay#sthash.mIxPxcQD.dpuf

This article was written by Stella Joo ’15, an Education Abroad Peer Advisor who studied in Florence this past Fall

Before leaving to study abroad in Florence, Italy for a semester, the idea of living with a homestay family has been stuck at the top of my head for weeks. I was not so much worried about adjusting to the new culture or learning a new language because I have had lived in foreign countries before – I was actually looking forward to that experience. On the other hand, living with a family that I have no information on and do not even speak the same language? Not so much… As if the school already knew about how worried I had been about living with a host family, Syracuse University in Florence decided to keep the information about homestay a secret and a surprise until the day of the orientation. The fact that I will not know anything about the homestay until the day of kept me even more anxious and nervous about the homestay experience.

My view on homestay changed completely after spending a semester abroad. Now, I am so glad that I chose a program that offered the homestay experience. I was placed in a homestay just a 5-minute walk away from school, with a host mom and her son, along with an American student. The apartment that I had been placed in was actually quite spacious. My roommate, or rather my housemate, and I were each given a separate bedroom with a bathroom inside. We were very lucky to be given enough independence and privacy, but also enough interaction with the family on a daily basis.

Living with an Italian family has been one of my favorite aspects of studying abroad. My host mom and brother not only helped me adjust to the new city by taking me around Florence on weekends, but also helped me learn Italian through dinner time conversations and with homework after dinner and on weekends. Going grocery shopping together to local outdoor markets from time to time and cooking dinner together had been some of my favorite memories. Above is a photo from my host mom’s kitchen where I made fresh pasta with my host brother. It had been such a fun night making fresh pasta together with flour and eggs, creating tasty pesto sauce, and finishing everything off with home-made apple pie.

Aside from all the great food, my host mom was also very compassionate and understanding of us. Despite our cultural differences, we shared so many stories together during dinner with sips of wine, and created memories that will stay with me forever. She was always welcoming to all American exchange students, but also not afraid to say what was right for us. She was not only a great host, but also a good friend, and a mom. If anyone has the choice to choose between living with a host family and in an independent apartment, I definitely recommend living with a host family. You will not regret it!

– Stella Joo ’17 (Education Abroad Peer Advisor)

ELS Educational Services, Inc. is pleased to announce the third year of our sponsorship, in conjunction with the United Nations, of the Many Languages, One World Student Essay Contest and Global Youth Forum for 2016. The contest will qualify contestants for a trip to New York to participate in the United Nations Global Youth Forum. The goal of the Many Languages, One World Student Essay Contest and Global Youth Forum is to support multilingualism and to recognize the continued impact of the United Nations’ six official languages:  Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Russian and Spanish.  As such, students are being asked to write their essays in their second or third language. For full contest details, rules and entry guidelines, please visit ManyLanguagesOneWorld.ELS.edu.

For this year’s contest, 10 winners will be selected from entries in each language for a total of 60 winners. ELS Educational Services, Inc. will award each winner with an all-expense paid trip to New York in July of 2016. Students will attend a five day Global Youth Forum on the campus of Hofstra University to prepare to present their views at United Nations Headquarters. At the Global Youth Forum, the students will create plans of action addressing selected topics. These international delegates will also have the opportunity to interact with invited international scholars and tour New York City. The deadline for essay submissions is 11:59 p.m. EST Thursday 31 March, 2016.

2016 will mark the third edition of Many Languages, One World. In 2015, more than 3,500 people from 130 countries took part in the initial phase of the contest. 70 students from 42 countries, representing 60 universities were selected as winners from an essay pool of over 1,200. Winners attended prestigious international universities such as the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (USA), Yonsei University (South Korea), and Université Paris 1 Panthéon-Sorbonne (France). Their fields of study include art, human rights, medicine, engineering, law, business management, communications, international relations, and linguistics.

In 2014, over 4,000 people participated in some aspect of the competition. Close to 1,500 essays were submitted, with contestants from 128 different countries. The 60 winners represented 26 different countries and 6 continents. Winners attended a diverse group of universities around the world, including such esteemed institutions as The University of Basel (Switzerland), Princeton University (USA), and Cornell University (USA). Their areas of study included engineering, political science, language, philosophy, economics, and computer science.

