The day is finally here!
Aubrey and I are waiting in the Seattle airport (realizing there are still MORE documents we need printed) to fly to Miami and then Trinidad!
Saying goodbye was hard, especially to my new fiance Daniel. 4 1/2 months seems like such a long time to see all my family again! However, I am excited for the new adventure about to unfold and the friends I will meet!
Tuesday, December 31, 2013
Thursday, October 17, 2013
Forms, Forms, Forms!
I have now been to two of the three meetings before I embark on my trip to Trinidad. The first was a few weeks ago; a general study abroad meeting to pass out forms. SO. MANY. FORMS! The second was a few days ago and was specifically for Trinidad. We got another chance to meet with Candice, our on site coordinator, and to talk to some of the students who went last year. There are now seven PLU students going (two boys) and we will be joined by three students from New York and some people already living in the dorm lodge in Trinidad.
The PLU students who went last year were beyond excited to tell us about their trip. Every topic prompted the response of "OH MY GOSH THE ___!!!" The food, dancing, people you meet, the trips...everything was the most incredible experience of the student's lives. Their main piece of advice was, when will you have this chance again? Take advantage of the trips that aren't required, get up early, make friends, and take risks! Seeing the change the trip has brought about has made me more excited to begin my own trip.
It also drove home the differences in our cultures. In Trinidad the motto is "work hard, play hard." Candice explained that from a young age children are taught to take charge of their own education. By college, this means that professors do not take role in class and there are usually two tests to determine grades: the midterm and the final. For PLU students this means putting a lot more work into making sure you don't let your classwork go, or it will come back to bite you come finals time!
The people in Trinidad are also friendlier than in the USA. One of the students, Zack, was able to walk up to people he did not know, strike up a conversation, and make a new friend. One of the girls commented that when she returned to the US she had grown accustomed to greeting everyone she saw. Walking down the street in her town, however, this got her some odd looks! People in the US are simply not as friendly as in Trinidad, which is most likely due to how we were raised and our different societies.
Either way, I am looking forward to our last meeting and my journey abroad!
The PLU students who went last year were beyond excited to tell us about their trip. Every topic prompted the response of "OH MY GOSH THE ___!!!" The food, dancing, people you meet, the trips...everything was the most incredible experience of the student's lives. Their main piece of advice was, when will you have this chance again? Take advantage of the trips that aren't required, get up early, make friends, and take risks! Seeing the change the trip has brought about has made me more excited to begin my own trip.
It also drove home the differences in our cultures. In Trinidad the motto is "work hard, play hard." Candice explained that from a young age children are taught to take charge of their own education. By college, this means that professors do not take role in class and there are usually two tests to determine grades: the midterm and the final. For PLU students this means putting a lot more work into making sure you don't let your classwork go, or it will come back to bite you come finals time!
The people in Trinidad are also friendlier than in the USA. One of the students, Zack, was able to walk up to people he did not know, strike up a conversation, and make a new friend. One of the girls commented that when she returned to the US she had grown accustomed to greeting everyone she saw. Walking down the street in her town, however, this got her some odd looks! People in the US are simply not as friendly as in Trinidad, which is most likely due to how we were raised and our different societies.
Either way, I am looking forward to our last meeting and my journey abroad!
Wednesday, September 18, 2013
3 Months and Start of School
It is the start of the school
year! With that, comes the start
of study abroad plans. In October
we have our first meeting about study abroads in general and then later in the
month and November are two more meetings specific to Trinidad. At the end of this month we already
have forms due: classes to pick, university applications to fill out, passport
photos to order…the list goes on. Lots
of required readings as well.
When we first arrive at Trinidad we
have a few days to move into the Lodge and settle down. We then have homestays for the weekend
before going to Charlotteville, Tobago for a week. The cottages we are staying in there are right on the beach
with access to reefs! I am
planning on bringing my snorkeling gear so I do not have to rent it, despite
the room it will take in a suitcase.
The cottage website shows some gorgeous pictures of sunsets; what other
study abroad allows you to travel to paradise?
We have a J-Term course in January
(a month long class taken every day that equals a semester long class) and UWI
starts mid January as well. Then
there is not much until March 3-4, which is Carnival! The trip ends May 17th. By then I will have spent 136 days (19 Weeks and 3 Days) in
Trinidad. I'll post more after our first meeting!
