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Vol 7, no. 2 Fall 2012
“Getting ahead in today’s
workplaces isn’t just about the
skills you bring from the
classroom,” she said. “It’s also
about the experience you have
with the world beyond our borders,
with people, languages and
cultures that are very different
from our own.. .
The fact is, with every friendship
you make and every bond of
trust you establish, you are
shaping the image of America
projected to the rest of the world,”
she said. “That is so important. So
when you study abroad, you are
actually helping to make America
stronger.”
Michelle Obama, First Lady
INSIDE THIS ISSUE:
Sponsored by Manhattan College
Scandinavia (January 6-20)
Courses being offering by Dr. James Arnett and Dr. Cory Blad
Soc 090: The State, Welfare Societies, and Violence in
Scandinavia or;
Engl 270: Crime and Detection
London (January 4-19)
Courses being offering by Dr. Zachary Snider and Dr. Michael Antolik
Engl 248: Masterworks of British Literature or;
Govt 254: Global Cities
Paris (January 4-19)
Course being offered by Dr. Andrew Skotnicki:
Rels 200: Special Topics: “The University of Paris and the
Making of the Modern World”
Paris
(January 4-13) (This program is especially designed for
students in the School of Business but all students are welcome)
Course being offered by Dr. Carolyn Predmore:
Mktg 414: Int’l Field Studies Seminar (for undergraduates)
or
Mbal 642: Int’l Field Project (for graduate students)
Cuba (January 6-16)
Course being offered by Dr. Laura Redruello
Span 320: Cuba in Revolution
Argentina (January 4 - January 19)
Course being offered
Int’l 315: History, society and Culture

Vol 7, no. 2 Fall 2012

Students Studying Abroad Fall
Vol 7, no. 2 Fall 2012
Argentina
Daniel Miranda
France
Ariana Arthurs, Gisell Blanco, Jessica DeLugo,
Sean Hagerty, John McCaffrey, Francis Whelan
Madrid, Spain
Lisa Autz, Anna Cahill, Kaitlin Cornier, Anna Daley,
Tegan Nelson
Barcelona, Spain
Jack Formica, Thomas Ginzberg, John Maisano,
Emmett McInerney, Florencio Ortega,
Kelvin Sopariwala
Scholarship Recipients
Mary Anderson
School of Education attended
Queen Mary, University of London
Spring 2012
“As a transfer student entering Manhattan going
into my second year, I was nervous that studying
abroad was not a possibility. I was told at my former
university that studying abroad was not a possibility
with my dual major in Education. However,
Manhattan College made my dream of studying
abroad in London, while earning a dual major in Education,
a dream come true.
Since studying abroad in London, I, thus far, have
had the best four months of my life. I am studying at
Queen Mary, University of London. It is a beautiful
campus located in the diverse community in the East
End of London. This experience seems so surreal, as I
am living near a tube station (a subway station) that
gives me easy access to the rest of London and even
Europe’s largest mall, Westfield Shopping Centre,
which is next door to the upcoming 2012 Olympic
Park! My kitchen window gives me a gorgeous view
of the Canary Wharf skyline and the structure build to
hold the torch of the Olympic games. Between the
London Eye, Big Ben, Buckingham Palace, Trafalgar
Square, Harrod’s, and the eclectic neighborhoods of
London, no matter where you go, you are bound to run
into something you will remember for a long time.
With a peculiar semester calendar, I had a week in
February and the entire month of April to travel
Europe. I spent a week in February traveling through
Italy, to Rome, Venice, Florence, Pisa, and Milan. I
then spent three weeks of April traveling to Brussels,
Paris, Northern Ireland (to visit my flatmate),
Barcelona, Marrakech, and Madrid. Some experiences
were better than others, but in all it has been a lifechanging
and eye-opening experience.
