2012 - 2013 Global Undergraduate Exchange Program East Asia & the Pacific and the Western Hemisphere
2012 - 2013 Yearbook
Sponsored by the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs and administered by World Learning, the Global Undergraduate Exchange (Global UGRAD) Program for East Asia and the Pacific and the Western Hemisphere provides a diverse group of emerging student leaders with scholarships to attend U.S. universities for up to one year of undergraduate, non-degree study. Global UGRAD, which also provides scholarships for students from Eurasia & Central Asia and the Near East & South Asia, is a substantive exchange program designed to expose students to the U.S. educational system, society, and culture. Participants represent diverse academic disciplines, from architecture to engineering, biochemistry to literature and education. Students participate in community service projects and internships. They live in university residence halls and are involved in campus organizations and activities.
2012 - 2013 Yearbook
Table of Contents 2012 - 2013 Global UGRAD Students
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UGRAD Post 7 School Spirit 8 Sports 10 Thanksgiving 16 Cultural Experiences 18 Traveling to New Places 20 Friends and Family 26 The Great Outdoors 28 Visiting the Zoo 30 Festivals and Fairs 32
Volunteering and Community Service
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A Year in Pictures 38 Global UGRAD Staff 47
Global Undergraduate Exchange Program
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Congratulations Allan Jeser Wilson Laso
Domingo Alberto Melenciano Aquino
Htay Tin
Anderson Jesus Ferrer Hernandez
Dora Cabrera Landaverde
Htet Oo Linn
Andrea Julieth Ferrer Omana
Dylan Foo Siang Chong
Hugo Oliveros Guerra
Angie Robles Leiton
Edwin Alfonso Davidson Barahona
Humphrey Beauvais
Anibal Edgardo Rodriguez Hause
Ekkarat Ruanglertsilp
I Wayan Alit Sudarsana
Anouk Yarmilla Vasquez Vegaso
Elena Mercedes Haro Lima
Ian Jan Dalisay
Brandol Ortega
Emman Sudianto Marpaung
Ingrid Mariela Estrada Amador
Carlos Munguia Gutierrez
Eneyda del Carmen Leiva Garcia
Iricenia Guevara
Carlos Alfredo Atencio Mendoza
Eston Zera Ronsumbre
Isabella Diaz Serra
Chan Peng
Estuardo Rene Carpio Mazariegos
Issis Raquel Castro Meza
Chau Hoai Quynh To
Eunju Kim
Itza Alejandra Hernandez Sequiera
Chee Lee Cheong
Fatima Guadalupe Rodríguez Pacas
Ja Mun Mai
Christina Excellent
Felix Jose Poleo Ynfante
Jefferly Yacor
Cinthya Collado Huembes
Fiona Djunita Luhulima
Jeongsim Lee
Cleefton Belizaire
Frinnet del Rosario Montoya Moreno
Jerry Guerrero Cabezas
Cristina Barquero
Gantsetseg Ganbat
Jiajia Qumu
Cristina Valeria Fonseca Raudez
Genesis Davila Vazquez
Jimmy Alvarado
Cristopher Eduardo Zelaya Nunez
Giesselle Eunise Garcia Mejia
Jorge Fernando Zou Situ
Dania Castillo Marcia
Guillermo Jose Moreno Pérez
Jose Andres Barrios Rubio
Daniel Felipe Cedeño Romero
Haiyang Yu
Jose Francisco Alfaro Cruz
Danyang Zhang
Héctor Eduardo Suarez González
Jose Hernan Rodriguez Ledezma
Daroat Heang
Hector Joel Campos Castellón
Jose Ignacio Saldana Gutierrez
DD Seng Htoi Aung
Henry Martinez
Jose Ismael Roa García
Diego Alonso Gomez Hernandez
Hien Thu Nguyen
Jose Luis Avila Betancourt Juan Campos Portillo Judith Xenia Campos Najera Julissa Josefina Lluberes Beato Junesse Crisostomo Kai Shen Ee Kalainilaa Kalaiyarasu Kar Yan Lai Keilyn Marlene Cerna Fallas Khaing Zin Oo Khine Myat Kywe Kriangkrai Lucksanaut Laura Rebeca Vindas Vargas Leticia Fara Gonzalez Quintanilla Lhuana Pamella Lopez Amorim Linh Thi Phuong Nguyen Luis Montoya Mejia
2012 - 2013 Yearbook
2012-2013 UGRADs! Mai Eaint Thway Khin
Thang Vu Nguyen
Maniphet Phengsavatdy
Thao Ngoc Do
Maria Elizabeth Suzzette Filippi Arriaga
The Saint
Maria Jose Quesada Montoya
Tien Thuy Tran
Marija Gavrilov
Uyanga Ganbold
Mark Nester Mendoza
Varany Khanthavong
Massiel Milagros Vargas Castillo
Vuthika Hang
Maxim Antonio Castaneda Sokolov
Warisa Piyanusorn
Mayra Alejandra ChĂĄvez Caceres
Wilber Alexander Martinez
Meschac Gervais
Wilbert Fernandez Gonzalez
Miguel Abrego Santiago
Wilfredo Javier Petit Yzarra
Moacir Fonseca Becker
Wintwah Win Thoung
Munkhkhishig Daashtseren
Xiao Fu
My Thi Le
Yefei Xuan
Nang Aye Aye Htun
Yisel Vasquez
Naphasouk Sithpraxay
Youngin Kim
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Natchanan Kiatrungwilaikun Nelson Antonio Espinoza PĂŠrez Nominzul Amartsengel Nur Hafiz Abdurahman Oscar Canales Paz Oscar Andres Montes Berdugo Oyu Bayarsaikhan Pamela Varinia Ruano Bocaletti Patriluz Manongsong Pavinaphone Boupha Rachana Nget Ran An Reina Guadalupe Tobar Alvarado Rey Anthony Ostria Rooslun Cheteh Scarleth Giselle Subillaga Moncada Seongyel Kim Simon Paolo Jean Francois Perez Sit Maw Sivmey Hok Solmary Leal Zerpa Somphoas Phalyka Sok Souphaphone Meechaleun Sunwoo Lee
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2012- 2013 Yearbook
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UGRAD Post