Tuesday, June 11, 2013
A Little Over 6 Months!
Our trip is about 6 months 3 weeks away. I can't believe it's half a year. It seems like so long ago when I was applying, and even longer since I first heard about it!
We had a meeting about the trip before the end of the school year and I got to meet a few of the other students going on the trip. We skyped (or tried) with Candice down in Trinidad and talked to the professor who will be teaching our Literature course there.
We also got a few sheets detailing what kind of things we should pack so we can go shopping this summer. For all their wildness at Carnival, they seem rather conservative in girl's clothing. We were told to tend to stay away from low cut shirts, strapless shirts and dresses, or tank tops with thin straps.
For our flight we all find our own way to Miami and then we will all join up for the final flight to Trinidad. Fortunately for me one of the guys will be flying out of the same airport as me, so I'm hoping we can meet up and fly out together. Makes it easier to navigate the airport and the company will be nice! Still, we don't get tickets until this fall.
That's all for now; going to enjoy this summer till things start kicking into gear this fall!
We had a meeting about the trip before the end of the school year and I got to meet a few of the other students going on the trip. We skyped (or tried) with Candice down in Trinidad and talked to the professor who will be teaching our Literature course there.
We also got a few sheets detailing what kind of things we should pack so we can go shopping this summer. For all their wildness at Carnival, they seem rather conservative in girl's clothing. We were told to tend to stay away from low cut shirts, strapless shirts and dresses, or tank tops with thin straps.
For our flight we all find our own way to Miami and then we will all join up for the final flight to Trinidad. Fortunately for me one of the guys will be flying out of the same airport as me, so I'm hoping we can meet up and fly out together. Makes it easier to navigate the airport and the company will be nice! Still, we don't get tickets until this fall.
That's all for now; going to enjoy this summer till things start kicking into gear this fall!
Monday, April 15, 2013
I'm In!
Hooray!
Last week I got my conformation that I was accepted into the Trinidad and Tobago PLU Gateway Program for 2014! I also received the Global Scholars award with it.
I have been talking to some of the people that are on the trip right now, asking questions about the culture, Carnival, the type of clothing worn, etc. Looking forward to doing some summer shopping! Not much more happens for a few months, sadly...things really start kicking into gear this October. Hopefully we are going to have a meeting before the end of the school year to discuss the trip before summer.
On a side note, my roommate got into the London program, so we will both be studying abroad at the same time!
Until then, here's some information on Trinidad and Carnival!
T&T has followers of almost every religion due to the vast ethnic population. The islands have changed hands more than any other island, about 30 times, leading to this diverse population. It has a reputation for being friendly and accepting, celebrating many different religious holidays despite personal beliefs. At least one public holiday is celebrated for each main religion. A few are Carnival, Divali (Indian Festival of Lights), and Holi (Hindu festival of Spring where groups of people throw colored dye at each other). The trip allows us to participate in this last holiday, as well as in Carnival.
Carnival is held the Mon. and Tues. before Ash Wednesday. The celebration is about 160 years old. It started with French holding large masquerades. The Africans slaves saw these parties and adopted them, adding their own culture and practices. After they were freed they started holding their own Carnivals. It is now a mix of many cultures. All ages participate, even children in Kiddy Carnival. Carnival draws about 50,000 visiters. Although it may not be as big as Rio's Carnival, T&T prides itself on giving the best experience.
Carnival has elaborate costumes, steel pan performances, and parades. Early Monday morning is J'Ouvert (pronounced Zshoo-veh, I think). This is a ritual of dressing like demons, devils, running through streets. It draws from early celebrations of the emancipation of slaves. Monday during the day and afternoon people dance in the streets, enjoy music from DJ's, and wear only part of their costumes. Tuesday people participate in large parades in full costume. These costumes can be over 20 feet tall and supported by a maximum of 3 wheels. There are also Steel pan (drum) performances.
This is as much as I know from research without going there, if I got anything wrong I'm sorry!