Eligibility and Qualifications:

1. Students 18 years of age and older who are currently enrolled in a full-time degree program at university are eligible to compete to win a place as a delegate to the Global Youth Forum. Students must be recommended by a University Faculty Member or Authorized University Representative in order to participate.
2. The essay, not to exceed 2000 words, should explore how multilingual ability advances global citizenship and cultural understanding. The essay should reflect the entrant’s academic, cultural and national context.
3. Entries should be in an official language of the United Nations that is not the first language of the Entrant or the principal language of instruction in his or her primary or secondary education. The official languages of the United Nations are Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Russian and Spanish. For complete contest rules and information on how to enter, please visit www.ManyLanguagesOneWorld.ELS.edu.

The deadline for essay submissions is Thursday 31 March, 2016. 11:59 p.m. Eastern Standard Time.

For more information please contact John Nicholson at JNicholson@ELS.edu.

An online press kit can be downloaded at ManyLanguagesOneWorld.ELS.edu/press

Full contest details, including rules, entry guidelines and the Faculty Reference Form can be found at ManyLanguagesOneWorld.ELS.edu.

This article was written by Jess Thevenoz ’15, an Education Abroad Peer Advisor who participated in the BRIC Program this past Fall 

As a student who went on BRIC, there are many unique things to gain from this incredible experience. Thanks to Babson, we have the opportunity to meet many business and government officials in three incredibly relevant countries in the business environment. We have the opportunity to meet other Babson students closely enjoying all the benefits (and learning opportunities) of a cohort experience. Another thing that really stands out to me is the aspect of multi destination and the incredible advantages that come with it:

• You have the ability to learn three languages, and dive into three completely different cultures. You try three completely different foods and being there for a month allows you to really get a grasp of what life is like there
• You get to compare and contrast- and it is always encouraged! You get to analyze the differences of cultures you JUST saw! It brings you to so many different conclusions. It helps you see advantages and disadvantages of doing business in each country and get a better understanding of what doing business is like there and where different businesses could be more profitable.
• You get more exposure. This world has so many unique perspectives and being able to hear more of them always is advantageous, especially on one trip!
• You never get tired of a place! You get just enough time to get exposed, get your feet wet, see the cities, immerse yourself into the culture before leaving!
• When you travel to different places, you see different sides of you in certain cultures and learn more about yourself in what you appreciate and how you react to cultural differences!
• When travelling in such a small group, you have the ability to see many people’s different sides as they are exposed to different cultural experiences in various countries

– Jess Thevenoz ’17 (Education Abroad Peer Advisor)

This article was written by Mercedes Sierra ’15, an Education Abroad Peer Advisor who participated in the UG Chile Elective Abroad this past Fall 

After having done a Semester Abroad in Paris, I knew I wanted to try an Elective Abroad, and I am extremely proud and honored to have been part of the first group of students to attend the Elective Abroad – Contemporary Strategic Issues in Chile. This course was organized by Professor Sims and it was truly a learning experience!

It was a long flight travelling from the United States, but definitely worth it. Travelling as a group made it all better being a bonding experience for all of us before we even arrived to the country of Chile. Everyone took advantage of the 12 days making it a unique journey from the first moment we landed starting with a scavenger hunt throughout the major spots of the city. Everyone in Chile was very friendly, welcoming, and well educated. The culture is just wonderful!

Why Chile? Chile is a country that has been growing and developing little by little with all the many assets it has. It already is a great place for entrepreneurs to live in and be part of the culture to make this country a major hub. Chile’s government-created program “Start-Up Chile” is just the beginning, and it focuses on attracting early-stage high potential entrepreneurs to start their startups in Chile as a platform to go global. This program has the end goal of positioning Chile as the innovation and entrepreneurship hub of Latin America. This is the perfect environment for a Babson College student, being #1 in Entrepreneurship and so focused on global diversity. This program was just one of the many things I learned while taking classes, doing research and presentations, and visiting well-known companies in the country such as Google, Antofagasta, CellStar, and social enterprise Fundación Origen. It was such a privilege!

In conclusion, my Chile Elective Abroad Experience was wonderful and I would recommend it to every student at Babson! It is a unique experience and incomparable, both a semester abroad and an elective abroad! It will make you a better-rounded individual and will help you grow personally and professionally.