Our Experience America activity was an integral part of the Global UGRAD Program. This ongoing photo journalism project challenged the students to complete a scavenger hunt and a short essay in order to engage them with the cities, communities, and people around them. Shortly after arriving in the U.S., World Learning gave each student a large postcard emblazoned with the “UGRAD Post” logo. It accompanied the students to any and all scavenger hunt destinations. This yearbook is a result of the students’ hard work and features some of the highlights of the UGRAD Post activity. We hope it will be a reminder of the many unique and diverse experiences that comprise the Global UGRAD Program.
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School Spirit
Dear UGRAD Post, This photo was taken at the beginning of my Global UGRAD journey. I was placed at the beautiful Presbyterian College in South Carolina and both have received me with arms wide open. During the first few days at school I've had the pleasure to meet people from many different countries, with whom I have already shared many great memories. This is one of my first photos taken on campus. It's at the main sign placed in the entrance to Presbyterian College. I'm proud to be a Blue Hose (the Presbyterian College mascot)! This picture was taken after I registered for my fall 2012 orientation and I was able to learn the different buildings on campus and in the surrounding area. Jey Guerrero (Venezuela) Presbyterian College
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Sports
Dear UGRAD Post, On September 15, 2012, I got a chance to join a get-away in Cooperstown, North Dakota. Together with other international students and Americans, I enjoyed my first zip-line jump from a 100-ft post. It was so much fun and the best part of it was that I was the first one to take on the challenge. That brave feat was one of the lessons the Global UGRAD experience has been teaching me. The event was held during the second day of the retreat and it was a great time not only to reflect on the rest of the weekend, but also to enjoy the fall season with its hues and beauty. I’m excited for the next extraordinary Global UGRAD experience! Ian Jan Nalaunan Dalisay (Philippines) North Dakota State University 2012 - 2013 Yearbook
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Sports
Dear UGRAD Post, This was my first time rafting and I really enjoyed it! So much happened before and during the trip that I will have lifetime memories from it alone. This trip was really interesting because I was spending time with my new American friends and participating in activities that some of them do for fun on the weekends in their hometowns, or for relaxation with their families. When I started rafting for the first time I was forced to learn a lot of terminology that I didn’t even know existed like the names of the paddle strokes and sides of the raft! Nonetheless, this was the greatest experience ever for me! Anouk Yarmilla Vasquez Vegaso (Dominican Republic) Tennessee Tech University
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Sports
Dear UGRAD Post, On December 16th, I went to my first NBA basketball game. It was between the Los Angeles Lakers and the Philadelphia 76ers at Wells Fargo Stadium in Philadelphia. I had to travel for six hours to Philadelphia, because there are no NBA teams in Pittsburgh. However, it was worth it to go. My favorite team is the LA Lakers, so this game was amazing. The most important thing was that LA won that night. In this trip to Philadelphia, I also had a chance to explore the city. I went to the Old City Hall, where the movie National Treasure was shot, and the Liberty Bell. It was a really nice place to visit. It reminded me a lot about what I learned in my American History class. Moreover, it was a good follow-up to my trip to Boston during fall break. This time in Philadelphia I felt like it was a triumph of that attempt. It is where the Declaration of Independence and the U.S. Constitution were signed. Those documents are in Washington, DC now, so I am excited for the spring break trip to DC. This spring break will be a great finale for my American history trip. Natchanan Kiatrungwilaikun (Thailand) Chatham University
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Thanksgiving
Dear UGRAD Post, Before I left Guatemala I was able to meet the staff from the American embassy who told me that I would enjoy a lot of events and holidays during my UGRAD journey like Thanksgiving and they were right! One of the holidays that I enjoyed the most was Thanksgiving because I was able to experience it three times. I enjoyed the first meal with Felix who is a fellow UGRADer, and also my friends from Bible study. That meal was very special to me because we took turns saying what we were most thankful for. After that we started to serve the food which included the famous and delicious turkey, several sides, and a lot of dessert. It was such a blessing to enjoy this holiday with great friends and to be able to feel the warmth of a family while being away from my own. I also had a great time celebrating Thanksgiving with my Friendship Family who took care of me while I was in the U.S. and also with another family from my local church. Every meal that I enjoyed was very special because I was able to see friends and family who traveled together for this special holiday and give thanks for the things around us. I really had a blast during this holiday and I'm very glad I didn't miss it. Jorge Zou (Guatemala) Univerisy of Arkansas