Living on a campus in London is not a usual
experience for those studying abroad in such a big
city. However, the campus and flats (dorms) have
allowed me to make AMAZING friends, not only with
other Americans, but also with natives from all over
the United Kingdom and Europe. A few of my
flatmates are from different parts of England, while
one is from Northern Ireland and the other is from
France. Being given the opportunity to make friends
with natives has been an amazing. It really gives you
the chance to immerse yourself into the culture and
compare yours to theirs.
With one month left in London, I can say I am
heartbroken to leave; although, I am excited to get
back to the American style schooling and grading
systems.”

Students Notes
Scholarship Recipients
Written by Caitlin Frazer, School of Business, Management Major
Vol 7, no. 2 Fall 2012
Brandon Kotlow
School of Arts
International Studies Major attended
ISA program in Malaga, Spain
Spring 2012
“Studying abroad in Malaga was one
of the best experiences of my life.
Located on the Costa del Sol, (coast of
the sun), it was really an amazing place
to study, learn about Spanish and
Moorish history, and to explore. I
studied with International Studies
Abroad (ISA) and we had our
orientation in Madrid for two days,
then drove an hour south to Toledo for
two days, and finally ended up in
Malaga, six hours south of Toledo. I
lived with a host mother and one other
US student. Our mom was incredible!
She cooked three meals a day for us,
authentic Spanish cuisine. My school
was a minute walk from the beach so
during our one hour or two hour break,
my friends and I walked down to the
beach and would have a coffee at one
of the hundreds of cafes that are
located near the beach. The weather in
southern Spain was excellent with little
rain and a fairly warm winter. It just so
happened that while we were there we
caught a cold front off of Russia so it
was a little cooler than usual in the
month of February. However we really
enjoyed our time there. The people in
Malaga are so relaxed and never rush,
almost like they do not have a care in
the world. It was a weird transition
going from NYC where everyone is
constantly running to a place where the
buses are late and the people do not
mind! We made a lot of native friends
through intercambios. An intercambio
is where we were set up with a native
Spanish student and we talked for two
hours, usually in a tea shop, one hour
in Spanish and one hour in English.
This was like homework in itself and
we got to meet some great people. The
food in Spain was delicious and tapas,
which are like appetizers, are very
famous there in all the restaurants.
With my study abroad group we also
traveled to Seville, Granada, El Torcal,
Ronda, and Cordoba. These places
were all incredible and were not very
far from Malaga. I got to see some of
the most beautiful cathedrals in
Europe, the Alhambra in Granada, the
great Mosque of Cordoba, the famous
trench and city on the cliffs in Ronda,
and the mysterious rock formations in
El Torcal. However, this experience
would not have been as good as it was
without the friends I made through this
program and especially the amazing
directors. The directors helped us more
than I could have ever hoped. They
were tour guides, they helped in the
middle of the night if people had emergencies,
they were always so funny
and helpful, they helped us plan outside
trips, and they were always in the
office checking up on us asking if we
were comfortable with our host families
or if we needed anything. Malaga
has become a second home to me and
the diversity that it has is to die for. It
has amazing beaches, mountains, and
the city is small so it is not too overwhelming
but its big enough so you
always have something to do. I would
not take this trip back for anything and
would highly recommend it to anyone
who wants to have the most amazing
experience of their life and who wants
to really learn Spanish because most
people speak only Spanish and you
will learn so much there. We got to
go to an authentic flamenco cave and I
was chosen to dance the flamenco
Dancers, it was incredible to see how
much talent they had and the music
was so unique and memorable.
Then on to Jordan...
Brandon’s complete study abroad story
will be published in the Quadrangle this
semester.

Scholarship Recipients
Vol 7, no. 2 Fall 2012
Kristen Jennings
School of Arts
Communication Major attended
AustraLearn program at UNSW
Spring 2012
“Six months ago I was on a plane
to Australia with mixed emotions;
both terrified and excited for the
adventure I was about to endure.
