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Indescribable Experiences.
When trying to portray, illustrate, or explain the experience of four-months living and learning in another country, words become elusive. Vocabulary can only inadequately capture the beauty of a mountain top vista, there is seemingly no medium to convey the torrent of emotions evoked by witnessing the painful effects of poverty first-hand, or words fail to relate the depths of simple joys found in friendly smiles, delicious foods, or “figuring out” public transportation.
In an attempt to illuminate and animate your unique experiences, joys, and struggles abroad, Off-Campus Programs sent out a short survey in hopes to gather and share your responses. And respond you did, nearly have of you completed the survey! Shout out to the students in PERU who had over a 90% response rate, and will enjoy REAL ice cream back at Calvin as a prize. The OCP office would love to thank ALL the students who took the time to complete the survey with great insight, humor, and reflection.
So how do you describe an indescribable experience? Here are a few choice words you all used to describe your time abroad:
Wow! God Focused. Invigorating. Re-invigorating. Frijoles. Captivating. Nerve-Wrackingly Great. Egészségedre (???). Challenging (this word was used many times). Mountains...
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Survey Results!
So who took this survey anyway and where are these responses coming from?
Question 1: Funniest cross-cultural mishap?
France: My host mom telling me that "she was hungry" - she mispronounced the word - and said that "she was angry." I was so confused why she was angry and started asking all kinds of questions. She laughed and laughed when I found out she was just "hungry"
Ghana: That awkward moment when a Ghanaian chief asks your friend to be another wife of his.
Being reprimanded for having untrimmed air hair.
Peru: My friend meant to ask a friendly Peruvian friend how his sisters are doing, but instead accidentally asked if they are sexy.
Honduras: Trying to eat tortillas with a fork.
Hungary: Our language teacher told us that sinos (sanjos, shynosh…students couldn’t agree on this word) means I’m sorry, so we began to say "sinos Amerikai" whenever we don’t understand something. It means sorry I am American. Sinos actually means unfortunately so we have actually been saying "unfortunately American"...whoops
New Mexico: When we were teaching and were really loud when the culture is supposed to be quiet!
Question 2: Best Outing/Field-Trip/Trip?
Reading the responses from this question while sitting in Johnny’s spurred frequent feelings of jealousy and envy. Students have traveled through countless countries and historic cities, Croatia, Romania, Italy, Guatemala, Paris, Berlin, Roatán, and Machu Picchu, witnessing the beauty of Mountains, Rain Forest, Canyons, Lakes, Water Falls, and Beaches.
If your thinking about where to travel to next, consider this student’s time in Paris:
“Our group spent five days in the City of Lights. I will never ever forget it. Five days of museums, cafés, métro rides, beautiful churches, fashionable pedestrians, red Vespas, postcards plastered with the Eiffel Tower and Mona Lisa's face... it was absolutely dreamlike. I can honestly say some of the best times I've ever had on this semester or perhaps in my life were had on the banks of the Seine surrounded by people that I barely knew two-months-and-however-many-days ago, but whom now I call my friends, my bros, mes amis.”
Question 3: Most Memorable Quote from the Semester?
China: “I smoke more here just by standing outside than I ever did in America”
Ghana: "so we'll eat lunch at 7...and dinner at 8?" (on the Northern trip we often ate
later than expected)
France: "So gênant..." (so awkward)
Peru: “Chickens can definitely run faster than tarantulas.”
“Por Que No?”
Hungary: “CAROL”
Spain: "This is the most famous _______ in ALL of Spain." -Enrique the your guide, everywhere we went.
And the BEST QUOTE from an unnamed professor:
"If I even just look at that donut, I might as well just tape it on my ass.”
Question 4: Have you had a God-Glimpse experience? How have you seen God in unexpected places?
France: Everyday I see the mountains, because Grenoble is in a valley. For me, this semester, Psalm 121 has been so real to me. I lift my eyes to the hills everyday, and ask God for help because I can't do it on my own.
Peru: I see God everywhere. He is in the eyes of the children, the volcanoes surrounding the city, the blooming flowers, and the shining sun. It is incredible where you can see God if you just look for him.
Honduras: Everywhere. Praying over a meal with my host family, watching the sunset over the beach in El Salvador, sitting on the bumpy public bus and looking at the mountains and realizing just how great our God is.
Peru: I cannot possibly narrow it down to one God-glimpse experience...his presence surrounds us. It has been a delight to encounter a whole new side of God here in Peru-to glimpse him in the little blessings of each day and the grand magnificent ones.
France: I get to worship God in a different language. I hear and read his word and I get to see how amazing it is how God is praised in every language and tongue
Spain: Living in a country where few young people are actively practicing Christianity can be a bit intimidating. It took some time to realize that God is just as much in Spain as He is in Grand Rapids… It has been sobering to have to actively reach out to God on my own because I am no longer in an environment where He is typically openly discussed or even respected… I have encountered God in this way, and it is the most raw and genuine connection with Him that I have had in my entire life.
Peru: Walking home from the gym every day. I have a secret path that I take just to be alone with God. –Peru
France: Well my passport got stolen on a bus in Venice. Not fun. But I ended up being blessed by my experience at the U.S. Embassy getting an emergency passport. It was amazing to me that even the most random people, a family of 6, a business man, a mother and son, a student, could all help each other in a time of need. We shared our reasons for needing a new passport and were able to sympathize with each other. One lady even offered to help pay for my passport because they wouldn't accept my credit card. It was wonderful to see how an inconvenience such as a missing passport can bring people together.
Question 5: Most Interesting Food you Have Tried?
France: So many different Cheeses, escargot, Blood Sausage
China: Fried Snake on a stick (not actually very good)
New Mexico: Navajo Taco
Peru: Anticucho (cow heart and chicken heart), Alpaca, Cuy (guinea pig), Granadilla aka snot fruit (its delicious), Ceviche (raw fish and octopus)
Spain: Spanish "pizza". Aka thick bread, mounds of tuna and tiny squid that look like mushrooms. But they are not mushrooms. Trust me. I learned the hard way.
Ghana: Fufu, Land Snails
Honduras: Cow Tongue, Balleadas,
Hungary: I eat Pogachas every day. They're super cheap baby-sized rolls and they're delicious, Hungarian craft beer fermented with Tokaji wine.
Question 6: Favorite form of Transportation?
China: Subway
Peru: Combi
New Mexico: Hot Air Balloon,
Ghana: Tro Tro
Honduras: The Back of a Pick-up Truck,
Hungary: Tram
Spain: By foot! We walk everywhere and the hiking here is great as well. Picos de Europa are the best!
France: Segway
Biking, Plane, and Red Vespa also make the list!
Question 7: What do you miss most from back home?
People! My younger siblings (6,9,14)! I miss seeing them everyday, spending time at home with them, and bringing them out for ice cream, friends at Calvin, significant others.
Food! Peanut Butter, Nutella, Fish House Coffee, Pizza, Going into the kitchen and eating whatever catches my fancy! Free Refills!
And…The freedom to drive my car. Autumn colors. Hot showers. Having my own room. No question about that one.
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Thank You!
We want to thank you once again for your participation and thoughtful responses to the survey! We hope you enjoy reading your peers thoughts, stories, adventures, and moments of Grace!
Is there anything else you wanna see/hear/know about in this newsletter?? Share your ideas, concerns, and opinions with the OCP.
Go in Peace and have an indescribable weekend! |
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