DU Abroad

I am over half way though my abroad program. In many ways, I feel like I belong, yet in other ways, I am still learning the quirks of Mendocino society. The period of initial culture shock has long past; however, every now and then I need to remind myself to take a breath and remember that I’m not from Mendoza and any frustration that I still have is normal. Nevertheless, there are three Argentine customs worthy of sharing.

It is common practice to kiss everyone (to an extent) hello and goodbye. I’m referring to a cheek kiss, which can seem odd, especially if you don’t know the person. When I am in the United States, I will greet my family and friends with a hug if I haven’t seen them in a while. If I am walking to class, or frequently interact with them, I usually smile, say hello, and exchange a few words. When I meet a new person, the extent of physical contact is a hand shake. That is not the case in Argentina. My host sister threw a party for her boyfriend’s birthday a couple months ago. Every single person I met went in for the kiss. This happened only three weeks after I arrived, so predictably, I was a little taken aback. When I decided to go to bed, I kissed every person goodbye.

Argentines love their meat, so unsurprisingly, the Asado (barbeque) is a very popular tradition. My host family has a large, outdoor, stone stove, which I was informed immediately upon arriving was for Asados. The meat options usually consist of steak, pork, and sausage and are meant to serve 10 or more people. I am not a frequent meat eater, but Argentina does have good meat.

Drinking mate is a cultural phenomenon. It is impossible to not see someone in possession of this popular tea. It has a similar flavor to green tea and is consumed with or without sugar. I like it both ways. What I find most interesting is how people drink mate. One person brings the hot water, tea leaves, and mug (with a metal straw). He/she then fills the mug with the tea leaves and pours in the water. That person will then drink the mate until there is no more water. Once it is finished, he/she will fill the mug with more water and pass the mug to the next person (the same mug and straw). This continues until every person present has drank the mate and there is no more water. My first thought after witnessing this was “that’s unhygienic.” I was even more taken aback when this cultural norm occurred during class, and the professor was included. After my initial misgivings, I now engage in the same activity.

After two and a half months, culture shock is appropriately named, but as I have discovered, every culture is wonderfully unique.

Zoe Kaldor

ARGENTINA – IFSA: MENDOZA UNIVERSITIES PROGRAM, 2018 FALL

Zoe Kaldor is an International Studies and Strategic Communication double major. She is studying abroad with IFSA-Butler in Mendoza, Argentina. Originally from New York, DU’s study abroad program was one of the reasons Zoe chose to attend DU. She specifically chose to study abroad in Argentina because she wants to improve her Spanish skills and experience a new culture, for she believes it is so important in an increasingly global society to be able to communicate in languages besides English as well as experience different ways of life. Zoe is an avid traveler and loves to explore new places; she is excited she gets to do both.

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I’m extremely grateful for the opportunity to be studying in a different country. The University of Denver has an amazing study abroad program that offers a wide variety of partnership programs with different universities around the world. I recognize that without this stellar program, I probably wouldn’t get this opportunity anywhere else.

Have you ever looked up plane tickets to Australia? Well it never occurred to me to check how expensive they were until I was interested in studying here. From Denver, Colorado, they are roughly $2,300 round trip to Hobart, Tasmania- at the cheapest. My University granted me a Cherrington Global Scholar benefit. With a high enough GPA and good academic standing, this scholarship covered my flight expenses and my visa costs.

Adventure Bay and Bruny Island (full day). Cost: $88USD (through the school)

You can work while you study abroad, you just have to note that in your visa application. My family wasn’t planning on me to work and so my dad had to pull a few strings. Money was already tight in my house but he knew how much I wanted this to work out. He made the effort to save up money himself so he could give it to me as a departing gift. I also saved up what I could from my minimum wage job back at home. My trip was going to happen, but I knew I had to be wise.

