CEA Study Abroad Programs

What's in a Story? Talking about Study Abroad at Interviews.

2012-01-22T10:02:00.001-07:00

By Kevin J.F. Murphy, Italy Academic Dean & Campus Director

Recently there's been a lot of talk about how international education can give students an advantage when they enter the global workplace. A mass of research also shows very clearly that many employers value the skills that students can develop while studying abroad. But when it comes to job interview time, how many students are really going to be able to put into words the many benefits of study abroad? How many of them are going to be able to sell their overseas study as something that makes them a better employee? And is anyone helping them do this?

Mock Interviews

To focus on these questions, we organised a workshop for students at the CEA Global Campus in Rome and Florence during the most recent International Eduation Week. Given that nothing is more effective than a 'real world' experience, we also conducted some mock interviews to help students practice how to articulate their study abroad experiences to potential employers.

Tough Questions!

The questions in those interviews included these: Why did you study abroad? Why did you choose Italy? What made you choose that location/program? How exactly did that experience help you develop any of the skillsets or qualities that we're looking for at our company? How exactly did it help you develop leadership skills, team-working skills, or the ability to work comfortablyand successfully with an international clientele? What did you gain from taking your courses abroad? What did you gain from extra-curricular activities abroad?

Needless to say, these questions aren't easily answered if you're not prepared. So students struggle to answer them well if they haven't had structured opportunities to reflect upon theirexperience and rehearse some narratives that describe in a thoughtful way the positive gains that studying abroad gave them.

Create your Stories

So how should you prepare for an interview? One of the first steps is to develop a collection of stories about your time abroad. The stories could focus on things like:

your successes (any notable grades, awards or recognition while you were abroad or on your return?)
your coursework abroad (what kind of program, how did it relate to your major, who it was accredited by, what emphasis did it place on language acquisition, and on independent research if any?)
your professional experience abroad (did you do service learning, a work placement or an internship?)
your collaborative highlights (were you on the student committee, voluntary teams or participate in student mentoring during or after the experience?)
your local community highlights (were you in voluntary teams with locals, did you interview locals for academic fieldwork, did you engage in language exchange with local students?)
personal experiences that gave you insight into local culture (best challenges overcome, best local friendships made?)

Write out some answers and keep them short. Maintain a business-like tone so not to trivialise overseas study, and stick exclusively to your successes and accomplishments. Make sure that you're armed with the kinds of stories that will be useful in each case, depending on the nature of the company and the particular competencies required by the position that you're after.

In conclusion, what your stories should illustrate is how your experience made you a better candidate for the job you're after. So instead of talking about how much 'fun' it was in Rome, or that CEA 'broadened your horizons', craft your stories around specific, positive experiences from the checklist above that illustrate your communication skills, your greater maturity even in unfamiliar environments, your tolerance for diversity and change, your openness to alternative viewpoints, and your ability both to lead and to work as part of a team. Prepare and reflect your stories ahead of time and they will be personal, considered and compelling.

If anyone reading this hasn't studied abroad yet, I hope that this article presents a useful guide to how, and why, you should exploit the range of opportunities that overseas study will present.

One last tip. Don't forget to leverage your study abroad experience in your resume too. But that's another story...

Kevin Murphy spoke at a session called 'Making the Most of It: HowStudy Abroad Programs Help Train Students for the Global Workplace' at the EAIE2011 Conference in Copenhagen, with Dr. Scott Blair (CEA Global Education,France) and Dr. Cheryl Matherly from the University of Tulsa Center forGlobal Education. Follow Kevin on twitter: @KevinJFMurphy

Got MOJO? Blog, Photograph and Film your way to an iPad2 and $500

2012-01-20T10:33:00.000-07:00

Storytelling fervor, study abroad passion, a spark of ingenuity - the ingredients of a CEA MOJO. A CEA what?! A MOJO, also known as a mobile journalist, possesses the stuff of creative geniuses, determined to share stories of all kinds through a multitude of different channels.

Amongst the students currently abroad this Spring 2012 semester in Buenos Aires, Prague, London, Paris, Florence, Rome, Barcelona, Granada, Madrid and Seville, CEA's on the hunt for those interested in assuming this role as a CEA MOJO. What's the job entail?

What we're asking for:

4 blog posts covering all topics study abroad
2 separate photo essays depicting an excursion and/or cultural activity
2 videos - 1 of your housing and the other of a CEA facility or Global Campus
1 more submission of your choice, introducing us to your city abroad

The goods you'll receive:

Selected MOJOs will receive a $500 gift card for workin' their MOJO workin' during the semester
An iPad2 and letter of recommendation upon completion of all submissions and successful completion of their Spring 2012 semester.

With such enticing compensation for equally as enticing work, not to apply for your shot as MOJO seems almost non-sensical, especially because the application process includes the same storytelling excitement as being an official MOJO.

The application constituents: Send a blog post along with a video and/or photo to MOJO@GoWithCEA.com covering your preparation for, anticipation of, and first impressions of your study abroad city, why you're studying abroad, and what skills you're hoping to achieve scholastically, professionally and personally.

Guidelines to keep in mind:

Blog post must be 500-700 words
Content MUST be original. Copied, plagiarized or cited material will be disqualified
Post due by February 3rd, 2012. Winner announced February 13th, 2012.

We want to see your passion, enthusiasm and originality shine through the colorful text of your blog posts, the vibrancy of your photos and the animative character of your videos. Unleash the your inner creativity and let the sky be the limit as you get your MOJO on for CEA.

Earn a $5,000 CEA Scholarship this Fall 2012 through Abroad101

2012-01-16T13:24:00.000-07:00

Studying abroad with CEA this Fall 2012 semester just got a little bit sweeter.

Starting today through Wednesday, February 15, CEA is diligently working with Abroad101 to offer students a $5,000 scholarship towards their Fall 2012 program of choice. A $5,000 scholarship?! Yep, that's right! We know how much passion students possess for studying abroad, and as such we want to help maintain and encourage this passion for an adventure we all love so dearly.

So how does one go about qualifying for an opportunity such as this? Here's the lowdown:

Fill out the designated entry form on Abroad101's website including information such as name, university and destination of interest
Answer the following prompt found on the Abroad101 entry form: "Please describe why you deserve this scholarship, and how you would incorporate your studies in one of CEA's programs back to your school or community."
Share your response on your Facebook page, asking friends to read and like your answer - the higher amount of "Likes" you receive on your post, the higher the chance you have of winning!
Start planning your study abroad experience ASAP, as you must be accepted into your CEA program to qualify

In this specific scholarship, the stuff of winners consists of the following: (1) the quality of the prompt response - let that passion shine through! - and (2) the number of 'Likes' your response accrues on your Facebook wall.

Should you encounter any questions or roadblocks while applying, or during your program planning process in general, feel free to contact an Admissions Counselor. They are always happy to help and are just achin' to talk to students about this scholarship - we're all so excited!

So from all of us to you, good luck and happy applying!

Orientation, Tuscan Style

2012-01-16T08:37:00.000-07:00

Orientation is a fundamental yet undoubtedly challenging initiation into study abroad, full of forms and meetings, a lost piece of luggage (or two!) new roommates and jetlag to boot! But it’s not without its enjoyments. On Friday, January 13, CEA in Florence’s newly-arrived students headed out of town with onsite staff to enjoy a day in the Chianti, where they got to know each other in the relaxed and stimulating atmosphere of the Castello da Verrazzano. After a brief historical lesson on Verrazzano—the man, the castle, the wine—we toured the ancient cellars, then were seated in a warm and welcoming dining hall. A sommelier led students through a tasting of wines, including Verrazzano’s very special Chianti Reserva, followed by a lunch of pasta, roasted meats, and Tuscan white beans. To finish, we tasted a traditional Tuscan treat: hard, crunchy cantuccini cookies dipped in the dessert wine vin santo. A cheery and delicious way to wrap up Spring 2012 orientation!

A+ for Argentina!

2012-01-13T09:05:00.000-07:00

Liberal Arts & Social Sciences, Latin American & Integrated Studies, International Business...the list goes on. You read the program titles on the programs page of CEA's Buenos Aires options, but they don't mean much to you. Sure, they give you a taste of the type of courses offered per program, but you crave to sample the juicy meat behind the outward facing skin - you want a student rundown of the experience.

Well, in the somewhat-tweaked words of our British friends The Beatles, we'll get you by with a little help from our friends. Thanks to Abroad101.com, CEA Buenos Aires alumni have a platform with which to share their personal experiences with all future CEA adventurers. What do the surveys say? With an average of 4 out of 5 stars overall for our Buenos Aires programs, the surveys burst with rays of study abroad sunshine.

Below, we've compiled a list of quotes from our reviews on Abroad101.com for your viewing pleasure. Discover why CEA programs in Buenos Aires, Argentina earn an A+ on their study abroad program report card.

"Wow. My study abroad experience was more than worthwhile. If I could do it again, I definitely would...It was great living in a country where everyone talks about sports and politics interchangeably. I was able to see so many different view points about national and international politics." - Caroline Atwood

"My study abroad experience was absolutely worthwhile. I gained so much self-reliance. I really learned how to manage difficult situations on my own and made some amazing, lifelong friends." - Adrielle Edwards

"The program coordinators in Buenos Aires were all extremely helpful and personable. I still email them from time to time for help with things related to my experience in Argentina." -Alexa Verink

"I was in an intensive Spanish language class and our professor, Mage, was amazing. She was always willing to help out and made the 'awkward phase' of learning language fun." -Griffin Sandberg

"I went on a few trips to Iguazu, Mendoza, Cordoba, Uruguay and Mar del Plata and loved every one of them." -Tara Amiri

"I don't think you can find bad tasting food in Argentina!" - Melissa Jebril

"My experience was that CEA staff were always friendly and happy to answer any questions I had about anything at all." - Kim (last name not listed)

Want to read more? Check out full Buenos Aires program reviews on Abroad101.com!

What's Brewing in Brazil?

2012-01-11T09:57:00.000-07:00

6 syllables. The future fate of CEA Global Education’s newest program destination lies within 6 simple drops of the jaw. The most syllables jammed into any CEA destination yet, a happenstance as unique as this can only represent a city with similar distinctive character. So without further delay – clear your throats, loosen your jaw, and join us in reciting our new six-syllabled friend: Florianópolis.

Floria-what?!
Tucked into Brazil’s southeastern corner, Florianópolis makes its presence known by flaunting a diverse scope of geography, history and culture – and when we say diverse, we’re not joking. The city itself acts as the capital of Brazil’s Santa Catarina state, and sweeps its borders over the entire Island of Santa Catarina as well as a small part of the mainland. This means that not only does the city boast over 40 beaches, it also supplies lakes, sand dunes and mountains, all for your explorative pleasure.

Venture via Volunteering
Unlike the cheese that stood alone in the realm of childhood lullabies, the abundance of outdoor adventure in Florianópolis’ does not stand as the only highlight in this city’s profuse personality. Here, it’s the culture that differentiates Brazil from the rest of the world. CEA introduces its Floripa students more thoroughly to the Brazilian way of life through an engaging channel that encourages giving back to the city's community.

Volunteer opportunities in Florainópolis flower throughout the city plentifully, promising enriching community interaction and involvement to our future CEA goers. We specifically have partnered with four separate volunteer organizations to allow students this chance: Casa Lar Emaus, Fundação Vidal Ramos, COEPAD and Saude Crianca Florainópolis. Help tutor children struggling with their studies, organize after school activities for students who live in troubled areas or assist members of a business cooperative for the mentally and physically disabled, all while simultaneously growing closer and more intertwined to the Brazilian culture surrounding you.

South America sans Spanish
In addition to the endless learning opportunities that stem from an experience like volunteering, students studying with CEA in Florianópolis also expose themselves to a language unfamiliar to many other South American countries – Portuguese.

Wait, but isn’t Portugal all the way on the other side of the Atlantic? Yes, this is true, but what’s also true is that Brazil happens to take the title as largest Portuguese speaking country in the world. Explore the exotic nature of this language through classes at all skill levels (beginning, intermediate and advanced), and through the constant and daily interaction with native Portuguese speaking Brazilians.

Floripa for Me?
So what kind of student should consider Brazil? Easy! Florianópolis calls for a student that desires to engage in the culture, the city and the country in more ways than one. Sure, you’ve heard a little bit about Brazil, but your curiosity urges you to intricately discover the country and to do so in every way possible when abroad. You crave to walk, eat, dance, volunteer, communicate, hike, etc., within the welcoming arms of Florianópolis, and upon leaving you want to feel as though you've given a piece of yourself to the community.

Giving Back to Florence: A CEA Student Leads Tours at the Cathedral

2012-01-10T09:00:00.000-07:00

The CEA Florence volunteer program CEA C’È (which means "CEA is there") provides students with opportunities to participate in local life and culture while giving back to their host city. Jonathan White received training in order to offer free tours to tourists of the Florence Cathedral. Here he shares reflections on his experience.

Volunteering as an Ars et Fides tour guide in Florence’s Cathedral, Santa Maria del Fiore,proved to be extremely constructive, educational, and entertaining.

Before I was able to givetours on my own, I underwent a short orientation session with a member of the Ars et Fides association. This session wasessentially a tour, where I was able to learn and absorb many important facts aboutSanta Maria del Fiore. From that moment on, I was thrilled Ihad chosen this specific opportunity. I am a history major and havea great passion for art and architecture, so being able to learn about thehistorical significance of this edifice, as well as the numerous importantworks of art that it houses, was unbelievable. In addition to following the training tour, I performed onlineresearch and read over a thick packet of information about the cathedral tolearn even more. A week or two after my orientation tour, I began to give tours on my own.

I wasgiven an identification badge, which I used to enter the cathedral. Each time Iwent, I would get situated at my table, where I would sign in, set up theappropriate signs, information packets, and other books, and turn on thelights. Since this table was located very close to the entrance of thecathedral, many tourists would come over to ask me various questions. I woulddo my best to answer any question that someone had and was even able to practicemy Italian by answering questions in Italian. In addition, I would tell peoplesome interesting facts about the cathedral and the city of Florence and I wouldoffer to give them a free tour.

I wouldgive guided tours, free of charge, to anyone who wished to spend about fifteenminutes learning about the historical and architectural significance of SantaMaria del Fiore. During these tours, I was able to interactively apply theinformation and knowledge that I had acquired. I created and structured my owntour and tried to synthesize major themes of history, art, and architecture inan enjoyable manner. I incorporated interesting facts that I had known aboutFlorence and Italy as well as humorous tales, in order to keep my guestsentertained as well attentive.

The mostenjoyable and beneficial aspect of my internship was how it provided me withgreat opportunities to break out of my comfort zone and actually interact withtourists as well as some Italian locals. I tried to make my tours interactive, allowing tourists to ask questions or make comments at any time. Thisallowed me to get to know the people I was giving a tour to and learn fromthem, just as they were learning from me. In addition, I was overjoyed that Iwas able to enable tourists to better appreciate and understand the significanceof Santa Maria del Fiore and Florence. As a fellow tourist, who had beentraveling to many towns in Italy, I sympathized with these tourists.I understood how one can feel overwhelmed by the numerous pieces of art andarchitecture and not truly understand their importance. I am very glad that Iwas able to make their travel experiences better.

Since Iwas able to learn about Florence and its wonderful cathedral, as well as inform others about its significance, I found my time as an Ars et Fides tour guide to be extremely beneficial and enjoyable. Ihighly recommend this experience to anyone who is interested in history, art,architecture, or just learning more about Florence and its people.

Jonathan White is a history major at UC Davis.

He studied at CEA in Fall 2011.

