It is so hard to be consistent with a blog when on an exchange program. That’s good though in a way because it means that I have been doing a lot, experiencing a lot, and meeting a lot of great people. If you are reading this and are contemplating doing an exchange, my advice is…DO IT! It will be the most unique, interesting and fun experience of your life. Companies love it. You become more cultured by just merely observing different people in different countries with sometimes completely different lifestyles from what you are used to.
One of the best moves I’ve made this year was to join a group of Italians in my Market Research class for a team project. It was a bit hard at first since most of them didn’t speak English very well, but with the combination of hand motions and basic knowledge of each other’s language, communication became possible. Being in this group is not particularly the best for efficiency or effectiveness purposes for the project we need to complete, but it is such a good way to meet more Italians and gives me a chance to hang out with them outside of class. I went to Aperitivo (Italian-style buffet) with them and they introduced me to their group of friends. We hung out in all the places where the locals hang out. They showed me all the popular places where students get drinks and just chill at night. I had the best time, and they were all so welcoming and friendly. I look forward to hanging out more with the Italians.
I also have an amazing buddy though the Bocconi buddy system. He actually does a great job of following through with things like showing us great Aperitivos and setting up soccer matches between us exchange students and the Italians. We, of course, have beat the Italians every time so far, but it’s getting closer and closer each time. 
I’m not good at soccer by any means, but I’m getting the hang of it. I scored a few unorthodox goals, and my teammates have been really nice about being patient with me and have actually taught me some techniques. We often times go to the pub across the street and watch soccer on the big screen. It’s a good past time and bonding experience with the other guy exchange students.
A week ago we found ourselves in Rome with a great group of 10 people. All exchange students from Bocconi, and the group was composed of really good friends we’ve made throughout these past couple of months. We did an obscene amount of sightseeing in Rome for the 3 days we were there. I was completely exhausted every single night in Rome. The Coliseum, Pantheon, Palatine, Roman Forum, Vatican Museum, St. Peters Cathedral, Borghese Museum, Trevi Fountain, etc. The trip was very artistic and historical, as well as tiring. A highlight of Rome, aside from the sites, was having the chance to take the group to a Filipino restaurant there. It was so great to have a nice sit down lunch with the group and to share with them a part of my culture. Well until next time. Ciao!
Right now I am sitting in Anne Marie’s cabin on the outskirts (the woods!) of Warsaw, Poland in the afternoon. We knew Anne Marie from UW’s Global Case Competition last spring as she and 3 others represented the Business School over here in Warsaw. From the very beginning, Anne Marie has been the most amazing hostess. She has graciously let us stay at her Mom’s beautiful house in a nearby suburb of the city center. We really couldn’t ask for anything more, and don’t know what we did to deserve such great treatment, but we are so appreciative and hope that we can return the favor somehow in the future. After we arrived and dropped our stuff off at Anne Marie’s house we headed for the City Center and walked along Anne Marie’s favorite streets. Spontaneously we decided to have a food extravaganza in Poland and to try out all the best restaurants and cafés in the city center. Thus far, the best and most successful food run (with sushi, croissants, drinks, and polish food) I’ve had in Europe, and that says a lot since I’m living in Italy.
because of the great friends we’re surrounded with here. One thing that you must get used to in Italy, besides the fact that no one speaks English, is how many things are so inefficient and unorganized. It’s Italy though, and you just have to accept it. Stores just don’t like to open on Sundays or Mondays. There are no dryers for your clothes. Cars drive on the sidewalk. One thing that is always very organized here though are the parties put together by Bocconi. Bocconi never fails us, and you can’t help but have fun and be happy here. Bocconi just doesn’t allow you to be bored and not have fun. They do a great job of organizing parties and events to meet people, eat free food, and get the best deals to the most prestigious places in town. Because we are from Bocconi, we never wait in line anywhere and our always treated as VIP. The group of friends we’ve established so far has been such a blessing. I am so thankful to have met such a great and diverse set of friends. Finland, Portugal, Denmark, Netherlands, Germany, London, France, Mexico, Norway… basically the EU.. etc. Such a great group of people who I would already miss so much, if I were to leave now. I hope to stay in touch with all of these people and to have a lot of them visit me in Seattle so I can show them around.
A month and a half has never flown by so fast in my life, and yet I still feel like I have so much of the city to explore. I would never be bored here. Living in Beijing, I came to realize that even if I went to see ten historical sites a day, I would still not be able to see everything within my semester here in the capital of China. The city is a mixture of the modern and the ancient. Of new-ideals and strong traditions. When talking to the younger generation of China, I noticed that their thinking contrasts so much with that of the older Mao-generation.
the government closed off all of the city center and recommended all families to stay home. My roommate and I tried exploring the city, and it was uncomfortably quite. Not a single car driving past, no street vendors within eye sight, and nobody out on the street. We tried to go to Tiananmen Square where the huge parade was going on, but everywhere security guards stood across the street to block every intersection into city center. Later that day I heard that the Chinese government also canceled all flights in and out of Beijing’s capital airport. That was crazy to imagine. In total, they spent over 60 billion rmb on the parades, which equals to about 9 billion usd. On TV I watched the parades that lasted all day- from when I woke up 9am until midnight. Every public transportation I took, they were playing songs about the “great Motherland” and “I love China”. I couldn’t but help wonder how much of this was just for show.
