Nomadic Noles – Issue 5

Nomadic Noles // Summer 2018

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ello, friends of FSU Valencia and of the amazing EWM program.

Wow! This academic year has been “something� at FSU Valencia.

We had a record number of students, courses taught, and faculty: more than 700 students. As you may remember, last year marked 20 years of Florida State University having a permanent program in Spain. It made us think and remember how we started with 250 students per year and what growth we have had! In fact, this year we also marked having had 10,000 students pass by our program in Valencia.

Can you imagine all that has happened to the students and faculty in the program during these years? Yes! All that you are thinking and more, we have lived and experienced through the years. Most are good experiences; there are a few sad and bad situations; and of course, there are a lot of shared life moments. The FSU Valencia program has been there for good and bad, and we are proud to speak about how much we have helped and how much we have shared.

Speaking about sharing, we have a couple of stories that we want to tell you about. One of them is related to the beautiful volunteering program that we started almost 10 years ago. Volunteering while in the FSU Valencia program has all of the same good things of any volunteer activity, plus the incredible reward of volunteering/helping with people of a different culture and country. Our students mingle with Spanish society and people during these volunteering activities, and they immerse themselves in a learning environment and experience personal situations that they will remember forever. Maybe more than what was learned in a classroom?

In this program, our FSU students help kids with a hearing impairment learn and practice English language skills. Unfortunately, society puts these kids behind in their learning of a second language due to their hearing problem. But we want to help solve that. Our students immerse themselves in those kids’ families and homes (supervised by FSU Valencia) and in most cases have the experience of their lives and gain a family/friend/brother/sister forever! As you can imagine, the personal stories behind this volunteering are beautiful and offer invaluable growth in learning.

The other story that we want to finish with is about our students K & M who met in the program some years ago and, if things go as planned, will marry in Valencia (maybe even at the FSU study center) in a few months. After that, we will be able to say even louder that we are a family at FSU Valencia!

Ignacio Messana Valencia dean and program director

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TABLE OF CONTENTS FACES OF THE PROGRAM

Tutor time with t-oigo page 4

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FSU Valencia crew leader Gemma Pascual ensures students are cared for and feel at home.

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Associate Professor of Spanish Carolina González to students: Learn the language, learn the culture.

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Valencian Gema Acevedo redirected her career path after Spain’s crisis knocked her off track.

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International Programs directors offer their perspectives on London, Florence, and Panama.

STUDY CENTER IN FOCUS 8

Cool course alert: Students find the fire for Valencia’s history of the ceramic arts.

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Students have resource options when mental health issues arise while studying abroad.

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When homesickness hits, students rely on these tips to deal with that common feeling.

BEYOND THE STUDY CENTER Weekend wanderlust page 14

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FSU Valencia students flip the roles to teach English to hearing-impaired Spanish kids.

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Oh, the places they’ll go. Students share their travel insights to maximize weekend breaks.

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Café Lavin is close to FSU Valencia and close to the hearts of students, faculty, and staff.

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FSU student has a transformative experience cycling through the most beautiful city in Spain.

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Valencia’s Colón Street is where shopping is a pleasure for students looking to spend the day.

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Rebajas season means a summer stretch of discounts and deals on hot items.

EDITING, WRITING, AND MEDIA ALUMNAE PROFILES Where are they now? pages 22-25

Photo credits Cover photo by Lauren Martin This page, top, courtesy of Taylor Zylicz Middle, courtesy of Allison Notari Bottom, courtesy of Jenna Kelley

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Jenna Kelley From Valencia to San Angelo, Texas

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Ashley Tressel From Valencia to Washington, D.C.

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Gail Levy From Valencia to Panama City, Florida

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Victoria Messina From Valencia to New York City

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o amount of Google Translate could teach someone what 14-yearold Mar Trille Vercher of Valencia learned through a few games of Monopoly against Florida State University’s Nikolai Tonello.

Tonello was volunteering with t-oigo’s Allies in English, a program that specializes in tutoring English to hearing-impaired Spanish students.

Through the program, FSU students who are studying abroad and volunteering with t-oigo are paired with a

student volunteers then teach English to Spanish children, whose grade levels range anywhere from kindergarten to high school. According to T-Oigo’s website, FSU isn’t the only participating university. Others include New York University, Johns Hopkins, Boston University, Duke, and more. Volunteers of all educational backgrounds, ethnicities, and ages can teach.

For FSU students, working in a cross-cultural environment with children who have a physical disability helps the student tutors develop skills

Tutor time with Valencian family and go to the family’s home to tutor the student.

“I was too inside the American community in Spain,” says Tonello, now an FSU alumnus, but who tutored Mar in 2015 through Allies in English. “[The program] was a way to add to the immersion in Spanish culture, not to mention the fulfilling feeling.”

Another FSU student who volunteered with Allies in English is Taylor Zylicz. In fall 2017, the Texas native began her freshman year at FSU in Valencia through the university’s First Year Abroad (FYA) program, and as a result of the program, will have the advantage of in-state tuition on the main Tallahassee campus.

Initially, Zylicz, who hopes to become a physician, chose t-oigo’s Allies in English program to fulfill the required volunteer hours for her pre-clinical major, but soon realized that the program was a perfect fit for her interests.

Zylicz and Marta, the 9-year-old Spanish girl she tutored, bonded instantly. Marta was born with hearing loss and has a cochlear implant, but that doesn’t stop her from being a “ball of energy and imagination,” Zylicz says.

“From different board games to having her give me a new hairstyle accompanied by face paint, we are constantly having conversation,” Zylicz said in summer 2018, when she was still tutoring Marta. t-oigo’s main focus is on students who have hearing aids or cochlear implants, and students at FSU Valencia have the opportunity to sign up as volunteers for Allies in English. These

t-oigo

Seminoles volunteer and teach English to hearingimpaired Spanish kids

By Ashley Gray that they might use in a future career.

Moreover, this program educates the volunteers about the variety of professions they can choose from in the working world and adds credibility to their résumés. Professionals in careers such as medicine, pediatrics, communications, and the like often get their start in this kind of volunteer work. A sense of leadership and a multicultural perspective are just a couple benefits that FSU students gain through working with t-oigo. t-oigo, which roughly translates to I hear, was founded in Madrid, and has partnered with FSU Valencia for about seven years, with about three to four FSU students volunteering per semester. The partnership began when Cristina Sanchis, coordinator of t-oigo’s Allies in English program in Valencia, contacted the campus. Sanchis realized it would be an opportunity for students to tackle some volunteer work, as well as help the local community.

On one hand, Maria Sierra, a member of the FSU Valencia team since 2002, knew this would not be an

Nikolai Tonello (top photo, left), now an FSU alumnus, and t-oigo student Mar Trille Vercher (top photo, right) were happy to be reunited at the Valencia study center in the summer of 2018, three years after the end of their tutoring sessions.

Photos by Ashley Gray

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easy-breezy task. Volunteers would need to learn how to overcome cultural barriers and obstacles stemming from language differences. A lot of bridging-the-gap occurs through Allies in English, such as the gaps between age and physical ability. But once those gaps are bridged, the outcome is rewarding.

“It’s already hard for [the children] to speak one language, so it would be very good for them to feel that they can know not only one language, but know two—and speak it,” Sierra says.

On the other hand, Zylicz thinks the tutoring sessions are quite easy—and a lot of fun. “The hardest part is getting out of the car when [Marta’s family] drops me off at the FSU study center,” Zylicz says. “Marta has a super strong hug to where it makes it almost impossible to leave her.”

Tutoring sessions occur once a week for a few hours, creating a lasting bond not only with the student, but with the family as well. Allies in English emphasizes the need for closeness between the tutor, the student, and the student’s family.

For some, it comes naturally.

“In a way, it was like every week I get to go see my Spanish little sister,” says Zylicz, who has sisters Marta’s age back home in the Houston area.

For others, such as Tonello and Mar, the bond materializes over time. Mar admitted that she was not happy when she first discovered that her mother had signed her up for t-oigo and that Tonello would be her once-a-week chore for the next three months. But who could blame her after she had recently finished learning French, her second language?

However, things proved better than Mar expected, and after about a month of tedious and awkward sessions, they found their flow. Tonello would arrive at Mar’s flat and break out the board games, magazines, and family photos.

“She started liking it because it was a game, having a conversation [with Nikolai],” says Miriea, Mar’s 17-year-old sister.

Sure enough, some Monopoly and family history helped the two achieve the friendship that t-oigo hopes for. In 2018, three years after their sessions, Tonello, at age 23, stopped in Valencia on his way back from the World Cup in Russia. He ended up staying for a few nights with Mar’s family, who were happy to see him again.

First Year Abroad student Taylor Zylicz and t-oigo student Marta are as close as sisters, bonding through fun at Gulliver Park (right and bottom left) and falleras events.

Photos courtesy of Taylor Zylicz

The friendships formed through Allies in English are truly reciprocal in the sense that one side of the relationship doesn’t benefit more than the other. Rather, the student-to-tutor relationship is interdependent. The student gets help learning a new language, while the tutor is rewarded with a deeper understanding of Spanish culture and that warm, fuzzy feeling of doing a good deed.

Moreover, the program continues to give back to both Mar and Tonello.

When asked in 2018 what the best part of the experience was, the 14-yearold Mar answered confidently in English: “Now is my favorite part.”

Nikolai agreed that coming back after three years and seeing Mar converse fluently in English was the best part of the program for him, too.

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Support with a

smile

Crew leader Gemma Pascual ensures that Valencia students are kept safe, well cared for

By Meg Croney-Clark Editors’ note: Program Assistant Daniella Vivar served as a translator for Meg’s interview with Gemma Pascual.

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any factors go into keeping the FSU Valencia program running smoothly for students on a daily basis. But they likely are not aware of everything done for their benefit.

For example, students’ apartments are cleaned weekly; bilingual receptionists are available in both study centers and the other apartment buildings; and—should there be a plumbing or air conditioning problem with an apartment—a maintenance crew will soon be on site to fix it.

Who is the person who orchestrates these tasks and the people who perform them?

Gemma Pascual.

Pascual is FSU Valencia’s director of the reception, cleaning, and maintenance crews, and she goes above and beyond with her behind-the-scenes work at the Valencia campus. Pascual strives to provide the best environment for the students because, as she says, “I would want the same for my children in an unfamiliar place, like each student is here at FSU Valencia.”

Even though a lot of her tasks go unnoticed, she “feels fulfilled making a difference

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Photo by Matías Tallarico

Dean and Director Ignacio Messana and crew leader Gemma Pascual have known each other for the past 13 years.

here.” Being a Valencia native, Pascual is familiar with the city and the surrounding area.

She and FSU Valencia’s Dean and Director Ignacio Messana have known each other for 13 years, and they have become familiar with each other’s work habits. As a result, they have learned how to communicate ef-

work with college-aged students. From the beginning, she says, she found the program to have an important mission.

Messana knew Pascual was a hard worker. He described how new the program was then, and while he wasn’t sure right away where Pascual would fit in, he knew she

“I think it is important that the students learn as much Spanish while they’re here as possible, and to be as much a part of the culture as they can.”

— Gemma Pascual fectively with each other to keep the program running smoothly.

“She takes her job and responsibilities very seriously,” says Messana, who had many kind words about Pascual as a person and her strong work ethic.

They began working together while Pascual was at the Universitat Politècnica de Valencia (UPV). Having heard about the new FSU Valencia program, Pascual was interested in joining the endeavor because she wanted to

would work hard and bring a great attitude to any position where she was needed.

“If you find a good person, keep that person close and decide later what that person should do,” he says.

Pascual had worked for five years with different hotels in Valencia as a supervisor to organize the various work needed to run the hotels. Her job entailed coordinating with different departments and with the hotel managers. She did similar work for five

years at the UPV, coordinating with different schools, such as engineering and art.

Sure enough, she soon found her right place at FSU Valencia.

Pascual’s work is mostly, but not always, behind the scenes, so sometimes students do get a glimpse of her dedication.

“I noticed a leak in our shower, so I went down to the front desk to get some help from maintenance,” says Allison Notari, an English major who studied in Valencia during the 2018 summer C session. “Five minutes later, Gemma was in my bathroom with buckets and figuring out a way to get it fixed as fast as possible. She cares so much and it really shows.”

Fortunately, thanks to Pascual’s attention, maintenance workers on call arrived swiftly and the shower was fixed in a timely manner.

Pascual also oversees the receptionist staff, and each receptionist is prepared to answer questions for students and faculty.

In addition, someone is on duty at the entrance of all FSU buildings every night, and someone is on duty at the two main FSU buildings at all times. Pascual says she encourages the staff to speak Spanish as well as English to help FSU students embrace the Spanish culture.

“I think it is important that the students learn as much Spanish while they’re here as possible, and to be as much a part of the culture as they can,” Pascual says.

Of course, speaking English is essential for the receptionists, especially those working throughout the days and nights at the Garnet and Gold study centers. Both buildings house student apartments, computer labs, and classrooms.

Being able to speak English to the students

ensures that the receptionists are able to communicate in the rare case of an emergency. They also always provide a friendly face, someone easy to chat with.

Along with overseeing reception and maintenance, Pascual’s other responsibilities include purchasing items for the program, from chairs to hairdryers to kitchen sinks. She recognizes the importance of this part of her job so that students have access to items they are accustomed to using in the U.S. Again, this caring attitude reflects Pascual’s goal of making the students at FSU Valencia feel as “at home” as possible while they are living abroad.

However, Pascual is quick to credit the team she leads.

“This is not a one-person job, and if it was, nothing Photo by Meg Croney-Clark would get done,” she says, stressing the importance of The entrance to FSU’s Garnet building, where Gemma each crew working together Pascual works and where students live and take classes. to ensure that the job gets done properly and with little disruption to students’ lives. Most main- and 35 years old—and she puts in time and tenance issues that arise are fixed within the care for both her family and FSU students, balday of the malfunction so that students are ancing both with affection. She says creating as comfortable as possible. a bond with the students is important to her; Pascual has her own family—two sons, 38 she cares about each and every one of them.

In her free time, Pascual enjoys going to the gym, where she does yoga and takes spinning and dance classes. She likes to read and loves to travel.

But, she loves working around college students as well, and says, “Every day is a new experience.”

She admits that sometimes the job is difficult when she has to be an authority figure because she wants to maintain that caring relationship she builds with the students. While she doesn’t like telling students to clean their rooms more often or to quiet down after hours, “it must be done.”

Despite all that Pascual does for the program, she doesn’t seek expressions of gratitude from students. Still, a student once wrote her a letter thanking her for all her hard work. That, she says, “makes my job worth it.”

Photo by Meg Croney-Clark

Hailey Conston practices her Spanish-speaking skills with a reception crew member in FSU Garnet.

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Combining culture and art of ceramics Students embark on an exciting artistic journey through Spain’s history in the arts

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short white building that most people wouldn’t think anything of hides a world of art history, culture, and adventure. Upon walking through the

By Lauren Martin door, FSU students are thrust into a bustle of activity: Wheels are turning, people are painting, and dust is flying everywhere.

Inma Juan and Ximo Pascual, the two Valencians who call this building home, greet everyone with a bright and cheery “Hola.” Despite their not speaking the slightest bit of English, you can tell they are excited to start the day.

That first day at the studio, the students, still groggy from their 8:00 a.m. wake-up call, look around nervously, not sure what to expect.

