Getting Over It

Living and traveling abroad gets the attention and glory, but what about part two of the story: moving on and getting over it? Some people easily resume their former lives, while others have a difficult time coming back. Here are some people's takes on what to do to move on after returning from an adventure.

"I think the best way to get over stagnancy of a return home is to get involved; something to take up your time and to let you know that there is adventure where you are."
- Tiffany Bird, LDS mission

"You move on, but you never stop missing it. If you can get over it, it probably wasn't the greatest trip. My advice would be don't try to get over it. Remember it, and just treasure the memories."

- Max Davis, Euopean Humanities Tour

"You cry. You cry some more. You talk to people. And you get over it. You have to still think about the past and talk about it, but not live in the past. Talking about it’s been the biggest thing, or when I get to talk to friends on facebook that are in Chile, [and] listening to Spanish music has really helped me."

- Emily Mower, semester abroad in Chile

"I think to come back and move on you must realize that there are always fun adventures to be had and that you're exciting adventures are a compliment to your everyday adventures. You need to understand that in order to not turn a good experience into a sad experience you can't lament what is over."

- Jason Parker

"For me, I realized that in order to get back there (China)--and even though I want to go back now--I have to get my education first so that I can help those people and be a part of those changes."

- Lauren Weaver, five month teaching English in China

"Moving on from trips is made easier by staying in touch with the people that I met, associated, and grew to love on the trip. I think that just by the simple fact that we had a shared experience that was somewhat challenging but also at the same time spiritual, those experiences bond people together."

- Sarah Bedke, MATS Tour

"Reading [Elder Holland's talk, "The Best Is Yet to Be"] gave me conviction to not live in the past but to move on. When I take the time to reread the experiences I recorded in my journal it reawakens in me the responsibility that I have to share what I learned and actually apply it."

- Molly Davis, BYU-Jerusalem Center

Push It Down

Just one of the 13 songs Emily Mower wrote while in Chile. This song, "Push It Down," captures her reluctance to leave Chile and return to the United States.

Vidéo

Sometimes pictures just aren’t enough. Along with guitar songs, studying (sometimes), and church activities, Emily Mower and Holli Guest made homemade videos to capture their experiences abroad.

La Guitarra

When removed from familiar environments and norms, it is valuable to have a worthwhile hobby. Emily Mower applied her musical background in Chile and learned how to play the guitar. The music from her guitar was an emotional outlet for Mower, and she used it to write 13 original songs.

“Having something that I had control over besides Spanish not only gave me something to do, but helped my self-confidence. Developing hobbies or talents is very fulfilling and the guitar is something I can play my whole life.”

Atacma Dessert

In the words of Emily Mower...

"My favorite place was the Atacama Dessert. There were geysers and lakes and ruins. I had the opportunity to sit in the middle of nowhere with a friend and we had a really introspective conversation. It was an opportunity to reflect on where I was metaphorically in my life. I realized how blessed I was and thought about what I needed to do to live up to those blessings."

Chile, Chile Lindo

Chile: not the red-hot pepper, and not a cold condition. Chile is the South American country on the south western coast that Emily Mower, a junior studying Spanish education studied in for a semester abroad.

Mower lived in Chile four and a half months from August to December 2009 with a host Chilean family and studied at the University Vina del Mar.

But her lessons-learned extended beyond the classroom. Adjusting to a new country was a bit of a challenge in and of itself.

“Upon arriving [in Chile] it hit me that I knew absolutely no one in the entire country and I had no idea what they were saying to me,” Mower said. “Everything was different, down to the light switches and power outlets. I had never been so far away from my family. I was scared and alone.”

She adjusted herself to new schedules and expectations.

“The concept of time is completely different in Chile,” Mower said. “The first time I went to an activity we were supposed to meet at 7 o’ clock. Being the American I am, I was there at 6:50, and no one else arrived until 7:30.”

Through conscious effort, Mower pushed herself and began to truly enjoy her time in Chile.