Giving Back to Florence: A CEA Student Teaches English at a Local Elementary School

2012-01-06T09:00:00.000-07:00

The CEA Florence volunteer program CEA C’È (which means "CEA is there") provides students with opportunities to participate in local life and culture while giving back to their host city. Charlotte Davis participated in the CEA C'È initiative, assistant teaching English to Italian children at a local elementary school. Here, Charlotte shares her experience.

Asan English and Linguistics double-major at UC Davis, the opportunity to spendsome hands-on teaching time with ESL students was irresistible. My goal was to observe the process of language acquisition in this agegroup (10 year olds), and to gain experience as an English as a second languageteacher. While I feel very much like I met that goal, there were also severalother unexpected benefits of my work at the school, including improving my ownItalian, learning more about Italian culture, and spending time with 24wonderful children, of whom I have grown very fond.

I went to teach at the elementary school every Monday. The students' maestra, Monica, was an extremely helpful resource for me throughout thequarter. She speaks English very well, and so she was able to help me answer any questions that the kids asked, about things from hamsters to archery. Eachweek when I was finished with my lesson, she assigned me a topic to focus onduring my next class. The students study English on Mondays andFridays, so Monica would typically ask me to prepare a lesson to compliment the topic they would cover on Friday. For most of thestudents, this is their third year learning English as Montagnola, as theygenerally start in Second grade. This meant that the kids have moved on fromthe beginner level of greetings and simple parts of speech into full sentenceconstruction. My lessons covered telling time, daily routines, “I Can”activities, and talking about their lives. I tried to utilize a variety ofteaching methods to keep the kids engaged and entertained, while still makingsure that they absorbed a bulk of the material. I also wanted to involve kidswith auditory, visual, and kinesthetic learning styles. Because of this, Itried to do a mix of speaking, writing, and drawing activities for practice. Wedid worksheets, puzzles, coloring sheets, and even a few games. I hope that thekids had as much fun as I had teaching them!

Though I had a lot of teaching experience prior, this experience was completely different from any previous one due to the languagebarrier, which presented its own specific challenges and rewards. At thebeginning of the semester, I had only just begun my own study of Italian, and soI was generally helpless to help them if they had questions beyond the limitsof my lesson preparation. But the kids are great teachers, and being at theschool was one of the few times during the week in which I was fully immersedin Italian. This was a great boon to my own learning process. By the end ofthe semester, I noticed significant progress in my ability to understand thekids’ questions and comments during class, which was extremely gratifying. Theywere so patient with my fumbling and bad grammar, I wish I could take them toUCD with me as I continue to study Italian.

Overall,I would highly recommend this experience to anyone studying abroad in Florence in thefuture. There is no better or rewarding way to gain helpful practice with Italianspeakers who will be patient and kind when you make mistakes. I got reallychoked up during the lesson when I told the kids that next week would be my last, and theyall were really disappointed. I plan to continue to write to them, and I hope Ican still be a part of their learning process over the course of the year. Ilearned so much from them, I hope that they could say the same thing about me!

Charlotte Davis is a English/Linguistics double-major at UC Davis.
She studied with CEA in Fall, 2011.

Giving Back to Florence: A CEA Student at the Misericordia

2011-12-28T07:05:00.000-07:00

The CEA Florence volunteer program CEA C’È (which means "CEA is there") provides students with opportunities to participate in local life and culture while giving back to their host city. Here, in the first of a series of posts on the CEA C'È initiative, student Diane Kim reflects on her time as a volunteer with the historic Florentine confraternity, the Misericordia.

Diane Kim (right) and Ruby Martinez volunteered at the Misericordia, a charitable organization that offers medical and transport services. The Misericordia flanks the Florence Cathedral.

Myexperience as a volunteer with Misericordia enabled me to seeFlorence from a perspective that I would have missed out on otherwise. Traveling around in ambulances, I got to see the outskirts of Florence and theresidential areas. I met local Florentines, learned a lot of the dialect, becamefamiliar with the hospitals in town and learned more about healthcare in Italy.Each week was a different experience. Usually it was a lot of waiting, but fromsitting in the lobby or outside on the steps looking at the Duomo, I had theopportunity to get to know different volunteers and practice my Italian. Beingin an environment where hardly anyone speaks English was challenging andrewarding at the same time. I would constantly make mistakes, and I used to getincredibly frustrated, but I’m coming to understand that constant practice, nomatter what, is important when learning a language.

Onmy first day, I remember being nervous waiting for the bell that callsvolunteers for a service, because I didn’t know what kind of assignment I wouldbe given, or if I would be helpful at all since I couldn’t understandItalian very well. Ruby and I got sent out together and we escorted two elderly men to dialysis. One of them was in a wheelchair, and the other signore just needed someone to walkbeside him. I remember being a bit confused because I wasn’t sure how I wasgoing to help and it was my first time navigating the hospital. But after weescorted them to their respective rooms I was glad that I signed up to be avolunteer.

Asthe weeks went on I became more familiar with my surroundings and learned theropes of volunteering, like where certain parts of the hospital were or how toassist with stretchers and wheelchairs. There were still some nerve-wracking (andsome hilarious) incidents involving miscommunications when other people had tostep in for me because I couldn’t understand instructions in Italian. Whenthings like that happened I felt like I wasn’t being useful, but in the end Ijust felt more motivated to study Italian.

Onmy last day, I was sent out on a call to escort the same two elderly men that Ihad met during my first week. I was accustomed to helping them because I hadseen them a number of times while volunteering, so I was a bit sad because Iknew it would be my last time seeing them. But we assisted on the call as usualand it made me happy that Ruby and I knew exactly what to do. When we got backinto the ambulance the paramedic told us we did a great job. He looked at methrough the rear view mirror and told me that during his time working withMisericordia he had never seen a volunteer learn how to work the device thatsecures the wheelchair to the ambulance so quickly. His words meant a lot tome, because through them I realized how far I’ve come since I first arrived inItaly. A couple months ago I wouldn’t have been able to understand a singleword he had said, yet here I was having a conversation in Italian.

I’m gladthat I was able to give back to the community that has allowed me to grow in somany ways.

Diane Kim is an IR major at UC Davis. She studied with CEA in Fall, 2011.

A Weekend Amsterdam: Break Out of Your Comfort Zone!

2011-12-22T09:00:00.000-07:00

Formany years I have been hearing stories about Amsterdam from friends that havetraveled and studied abroad. The stories involve the drug culture, the red lightdistrict, many museums, etc. which all seem unreal. Acting on my curiosity, formy last trip out of Italy, my roommate and I traveled to Amsterdam. We stayedfor three days and two nights in one of the best hostels in the center of town.There was a smoking room along with a great bar which provided us with plentyof entertainment for the two nights we were there. Along with a great socialenvironment, it was our first time sharing a room with 14 other people, whichthankfully ended up being a great time.

I amsterdam, the city's marketing slogan
also serves as a popular photo opp!

Duringmy trip I realized that hearing stories about Amsterdam and seeing pictures didnot compare to my actual experience. The city is completely different than whatI had expected. I was struck by everything from the red light district to theHouse of Anne Frank. Even the pictures I took could not describe the experience Ihad. Visiting Amsterdam opened by eyes to so much: I have neverseen a culture so distinct and it was a memorable experience.

Ireturned from Amsterdam realizing that when I finally do come back to Europe, whetherit is with friends or with my family, Amsterdam would not be a typical place Iwould visit. I realized that studying abroad is a time to go out of yourcomfort zone and seek adventures you would not typically seek. Traveling toParis, Munich, Barcelona and all other major cities I have been wereabsolutely amazing, but there’s a better chance that later on in life I willreturn to them. This is why I loved my trip to Amsterdam: because it will probably be the only time I will ever visit.

The 5 Don'ts of Studying Abroad

2011-12-21T14:15:00.000-07:00

Many students make mistakes that keep them from getting the most out of their study abroad experience. Although it is impossible to prevent you from making all mistakes, the following five ‘Don’ts’ will help you make the most of your adventure abroad!

1. Don’t Limit Yourself: Step Outside Your Comfort Zone

While in a host country, many students limit their experiences to the arrangements made by their study abroad programs. Although your program may provide you with excursions into the local community and trips to various scenic spots, you may not gain that unique and personal experience you’re looking for, until you explore on your own. Do not limit yourself to the plans others have laid out for you. Follow your instinct and step out of your comfort zone. You never know what you can accomplish or what opportunities exist until you push yourself beyond what you are used to. So take heart and take advantage of every situation.

2. Don’t Make Assumptions

You have read travel guides and watched documentaries on your host country. You talked to friends or classmates who have studied abroad and even met people from the destination to which you’re traveling. Now you know everything you need to know to possess a proper perspective of the people and the culture, right? Wrong!! No one person's experience, no book, no documentary is enough to present you with a comprehensive understanding of any culture or people. Carrying assumptions of life in a different country only limits your ability to fully adapt, accept and perceive the uniqueness and beauty of every individual and encounter. Have an open mind and try not to fit your experience into your preconceived notions.

3. Don’t Limit Yourself to English Speakers

Unless you are going to an English-speaking country, knowing a little of the local language can go a long way. Knowing a few phrases can serve as an icebreaker and a way to connect with the locals in your host country. Locals are often ecstatic and appreciative of students who take an interest in their language. Often a simple “Hello” or “How are you doing?” will be all you need to strike up a conversation with any passersby and create an opportunity for a new friendship.

4. Don’t go it alone, Develop relationships

Studying abroad can be an overwhelming experience. There’s no reason to go through the experience alone. Once abroad, it is important to have a support unit in place. Form a cohort with other students in your program. Having a group to work with will provide you with the support needed to successfully navigate your program.

Last but not least…

5. Don’t Worry Be Happy!

You will many mistakes while studying abroad. The key is not to worry about it, mistakes can be good. People make mistakes when learning new things. If you are not making some mistakes, then you are not progressing as much as you could be.

Guest blogger Antonio Reyes generously wrote this content specifically for CEA. He is the Student Services Representative at Diversity Abroad.

CEA Rome: Visit to Cinecittà

2011-12-19T09:00:00.000-07:00

Group photo outside the studio entrance!

I had the opportunity to go with CEA Rome on their very first group visit to Cinecittà, and it has been one of my most memorable tripsso far... Best of all we didn't even leave Rome!

Cinecittà is the Italian version of Hollywood: many Italian and American moviesand TV shows have been filmed there. Does the TV miniseries “Rome” ring any bells? How about “Gangs of New York” starring Leonardo DiCaprio or “Nine” starring Nicole Kidman? You guessed it, all of them where at one point oranother shot at the Cinecittà studios.

CEA Rome Fall 11 trying on for size the
backdrop for the miniseries "Rome."

Cinecittà means Cinema City, and that is exactly what it is.From the streets designed to look like old time New York City, to the amazing backdrop of how someone envisioned ancient Rome,Cinecittà is a little city of make-believe dream-like structures. I found that it could be very easy to spend the entire day there, just taking a strolling around anddaydreaming.

I learned a lot on this day trip to Cinecittà, and it is certainly a trip I shall never forget. The small cinema citytucked quietly away in Rome stole my heart. For anyone who loves to dream, yoursure to find one or two waiting to be discovered there!

- Hanna Garza – Rome AYstudent Fall 2011 & Spring 2012 -

Baton Rouge Community College

My Favorite Places in Rome

2011-12-15T09:00:00.000-07:00

This past weekend was my lastweekend in Rome. It’s hard to think that in just 12 days I am leaving Italy andreturning back to the States. Being in Rome is very different from being inMassachusetts. Although I have been living in such a big city for the past 4 months,somehow I find spots in Rome that are relaxing and comforting. All of my programmates have different opinions about where their favorite spot in Rome is, or what their favorite city that they have traveled to is, but I can honestly say that myfavorite places from this semester are right here in Rome.

From the first week I got here Ihave been exploring all over Rome. Within the first week I found my firstfavorite spot. After a long day of exploring and trying to understand thehectic transportation systems in Rome, I stumbled upon the zoo, where there aremany animals and not many people. Its not much different from other zoos,but there’s something about the Rome zoo that makes it great. It might be the fact that notmany people go there and it’s not listed as one of the best places to go to inRome, but I love it.

My second favorite place in Rome is definitely a touristspot, though not a typical one. This spotis usually quiet because it is breathtaking. Climbing up to the top of St.Peter’s Dome to get a view of all of Rome is unbelievable. In the past weekI’ve already done it twice.

Being at the top of St. Peter’s Domeis relaxing and beautiful. It is the only place where you are in the heart of the city, but far away from all the craziness. I have yet to meet someonewho does not feel the same way about the top of St. Peter’s Dome.

- Erica Pagliarulo, Rome Fall 2011, Rollins College

Handbook for 20-Year-Old Male with Nominal Knowledge of French Language Starting Weekly Dinners with a French Family in a Suburb Outside Paris

2011-12-15T03:44:00.008-07:00

- Prepare for a little detective work. It turns out that the French family your friends dine with weekly have plenty of jealous friends who want Americans to come over and expose their children to English. You receive an impossibly zealous and all-out adorable introductory e-mail from the mother of a family in which she gives bubbly introductions to herself, her twin 16-year-old sons and her 8 year-old daughter. Any mention of the father is tantalizingly absent. Upon arriving with your roommate at the family’s cozy suburban home, try and mask your surprise when the father gets home from work while you’re sipping celebratory champagne marking the mom’s new job. He gives you a firm handshake. Take note of Laurent’s slip (the better-speaker-of-English but always quiet son) that his parents have different last names when he walks you to the RER station at the end of the evening. You start sleuthing through details with your roommate while standing on the platform: how everyone at the table smiled when recounting family vacations, a picture of the parents on a shelf with their arms wrapped around one another, the father’s brandy that he retrieved from a crystal bottle in the cabinet. Your Communication class later tells you that 1 out of 6 couples are unmarried in France and that the number is rising. Realize marriage has no correlation to how much a couple loves each other and how happy of a family they raise.

- Avoid trying to explain the American dish “Surf ‘n Turf.” You will feel like an idiot. Try and defend to your roommate later that evening how you thought it would translate somehow culturally or just be an interesting concept. You will have been wrong.

- Know that frank conversation and pointed questions are actually methods of meaningful exchanges with the French (at least that’s what your Communication book tells you). When the mother asks why you chose to take English-speaking classes in France when you could have had the same experience anywhere, know that it’s an honest curiosity; it builds from her gratitude of having native English speakers to combat France’s “problem” with learning English (a problem you do not notice, given the family’s already impressive vocabulary). Explain how you have come to find that Paris is the best city in the world, that you would love to come back and settle down and work. You’ll be startled by how true that sounds. Explain that language is the only thing holding you back.

- Eat a small lunch. You will leave full. Full. Every week.

- Note how Michael Moore is a window into your family’s view of America/Americans. Try and give an accurate view of American politics considering that you are liberal and your roommate is conservative. Land on the conclusion that different people inevitably will always want different things. The father will tell you that this is the exact definition of politics in France.

- Laugh heartily at mispronunciations in both languages (only applicable once dinners become routine and you find yourself past the line of dinner guest but slightly before family friend). Ex. When Gérard,(the louder twin who is somehow last in his English course despite your weekly meetings) finds mousse in the dictionary and exclaims wide-eyed, ‘Mickey Mousse!’ Or a week later when Laurent looks up the English translation for “faire la vaisselle” and says that you must hate to do the “DIE-shes.” Or how your Chicago accent butchers “b-Aaa-llet” and much laughter ensues. Take kindly to the cute look any family member gives you after every attempted “s’il vous plait” or “bonsoir.” Missed pronunciations are hilarious, so laugh at them. Heartily.