This article was written by Will Felix, an Education Abroad Peer Advisor who studied abroad in the Netherlands last Fall

Last fall, I studied abroad in Rotterdam (The Netherlands). I made a great group of friends, hailing from the states and countries all over Europe. One of the things my American friends and I would talk about was Thanksgiving and how much fun it is – the great food and the history of it all. My European friends were surprised to hear about the different combinations of food.  Some had never heard of eating gravy with mashed potatoes. As Thanksgiving grew nearer, my American friends and I decided we would host the best Thanksgiving we could… but it would not be easy. I lived off campus, with no oven or real kitchen to speak of. Two of my friends lived on campus, with a sink and a stove, but no oven. Two other friends lived in a third floor apartment with a small kitchen and, ding ding ding! An oven. Next was finding a space to serve Thanksgiving dinner for 20+ people. Most of our friends lived on campus, so we decided that was the easiest place to go, and we could push tables together in someone’s room to eat. So we had the basics. We had a place for dinner, we had an oven (though not in the same place), we even found a place in Den Haag which had frozen turkeys we could buy.

You’d think everything would go perfectly, right? Think again.

Four of my friends and I had already booked a trip to visit Italy and would not be returning until the day of Thanksgiving, so we had to reschedule the actual dinner. When we returned, my friend and I took an hour train ride to Den Haag to pick up a frozen turkey, and a big one at that. The bugger weighed 24 pounds and we took it on the train back to Rotterdam. Our meal being the next day, I volunteered to defrost the turkey. I don’t know if you know a lot about defrosting turkeys, but the best way is to leave it in the refrigerator for at least 2 days before the big day. We had about 20 hours. There is another way, which involves keeping the turkey in cool water for 9 hours, where you have to change the water every 30 minutes. So that was GOOD NEWS, we could have it defrosted just in time for dinner because it had to cook for 4 hours. The problem was, the defrosting process had to start at 2:30 in the morning, changing the water every 30 minutes, so I went ahead and set my alarms. Every 30 minutes, I would fall out of bed, drain the water, fill it up again, groggily get back in bed and fall asleep just in time for the next alarm. 9 hours later, I wrapped the thawed turkey up in a towel and brought it to my friends’ apartment where the oven was waiting, pre-heated. Turkey in the oven, I took a nap that would rival the kind of nap you take when you finish that big final.

We divided up the other aspects of the meal, from mashed potatoes to broccoli, from gravy to stuffing. Once the turkey was done, My friend and I had the challenge of bringing the fully cooked and steaming whole turkey to campus, which was about a 15 minute walk. This is when we channeled our inner Matt Damon in The Martian, we had to get real creative, real quick. We found a cleaning bucket, scrubbed and washed it, lined the inside with aluminum foil, put the turkey in a bag, put the bag in the bucket, and covered the whole thing with more and more aluminum foil. Great, we had a turkey transportation apparatus, let’s just walk outside and start the 15 minute walk to campus-BOOM. The rain and thunder started almost as soon as we walked out the door. Did we think to go back inside and get an umbrella? Did we think to go inside and even get a rain jacket for ourselves? No. We ran. With a turkey. In a bucket.

The meal turned out to be amazing, everybody had a blast, and the turkey stayed hot. What I took away from my Thanksgiving dinner was this: when everyone has a common goal and gets together to work toward that goal, some amazing things can happen.

This Blog was written by Peer Career Ambassador Gyda Sumadi, ’18 on the Undergraduate Blog 

This past weekend, myself and a team of three other students were flown out by Babson to the University of Missouri St. Louis (UMSL) to compete in an International Business Case Competition. Out of twelve teams, I am happy to say we placed first in the competition and proudly represented Babson with our incredible win.  Eighteen hours to prepare the case and presenting in front of high profile executives, we experienced the pressure of the business world and the reward that comes with being in this field.

Competing in a case competition is a great way to build your resume. At UMSL, I was able to polish my problem solving methods, sharpen my speed and analytical skills, network with high profile executives, and learn about different industries. From analyzing the case, I was able to gain insight on the car rental industry (as the case was about Enterprise Holdings, Inc.) as well as global affairs (Enterprise Inc. in relation to Cuba). Participating in these competitions is not only personally rewarding when you do well, but it is the best way to apply what you learn from class. Case competitions force you to connect all the skills you learn from finance, marketing, economics, information technology, and business law (etc). If you do not feel what you learn in the classroom is applicable to real life, participate in a case study and your opinion will change. Case studies are designed to test your analytical and problem solving skills in a dynamic way, which is why involvement in such opportunities is a great addition to your resume. This is because it shows employers that you can think under pressure, organize your thoughts in a presentable manner, speak publicly with confidence, and apply outside knowledge to find a solution.