“It was definitely a process to become happy there,” Mower said. “One of the things that helped me the most--besides praying--was being around people. When I was with other people, whether they were American or Chilean, I didn’t feel so alone. Feeling accepting by the Chileans in the young single adult group was one of the biggest strengths to me.”

Activities with fellow members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints proved to be invaluable to Mower. She also witness firsthand the consistency of the Church and it’s worldwide influence.

“The Church is the same everywhere,” Mower said. “The gospel does not change. The first Sunday I was in Chile, I received so much peace and comfort when I walked into the chapel and someone was playing Joseph Smith’s First Prayer.”

With the friends Mower made through the Church and the university, she improved her Spanish.

“At first it was very discouraging because natives speak so fast and with a little articulation,” Mower said. “It was embarrassing when I didn’t understand what people told me or asked me. But learned to get over it and just do my best.”

Mower learned the importance of confidence in learning a new language, and for approaching life in general.

“I learned to be confident. When you fake confidence, it slowly develops into real confidence,” Mower said. “It’s important to have faith in yourself to be able to do something. If you tell yourself that you can’t do something, then you won’t be able to.”

Mower values her semester abroad in Chile, and recommends others to take advantage of opportunities that take them outside the United States.

“It is completely worth the sacrifice of whatever it takes,” Mower said. “Not only do you learn a lot, but the fun memories stay with you forever. I wish all Americans could live outside the country for an extended period of time. Some people think that America has everything and is perfect. Other countries live differently, but it’s just as fulfilling.”

One of many memories

London at a glance

In the words of Max Davis...

The British Museum
"I loved the magnitude of collections in the British museum. It was so big I felt like I could’ve spent weeks there."

Westminster Abbey
"What first impressed me was how large and intricate it was. The vast amount of detail was awe-inspiring!"

The Tube
"It was so much fun to get lost and then have to find your own way home."

The Rosetta Stone
"If you know anything about the Rosetta Stone then you can imagine my excitement from being close enough to touch it."

Humanities European Tour

Taking students out of the classroom to experience the real thing, the BYU-Idaho Humanities European Tour takes students to England, Greece, Germany, Austria, Italy, France and Spain.

“I had so many good memories,” said Max Davis, a junior studying art. “Every place was unique, and every place was my favorite at the time.”

Before leaving on the tour, students prepared themselves with two weeks of on-campus class work familiarizing themselves with the art they would see live in Europe. Additional study and research paid off for students that put for the extra effort.

“On the tour there’d be times where the whole tour group would be around a certain painting or sculpture, and several students would be moved even to tears because they’d studied its background extensively before the tour,” Davis said.

Studying the Humanities awakening a greater sense of being and feeling in the participants.

“ The more you devote yourself to observing art in any form, the more you will find yourself feeling,” Davis said.

In traveling Europe, Davis came to value pushing himself to new experiences.

“The most valuable idea I learned while on the tour was to never get too satisfied within my comfort zone because they’re so much more world out there to experience,” Davis said.

Each stop offered something different, but Italy particularly stood out to Davis.

“Italy as a whole had to be my favorite because of all the things I purchased there, like; an Italian suit, leather jacket, plus, tons of gelato every day,” Davis said.

Advising future participants, Davis recommended getting to know the art now rather than later.

“Start researching the art now. Research something, anything; whether you’re leaving tomorrow, or in a few years,” Davis said. “A few minutes of research will make the experience infinitely more memorable and priceless.”

They said it

Finding yourself in a new and strange land can be overwhelming. It is helpful to know a few words and phrases to get around. Check out the Chinese letters for common phrases.

餵............hello
我的名字是.....my name is
您好嗎........how are you?
我不明白......I don't understand
我失去了......I am lost.
多少費用......how much does this cost?
謝謝您.......thank you
再見.........goodbye

Foreign Studies in The Middle Kingdom

After serving a two year Latter-day Saint Mission in Thailand, Spencer Owens, a junior studying business management, wasn’t finished with the oriental culture.