- Watch a segment during the weekly French news with your family entitled “Obese Children in America” and prepare for the family’s exclamation, “That’s YOUR country!” Not only will there be stock footage of overweight young girls swimming in a pool with their t-shirts on, the family will audibly gasp in disgust. Kindly explain how not all Americans are like this, how obesity is an actual problem, and how embarrassed you are that the family now believes every American swims with a shirt on.

- You will not know how to say goodbye. Write a note. Realize it doesn’t quite get at anything and dodges the possibility that this might be the last time you ever see them (But maybe somewhere down the line…) Bring your camera to the final Christmas meal: foie gras, frogs legs, and escargot. A meal you don’t deserve but that the family believes you do. Be sure to write down their address to let them know, at their request, when you get your first job, when you get married. Invite them to call you if they ever find themselves near Chicago (which seems just a little unlikely). But you will mean it. After they drop you off on your corner, after a bit of wine, you will realize that this hasn't just been important to you, this hasn’t just been fun. This hasn't just been cultural. It has been your new family, far away from home.

Ben Mueller and his roommate, Colin Olsen, in Paris.

Ben Mueller is currently a junior at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. He just finished the Fall 2011 semester in Paris.

Studying Abroad in Rome Can Make You a World Traveler!

2011-12-13T03:04:00.002-07:00

Choose to travel by train...

Studying in Rome is one of the greatest things I have ever experienced. For the past two and a half months I have been living in an apartment with four other girls in one of the best cities in the world.

Living 15 minutes, by bus, outside of the center of Rome, my roommates and I have been fully immersed in Roman culture. On any given day, I have the opportunity to make a wish at the Trevi Fountain, visit the Spanish Steps, or have a picnic outside of the Colosseum. However, one of my favorite things about Rome is how easy it is to travel in, out, and around the country, by train or airplane.

...or by plane!

Traveling Outside of Italy
Being the capitol of Italy, Rome always has flights for a reasonable price out of both major airports that help for travelling all around Europe. The two major transportation options for travel that I have used have been airplanes and trains. Everyone has a particular way in which they prefer to travel, but this semester planning plane tickets in advance has been the best option.

A major part of my study abroad experience that most students take advantage of is travelling on the weekends. From studying through CEA, I always have a long weekend, due to my class schedule, which allows me to have more time to travel without missing any classes. Since the beginning of September I have been lucky enough to travel to 7 different countries (not including Italy) in Europe! Traveling abroad is an experience many do not that the opportunity to take part in, but if you are studying abroad or are planning to, do not hesitate to explore the different cultures of Europe!

- Erica Pagliarulo, Rome Fall 2011, Rollins College

Mr. Ge Jun Brings his Dream to the CEA Global Campus in Shanghai

2011-12-12T10:52:00.000-07:00

Mr. Ge Jun

Last month we had a great lecture given by Mr. Ge Jun - an elementary school teacher from a remote mountain area in Guizhou.

Mr. Ge Jun is one of my most respected friends. I first met Jun in an international business class in Beijing 11 years ago. Jun was a non-registered student from a remote village in Guizhou mountain area, and worked as an employee of our school doing almost any type of job that you could think of: copying documents, delivering mail, cleaning classrooms, etc. In return, the school allowed him to sit in the classes. The courses for him were hard – the majority of our books and cases were in English, a language of which he had very little knowledge.

As if that challenge wasn’t enough, Jun had to work even harder to survive the high living costs in a big city like Beijing. I once saw him standing under the sun in 100 degree weather to disperse advertising cards – such jobs could bring Jun RMB 20 ($3) for eight hours. He lived in the dark basement of a building, but sometimes he had no place to stay and couldn’t even afford a meal. However, Jun still came to class every morning with homework in hand and a bright smile!

Eventually, I heard about Jun’s incredible life story and about his dream. When he was six years old, Jun had to walk two hours to his elementary school and another two hours back home every day. When he started middle school, his walking commute time increased as he walked eight hours to his middle school and another eight hours back every week. To save money on books, he only ate lunch at school and fought hunger every day.

Ge Jun's School

Though he was top ranked in his class every year, Jun had to drop out of high school due to his mother’s sickness. Despite this obstacle, Jun still viewed himself as lucky because many kids he grew up with had never even had the chance to receive schooling on any level. Regardless of his abruptly shortened high school career, Jun was lucky enough to find a teaching job in his former elementary school while his mother was ill.

Based on his life experiences, Jun decided that his ultimate life dream would be to build an elementary school in the mountains for the children that live there. He moved to Beijing for this purpose so that he could start earning the RMB 200,000 it would take to build this school.

After learning about Jun’s story and dream, I was touched but honestly believed Jun would be changed by the big city. Like other young people coming from small towns, I predicted that Jun would want to stay in Beijing, find a stable job, buy a house and start a family.

However last month, after spending 11 years living and working in Beijing, Jun came to CEA Global Campus to give CEA students a speech about his hometown, his study experience and his dream – the same dream I learned about 11 years ago. He still wore the hopeful, confident smile that he had the first time I met him.

Students at Ge Jun's school with their donated backpacks.

We happily learned that Jun has already saved RMB 300,000 for building the elementary school in the mountains, which will in turn benefit about 100 children. Because of inflation, Jun’s original budget for building a school increased from RMB 200,000 to RMB 600,000. Though he still has a ways to go in raising the money he needs, Jun will start the construction next year and in the mean time find funds from other government and business resources.

And, guess what? The lecture he gave was delivered in English – fluent English! (Jun studied and learned English totally by himself!) Thanks to Jun’s speech, CEA students received the chance to learn about life outside China’s big cities, and to make friends with a hard-working, life-changing Chinese person.

After the speech, the CEA Shanghai Global Campus donated 100 backpacks to Jun’s school. We’re hoping to be some of the first English teachers for the children in the future.

Yan Liang is the Program Director of the CEA Global Campus in Shanghai.

CEA Global Education Appoints New Vice President of Marketing, Brings 28 Years Experience in Marketing and Education

2011-12-06T10:40:00.000-07:00

Tempe, Ariz. (December 6, 2011) – College study abroad provider CEA Global Education is excited and pleased to announce today the appointment of Phil Schlesinger as Vice President of Marketing effective October 31, 2011.

Schlesinger is joining CEA after spending the past 6 years as Chief Marketing Officer with Thunderbird School of Global Management in Glendale, Ariz.

Schlesinger has had a successful 28-year career in all aspects of marketing, including brand platform development, strategic planning and new product launches in international education and a variety of other fields. CEA is fortunate to have him join the CEA team.

“Phil will leverage his extensive and diverse expertise to develop, lead and implement a strategic marketing plan for CEA,” said Chairman and CEO Brian Boubek. “Phil has extensive expertise in market research, competitive analysis, digital marketing, search engine optimization and measuring ROI on marketing expenditures. Prior to his tenure at Thunderbird, Phil served as Product Manager at Pearson School Systems – he is no stranger to the education industry and finds that is where his passion lies. We welcome Phil as our new Vice President of Marketing.”

For additional information, please contact:
Jennifer Sterba
Content & Communications Manager
CEA Global Education
2005 W. 14th Street, Suite 113
Tempe, AZ 85281-6977
Tel: 480-375-2716
Fax: 480-557-7926
Jennifer.Sterba@GoWithCEA.com

CEA Global Education was founded in 1997 to provide international education opportunities and the highest quality student support for U.S. and Canadian university students interested in exploring global issues in exciting global cities. Today, CEA sends thousands of students every year on education abroad programs to locations in Argentina, Chile, China, Costa Rica, Czech Republic, England, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, South Africa and Spain. Learn more online at www.GoWithCEA.com.

The Aix-periences of a CEA Alum Turned Olive Oil Specialist

2011-11-29T13:42:00.002-07:00

Jenna Thornton

In 2004, Jenna Thornton left her Cleveland, Ohio roots to study abroad in Aix-en-Provence during the lavish summer season. Now, seven years later, she is running the newest and most exciting French olive oil boutique in the heart of Paris. Treat yourself to my interview with Jenna during a weekend trip she took to Aix to soak up some Provençal sunshine..

Q: Jenna, Paris must be so different from Aix! What was your experience?

J: They are two very different worlds! Provence is rich with tradition, heritage and larger than life characters who still speak the native Provençal language. I still remember enchanting strolls along the Cours Mirabeau and chatting with 'les copains' whilst people watching from a café terrace. Not to mention the vineyards, the landscapes of Cezanne, the goat cheese, honey farms, and of course my personal passion - olive orchards and olive oil mills, continue to instill a sense of excitement within me. Paris is great but it is not home. I will always be “Americo-Aixoise”.

Q: Tell us more about your experience here in Aix...

J: On my last night in Aix as a study abroad student with CEA, I was sitting in a café on the Cours Mirabeau with my new French friends and I promised myself that I would return. In 2007, my wish came true and I came back to Aix as an English language teaching assistant in a local high school. I was also fortunate enough to help out in the CEA Aix office during the Spring of 2008, which lead Aix Program Director Vivienne Hamill and I to bond over shared passions of Provencal culture. The period of time I spent with CEA and Vivienne allowed me to discover and deepen my connections and knowledge of Provence. It really is a unique and special place - different from other parts of the world and very different from other regions in France…

Q: What is life like in Aix?

J: Aix feels like a big city but at the same time remains a small town. You cannot leave your apartment without bumping into at least one person you know. The sun shines 360 days a year, and the countryside around Aix is maybe the most gorgeous in the world. Cézanne’s Sainte Victoire mountain is visible everywhere you look. You never run out of things to do. The city overflows with youthful energy, fine arts culture and of course the famously chic “Aixois”.

Q: How did you get involved with the olive oil industry?

J: While visiting Les Baux in 2008, one of the CEA excursion destinations, I stumbled upon a Cave aux Huiles d'Olives where I was able to taste different olive oils from the region. My eyes were opened to some of the 383 sensory profiles that can be found in olive oil. It immediately became my passion.

One thing led to another and I began giving olive oil tastings and tours in Aix and other locations throughout Provence. While giving a tour to a group of CEA students, I met Provence's “Queen” of Olive Oil. To make a long story short, this meeting changed my life, leading me to live in a chateau and to work in the most highly reputed olive oil mill in France.

Doors opened left and right and I have since traveled to multiple destinations, including California, Spain, Sicily, and Italy, attending various olive oil congresses and meeting the top names in the industry. It was during one of these expeditions that I met Olivier Baussan, international business man extraordinaire from Provence. Several months later I found myself in Paris as an oléologue, running the boutique Premiere Pression Provence in the Marais district. I will introduce the brand to New York in 2012.

Q: Did you ever suspect when you came to study with CEA in Aix in 2004 that one day you would be not only an oléologue but a French reality TV star appearing in the first French season of Masterchef in 2010 ?
(Jenna laughs).

J: Never in a million years. Especially being the only American in a French cooking competition. People in Aix still recognize me and ask me about my experience on Masterchef. I’m very proud to have made it to the top 60 out of 18 thousand contestants. Just don’t ever ask me to make a Quiche Lorraine. (Jenna winks).

None of this would have happened if I had not taken the chance to go to Aix with CEA and study in 2004.

Q: Well, it sounds as if you have lead quite a life here in Provence!

J: Yes, it’s been filled with unforgettable experiences and I am always happy to share them. If any future students have any question about studying in Aix I am happy to answer them at discoveroliveoil@gmail.com, or in person at Première Pression Provence located at 35 rue Charlot located in the 3ème arrondissment of Paris on the Marché des Enfants Rouge.

Vivienne Hamill acts as the Program Director for CEA programs in Aix-en-Provence, France.

C'est à Vous - Giving Thanks in Paris

2011-11-24T00:30:00.007-07:00

Since the Americans volunteered to host November's residence hall dinner and party, we decided to prepare an authentic Thanksgiving meal for all of our deprived European friends.

Only, soon it became quite obvious that we hadn't thought the situation through.

There are nine Americans at the residence hall and not one of us knows how to cook or bake! I've previously seen Eileen eat a plate of grated carrots for dinner because she had nothing else, Cathy eat two baguettes and a hunk of cheese in lieu of cooking, Kristen eat soupy mashed potatoes, Claire feast on plates of fries, and Ariel congratulate herself for "cooking" a salad with both (bagged) lettuce and diced tomatoes. And well, I can't judge because everyone knows that my main staple is Frosted Flakes and frozen fish. It's a special occasion when I make myself some fried eggs and toast - check me out - Madame Gourmet!

Suffice it to say, we had a daunting task ahead of us and we were nervous. Ariel stepped up to the challenge and coordinated the shopping and the purchasing of the ingredients, as well as the finding of the recipes for the various dishes. We reminded ourselves that no one, save for us, had any idea what these foods were supposed to taste like anyways, so they wouldn't detect any imperfections... or so we hoped.

We set to work at 11am and did not stop until dinner was served at 9pm. I made the cranberry sauce and the cornbread, in addition to employing my peeling prowess for the apples and potatoes. I also volunteered to help Ariel oil and season THREE turkeys! What at adventure. She was much braver than I was; I whined and cringed the entire time I rubbed in the oil (ewww!) and distributed the pepper over its cold, pale flesh (yuuuck!). The instructions called for removing the neck and gizzards - whatever that means - and so I closed my eyes and reached in to pry them out. With a yelp and a shudder, I retrieved the goods, and sent a silent apology to the poor turkey for what felt like an invasion of privacy. Ariel (thankfully!) offered to take care of the other two, and did so with grace and courage, I might add. Still, I could hardly watch.

Eventually, after a hard day's labor and confusion over measurements (what is 3/4 teaspoon multiplied by 7 but taking into account the fact that we were using a tablespoon?!), we served 3 seasoned and browned turkeys, a vat of mashed potatoes, gravy, cranberry sauce, vegetarian and regular stuffing, green beans, carrots, cornbread with honey and butter, yams, cider, 4 apple pies, 4 pumpkin pies and ice cream! phew!

It was a masterpiece feast. Not a morsel of food was left, and my cornbread, which my fellow patriots said tasted like pancakes, was perhaps the quickest dish to go. Booyah! And by the way, weren't pancakes delicious the last time I checked? Yes. Yes, they were.

Three American friends of ours at the residence hall, plus our honorary American (but so much cooler British) friend, also pitched in to save the day. Cheesy as it is, I was so proud of each one of us for working together and making the best of an intimidating situation. The food was cooked with love and tasted equally as fantastic as any T-day dinner I've had at home. The night really was the manifestation of the American Thanksgiving history: different cultures breaking bread together. Twas beautiful.

Throughout the night, everyone wrote what they were thankful for on the "Wall of Thanks", taking the extra time to trace their hands in the shape of a turkey and sign their names, too. I wrote how I was thankful for the residence hall, the friends I've made and constant fun they both have provided me, for the opportunities to experience new cultures and places, and for my healthy family.

To kick off the party, we played some good old country music and taught everyone how to do the electric slide to "Sweet Home Alabama". It proved to be an amusing challenge!

Though Thanksgiving at home can never be replaced, the residence hall dinner left me with the same feelings I enjoy with my family: warmth, happiness, satisfaction, peace and gratitude for the infinite blessings life bestows upon us.

Happy Thanksgiving! Bon appétit!

Paige Smith is currently a sophomore at California Polytechnic State University - San Luis Obispo. She is studying in Paris for the Fall 2011 semester.

Volcanoes, Waterfalls, Hot Springs, and the Sensation of flight...What more could I ask for?

2011-11-21T12:15:00.001-07:00

Every time I try to find the words to describe my experiences, I find the word beauty. Life is far more beautiful than we give it credit.