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Cultural Experiences
Dear UGRAD Post,
This photo was taken during the “BOB-Blugold” organization bash when all the clubs of my university gather together and people are able check out and join new clubs. There are so many clubs, from horse riding to dancing and on this day I joined two. The first club I joined is called “Two to Tango.” In this club they teach different kinds of dances every week. So far I have learned a bit about swing dance and the waltz! It is amazing and my new club has members of all ages in it. Some of my friends also joined this club and we go to the dancing studio together every Sunday. The second club I joined is called “Campus Kitchen” and I will also use this to complete my community service hours. In this club we take the food that was left over (but untouched) and deliver it to people in need. I think it is so exciting and I have my first shift tomorrow! Uyanga Ganbold (Mongolia) University of Wisconsin, Eau Claire
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Traveling to New Places
Dear UGRAD Post, September 8th is a day I will never forget. I visited one of the places I have always wanted to visit: Niagara Falls! The office for International Education of Nazareth College organized a trip for all the international students to Niagara Falls, which is about 1 hour from Rochester, NY. My fellow UGRADers, Eston and Lily were also extremely happy about this trip and we couldn’t stop taking pictures! We took a boat to the bottom of the falls and approached so close that we were splashed with water. Being there, 10 meters away from the falls was an experience that I will always remember. Besides being astonished by the impressive falls, I was also surprised by the quantity of people that visit Niagara Falls every day. I had no idea it would be so packed, but I enjoyed this experience very much. Diego Gomez (Costa Rica) Nazareth College
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Traveling to New Places
Dear UGRAD Post, The American Museum of National History is one of the largest museums in the world. Its collections contain over 32 million specimens of plants, animals, fossils, minerals, rocks, meteorites, and human cultural artifacts. Visiting the museum was one of my priorities when I went to New York City because I had never been to a museum of natural history before. I really enjoyed my time spent there. Among the most appealing things seen in the museum are the butterfly conservatory, the picturing science exhibition, and much more. Going to the museum gave me a glimpse of American natural history which supplemented my general knowledge of American history. Wilber Alexander Martinez (El Salvador) University of Southern Indiana
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Traveling to New Places
Dear UGRAD Post, I had the opportunity to visit Charleston, SC, which is one of the oldest and most beautiful cities in the U.S. and is also where famous movies such as Dear John and The Notebook were filmed. It was a wonderful experience that I will never forget. I visited the downtown city market where I could really appreciate the beautiful architecture of this city. I went to a history museum about Charleston that was filled with important facts about the city. The food was just delicious as well. I went to a restaruant called Hymans Seafood where I tried seafood with Southern flavor. The most enjoyable part of this trip was when I visited Folly Beach which is a wonderful place to sit back and enjoy nature. I fell in love with this city and I recommend all of you to visit whenever you can. Cinthya Collado (Nicaragua) Presbyterian College
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Friends and Host Families
Dear UGRAD Post, This is my photo with one of my host families in New York City where I spent most of my winter break. My friend’s niece was holding my UGRAD Post for me. My stay in New York City was really unforgettable and I know that it would not be that fun and fulfilling without the warm welcome of my host families. They really took care of me and I truly appreciate how they treated me like part of their own family. This reminded me of two of the traits we, Filipinos, are known for: hospitality and being family oriented. I truly cherish opportunities like this because they make me realize that our differences are not hindrances but building blocks for good relationships with one another. Patriluz C. Manongsong (Philippines) Bennett College
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The Great Outdoors