However, on subsequent mornings, students are up to their elbows in clay.

“Working with local artists is awesome because they have welcomed us into their workshop and taught us not only technique, but the history and significance of tradition for each style of creation,” says FSU junior Claudia Stevens about working in the studio.

Professor Holly Hanessian teaches The Ceramics of Valencia (ART3930).

The summer 2018 course was split between lecture-style classes, in which students mainly learned about the history of ceramics through outings to local museums and tours of the city, and studio-based classes in which the students got hands-on experience building the materials they were learning about.

Hanessian, who is the area head of ceramics in Tallahassee, has been teaching ceramics full-time for the past 20 years, with another 10 years of part-time experience before that, credentials that make her perfect for the job. No stranger to travel, she has taught in other study abroad programs, as well as in Valencia with FSU once before.

“When I got here [the first time], I was like ‘Oh my gosh,’” she says, reliving her excitement. “I had no idea it was going to be the ceramic paradise.”

Spain’s rich history with all types of art, but most notably ceramics, dates back to the 14th century when Spain was an important part of Middle Eastern trade routes. Valencia was part of a triangle of trade with the southern port town of Malaga and the island of Mallorca. New ceramics techniques stayed in Spain for at least a century before spreading to England and the rest (From left) Ximo Pascual, Holly Hanessian, and Inma Juan pose outside of the of Europe.

Ajuntament De Paterna, the studio that hosts the class.

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Photo by Lauren Martin

Using photos that she took of pots in Valencia’s Museo Nacional de Cerámica y Artes Suntuarias “González Martí” museum as inspiration, Sari Stein (left) begins designing her own pot.

Photo by Lauren Martin

“After the Middle East exported their knowledge to Spain, Spain was the bomb,” Hanessian says.

This history can be seen at the local Lladro “City of Porcelain” museum that students visit with the class. The nearby town of Manises is even home to its own kind of reflective ware, which is still respected across the world today. It is called lusterware, a type of pottery that has a metallic glaze.

“And all the tile everywhere!” Hanessian says. “You can’t help but see all the tile.”

It’s true. Almost every building in Valencia has some sort of tile or sculpture built right into the walls. During this course, students get to explore the city to see this firsthand.

“I really like how [Hanessian] incorporates going around town—we go to a lot of museums,” says sophomore and international affairs major Taylor Mackin.

There seems to be no better place in the world to study the rich history of ceramics.

Hanessian explains that her teaching method for “a group that’s at a college lev-

“Working with local artists is awesome because they have welcomed us into their workshop and taught us not only technique, but the history and significance of tradition for each style of creation.”

— Claudia Stevens

el but hasn’t had much experience with handson materials . . . needs to start with a baseline intelligence but also just general information.”

Juan and Pascual reflect this attitude in the studio as well. Although there is a bit of a language barrier in the art studio, FSU has program assistants (PAs) who are all fluent in Spanish. Dani Vivar, the PA on duty, spends her time translating instructions from Juan and Pascual to the class, and Hanessian then adds context and history to the lesson.

Vivar says that translating always has her on her toes.

“But at the end of the day, it’s nice seeing two different cultures interacting,” she says.

During the lesson, Juan clearly explains why the Spaniards included so much detail on their tiles. “They were scared of leaving too much space,” Vivar translates.

While it may sound as though students need at least a degree in art to succeed in this class, it is actually for non-art majors.

Hunter Smith, an FSU senior majoring in

environmental science and policy with no prior experience in ceramics, says, “I think I am a creative person, so that helps me envision what I want to create—execution is like halfway there.”

Even students focusing in other areas of art seem to be enjoying the excitement of the class.

Though he is majoring in graphic design at FSU, Jake Routh says, “It is nice getting the hands-on experience,” while adding the finishing touches to his own ceramic tile.

Routh and the other students were looking forward to showing off their hard work when taking their projects home.

For students wondering if this course will be offered in the future, FSU Valencia academic coordinator Isabel Pico says, “We certainly hope so.”

Keep an eye out on the International Programs webpage for more information.

Two pots made by students.

Holly Hanessian and her ceramics students stop for a goofy photograph, after a trip to a local ceramics factory during class.

Photo by Nomadic Noles staff

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Speaking their language Associate Professor Carolina González finds common ground with study abroad students

Students learn the intricacies of language in González’s Spanish Reading and Conversation course.

Photo by Dani Brown

By Dani Brown

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arolina González is familiar with the difficulties that Florida State students who study abroad experience when they enter a new culture. She knows because she was in their situation in 1995 when, as a Spanish college student, she studied for nine months in Manchester, England.

“It was the first time I was in an English-speaking country, and I was very nervous,” says González, associate professor of Spanish in the Department of Modern Languages and Linguistics at FSU. In the summer of 2018, Gonzalez taught two upper-level Spanish courses in Valencia. “So I can sympathize with FSU students who come to a country where another language is spoken.”

González is a native of Spain, and she grew up in Muskiz, a small town near Bilbao, a Basque city in the northern part of the country.

She earned a bachelor’s degree in English― called English philology in Spain―at University of Deusto in Bilbao, and during her junior year of undergraduate studies, González took the opportunity to study in Manchester. She compares the foreign exchange program called Erasmus to FSU’s International Programs.

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“I can sympathize with FSU students who come to a country where another language is spoken.”

— Carolina Gonzalez “I remember the first day being very challenging,” says González, who lived in Muskiz with her parents and her five younger siblings. “But, I really liked the experience of being abroad and being in a different country, being part of a different culture.”

Teaching those two courses in Valencia provided opportunities that González does not get when she teaches FSU students in Tallahassee. The class lessons allow for immediate applications of what is learned in class and an opportunity for students to hear sounds that are not as frequent in America.

“I like to bring a lot of the expressions and colloquialisms to the course,” she says, referring to Reading and Conversation. The second course she teaches is Spanish Phonetics.

“I point out differences because most of the Spanish that students at FSU hear, especially if they are from Florida, is Latin American Spanish, which is beautiful. But here in Valencia, I tell them ‘Look, here in Spain people say this.’”

In turn, FSU Valencia students learning Spanish have advantages that Tallahassee’s campus cannot easily provide. The cultural immersion aspect helps students take what they learn in class and practice speaking in their day-to-day lives while living in Valencia.

Caitie Bahmandeji, a student in González’s Phonetics class, appreciates the student interaction in class.

“She wants a lot of participation in class, which is nice because I came here to practice my Spanish,” Bahmandeji says. “I definitely use it more than in Tallahassee. [In Tallahassee] I speak it in the classroom, and then when I leave the classroom—I’m done. Here, I get to speak with everybody in Spanish, which is so helpful.”

The classes in study abroad programs can often be smaller than classes in the U.S., which encourages teacher-student interactions and participation in the classroom.

González appreciates the opportunity to have

Dancing and singing for fun Carolina González talks about her newfound appreciation and enjoyment for flamenco

more one-on-one teaching and for students to feel more confident learning a second language. As helpful as that can be, González wishes that the students had more time than the five-week session to learn and apply their language skills.

“There is very little time for reflection,” González says. “The classes are long, the students do a lot of activities, and there is so much to explore. You can only cover so much in a class, without the students feeling overwhelmed.”

The time constraint is a minor obstacle to Gonzalez’s teaching, however, as she finds it is valuable for everyone to learn the home language if they are going to visit a country for an extended period. She recommends taking a language course to all future studyabroad students.

“It really makes a huge difference in [the students’] experience,” she says. “If you go to Italy, take Italian. If you go to France, obviously, take French. At any level.”

González teaches in the appropriate department to back up her suggestion, of course. As of 2017, González was named the Spanish and Portuguese coordinator in the Department of Modern Language and Linguistics. In this role, she oversees course schedules at the upper and graduate levels, as well as organizes faculty meetings that look to improve the program at FSU. In the future, González hopes to offer additional inclusive courses and programs for heritage speakers, those who grew up with Spanish around them but have varying levels of true Spanish classroom instruction.

González also brings a strong academic background to her position in the department. After earning her bachelor’s degree in Bilbao, she traveled to the University of Southern California, where she earned her master’s and then her Ph.D. in linguistics. She joined FSU’s Department of Modern Languages and Linguistics as an assistant professor in 2006— she was a visiting instructor for 2005-06—and also taught in Valencia in the summer of 2016.

As a linguistics professor, González offers an array of courses that focus on phonology and phonetics of language. In addition, González has designed an FSU E-series

I am from the Basque country in the north of Spain, and flamenco is not very popular there. However, when I lived in North Carolina, I saw a flamenco show as part of a bigger event, and it made a big impression on me.

When I came to Tallahassee, one day I searched online and saw that there was a flamenco class starting, and I’ve been hooked ever since.

More recently I have taken up flamenco singing. I have learned a lot

course called “Language Birth, Language Death,” which focuses on both newly invented languages and endangered languages.

One of her main lines of research focuses on the family of Panoan languages spoken in the Amazon area. In that study, she looks at how consonants, particularly “laryngeals,” interact with rhythm.

“I’ve been interested in this language family because it’s not very well investigated,” she says, adding that the interesting aspects of the research have kept her going with it since she joined FSU. Her second line of research focuses more on the Spanish language and its consonants.

“I’m also interested in intonation, so the melody in how we speak, the ups and downs and how it interacts with the syntax of the sentences,” she says.

González studied phonology, the shared patterns and systems in a language, during her academic time at USC. “I really fell in love with sounds and wanted to contribute more in that area,” she says.

Her doctoral dissertation is titled The effect of stress and foot structure on consonantal processes, but her recent studies involve recording people and analyzing how they speak. For González, she enjoys the discovery aspect of research and the directions it leads her.

For example, when she was working on the Panoan languages, she started with the sounds. She then realized that the data she was looking at had to do with morphology, or how you divide the words up. She did not know much about morphology, but that’s where the data took her.

“It’s a challenge, but you have to do it or you won’t get it, you won’t find out what is going on, she says. “You keep on learning. So, I am a student. I’m teaching but I am learning.

González believes that understanding how

from both. I enjoy flamenco for many reasons: The rhythms are haunting, the lyrics are typically very poetic, and the synergy between singer, dancer and guitar player is amazing.

I’ve always been into dancing. When I lived in Los Angeles I learned salsa, swing, and ballroom dancing. Although I really liked all of them, somehow I was a terrible ballroom dancer. But I had fun and I never intended to enter any competition, so I did not mind.

languages function is at the heart of understanding new or different cultures. Reflecting back on her experience as an exchange student in an English-speaking country, she stresses to future International Programs students to further enrich their travels by learning the local language.

“As tourists we often feel that we have to check out all the ‘it’ places—but for a more meaningful and satisfying experience, I recommend taking time to talk to the locals and to the people who have made this country their home,” González says. “You learn so much from doing that—and you will remember it always. Bonus points if you talk to them in Spanish.”

Carolina González has taught summer courses for International Programs in Valencia in 2016 and 2018. Here, she and her husband, FSU Religion Professor Adam Gaiser, and their daughter Adela attend Valencia’s Batalla de Flores parade in late July 2018.

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Photo courtesy of Pexels

Anxiety abroad FSU International Programs offers resources to study abroad students struggling with mental health issues

By Allison Notari

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ost study abroad students know what to do if they suffer a broken leg or get the flu. But the majority of students may not be aware of the resources available if they develop anxiety or fall into a depression while away from home.

Traveling to another country, where the language is different and the customs are new, can be intimidating for college students, especially when some are as young as 17 years old. So it is no surprise that many students experience culture shock and feel disoriented during their first few days or weeks in a foreign country.

All of these strange new experiences can leave students feeling stressed, anxious, or depressed, which can develop into mental health issues that require treatment by a professional. Staff members at International Programs (IP) in Tallahassee and all of FSU’s study centers work with students who experience a mental health issue.

Over the past decade, the stigma surrounding mental health has lessened, and students

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have felt more comfortable speaking up.

Still, statistics show the prevalence of anxiety and depression among college students. The American College Health Association reported in 2017 that more than 60 percent of college students felt overwhelming anxiety within the 12 months prior to the survey, and 39 percent reported feeling so depressed that it was difficult to function. (The full report can be found here: http://www.acha-ncha.org/ docs/NCHA-II_SPRING_2017_REFERENCE_ GROUP_EXECUTIVE_SUMMARY.pdf) Although these statistics are alarming, resources are available to help students who are struggling, even while they are away from their main campus.

FSU International Programs’s insurance provider, Cultural Insurance Services International (CISI), covers counseling sessions, and students can attend as many sessions as they need.

Some students come to Valencia with previous mental health issues, such as anxiety or depression, and may need to continue treatment while away from home. Others develop mental health issues while studying abroad.

International Programs and staff members at all FSU study centers work to provide the

best possible care for struggling students, and they understand that a gap in treatment can be detrimental to recovery from mental health issues such as clinical depression.

“For all participants, regardless of location, FSU International Programs works closely with CISI to identify English-speaking medical resources, including mental health professionals in the area,” says Louisa Blenman, director of enrollment and program management of International Programs at FSU. “We work with providers and insurers to help students schedule appointments as needed.”

A female student who studied at FSU Valencia in 2018 identified large crowds and unfamiliar places as a source of anxiety for her.

Due to the nature of the program and the city itself, facing these were inevitable.“You want

“Don’t feel bad when everyone is going out but you’re not feeling up for it. Even though we are here for a short time, there is always time to take care of yourself.”

— a 2018 student to try to push yourself further than your comfort zone and need to find a balance of going out and interacting with people,” she says.

“But you also need to know when to take care of your mental and physical health.”

Photo courtesy of Pixabay

The anxiety she suffered persisted, but she was able to manage it by surrounding herself with the right friends. “One of my roommates told me that sometimes you just need encouragement from your friends to get out there,” she says.

“Don’t feel bad when everyone is going out but you’re not feeling up for it,” she says.

“Even though we are here for a short time, there is always time to take care of yourself.”

However, had she neglected to take care of herself and had these issues grown worse, she would have been able to rely on resources similar to those students can receive in Tallahassee.

For one thing, students at the Valencia study center have the option to see a therapist, which is covered by CISI. Maria Sierra, who works in the Student Services Office at FSU Valencia, acts as an intermediary between students and the therapist, setting up appointments for students who request it. Moreover, the therapist used by Valencia students conducts sessions in English, eliminating the need for a translator.

Checking in on students who may be displaying behaviors indicative of mental health issues can be difficult without offending them or stepping on toes. However, in Sierra’s experience, students are generally very receptive when approached and recommended to see the counselor.

“I think that all of the students are pretty open to therapy,” Sierra says. “I mean when you use the word ‘psychology,’ or ‘psychiatric,’ instead of ‘therapy,’ or ‘counselor,’ they are pretty much open.”

Understandably, students and parents will be worried about mental health when students are preparing to leave home for an extended time. For this reason, students with ongoing mental health issues are encouraged to speak with their doctor and family before departing and come up with a plan should the student

Students who struggle with emotional and pyschological stress while studying abroad can find resources through FSU. face any of these issues while abroad.

Another component to look at ahead of time is medication. Many medications are not legally prescribed or available outside of the U.S., so students taking any medications should secure a vacation prescription with

into difficulties with this, FSU International Programs can put them in touch with CISI, who can help facilitate the process.

Students with recurring mental health concerns may be worried about studying abroad, but they can prepare as best as possible before leaving the country.

“A student with mental health concerns should also discuss strategies such as keeping a schedule or a routine, communication, and letting someone know if they need help,” Blenman says.