This beauty commonly expresses itself during my weekends here in San Jose, Costa Rica, but in particular the weekend I visited Arenal - an active volcano. The first activity I experienced upon arriving at the Arenal Volcano National Park was a jungle canopy tour, where I zip-lined through the trees. The fact that the rope acted as my only sense of security between my harness and the zip-line was the coolest part of the experience. Eventually, I was pushed out into the jungle just to fly by the rope of the zip-line. It was absolutely incredible. I swung over the trees quietly, amazed at the beauty I was flying over. I couldn't help but be jealous of the birds, as they had the best view in the world. The last leg of the zip-line journey was pretty cool too. It was a 600 meter leg that I did superman style. Again, I felt like I was flying, and I loved it!

After zip-lining, I headed to the waterfall at La Fortuna. I loved standing in front of one of nature's beasts, feeling the mist on my body and its strength on my feet and in my ears. I wanted so badly to swim behind the falls but a security guard politely informed me that my wish was not an option. So instead, I swam in the river and dipped myself in the water in front of the falls.

As if that day hadn't been amazing enough, when I arrived at the hotel later that day I was stunned yet again. In one day I had traveled from beautiful nature to magnificent human creation. The hotel was probably the nicest place I will ever stay in my entire life. It had nearly 30 hot tubs/pools, some with bar islands, all that were filled by natural hot springs. My room had a balcony with a clear view of jungle and volcano. Around two or three in the morning, as I sat admiring the view and fresh air, I was able to see the volcano's rocks light up bright red and orange due to the heat of the lava. Needless to say, this was just beyond cool. I couldn't help but think about how vast the beauty of the world is and how incredibly powerful nature can be.

Shortly after, I fell asleep and slept like a rock until nearly 10 a.m. All I can say from this experience is that life is beautiful, and if you disagree, I challenge you to take another look because odds are there's something beautiful right before your eyes.

Sydney Spain is a CEA student currently studying abroad this Fall 2011 semester in San Jose, Costa Rica.

Italy Students Explore International Education and the Global Workplace

2011-11-18T08:14:00.022-07:00

The Global Campuses in Rome and Florence celebrated International Education Week with a series of events that saw students, instructors and staff come together to explore key questions that study abroad students tend to tackle alone:

What is an international career, and what is the global workplace?
What skill sets are global workplace employers looking for?
How can study abroad students better communicate their international experience?
What can students do to articulate their experience abroad on resumes and during interviews?
What challenges exist for those thinking of returning abroad to live and work?

While many students already realize that skills acquired during their semester abroad give them clear advantages in the job market, they don’t always know how to articulate their experience to potential employers. The goal of our presentations and dialogues this week was to give students real strategies and tools to help them fully convey the value of their international experience. These dialogues were such a success that they will become regular events on the CEA Italy calendars.

C'est à Vous! - I Have Two Favorite Feelings in Paris

2011-11-18T02:08:00.012-07:00

I have two favorite feelings in Paris. The first is when I'm speaking French and it doesn't feel like I'm speaking a foreign language. I'm just talking. The second is when I feel like I'm on the inside. By that, I mean that I'm seeing or experiencing authentic Parisian life, not just the outsider perspective of a tourist.

I felt this way when my host mom was kind enough to invite me to celebrate Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur with her family. Originally from Algeria, the grandmother made wonderful couscous and épinards, and her son explained some of the family's history, religion and traditions to me. I even found out that there was a famous French comedian in the family!

I felt this way a couple of weeks ago while eating dinner with a group of French students at my church by la Bastille. A conversation about traveling in Europe turned into a conversation about French history versus American history (side note: often when I meet French people, they politely try to find out if I know anything about their history. Apparently they've seen a few too many YouTube videos poking fun at misinformed Americans) which then turned into a conversation about Disney movies. Eventually, we were all cracking up, trying to sing songs from The Little Mermaid in French and in English.

I felt this way when a French woman stopped me in the métro to ask for directions. After I gave them to her, she explained to me that she actually didn't need directions - she was a writer who was working on a novel and wanted to briefly interview people so that she could quote them later.

The wonderful thing about study abroad is that you initially spend a number of weeks analyzing everything. Sorting out the differences between your new culture and your old one, trying to come up with explanations for things that just don't make sense, and frankly, feeling stupid from time to time. Then after that period has passed, you can just relax and enjoy it. This level of comfort and ease in a foreign country simply can't be reached as a tourist. David Sedaris said,

"Living in a foreign country is one of those things that everyone should try at least once... What I find appealing in life abroad was the inevitable sense of helplessness it would inspire. Equally exciting would be the work involved in overcoming that helplessness."

While I never felt helpless while in Paris per say, the transitional period is well worth the reward of such a memorable life experience. Bon voyage!

Janie Rowland is currently a junior at Wheaton College. She is studying in Paris for the Fall 2011 semester.

16/20 - Un Peu de Théâtre for Communication and Global Competence

2011-11-11T08:48:00.000-07:00

Eve Ensler, creator of "The Vagina Monologues", has a new piece of work sur scene - à Paris. "I Am An Emotional Creature", a play performed by six women of diverse nationalities, backgrounds, colors, shapes, sizes and sexual orientations, is currently playing at Ciné 13 in the 18th district.

When the curtain went up last Wednesday night, Paris became the extended classroom for students from CEA's Communication and Global Competence course, offered at the Global Campus.

The performance, a mix of monologues across the emotional spectrum, combined with singing, dancing, and videography, addresses the female experience all over the world. The work also inspired the creation of V-girls, "a global network of girl activists and advocates empowering themselves and one another to create the change they imagine for the world."

CEA Paris Assistant Academic Dean and course instructor, Christopher Edwards, explained that he took students to see the performance, "because gender roles are central to understanding modern societies. A discussion on masculine and feminine roles foreshadowed some of the themes we then saw in the play. I seized upon the opportunity to take the students to an English-language play in Paris - something we have the luxury of doing from time to time here in the French capital."

Bien sur, Thursday's class was dedicated to discussing and analyzing the varied reactions from students following the performance!

CEA study abroad programs create integrated learning environments that align classroom instruction with the rich cultural offerings of each CEA city location.

CEA Italy Celebrates International Education Week

2011-11-10T08:52:00.023-07:00

By Kevin J.F. Murphy, PhD, Italy Academic Dean & Campus Director

Ever wonder what study abroad means for your career prospects? Or what’s really involved in living and working outside the U.S.? Students at the CEA Global Campuses in Rome and Florence will have a unique opportunity to explore these topics with CEA faculty and staff next week, thanks to a series of exciting events planned in celebration of International Education Week (IEW).

IEW is a joint initiative of the U.S. Departments of Education and State that promotes international education and exchange by preparing students around the world for the diversity of people and ideas they will inevitably encounter in today’s multicultural, multilingual global workforce—skills that CEA has long advanced through its curriculum, activities, and opportunities for exchange with local institutions and individuals. First held in 2000, today IEW is celebrated in more than 100 countries worldwide.

The Florence and Rome campuses have already kicked off IEW with the “A Day in the Life” photo contests, a chance for students to creatively showcase and reflect upon life as a student in Italy. Celebrations continue with the lecture “Land that Job: How to Sell Your Study Abroad Experience,” a talk that will outline how study abroad boosts personal development and career prospects after graduation. And for those who might be thinking la dolce vita is for them, a roundtable discussion titled “Turn Study Abroad into Living Abroad” will follow, led by CEA Rome and Florence staff members who have made Italy their adopted home.

In a statement on IEW, U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan noted that "a complete education in the 21st century must teach our children about their interdependent world, and it must prepare them to be good leaders and good global citizens. International awareness and knowledge can help our children build the skills needed to communicate and cooperate with those from other nations and other cultures." We couldn’t agree more.

La Vie Etudiante - Chic Parisian Appetizers!

2011-11-10T01:40:00.019-07:00

Worried that chips and dip just won't cut it for your French guests? Fret no more and come to the Atelier Apéritifs Chics Parisiens!

Learn from the world-class chef, Elisabeth Quesnay, and impress les français with your new skillz!

We met up with Elisabeth to discuss last week's menu choice.

CEA: So Elisabeth, or should we call you Chef Quesnay?

Elisabeth: Oh no, call me Elisabeth - pas de souci!

CEA: Merci! Well then Elisabeth, what is your favorite apéritif chic parisien?

Elisabeth: Hands down, the rouleau de jambon! (stuffed ham roll)

CEA: Sounds délicieux! Now, we know your recipes are top secret, but may we ask which award-winning dishes you included in the atélier last week?

Elisabeth: Bien sur! Anything for CEA! It was a tough decision, but I decided to teach students how to make my famous Mignons Canapés Roses, as well as Raisin et Roquefort, Tomates Cerises

et Mozzarelle,
Saumon Fumé
,
Saucisson et Compté, Canapés au Canard and Pruneaux et Chèvre.
It was quite an evening, if I do say so myself.

CEA: Merci beaucoup Chef Quesnay, we mean, Elisabeth, for this exciting look into the wonderful world of French cuisine!

Fall 2011 CEA Paris students get ready to dig in!

Elisabeth Quesnay is the Student Services Assistant as well as an instructor of French at the CEA Paris Global Campus (that is, when she's not cooking up mouth-watering apéritifs chics with CEA Paris students!)

Find Funds Fast: Last Minute Funding for Spring 2012 Programs

2011-11-03T11:22:00.000-07:00

Cash. Moola. Benjamins. No matter how you slice it, money is money. And for access to many experiences in life, including study abroad, money is essential. So where is this money, and better yet how can you find more for your approaching Spring program? Allow us to show you a few last-minute ways to access different types of study abroad funding. Ka-ching!

1. Scholarships

Wait, did we just say scholarships this late in the game? You bet your Andrew Jackson lusting wallet we did! Scholarships come in many shapes and sizes and from many different sources such as your university, your community, your church, private companies, etc. Therefore, the key when it comes to searching for a scholarship is to research those that fit your credentials specifically - including scholarship deadline. Some examples:

Hit up the local library to search for quick entry scholarship guides
Ask your parents, aunts, uncles, best friend's parents to see if their employer provides any scholarships
Use the U.S. Department of Education's Federal Student Aid Free Scholarship Search to find a possible match (in particular, the Scholarship Matching Wizard provides tons of criteria to whittle down your scholarship search)
Take a virtual trip to the International Financial Aid and College Scholarship site to see which scholarships are still available for Spring programs

2. Make the Money

While on the quest to find funds for your study abroad experience, the sky's the limit when it comes to finding creative ways to help rake in the dough. Here's a few ideas to consider:

Find/apply to a part time job off-campus. Taking a job as a hostess or babysitter allows for you to make some extra cash in your spare time, in addition to having fun doing it.
Go to your university's career center to inquire after any on-campus jobs. A 10-hour gig checking out books in the library could be just what you need to fill up your study abroad piggy bank.
Start your own tutoring service for your peers or check to see if your university has any paid tutoring positions open. This way, you could even tie in some language practice with your money-making efforts.

3. Go Social

You post, you tweet, you blog, but did you know that you can now raise funds socially? As a member of the most connected demographic ever, utilize your knowledge of social media to help find money for your experience abroad this Spring. Put your social skills to the test with the following ideas.

MyTab, a social travel registry, allows you to use your Facebook and Twitter pages account to ask family, friends, cousins, etc. to contribute to your study abroad experience. Simply sign up and create your trip within MyTab to start rollin' in the dough!
Post or tweet to the study abroad groups you follow through various social media outlets asking them about last minute financing ideas. Just today StudyAbroad.com shared a link to their study abroad funds page for all followers to see! Ah, the benefits of the social network.

Although seemingly hidden, the money for study abroad is out there. With an open mind and a determined work ethic, who knows what kind of gold you can uncover in these last few months before your program!

Spring 2012: On Your Mark, Get Set, Go...to Paris!

2011-11-03T06:01:00.000-07:00

The upcoming spring semester will validate Paris’ reputation as a perennial hot spot for art, politics and gastronomy. The season will start with thousands of farm animals and tons of agricultural products arriving on the doorsteps of the capital for the annual Salon de l’Agriculture. Once the farmers head out of town on their tractors (literally), early March will see top models flocking to town and marching down the runways for Fashion week. Lagerfeld and Gaultier’s fashion caprices will then give way to the Salon des Vignerons indépendants in late March. The spring thaw in early April will then bring tens of thousands of marathoners to the annual Marathon de Paris. But the sprinters won’t be the only ones jostling for position as April and May will also play host to the first and second-round French, presidential elections. Just as this whirlwind of excitement draws to a close, and as the French turn their eyes to summer vacation, you will finally have a moment to sit on a café terrace and wonder “Is it time to leave already?”.

The Riches of Riding the Rails

2011-11-02T17:15:00.000-07:00

When deciding where to study abroad, the hot topics leading students to their decision - food, weather, location, festivals, etc. - most times do not include public transportation. A hidden gem amongst the favored city must-haves, public transportation can add to a study abroad experience just as much as its other list-topping comrades. Discover the riches of the world's metros, a seemingly ordinary public service.

City-shrinker
While it's not always the case, many times students study in larger cities whose most desirable sites sit at polar opposite locations. Walking usually serves as the chosen mode of transportation, as walking tends to cultivate a more intimate relationship between student and city. But sometimes, let's face it, when you have to get somewhere you just want to get there and you want to move fast. Ergo, public transportation enters the mix.

Like the metros in Paris, Buenos Aires and Madrid, the subway in Shanghai and the U Bahn in Berlin, public transportation all over the world shrinks a city to a manageable size. Students can have their cake and eat it too as they enjoy the freedom to explore their favorite museum exhibition on one side of the city, yet still have time to meet their friends for a quick lunch on the other. Metros enable students to see more of what they want to see, taste more of what they crave to taste and experience more of what they've been dying to experience.

Sense of Adventure
Configured in a chaotic web that interweaves below the city streets, many metro systems consist of several different lines, each with distinct destinations to which they transport thousands of people everyday. Jump on the line in one city, switch trains a few times, and there's no telling where you might end up! This type of freedom offers an entire world of new adventure for any student brave enough to take it on.

Be spontaneous! Plan a day in which you catch the metro at your local stop with no plan of destination in sight. Bring along a map so you can eventually make your way home, and let the underground rails introduce you to a part of your host city unseen by daylight.

People-watching Paradise
Top tip to utilize while riding the rails: Sit, watch and listen. Like clockwork, the everyday life and culture of a city plays out before spectating eyes in the depths of this underground world. For many city dwellers, utilizing public transportation acts as just another factor in their daily routine. What does this mean for you? People-watching at its finest.

Witness the cultural mannerisms, the family life, the working world and the youthful radiance of your host country as people file in and out of the metro trains. Use these opportunities to practice your language skills with the young family that just spent the day at the park, or the elderly woman gazing peacefully at her shiny black shoes. The opportunities to observe, interact and learn are endless.

Mind the Gap
When you start to create your mental list of characteristics to look for in a study abroad city (or if you're abroad now, deciding where you want to travel) don't forget to consider the metro factor. Like the nutella-slathered crepe you'll nibble on in Paris, or the cheerfully colored buildings you'll encounter in Buenos Aires' La Boca neighborhood, metros add a disguised spice to a city, jazzing up study abroad in an unimaginable way.

Once upon a Roman Adventure

2011-10-28T09:01:00.000-07:00

When it comes to describing my study abroad experience, where do I start? I’ve been asking myself this question for a while now, and it is certainly not unrealistic to say that anywhere would be a good place to begin.

