My Study Abroad Experience: Part Two

Guten Tag! Good Day!

I am very excited to make this post because I get to publicly share my awesome experience on my study abroad trip! So if you remember from last time, and if you don't feel free to check out Part 1, I just went on a course called "Psychology at it's Roots" that put me in Austria, Germany and England for two weeks.

Since I talked about three main points in the last post, I will do the same here. Instead of the focus being tips and things I was worried about, it will be related to some of my favorite aspects of the trip! If you want to learn more about my trip or study abroad, feel free to contact me (kbrow107@emich.edu).

#1) The History

One of the best parts of the trip was being able to step foot in places that have experienced more history than not only our university, but our state and country as well. Each place we went allowed me to learn more  about that location and about the individuals and the stories that took place there. The universities that we toured had been bombed through wars, been some of the first to even have Psychology programs, etc.

For example, one of my favorite stops was the Sigmund Freud Museums located in Vienna and outside of London. Freud was one of the first names I learned in high school Psychology, the course that would change my mind about "what I wanted to be when I grew up". Having this connection to his name and work made it super interesting to learn more about him as a person, his family and the struggles and pain he endured when he was forced to leave his home when the Nazis annexed Austria.

Outside of the Freud Museum in Vienna

Photo taken of Freud's Office/Home at time of Nazi Regime

The famous psychoanalysis couch!

All of Freud's items and collectibles at his desk that he moved to London with him

Another awesome spot was Charles Darwin's house located in the country outside London. Now I know for a fact that everyone has learned about Darwin, natural selection anyone? His house and gardens were beyond beautiful and to see where he made such important discoveries about nature, so important in fact that his face is on the back of the 10 pound currency in England, was absolutely unforgettable.

The entrance to Down House

Darwin's gardens

Darwin's Greenhouse

Last that I will mention, we went to the Bethlam Royal Hospital Museum which is located near where one of the first English Psychiatric Hospital was located back in the 1400s. It was surreal to hear about patient stories and how they used to document "treatment" and cures. The Museum part hosted art made by patients and showcased their individual stories which was fascinating.

Entrance to museum

Old patient records

Mixed media art done by a anorexic patient at this hospital. Photo credit: Kara Gardner

#2) FOOD

Now I know that we all need food to live but not many times in life do you get to experience another culture and their way of doing food that is truly authentic. I'm not going to lie, I was nervous about ordering food in another language and it was strange having to ask for an English menu or trying to Google what the food was. However, I am glad that I stepped out of my comfort zone and tried the food because it was phenomenal! I didn't miss ranch dressing and I could even deal with no ice in the water if it meant I could enjoy schnitzel, German potato salad, pretzels, herb butter, fish and chips, spaghetti ice cream, the list goes on and on!

German potato salad. Photo credit: Kara Gardner

Pork schnitzel and herb butter. Photo credit: Kara Gardner

The  best pretzel ever. Photo credit: Kara Gardner

Strawberry spaghetti ice cream in Germany. Photo credit: Kara Gardner

Fish n' chips. Photo credit: Kara Gardner

#3) The People

Before this trip, everyone was pretty much strangers. I can most definitely say that after spending two weeks together, you get to know people pretty well. I think the most everyone bonded was when we received our luggage after it was lost at the Windsor airport. Although we did a lot of our activities in the big group, we also had the opportunity to split off and do side trips. I did the majority of my side trips with the same handful of people and I can say that these are people that are now my good friends! I didn't expect to make lifelong friends on this trip but I am so happy that I did! They all made the experience much more enjoyable and when you go home, they are the ones that will be able to understand fully.

My gal pals on the London Eye. Photo credit: Samantha Belanger

Side trip to a castle outside of Vienna

Waiting to go to the Prime Meridian. Photo credit: Samantha Belanger

Capstone dinner with Dr. Lauterbach and our Teacher Assistant David. Photo credit: Samantha Belanger

Honors Group at Darwin's House. Photo credit: Kara Gardner

If you want any further information about my trip or studying abroad in general, please don't hesitate to contact me (kbrow107@emich.edu) as I would love to help others be able to travel.

Thank you for taking the time to read and I hope you enjoyed my photos almost as much as I enjoyed my trip. It was truly a once in a lifetime experience that I will cherish.

Cheers!