You do not have to be a winner to gain something from participating in a case competition. In fact, you can learn a lot from hearing other groups present their findings. It is the perfect way to receive feedback and listen to potential solutions that your team may not have thought of. Everyone brings something different to the table and hearing how other teams approached the problem is a great way to expand your scope of thinking. Regardless of how well you perform, it is a great experience to network with professionals and receive feedback on your performance along with making connections with professionals from different industries. Case competitions are a great platform to test yourself and to show people how capable you are. It is quite an uplifting feeling to know that you can solve real world business problems and potentially have your solution adopted by the company.

My team and I had a great experience participating in the event and placing first was just the cherry on top of the sundae. We collaborated well together, gained industry insight and professional connections, represented Babson, and had a wonderful time bonding together. I encourage everyone to participate in a similar opportunity.

On behalf of myself and my team, I would like to thank Babson College and the Glavin office of Multicultural and International Education for sponsoring us to attend the competition at UMSL. We are thankful and proud to represent our college. We also want to thank Liz Saumsiegle for attending the event with us and Professor Oneyma for advising and prepping us for succeeding in this competition.

Attached below is a photo of my group after being awarded first place.

Left to Right: Gyda Sumadi, Sarah Weinberg, Aidan Dennis, Lee Smith-Feinberg

This blog post was originally written by Peer Career Ambassador Gyda Sumadi, ’18 for the Undergraduate Career Development Blog

This past weekend, myself and a team of three other students were flown out by Babson to the University of Missouri St. Louis (UMSL) to compete in an International Business Case Competition. Out of twelve teams, I am happy to say we placed first in the competition and proudly represented Babson with our incredible win.  Eighteen hours to prepare the case and presenting in front of high profile executives, we experienced the pressure of the business world and the reward that comes with being in this field.

Competing in a case competition is a great way to build your resume. At UMSL, I was able to polish my problem solving methods, sharpen my speed and analytical skills, network with high profile executives, and learn about different industries. From analyzing the case, I was able to gain insight on the car rental industry (as the case was about Enterprise Holdings, Inc.) as well as global affairs (Enterprise Inc. in relation to Cuba). Participating in these competitions is not only personally rewarding when you do well, but it is the best way to apply what you learn from class. Case competitions force you to connect all the skills you learn from finance, marketing, economics, information technology, and business law (etc). If you do not feel what you learn in the classroom is applicable to real life, participate in a case study and your opinion will change. Case studies are designed to test your analytical and problem solving skills in a dynamic way, which is why involvement in such opportunities is a great addition to your resume. This is because it shows employers that you can think under pressure, organize your thoughts in a presentable manner, speak publicly with confidence, and apply outside knowledge to find a solution.

You do not have to be a winner to gain something from participating in a case competition. In fact, you can learn a lot from hearing other groups present their findings. It is the perfect way to receive feedback and listen to potential solutions that your team may not have thought of. Everyone brings something different to the table and hearing how other teams approached the problem is a great way to expand your scope of thinking. Regardless of how well you perform, it is a great experience to network with professionals and receive feedback on your performance along with making connections with professionals from different industries. Case competitions are a great platform to test yourself and to show people how capable you are. It is quite an uplifting feeling to know that you can solve real world business problems and potentially have your solution adopted by the company.

My team and I had a great experience participating in the event and placing first was just the cherry on top of the sundae. We collaborated well together, gained industry insight and professional connections, represented Babson, and had a wonderful time bonding together. I encourage everyone to participate in a similar opportunity.

On behalf of myself and my team, I would like to thank Babson College and the Glavin office of Multicultural and International Education for sponsoring us to attend the competition at UMSL. We are thankful and proud to represent our college. We also want to thank Liz Saumsiegle for attending the event with us and Professor Oneyma for advising and prepping us for succeeding in this competition.

Attached below is a photo of my group after being awarded first place.

