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Study away blog roundup

February 6, 2013

Lutes around the world

This January, more than 300 PLU students spent the term studying in places across the globe. Learn about their experiences through blogposts.

The Birthplace of Western Music (Austria/Czech Republic/Slovakia)

Saturday, Jan 12, 2013

By Karla Stoermer

Is this real Life? The Vienna Philharmonic just blew my mind.

Sometimes you experience something so awesome that you can’t put it into words. I am lucky enough to have that feeling tonight after seeing the Vienna Philharmonic in the Musikverein. I think the music that I heard tonight was the best I will ever hear live, ever.

The Vienna Philharmonic performing in the Musikverein.

The Vienna Philharmonic performing in the Musikverein.

They performed Beethoven’s 7th Symphony, Stravinsky’s Firebird Suite and Ravel’s Bolero. As soon as the they started playing, I had goosebumps…MORE
PLU students meet with the U.S. Ambassador to China (and former Washington State governor) Gary Locke.

PLU students meet with the U.S. Ambassador to China (and former Washington State governor) Gary Locke.

Monday, Jan. 28, 2013

By Kiara Revilla

Beijing, China – Day 3

Today was by no means a busy day but it was definitely an eventful day. We started out with the luxury of getting up a little later then usual (meeting at 9:30!). Our breakfast was the usual mix of fried rice, toast, and fried duck eggs.

The first stop was the art district. With our early start most of the streets were deserted and we got to look around all by ourselves. The streets were filled with modern art as well as traditional Chinese art. You could see things from graffiti of a giant squid on the walls as well as men in black, to statues of giant caged dinosaurs and sharks devouring chairs. It was fun to walk around and I wish we had more time to explore the vastness of it…MORE

Wednesday, Jan. 9, 2013

By Michael Halvorson

British Museum and Unusual Discoveries

Today our adventuresome group visited the British Museum and made other individual excursions around London. About a third of the class wanted Indian food for dinner, and also discovered that nearby Drummond Street has 10 Indian restaurants within three blocks.

Alex asks Hercules for some London travel tips while in British Museum.

Alex asks Hercules for some London travel tips while in British Museum.

So, we picked Masalla and had a nice meal there…MORE

Storytelling: Media and the Arts of the United Arab Emirates
Dubai at sunset

“Find a mentor, love what you do and if you love it, you will find a way to do it.” Words of wisdom learned in Dubai and shared by Lutes.

22 Jan., 2013

By Amanda Peterson

Another Sunset

It’s been almost forty-eight hours since we landed in Seattle. Jet lag has hit, my cold is starting to go away, and my clothes are almost completely washed. Sitting here in my apartment, hearing mumbles from across the hall, makes me miss hearing the call to prayer every day. It became part of my day, a routine almost.

Some say it takes twenty-one days to form a routine and now that routine is broken. So I sit here with my cup of fresh brewed coffee and a bowl of oatmeal – two things I’ve missed being abroad – and reflect on that last week in Dubai…MORE

Jan. 14,2013

By Amy Olson

Dance: The Universal Language

On January 9th, 2013 we went and visited a small village school in Abuiker, a town of 600 people about three hours outside Budapest. This school is a branch of the John Wesley Theological College, the school we have been working with in Budapest. This college also owns Heated Street, a homeless shelter and other organizations in the area that help those who need help. I am very impressed with this college and all they do to help others, it is very inspirational. The school we visited, the John Wesley Primary and Secondary school, serves about 1000 children of which 90 percent are extremely poor. This primary and secondary trade and vocational school is the biggest employer around the village.

Amy Olson (right) dancing battling a student. He was clearly a better dancer than her, Olson said.

Amy Olson (right) dancing battling a student. He was clearly a better dancer than her, Olson said.

Some children have to travel 45 minutes a day to get to school and then to get back home, some live in the village and can walk to and from school while about 100 of the children live in the dormitory at the school because they live too far to travel everyday to and from school…MORE
ECON 387: The Economics of Golf
The 9th hole on the Oasis Golf Course

The 9th hole on the Oasis Golf Course.

Saturday, Feb. 2, 2013

By Alek Johnson

The Oasis

We have had a few discussions on this trip concerning the rules of golf and particularly equipment rules such as the use of a belly putter.

With touring the factory at PING we finally got the opportunity to see a behind the scenes look into the manufacturing of golf clubs and equipment. PING is headquartered in Arizona and was founded in 1959. While they produce your typical off the rack clubs you see at pro shops, they pride themselves in being a company that makes personally fitted clubs, which they do so by taking a person’s measurements and also analyzing their stroke either on a launch monitor, or out on the course…MORE

Saturday, Feb. 2, 2013

Final reflection musings

The program provides an incredibly rich learning environment. Although students come to be able to begin their student teaching in Katutura, the program provides multiple opportunities experience Namibia.

Student teaching in Katutura

Teaching in Katutura.

This time we began on the Tjiramba farm, and although the students were still adjusting to the time, the heat, and the food being immersed in an authentic setting was a great way to begin the program. Students for the first time understand their learners’ summer experience of being “on the farm”…MORE