After two and a half years of college, I watched over ten of my friends study abroad across the world. From Prague to Australia, my friends had seen it all, and I knew that I wanted the same experience. After analyzing all of my options and considering where would be best for me to study, my family and I decided that there would be no better place in the world than in the center of western civilization - Rome. A history major and an Italian student, this was a dream come true for me.

Like many irresponsible collegiate men, I didn’t do much research or reading of CEA’s pre-departure paperwork, but from the second I got off the plane in Rome I knew that I was truly in a different world. The smells, the sights, the sounds, they were all something completely new and beautiful to me. The CEA staff was quick to find me at baggage claim, and before I knew it was I speeding past the Colosseum and the beautiful buildings of Rome.

Shortly thereafter, I arrived at my picturesque apartment on Via Benaco. Moving in was easy – the CEA staff was prepared to help me with any problems I may have had upon arrival. Within moments, I made two good friends. One of them was studying abroad from Canada, and the other happened to be a University of Arizona student, like me.

Soon we were out on our own, walking around the city of Rome, exploring and taking in the sights. To be fair, I am not a big fan of walking anywhere, but walking around Rome is nothing like being back home. There is something about being in another country that makes it so much more enjoyable. By the end of the first day, we had met some of the girls in our program and prepared for our first night in Rome, one that would certainly never be forgotten.

As no one else in our group spoke Italian, I was the point man for communicating with the local Italians, who were always very friendly and easy going. I found that they love speaking to travelers and are especially fond of students who are studying in their city. So, for those of you who don’t speak your host country’s native tongue, don’t worry! You will be okay!

Once we finally made our way to the Piazza di Spagna (The Spanish Steps,) we got a chance to see the true beauty of Rome at sunset. Hundreds of onlookers sat on the steps and observed the beautiful sights and sounds of the eternal city as the sun set on the first of my many amazing days studying abroad.

TJ Venne is currently a senior at the University of Arizona in Tuscon, Ariz. He studied abroad in Rome this past Summer 2011.

La Vie Etudiante -Hikes and Châteaux and Chestnuts, Oh My!

2011-10-25T00:12:00.034-07:00

It may have been only 3° Celsius, but that didn't stop CEA Paris students from venturing to Fontainebleau for the day. The rendezvous was set for 8:45am at the Gare de Lyon (just enough time to grab a pain au chocolat and a café and jump on le train!). A hike through the Fontainebleau forest was first on the list - just the thing to warm everyone up (it was a cooooold morning). After two hours of chestnut-finding and hiding from mountain lions (we kid, we kid), CEA Paris students were ready for their hearty déjeuner in the centre ville.

On the menu:

- une salade au chevre chaud

- une escalope de dinde à la Normande

- une tarte aux pommes

Basically - délicieux... especially after the Big Hike of 2011.

Les ventres pleins, their esprits d'aventuriers returned and they were off for more Fontainebleau exploration...

Everyone was on their best behavior for the Château visit, bien sur...

Some ventured to the mushroom and lichen fair, others paddled boats in the Château pond, and those who needed some rest and relaxation took in the beauté of the surrounding gardens.

Unfortunately, Brett still seemed to be worried about that whole mountain lion thing...

Guys, uhh guys...

CEA Paris Fall 2011 student, Brett Lange

Eating Our Way Through Britain

2011-10-21T12:02:00.000-07:00

Walking around your study abroad city isn't the only way to investigate its culture. With local cuisines playing such a large role in a city's personality, allow your taste buds to do some of the exploring for you, and sample as many traditional dishes as you can get your hungry hands on.

Follow CEA's London Program Director Harriet Clement as she eats her way through Britain. Bon Appétit!

Our Program Director Harriet!

Traditional British Foods

Fish and Chips

Probably the UK’s best known traditional food, Fish and Chips was originally a working class meal made with cod or haddock and chipped potatoes. Nowadays, this delicious treat can set you back upwards of a ‘fiver’ but it is well worth it!

Bangers and Mash
A traditional English meal, bangers and mash simply consists of sausages (bangers) and mashed potatoes (mash) usually served up with onions and gravy.

Sunday Roast dinner

The British Sunday roast is served on Sundays (can be served in the early afternoon for lunch or for an evening meal), and includes roasted meat, roasted or mashed potatoes, veggies and the all-important sides: Yorkshire pudding, stuffing and thick gravy.

Bubble and Squeak

B&S is essentially a meal made from last night’s leftovers. Commonly, this plate includes fried vegetables from a roast dinner such as potato, cabbage, carrots and peas. The name comes from the bubble and squeak sounds the dish makes as it cooks.

Spotted Dick
This is a steamed dessert made with sweet, rich custard and mixed with dried fruit like raisins and currants.

Mince Pies

Mince Pies

A traditional Christmas sweet, mince pies cradle mincemeat and a variety of spices within its small, bowl-shaped crusts.

Cream Tea

Cream Tea is an afternoon snack that consists of scones, Devonshire clotted cream (heavier than whipped cream) and jam, all served alongside tea.

Fry Up AKA Full English breakfast
This delightful breakfast is the breakfast of both champions and heart attacks! The meal boasts bacon, eggs, sausage, toast, tomato slices and mushrooms. Regional substitutions include black or white pudding, porridge, oatmeal, potato cakes, soda bread, and laverbread. Most Saturday and Sunday mornings you will see the local cafe – or ‘caff’ as it is pronounced in London – full of hungry customers waiting for a full English breakfast and a brew (cup of tea).

Shepherd’s Pie / Cottage Pie
This savory pie is made with either minced beef (cottage) or lamb (Sheppard’s) and vegetables, and is then topped with mashed potatoes and sprinkled with cheese.

Laverbread
Laverbread (bara lawr in Welsh) is seaweed that is cooked and pureed into a blackish-green paste. Most commonly eaten in Wales, the seaweed usually is harvested off the west coast of Britain. Often times the puree is mixed with oatmeal and then fried to accompany a traditional breakfast, such as bacon and eggs.

Haggis
Traditionally a Scottish dish, Haggis is made by filling a large sheep stomach with a blend of minced offal, fat, oatmeal, stock and seasoning. This mix is then boiled in the stomach until ready to eat.

Black Pudding
This is a sausage made with blood and fat, and more frequently eaten in Northern Ireland and Scotland with breakfast.

Marmite
This savory brown spread derives from yeast and tastes best when eaten (a small amount) on a piece of buttered toast, in a sandwich, on bread, or when used as a cooking ingredient.

Yorkshire Pudding
Often served alongside a roast dinner, Yorkshire Pudding is a puffy, egg-heavy pastry that tastes best with gravy.

Program Director for CEA Programs in London, Harriet is a native Londoner and has lived in and around the city for most of her life.

6 Degrees of Separation

2011-10-20T15:34:00.000-07:00

16/20 - CEA Students Get Down to Business for Midterms in Paris

2011-10-19T02:20:00.013-07:00

Books (laptops?) are cracked, the machine à café is working overtime and the Global Campus is surprisingly quiet... CEA Paris students are in full midterm mode! Behold...

Alexandra Morris studies for her Intermediate French II exam with Dr. Danièle Katz.

Molly Ruppel, Leah Post and Molly McGlew all study up in the CEA student lounge for their Haute Couture in Paris midterm with Dr. Jean-Pierre Constant. According to these three demoiselles, Dr. Constant's exam is the one that makes them the most inquiètes (worried!)!

Over in the Global Campus computer lab, Megan Laddusaw studies the process of making champagne for her Oenology class with Prof. Carol Brick-Stock. C'est un peu compliqué... (it's a bit complicated...)

Sometimes things get a little errr... stressant...

French? Haute Couture? Architecture? Du calme Molly, du calme...

Tune in next week when midterms are a thing of the past and it's time for the all-important Fall Break. Until then, courage aux étudiants de Paris!

La Vie Etudiante - Cézanne & Raffle Tuesdays!

2011-10-19T01:22:00.015-07:00

If you didn't already know that a Cézanne expo was in Paris, then you must:

A. Not take the metro

B. Not know Paris Student Services Assistant, Elisabeth Quesnay

Elisabeth has been talking about the tombola du mardi (Tuesday raffle!) since last week, excited to draw two winners for tickets into the Luxembourg Museum's "Cézanne et Paris" exposition running from October 12th 2011 to February 26th 2012. Check out the link to the museum website here.

If you ask Elisabeth why she loves Cézanne, she'll tell you, "couleur, mouvement, nature" - color, movement, nature. Though Cézanne is well known for his paintings of nature morte (still life), Elisabeth finds that "il y a de la vie dans ses tableaux" - there is life in his paintings.

Yesterday, mardi (Tuesday!), was the big day to win tickets for the Cézanne expo, so we popped down to reception to witness le tirage de la tombola (the drawing!):

Elisabeth with the Luxembourg Museum tickets and her treasured tombola du mardi.

Close up on le super prix.

Fall 2011 student, Miki Sankary, did the honors (with her eyes closed... pas de triche!)

Pas de soucis for those of you who didn't win! There's always jeudi (crêpe party mix!) and la super cagnotte (tickets to see "How to Become Parisian in One Hour"!) Plus, we're pretty sure Elisabeth will start chatting about next week's tombola du mardi any day now...

Happy Holiday Heyday!

2011-10-14T15:33:00.000-07:00

As many of us prepare for the upcoming tricks and treats of this season, so too do most other countries around the world prepare for their own seasonal celebrations. October, November and December act as the treasure troves of international holidays - see for yourself!

France
Pilgrimage Saintes Maries de la Mer - October: Every year at the end of October, the village of Les Saintes Maries de la Mer celebrates the historical arrival of their patron saints, Saint Mary Jacobé and Saint Mary Salomé. This religious festival includes processions of men and women dressed in traditional attire that can take over 1.5 hours to prepare!

Argentina

Día del Respeto a la Diversidad Cultural - October 12th: Argentinians celebrate Columbus Day by respecting the different Indigenous cultures that populate the country.

England

Guy Fawkes Night - November 5th: Also known as Bonfire night, the fifth of November commemorates the Gun Powder plot, during which Guy Fawkes attempted to blow up the houses of Parliament. Bonfires and ginormous firework displays accompany this rhyme in celebration:

Remember, remember the fifth of November

Gunpowder, treason and plot.

I see no reason why gunpowder, treason

Should ever be forgot...

Costa Rica

All Soul's Day - November 2nd: Costa Rica inhabitants observe this holiday with Catholic masses and various pilgrimages to graveyards in honor of those that have passed. This holiday is common in many other parts of the world as well and sometimes is referred to as Day of the Dead.

French Riviera

Chestnut Festival - October 8th- November 20th: The Chataigne (the chestnut) acts as the fruit of the Fall all along the French Riviera. Chestnut trees grow all over this region and during this time every year, people celebrate by harvesting these delicious, edible treats.

Czech Republic

St. Martin's Day - November 11th: People in the Czech Republic celebrate this Feast of St. Martin as the signifier of the season's first snow. They commemorate with festive meals of roasted goose, potato dumplings, rolls filled with poppy seeds and wine.

China
Chong Yang (aka the Double Ninth Festival) - 9th day of the 9th Chinese Lunar Month, usually in October: This holiday celebrates Chinese elders all across the country. Chinese people visit their seasoned parents, friends and other family members to pass along good life blessings. Many people also participate in a traditional mountain hike, which signifies viewing the bigger picture of life standing in a higher place.

La Vida Loca: Life in Madrid

2011-10-14T14:49:00.000-07:00

Night. Lamp-lit streets. A soft, sweet-scented breeze grazes the air as the fading sound of a guitar melody streams down the cobblestone walkway. In one direction lies a rectangular-shaped plaza crawling with life of all ages, and in the other sits a quiet cafe, nestled between the grizzled bricks of the old buildings. One of the many nights I spent in the streets of Madrid.

Commonly misunderstood as just another capital city, Madrid harnesses a lot more Spanish character, electricity and vivacious spirit than most people think. I myself had some speculations about studying abroad there in comparison to Catalonian hot spot Barcelona, or flamenco-dancing Seville. But had I known then what I know now about experiencing life as a madrileña, I would have never thought twice about choosing Madrid as my study abroad location.

Mesmerizing Mystique

Perhaps it was in the individual personalities of each city square or in the distinctness of the scattered parks, but whatever it spawned from, Madrid's mystique nature sparked my city love affair from the beginning.

I have never lived nor traveled to a place so welcoming yet so mysterious at the same time - and I've bounced around the world quite a bit. It was like as soon as I arrived, the city extended its wide-reaching arms around me and hugged me into its culture - food, wine and friendly residents alike.

The gracefully architectured buildings and plazas invited me in as an observer, yet at the same time outwardly possessed a secret history only discoverable upon further investigation.

Take for example, the city's busiest plaza, Puerta del Sol. I must have walked through Puerta del Sol (or simply Sol as we called it) at least three times per day, but I would have never guessed beneath all the hurried, pedestrian shoes lived the starting point of all major Spanish roads (there's even a sidewalk plaque at 0 km)! The history hides everywhere here.

District Hopping

Not one day went by during my time in Madrid where I had a dull or boring moment. The city doesn't even permit that option. Anytime I felt the slightest pull towards the doldrums, my surefire solution was a trip to one of Madrid's districts or neighborhoods - my favorite was La Latina, the oldest area in Madrid with extremely quaint character.

Sure, a lot of cities offer different neighborhoods for their inhabitants to explore, but in Madrid the flavors of the city's main areas each boast their own interpretation of the Spanish culture. So when I ventured through the antiquities of La Latina, I felt the essence of old-world Madrid, and when I strolled through Malasaña I experienced the rush of youth and creativity bathing the streets.

In each neighborhood, I felt like I viewed the city through a new pair of eyes and truly began to cultivate insider's point of view.

A Gem On Its Own

Having studied abroad in Madrid, I visited as many different Spanish cities as my time (and my wallet for that matter) would allow. I had heard all the rumors regarding how crazy fun Barcelona was and how studying in Seville would expose me to pure authentic Spanish culture, but after spending time in each high demand destination, the love that I nurtured for Madrid stood strong.

Now, I hold nothing against Seville or Barcelona, as the two cities both possess undeniably fascinating components, but the fact of the matter is that each city consists of completely different characteristics. I love Madrid for its people, its essence and for the impression it left on me. Had I studied in another Spanish city, these same three components would have had completely different meanings.

While Seville and Barcelona projected Spanish culture in their own, unique ways, so too did Madrid, making it difficult to even attempt a comparison. Each shines for its distinct characteristics that sit unparalleled by any set of standards.

Purely Passion

I found it rummaging through the hundreds of street tents at El Rastro, I found it sampling pimientos de padrón and tortilla española in my favorite tapas bar, I found it laying under a tree at Parque del Retiro and wandering the streets around Palacio Real. I found my passion for life while studying abroad in Madrid, and looking back at my experience now I know that I could not have discovered it in any other location.

Maggie Zawalski is the Content Coordinator at CEA Global Education. She studied in Madrid during her Spring 2010 semester at the University of Colorado Boulder.

*Post also visible on StudyAbroad.com!

CEA Appoints New International Health & Safety Director

2011-09-20T15:07:00.000-07:00

Company-Wide Initiative to Align Policies, Practices with World Events

Tempe, Ariz. (Aug. 29, 2011) – CEA Global Education is pleased to welcome C. Thomas Whitehouse as the new Director of International Health & Safety. Mr. Whitehouse is part of a company-wide initiative to align CEA's health and safety policies with today's changing world environment.

"Tom brings ideas he's put into practice in environments very similar to CEA and the field of study abroad," said Brian J. Boubek, Chairman and CEO of CEA Global Education, a study abroad provider known for flexible academic models designed to suite both students' and universities' diverse needs. "We're thrilled to have someone of his caliber and background join CEA in connecting students to positive and meaningful study abroad experiences."