Kaylee

P.S. Special shout out to my wonderful friends (Kara Gardner and Samantha Belanger) for being so gracious and allowing me to use their photos for this blog to share with everyone since my phone isn't the best.

My Study Abroad Experience: Part 1

Hello fellow Eagles and anyone on the internet who clicked this link,

This is part one of a two part post about my experience on a Study Abroad course this Summer. This post is going to be dedicated to the "pre-departure" part of the course and tips to prepare yourself if you decide to take part in one of these experiences.

The study abroad I am traveling with is History & Systems of Psychology (PSY 453). It is my last required Psychology course for my major. This is the second time this class has ran as a study abroad option and I actually found out about it from Caitlin Baumer, one of the Graduate Assistants at The Honors College. We have had class one a week before the trip and have spent time going over course material and discussing side excursions while we are in Europe.

It's about a 12 day trip starting the 23rd of this month until July 6th, with stops in these destinations:

• Vienna, Austria (Freud Museum)
• Wurzburg, Germany (History of Psychology Museum)
• Leipzig, Germany (Wundt Room)
• London, England  (Darwin House)

#1) Luggage

I had never owned a suitcase before now. I used duffle bags with clothes shoved inside them for any other trip I've ever been on (I haven't traveled a lot). I figured that this trip was a great excuse to invest in a set of suitcases for my adult self.  Below is the luggage set I purchased (mine is Purple - check it out on Amazon here). I wanted something that would stand out, was hardcover and rolled easily. The reviews on this brand were pretty good for the price! I also bought cute luggage tags because why not.

#2) Card & phone usage

In this day and age, most people use their card when they are out for purchases. I am a part of credit union and my cards do not have those new security chips in them. I found out that in Europe, they really only take cards with a chip and you can't access an ATM without a chip either. This was super important information that allowed me to get in contact with someone who could reissue one of my cards so I could use it on the trip. It is also important to make sure you inform your bank that you will be gone so they don't lock your card for strange purchases.

If you are planning to go International in the near future, consider switching to T-Mobile. I just did and they have free international texting and some new Wi-Fi calling features so that you can stay in touch with your family and friends while you are gone. If you don't, be careful for international fees and data charges.

#3) Packing

Having a cute suitcase is great, but now I have to figure out what to pack. I don't know about you but I am notorious for over-packing for everything. That's fine until you realize that there are weight limits restrictions and I have to lug this stuff around for almost two weeks. I also don't want to bring anything I'm not prepared to possibly lose. In this situation, I am taking the advice of my professor Dr. Lauterbach, "packing is about comfort." I'm going to try and bring just the basics. His other advice is "all you really need is your wallet, your passport and your ticket, anything else you can buy once you get to your destination."

Although I am a little nervous, I am so blessed to have the opportunity to go on this trip and have received a few scholarships (one from the Honors College - click here to apply) to be able to go. I am so excited to step out of my comfort zone and go on a once and a lifetime experience like this that will teach me things that I am not able to learn in a typical classroom setting. Click here to check out the study abroad website to see if there are any future trips that interest you.

I look forward to using this blog as the first place to share my experience when I am back home on July 6th!

Wishing you all a great month of June!

"Steigen Höher " - that means "Soar Higher" in German!

Kaylee

Summer Plans At Home!

 Hello Honors students,

I hope you are enjoying the Summer weather we are having this week! As great as it is to be outside during this time of year, sometimes the weather is too hot or stormy to be outside! If you're looking for things to do at home, this post might give you some ideas.

Scrapbooking:

Yes, scrapbooking. If you've never started your own scrapbook before, you might think that it's boring or a lot of work. It is actually, at least for me, super relaxing and fun! The scrapbook itself can really be whatever you want it to be, from a place to document trips to somewhere to put your ticket stubs.

My cousin and I love to scrapbook (I started one for my high school graduation party and have kept adding to it ever sense). Mine is mostly to document trips and concerts I have went to. Here are a few photos of my personal scrapbook (sorry about the glare!):

It's actually a pretty cheap activity to do. All you need is to go to Michael's, JoAnn's or Hobby Lobby and purchase some 12 x 12 paper (which they have super adorable patterns for), print your photos/use your props and for extra cuteness buy a pack of the million of themed stickers they sell at these stores! (P.S. These stores always have their coupons online). You'll also need scissors and glue.