It’s difficult studying abroad when you’re on a budget. My harsh reality was that I met a lot of great people and unfortunately I had to pass on some friendships because I couldn’t afford it. What I mean by that is that once you start making friends when you’re abroad, everybody wants to travel. Here in Tasmania, we’re so close to the Main Land that tickets can be cheap if you book them in advance. But tickets are just one of many expenses that come from traveling. You need to pay for hotels/hostels, transportation, food, and of course the purpose to travel is to explore so you need to pay for any entrance fees that you come across. It’s hard when the majority of people have the means to pull off these trips every weekend while you’re forced to pick and choose what things you want to do and what things just simply can’t fit in your budget.

Wildlife Sanctuary. Cost: Free (through the school)

Like I said, the more you start passing off on trips, the more people become distant from you. They stop inviting you to places, and before you know it, they stop talking to you. My biggest piece of advice to those that are studying abroad: if this starts to happen, don’t be afraid to be honest. Tell people that you appreciate the invitation but that you are trying to be cautious with your money. Also tell them that you hope they keep inviting you to outings because maybe they might do something that you are willing to spend money on. One thing you should never do is give into peer pressure and start wasting your money on these constant trips because before you know it, you’ll be left without money in a foreign country.

You don’t need money to have fun. If you constantly need to spend money in order to have a good time when you’re abroad, then you’re doing it wrong. Find things to do that don’t require you to break the bank. Go out for some coffee with friends, explore the city and get lost, or take a bus ride to a new destination. One great thing about Tasmania is that there are a lot of amazing hikes to do. All you need is some people to go with and you’re all set.

Museum of Old and New Art. Cost: Free (with student ID)

This isn’t my first time living away from home but it is my first time having to feed myself. I became very dependent on having a dining hall at school that I never had to do grocery shopping for myself. I’ve bought snacks for my dorm and kept milk or juice in my mini fridge but that’s about it. I never had to buy actual food that will help me survive.When you’re abroad, you need to be wise about your grocery budget as well.

First, don’t overload on snacks. Yes, they’re quick and easy to eat but trust me, too many snacks can be costly. Not just to your bank account but to your health too. It’s better to buy $10 worth of chicken breasts than $10 worth of snacks. It’ll feed you for a few days, keep you fuller, and it’s much healthier for you. Food should always be a priority. Let’s say your monthly grocery budget is about $150. Make sure you include this FIRST in your budget plan before making room for fun activities.

Wineglass Bay. Cost: $27USD (transportation with 5 people)

Other personal costs to include in the budgeting list include transportation fare, hygiene products, and other personal products that you may need. If they are things that you absolutely can’t live without (such as toilet paper), budget that in first. Whatever left over money you have at the end of the month, that can either be an emergency fund (which I would recommend) or money you can spend on fun things!

Don’t think you need to be rich in order to study abroad. It can be discouraging when you come across people that don’t have the same financial strains as you and that’s okay. If they have the means to go out every weekend, that’s awesome but that is not you, so be smart. Look for student discounts whenever you travel ANYWHERE because they do exists. Ask your host school if they plan free or low-cost trips for international students. Above all, dive into the culture. Trying local foods, exploring the city, and making friends with the locals does not require you to have a big budget.

If you come from a low socio-economic background like me, I know studying abroad seems very unrealistic. But if you have a good support system behind you, and you’re determined to make it work, it can happen. All you need is to be smart, have a bit of self-control, and to just have a good time no matter what you do.

Friends. Cost: Priceless

Chelsea Hernandez

AUSTRALIA– UNIVERSITY OF TASMANIA, 2018 FALL

Chelsea Hernandez is currently a Senior studying Journalism and Criminology. She is studying abroad in Tasmania, Australia for the Fall Quarter of 2018. Chelsea is hoping learn about a variety of cultures, not just the Tasmanian one, as many of her peers abroad are from different countries all over the world. After graduation this upcoming Spring, she hopes to gain more experience in Journalism and land an internship somewhere in Denver.

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Link to Travel Blog

La Cultura de Argentina (Argentine Culture)

Zoe Kaldor

ARGENTINA – IFSA: MENDOZA UNIVERSITIES PROGRAM, 2018 FALL

The truth about expenses

Chelsea Hernandez

AUSTRALIA– UNIVERSITY OF TASMANIA, 2018 FALL