Left to Right: Gyda Sumadi, Sarah Weinberg, Aidan Dennis, Lee Smith-Feinberg

Al-Tareeq is an organization that implements summer entrepreneurship courses for ambitious high school students in the Levant by offering ann original curriculum based on Babson College’s globally recognized entrepreneurial thought and action principles, as well as introduction to emotional intelligence for our refugee programs. Courses are taught using varied techniques, including lectures, guest speakers, videos, and activities. Their website will act as a forum for students to post questions during and after the course to keep students engaged in an interactive manner. This years focus has been on Syrian refugees though they will expand to private high schools spanning across the Middle East in the years to come. 

Some members involved include co-founders Aboudi Al-Qattan and recent graduate Fredrik Rading, and partner, rising Senior Hamza Bilbeisi 

Below is from their latest post on their blog – June 6, 2016

What a start to the new week! We gave students thirty minutes to finish off last weeks’ projects (identifying a problem with the IMC Center and proposing ways to solve it) before they had to present it to us. As is evident in the picture above, our students took time to think outside the box and create practical solutions that bettered the IMC Center. The cup holder pictured above, that says “water” in Arabic, was constructed completely by one of the student groups—they identified that there were water cups scattered everywhere and made a product to fix it.

Once each project was finished, the groups presented their products, highlighting the resources they used, the value of their product, and who the “customer” was. We also introduced two key terms to encourage peers to help students modify their products, “devil’s advocate” and “constructive criticism”. To our surprise we didn’t need to probe the students to offer advice to the groups presenting- a nice improvement from last week. Everybody was engaged from the start and displayed genuine interest in helping each other improve their respective ideas. This was quite impressive and encouraging to see—however there were times when students were slightly too harsh on each other. We are going to cover these concepts again tomorrow in order to stress that “constructive” is the key word in “constructive criticism”.

We felt that starting off our week like we ended last week, with an engaging activity, was a great way to get our students active and thinking ahead for what will be our final few classes. This week students are going to focus heavily on their communities and how they can become leaders and motivate change. Similarly to the “Foundations of Management and Entrepreneurship” course at Babson, students will now pitch an idea for a product or service that can be implemented into their immediate communities. Each student will focus on identifying the SWOT analysis (strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats) as well as our own version of a business model canvas. Students will pitch their initial ideas in groups of two and then take a blind vote on their favorite three ideas. At this point we’ll start to introduce concepts that each team will be able to apply to their projects, like how to market the product/service as well as how to generate revenue streams.

To top it off, our major partner Fikra Al Mashi was recently recognized for their service to the Jordanian community. As a result, Al-Tareeq was also mentioned in the Jordanian media! We are not only honored but also motivated to continue working hard.

Al-Tareeq is an organization that implements summer entrepreneurship courses for ambitious high school students in the Levant by offering ann original curriculum based on Babson College’s globally recognized entrepreneurial thought and action principles, as well as introduction to emotional intelligence for our refugee programs. Courses are taught using varied techniques, including lectures, guest speakers, videos, and activities. Their website will act as a forum for students to post questions during and after the course to keep students engaged in an interactive manner. This years focus has been on Syrian refugees though they will expand to private high schools spanning across the Middle East in the years to come. 

Some members involved include co-founders Aboudi Al-Qattan and recent graduate Fredrik Rading, and partner, rising Senior Hamza Bilbeisi 

Below is from their latest post on their blog – June 9, 2016

About one year ago, I was having a conversation with Freddy Rading and Hamza Bilbeisi about how we could impact the lives of Middle Eastern students using our resources at Babson College. We all knew we wanted to make an impact but struggled to agree on how we could use entrepreneurship to do just that.

Here I am a year later, extremely grateful and excited to say we have successfully completed our pilot Al-Tareeq entrepreneurship program teaching Syrian refugees- with the help of Rami Rustom and Sari Samakie at Fikra 3al Mashi. Together for nine days we travelled to the International Medical Corps education center in Zarqa, Jordan to teach our students how they could apply their passions to business ventures and how they could be a support group for each other in times of turmoil. Our students identified problems in their communities, worked in teams to develop business plans, and presented final projects to us at the end of the course. We even partially funded the best two ideas (albeit a small amount) and will keep tabs to see how these ventures turn out. It has been such an incredible experience, and we hope this is only the start for Al-Tareeq.