Boarding an eighteen hour flight to a
foreign place that’s time zone is
twelve hours ahead of ours, you can
only imagine the thoughts running
through my head that were telling me
I was crazy. Flying was never my
forte and here I was about to travel
for a day to get to a place I knew
nothing about. Stepping on board and
b u c k l i n g
up was the
best decision
I
m a d e ,
e v e n
though I
c a l l e d
h o m e
s e c o n d
g u e s s i n g
my ability
to do so.
This was
the moment that marked the first sign
of strength and independence within
me and needless to say, it certainly
was not the last.
Only hearing positive feedback
about Australia before my departure,
made my expectations very high and
I was ready for whatever this country
had to offer. To say they were fulfilled
would be an understatement.
The things I saw, the people I met
and the cultural I endured for those
four and a half months helped me
become the person I am today. Of
course, there was my bucket list,
which I am proud to say was practically
completed, but saying I was
going to done thing is always easier
than actually doing it. Living at the
beach, holding a koala and feeding
a kangaroo was awesome; and climbing
mountains was breath taking, but
there was so much more to this experience
than just these things. Looking
back on it all, I don’t regret a
thing. I mean I always said I was going
to climb the Sydney Harbour
Bridge, harness myself on a
mountain and even skydive; and do
not get me wrong, I did them, but
these were huge accomplishments for
me. I never knew I was so terrified of
heights until I was forced to walk
backwards off a mountain 30 meters
high with nothing but a rope and the
hopes that it doesn’t break off the
rock it was secured on. Oh and by the
way, 30 meters is 98 feet. And
forcing myself to jump out of a plane
wasn’t so easy either, but signing
myself up for things like this was
more than just something to cross off
the list of things I did or saw; these
things pushed me past my fears and
there is no better feeling than an
accomplishment like that.
I accomplished many things on
this trip, more than I thought I ever
would and I have the country, people
and education to thank for that.
Australia is one absolutely beautiful
country and if you ever get the
opportunity to get there, I highly
recommend it because the views are
worth every minute and the people
make you feel right at home. I went
here expecting a laid back lifestyle
and got that and more. Not only was
every Australian so easy going, but
they were so helpful, kind and willing
to go above and beyond for
strangers; which in my opinion are
traits that often go unseen in the
states.
Attending the University of New
South Wales was quite a change from
Manhattan College. This campus was
huge and had classes of hundreds, so
you can understand how it took some
getting used to. I mean one of my
lectures held 800 people and I didn’t
think I would ever be able to adjust,
especially coming from classes of 20,
sometimes 30 people back home.
Picking up on the open minded, positive
outlook on life, I can proudly say
I adjusted. Although I don’t think I’ll
miss that part, I do think it will help
me adjust to similar changes in my
future. Taking two classes that fit my
Communication studies allowed me
to gain skills from another perspective,
which I can take with me in
future careers. Taking time abroad, I
not only gained personal and professional
independence, but I also
gained friendships that I know will
last a lifetime. Like I said, I regret
nothing from my time abroad and am
happy to say that I will take everything
I learned and gained with me in
the future. I will continue to grow
and travel in my future; and thanks to
this experience I am no longer afraid
of the challenges set before me and
am ready for what’s to come.”
http://kjtravelsaussie.blogspot.com/

Scholarship Recipients
Vol 7, no. 2 Fall 2012
Molly Pekarik
School of Arts
International Studies Major attended
AIFS program in London, England
Spring 2012
Finding “Home”
When I was preparing to study
abroad in England, my expectations
were perhaps not typical. Instead of
expecting to thrive in a foreign culture,
or hoping to experience world travel in
a way I never had before, I looked to
my semester in London as a chance to
finally come home. I lived in France for
several years in high school and after I
permanently moved back to the United
States I fell into a depression. My
grades suffered, my personal stress was
high, and my health was affected (in
fact, I had to have major surgery only a
few weeks after leaving France). I had
found myself during my time in Europe.
I had discovered my passions, my ambitions.