Studying abroad can be life changing, although mental health issues can arise for anyone during the trip. Yet, with proper planning and self-care while away from home, students who manage these issues daily can still take advantage of this transformative opportunity.

“A student with mental health concerns should also discuss strategies such as keeping a schedule or a routine, communication, and letting someone know if they need help.”

— Louisa Blenman their doctor before leaving the country.

Blenman and her team recommend discussing medication with mental health providers and insurers while still at home, so students can avoid running out of medications while abroad. However, if students do run

Tallahassee support team FSU International Programs’s risk management team works closely with each study abroad location to provide resources to students struggling with mental health issues.

Photos courtesy of International Programs

Louisa Blenman director of enrollment and program management

Christina Carroll director of emergency and risk management

Tina Brooks assistant director, risk management

Nomadic Noles // Summer 2018

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Weekend wanderlust From assignments to airplanes, FSU Valencia students use their weekends to venture to other European locales

By Mia Dennery

By Mia Dennery

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onsidering that your post-college years will probably be devoted to building a career and beginning adulthood, studying abroad in college is the perfect time to see as much of the world as you can.

Florida State University’s International Programs offers students interested in studying abroad several locations to choose from. While the summer sessions are more compact, your schedule will leave plenty of free weekends perfect for outside travel.

Although there are only a few days permitted for each weekend trip, many students in Valencia, Spain proved to be quite effective at making the most of their time in a new city or country. With the right attitude and planning, you too can explore a Photo courtesy of Kayla Azoy whole city in as little as two days.

For example, Lauren Martin and Audrey Caraher studied in Kayla Azoy takes the the Editing, Writing, and Media (EWM) in Valencia Program during the second plunge as she paraglides 2018 summer session, and they visited Paris during their stay in Valencia. By in Interlaken, Switzerland scheduling their days in advance and taking advantage of the city’s metro syson her weekend off. tem, Martin and Caraher saw several of Paris’s most iconic landmarks in one day, including the Eiffel Tower, the Palace of Versailles, and the Louvre.

“It was exhausting but totally worth it because we managed to get so much done,” Caraher says.

Other FSU students interviewed for this article have plenty of tips on how to A group of FSU students stop in maximize a mini vacation when planning weekend adventures.

Amsterdam for the weekend.

Begin by picking a destination that meets your budget and time restrictions. For example, cities such as Copenhagen, Denmark and Stockholm are known to be expensive in terms of food and lodging. But, cities such as Prague and Budapest are more budget friendly.

Because many popular European cities have dozens of wellknown tourist attractions, decide early on which attractions to prioritize.

“If there is a site far away and expensive, it is not worth your time,” says FSU student and mechanical engineering major Jordan Noyes.

One mistake to avoid is booking a place to stay outside of the city you plan to visit because it is Photo courtesy of Emily Rini cheaper. Instead, make sure you

14 Nomadic Noles // Summer 2018

calculate the costs of transportation in and around the city to make sure your low-cost lodging is not, in fact, more expensive. Airbnb and Hostel World offer apartments and homes in desirable locations at an affordable price, although sometimes the best deals are snapped up weeks in advance.

Another mistake to avoid is assuming that you will be able to take a U.S.-sized carry-on suitcase for free into the main cabin of a flight within Europe. Often, such a suitcase must instead be checked for an extra fee, which can be much higher on the day of the flight than if paid when booking the flight. To avoid any last-minute surprises, check the airline’s baggage rules when booking the flight.

That said, once you and your friends have agreed on a city to visit, it’s time to figure out how to get there. FSU students interviewed for this article agreed that Skyscanner—a global search engine that compares flight, hotel, and car rental prices—is the most efficient comparison site for purchasing plane tickets.

For those traveling throughout Spain, students recommended GoEuro for purchasing affordable train and bus tickets to cities such as Barcelona, Seville, Granada, and Madrid.

FSU International Programs requires students to fill out an independent travel form but allows them the freedom and opportunity to explore Europe while studying abroad.

In Professor Candace Ward’s summer 2018 Tourist Trap class, for example, 20 of her 21 students reported during their fourth week that they had traveled out of Valencia more than twice since the start of their five-week program.

“It’s a safe estimation that over 50 percent of the students travel every weekend,” says Ignacio Messana, dean and director of FSU’s Valencia program.

Some places that summer students typi-

cally visit outside of Spain include Paris, Amsterdam, Rome, and Prague. Inside Spain, some typical places include Barcelona, Ibiza, Pamplona, and Seville.

During your trips, it is important to travel with others for safety reasons. While safety obviously is paramount, group travel is not always convenient. FSU students had mixed opinions about the most ideal group size to travel with.

“The magic number is four because it is the most cost efficient for cabs,” says Lexi

FSU Valencia students use a 360-degree camera in Capri, Italy.

Photo courtesy of Maria Velez

Wendling, a student in the summer 2018 EWM program.

During some friendly banter on the topic, her classmate, Allison Notari, disagreed.

“The perfect number is one other person because you don’t have to wait for a group of people to be ready,” Notari says.

Regardless of group size, remember to choose people you mesh well with. Trips can be tarnished when too much time is wasted on indecision and on meeting the wants and needs of each member of the group.

“There were a few attractions I was dying to see, but when I was the minority, we went with the group’s wishes,” says Amanda Walser, a hospitality student studying in FSU’s Switzerland program.

Every little purchase adds up, so budgeting is a major component of these weekend excursions. If you are not careful, you may end up spending 200 euros in Paris on three days’ worth of food alone. However, spending that much on a weekend’s worth of food in a country known for its cuisine might not be an issue for everyone. In fact, in terms of splurging, most students admitted they are more likely to spend their money on pricier foods than on pricey lodging and shopping.

“Food is different everywhere you go—shopping is usually about the same,” Noyes says.

Walser was clearly enthused with her food choices.

“I loved Spanish tapas, and, of course, German bratwurst,” she says. “I tried trdelnik [a Czech dessert] in Prague, which is a must for anyone who ever goes there.”

Ultimately, despite the extra money students spend on their weekend travels, their experiences are nothing short of life-changing.

“I’m pretty broke now, but the experiences I’ve had are priceless,” says FSU student and chemical engineering major Emily Rini.

Messana encourages students to take those opportunities now.

“I think it’s wonderful for your education if you travel to these other cities with an eye-opening attitude of seeing things, of meeting people, of seeing how they eat, behave, and act,” he says. “I will always recommend it with all of the safest possible environments.”

Nomadic Noles // Summer 2018

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Gema Acevedo (left) talks to editing, writing, and media students about being confident and showcasing their strengths in the communications field to potential employers. Seated from left: instructor Susan Hellstrom, Maria Velez, and Lindsay Mead.

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our country is in the midst of a financial crisis, and you’ve been laid-off from work. You have very little money to go back to school, but you need to gain a competitive edge against other people looking for jobs. You decide to diversify your resumé by learning a new language, and you decide to get an education in business and marketing. Your university: Netflix, Hulu, and Google.

Such was the case for communications and marketing strategist Gema Acevedo of Valencia, who has been a guest speaker in the Editing, Writing, and Media (EWM) Program in Valencia for four of the past five years.

An economic crisis hit Spain starting late 2007 partly due to the

Born and raised in Valencia, she didn’t want to leave the city she loved. Thus, she began her journey toward molding a successful future. She taught herself English by watching popular shows in English like Lost and continued to practice with shows such as The Walking Dead and The Handmaid’s Tale. She achieved her goal by listening, reading English subtitles, and conversing with native English speakers.

“I couldn’t pay for a master’s, and my parents were also affected by the crisis, so they couldn’t help me either,” Acevedo says. “I improved my English every day by listening and watching the subtitles; I don’t have time or the money to go to a class with a native speaker.”

Acevedo looked to online learning as a vital educational resource, given her situation. She took online marketing and communication courses through Google Academies, where she studied online marketing and communication.

FSU Valencia Dean and Director Ignacio Messana met Acevedo at a teaching event in 2013 organized by the US Embassy in Spain and the Polytechnic University of Valencia in which they were helping people improve their resumes and teaching them about public speaking, social networks, and personal branding. Acevedo impressed Messana right away.

“She’s a combination of a professional person with good communicating and teaching skills, and at the same time, she has a good personality,” Messana says.

After Facebook emerged, social media wedged its way into the field of communication and journalism as users began utilizing social media to distribute news and to build brands.

Acevedo saw this as an opportunity.

Sifting through potential clients’ social media pages and websites, she realized the clients could improve the way these platforms were used. Acevedo made her talents known by direct messaging potential clients on their Instagram accounts or by showing up in person and explaining how she could boost their image. In the old days, this was known as cold-calling, and Acevedo admitted to the EWM students that it was difficult.

A risk taker and path maker Valencian Gema Acevedo encourages students to create the career they want Article and photos by Tomas Cabezas global recession affecting other Eurozone countries. The crisis lagged on, and as a result, Acevedo lost her job as a reporter for a Valencian news station when the station closed due to financial issues in 2013.

“When I got fired from the TV station, I cried a lot, but I thought ‘OK it’s time to make it on my own, to be a journalist by myself,’” she says.

16 Nomadic Noles // Summer 2018

Meanwhile, a woman that worked in health marketing gave Acevedo her first client, after Acevedo met her at a networking seminar.

“I gave my card to a woman journalist and talked with her for a while. I told her that I can write and edit,” Acevedo says. “She called me a few months later, and I started to work with her.”

During her presentation to the EWM students in summer 2018, she talked about her journey to find a job and regain financial stability. Her energetic personality meshed well with the students.

“She relates very well with the students in terms of social media and the idea that today’s work ethic is not about having just one responsibility,” EWM program instructor Jack Clifford says. “Her enthusiasm for speaking with the students has not changed at all since the first year she visited the classoom. She really cares about the students and that shows in how she speaks to the class as a group and, at times, to individual students.”

Acevedo, whose clients are in the medical field, specializes in health communication.

She showed EWM students how she manages two of her clients—one a dentist and the other a cosmetic surgeon—on social media and through their websites.

“I like to show a lot of before-and-after pictures—the clients and patients love seeing those photos on Instagram,” Acevedo says.

These are before-and-after photos of crooked teeth corrected to whitened smiles and graphic videos of plastic surgery procedures that might seem too intense for a picturesque platform like Instagram. However, Acevedo realized that she could use Instagram to advertise for her clients.

“She taught herself and gained all this experience, and then decided to go up to businesses and say ‘Hey, you need me,’” EWM stu-

“I think with technology that we have now, work needs to evolve. It doesn’t make any sense to be in the office writing if you can go somewhere else.”

— Gema Acevedo dent Alejandra Guzman says.

Turns out, prospective patients (and EWM students) like seeing images that show results, no matter how medically graphic they are.

After showing students these images and the high rankings her clients received in Google searches, Acevedo told students that stable job opportunities within social media were possible; you just have to put yourself out there.

For EWM students seeking job security, this meant hope.

“When she explained what she did as a ca-

reer, I hadn’t met anyone who did that,” EWM student Erin Groves says. “I felt a sense of reassurance that it actually existed.”

Groves works as head of social media for the Florida Podiatric Medical Association, where she is in charge of all social media accounts.

“I struggle with my job sometimes because I don’t know what to post, but she showed me real examples,” Groves says.

EWM student Allison Notari plans to go to law school once she graduates, yet she still found Acevedo’s insight applicable.

“A lot of what she talked about was about interacting with people and connecting with people, and you can’t be an attorney without being able to interact with your clients,” Notari says.

On top of managing six clients, Acevedo now owns her own business, La Ratita Sibarita. An e-commerce business and blog, La Ratita Sibarita offers a variety of gourmet food products shipped throughout Spain, combining her love for writing, social media, and entrepreneurship.

“I think with technology that we have now, work needs to evolve,” Acevedo says. “It doesn’t make any sense to be in the office writing if you can go somewhere else. It is important to me to be a freelancer because I get to make my own time.”

For students looking to get into social me-

dia or go toward a path of entrepreneurship in competitive times, Acevedo’s perseverance through grim circumstances offered hope.

Yet she had one final bit of advice for the students.

“You must remember, though, that work is not the most important thing,” she says. “The most important thing is your family, your life, and your time.”

Gema Acevedo (right) shows EWM student Lauren Martin the Instagram account she manages for one of her clients. Acevedo gives her clients a calendar each month telling what she will post and when.

Nomadic Noles // Summer 2018

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Meg Croney-Clark (far right) visits Lisbon, Portugal with her newfound group of friends, (from left) Taylor Noyes, Hailey Conston, and Shelly Perry.

When homesickness hits

FSU Valencia students find ways to cope

By Audrey Caraher

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Photo courtesy of Meg Croney-Clark

The FSU Valencia PAs show their love for each other at Fourth of July pool party.

person’s day-to-day life can be busy, demanding, and even draining. The remedy for a hectic schedule can be as simple as being at home, where the surroundings are familiar and comfortable. When we’re away from that place for a long period of time, we tend to miss our everyday routines. The travels and adventures are fun, but it’s completely reasonable to experience that annoying little tic: homesickness.

The symptoms hit most people in one way or another. For students studying abroad for extended periods of time, say an entire academic year, the difficulty of dealing with and overcoming homesickness is probably expected. However, even students studying abroad for a five-week summer session may find themselves feeling homesick.

Florida State University sophomore Lauren Martin studied in Valencia, Spain for the 2018 Summer C session, and she recalls that her toughest point was during week two.

“I think week one was very busy,” she says. “Then week two is slower and you have more free time and it hits you, like, ‘Oh crap, I’m here for three more weeks.’”

Erin Groves (left) and McCaryn Porter became friends through FSU Valencia and took a trip together to Sorrento, Italy.

Christina Williams takes a walk around the Serranos Towers—a monument just outside of the Garnet building.

Photo courtesy of Christina Williams

18 Nomadic Noles // Summer 2018

Photo courtesy of Erin Groves

So, how do students abroad deal with homesickness? How do they prevent those emotions from getting in the way of having fun? Several FSU Valencia students were willing to share how homesickness affected them and how they dealt with it.

In addition, the program assistants (PAs) of FSU Valencia shared how they help students work through homesickness.

Ideally, those insights can help future students combat what is a common occurrence.

“Home” away from home FSU has had a presence in Valencia for nearly 20 years, so many students have studied in this beautiful city. A student can choose from several lengths of time when planning a study abroad experience: a full year, a full semester, or a summer session.

“We’re only here for five weeks, so everything we feel, we feel fast, and then it’s over.”

— Lauren Martin Most of those who spend a year immersed in Spanish culture are part of FSU’s First Year Abroad (FYA) program.

These students are incoming freshmen, and many are from out of state, as they reap certain benefits. For example, International Programs offers FYA students instate tuition at FSU for the remainder of their college experience after their return to the U.S. Understandably, FYA students have a big adjustment to make in Valencia. Not only are they likely away from home for the first time, they’re in a completely different country. FYA student Christina Williams says she “felt out of touch” because she was “so used to being in America, always hearing American things, being around American friends, and doing American stuff.”

