William H. Thompson Scholars Learning Community

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Wildlife Convservation in Namibia by Lexy Polianov

While I was abroad I participated in an internship in addition to taking my conservation course. The internship extended my stay in the country by two months. The conservation course was beneficial to my development in my field of study. I was able to practice techniques I learned in classes on campus in addition to learning new information about the species and techniques used there. I was able to visit many different ecotourism sites and compare the ways they ran them. Through the tour of the country I was able to identify that I would prefer to do research rather than working only with tourists or within ecotourism. I was also able to confirm that I would like to work in the field, after camping for the first time. Overall, academically this trip confirmed that I would like to pursue a masters degree so I can continue to do research and protect endangered species.

During my two months at NaDEET (Namib Desert Environmental Education Trust) I gained some valuable experience working on a nature reserve. My main job was to help at the center to assist in teaching groups of students that came in each week. I taught on topics such as sustainable energy, recycling, water usage, and wildlife. When I first started teaching there was a lot to remember and I was worried I would forget important parts of the lesson. After about a month of teaching, I already had the primary school lessons down. I became very confident in my ability to teach the students and was able to then lead dune walks for them. During the dune walks I identified plants, animals, and things the animals left behind. This was one of my favorite activities to do with the students since wildlife is one of my passions. Through this experience teaching I found that I actually don’t mind the outreach involved in teaching others about sustainability. This is a good skill for me to have as conservation topics typically need a lot of outreach to get the public involved.

Since traveling to Namibia I have learned that it’s possible for me to thrive in environments very different than my own. I have also discovered that I love traveling and hope to travel more in the future. With a career in conservation I can easily work on conserving any species in a different country. Since this experience I have been applying to graduate school to obtain my master’s degree. I hope I am able to continue to experience more ecosystems and cultures through my future research.

“Investment in travel is an investment in yourself.” -Matthew Karsten

Dante Alighieri’s Florence: Readings and Cultural Walks by Jessica Long

This winter I am completing a virtual study abroad program through SAI. My program is based out of Florence, Italy and my class is Dante Alighieri’s Florence: Readings and Cultural Walks. Unfortunately, COVID ruined my plans for a Summer trip to Europe, however, I have found this class to be a nice alternative. For those interested in what a virtual study abroad program is like, it is very similar to any other online class. I have two virtual meetings a week along with daily assignments and readings. These assignments include reading Dante’s works, researching iconic Florentine locations, and basic Italian language lessons.

I would recommend those worried about COVID or going abroad in general look at the virtual programs being offered right now. I chose this program because I knew that it would be an excellent way to dive into the cultural geography of Europe through famous literature. As a Geography and Global Studies major, I found this topic very exciting. When reading Dante’s writings, one sees the importance of place to a person’s identity and perception of the world around them. As I read about Dante’s love for Florence, I have also reflected on my own geographic ties to the places I have lived. These places have influenced me and made me into the person I am today. While at UNL, I have found a passion for historical and cultural geography. I hope to continue my interests in these fields in graduate school. My virtual program has shown allowed me to reflect further on these interests and what I would like to focus on while in graduate school. While this program is not how I pictured completing my study abroad experience, it has been fun and has further solidified my hopes of going to Europe after the end of this pandemic.

“One’s destination is never a place but a new way of seeing things.” -Henry Miller

Keep Moving Forward by Marissa Bickels

Being abroad, even for the short amount of time I’ve been here in Berlin, has given me a wonderful opportunity to step back from the stressors in my day-to-day life and to reflect over why I experience them in the first place. It has been a lot easier for me to clear my mind and shift my focus onto the changes that are going to take effect in my life in the next few years and to think about where I really want and need to be headed.

I have seen my goals for the future change around quite a bit, as I have taken time to consider that what I wanted before I began my studies may be different from what is important to me now.

Visiting the Schlosskirche
in Lutherstadt Wittenberg

Something that struck me as strange recently: it’s been years since anyone asked me, “Are you planning to study at a German university?” but this question comes up quite frequently here, since many participants at the Humboldt Institut are yet to begin their paths of higher education. I think I used to feel like I had to have some grand plan for my language learning, like German was going to be the catalyst for the rest of my life and nothing would ever be the same again.

There is no denying that knowing a second language and becoming intimately familiar with another culture has changed my life in overwhelmingly positive ways, and I can do nothing but recommend you do the same. What I mean to say is, learning a language (or engaging in a course of study) doesn’t always have to come with a specific goal in mind. Naturally, new circumstances will arise every day and the best way to handle them is to keep moving forward and do your best at what you do, even if you may not have it all planned out.

The connections you make along the way and the doors that open and close as you continue onward will be worth the experience, I promise.

Click here to learn more about the UNL Faculty-led: Spring Semester in Berlin!

“Learning another language is not only learning different words for the same things, but learning another way to think about things.”
-Flora Lewis

Berlin

Buongiorno from Christian Newth!

Being in Rome has been a wonderfully breathtaking experience that has finally opened my eyes to a completely different culture. Living in the Italian neighborhood of Garbatella I am able to get the full experience of the everyday life of an Italian. I go to coffee shops and their local markets and grocery stores. I have found that all the food here is so fresh and tastes great, but that does come with one problem…a lot of the food goes bad a lot quicker than it does back home. I have also learned about some of the local manners. For example, when you enter a cafe, you say “buongiorno” to the people at the front. If you don’t, they will be kind of rude to you for not greeting them when you enter. Because of experiences like this one, I really enjoy living in this part of Rome that does not have as many tourists.

Standing in front of the statue of Augustus Caesar, the First emperor of Rome

I have seen a change in myself. I am picking up Italian to be able to survive in the city. I have learned rather quickly how to order food, and how to pay and get my groceries. The best part of this experience to me was seeing all the places that I have been studying while I have been at UNL finally. I have seen the Coliseum, the Circus Maximus, and the Forum to name a few. I can now finally put a measure to the actual size and grandeur to these objects, which before this I have only been able to see in pictures. Also, working at Sala 1 has helped me to start to build the skills I will need to work in larger museums. So far, I have been helping with social media and translating Italian into English, with the help of Google translate. For now, I am just trying to soak in all the culture and everything I can learn.

Click here to learn more about the Arcadia in Rome program!

“Not all classrooms have four walls.” -Unknown

Roma