Mr. Whitehouse will act in an advisory capacity to an internal Health and Safety Committee comprising top leadership based in Tempe, Arizona and international staff. With more than 40 years of business experience – 15 specifically in international risk management, Mr. Whitehouse will serve as a resource in training and management of student health and safety. In his role at CEA, he'll keep leadership and international staff aware of important developments in the area of international health, safety and security, as well as refine and refresh internal procedures and staff training.

"This past year has taught the study abroad industry the need and value of continual self assessment when it comes to student health and safety," Mr. Boubek said. "Responsible study abroad providers must recognize that value and push themselves to prepare for the unforeseen circumstances that can interrupt students' educational experiences."

CEA Global Education was founded in 1997 to provide international education opportunities and the highest quality student support for U.S. and Canadian university students interested in exploring global issues in exciting global cities. Today, CEA sends thousands of students every year on education abroad programs to locations in 12 countries, including Argentina, Chile, China, Costa Rica, Czech Republic, England, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, South Africa and Spain. Learn more online at www.GoWithCEA.com.

CEA Global Education Offers New Diversity Scholarship

2011-09-07T08:25:00.000-07:00

Study abroad service provider CEA Global Education is proud to announce its new Diversity Scholarship, now available to all CEA program student participants. Applications for all CEA study abroad scholarships are currently being accepted for Spring 2012.

The Diversity Scholarship originated from a desire to promote diversity in CEA programs, and increase access to students who are historically underrepresented in study abroad. Applicants may qualify to receive up to $1,000 – up to $3,000 for the highest scoring applicant awarded with distinction.

“Our commitment includes, but is not limited to, ethnic minority students, male students, students from diverse economic backgrounds, GLBT students, and students from underrepresented majors," said Kathleen Ellwood, Director of University Relations East. CEA’s programs facilitate equal opportunities for academic achievement, global competence and personal growth for all its students."

Requirements for the Diversity Scholarship include a GPA of 2.5 or higher, a letter of recommendation from an academic reference, a scholarship application form, a scholarship academic recommendation form and a 400- to 500-word essay. This year's inaugural Diversity Scholarship asks students to reflect on the following prompt:

“Perhaps travel cannot prevent bigotry, but by demonstrating that all peoples cry, laugh, eat, worry, and die, it can introduce the idea that if we try and understand each other, we may even become friends.” – Maya Angelou

Scholarship applicants must have applied for a qualifying CEA study abroad program, be confirmed in their program within 30 days of submitting their scholarship materials, and be currently enrolled at a U.S. or Canadian college or university.

More details are available online at www.GoWithCEA.com/Scholarships.

Discover What We've Discovered: CEA Advising Team Caught On Camera

2011-08-22T06:00:00.003-07:00

Imagine for a moment your life’s greatest passion. It could be the sound of your own cadenced sneakers as they repeatedly hit the pavement on your morning jog. It could be the mouth-watering smell of a freshly baked batch of chocolate chip cookies as their aroma saturates your kitchen. Or perhaps it’s the rush of adrenaline you feel as you step off of a plane into a world unseen by your curious eyes.

Now, imagine being able to harness that passion and use it to help someone else in a quest to find their own. Invigorating, isn’t it? Our Advising Team knows the feeling, they get to do this every day!

In a collection of video testimonies, now accessible on our website, the CEA Advising Team has declared their fervor for study abroad. They've eaten all the worldly cuisines that students can't wait to eat. They've seen the exotic and intriguing world cultures that students can't wait to see. They've tasted the fresh morning air in Buenos Aires. They've swam in the salty waters of the Mediterranean Sea. They've discovered what students yearn to discover, and now they're helping inquiring students achieve their own study abroad adventures.

"I would say that students like talking to someone who can relate to the entire experience, from searching for a program to actually living and traveling abroad. It's very reassuring," said Eric Schueller, CEA Admissions Counselor.

They've studied it, they've biked it, they've climbed it, they've danced it, they've spoken it, they've LOVED it. And now, our Advising Team wants to pass on their experiences visually, using their expertise to help future study abroad students uncover their own adventure.

"My job is SOOOO cool! I get to live my own study abroad experience when I'm speaking to students about to start theirs!" said Leah Breeze, CEA Admissions Counselor.

How to Highlight Study Abroad on Your Resume and in a Job Interview

2011-07-28T06:00:00.011-07:00

As you read in my last blog post, my study abroad experience in China taught me many valuable lessons that I utilize everyday in my career. However, long before I realized those benefits, I noticed the value my junior year when I applied for summer internships. Every interviewer I met was fascinated by my study abroad experience and wanted to talk about it. They either said something similar to, “Wow, you studied in China! What did you think? I have always wanted to go there." Or , "How was China? I've been there, too!” My study abroad experience helped break the ice in interviews. It allowed me to open up with the interviewer and engage in dialogue rather than answering question after question like a robot.

Now, as the Program Coordinator at the Eller College of Management, University of Arizona, I have the opportunity to help other students leverage their study abroad experience during their job search. One of my job responsibilities is to assist students in writing their resumes. When I meet a student with study abroad experience, I always share with them these tips:

1. List your study abroad experience toward the top of your resume.
Studying abroad is a unique experience; show it off! List it toward the top of your resume, right underneath the education heading. Busy recruiters only spend seconds glancing at your resume; so, you want to catch their attention right away.

2. Note the location, duration, and title of the study abroad program.
Do not leave the recruiter guessing. Clearly explain to them the details of your study abroad program.

3. Emphasize the skills you developed.

Recruiters want to know how your study abroad experience can benefit them. Browse the job description, looking for skills that you developed while abroad. Mention those skills on your resume. For example, if the job you are applying for is looking for someone with problem-solving skills, you could write something like, “developed problem-solving skills while exploring and navigating an unfamiliar city.”

4. Describe what made your experience unique and challenging.

Everyone’s study abroad program is different and each student’s experience is unique. Demonstrate on your resume what made your experience special. Did you receive a scholarship for the program? Did you maintain a 4.0 GPA? Did you volunteer while abroad, perhaps teaching English or using your own new-found language skills? What is something unique you learned or did?

5. Include any work or volunteer experience.

If you had the opportunity to volunteer or work abroad, highlight it under the experience category on your resume. Explain and describe any obstacles you had to overcome as an employee abroad, i.e., language barrier, differences in business culture, etc.

Study abroad experience is a great way to differentiate yourself from other candidates applying for jobs. So be sure to use it your advantage on your resume and during the interview.

How Buying Two Left Shoes Helped My Career

2011-07-27T06:16:00.006-07:00

Whether you are in Rome staring up awe struck at the Colosseum, or enjoying tapas in Spain, you're probably not thinking about how your study abroad experience is going to benefit you in your career. Without even realizing it, the sightseeing, conversing with locals, and dining in quaint restaurants will help you develop skills and teach you lessons that will have a positive impact on your career.

Two years ago, I was a student studying abroad in China. I walked along the Great Wall of China and reveled in the beauty of the local temples; I enjoyed my time in China and thought very little about my future career. Fast forward a couple of years and I realize that many of skills I learned in China, I utilize every day in my current job as the Program Coordinator at the Eller College of Management, University of Arizona . Here is a short list of some of some of my favorite experiences in China and the lessons they taught me.

Explaining to a shoe vendor that they sold you two left shoes is a great way to learn patience.

During our trip to Beijing, I purchased a pair of shoes at the Silk Market. When I got back to the hotel and pulled the shoes out to wear that night, I realized that they had sold me two left shoes! The next day I took them back to the vendor and struggled to explain to the saleswoman my dilemma. After an hour of using crazy hand gestures to explain my story, I finally got one left shoe and one right shoe. The patience I learned, I use every day at my job. Whether I am planning an event where the keynote speaker is late or I'm helping a student map out their career path, the ability to stay calm in the face of an obstacle isn't just essential – it's valuable.

When it rains, it pours self-confidence.

In between classes, my roommate and I took a cab to grab a quick lunch. We were just heading down the street and we thought we knew where we were going; so, we made the tragic mistake of leaving our backpack with our cell phone in the classroom. We handed the restaurant’s business card to the cab driver and (whoosh!) we were on our way - or so we thought.

Instead, we ended up at a random hotel. It turns out the cab driver took us to the hotel that was advertised on the back of business card. We tried to explain to the clearly confused cab driver the misunderstanding. Unfortunately, we were left to navigate through the city ,in the pouring rain, on our own. With a little bit of intuition and the help of some English-speaking locals, we eventually made it back!

The lesson: Navigating a foreign city in the rain gave me the self confidence I needed to tackle more challenging obstacles at work.

Living eight weeks in a hotel room with no closet or drawers teaches you the importance of adaptability and flexibility.

Our hotel in China had absolutely no storage for clothes, toiletries, or study materials. We could not spend the next eight weeks with clothes and textbooks strewn all over the floo, so my roommate and I solved the problem the American way, taking a trip to Wal-Mart to buy storage bins. We got some pretty strange looks as we juggled all of these bins on our mile-long trek back to the hotel. After some creative redecorating, we made our room livable. It wasn't perfect, but we managed. My current job requires me to plan a lot of events and there are always times when things do not go as expected. After living in China a short time, I learned just how a little clever ingenuity can make any situation work.

Taking five classes and touring three cities in eight weeks is a crash course in time management.

Balancing studying for tests, completing projects, and writing papers with exploring Beijing, Shanghai, and Nanjing quickly taught me how to manage my time. Every day the thought of discovering local restaurants, markets, and shops motivated me to get my homework done in a timely fashion. Much like my experience in China, my job is fast-paced and requires me to complete multiple tasks. After conquering my heavy workload in China, managing day-to-day tasks and long-term goals is a breeze.

Watching the locals (and your friends) eat scorpions and seahorses makes you realize just how diverse the world is.

One weekend, all of the students went out to browse the local street vendors. We found a row of food stands selling all kinds of strange foods, everything from seahorses on a stick to a variety of bugs and animal parts. This is just one of the many things I witnessed in China that made me realize I wasn't in “Kansas” anymore. My experience in China opened my eyes to just how diverse the world is. I feel I'm better prepared to collaborate with people from different backgrounds and experiences.

My advice to you: During your study abroad experience, go ahead, shop, dine, and enjoy the sites of the city! Some of your best study abroad memories will teach you the best skills and lessons for your future.

Shannon Timms interned for CEA Global Education last summer. She has since graduated from the University of Arizona and now works as a marketing coordinator at the university's Eller College of Management.

Building an Innovative Study Abroad Program in Paris

2011-06-30T15:21:00.000-07:00

CEA Global Campus Campus Director in Paris Alexandra Mitchell and University of Maryland, Baltimore County's Dr. Denis Provencher talk about the developement of CEA Global Education's partnership with UMBC to create a gender studies program.

The "Culture & Identity Studies: Explore Gay Paris" program was recognized this spring with a GoAbroad Innovation Award.

CEA Custom Faculty-Led Program Earns GoAbroad Innovation Award for 2011

2011-06-03T08:09:00.000-07:00

Congratulations to the University of Maryland, Baltimore County and Paige Sindt at CEA for their custom, faculty-led Culture & Identity Studies program in Paris! Their program earned a GoAbroad Innovation Award last night in Vancouver at NAFSA's 63rd Annual Conference & Expo!

CEA also offers our congratulations to all the participants in this year's GoAbroad Innovation Awards, and thanks to our friends at GoAbroad for shining a spotlight on such great work!

A full list of the finalists is available at

http://www.goabroad.com/news/innovation-awards.

Cheers and enjoy the rest of your stay in Vancouver!

CEA Heading to NAFSA Conference in Vancouver!

2011-05-19T14:57:00.000-07:00

AIEA? Check. Forum? Check. NAFSA? Whew!With conference season nearing to a close, we thought we'd let you in on what you can expect to see of CEA Global Education at NAFSA's 63rd Annual Conference & Expo.

Between the many interesting sessions, the GoAbroad Innovation Awards, and catching up with friends and colleagues, we're very much looking forward to Vancouver!

Dr. Paige Sindt, Director of Custom Programs, will co-present at a pre-conference workshop on early college study abroad, where attendees will examine the role of student development theory in education abroad. Look for her session, "Pedagogy and Practice: Leveraging Learning in Education Abroad," 8 a.m.-noon May 31st.

Dr. Scott Blair, our Academic Dean in France, will co-present "Collaboration that Counts: Integrating Career Exploration on Campus with Study Abroad," which explores the importance of linking on-campus career services with study abroad programs. The workshop will take place 9:15-10:15 a.m. June 2nd.

Tim Boubek, Director of University Relations-West, regional consultants Jon Jorgensen and Matthew Janus, and university adviser Kirstin Havice are attending.

Chairman and CEO Brian Boubek and Caroline Walsh, Vice President for Program Development, also are attending.

We're looking forward to hanging out with our friends at GoAbroad to see their Innovation Awards reception and all of the great work that's been happening in the field of study abroad.

And a little birdie told us there could be some ~~singing~~ dancing in the rain at the NAFSA opening reception? ; )

Don't be shy! Be sure to stop by our booth (No. 1013) and say hello!

Reflections Abroad: Perspectives on Culture, Identity & Self

2011-05-11T06:00:00.001-07:00

Born from the desire and need to develop concrete opportunities for meaningful student engagement in reflection about culture, identity and awareness, this initiative seeks to provide a platform for students to express and share their experiences, to reflect upon the life-changing results of a successful study abroad program, and to gain experience in analyzing and articulating their experience in a formal, academic and professional context.

The conference will take place at our center on Friday, May 13th, with students, faculty, staff and guests attending.

The call for proposals went out to students on February 17th . Many students submitted session proposals through Christopher Edward's course in Communication & Global Competence; however, we encouraged all students to consider submitting a proposal in one of the three categories:

• Research project delivered in the form of an oral presentation
• Media-based Presentation in the form of film, video or music
• Art Exhibit

CEA Global Education is committed to making the student conference a success and is confident that this event will become an integral element in our campus offerings. This Spring 2011 edition will be the first of many as we plan to sponsor this conference at the conclusion of every Fall and Spring session.

Please check back here next week for more on the first edition of Reflections Abroad: Perspectives on Culture, Identity & Self.

Alexandra Mitchell

Campus Director

CEA Global Campus in Paris

CEA Named Finalist for Another GoAbroad Innovation Award - Technology

2011-05-09T15:31:00.002-07:00

CEA Global Education was named a finalist for another GoAbroad Innovation Award - this one for use of technology.

"Recognizing that a growing number of students are using their mobile phones to research study abroad opportunities, CEA recently implemented QR Codes in print collateral and posters on campus.

Use any QR Code reader on
your smartphone to scan the image.

Student can scan the QR Codes with their smartphones and any number of free QR scan apps. The code takes the student to a mobile version of the CEA website, providing them with essential bite-sized information relevant to their search for information.

Recognizing that no one wants to read a 300-page document on a 2x4-inch mobile screen, CEA minimized the homepage to include a program search, advisers' information and an abbreviated lead form for more information. Users have the option of clicking on a button at the top of their screen to go to the full CEA website."

Congratulations to the marketing team (Joe Weber, Megan Leese, Kelly Martinez, Jen Sterba and Amanda Tomchak) at CEA for continuing to find new ways to connect students to study abroad!

CEA Custom Faculty-Led Program is Finalist for GoAbroad Innovation Award for 2011

2011-05-05T10:25:00.002-07:00

Congratulations to the University of Maryland, Baltimore County and Paige Sindt at CEA for their custom, faculty-led Culture & Identity Studies program in Paris! They've been nominated as finalists for this year's GoAbroad Innovation Awards!