Upon returning to BYU-Idaho, Owens began taking Chinese courses to make himself more marketable. To become fluent in Chinese, he took his studies to the next level and did a a two month semester abroad in China.

“Because I had served a foreign language speaking mission, I knew the only way to be fluent in Chinese would be to be immersed in the language, so I went to China,” Owens said.

Owens found out about the semester abroad experience in China through BYU in Provo, and took the opportunity with limited details and information.

“I had no idea what I was doing before I left,” Owens said. “I just bought a ticket to China and showed up to this university and I just gave them tuition money and they let me in.”

His university, Nanjing Normal, places students according to their level after placement tests which covered reading, writing and speaking. In his level, Owens attended classes Monday-Friday from 8 a.m.-12 noon. The classes included speaking, grammar and writing.

Aside from being taught entirely in Chinese, Owens said the class work felt about the same as the BYU-I Chinese courses. But, the teachers did not sugarcoat poor student performances.

“The Chinese teachers they would tell you exactly what you were doing wrong in front of the whole class,” Owens said. “In a sense, they tell you that you suck.”

In addition to his studies, Owens traveled in China as well. Owens lived in Nanjing, located in eastern China. He went traveled to northern China, seeing Beijing and the surrounding areas, as well as southern China, including cities such as Guilin, Yangshuo, Guangzhou and Hong Kong.
Among the sites he saw, the Great Wall of China stood out to him.

“My friend and I walked 10 kilometers (6 miles) [on the Great Wall of China], and it was everything I had hoped and dreamed it would be,” Owens said. “The fact that we walked 10 kilometers on it, and that it was still going on for miles and miles each way was the reason it was so great and impressed me. It’s pretty insane.”

Owens is an supporter of foreign experiences as a way to better understand the world.

“I would say, don’t hesitate to do it, because it’s great to experience another way of life,” Owens said. “It’s more than a vacation; you get to experience more of the culture and surroundings. I feel like [study abroad programs] and a foreign mission give you a more broad sense of culture and how huge the world is.”

Everybody has a story

It is easy to get caught up in our own lives and forget to look outside ourselves. Thirty minutes before the Tuesday Devotional with Elder Nelson began on January 26, I remember trying to fit in my religion class reading assignment while I was waiting in the John W. Hart Building. But something told me to look up and talk to the blonde girl sitting to my right. I went through the usual questions: what’s your name, what are you studying, where are you from. She answered, “Hélène, international business and Belgium.” Wait. Belgium!?! Where weren’t talkin’ Utah or Idaho here.

Hélène just completed a semester abroad at Missouri State University and was briefly visiting her brother at BYU-I before returning to Belgium. She spoke highly of her experience, and I simply couldn’t pass up an opportunity to look at a semester abroad from the flip side; someone coming to the United States to study.

Q&A with Hélène Baret

1. Where were you born?
Liège, Belgique

2. Where do you currently live?
Belgium

3. How many, and what languages do you speak?
3, I speak French, English and I'm learning Spanish

4. What made you decide to study abroad in the United States?
I wanted to have a new experience, to meet new people, to learn about the American culture (to check if the movies where the right version the U.S.!), and most of all get experience for my career. I study the international business.

5. Describe what studying in a different country was like for you.
That was great! I studied in Springfield, Missouri, and that state was great to live in. I went to Missouri State University, a wonderful university. They have really good programs and take care of the international students really well. So I gained knowledge and, at the same time, I discovered the U.S. I went to Memphis, San Antonio, Kansas City… I saw really great places. This study abroad program was also an awesome human experience. At church or at school, I met people I will never forget.

6. What are some lessons you learned during your semester abroad?
First, be tolerant. Sometimes, people don’t think the same way because of their cultures. When it happened to me, I just tried to understand why people don’t think like I do and I learned how to respect that difference. Actually, differences are amazing! You can get the good things from everyone and make your own multicultural mix!