Students who are only studying abroad for three months or five weeks can have

“I know that’s would help me through it and tell me to just just as strong reacan uncomfortable enjoy my time here because it’s going to go tions. Those shorter “Valencia is a really cool thing to do but by so fast,” she says. programs are accel“FaceTime is always the cure,” Groves there’s always going erated, but also war- city, and there’s so many to be people who adds. rant an adjustment things you can do to make Able and Chang say one way to preempwant to be your period. friends and to sup- tively help yourself overcome homesickness “We’re only here sure you take advantage of port you,” Chang is to come prepared with knowledge of your for five weeks, so ev- this experience.” says. “At the end of host country. If you’re studying in a counerything we feel, we — Chelsi Chang the day, everybody’s try whose native language is different than feel fast, and then it’s yours, learn a few main phrases to help you in the same boat.” over,” Martin says.

Also, if you isolate yourself and don’t in- get around easier.

Unfortunately, students sometimes let “I think that a lot of people get homesick homesickness overcome them and jeopar- teract with other students, you run the risk dize their time in a new country. Whether of regretting your time abroad. The oppor- and scared because they can’t understand the term is a year or five weeks, it’s important tunities to explore and travel to other plac- the language,” Abel states. for students to be prepared for this potential es are endless. Even if you decide not to leave hiccup.

Spain, you can be entertained during the length Symptoms and signs of your stay. of homesickness Maria Sierra, who has worked with students at “Valencia is a really Students experience homesickness to difFSU Valencia for more than 15 years, has watched ferent degrees. For the most part, however, cool city, and there’s so students and PAs say an overall sad atti- many things you can do students go through homesickness every year tude and isolation are common symptoms. to make sure you take and has been able to observe their adjustments.

The PAs share that, typically, students who advantage of this experi“Usually the first three or four days are the hardare experiencing homesickness will become ence,” Chang says. est,” Sierra says. “Once they start going to classes, Every student and PA withdrawn from people. they start meeting friends and other students, and “They don’t really leave their apartments, who was interviewed they see that they are probably going to be fine.” they stay put,” Avery Abel says. “They don’t said the study abroad really push themselves anymore. They don’t experience goes by fast.

However, when students reach out to Sierra, Abel found that remindtry new restaurants or try new things.”. who is one of the key resources for student health A fellow PA, Chelsi Chang, also noticed this ing herself that “this isn’t at FSU Valencia, she ensures that those students behavior in students suffering from home- permanent” helped pull are taken care of. her out of her struggle sickness.

Sierra, who herself is a parent to four children— “There are usually the kids that are sitting with homesickness.

“Don’t wish to go in their room all day and don’t really want to one of whom studies in California and another home because you can talk to people,” she says. of whom studied in France—has some advice for Martin agrees with these observations, always go home, but you parents. and she shares that staying in her room is can’t always come back “You don’t need to be calling your children all definitely how she realized she was experi- here,” Abel says. the time and telling them what to do,” Sierra says.

Williams shares anencing homesickness.

“If they need help, they will call you. But they need FYA Williams has similar memories of the other piece of advice start of her time abroad: “I didn’t talk very with students. to adapt themselves. As a parent, you need to “Time is of the esmuch in the beginning. I didn’t want to try push them a little bit for them to be independent.” sence, in many differanything new.” ent ways,” she says. She Chang concurs: “I always try to get to know stresses the importance of staying on top Advice from students and PAs So, now that the problem has been de- of school work as well as experiencing the a culture before I come to it, and I think that it kind of helps me find those ties or learning fined, how can it be handled? There are sev- culture.

Another great resource to help deal with a couple of the words so that I don’t feel so eral ways to combat homesickness, students homesickness is easily accessible and al- confused and out of place.‘” say.

One of the takeaways from the students’ First and foremost, “don’t be afraid of be- ready in your hand every day: your phone. ing homesick,” advises student Erin Groves, FaceTime, Skype, and WhatsApp are excel- comments and reflections is that homesickwho studied in Valencia during the 2018 lent ways for you to lean on your friends and ness will hit you; when that happens, allow yourself to feel it but be conscious of it. Don’t Summer C term. Homesickness is bound to family back home for comfort.

“We’re so lucky to have access to this let the emotions take away from the amazhappen, so you might as well accept the feeling opportunities ings. Then you can confront the issue head- technology,” Groves before you. on and enjoy the rest of your experience. says.

With these tips Summer C stu- “I could FaceTime my friends Wishing for home is completely normal, from students who students says, so don’t be hard on yourself dent Meg Croney- back home and they would have gone through Clark says she also when you have these feelings. help me through it and tell the program, you Part of not being afraid of your homesick- used technology to are better equipped stay connected. ness is also not being afraid to talk about it. me to just enjoy my time go forth on your “At the beginning “Honestly, most people don’t talk about here because it’s going to go to own study abroad when I was more homesickness,” Martin admits. adventure and When overcoming this obstacle while homesick, I could by so fast.” make the absolute abroad, it’s important to reach out to other FaceTime my friends — Meg Croney-Clark best of it. back home and they people.

Parents’ peace of mind

Nomadic Noles // Summer 2018

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A server who customers know as Nacho brings popular espresso drinks to guests.

Paola and Patricio Lavin’s niece Danka works the cafe’s inside counter, calculating the price of an FSU student’s order.

The heart behind the corner cafe

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fter a full day of traveling from the U.S. to Valencia, luggage in hand and a big tower overhead, Florida State students have finally arrived at their home for the summer. Program assistants show the new arrivals to their apartments, so they can unpack and relax before FSU Valencia’s welcome dinner.

Students’ excitement is accompanied by hunger, but the apartment refrigerators are empty. After such a long trip overseas, the energy required to go grocery shopping is nonexistent. Instead, all a student could ask for is a quick snack to hold her over until dinner.

Voila. Only a few steps from the Garnet building is a small café on the street corner: Café Lavin.

Café Lavin, named after its hard-working Chilean owners, opened in 2009 when Paola and Patricio Lavin moved from Santiago, Chile, to Valencia for business purposes. Besides Paola and Patricio, other family members at Café Lavin are Catalina, their daughter, and Danka, their niece, who work as servers. The Lavins also employ servers who are not family members.

As at many family restaurants, the hours at Café Lavin are generally long. In the summer, the café workday can run 16 hours or so.

At 7 a.m., Patricio generally sweeps and mops the patio in front of the café. The servers then fill the empty patio with tables, chairs, and umbrellas for customers to enjoy, many of whom are on the lookout for a café con leche to start the day.

For many FSU students, Café Lavin is the

20 Nomadic Noles // Summer 2018

Article and photos

by Alexandra Wendling social center for meeting new friends. Manuel Muniz, a senior program assistant (PA) and returning study abroad student, thought back to his first experience at Café Lavin.

“From the beginning, they (employees) were very nice to us,” Muniz says. “They knew we were new to town and did not know much about Valencia.”

Although the owners of Café Lavin are originally from Chile, they are able to provide new

study abroad students with advice on how to get around Valencia. Moreover, with almost 10 years of experience, the Lavin family has learned to adapt to FSU students’ schedules and needs. For example, Americans are accustomed to busy workdays and generally visit restaurants just to order food and leave.

At Café Lavin, cost efficiency and a quick pace keep students coming.

When working the morning shift, employees are prepared for students to ask for a coffee or croissant “to-go,” or para llevar. Students can expect to get a pastry and beverage for less than five euros. But in the Valencian dining culture, lunch is the biggest meal of the day, so employees are prepared for customers to sit for longer periods and to enjoy their meal and some conversation with their lunch companions.

The building in which Café Lavin is housed has been next-door neighbors with FSU since FSU moved to the neighborhood. In the fall of 2007, the Valencia study abroad program relocated from the dorms in the Universitat Politecnica de Valencia to its own study center nearby the Torres de Serranos, making the current FSU study center two years older than Café Lavin.

As a result, Dean and Program Director Igancio Messana has watched Café Lavin grow throughout the years.

“They have been very hospitable and professional—they always go above and beyond,” he says.

Due to the consistent business that Café Lavin receives from FSU students, Messana

and the Lavins decided that Café Lavin was a perfect fit for Chequé Gourmets, a meal plan provided to FSU students.

For five years, Café Lavin has accepted Chequé Gourmets, a voucher worth seven euros. With seven euros, a student could purchase a Caesar salad and tea, or a pizza and coffee.

Daniel Hasty, a senior entrepreneurship major from Miami, uses the system by ordering a double-chicken-cheese sandwich and sparkling water with one Chequé.

“The servers know my go-to order and always remember that I like hot sauce with my sandwich,” Hasty says.

Another FSU student, while eating a fresh chicken empanada and wondering what to do with the rest of the day, overhears the servers’ plans to check out a local establishment not far from the café after their shift ends.

“France plays Belgium at 8 tonight,” the server says. “Let’s get a good spot after you’re done eating. All the FSU kids are going.”

The employees at Café Lavin interact with students, and the small talk exemplifies the mutual fondness between the Lavin family and students. Although the first language of all of the employees is Spanish, students put forth effort in getting to know their server. Curiosity about the future sparks conversation, especially when socializing with servers who are also in their 20s.

“Have you ever been to America?” one student asks a server. “How long have you been living in Valencia?”

Even though Café Lavin is a successful enterprise, Patricio does not expect the younger members of his family to continue the business. Instead, Patricio has different plans for Catalina, age 24, and Danka, age 22.

“Once the final university bill is paid off, we will sell Café Lavin,” Patricio says.

Café Lavin’s clientele is generally a combination of locals, FSU students, and tourists. Business increases in the summer because many tourists visit the Torres de Serranos—a signature Valencian monument across the street from Café Lavin and the FSU Garnet building.

On a typical day, students and employees introduce themselves to one another and talk about their weekend plans and the different lifestyle back in Tallahassee. Meanwhile, FSU instructors are often spotted grading papers or having meetings with students at Café Lavin. The shaded corner location brings a cool breeze and offers relief from the intense Mediterranean summer sun.

Larry Gerber, an FSU emeritus music professor, takes advantage of the comfortable setting when indulging in the moderately priced, yet delicious, food. Gerber has taught periodically in Valencia since 2000 and has become well acquainted with the Lavins.

“They are committed, hard-working, and wonderful,” he said in summer 2018. “The pride they have in Café Lavin is reflected in the cleanliness, professionalism, and quality of their café.”

When it is time for FSU students to pack up and go back to the States, they know that they will greatly miss the conversations they had with the Lavin family and the servers at the café. Yet both the FSU students and the Lavin family are excited to see what the future holds and will always look back fondly to the memories they made at the corner café.

Top: Before opening hours, Cafe Lavin’s patio remains empty until sunrise.

Middle: Valencian locals at prime lunchtime hours.

Bottom: FSU Valencia students take a break from classes and studying.

Nomadic Noles // Summer 2018

21

Where are they now?

W

ith the upcoming 2018 midterm elections, immigration issues, and the president decrying “fake news,” journalism is a hot topic.

“I think journalism is kind of what’s making the world go ‘round right now,” says Jenna Kelley, a former Florida State University student who studied in Valencia in 2016.

Students with an interest in journalism

All articles and interviews on pages 22-25 by Lindsay Mead or media and the means to study abroad make their way to Spain each summer for FSU’s Editing, Writing and Media Program.

The program marked its fifth consecutive year in 2018.

During the five-week program, students work together to create Nomadic Noles, the student-produced magazine for Valencia’s study abroad program (and the one you

are now reading). Students in the program aspire to be writers, editors, news or entertainment broadcasters, and more.

Meanwhile, some of the program’s alumni are already off to a strong start with their media careers. Among those are alumnae Jenna Kelley, Ashley Tressel, Gail Levy, and Victoria Messina. Their stories are told on the next four pages.

Jenna Kelley

From Valencia student to weekend anchor

J

enna Kelley studied in the EWM Valencia program in 2016, and she graduated from FSU in the spring of 2018. She began her career as a weekend news anchor and weekday reporter at KLST in San Angelo, Texas in May 2018.

Kelly was a theater kid in high school and she never really considered journalism her calling. After obtaining applicable internships throughout college, however, she realized that her love for writing and entertainment, plus her desire to be on-air, could land her a successful career in broadcast journalism.

“It’s fun for me—and you can also change people’s lives in weird ways by telling people things they didn’t know before,” Kelley says.

KLST is a small market and the station only uses camera operators on the weekends, leaving Kelley to produce her entire show on weekdays with the app, iNews.

“It’s a very one-person band,” Kelley says.

“You bring your camera with you, you bring the tripod, you find your story for that day, and you go straight to the scene where that story’s happening.”

Moving forward, she wants to keep improving since she is in a smaller media market.

“Right now there’s Jenna Kelley during her time as weekend anchor for news nothing I’ve been sustation KLST in San Angelo, Texas.

Photos courtesy of Jenna Kelley per accomplished at,” she says. “It’s just I keep seeing myself improving and getting more business, and once I started doing internships, I realized I do want to be on-air,” she comfortable in front of the camera.”

In the future, Kelley’s ultimate goal is to be says. “News wasn’t always that interesting to me, but I realized if I’m the one on-air and the at the round table at E! News.

“I always knew that was the route I wanted one being the storyteller, I may be interested to go, somewhere within the entertainment in it. Now I am actually interested in it.”

Q&A with Jenna Kelley

Jenna Kelley during her time in Valencia, in front of the Plaza de la Virgen fountain.

22 Nomadic Noles // Summer 2018

How did the Valencia EWM program prepare you for success in your career?

What’s so great about the EWM program is that it allowed me to be hands-on and the instructors let us, not roam free, but told us to go find our story, find our angle, interview them, get your pictures. We actually did what a journalist does on a day-to-day basis. In journalism, and especially in the job I’m in right now, you’re working even when you’re not working so you really have to love it.

Was the Valencia EWM program what you thought it would be or was it different?

It wasn’t what I thought it was going to be in the sense that it was better. It was more than what I expected because the classes show you all aspects of journalism through print media, and that was something I really wanted to learn. And it’s so much fun, I actually liked going to class, and the finished product is the coolest part of it all.

What made your summer in the program memorable?

Fox Congo! No, I’m kidding. Honestly, meeting everyone is what made it so much fun. I’m still best friends with people from the program to this day. Just making connections and networking with people and finding out who people are and literally making life-long friendships.

What advice would you give to students in the Valencia EWM program?

If you really like it, stick with it. You are not going to get paid a million dollars in your first job, but if you work really hard to get in the industry and you really like it, then be persistent and get involved with everything you possibly can. Build your resume. Make sure you have a website going with all your published work. Know your stuff, ask questions.

Ashley Tressel

From Valencia student to the Pentagon

F

or Ashley Tressel, FSU Valencia’s EWM program in 2015 was her first time overseas, and the experience also was the first real reporting experience that she had.

“It was more than I thought it would be,” Tressel says. “I knew I was going there to get writing experience, but I had no idea that my teachers would have so much experience and so many things to teach us that are different from the traditional classroom.”

Tressel got her first taste of what her future career would look like when she wrote a political piece for Nomadic Noles about the mayoral election that took place in 2015 in Valencia.

Her first job after graduating from FSU in 2016 was with a twice-weekly newspaper in Mendocino County, California. After writing for a second daily newspaper in northern California, Tressel moved to Washington, D.C., where she works as an associate editor for Inside Defense, an independent, subscription-based newsletter that covers the U.S. military.

The publication’s audience is not the general public, she says, but is more defense contractors, lobbyists, and people in the services, “because they like to know what we are writing about them.” She reports from the

Pentagon and Capitol Hill, specifically on the U.S. Army at the Department of Defense.

“It’s not anything I thought I ever would be doing even a year ago,” Tressel says.

“When I was in California, I thought it would take me five years to get to D.C, and it only took me a year.”