Today marked the end of our first program and while we leave feeling proud of what we’ve done, we are also sad to say bye to our class of 2016. There were definitely both ups and downs, and at times I realized just how hard it is to be a teacher. But at the same time, this experience was rewarding and it motivated us to start preparing in advance for next year.

We’re registering as a social enterprise so we will be able to operate as a regular business and offer our programs to private schools across the Middle East, so that we can be a sustainable business. We will also keep working with refugees by continuing our partnership with Fikra 3al Mashi and using the revenue from aforementioned projects to fund projects for refugees, ensuring that they never have to pay for our services. While our high school programs will cover entrepreneurship and business skills, all refugee projects will cover researching skills before introducing basic entrepreneurship concepts.

As a result of our first program running successfully, we’ve already made contact with three private schools in Amman, Jordan that are interested in our services for next summer. Our next steps are to register as a legal entity, draft out our full business plan, and begin to raise seed funding. We also hope to have our own location for next summer, as we think we would benefit greatly from having our own space in which to hold lessons.  We want to thank everybody who has helped us get to this point so far because what has helped us grow so much has been the feedback we’ve received from all of our peers.

This article was written by Delane Zahoruiko, an Education Abroad Peer Advisor who studied abroad for a semester in Singapore  last fall and participated on the Paris Elective Abroad this summer

Congrats, you are studying abroad soon! You are about to leave home for an exchange semester or possibly an entire year and will have exciting new adventures ahead of you. That’s great and all, but you found out that your program doesn’t offer housing. What are you to do? You may feel overwhelmed when tasked with the challenge of finding and renting accommodation in a city you barely know. So, here are some tips to alleviate the stress and help you navigate accommodation in a foreign places:

Step 1: Ask your university what they offer.

A great place to start is with the university you will be attending. Many universities have a network of landlords or agents who can help you with your search. Your university may be able to connect you with current students or other exchange students that also need to find housing. Don’t be afraid to reach out to other students to see what they are doing. Everyone is in the same position as you. The university and its students can be your best resources when looking for accommodation because they have experience in this city/country and know the proper budget you will have to set aside for rent.

Step 2: Get the facts.

Do your research on the city. Find out what areas are safe and close to your school. This is important. You don’t want to be stuck in a sketchy neighborhood paying far too much for what you are getting. Google Maps, travel guides (Lonely Planet or Time Out), Street View and even YouTube are great resources to gain insight into the best places for student living.

Step 3: Is the price is right?

Decide what you are willing to pay. Many students will opt for cheaper housing by adding more roommates in order to save money for travel and other adventures. Ask your university and students what are good rates then do your own research and set a price point.

Step 4: Roommates.

They are sort of like family except you aren’t related to them and, also, some of them are crazy. Roommates are a great way to lower your costs. Reach out to your university about connecting you to other exchange students. They are in the same situation as you and probably worrying about all the same things.  Does your university have a Facebook group for exchange students or some other type of forum where you could find others who are in the same situation? Having roommates allows you to live with locals or people from different cultures than your own. They can also make for great travel buddies!

Step 5: Go online.

Search for places online. Use all of the knowledge you have gained so far to look for places in the district you want, at the price you want, with the roommates you want. There are plenty of platforms to look on.

Step 6: If it looks too good to be true, it probably is.

This goes for a lot of things. However, with accommodation in an unfamiliar city, it is extremely pertinent. Don’t be naïve. Scams can happen in the biggest or smallest of cities. While scams aren’t always detectable, here are some tips: if it’s a great location, with a great price below average, and great pictures, then it’s probably a scam. If it looks too good to be true, it probably is. However, the best way to find out for sure is to contact the landlord or other persons listed. Convey your interest and wait for a response. If they want you to pay before ever seeing the apartment, do not accept.  Never pay before seeing the apartment and signing a contract in person.

Step 7: Signed, sealed, delivered.

Before signing, make sure to read carefully through your contract and make necessary adjustments. After you sign a contract, send your deposit to solidify your spot.

Alternatively. . .

Many students will go to the country they are studying before doing any research. They may stay in a hostel full of other students also looking for accommodation. Hostels may have a bad rep, but they are actually a great way to connect to other foreign students who are in the same situation as you. If you are not one for research, this may be a good alternative for you.

These are basic guidelines for searching for accommodation in a foreign place. However, every city is different. The most important step is to contact your university to learn more about what they recommend for housing.