7. What were some difficulties you encountered while studying abroad?
Sometimes, it was hard to understand the people. When [people] are talking together, they use slang or they talk about stuff typical for the U.S. but not for the rest of the world. That could sound stupid but it’s hard to socialize when you don’t understand some jokes or some stories about their favorite song for example (some are not the same in Europe!).

8. What were some of your greatest successes or memories during your semester abroad?
One of my greatest successes was to figure out at the end of the semester that I was able to study in another language. I mean, it looks huge sometimes to leave your country and go somewhere you don’t know anybody. When I left Missouri, I thought: “Yeah, I did it! And I would do it again!” That was a great accomplishment. In the greatest memories I have, there’s always a friend. I met wonderful people.

9. Describe your brief time in Rexburg and at BYU-I. What was that like for you? What did you feel on campus?
I came to Idaho to visit my brother and his family. My visit was wonderful. Rexburg is not a really big city so you get familiar with it pretty fast and I like that. The campus of the university is pretty nice too. For a European member of the Church like me, it was amazing to walk around and see buildings with prophets’ names! I enjoyed attending the devotionals. The students are so lucky to hear inspired people at school! I had the blessing to listen to Elder Nelson on January 26. I’m so thankful that I got that opportunity thanks to BYU-I. To study at BYU-I is a great blessing because you can increase your knowledge and, at the same time, grow spiritually.

10. What has it been like to go home? Has it been difficult to adjust back?
You never want such an experience to end! So it has been kind of hard to be back home. But it’s ok; I have a great family here in Belgium supporting me! And it feels good to be back in the old Europe!

BritLit Tour

BYU-Idaho English professors Scott Samuelson and Vaun Waddell would agree with Miriam Beard’s quote that, “certainly, travel is more than the seeing of sights; it is a change that goes on, deep and permanent, in the ideas of living.”

With this concept in mind, Samuelson and Waddell created BYU-I’s British Literary Tour (BritLit) which takes students to England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales.

The tour started in 1991 and is still popular among students today.

“I have wanted to travel to Europe since I was a very young girl, said Lara Smith, a BritLit participant. “I grew up watching the Jane Austen movies Sense & Sensibility and Emma. I also fell in love with books about Europe, especially anything to do with Shakespeare.”

On the tour, participants are transformed into “pilgrims.” Waddell said one definition of a pilgrimage is a trip with a religious destination.

“[What the students get out of the BritLit Tour includes] stronger testimonies, deeper love of literature, and travel, and life. [They take away] new friendships—with fellow pilgrims, with new literature, and new places,” Samuelson said.

Rather than plane hopping and seeing as many sites as possible in ten days time, the BritLit Tour spends time at the sites to discuss literature with the idea that “less is more.” Sites include homes of famous British authors.

“It is helpful to learn something about the life and times of the author,” Waddell said.
Among favorite places visited, a rainy day Ireland stood out to Smith.

“On Innishmore, we biked around the whole island and it poured rain the whole time,” Smith said. “No, it did more than pour, it showered upon all of us! But it is still one of my favorite days ever. There is nothing like biking alongside ancient grey stone walls and vibrant green fields with the grey seas in the distance and having rain pour the whole time. I wasn't unhappy at all that day, it was glorious!”

In his travels with student pilgrims, Samuelson values their energy and spirituality.

“Travel with serious minded (and fun loving) young Latter-day Saint travelers can be as rewarding and education (and spiritual) as any experience I have had, Samuelson said.

$3,500 (not including tuition) may appear expensive for the Tour, but Smith said it was worth it.

“It may seem like a lot of money to a poor college student, but in the real world, you could never make this trip for that little amount of money,” Smith said.

Rain or shine, the BritLit Tour offers new perspectives and adventures to its pilgrims.

“Each day is a new adventure, savor every moment,” Smith said.