She moved to D.C. to be a political reporter but finds it interesting her career has shifted more toward national security, which she can see herself in for some time.

“I will definitely be doing my current job for a while,” she says. “I came to D.C. to be a political reporter, but now that I am closer to that environment, I’m not sure it is the type of life I want. I think it’s interesting that I fell into the field of national security because that is something I think I could stick with. Maybe I could go work in intelligence or govern-

Q&A with Ashley Tressel

Did you travel much on the weekends?

I did, yes. My friends and I went to Portugal, Amsterdam, and Brussels, Belgium. Portugal was my favorite but I liked Brussels a lot—it was a close second. We took a really fun waffle-cooking class while we were in Brussels.

Why did you choose the EWM program?

Definitely because it gave me a chance to study in a different country. I knew that I needed to get some of my extracurricular activities going in terms of different experiences.

What made your time in Valencia so memorable?

The cultural experiences. That was my first time overseas, and just getting to see a whole different world, seeing Europe and Spain itself, experiencing the food and the people and the buildings; it was all amazing.

How did the FSU Valencia EWM program prepare you for your career?

The program was the closest experience I had to true reporting. Susan and Jack (the course instructors) taught me so much about editing, layout, what goes into actually reporting story from start to finish. I had never been given that instruction before in an FSU class. It was great to simulate a newsroom and put out an entire magazine together as a class.

Ashley Tressel, right, with friends during FSU Valencia's trip to Segovia, Spain.

What was your topic for the magazine?

I was the only student who was able to write on a political topic. I was really excited about that. I wrote about the mayoral election in Valencia, which I had no business writing about. I knew nothing about it. (Laughs) I think I actually put together a pretty nice design and article. I also was a student editor with two other students, so I helped everyone with their InDesign work.

Ashley Tressel on the “Government Matters” news segment for ABC7, WJLA DC. Photos courtesy of Ashley Tressel

ment or as a contractor, something like that.”

For now, her job has given her the most memorable moment of her career so far.

“Standing in the middle of the Pentagon, being there for a press conference, I still have to pinch myself sometimes because I never thought I would be getting to go in there as a member of the press,” Tressel says. “When I first stepped into the Pentagon, I thought, ‘Wow I’m here.’”

Do you apply anything you learned during the program in your current job?

Oh, definitely. I learned what goes into the story, how to craft a lead, how to write out the rest of your story. Also I learned how to take your research and your interviews and plan everything. I had zero knowledge whatsoever of being an actual reporter and the program gave me that first go at it. From spelling and grammar to Associated Press style, to the ethics of interviewing someone, I owe Susan and Jack so much for being able to go into my next internship with more knowledge.

Why did you choose to go in your direction with your career?

I had an inkling before I went to Spain that I wanted to be a journalist. But going through the program, I thought, “Yeah, this is definitely what I want.” I was sitting in the classes with people who wanted to go into public relations or advertising, or any career that isn’t true reporting. That was great to be a part of that because everyone has their different goals and skills, but for me that was when I figured out I wanted to do journalism.

What advice would you give to students in the Valencia EWM program?

Take advantage of the opportunity and just ask whatever questions you may have. Take in the local drink, eat patatas bravas, travel anywhere you want—really enjoy your time.

And live like a local.

Nomadic Noles // Summer 2018

23

Gail Levy

From Valencia student to TV reporter

G

ail Levy, a native of Palm Beach Gardens, Florida, participated in the EWM program in the summer of 2016 with Jenna Kelley. Besides her love for traveling to multiple countries, including France and the Netherlands, during her summer abroad, Levy gained knowledge in writing, Adobe Photoshop, and InDesign.

“Valencia offers a great program that’s getting kids in a small major out of the country,” Levy says. “You’re learning so much more than just editing, writing, and media, which I think is the best part of this program.”

Her love for being in front of the camera started in the fourth-grade, when students were allowed to host the morning show for her elementary school. So, the direction Levy took for her career is not a shock.

While attending FSU, she did internships at WCTV in Tallahassee and WPBF in Palm Beach, and she is now a multimedia journalist at WJHG/WECP in Panama City Beach, Florida.

“Every day is something different,” says Levy, who graduated in May 2018. “I don’t

know what I‘m going to get when I head into that station.”

Her job consists of more than what most people imagine, she says, including pitching her own stories, carrying her own equipment—70 pounds of equipment—becoming an expert on the topic she is reporting on, and choosing the most important information to give to the public.

That is the hardest part, she says.

“I’m constantly talking to people and figuring out ‘what is he saying that I’m going to need to know?’ while I’m interviewing that person,” Levy says. “I like it a lot, but it’s a very challenging job.”

After her two-year contract in Panama City Beach comes to a close, she hopes to be a TV

Q&A with Gail Levy

What made your study abroad experience memorable?

I loved the traveling. Traveling all over was something that was important to me because through that you are also able to build more confidence. You realize “OK, I can get myself to Amsterdam, and I can get myself to France, and I’m going to be OK.” You don’t have to rely on your parents anymore. While in France, we were in Nice and we were able to go to Monaco, which are two of my favorite places in the world.

How did the EWM program prepare you for your career?

Being in classes with Jack and Susan definitely helped me because they gave me a lot more confidence. I did a story on FSU archaeology Professor Juan Salazar when I was in Valencia. To actually get out and talk with Professor Salazar really helped me. I knew I wanted to be a journalist when I took the classes, but going through everything made me super proud. Then after, I thought, “You know what, I can do this. I’m fine. I’ve done this before; now let’s just do it with a camera.”

It’s always good to have people who believe in you, and Jack and Susan believe in me.

One of the many views Gail Levy enjoyed during her travels abroad.

24 Nomadic Noles // Summer 2018

Why did you choose to participate in the program?

The program went hand-in-hand with my EWM studies, and it knocked some credits out of the way. But I knew I wanted to study abroad, and if I were able to go back and do it again, I would stay for the full summer.

How was your experience of creating an issue of Nomadic Noles?

I had the best experience with Nomadic Noles. I got to work with Jack and Susan on my article and learn more about grammar and writing. Whatever I learned in elementary school, it’s just horrible. To get that time together really helped me. I recommend that to all students because that’s when they really take the time to be with you. When you’re in class, you have things going on after, and you want to get out right away, but taking that time outside of class to meet with them helped me with my article and really with my overall education.

Gail Levy reporting live on a summer 2018 fire that destroyed 36 homes in Eastpoint, Florida.

Photos courtesy of Gail Levy

reporter in her hometown, and then eventually become a national journalist. She knows making connections in her business is important for her future.

“It’s all about connections you make because that’s how you get somewhere,” Levy says with a laugh. “I hopefully will meet somebody who wants to give me my own show.”

Did you learn anything in the program you apply to your career?

Learning Photoshop really helped me learn about color balancing, because working in news reporting, you are your own camera person and you are your own editor. It’s really easy for a camera to be too yellow or too blue, so that allowed me to recognize that.

Why did you choose to go in the direction of your career?

Literally, since I was in fourth-grade I knew this was what I wanted to do. I loved being in front of the camera. Eventually I would like to host my own talk show. The news aspect is a really good foot in the door for me and I am learning all about the production end. But I picked EWM as my focus because I knew the track is really broad, and I’ve always liked English. I also was able to take courses through the communication school that were geared toward news reporting.

Why is Valencia an ideal location for the program?

Valencia is a smaller community. Everyone there knows the problems students might have while there, and they want to help you.

They’ll speak English to you, and the people there are just so nice. And the location is great to travel wherever you want to go.

What advice would you give to EWM students?

Make the most of your time. Explore every second you have. Anything you can do, just do it. Just learn something new every day.

Victoria Messina

From Valencia student to POPSUGAR in New York City

V

ictoria Messina took a different path than the other three featured Valencia alumnae. She studied abroad in the summer of 2014 through FSU’s rival school, the University of Florida. That summer was the first year International Programs offered the EWM program, and Messina wrote an article about the history of FSU Valencia’s study center buildings.

Messina, who moved to New York City after her spring 2016 graduation, landed a job at POPSUGAR, an online magazine, where her title is assistant editor of trending and viral features. At work, she covers a wide range of topics from food to celebrities to fashion trends and popular TV shows, such as The Bachelorette.

“Every day, I write anywhere from two to five articles, depending on how poppin’ things are, and I have to keep my eyes peeled on the internet at all times—think: Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, and a few other sources—for my next story opportunity,” she says. “I really have to have my finger on the pulse of what’s ‘trending’ each day, and if it’s something our readers will care about, I write about it. Once I get an article pitch approved by a higher-up editor, it’s off to the races.”

In about an hour, Messina will write the

Q&A with Victoria Messina How did the Valencia EWM program prepare you for success in your career?

The EWM program gave me a huge confidence boost in my writing and interviewing skills as I headed into my last year of college.

I don’t think I would have made it to the Big Apple if I hadn’t had that summer to solidify my capabilities. I chose to interview the overall program director, Ignacio Messana, for my newsletter article, which was pretty intimidating at first. But it taught me how to be more professional and flexible because he was so busy and I had to work around his schedule.

What made your summer memorable?

I still talk about the program to this day,

copy, decide on a catchy headline, track down photos that the site is legally allowed to publish, and come up with witty captions for when the articles get shared on POPSUGAR’s official Facebook and Twitter pages.

Messina gravitated toward writing throughout school, saying that while her friends in high school dreaded English essay assignments, she “looked forward to putting my own words and quirky writing style on paper.”

In addition to earning a bachelor’s degree in journalism from UF and her work with Her Campus throughout her time in college, Messina wrote for The Independent Florida Alligator and was a student reporter and editor for WUFT, Gainesville’s public television station.

“As nerdy as it sounds, crafting creative sentences that flow and paint a picture for the reader is something that gives me a lot of joy,” she says. “I knew that going into the writing field was a risky move because it’s known to be not too lucrative compared to other fields, but it’s been so worth it because I really look forward to my job every day.”

Her first, ‘Wow, I’ve made it’ moment was when she was a panelist alongside other Her Campus female editors at the Her Conference event in summer 2017.

“It blew my mind that so many college stuand it was memorable for so many reasons.

Besides the fact that I had the opportunity to explore a beautiful city and was surrounded by such rich culture (and amazing food!) for an entire month, it was so fascinating to go to class and live in such historical buildings.

Also, it was really gratifying to get the print version of the newsletter a few months later because I can relive the program just by flipping through the pages.

Why should FSU Valencia continue to offer the EWM program for students?

I did a lottttt of research before deciding on the EWM program, and it’s one of the few options out there—or at least it was in 2014— that offers a writing-focused study abroad course. I appreciated that the EWM program was specifically made for students who were in EWM—or in my case, journalism—classes in college.

Standing in the middle of Plaza de la Virgen.

What type of skillsets do you need to succeed in the program?

You definitely have to work fast so you can meet those quick deadlines because the program flies by in five short but sweet weeks. You should definitely be open to critiques from your classmates and teachers because their editorial suggestions can really help improve your final piece in the newsletter. Also, I think

Victoria Messina at Park Gϋell in Barcelona during a weekend adventure.

Photos courtesy of Victoria Messina

dents who attended the conference wanted to hear about my job and my advice for getting into the media industry,” says Messina, who was editor of Her Campus at UF. “It was such an awesome opportunity to represent POPSUGAR among other big names in the industry, like Cosmopolitan, Teen Vogue, and Buzzfeed.” at least having a beginner-level knowledge of Adobe programs like Photoshop and InDesign is necessary because you’re responsible for creating those newsletter spreads and definitely want them to turn out pretty!

What advice would you give to students in the Valencia EWM program?

Push yourself to make your final piece something you’re truly proud of. The newsletter is such an awesome thing to show off to future employers during job interviews, so revise the article as much as you need to until you’re really, truly happy with it. Don’t take the easy way out, either. Pick a topic you’re passionate about, but also that you know will challenge you and take you out of your comfort zone a bit. Don’t just interview your friends for the article — meet someone new so you’re getting real interviewing experience.

Why do you think Valencia is an ideal location for the program to be held?

Valencia is absolutely teeming with history and culture. Between the Torres de Serranos, riverbed, Central Market, City of Arts and Sciences, and the beach, there are endless opportunities for immersing in the local culture. The location is so ideal because students are able to explore both Valencia and the surrounding countries with ease. I truly cannot suggest the EWM Valencia program enough — it’s one of the greatest decisions I’ve ever made.

Nomadic Noles // Summer 2018

25

Cycling in the city Experience Valencia the wheel way

By Alejandra Guzman

Article author Alejandra Guzman rides her bicycle in Valencia’s City of Arts and Sciences complex.

A

fter arriving in Valencia, one of the first things I noticed was the number of people on bicycles. It seemed that they were all on different wavelengths, some coasting on the sidewalks, others speeding down busy streets and narrowly avoiding hectic traffic. I immediately scratched bicycling off of my “things to do while in Spain” list because I wasn’t trying to become a fly on someone’s windshield—but my friends thought otherwise. This is how I found myself gripping onto the han-

26 Nomadic Noles // Summer 2018

dlebars for dear life, making my way toward the Playa de la Malvarrosa.

Valencia is one of the fastest growing cities in Spain and a major tourist hot spot.

The area where FSU International Programs resides, El Carmen, is home to many cafes, shops, and—to my friends’ delight, but my dismay—bike rental businesses.

One of these is PassionBike. Pier Leonardi owns this business, which is a couple of doors down from the Gold building, an FSU classroom and apartment building. For the bold and brave, renting bikes from Leonardi’s shop only costs €8 for four hours. That’s €8 to travel freely through the city, exploring the crevices you can’t get to in a larger vehicle.

Or, you can even ride beyond the city.

“Albufera is a very relaxed area, and you can only get there on a bicycle.

It’s guaranteed to be a beautiful day,” says Leonardi about L’Albufera de València, a natural park about seven miles south of the city with a freshwater lagoon that attracts thousands of migratory birds.

It’s no wonder that renting a bike is listed on TripAdvisor as one of the most popular things to do in Valencia.

The city, which is flat, has over 120 kilometers of bike lanes, with most of them stretching to about 8 kilometers, a calming statistic for wimps like me. While I can personally vouch for PassionBike, there are bike shops on every street for whenever someone gets the urge to take off. The small neighborhood of El Carmen alone has more than a dozen rental shops within

a couple of kilometers, as seen when one zooms out of a GPS application.

One has to wonder what has brought upon this surge in cycling when other systems of transit have existed efficiently for such a long time. Leonardi, a native of Italy who has lived in Valencia for 15 years and has been part of the rental sector for more than five years, says the cycling culture of Valencia has change drastically, associating the change with the dramatic increase in tourism in Valencia.

He’s not wrong. Alicante Today, a local newspaper in a nearby Spanish city, states that from 2011 to 2015, tourism in Valencia went from 14 million visitors to 16 million, about a 15 percent increase in just four years.

In this coastal beach city with its old Spanish architecture and lively night-life, a breezy ride down the river bank calls the name of visitors and locals alike.

Many FSU students choose to travel through the bike lanes in the Turia Gardens, Valencia’s beautiful riverbed that was transformed into a park and officially opened in 1986. It’s a longer path compared to the lanes along the streets, and it’s often congested with other cyclists, but the views cannot be beat.