Once you make a few pages, you can purchase a book to put them in so you can show your family and friends! In the days of technology where we take photos on our phones, it can be nice to have a back up of your favorite photos. (Tip: Meijer is a great place to print photos, the more you print the cheaper it is per print and they have an app where you can upload your pictures then pick them up later!)

We hope to see you at our Honors events this upcoming academic year (and this summer!) where we can take pictures that would look great in a scrapbook!

String Art: 
 
If you like something a little more hands on, another great craft I did was string art (I did get this idea from Pinterest). I have done three (look at some photos below):'

For this, it costs a little more (about $20 per board) but all you have to get are these items:

• Wooden board of whatever size you'd like (I got mine from hobby lobby)
• Colored String
• Little nails 
• Print out photo of what you want to outline
• Hammer

I taped the photo of what I wanted to create on the board then I hammered in nails around the edges. After that I removed the paper outline. The final step is knotting the string around one nail and wrapping it around the others and tying it on the last one again. (These steps sound simple and they are but be careful when using the hammer since the nails are so small, this step takes a lot of time and effort).

Thanks for reading and feel free to send pictures if you decide to scrapbook to document your college experience or make some pages as a gift or create awesome string art.

Kaylee

(kbrow107@emich.edu)

Need Summer Plans? Check out this awesome list!

Hello Honors students,

I hope your summer has started off fantastic (even if the season doesn't technically start for another month). If you are looking for things to do during this time off, look no further than the great state of Michigan!

Michigan has some really awesome sites and places to go for all different types of interests! (I may be biased because I am a Pure Michigan lover - not as much of a lover as the person I saw with a tattoo of the logo at Comic Con). But legitimately, the website Thrillist named Michigan their #1 best state!

As college students, I know that every penny counts and that's why staying local and attending free events is super appealing!

Here is my top of the list of things to do in Michigan that are free (once you get there of course)! Check out the full list here!

1. Get lost in the dunes – See why the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore in Empire was named “The Most Beautiful Place in America” by Good Morning America in 2011. Take time this summer to explore the miles of sandy beaches, bluffs and forests located in the northwest corner of Michigan’s Lower Peninsula.

2. Celebrate Christmas in the summer heat – Visit Little Bavaria in Frankenmuth where every day is Christmas!

3. Swim in a Great Lake or any lake for that matter! Stay there all day! (P.S. I googled it and there are 11,037 inland lakes in MI)

4. LUDINGTON. If you haven't been to this awesome city, you need to. Check out this photo from a trip I took a few years back.

Here is the top of the list of things to do in Michigan that might cost you some money! Check out this list here!

1. Go to a Tigers game! Even if you don't like baseball, just go for the environment!

2. Get some fudge and bike on Mackinac Island (you knew this had to be on the list!)   

3. Go to the Detroit Zoo! The new Penguin center is awesome!

4. Spend a day on Belle Isle. Between the conservatory, the aquarium, the Nature Zoo, and the swimming beach, it really won’t be that hard to spend a full day here.

Another  really awesome thing is all of the festivals that are going on all Summer! From cherries to asparagus to art to fireworks, check out this list of things going on! 
http://www.michigan.org/fairs-festivals/

And last but not least, if you want to hang out in Ypsilanti on campus to get some work done, The Honors College is open during the summer (M-F 8:00-5:00)!

Kaylee

Honors College Formal Recap! Check out the Pictures!

Hello fellow Honors Students!

The time has finally come! The last couple days of regular classes and the start of Finals! This can be a very hectic time and don't forget to relax! If you're looking for a place to study or hangout, please join us here in The Honors College (511 W. Forest Ave) today through Wednesday all day!

We will have snacks, a quiet place to study or places to collaborate! Feel free to just stop by in between studying/class or stay for a while!

I just wanted to thank everyone who came to the first ever Honors College Formal on Saturday night with DJ Daniel Long, karaoke, dancing, food, and RockBand! It was so much fun and something we hope to continue in the future!

If you came to the dance, what was your favorite part? Comment below. Mine was definitely when Janine went to do karaoke!

Check out some highlights!

Good luck on all of your finals! Thank you for taking the time to read or look at any of these blog posts! If you haven't already, please fill out this survey to provide us with valuable feedback for this program: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/PF7QQ68

Comment below if you have any really awesome Summer plans! I'll be going on a study abroad trip in June! 

Kaylee