CEA Global Education / University of Maryland, Baltimore County (UMBC) Culture & Identity Studies

CEA Global Education and University of Maryland, Baltimore County's "Culture & Identity Studies: Explore Gay Paris" program offers a Gender Studies course that explores the formations and constructions of gay and lesbian identities as they’ve been framed in Paris, particularly since the end of the 19th century. Students study how the categories of race, socioeconomic status, religion, gender, class, ethnicity and immigration crosscut sexual identity and sexual citizenship.


Paige Sindt

Throughout the semester, they participate in the building of the intellectual superstructure of the course by creating and utilizing two physical maps: gay Paris and lesbian Paris. These maps pinpoint and reflect gay and lesbian urban spaces, community centers and locales in the contemporary city space, both geographically and temporally.

Denis M. Provencher

Students live in the Marais district and are immersed not only in French culture, but in Gay French culture. They also have the opportunity to participate in the March des Fiertes LGBT, or LGBT Pride March.

Gay Paris: Culture, Society & Urban Sexual Identity, the program's signature course, is taught by visiting associate professor Dr. Denis M. Provencher from UMBC. Paige Sindt is the Director of Custom Programs at CEA Global Education and works with U.S. faculty to incorporate study abroad and intercultural exchange with specific academic programs.

CEA Global Education Appoints New President, Brings 25 Years Experience in Study Abroad

2011-05-04T08:57:00.000-07:00

Tempe, Ariz. (May 2, 2011) – College study abroad provider CEA Global Education is excited and pleased to announce today the appointment of Marcie Schneider as President effective May 2, 2011.

Marcie is joining CEA after spending the past 15 years as Executive Vice-President with AIFS (American Institute for Foreign Study) in their London, United Kingdom office. She also is returning to the U.S. after 17 years abroad.

Marcie has had a successful 25-year career in all aspects of international education, from cultural exchange programs to internships and academic study programs. CEA is fortunate to have her join the CEA team.

Chairman and CEO Brian Boubek said, “Marcie brings to CEA a strong background in global operations and business development. She has experience building global partnerships, developing and executing operational plans to meet company strategic goals, leading and mentoring staff dispersed around the world, and identifying new strategic educational opportunities. Marcie has a deep commitment to international cultural exchange and study abroad, having studied, worked and lived abroad for more than 20 years. We welcome Marcie to CEA.”

For additional information, please contact:

Diane Emslie
Office of the Chairman & CEO
CEA Global Education
2005 W. 14th Street, Suite 113
Tempe, AZ 85281-6977
Tel: 480-375-2716 Fax: 480-557-7926
Diane.Emslie@GoWithCEA.com

CEA Global Education was founded in 1997 to provide international education opportunities and the highest quality student support for U.S. and Canadian university students interested in exploring global issues in exciting global cities. Today, CEA sends thousands of students every year on education abroad programs to locations in 14 countries, including Argentina, Australia, Chile, China, Costa Rica, Czech Republic, England, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, South Africa and Spain. Learn more online at www.GoWithCEA.com.

CEA Students to Run Half Marathon in Nice

2011-04-12T08:58:00.000-07:00

Cailyn and I both arrived in Antibes not expecting to sign up to run a half marathon. In fact, it was far from the plans we had for France! We both have always been pretty active and were excited to see that this region of France, and in particular the people of Antibes, were very active people as well. On any given morning or early evening if you are out walking around town, you will see many runners running along the old parts of town and out along the beach. In addition, there are so many bikers that the town always looks like it has a petite Tour de France going on. So while I was a little worried about standing out while I ran here, we both found it really exciting and comforting that we could continue our hobby while here in France. Both of us found running around Antibes and the surrounding area the BEST way to get to know the new place we had just moved to.

Cailyn and I began running together during the weeks, and began to explore different paths and roads. We eventually ventured out all the way around the Cap d’Antibes, and have enjoyed some of the best moments we’ve had here in France while out running along the gorgeous Cote d’Azur! In addition to exploring, Cailyn and I really got to know each other while running and have formed a wonderful friendship, which I know is half the reason we both run. So running for both of us has been a great way to get to know people here- a social activity and way to enjoy the area.

Kristin first told me about the ½ marathon in Nice and I mentioned it to Cailyn. We agreed that it would be so much fun to challenge ourselves to complete this race! In addition, we agreed it would be quite a different experience while we are here. How many people can say that they ran a half marathon while living in France? For these reasons we decided to sign up and just go for it! We are really excited to have a race to look forward to here, challenge ourselves with the event, and have such an accomplishment when we return to the states!

So you may wonder how we are training for this event while here? Well, our training began with taking a ski trip in the French Alps the second weekend we were here. This is where we began to prepare our legs for the hills around here! From then on we have continued to run during the week while we are in Antibes for classes. On the weekends we walk a lot around the different cities we travel to. The most important part though is the French formula for successful training. This includes at least a baguette a day, plenty of wine and cheese, and frequent stops to the many bakeries we pass along our running routes. Needless to say, there is no training program. We are really just doing the race for fun and our enjoyment while living here!! We plan to just try our best, and we’ll be happy with finishing!

For Cailyn and I, we are just excited that we’ve been able to funnel something we both enjoy so much into an event we’ll never forget while living in France!

Brittany Schmitt is studying abroad in the French Riviera this semester. She is a student at the University of Michigan - Ann Arbour.

For a Taste of Spain, Try this Tortilla de Patatas!

2011-04-08T06:00:00.000-07:00

Spanish Omelette
Along with paella, the ubiquitous Spanish omelette - tortilla de patatas - is perhaps one of the best-known Spanish dishes. It is impossible to find a self-respecting tapas bar that does not feature tortilla in its repertoire.

As delicious as it is versatile, this Spanish staple lends itself to countless variations according to personal taste. Some cooks mix in mushrooms, beans, spinach, and tomatoes, while others choose to omit the onion and instead cover the tortilla in tomato sauce. Others still would never dream of serving the tortilla without heaping mounds of mayonnaise. Each region, and each tapas bar, will have its own variation of the traditional tortilla.
This delicious tapa can be served warm or cold.

Serves: 4
Difficulty: Very easy
Preparation time: 35 minutes

Ingredients
• 1/2 pint of olive oil
• 5 medium (40 oz each) baking potatoes, peeled, sliced and lightly sprinkled with salt
• 1/2 yellow onion, chopped
• 3 cloves garlic, minced
• 5 eggs
• Salt

Preparation
Heat the olive oil in a 9-inch skillet and add the potato slices carefully, because the salt will make the oil splatter. Try to keep the potato slices separated so they will not stick together. Cook, turning occasionally, over medium heat for 5 minutes. Add the onions and garlic and cook until the potatoes are tender. Drain into a colander, leaving about 3 tablespoons of oil in the skillet.

Meanwhile, in a large bowl, whisk the eggs with a pinch of salt. Add the potatoes, and stir to coat with the egg. Add the egg-coated potatoes to the very hot oil in the skillet, spreading them evenly to completely cover the base of the skillet. Lower the heat to medium and continue to cook, shaking the pan frequently, until mixture is half set.

Use a plate to cover the skillet and invert the omelette away from the hand holding the plate (so as not to burn your hand with any escaping oil). Add 1 tablespoon oil to the pan and slide the omelette back into the skillet on its uncooked side. Cook until completely set. Allow the omelette to cool, and then cut it into wedges. Season it with salt and sprinkle with lemon juice to taste (optional).

Serve warm or at room temperature, and enjoy!

Thanks to Our Colleagues Attending Forum Conference for Helping CEA Achieve these Successes

2011-04-07T06:00:00.006-07:00

Students in Rome, Italy

Dear Colleagues,

CEA Global Education welcomed the opportunity last week to come together with our friends and colleagues in study abroad, and share in the exchange of ideas, insights and initiatives.

Your feedback and ideas have helped drive several large successes at CEA this year:

Now open: Providence College Center for Religious & Theological Studies in Rome, Italy

New program: The Legacy of Ancient Greece field seminar, www.GoWithCEA.com/Greece

More options: International Services Learning: Society, Inequality & Social Exclusion (offered at our Global Campus in Dublin), www.GoWithCEA.com/DublinServiceLearning

More options: Summer Internships in Healthcare, Education and more in Granada, Spain, www.gowithcea.com/GranadaInternships

New program: Pre-Law Honors Program through Pompeu Fabra University, www.gowithcea.com/PreLawHonors

New initiative: Student Assessment with the Global Perspective Inventory

Continued support of higher standards: Contribution to Forum-AACRAO Task Force on Drafting School of Record Guidelines in partnership with the University of New Haven

Further development of our Active Learning pedagogy, as highlighted in the special volume of Frontiers, "Study Abroad and the City: Mapping Urban Histories," by our own Dr. Scott Blair, Academic Dean for the CEA Global Campus in Paris

Thank you,

CEA Global Education

Key Czech Phrases to Learn for Study Abroad in Prague

2011-04-07T06:00:00.001-07:00

CEA's Prague Student Services Coordinator Radka Houšková introduces some key Czech phrases to learn for when you study abroad in the Czech Republic. Have fun!

A Tuscan Outing: Active Learning in The Culture of Food &Wine in Italy

2011-04-07T06:00:00.000-07:00

One of the great opportunities about studying abroad is being able to take classes that allow you to learn both inside and outside of the classroom. Many of the classes offered through CEA include excursions that give students the chance to “learn by doing,” and to apply knowledge gained from real life experiences.

I was lucky enough to be part of The Culture of Food & Wine in Italy class offered at CEA. We took a day trip to a privately-owned and operated winery and a family run pasta factory. We left from Florence by charted bus to the Pastificio Martelli factory in the town of Lari, where we were greeted by a friendly member of the Martelli family. Here we walked through the entire factory and learned about the different steps and ingredients involved in making pasta from scratch. In the Martelli shop, workers talked to us about how Martelli pasta is packaged, labeled, and shipped throughout the world. It was a great experience, one we’d never have had if it weren’t for our class field trip.

Next we drove from Lari to Montespertoli to the family-owned winery, Villa La Gigliola. As we walked onto the property, everybody was in awe at how beautiful the place was, with its vineyards and views of green rolling hills. Luckily, we were able to visit during harvest season so we got to watch the grapes be de-stemmed, crushed, and extracted. We toured the cellars where the wines were being aged in wooden barrels and we learned about different types of grapes and wines produced at La Gigliola.

Afterwards we had lunch outside on the estate next to an open fire place. We sampled three of La Gigliola’s wines, Gigliolino, Montorsoli, and Chianti Sant’Enrico, each paired with delicious Italian food prepared especially for us. Gathered around a large table, we enjoyed great food, wine, and conversation among friends.

Laura Tuohy is a Florence Fall 2010 student from California Polytechnic State University - San Luis Obispo.

Conversation Exchange in Florence: A Priceless Opportunity

2011-04-06T06:00:00.009-07:00

Language barriers can be discouraging in the beginning of your time in a foreign country, and can feel like a hindrance to understanding new places and beginning new relationships. But overcoming these barriers through language exchange with a local native speaker is an enjoyable and fruitful adventure!

Language exchange is growing in popularity, especially in a city like Florence, where there's a large American student population. Local Italian students are just as eager to learn our language as we are to learn Italian, given the ever-increasing demand for English language fluency in the world. It's a great opportunity for all who participate.

Conversation exchange typically involves two people, you and your language “partner.” You start by asking questions; your partner may or may not understand you, but that's okay. A lack of response prompts the additional use of gestures, facial expressions and intonation to supplement your efforts. Once gestures and body language come into play—objects are pointed to, phrases acted out, expressions drawn on napkins or notepads—the process goes beyond mere words and learning becomes truly tangible. Conversation exchange highlights the versatile nature of communication, and what you learn in these “lessons” tends to really stick because the learning is interactive and dynamic.

A language exchange will also start meaningful friendships that shape your experience in a new environment. Getting to know a local person provides unique insight into your host culture and enhances your journey. Language partners don't have to be of the same background, nationality, or age—or even speak the same language!—to be able to communicate and learn from each other. It's a challenge, but also a priceless opportunity. Make sure to try it when visiting or studying in a foreign country.

Marissa Knox was a Florence Fall 2010 student from the University of California - Davis.

Join CEA at Forum on Education Abroad Annual Conference in Boston

2011-04-06T06:00:00.006-07:00

Mapping Urban Space & Identity Abroad:
Theories and Geographical Praxis
Thursday April 7th: 3:45 pm to 5:00 pm

This session provides a theoretical approach to using study abroad cities as laboratories for student intercultural learning. In two case-studies (of LGBT communities in Paris and of sub-cultural groups Dublin) map-based approaches support best practices in experiential education. Cartographical tools for helping students understand the diversity of foreign urban landscapes are presented along with corresponding on-site study templates designed for fostering student self-awareness and focused reflection.

Panel of Presenters:

Dr. Scott Blair - Academic Dean at CEA Global Campus in Paris
Dr. Darren Kelly - St. Patrick’s College
Dr. Dennis Provencher - University of Maryland Baltimore County

Sample a Taste of Alicante with this Murcia Salad from Southeastern Spain

2011-04-06T06:00:00.003-07:00

This salad is a regional dish from Murcia, in southeastern Spain. Simple and refreshing, the preparation time is about 10 minutes. The combination of tomatoes, roasted peppers, olives or capers, boiled egg and fresh onion is delightful.

Prep Time: 12 minutes
Cook Time: 10 minutes
Total Time: 22 minutes

Ingredients:

2 roasted red peppers, peeled and seeded
4 ripe round tomatoes, or 6 Roma tomatoes
1 bunch (5-6) green onions or 1/2 large white onion
1 6-oz can tuna in oil or cooked cod fish meat (deboned)
2 hard boiled eggs
12 pitted black olives or 2 Tbsp capers
1/2 cup extra virgin Spanish olive oil
1/4 cup red wine vinegar salt to taste

Preparation: This easy Murcian Salad recipe makes 4 servings.

Cut the roasted peppers into strips and set aside. Rinse and cut the tomatoes into quarters and set aside.
If using green onions, wash thoroughly and trim the green stalk. Cut onion and stalks lengthwise. If using a white onion, cut into thin slices.

Drain excess oil from tuna can and using a fork, break tuna into pieces in a bowl. If using cod fish meat, break into pieces in a bowl.

Arrange tomato quarters, onions, red pepper strips on four salad plates. Peel hard boiled eggs and cut into halves. Place one half on each plate. Arrange tuna or cod chunks and olives or capers on the plates.

Whisk olive oil and vinegar with a pinch of salt in a small bowl. Drizzle over each plate or serve in a small bowl on the side and allow guests to dress their salad.

CEA Goes to Boston for Forum on Education Abroad Annual Conference 2011

2011-04-05T11:16:00.000-07:00

Dear Colleagues,

I'm pleased to share with you that several representatives from CEA Global Education will be attending the Forum on Education Abroad Annual Conference in Boston next week. I invite you to stop by our booth – just inside the entrance to the Exhibit Hall – during the conference breaks throughout the day.

CEA welcomes the opportunity to come together with our friends and colleagues in study abroad, and share in this exchange of ideas, insights and initiatives.

Attending from our International Team:

Scott Blair, PhD, Academic Dean at CEA's Global Campus in Paris, France
Kevin Murphy, PhD, Academic Dean for CEA's Global Campuses in Florence and Rome, Italy
Darrin Kelly, PhD, Faculty member at our Global Campus in Dublin, Ireland

Attending from our Headquarters in Tempe, Arizona:

Brian Boubek, CEA & Chairman for CEA Global Education
John Heyl, PhD, Vice President of Strategic Partnerships
Paige Sindt, EdD, Director for Custom Programs
Gregg Gallagher, Regional Consultant
Rebecca James, Regional Consultant

I look forward to seeing many of you in Boston, as there will be much to catch up on this year. If you have questions about CEA, our conference attendees or just want to touch base before going, feel free to call our University Relations team at 1-877-449-2775 or email UniversityRelations@GoWithCEA.com.