For example, if students decide to rent a bike on a hot July day without a cloud in the sky, they’ll come across several Valencian landmarks. Starting at the Torres de Serranos, students will pass the tempting smells coming from the Fira de Juliol, the soccer pitch inhabited by young boys dreaming of La Liga, and the City of Arts and Sciences—a collection of buildings that propels visitors headfirst into the future.

On one hand, cycling is the cheapest way to get lost in Valencia and enjoy it.

On the other hand, when in a foreign country thousands of miles away from home base, it’s important to remain vigilant. Leonardi affectionately describes many tourists as having their “head in the clouds,” as they explore the Mediterranean paradise.

But this paradise is not without its faults, he says. As with any large city, petty theft is an issue, and it’s easy to leave a bicycle with-

Photo by Nomadic Noles staff

Pier Leonardi owns PassionBike, a bicycle rental company close to FSU’s Gold building. He has lived in Valencia for 15 years. out locking it on a rack, believing the best of the locals.

“Valencia is a very tranquil city, but tourists sometimes think that they can leave their bikes anywhere and nothing is going to happen,” Leonardi says. Rose-colored glasses are a very real phenomenon when on vacation, but we can’t lose sight of the realities of most metropolitan areas.

Davis Crayner, a student who spent his entire summer in Valencia, experienced a scare when he rented bikes from Leonardi.

“My friends and I made sure to pay attention to all the stoplights,” says Crayner, who still had to avoid an accident with a vehicle, an experience anyone who has ridden a bike knows is a possibility.

Reminders like this serve to keep tourists and study abroad students in check. No one wants to be preoccupied with reality when they are on vacation or studying abroad, but regardless of the beautiful scenery, anything can happen. Luckily, most rental shops also have helmets available, and business owners are happy to route customers through the safest way to their destination.

Despite the issues that surround the cycling culture in Valencia, many students highly recommend exploring the area on a bike.

FSU Valencia student Sabrina Janeiro took advantage of every opportu-

Photo by Nomadic Noles staff

nity she had to rent bike.

“Riding bikes in Valencia just feels like the most appropriate way to get around here,” she said in summer 2018. “I studied abroad to be adventurous and do things I usually wouldn’t do, so why would I sit in a taxi for 15 minutes when I could cycle and figure out my own way around this beautiful city?”

Although he might be a little biased, Leonardi believes the pros of having a bike heavily outweigh the cons, listing things such as the freedom it offers to its benefits for the environment. There truly is something to be said about getting to your destination on your own accord while enjoying the open air.

EWM student Megan Croney-Clark considers cycling her favorite pastime in Valencia.

“It’s a beautiful way to see the city while burning a couple of calories,” Croney-Clark says. “It’s definitely something I want to continue to do back home, maybe discover parts of my hometown that I’ve never seen before.”

There’s no better feeling than that of being pleasantly surprised. As I pedaled out toward the former riverbed in the Mediterranean heat without a cloud in the sky, I began to see the appeal of the more arduous transit system. I could see the city from a perspective I hadn’t before, freely flying by streets that I was beginning to recognize.

Most impressively, the bike lanes were wider than I’d ever seen in the U.S., and the more seasoned cyclists went around my clumsy pedaling. People say it’s important to face your fears because the experiences that are worth it are never easy. So, not only did I rent a bike in Valencia—but I lived to tell the tale.

Bicyclists can ride their bikes to the western edge of the Turia greenway. The entire park is 9 kilometers in length.

Nomadic Noles // Summer 2018

27

Photo by Erin Groves

Students find retail therapy Valencia’s main shopping area proves to be a comfort zone for some FSU students

By Erin Groves

I

f you are looking for a relaxed shopping day, Carrer de Colón is not the place for you. Located in the heart of Valencia, the Colón shopping street is the busiest beehive of all shopping districts in the city. If you do not know where you are going while on Colón Street, you must move aside because the locals and shopping veterans will rush past you.

“Many of my friends live above the stores on Carrer de Colón and have to navigate through the crowds of people to get to their daily jobs,” says Sofia Nordlund, an FSU program assistant (PA) who grew up at alternating times in Valencia and California. Added to the daily hustle and bustle of the Valencian locals getting to their respective jobs are the large numbers of tourists and shoppers looking to visit the shops and restaurants on Colón Street.

Valencia is the third largest city in Spain and has the shopping district to prove it. With a population of 822,000 people (according to worldpopulation.com), Valencia holds about the same number of people as Charlotte, North Carolina or San Francisco, California. As you can imagine, the shopping district gets quite crazy in Valencia.

“The shopping is very similar on Colón Street to back at home in California. I’m very glad because it makes me feel like I am back at home,” Nordlund says.

With the Metro, two train stations, major roadways, department stores, markets, and countless shops nearby, Colón Street is bursting with activity. And with city Bus 5 being a straight shot from

28 Nomadic Noles // Summer 2018

the FSU Garnet building to Colón Street, students have no trouble spending their souvenir money.

Shops galore The variety of shops found on Colón Street include some of the world’s largest franchises, such as H&M, Zara, Sephora, Adidas, and Apple, but there are local shops, too. Many students even believe they have found “hidden gems” on Colón Street.

“The fashion in Valencia and all of Europe is so different from the Nike shorts and XL T-shirts I usually wear at home,” says Elise Anderson, an FSU nursing major. “I needed to buy new clothes because what I packed for my trip did not cut it.”

Women’s clothing stores such as Brandy Melville, Mango, Pull & Bear, and Subdued are rarely found in the States but are conveniently located on Colón Street. Some students choose to fit in with the Valencian culture and dress like the locals, while others choose to keep their style and wear only American clothes.

Colon Street is a popular men’s shopping destination, too.

“When I went clothes shopping here, I really noticed the difference in the fit of the men’s clothing. Everything is much tighter and longer,” said FSU economics major Hunter Perez in summer 2018 while looking to purchase clothing that fit in with the locals.

Before traveling to Valencia, many students tried to stock up on what they could in hopes of not having to buy anything while abroad.

“I knew I was going to miss my favorite stores like Target while in Valencia, but there are stores here I never knew I needed, like El Corte Ingles. I don’t know what I’m going to do without it when I go back home.”

— Allison Notari “I was worried I would run out of my makeup while I was in Valencia. But it turns out there are more makeup stores here than there are in my hometown,” says Rosie Partain, an FSU psychology major from Niceville, Florida. Cosmetic stores including MAC, Lush, Sephora, Primer, and The Body Shop are all located on Colón Street.

Conveniently, there is even an Apple store just a 15-minute walk away from the FSU Valencia campus. With the closest Apple store to the FSU main campus being in Jacksonville, it is more convenient for students to visit the Apple store all the way in Valencia, Spain.

it tends to occur between 2-5 p.m., which is when many of the family-owned businesses in the Colón area follow a unique Spanish tradition of siesta, when they go home to eat lunch with the family and to rest.

According to the Spanish Bed Manufacturers Association, 16.2 percent of Spaniards take a break from their workday to take a daily nap, which began as a way for workers to avoid the peak heat of the midday. However, the large franA different dress code chises on Colón Street, such as In the U.S., you can go shopping while department store El Corte Indressed any type of way, but in Valencia, the gles, remain open from around locals and workers expect you to be looking 10 a.m.-10 p.m. your best while in their store.

Founded in Madrid, El Corte “The stores here expect shoppers to be Ingles is the only remainlooking nice and taking shopping seriously, ing department store chain said marketing major Brian Rohner of Mary- in Spain, with 94 locations. land in summer 2018. “If you don’t look the Ranking fourth worldwide, it is part while in a high-end store, the employees the number one department won’t even try and help you.” store in Europe. According to While the unofficial dress code is more its website, El Corte Ingles has formal on Colón Street than on a typical U.S. more than 670 million people shopping street, there are places that sell visit its stores per year. El Corte bargain clothing on Colón Street.

Ingles includes a range of de“I had never heard of the store Primark be- partments: items for men, women, children, fore shopping on Colón Street, but its prices babies, accessories, home goods, sports, and and selection were way better than anything I even groceries. Open seven days a week, the have ever seen in the United States,” says FSU largest El Corte Ingles on Colón Street conaccounting major Eric Gavagni. sists of seven stories of merchandise, a suIf there is any lull in activity on Colón Street, permarket, and even a restaurant. On Colón Street, there are three El Corte Ingles stores, one on each corner.

Before arriving in Valencia, many students worried they would not have access to their favorite stores but were pleasantly surprised when they visited Colón Street.

“I knew I was going to miss my favorite stores like Target while in Valencia, but there are stores here I never knew I needed, like El Corte Ingles,” says editing, writing, media major Allison Notari.

“I don’t know what I’m going to do without it when I go back home.”

Marketing major Max Bell of Maryland also likes El Corte Ingles.

“As a guy, I like to get my shopping done as quickly as possible,” he says. “So my go-to store is El Corte Ingles.”

Images on this page from Valencia’s main Truly the definition of shopping smartshopping area. er and not harder.

Photo by Nomadic Noles staff

Photo by Erin Groves

Nomadic Noles // Summer 2018

29

¡Viva las rebajas!

Students scoop up buys during the summer sales

By Maria Velez

S

ome Americans find the holidays in November and December to be the most wonderful time of the year. But for anyone in Spain during the months of July and August, the rebajas season—or summer sales—may be the best time.

Students who study abroad in Valencia during the summer rebajas have plenty of options to replace something they left behind in the U.S. or that they ran out of while in their temporary home. Or, maybe they just want to stock up on good buys. Whatever the case, Valencia stores are flooded with essential or extra products, ready to sell at prices likely not found find elsewhere.

The rebajas season can be overwhelming to students because there are so many stores that are new to them. Those students who are in Valencia for only half the summer might feel pressure to purchase as many items as they can before their time is up.

“An item is almost like a souvenir, like whenever you wear that shirt or dress you get, you will always think of this trip,” says Jayla Butler, a junior marketing major who studied in Valencia during Summer C session of 2018 and who admits she felt pressured by time constraints when shopping.

One thing to remember is that the most popular items will sell out first, so if you’ve had your eyes on a specific item it’s best to purchase it right away.

The rebajas season is an important time for retailers because it gives them the opportunity not only for extra cash flow but also to sell last season’s stock and make room for the new season’s items. From the little boutique at the corner of the street to big department stores such as El Corte Ingles, storewide sales start from the beginning of July until the end of August.

Stores advertise the season with big, red banners and commercials, says Professor Jose-Luis Hervas-Oliver, who taught Basic Marketing Concepts during the second 2018 summer session in Valencia, “but people know when rebajas are coming.”

Hervas-Oliver also is a professor at the Universidad Politecnica de Valencia, where he teaches strategic management and innovation studies.

A common mistake study-abroad students make when shopping is thinking of an item’s price in dollars instead of euros when looking at a potential purchase. By not taking the conversion rate into account, they believe they are getting a steal, which might not be the case. Hervas-Oliver says stores help the customers by showing the original price of the item along with the discount price, making it easier for one to realize if they are getting a good deal or not.

Still, remembering the conversion rate is important. For example, on July 1, 2018, the amount of 50 euros was worth $58.37 in U.S. dollars.

30 Nomadic Noles // Summer 2018

Locals and tourists shopping in and around El Corte Ingles on Carrer de Colon. Students can find good deals with the right shopping tips.

Another difference between sales in the U.S. and sales in Spain is the taxes. In Florida, when considering the final price of an item, one has to calculate an additional 6 to 8 percent of what the price tag shows. But in Spain, the tax is included in the final price.

This included tax is referred to by U.S. travelers as the value added tax (VAT), while in Spain the tax is officially known as IVA, or impuestos sobre el valor añadido, and it amounts to 21 percent of the final price.

Students traveling in Spain can recover the taxes incurred if the total bill is more than 90.15 euros, saving them a total of 21 percent of the amount they spent. This refund applies only to items you bring back to the U.S. and not to consumable purchases such as hotels, food, or restaurant bills.

When shopping, the best way to receive a refund is to ask the clerk if the store is part of the tax-free Spain refund service before purchasing. The store will then fill out a form, which can then be used to claim a refund at the airport or sometimes even the store itself. But these procedures can be complicated, so students should consult a travel website such as Rick Steves (https://www. ricksteves.com/) for more explanation and to help them plan ahead.

To take a break from sightseeing to go shopping, the Colón area in Valencia offers famous designers as well as affordable shops, such as Pull and Bear, Zara, and Mango. With the right approach, you can leave Colón with a new wardrobe in just one afternoon.

With many stores to choose from, the experience can cause an adrenaline rush.

“I was super excited to shop because I love shopping,” says Lauren Eustace, an FSU marketing major. “When it comes to a sale, it encourages me to shop even more. So yes, I was excited.”

Still, the crush of people can be nerve-racking. And, as Hervas-Oliver points out, the store associates get only quick, minimum Photo by Maria Velez training for the rebajas season, “because Storefront rebajas sign in various languages close to Plaza de la Reina. products sell themselves.” There is not what they already were. The second marksion you probably won’t regret in the long much customer service because of the large down gives stores the opportunity to sell run. Espadrilles are another popular item crowds: “They do not ask questions, they just those items that haven’t been selling as well. to consider buying during the rebajas seatake items,” he adds.

Some of the best deals can be found after the son. The summer shoe has a Spanish history Eustace says she was nervous being in the second markdown, but keep in mind that the dating back to the early 14th century, when stores with so many people. most popular items and the most popular sizthe summer sandals were first made in Cat“The culture’s different, the language is es sell out first. alonia. The espadrilles come in a variety of different,” she says. “It may be harder to get As someone with experience shopping styles, colors, and prints, making what you’re looking for.” during the rebajas season, Eustace offers a them trendy and easy to pair One way to combat these potential tip for future study-abroad students. with clothing. difficulties is to think “Don’t go into a store that you have heard While it can become about what you of before, like stores you can find in America,” difficult to find exactmay want to purshe says. “I found more [good items] at the ly what you are lookchase as part of new stores than at the stores I am familiar ing for toward your trip planning. with. You can find really good quality clothes the end of the Good, quality items for a decent price.” rebajas seaare available in the U.S., of Rebajas season can be a fun time to step son, a second course, but some items simply can’t out of your comfort zone—maybe in a new markdown ocbe passed up while in Spain. pair of espadrilles—and take home a remindAlthough it can get a bit pricey, pur- Espadrilles have a Spanish curs about midway er of your shopping adventure. making chasing a leather wallet or purse that history dating back to the through, Nomadic Noles staff contributed to this article. items cheaper than can last you for some time is a deci- early 14th century.

Nomadic Noles // Summer 2018

31

Q&A

with

Kathleen Paul, London program director

K

athleen Paul has been back and forth “across the pond” as both a U.K. and U.S. citizen, for her own educational achievements and to help American students accomplish theirs. St. Albans, a small medieval city just outside London, is now home for the London program director but she considers herself lucky to have experienced both cultures.

“That feeling of being able to slip easily in and out of different cultures is something we aspire to for our students here in London,” says Paul, who has been program director since January 2008. The London program had 691 students in the 2017-18 academic year and 737 students for the 2018 calendar year.

Paul grew up in Liverpool, and she earned a

How has your academic experience in Boston influenced your life and career?

My academic experience in Boston taught me the value of hard work well done. I was extremely fortunate in working with professors who were able to take the time to mentor me, people who helped me not only with the specifics of my courses and research but who served as role models for academic excellence both in and outside of the classroom. Their belief in me, and what I could achieve, gave me the confidence to push myself further. Now, as a professor myself, I seek to emulate those instructors who did so much to shape my life and career. Working with students is the highlight of my role and I want always to push them to the limit of their potential, to encourage them to work harder, think more critically and get the best from themselves. In so doing, I hope that I am paying it forward.