Hi everyone! My name is Andrew Swanson, and I am here in Pamplona, Spain for the quarter studying at the University of Navarra along with Sohroosh, Yvonne, and Daraun from the UW. So far my time here in Spain has been a blast. Last weekend I went to Alicante with my roommate because he was from there, and I got to see the Mediterranean for the first time and visit the local hotspots of the city.
Hey my name is Kimi, and I am currently a Junior studying abroad in Manchester this quarter. I have officially been living here for a month already, and the time has simply flown by.
As I said, there are always things to do in Manchester. So far I have been to several concerts (Manchester has two great music venues), enjoyed experiencing different English Pubs and even managed to get tickets to a Manchester United football game. Soccer is EVERYWHERE here! But I miss American football…
The cultural differences between the US and England are subtle but everywhere. Different phrases and ways of asking things always catch me off guard and sometimes I don’t know how to respond. Some people can be rude when I tell them I’m from the states, but for the most part people here are really nice and are always interested about hearing about which part of the States I’m from and ask me about my time abroad in Manchester.
During the Mid-Autumn Festival, the first week of October, I was supposed to go to Tibet. However, for security reasons, the Government decided to have a quota on how many foreigners can enter Tibet during the national holiday. Unfortunately, we did make it in to the list. I was very disappointed because I’ve always wanted to go to Tibet, to walk around the Potala Palace, to see Mt. Everest’s with my bare eyes.
Capital city of China, so it is rich with cultural relics. The following days we visited Hangzhou and Suzhou, which are known for their beautiful lake and river.
Tired and sore, but also preparing for midterm exams, I just returned from a two day stretch of the Camino de Santiago. The Camino de Santiago, or Way of St. James, is a pilgrimage that tens of thousands of people from all over the world make throughout the year. There are many paths, but one of the most common starts at Saint Jean Pied de Port, in southern France, and winds it’s way across northern Spain to Santiago de Compostela. This route normally takes more than 30 days to complete on foot. A student from Honduras and another exchange student from Taiwan accompanied me from the small town of Roncesvalles, on the Spanish side of the Pyrenees, back to Pamplona. The bus ride to Roncesvalles took one and half hours, but the walk through small villages, highways, and hilly farmland took us about sixteen hours spread over two days. We shared sleeping quarters and the path with a diverse group of pilgrims: Aussies who were out for an adventure, a man from Barcelona who had a “compromiso” or a moral obligation to make the pilgrimage, as well as a trio from Valencia who were also taking the Camino a few days at a time.
Nantes, France is famous for LU Biscuits and rain (although the weather has been very nice thus far). The city itself is easy to navigate. It is not overwhelmingly large, and you can master the tramway system on your first ride. There are beautiful gardens like le jardin des plantes and Beaujoire, historic hotspots like le Château des Ducs de Bretagne and an abundance of restaurants and bars.
English, German and Spanish being spoken around the bar. It was quite an experience!
Venice is navigated by a series of vaporettos, or passenger ferries. You can walk from some islands to others, but not all of them can be walked that way. Instead, you have to take the ferry. Luckily, being under 26, we bought cards valid for transport for 72 hours.
Now that we have already returned back home to Seattle, I’ve been able to gather all of my thoughts about our trip in Beijing. I can honestly say that it was one of the best experiences of my life. I was able to connect with my cultural heritage and see the land of my ancestors with my own eyes. We were able to visit all the former palaces and royal buildings which allowed me to bring those images of all the landmarks to life. Not only were we able to see historical landmarks but we were able to catch a glimpse of China’s rapid modernization by visiting sites such as the Olympic Park. However magnificent the Watercube and Bird’s Nest looked on television, they were magnified by a 
100 in person. Not only are the Watercube and Bird’s Nest amazing pieces of architecture, but I really believe that the Olympic Park along with the 2008 Olympics were symbolic of China’s progress as a nation. Especially as a business student, it was great being in China and seeing first-hand what type of advancements the Chinese economy is making. China is already quickly playing a bigger part in the global economy, and this experience in Beijing will most definitely benefit me in the future.
how I was going to get along with everyone. China far exceeded any of the expectations I had and provided me with so many great memories and experiences. As I think about my future career goals, I know that my knowledge of Chinese culture and language will help me no matter what I end up doing. My experiences and time in this program reinforced to me that as business continues to become more and more global, it will be imperative to know multiple languages and be comfortable in international surroundings. For every Foster student I would recommend studying abroad and especially exploration seminars because they have such a short time commitment. I personally guarantee that no matter where the location is, it will provide an unforgettable and worthwhile experience. Thanks and see you again soon Beijing!