Warm regards,

Kathleen Ellwood

Director of University Relations – East

CEA Global Education

P.S. You can follow Gregg Gallagher and Kevin Murphy on Twitter as they tweet from various sessions throughout the week via hash tag #ForumEA, or go online to www.Twitter.com/CEAStudyAbroad.

Czech Out the Puppet Theater in Prague

2011-04-05T06:00:00.003-07:00

Admissions Counselor Michelle Pulis shares fun things to do while studying abroad in Prague.

Barcelona Study Abroad Students Explain the Catalan Language

2011-04-04T06:00:00.004-07:00

Where do study abroad students go on a Friday night in London?

2011-04-01T06:00:00.000-07:00

As one of the most cosmopolitan cities around the world, the choice and range of where students go on a Friday night in London is quite impressive. Foremost, there are 5,700 pubs in London and many are historic (i.e. The Dove Pub in Hammersmith boasts Ernest Hemingway as a former customer). Moreover, pubs here are a great place to meet locals and be immersed in the British social scene. Then, there are the famous London clubs. With a club scene that is second to none, there are numerous venues to choose from.

For example, London is home to the very trendy Ministry of Sound, the forefront of the global dance music scene. In lieu of London’s famous nightlife, a more common Friday night out for a student normally means standing in a queue for one of the many clubs in Leicester Square, Piccadilly, Oxford Circus, Old Street, Kensington, etc. On the other hand, if one fancies a more subdued activity, walking along the cobblestone streets of Covent Garden can also be a relaxing pastime on a Friday night. If not, the National Portrait Gallery hosts live events and/or there are plenty of plays to see in the London's West End theater district!

When it comes to London, it’s not a matter of what to do or where to go, but what not to do or where not to go. Accordingly, the answer to where students go on a Friday night in London is as extensive as the number of pubs, clubs, music venues, activities, plays, and events in this multinational city.

Try this Traditional Cottage Pie Recipe for Taste of England

2011-03-30T06:00:00.001-07:00

Surprisingly one of the most popular foods for British people is a curry! But for something a little more ‘old fashioned’ you may wish to try this delicious recipe for Cottage Pie (also known as Shepherd's Pie in the U.S.).

Traditional Cottage Pie
Ingredients
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 large onion, chopped
1 clove garlic, crushed
2 medium carrots, chopped
500g mince*
1 (400g) tin chopped tomatoes
2 tablespoons tomato purée
300ml beef stock
1 teaspoon dried mixed herbs
Dash Worcestershire sauce
Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste

*Variations in the U.S. include using beef in place of mince meat.

For the topping:
1kg, peeled and diced potatoes
2 teaspoons Dijon mustard
75g butter
4 tablespoons milk

Preparation method
1. Preheat the oven to 190 C / Gas mark 5.

2. Heat the oil in a large frying pan over medium high heat. Add the onion garlic and carrot and cook over a medium heat until soft. Add the mince and cook to brown. Use beef stock to keep the mince moist.

3. Add the tinned tomatoes, puree, stock, mixed herbs and Worcestershire sauce. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Cover and simmer for 30 minutes, adding a dash of red wine for additional flavor.

4. Boil the potatoes in water until soft. Drain and mash with the mustard, butter and milk. Season with salt and pepper to taste.

5. Spoon the mince mixture into a casserole dish. Top with the mash and bake for 30 minutes until golden brown.

Q&A with London Program Director on Study Abroad in England

2011-03-29T06:00:00.002-07:00

As some of you comb the Internet, digging for useful information to help you decide where to study abroad, we thought we'd ask our London Program Director, Harriet Clement, to answer some questions.

Do I have to speak proper English? (Really!)
Well, unless you are meeting the Queen you should get by OK! You may find that people are sometimes more formal in the UK, we like to say please and thank you and excuse me. London has such a vibrant mix of people from all over the world, I would say it is harder to find someone who does actually talk without using any slang or localisms. If you do happen to bump into Lizzy at Buck house, just bow/curtsey and keep quiet!

Will the courses be harder?
The UK academic university system may appear to be a breeze - no weekly essays, no in-class tests, no ‘pop quizzes’ and generally no midterm exams. Grades are given in percentages and teaching is delivered by lectures and seminars.

However, not going to one or two lectures usually can mean your work will suffer. One important aspect to remember is independent learning is a critical trait in the UK education system. Classroom contact hours are minimal, students are expected to use their free time to research their subject area and complete the required readings independently. Assessment for modules varies and in most cases, students will have to submit two assignments for each module towards the end of the course. The majority of English Universities do not use multiple-choice exams and critically questioning ideas are imperative in assessments and reports. Sometimes, one’s entire grade will depend on one or two written assignments.

With this said, as long as the student does not lack discipline, self-direction, and proper time-management skills, then courses in the UK shouldn't be so difficult to tackle. Just remember that it is an education system that encourages students to learn how to think and that University policies are strictly followed.

Does it always rain in England?
Hmm, not as much as people think! The main problem is the grey drizzle that can be very miserable. In the winter it will rain a fair amount, but by the time spring comes we usually escape with just a quick shower. Of course, this is always on the day you just visited the hairdresser….my advice is to always carry an umbrella and a pashmina, that way you are always prepared for the changeable weather. And another thing, British people LOVE to talk about the weather, so if you are ever stuck for conversation it’s a good place to start.

What is blood pudding?
Better known as Black pudding, this is to some a delicacy. The pudding is in fact a sausage made up from congealed pigs blood, oatmeal, seasoning, fat and onions. YUMMY! Although I am not a fan, a lot of people really like it, I guess the only way to find out is to try it yourself.

Best part about living in London is ___!

This is a tough one as there are so many things that make living here fabulous. I would say the fact that London is made up of so many little villages, meaning you can be on a really congested shopping street one minute, then turn a corner and be in a park or down a secret alleyway. The city is full of surprises and even having been here most of my life it’s easy to find something new every day. The different types of people are really interesting; in one pub you can find businessmen, students, artists, and people speaking every kind of language and attempting to speak English. There is such an atmosphere and so many free things to do, most galleries and museums are free, but do donate a pound if you can to preserve this tradition. Oh, and CEA has a program here, that is one of my favorite things as well!

Admissions Counselor Shares Her Own Background and Love of Study Abroad

2011-03-29T06:00:00.001-07:00

Michelle Pulis is just one of several admissions counselors at CEA Global Education. Hear about her own cultural background and why she loves study abroad.

England Has Much to Celebrate in 2011

2011-03-28T08:23:00.000-07:00

There's a lot going on in England this year - and study abroad students have a front row seat to some history-making events!

On Friday, April 29, 2011, Prince William and Kate (or ‘Catherine’ as she will now be known) Middleton will marry at Westminster Abbey. Most of us in the UK are especially excited as we will have a national holiday to celebrate! A traditional way that Brit’s celebrate a royal wedding is to have a street party where roads are closed and neighbors come together to provide baked goods, drinks and have a good old ‘knees up’ ( cockney for a party!). London councils have also decided to stage events such as showing the wedding on large screens in public places such as Hyde Park, and no doubt areas such as Trafalgar square and the Mall will be full of people flying the Union Jack. Westminster Abbey was originally founded in the 10th century and has seen the weddings of the current queen and the queen mother as well as 38 coronations.

Beginning July 27, 2012 a whole summer of sport will kick off across London making it the only city to have hosted 3 modern Olympics (previous were in 1908 and 1948). Twenty-six sports will be shown for the Olympics and 20 for the Paralympics, and the venues range from the new sports complex at Stratford in the east to existing stadia such as Wembley and Wimbledon, and even royal parks and the sandpit on horse guards parade! In preparation for the occasion, the tube networks have had major works and areas of the East End have been completely revitalized. Although tickets are pricey, there are free events such as archery and shooting that have tickets for as little as £20.

Thanks to London Program Director Harriet Clement for sending us this info!

Tour Prague from a Paddle Boat?

2011-03-28T06:00:00.000-07:00

Admissions Counselor Michelle Pulis encourages study abroad students to tour Prague from the Vltava River - in a paddle boat!

French Alps Student Answers Questions about Study Abroad

2011-03-24T08:25:00.001-07:00

Patrick Cornell, a student studying abroad in the French Alps for Spring 2011, offers this insight into his program:

How well do I have to speak French to live and study in the French Alps?

I would suggest having at least a basic understanding of the language. It's possible to get by with no previous French, but it would take a lot more effort.

Why did I choose to study abroad in the French Alps?

I didn't want to study in Paris (anyone can go to Paris), and the pictures of the city and the mountains won me over.

My favorite course is:

"Histoire de la France contemporaine" because the professor is engaging and interesting.

How east is it to see other parts of Europe on my own time?

It's pretty easy as long as you plan in advance. The 12-25 Carte (student reduction train card) helps a lot.

Aren't you stuck in the mountains? What do students do for fun?

I never get tired of looking at the mountains, so even if I were "stuck" here, I would be perfectly content. There's always something to do in the city and in the mountains.

Best place to eat?

Quick food: Cheese Naan (Algerian sauce all the way).
Tasty food: Pain et Co. is always great.

Best place to people watch?
Place Victor Hugo.

Best place to...

... enjoy the warm spring weather? The park behind Musée de Grenoble.

When in Prague, Find a Trdelnik Stand

2011-03-24T06:00:00.002-07:00

Admissions Counselor Michelle Pulis explains what students should do when they first arrive in Prague, Czech Republic!

The Difference Between Czech and Slovak Languages

2011-03-22T09:48:00.001-07:00

Michelle Pulis is an admissions counselor at CEA Global Education. She was born in Colorado, but her parents are from what was formerly referred to as Czechoslovakia and she speaks Slovak fluently.

Enjoy this True French AlpsTreat During Your Study Abroad

2011-03-22T07:52:00.001-07:00

If any dish typifies Grenoble and the French Alps region, it has to be the Gratin Dauphinois. This inexpensive, easy to make and delicious dish goes well with roast chicken , pork, veal , game, a tossed green salad or just steaming hot served all by itself! Keep in mind, that though there are many versions of this well know recipe, a “real” Gratin Dauphinois never, ever has cheese added to it!

Ingredients:

• Potatoes ≈ 2 Lbs
• Garlic (two cloves)
• Heavy Cream ≈ about 1 quart or enough to cover all of the potatoes
• Butter (about 1 stick)
• Nutmeg (pinch – optional)
• Salt, pepper to taste

Preparation:

• Butter the bottom of a large baking dish. Earthenware is best, but glass will do.

• Wash and peel the potatoes, then thinly slice them either with a food processor or by hand. Do not rinse the potatoes after they have been sliced, use them right away or they will turn brown.

• Thinly slice the garlic and sprinkle a few slices on the bottom of the buttered dish.

• Arrange the sliced potatoes in the dish, sprinkle a tiny bit of grated nutmeg on them along with the salt and pepper.

• Cover the potatoes with cream and a few small dollops of butter. Repeat this sequence until the dish is full, making certain that the final layer is completely covered with the cream; taste for salt at this time by swirling a finger in the cream mixture- add more if needed before baking.

• Bake the gratin in a preheated 178°c (350°f) oven for around 1.5-2 hours or until the potatoes are easily pierced with a fork. Turn the heat down a bit for the last 30 minutes if the potatoes have completely browned.

Serve with your favourite roast and (or) a tossed green salad!

Bon appétit!

Writing Abroad: A Unique Opportunity for Growth

2011-03-22T06:00:00.000-07:00

Studying abroad offers many opportunities for personal growth, from traveling to meeting locals at language exchanges. A unique opportunity I and some fellow classmates had while studying abroad at CEA in Florence was to write for a local newspaper. Geared towards English-speakers in the Florence area, The Florence Newspaper offers student contributors like myself the chance to write weekly articles about almost anything—personal travel, newly-obtained knowledge, or visits to local places of interest—all to be read by the local English-speaking community.

Writing is one of the best ways to enrich a study abroad experience, since it allows you to improve your writing skills and document your experiences while encouraging reflection on how you’ve changed and grown. I would strongly recommend journaling, whether it be personally or professionally, as an ideal activity for your time abroad.

Ricky Widden is a Florence Fall 2010 student from Washington State University.

Study Abroad Student Reflects on Old & New Shanghai

2011-03-21T11:09:00.001-07:00

I’ve always planned on studying abroad someday and chose China because the Chinese culture has always fascinated me. Studying abroad here in Shanghai will give me the opportunity to immerse in the Chinese culture as well as learn the language. As an international business major, it also is important for me to be knowledgeable about the global economy.

And as China is becoming an influential player in the global economy, studying in China is definitely advantageous.

One of the things I love most about China is the combination of the new mixed in with the old. It’s this constant juxtaposition that draws me in. I will see traditional Chinese architectural styles and in the surrounding areas are high rise apartments, modern skyscrapers, and clogged streets. I find myself constantly drawn into China’s past.

While on a river cruise on the Qin Huai River in Nanjing, the gentle swaying of the boat and the traditional architectural style of the buildings on both sides of the river made it seem as though I’ve stepped through time. The only sound I heard was the water gently lapping at the boat and, for a moment, I forgot that I was in a bustling city. Then a car horn sounded off in the distance and I was thrown back into the present with the vibration of the boat motor beneath my feet and the city lights surrounding me.

China is rich in history and whether it is the architecture or a simple boat ride, this country's history is well preserved and I look forward to exploring more of China and learning about its rich history and culture.

Mai Neng Yang is currently studying abroad in Shanghai through our Global Partner, Shanghai Normal University.

New CEA Study Abroad Initiative Surveys Students' Global Perspectives

2011-03-16T10:47:00.001-07:00

Dear colleagues,

Following upon CEA’s record of commitment to engaging in both internal and external assessment and evaluation processes, CEA Global Education is entering a new and exciting stage of growth where our collective energies, in all aspects of our work, will become even more fully directed towards fostering a culture of quality assurance, ongoing outcomes assessment of student learning, and program evaluation.

One immediate step we are taking towards this objective is the testing of student global perspectives — what these perspectives are and how they evolve as a result of the learning experiences they encounter through CEA’s many study abroad programs.

To this end, all spring 2011 CEA Global Campus students will find in their MyCEA Account a link to the Global Perspective Inventory — a widely recognized testing tool in study abroad specifically designed to provide aggregate reports on student perspectives in three dimensions of global learning and development:

• Cognitive
• Intrapersonal
• Interpersonal

The tool will also collect their views on the community and their level of involvement in selected curricular and co-curricular activities. Following completion of their study abroad programs (May-June), students will be asked to take the survey again via another link in their MyCEA Account.
This valuable information will tell us much about our many students and, in consequence, about how we at CEA can design and deliver more effective programs for their individual student learning and development in study abroad.

Detailed information about the GPI can be found at https://gpi.central.edu/index.cfm

While students are not required to take the survey, participation will be key to its effectiveness in evaluating our programs. We respectfully ask for your support in encouraging our Global Campus students to take part in this initiative. I have appointed our Paris Academic Dean, Scott Blair, as the project leader for the GPI initiative. You may direct any questions or observations you have about this project to Scott.Blair@GoWithCEA.com.

I look forward to sharing with you additional assessment initiatives and exercises as this new phase in CEA’s history evolves.

Brian Boubek
Chairman & CEO
CEA Global Education