How have you used your study abroad experiences to help students in London?

I try to remember how strange it all felt when I first arrived in the U.S. Initially there is great excitement, but quite soon the reality kicks in that you are here for a definite period of time and that you can’t (easily) go home. I encourage students not to run away from the differences between the two cultures but rather to embrace the difference—to relish the opportunities to do new activities, to become part of a different culture and society. I know that for me, becoming involved in my university and going out of my way to learn about my city facilitated my integration, made it easier for me to one day realise that I felt like a Bostonian not a U.K. citizen studying abroad. That is my ambition for our students here—to help them become Londoners.

How has your extensive knowledge of British and European history enhanced your life in London?

I am extremely fortunate to be able to play

32 Nomadic Noles // Summer 2018

bachelor’s degree in history from the University of York in 1985. She earned a post-graduate certificate in education in 1986 from the University of Bath, before earning her master’s (1988) and doctoral (1992) degrees in history from Boston College.

She spent a total of 26 years in the U.S., with one year studying abroad on a Rotary scholarship, five years at Boston College, and 20 years teaching history as a tenured professor at the University of South Florida in Tampa.

Paul conducted this email interview with a Nomadic Noles Valencia student. Q&As with Carlos Langoni, Republic of Panama campus rector, and Frank Nero, the Florence program director, follow on pages 34-37. a part in shaping this program for so many students each year. I am able, through my academic background, to provide an overarching vision of how the program might develop, how it might make best use of the resources around the U.K. and European continent. One of my goals upon taking the role was, by building upon the work of my predecessors, to enhance the academic rigor of the program. We have done that by integrating academics with the cultural opportunities. Our courses are based around using London as a textbook, taking students to sites of commemoration, museums, galleries, and theatres as an integral part of their academic experience. In short, we seek to make the extraordinary opportunities of London part of the everyday curriculum.

What is your favorite part about living in London?

Walking through the neighborhoods and parks, being able to visit internationally famous museums in my lunch break, and sharing my day with FSU students and colleagues.

All photos courtesy of Kathleen Paul

Kathleen Paul has been director of FSU London since 2008. ties available has increased considerably. We now offer spring break and “wintermester” programs, for example, along with additional specialized programs by major. Similarly, our programs devised for first semester or first year in college students have dramatically increased in size from perhaps 10 per academic year to over 100. We have also taken control of the management of our own building in Great Russell Street, which has allowed us to both save money and, more importantly, ensure that the fabric of the building is preserved and protected with the best possible care for future generations of Seminoles.

How does the study center’s location allow students to get the full British experience?

The Centre is located right in the heart of London. We are two minutes’ walk from the British Museum, one of the most-visited museums in the world. We are surrounded by public parks and squares, yet we are only 15 minutes’ walk from Trafalgar Square, the of-

What do you like to do outside of work?

Pretty much the same as I like to do while at work—visiting galleries and museums, travelling around the U.K. discovering new places to make my own for a while, reading, and staying in touch with family and friends.

How has the FSU London program developed under your time as director?

Student numbers have doubled and the range of program opportuni-

Kathleen Paul chats outside the FSU London Study Centre (here and on opposite page) with three students studying theatre in fall 2018, from left, Hannah Spears, Claire McCarthy, and Francesca Martin.

ficial centre of the city. Students can walk to many of the most famous sites of the U.K., and in so doing can become residents of the city, navigating the geography of the streets, the bus system and the tube.

Though surrounded by sites that might well be considered “touristy,” students are not tourists but rather through living here, right in the middle of the city, become Londoners.

They will, over the course of their time here, make and find their own London—their own coffee shop, their own short cuts, their own favourite places. It is a joy to watch as this process happens and students gradually take on more and more of British society and culture.

What is the immersion process like for American students who have never been abroad before?

We encourage students to immerse themselves into the local culture as much as possible in a number of ways. Walking around the city helps students gain an understanding of the different neighborhoods and so develop their knowledge of London. Joining a local gym, grocery shopping, visiting the theatre, playing pick-up soccer in the local park—all of these provide opportunities for our students to meet locals, cultivate friendships and generally become a part of the city.

This program is located in an Englishspeaking country, so what kind of cultural differences can the students expect?

Famously separated by a common language, the U.K. and USA have much to discover about each other. Like any new arrivals, our students come with a few stereotypes in mind, but it’s not long before the set expectations are gone and lived experience kicks in. While still basking in the rich history and heritage of the U.K., whether visiting medieval castles and cathedrals, participating in the pageantry of the monarchy, or walking along the River Thames, students are also getting on with the everyday business of living—buying groceries, cooking, using public transport, watching TV, reading newspapers, and all else besides.

I would argue that it is through these dayto-day, most ordinary of interactions that our students develop what I call “cultural capital.”

By this I mean an understanding of a country that goes beyond what either a textbook or a two-week vacation can give you. Cultural capital is knowing the society from the inside, understanding its quirks, appreciating its differences not as an outsider looking in but as an insider looking out. That kind of cultural capital stays with students long after they leave the program. It changes the way they view the world, enhances their perspective on their own country, and their understanding about themselves and their own identity becomes more nuanced.

Are there any major changes you would like to make in the program?

Students will continue to be the heart of the program. We will change only as we see opportunities to improve, ways to enhance the student experience. With this in mind, I would like

to see the Internship program grow. We have an amazing array of placements through which our students can earn academic credit. Whether interning in Parliament; at a Premier League soccer club; in an internationally renowned museum; with a major marketing, logistics, or retail company; or at any of the 100+ opportunities available, our students participate in decision-making roles, taking on responsibilities and delivering work that will undoubtedly change their perspective of themselves and their own capabilities.

How does your 1997 book, Whitewashing Britain: Race and Citizenship in the Postwar Era, relate to the current immigration crisis occurring in the United Kingdom?

In many ways it saddens me to see that a book written 20 years ago is still so relevant today. I wish that we had moved beyond inward migration being perceived as a danger when it is in fact an opportunity. I believe that there are a great many people in the U.K. who regard immigration as a positive experience—in a society with an aging population an influx of young people (the majority of migrants are of working age or younger) is good for the economy by increasing the workforce, diversifying the range of skills available to employers, enlarging the tax base, and facilitating future population growth. The media has to some extent been harnessed by an anti-migrant agenda, but the reality of everyday life in Britain leans far more towards openness, tolerance and acceptance.

What changes have you observed in England since Brexit?

There is a great deal of uncertainty as we wait to see what the end deal between the U.K. and the European Union will look like.

The nature of the negotiations has led many to question whether leaving the EU really is in the best interests of the citizens of the U.K. Whether that uncertainty is enough to prompt a second referendum remains to be seen. In the meantime, a significant number of EU citizens have chosen to play safe by leaving the country before the possible imposition of punitive immigration rules. The effects of their departure are being felt in a range of sectors from the National Health Service through finance to agriculture.

Has the number of students studying in London increased since the pound dropped?

Yes, but likely more to do with the increase in the range and number of program opportunities available rather than as a direct result of currency fluctuations.

What steps can be taken to make the London program more accessible (or affordable) to a wider range of students?

International Programs offers a wide range of scholarships, worth over $200,000 per year, to help with the cost of studying abroad. Our goal is to double the number of FSU students studying abroad by 2020. We are working toward this target by offering support to students in a range of situations—financial need, academic merit, major-specific, membership of a minority group, foreign language study, first-generation college, and many others. In addition to this assistance before they come, students benefit from a wide range of support once in country.

The specifics of each program differ of course, but here in London students receive breakfast on class days, weekly pizza and salad nights, monthly group meals at local restaurants, a number of group lunches, and a travel card for use throughout the city. Though each might be small by itself, the cumulative effect is

to lighten the financial burden when it comes to grocery shopping and getting around.

Furthermore, students in London participate in an extensive cultural program ranging from theatre and museum visits, coach or railway excursions to cities such as Oxford, Windsor, or Brighton, overnight weekend trips to other parts of the U.K. such as Cornwall, Edinburgh, Bath, Wales, Liverpool, and York and much more besides. Students might still choose to do some independent travelling, but the program is designed so that participants will explore and experience a whole lot of London and the U.K. without the need to draw on additional funds. And of course, we are all about the free stuff—highlighting the many opportunities such as museums and galleries that London offers that don’t cost a penny.

Through these various steps, we are committed to broadening the range of students who are able to study abroad with us.

Could you please describe the London program in one sentence?

An opportunity to learn about yourself and the world around you while earning academic credit by becoming a resident of London.

Student editor Mia Dennery conducted this email interview.

Nomadic Noles // Summer 2018

33

Q&A

with

Carlos Langoni, Panama program rector

Where did you grow up? Are you a U.S. citizen, a citizen of Panama, or both?

I grew up in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, where I was born. I got my undergraduate degree in electrical engineering at Pontificia Universidad Catolica de Rio de Janeiro and then my master’s degree in industrial engineering, also from Pontificia Universidad Catolica. While working on my master’s, I met my wife, Lilibeth, who also received a master’s degree in the same program. We became good friends, and after a very short dating period, we decided to get married. She is from Panama, so my first international experience was a trip to Panama. So, what was initially planned to be a simple visit to get to know her family and her country later became our wedding trip.

We married in Panama and then went back to Rio to complete our degrees. From there, lots of things happened. Our first son was born, I applied and was accepted to a doctoral program in industrial engineering at Texas A&M University, both of us completed our master’s program [at Pontifica Universidad], and in the fall of 1981, we moved to Texas. While working on my doctoral degree, my second son was born. We left the U.S. in the spring of 1987.

While in Brazil, a change was still taking place, from a military dictatorship to a newly restored democracy, and the economic conditions were not the most favorable. A highly depreciated currency and very limited opportunities drove us to deciding to go to Panama. This explains how we ended up in Panama.

How did you get to where you are today?

From industrial engineering to professor to

Panama interim rector to permanent rector, how would you explain this shift?

So here we are, beginning of 1987, trying to build our future as a family in Panama. Immediately after my arrival, I learned of possible teaching opportunities in American institutions that had a presence in Panama. One of them was Florida State University, which had had a presence in Panama since 1957, offering educational opportunities to U.S. military personnel, civilians, and local Panamanians.

After a couple of semesters trying with different institutions, I realized that my future was with FSU. So I quit my teaching with other institutions and started teaching full time for FSU. At the beginning, most of my teaching was in mathematics. In 1989, with the implementation of a new degree program in computer science, I was offered a full-time position to support the new program. From then on, I taught several courses in the areas of mathematics, computer science, and statistics. At the same time, I became involved in the administrative aspects of the program, assisting with everything from student advising and registration, to curriculum development and course scheduling. In 1996 I was appointed associate director for academics. After the transition from being an institution supported by a contract with the U.S. Army to a self-supporting institution, new leadership was chosen and the title of the highest authority changed from “director” to “rector.” So, at that time my title changed to “vice rector for academic affairs.”

At the beginning of 2003, the newly appointed rector resigned, and we went through a difficult transition period. That’s when I became

All photos courtesy of Carlos Langoni

Carlos Langoni, during a trip to Paestum, Italy, with his wife, Lilibeth. interim rector, and a search for a new rector began. At the end of a nine-month search, my name surfaced among the top three candidates and, soon after, I was offered the position of rector of FSU Panama. I still remember my conversation with Dr. [James] Pitts when I told him I was still having second thoughts about accepting the position. He asked me to give it a try and if, after a few years I did not feel comfortable, it was OK. Well, I believe it worked—I’ve been the rector since then.

How do you use your background in engineering and the STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) fields to connect to your position at the Panama campus? Did you ever consider staying in the private sector?

I believe until I decided to go to graduate school, I had no plans for a career in academia. I started acquiring a taste for academia while working on my master’s, when I was given an opportunity to become a teaching assistant and eventually an instructor. After that, I really never had any thoughts about leaving academia.

When you first began at the Panama campus, did you foresee yourself becoming rector? What made you decide to pursue your position?

No, not at all. When I began, I was 100% focused on the teaching. Everything came naturally and gradually, little by little getting involved in the planning, and then the decision-making. For quite some time, I was able to balance between academics and administration. It was not until about five years ago when I became a full-time administrator.

Carlos Langoni with students from the Panama campus Environmental Club.

34 Nomadic Noles // Summer 2018

Your campus has students attending from over 30 different countries. How do you ensure student success in mingling with each other from such different backgrounds?

Most of our students come from Latin America. Of course, there are cultural differences,

even inside that group, but there are more similarities. Catering for the other groups, like U.S. students and Europeans, is a little more challenging. What makes it easier is that, among those, they all come to Panama with the excitement of immersing themselves into something new that they are eager to discover and, most of the times, they come with an open mind. It’s a matter of controlling that excitement, assisting them through the process of adapting to a new society, a new culture.

That’s why having an open mind is essential for their success, the willingness to accept that others may think differently from you, yet you can learn something from them.

What is the current enrollment at FSU-ROP, and how many of those students are study abroad students from FSU’s Tallahassee campus?

The current enrollment at FSU-Panama ranges between 400 to 480 students. Of those, only a few are from the Tallahassee campus.

This fall we have only six; usually it ranges between six to 20.

What impact have your students had on you?

Dealing with students as a teacher, as a counselor, as a mentor has helped me to be more tolerant. It also helped me be more appreciative of the need to find alternative ways to get ideas across and to find a balance between challenging the more talented students but, at the same time, being supportive of others who might face difficulties.

student life center.

What is your ultimate goal for the FSU-ROP campus?

Securing a permanent campus for FSU in the Republic of Panama and making sure that the program remains viable for many years to come.

The U.S. invaded Panama in 1989, leading to Panamanian dictator Manuel Noriega’s ouster. How did that affect the FSU-ROP campus?

That, of course, was a difficult period—actually, the two-year period preceding the invasion, living under an anti-democratic military regime and the constant confrontations between the Noriega regime and the U.S. that followed. I think the excitement of having Noriega out of the picture is what prevailed. The campus life was gradually restored to normalcy within a one-year period.

Carlos Langoni in a playground with his grandchildren Fabiana and Gustavo.

What hobbies and pastimes do you enjoy?

By far, the most enjoyable hobby nowadays is being a grandpa. I absolutely love spending time with my grandchildren [Gustavo and Fabiana], so that’s what I do whenever possible.

Could you describe the Panama program in one sentence?

Diversity.

Is there anything that you would like to add?

I would only add that I absolutely love my job—I wouldn’t do anything differently. I’m very grateful to FSU for all of the opportunities given to me, as well as for the opportunity to have my three sons [Gustavo, Diego, and Rodrigo] graduate as Seminoles.

Student editor Audrey Caraher conducted this email interview.

How do you help integrate the Spanish language into students’ lives in a manner that allows them to go forth into the local Panama community successfully?

This is a natural process, and it depends greatly on their desire to immerse themselves into the Spanish language. Of course, one thing that works toward their advantage is that the non-Spanish-speaking community is the minority. The ones who don’t speak Spanish are almost forced to make an effort to speak, at least a little, of the local language. Most of their classmates speak Spanish, in many cases, even their roommates speak Spanish. In the past, I had students who used to visit my office, and I would assign them some reading, like newspaper articles and magazines. Then in the following week we would discuss their readings.

What are the biggest impacts you have made on the campus? What changes do you still wish to make?