I had found people with a similar
outlook to me, I had found a landscape
and a lifestyle that I loved and wanted
so bad. Oddly enough, it wasn’t France
that I missed, but Jolly Ol’ (England)
that I pined for. We had close family
friends that lived outside of London,
and the ease of travel in the Eurozone
allowed me to spend a significant
amount of time there. I leaped at the
chance to go back to study abroad.
As such, my expectations were less
to grab hold of my study abroad experience,
take easy classes and explore all
that London had to offer, and were more
to establish myself back in the place
where I felt the most home. I was devastated
when my program was unable to
provide me with the work visa I had
planned for (I had applied for the International
Internship Program), a mere 7
days before my flight date. I had viewed
it as my one chance to prove that England
needed me in their Public Relations
workforce. I wasn’t giving up my
chance to return though, and continued
to participate in the traditional study
abroad format. A bittersweet glaze was
cast on my experience from the get-go,
but I knew I wanted to just stop feeling
homesick for a few months.
The feeling that I had been misplaced
that plagued me from 2010 to
present lifted quickly. England was my
place. I visited the Victoria and Albert
Museum in London almost weekly instead
of seeing every London museum
only once. I loved it, I loved losing myself
in its halls, and I loved knowing it
was right in my neighborhood. I loved
trudging over to the local pub to watch
football (soccer) on Sky Sports and
banter about my favorite team
(Liverpool) with other diehard fans
from opposing teams. I took the bus to
Oxford frequently to visit my boyfriend
(we had met my last summer in France)
and to explore the corners of the English
countryside that only a native
would know. We had breakfast with
farmers about to head out on “The
Hunt” in traditional red coats, white
ascot tops and tall leather riding boots.
We wandered down to the sea. We
visited the university and hiked in the
woods that inspired “Alice and
Wonderland”.
The chance that I was given during
my study abroad experience to go home
again made me soapy. All hopes that I
had about returning to Europe were met
and surpassed. The worries that I had
that my homesickness was not to be
overcome in England were dashed. I
have returned to the United States with
a new conviction. Upon graduating
Manhattan College next May, I will be
relocating to England once more, only
this time to stay. Searching for jobs,
housing, and visas for a foreign country
is hard. In fact, it is the single most
difficult and stressful thing I have had
to try, but I know that the hours and the
research and the paperwork will be
worth it. I understand why more young
people don’t attempt to move to Europe.
the difficulties every graduate faces in
job placement and being a new worker
will only be amplified for me. I will
have to secure employment, then apply
for a visa, then hope that everything
comes together as I look for housing
and plan moving my belongings. I will
have a rough year ahead of me, but I
know how important going home is to
me now. My study abroad experience
confirmed it. My expectations were to
find home in Europe again. They were
met, and I never want to lose that home
again.

Scholarship Recipients
Vol 7, no. 2 Fall 2012
Kelsey Brunelle
School of Education
Exercise Science
AustraLearn - University New Wales
Spring 2012
Ever since I can remember, studying
abroad has always been a dream
of mine. Although the destination to
my travels was never decided, I
knew I wanted to immerse myself in
a different culture where I would be
able to experience a whole new life.
After weighing out my options, I
decided my two choices were Ireland
and Australia. Although Ireland
would have been great, I picked
Australia because with the twenty
hour plane ride I knew I would never
have this opportunity ever again. I
received feedback about Australia
from many sources, especially
through the study abroad fair at
school, and there was never a doubt
in my mind that this is where I
wanted to go. Although being on the
opposite side of the world did cause
some apprehension, I decided to
conquer these jitters and leave my
comfort zone.
This drastic change in scenery
was just what I needed to increase
my independence and personal
growth. I found myself branching
outside my comfort zone and pursuing
new adventures that I would not
have done back in the states. I
traveled to amazing places and
experienced more things in four and
a half months than most people in
their lifetime.
Visiting new and beautiful
places was just one incredible part
of this trip. I was able to return
back to the states with new friendships
that would last a lifetime. I
found the Australians to be a mixture
of both genuine and sincere,
which are characteristics that are
not easy to come by these days.