Dear UGRAD Post, So far I have visited two national parks: Glacier National Park and Yellowstone National Park. Yellowstone was the first park ever created in America. It was a wonderful place to enjoy nature. One of my favorite movies is 2012, which features Yellowstone National Park and before I came to the U.S., I had hoped to visit it. It was different from Glacier National Park because it had hot springs, a variety of species of animals, volcanoes, and other wonderful creatures of nature. The view was absolutely magnificent. My friends told me they took at least 300 photos in just one day trip. I took 600 photos because there were so many places with great views that I did not want to miss anything. While visiting these parks my friends were released from their everyday lives and everyone could relax. This trip was organized by my school and was done in the fall semester before the snow could cover the landscape of Yellowstone. There were many things I loved about the trip. First was the people. They made the trip more enjoyable and memorable. Second was the park itself. It was a great place to visit and enjoy the time away from hectic academic life, while seeing another amazing landscape in the U.S. The U.S. not only has the skylines with tall buildings, but also nature that is well preserved for the enjoyment of the people. Vuthika Hang (Cambodia) University of Montana-Missoula 2012 - 2013 Yearbook
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Visiting the Zoo
Dear UGRAD Post, This is a photo of the UGRADers from St. Cloud State University at the Lincoln Park Zoo in Chicago. This zoo is located along the banks of Lake Michigan giving tourists the opportunity to enjoy and admire such a beautiful view of the clear blue lake while visiting the animals. We really had a blast at this zoo because we got the chance to see some animals that are not in the zoos in our home countries. Some of the animals there were quite intimidating, but yet very exciting and interesting at the same time. Ekkarat Ruanglertsilp (Thailand) St. Cloud State University
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Festivals and Fairs
Dear UGRAD Post, I want to share with you this unique experience about U.S. culture of when I went to a Pow Wow Celebration. A Pow Wow is a celebration performed every year in September. Here native and non-native American people get together in Mankato's Land Memories Park to dance traditional music wearing beautiful costumes. They also enjoy traditional food and camping. I had never experienced anything like it before and really enjoyed it! Dania Castillo (Honduras) Minnesota State University Mankato
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Volunteering and Community Service
Dear UGRAD Post, This weekend I went to “Run for their Lives,” a 5km run to raise awareness about sex trafficking. To join this event, runners had to pay a $24 fee: this amount of money is what takes to rescue one child or women from slavery. This organization works in different countries such as Guatemala, India, Costa Rica and Thailand. With the money from the race volunteers will go to those places and rescue the women and children offering them shelter, food and education. I’ve run many times, but this is the first time I’ve run for a cause. Each runner wrote the name of one of the young ladies that we want to help on our arms, they asked us to think about the human trafficking issue while running. That morning it was raining, but it didn’t stop people from showing up and I crossed the finish line faster than I had planned. Miguel Abrego (Panama) University of Maine 2012 - 2013 Yearbook
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Volunteering and Community Service
Dear UGRAD Post, Can you guess what all of those papers, envelopes and leaflets are? We worked with them the whole morning, folding papers and leaflets, putting them together and sealing the envelopes. Sounds boring, right? But no, absolutely not! They are the fundraising letters of Bridger Care, a non-profit organization working in the sexual healthcare and education field. After this process, these letters will be sent to the donors and then when more and more donations are received, more and more people will have higher access to healthcare and protection. Volunteering with me are other students from the campus and they are really nice and interesting. It was nice work to do on Saturday morning. The program, named Service Saturday, is held monthly on every 1st Saturday by the MSU Office of Activities and Engagement.
Thao Do (Vietnam) Montana State University
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A Year In Pictures
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Global UGRAD Staff
From left to right: Amy Fisher, Jessica Mead, Bethany Gilchrist, Mallory Orme, Melissa Oppenheimer, Pamela Lowenstein, Dorothy White, Roya Zahed, and Thomas Bruey
Special thanks to Tim Marshall and Mary Evans of the U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs for their steadfast and enthusiastic support of the Global Undergraduate Exchange Program for East Asia and the Pacific and the Western Hemisphere.
Global Undergraduate Exchange Program
Global Undergraduate Exchange Program for East Asia and the Pacific and the Western Hemisphere 2012 - 2013
The Global Undergraduate Exchange Program is a program of the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs of the U.S. Department of State