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T&T (Trinidad and Tobago) is a unique set of islands at the southernmost point of the Caribbean. The islands lay about 10 miles off the coast of Venezuela. Although it is two islands they are one country. English is the official language, although it is spoken with a dialect. Most of the population lives on the larger Trinidad. It is thought that the books Robinson Crusoe and Treasure Island were based of T&T.
Last week I got my conformation that I was accepted into the Trinidad and Tobago PLU Gateway Program for 2014! I also received the Global Scholars award with it.
I have been talking to some of the people that are on the trip right now, asking questions about the culture, Carnival, the type of clothing worn, etc. Looking forward to doing some summer shopping! Not much more happens for a few months, sadly...things really start kicking into gear this October. Hopefully we are going to have a meeting before the end of the school year to discuss the trip before summer.
On a side note, my roommate got into the London program, so we will both be studying abroad at the same time!
Until then, here's some information on Trinidad and Carnival!
T&T has followers of almost every religion due to the vast ethnic population. The islands have changed hands more than any other island, about 30 times, leading to this diverse population. It has a reputation for being friendly and accepting, celebrating many different religious holidays despite personal beliefs. At least one public holiday is celebrated for each main religion. A few are Carnival, Divali (Indian Festival of Lights), and Holi (Hindu festival of Spring where groups of people throw colored dye at each other). The trip allows us to participate in this last holiday, as well as in Carnival.
Carnival is held the Mon. and Tues. before Ash Wednesday. The celebration is about 160 years old. It started with French holding large masquerades. The Africans slaves saw these parties and adopted them, adding their own culture and practices. After they were freed they started holding their own Carnivals. It is now a mix of many cultures. All ages participate, even children in Kiddy Carnival. Carnival draws about 50,000 visiters. Although it may not be as big as Rio's Carnival, T&T prides itself on giving the best experience.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
T&T (Trinidad and Tobago) is a unique set of islands at the southernmost point of the Caribbean. The islands lay about 10 miles off the coast of Venezuela. Although it is two islands they are one country. English is the official language, although it is spoken with a dialect. Most of the population lives on the larger Trinidad. It is thought that the books Robinson Crusoe and Treasure Island were based of T&T.
Monday, February 4, 2013
Getting Started
Hello!
My name is Maia and I am a freshman right now at Pacific Lutheran University. I want to major in Communications. I found out about the Trinidad and Tobago program when I came to visit Passport weekend April 2012. Since then, I've fallen in love with it! It's not just the location (although that is a plus) but the rich culture that permeates the island. So many societies have built on top of each other over time and learned to coexist; where else could you go to learn about so many different people at once?
The Caribbean program is one of PLU's Gateway programs, meaning that you pay for your plane ticket and the rest of the fee is the room, board, and tuition you would pay the University if you were not studying abroad. Compared to the other study abroads, this is a lot cheaper! PLU also has gateway programs to London, Mexico, China, Namibia, and two different locations in Norway. My roommate is hoping to do the London one this year; if I have the chance I would like to do it my Junior year! One trip at a time though...
The program runs from the beginning of January to mid May, meaning it covers J-term and Spring semester. For more information on the program, please check here!
I have been talking to the program director on and off since school has started and am working on my application to submit in the next few months. Here's hoping everything works out!
My name is Maia and I am a freshman right now at Pacific Lutheran University. I want to major in Communications. I found out about the Trinidad and Tobago program when I came to visit Passport weekend April 2012. Since then, I've fallen in love with it! It's not just the location (although that is a plus) but the rich culture that permeates the island. So many societies have built on top of each other over time and learned to coexist; where else could you go to learn about so many different people at once?
The Caribbean program is one of PLU's Gateway programs, meaning that you pay for your plane ticket and the rest of the fee is the room, board, and tuition you would pay the University if you were not studying abroad. Compared to the other study abroads, this is a lot cheaper! PLU also has gateway programs to London, Mexico, China, Namibia, and two different locations in Norway. My roommate is hoping to do the London one this year; if I have the chance I would like to do it my Junior year! One trip at a time though...
The program runs from the beginning of January to mid May, meaning it covers J-term and Spring semester. For more information on the program, please check here!
I have been talking to the program director on and off since school has started and am working on my application to submit in the next few months. Here's hoping everything works out!
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