They taught me the importance of
equality and to be easy going.
This mentally even allowed me to
adopt the saying, “no worries”.
Not only were the Australians
amazing people but I also grew
extremely close to the other study
abroad students. Going into Australia
with many common goals
allowed us to hit it off right from
the beginning. It’s unbelievable to
think that I met these people four
and a half months ago and I consider
them to be some of my best
friends.
Of course going abroad I wanted
to experience everything Australia
has to offer, but I knew that my
studies were my number one priority.
With my diverse class schedule,
from a religion to a food
science class, I was able to look at
things from a completely different
perspective. In my religion class, I
was able to be more accepting of
others opinions and learned how
the Australian culture differed in
their views of religion, which can
be a touchy subject at times. I
became a more open minded
person and am now able to respect
people’s opinions, even if they’re
different from my own.
This abroad experience has also
been very influential in my field of
study and my aspirations of being
an occupational therapist. By taking
a food science class I was able
further my learning in health
related topics, which will benefit
the wellness of my clients. Being
able to share my expertise and new
knowledge with my patients will
allow them to have an enjoyable
King's Canyon at Sunset
and healthier lifestyles. These
health trends and patterns will be
extremely useful to me in the
medical field.
To say that Australia fulfilled
all of my expectations is an understatement.
It allowed me to be
more outgoing and ask more questions.
My shy personality has
changed quite drastically because
I’ve become more outgoing and
more independent. Studying
abroad in Australia was the best
decision I’ve ever made and highly
recommend it to anybody who has
the opportunity.

Spring 2013 Around the World
106 Days, 15 Cities, 12 Countries
Vol 7, no. 2 Fall 2012
The Spring 2013 Semester at Sea Voyage: “An Educational Adventure”
will offer an “unreasonable opportunity.” Semester at Sea, in partnership
with the Unreasonable Institute, is launching the “Unreasonable at Sea”
project on the Spring 2013 voyage. Unreasonable at Sea is an international
accelerator for tech entrepreneurs that will enable Semester at
Sea students to study entrepreneurship while tackling the world’s most
pressing issues with those who are actually doing the work. Participants
will have the opportunity to sail, work, and learn from some of the
world’s most renowned innovators and mentors. Instead of uniting
entrepreneurs in the entrepreneurial hub of Boulder, Colorado (as the Unreasonable Institute does), the inaugural
program will be hosted on Semester at Sea’s shipboard campus as it sails more than 25,000 nautical miles around
the globe to 14 international destinations. In each country, including Spain, South Africa, China, India, and Japan,
entrepreneurs will explore the local economies and experiment in taking their technology to market and Semester
at Sea students will learn about the process through coursework and in-country field excursions.
Start Date: January 9, 2013
Embark: San Diego, CA, U.S.
Participants will be transported by bus from
San Diego, CA to Ensenada, Mexico to board the ship
Hilo, Hawaii, United States
Yokohama, Japan
Kobe, Japan
Shanghai, China
Hong Kong, China
Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
Singapore, Singapore
Penang, Malaysia
Cochin, India
Port Louis, Mauritius
Cape Town, South Africa
Tema (Accra), Ghana
Casablanca, Morocco
Debark: Barcelona, Spain End Date: April 25, 2013
Semester at Sea will offer a limited number of $5,000 fellowships to student
applicants. Fellows, who will be expected to prepare extensive research in
advance of the voyage, will work with the Unreasonable at Sea entrepreneurs
and staff to plan, coordinate, and attend activities in the field and facilitate
discussions.
For additional information, please come to the Study Abroad Office, Memorial 412

Why is Study Abroad Such a Resume Builder ?S
Vol 7, no. 2 Fall 2012
Is Study Abroad Worth It?
“Ready, set, build your resume!” Although this is no official slogan for study abroad, it
could well be. Already in the planning stage, study abroad helps you build valuable skills,
which are then strengthened while you are abroad. If that were not enough, once you return
home, you will learn even more as you reflect upon your experiences abroad and adapt to life
back home.
Here are just a few of the skills strengthened by study abroad:
Foreign language fluency. Whether you are translating archives at a museum or plan on
corresponding with businesses worldwide, being fluent in languages other than English can be
very useful.
International knowledge base. Your acquired knowledge is especially useful for careers in
international affairs, government service or international business, but can apply to any field.
Cross-cultural communication. In addition to speaking the actual language, study abroad can
help you hone in on other communication skills.
Analytical skills. As you interact with locals abroad, you will learn to analyze situations with
more precision.
Teamwork. Chances are you will have to interact with all kinds of locals and fellow foreigners
abroad, strengthening your ability to work as a team player and even take on leadership roles
where appropriate.
Flexibility. Study abroad involves adapting to new circumstances, which is often critical when
you have to solve problems back home.
Ability to manage finances. As a study abroad student, you will have to manage your money
effectively, which includes understanding the financial aid process and how best to reduce your
general expenses abroad.
Independence. When living on your own, you will have to learn to become independent. As
you mature in the process, you will also learn to become more self-confident.
“Yes, study abroad is worth it ! ” according to Isabel Eva Bahrer, the columnist for TransditionsAbroad.com
In March 2012, new data was compiled by IES Abroad when they surveyed 1,008 study abroad alumni to “assess the
impact study abroad has on a recent graduate’s prospects in securing employment and/or attending graduate school
directly after earning a degree from a four-year college or university in the U.S.”
The key findings are that:
Nearly 90% of study abroad alumni secured a job within the first six months after graduation .
50% felt the overseas experience helped them acquire their first jobs.
84% felt that studying abroad helped them develop valuable job skills such as foreign language knowledge, cultural
training, tolerance for ambiguity, adaptability, communication, and more.
90% were admitted into their first or second choice graduate or professional school.
Transitions Abroad.com/studies/articles/studyabroad

Scholarships and Recognitions
Vol 7, no. 2 Fall 2012
are the recipients of The Michael '58 and Aimee Kakos Scholarship for fall 2011 and
spring 2012. These students have met the requirements for this scholarship but most
importantly have shown an interest in learning more about the world and demonstrated
an understanding and appreciation of other cultures and peoples.
are the recipients of the Manhattan College Awards for 2011/2012. These students have
shown an understanding and appreciation of studying abroad and shared their study
abroad experiences by contributing articles for the Jasper’s Abroad Newsletter as well as
the Quadrangle.
a Finance Major in The School of Business is the forth recipient of the Spring 2012
award from the Kate Anne McNeil Study Abroad Scholarship Fund. The McNeil family
and friends established this scholarship to memorialize Kate’s life. Kate studied abroad
in Fall 2009 and had a wonderful experience. This scholarship is meant to help other
students take advantage of the many historic and cultural opportunities abroad.
An International Studies Major in The School of Arts who studied in Rome, spring 2012
had his article published in “When In Rome” the yearly publication from The Rome
Study Center of Richmond University.
received recognition from the National Association for Study Abroad for their video
submission to NAFSA’s inaugural international education video contest. Their video
demonstrated how Hilary’s study abroad experience helped contribute to global health
and development in Ecuador.
Applications for the 2013-2014 David L. Boren Scholarships and Fellowships are now
available. The Boren Awards provide unique funding opportunities for U.S. under graduate and
graduate students to study in Africa, Asia, Central & Eastern Europe, Eurasia, Latin America,
and the Middle East, where they can add important international and language components to their
educations.
A.I.F.S. is pleased to extend program grants in the amount of $1000 to all Manhattan College
students who choose to study with AIFS in Rome for the spring 2013 or fall 2013 semesters. For
additional information, please contact the Study Abroad Office, Mem 412.
Study Abroad Website
http://www.manhattan.edu/
academics/study_abroad/
Jaspers Abroad
is published by the
Study Abroad Office
Editors:
Nonie Wanger, Director
Nancy Cave, Coordinator