When I was appointed interim rector, bringing stability to the campus. Then, when I was ratified as rector at the end of the search, and the years that followed, leading the university in the transition to the new campus in the City of Knowledge and overseeing the construction of the new building in the City of Knowledge.

Still pending in our list are improvements to the library facilities, securing additional space for the English Language Program, and for a

A Langoni family picture taken in Monserrat, Spain, during a family trip in 2017.

In the lower left is Carlos Langoni’s son Gustavo, Gustavo’s wife Arlen, and their son Gustavo. Carlos’s wife Lilibeth is seated in the front. Another son, Diego, holds his daughter Fabiana, with his wife Silvia in the back. Carlos’s third son, Rodrigo, stands between his girlfriend Alejandra and Carlos.

Nomadic Noles // Summer 2018

35

Q&A

with

Frank Nero, Florence program director

What are your official titles with Florida State and the Florence International Program? How long have you been with the Florence Program?

My official title is director of Florida State University International Programs, Italy. My affiliation with the Florence Program is a long one; basically, I’m a true testament of how the Florence program can change the direction of a student’s life. I was a history major at FSU from 1990-94, and as an undergrad I decided to do the Florence program my senior year at the insistence of one of my humanities teachers. So, I’m an FSU Florence alumnus from 1994. Then I came back as a graduate student in FSU’s Department of Art History in 2005 to teach the ARH 2000: Art, Architecture, and Artistic Vision class. Basically, after that I only left Florence for a short time and remained an adjunct faculty member since then. In spring 2016, our longterm former director retired, and I received a call from Tallahassee asking me if I’d be interested in the job. I’ll never forget it. I had taken a year off from teaching and was working as a kayak attendant in a national wildlife refuge on Sanibel Island; I received the call while I was in the middle of kayaking in the mangrove forests of Tarpon Bay. I almost fell out of the boat.

How many students per year study with the Florence Program?

I think that in the last calendar year or so, around 450 students will have studied at the program.

Where were you born? Do you have dual citizenship between the U.S. and Italy?

I’m just a blue-collar guy from the suburbs of New Jersey. Yes, I have dual citizenship. I was able to get it through my great-grandparents on my father’s side, who both were born in southern Italy in a region called Molise.

They emigrated to New Jersey via Ellis Island in 1912. It’s a funny story, really, about how I got my dual citizenship, which happened quite by accident. Back in 2001, a friend and I took a road trip to my great-grandparents’ hometown, a stereotypical small Italian hilltop town with only a few hundred people and rundown buildings scorched by the sun with stray dogs lying around everywhere. I wanted to see the place that my grandmother had always talked to me about as a kid. This town is called Lupara, which in Italian means a rifle for shooting wolves.

When we got there, there was only one café in the whole village, and while my friend distracted the barista, I went in the phone booth and tore out the page in the phonebook that had all of the people with my same last name.

And then basically we went door-to-door trying to find out if I had any relatives. After getting many strange looks and doors slammed in our faces, lo and behold, the whole town ended up being related to me in one way or another.

They put us up for almost a week, and I think I gained 100 pounds from all of the food they cooked for us. Anyway, one of my cousins there worked in the city hall, and he made official copies of all of my great-grandparents’ documents so I could bring them back and show my dad and grandfather. Years later, those documents were why I was able to get my dual citizenship, and they are really the reason why I can work in Italy for the program today.

Could you briefly describe your education background, listing degrees, institutions, and dates?

Ph.D. candidate at FSU in the Department of Art History. One day I’ll finish the dissertation.

Frank Nero, with FSU President John Thrasher and Florence Associate Director Lucia Cossari.

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What initially led you to pursue a degree in art history? What is one of your favorite pieces of art?

It was the Florence program that led me to pursue a degree in art history. The Florence program and the museums, monuments, and medieval and Renaissance history of Florence opened up a new world for me, one that I didn’t even know existed. I proceeded to graduate college with a history degree, and then I taught high school in Coral Gables for three years, and then in 1998 I decided just to move back to Florence on my own to teach myself Italian and art history. For an entire year-anda-half, I just haunted the libraries and museums and parks and cafes of the city on my own

All photos courtesy of Frank Nero

Frank Nero, at the Capitoline Museums in Rome, in front of the bust of his namesake, Emperor Nero. just trying to teach myself all I could about the subject matter. When I got good enough, I started moonlighting as a local tour guide.

What is one of your favorite works of art?

That’s a hard question. In Florence it may just be a work called Giambologna’s Abduction of the Sabine Woman, just because it tries to encapsulate all the known theories and philosophies regarding the art of sculpture and it literally enshrines those theories in stone.

Another one could very well be Donatello’s wooden Mary Magdalene, which one could read as being the epitome of spiritual beauty conveyed by physical ugliness; the purification of the soul through penance, pathos, and suffering, yet having the faith to see through the past into a glorious future.

Could you describe your decision process of moving to Italy?

I felt I owed it to my alma mater. Simple as that. I’d like students to experience Florence as I did in my college years. Like Hemingway said about Paris, “If one is lucky enough to have lived in (Florence) as a young man (or young woman), no matter where you go for the rest of your life you take it with you, for (Florence) is a moveable feast.”

How do you set the curriculum so students get the most out of their experience?

This is a hard question but is one of the aspects of the job that I find most exciting and rewarding—one that took about two years of consultation with Florence Associate Director Lucia Cossari, consultation with the program management team at International Programs, building and rebuilding relationships with different departments on the home campus, and trying to study and target what sort of courses would be attractive for both First Year Abroad students and upperclassmen.

We would like students to have a unique learning experience that is integrated into

the Florentine community but also have our courses count toward the liberal arts requirements and as many popular majors as we can.

For the first time in Florence’s 52-year history, we’re launching some really exciting new classes: astronomy and environmental science courses taught by the director of one of Italy’s biggest space observatories; classes in Italian fashion and fashion marketing; a communication course taught by a reporter for the Rome bureau of The New York Times; an Italian food and wine culture class taught by a professional sommelier;a history of the Italian Mafia class; and a multi-disciplinary course called Vistas on Florence, which traces visual and literary traditions from the Middle Ages to the year our program was founded in 1966. We’ve also added mythology and Italian archaeology classes taught by Dr. Nancy de Grummond from the Department of Classics, who is one of the world’s foremost Etruscan scholars; we’ve added business classes, a psychology course, and many other diverse and eclectic classes.

What are you most excited about in your program?

I’m excited about two things, but one has to remain a secret for the time being. All I can say is this: Thanks to the hard work of Lucia, it has the potential to change the entire future of the Florence program in a tremendous way for all prospective students. Stay tuned. It’s going to be huge. The other thing I can talk about: This fall semester, FSU, in collaboration with Italian entities and SACI [Studio Arts College International, an American art school in Florence], will be opening its own museum in the town of Gaiole in Tuscany, outside of Florence. The museum will house antiquities found by FSU students and faculty at our archaeological dig at Cetamura del Chianti since the 1970s. These Etruscan, Roman, and medieval artifacts will

At the Cathedral of Lucca, touching the Labyrinth of Daedalus, carved in the 12th century and symbolic of how faith can lead one out of the maze of sin.

permanently be on display. Florence program students enrolled in Dr. de Grummond’s ARH 3150 class will be largely responsible for setting up the museum. We’re going to have the grand opening probably the first week of December. The future possibilities for FSU students at the museum are endless.

What challenges have you encountered or foresee as the new director of the Florence program?

“Uneasy lies the head Frank Nero talks with students about Michelangelo’s that wears a crown.” I just architecture on the Capitoline Hill in Rome. want to make sure everyone—the students, staff, faculty, alumni—have the best experience ed our student meal voucher plan to include possible. Like all families, there are difficul- close to 30 restaurants, pizzerias, panini places, etc. Many of the positive changes are due ties, but they are always solved. to the vision of Lucia, our associate director.

Another proactive change is that we are beginWhat changes have you already made and ning to reach out more to our Florence alumni. hope to make as the new director?

I myself haven’t made any changes. It truly is We want them to be aware of how great the a collaborative effort between me, Lucia, and program is doing, and we want them to know the rest of the staff, as well as International Pro- they will always have a home here. Former grams’s expertise, support, and enthusiasm, as students are always coming back to Florence, we try to expand our horizons both internally and we are excited to get to know them. and externally out into the city. Some changes that I think we’ve effectively collaborated on are What is your favorite part about living in the quality and length of our program excur- Florence?

I should say the art, but come on, it’s the sions, amazing group meals at vineyards and historical venues, activities within Florence, and food. The only problem is I’m starting to get new opportunities for students to volunteer; a pizza and pasta belly. I have to get back in we want a proactive, interactive, and energet- the gym. ic program. This summer our students raised close to 4,000 euro in support of the Robert F. What do you like to do outside of work?

Listen to old school Bruce [Springsteen] and Kennedy Human Rights Foundation of Italy and their campaign against bullying in Italian ele- [Frank] Sinatra—or think up all of the Great mentary schools. These are the kinds of chang- American novels I’ll probably never write. I like to cook sometimes too, or wander around the es that we can all be proud of as Seminoles.

Another change I personally am proud of is same streets where Galileo, Michelangelo, Mathat our program soccer team used to be pe- chiavelli, Donatello, Botticelli, Leonardo da Vinrennially in last place, but last spring we were ci, Amerigo Vespucci, and Dante walked. Even able to coach our Noles up and we reached after all these years, it still gives me the chills. the semifinals of the International Schools Fiorenza Cup. If you’re a student and you have Could you please describe the Florence some soccer skills, both males and females, program in one sentence?

Our goal is to combat biases, combat miswe need you to apply to the Florence Program so one day we can take home the cup and dis- conceptions about difference, combat all the things that divide us, and to use the experiplay some hardware in our study center.

Overall, the launch of our Fashion Merchan- ence we’ve had in Florence (good and bad), dising and Communication major-track pro- the education we’ve received, the new people gram is going to be great, and hopefully one and new language and new cultures and new day we can build a similar program with the cuisine we have learned to appreciate, on our Dedman School of Hospitality. I’m also very own and through our professors and Florenproud of the new relationship we have with my tine friends, as something to bring back home old department on campus, the Department to our country, our communities, our campus, of Art History, because now we collaborate ev- our homes and families, to make our own sociery summer on bringing two doctoral students ety a better place—to use this moveable feast to Florence in order that they get some real for good. For me, this is the most important experience teaching before the monuments. aspect of getting an international education I’m happy that more graduate students on the and being a Florida State Seminole.

Student editor Dani Brown conducted this home campus will get the same opportunities I had. Another cool thing is that we expand- email interview.

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THANKS TO FSU VALENCIA...

Florida State University students in the 2018 Summer Editing, Writing, and Media courses offer their views—in images and in words—on what made the study abroad experience memorable.

Thanks to FSU Valencia, I made the friends of a lifetime. As a senior, it’s hard to imagine you’ll meet any new people who will have an impact on your life, but the friends I made abroad will surely be friends for a long time.

Alejandra Guzman

Thanks to FSU Valencia, I got to live right outside Plaza de la Virgen.

I loved hanging around there in my free time, admiring centuries-old architecture and listening to local artists busk for tips.

Danielle Brown

Thanks to FSU Valencia, I was able to eat some of the best food of my life, including waffles on a stick with chocolate drizzle and rainbow sprinkles.

Ashley Gray

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Thanks to FSU Valencia, I immersed myself in a culture different from mine, alongside the best new friends I could have asked for.

Erin Groves

Thanks to FSU Valencia, I was able to fulfill my dreams of traveling, trying new foods, experiencing new cultures, and seeing some of the most beautiful things this world has to offer.

Audrey Caraher

Thanks to FSU Valencia, I made so many memories with friends that will last for a lifetime.

Lindsay Mead

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THANKS TO FSU VALENCIA...

Florida State University students in the 2018 Summer Editing, Writing, and Media courses offer their views—in images and in words—on what made the study abroad experience memorable.

Thanks to FSU Valencia, I had the opportunity to experience life at a different pace and live next to architecture that looks even better at night than it does during the day.

Allison Notari

Thanks to FSU Valencia, I had the chance to see some beautiful terrain and possibly the biggest mountains I have ever seen.

Mia Dennery

Thanks to FSU Valencia, I enjoyed some of the best views in the world with some amazing new friends. These experiences are something I am so thankful for and will never forget.

Meg Croney-Clark

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Thanks to FSU Valencia, I got to visit main city centers in Spain such as Madrid and Toledo, but I treasured a visit to El Palmar, home to the Albufera, paella, and vast rice fields.

Tomas Cabezas

Thanks to FSU Valencia, I went from thinking I would never leave the East Coast to becoming obsessed with exploring new countries and experiencing new cultures.

Lauren Martin

Thanks to FSU Valencia, I experienced my first Gay Pride Parade. Love and acceptance filled the air June 16, when locals, tourists, and FSU students walked in support of gay pride.

Alexandra Wendling

Thanks to FSU Valencia, I was able to explore the world with a great group of friends.

Maria Velez

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ABOUT THE CONTRIBUTORS STUDENT EDITORS

ADVISORS

DESIGN CONSULTANT

Danielle Brown Audrey Caraher Mia Dennery

Susan Hellstrom Jack Clifford

Vanessa Guirey

Danielle Brown

Mia Dennery

Lauren Martin

Danielle prefers the first name Dani, and she is a senior majoring in English on the editing, writing, and media (EWM) track, with a minor in psychology. In addition, she is a founding member, author, and editor in chief of Spire Magazine, a college-based web publication at FSU. She is a native Tallahasseean and spends her free time swing dancing with the Swing Dance Club at FSU.

Mia, a third-year English (EWM) major, worked as a writer and editor for this year’s Nomadic Noles. Minoring in communication, she hopes to develop her writing and marketing skills to thrive in the growing marketing industry.

Raised in South Florida and of Haitian descent, Mia dreams of living on the beach one day.

Lauren is an English major (EWM). She also is a writer and junior social media director for Her Campus FSU, as well as a key holder at The Copper Closet, her favorite local boutique. Lauren loves that her jobs allow her to combine her two passions, fashion and writing.

Tomas Cabezas Tomas is a junior double majoring in English (EWM) and media and communication studies and minoring in history. Born and raised in West Palm Beach, Florida, Tomas enjoys paddle boarding, kayaking, swimming, and everything outdoors when the heat and humidity aren’t boiling hot. He expects to graduate in spring 2020 and hopes to attend law school in California to study entertainment and mass media law.

Audrey Caraher Audrey Caraher is a junior working toward a double major in English (EWM) and media/communication studies.

Raised in the Fort Lauderdale, Florida suburb of Coral Springs, with three younger siblings, Audrey is passionate about her family and friends and loves going to the beach. After graduation in May 2020, Audrey hopes to move to Atlanta in search of a writing and/or an editing position for the lifestyle section of a publication.

Meg Croney-Clark Meg Croney-Clark is a senior English major (EWM) with a communication minor, and she expects to graduate in spring 2019. Her hobbies include writing, watching college basketball, playing sports, and spending time with her family. In the future, she hopes to earn her graduate degree or secure a job that develops her EWM skills.

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Ashley Gray Ashley is a senior and majoring in humanities with a communication focus. Born and raised in Saint Petersburg, Florida, she enjoys going to the beach and playing with her pup.

After college, she hopes to return to the Tampa Bay area. While she is still unsure of her exact career path, she hopes to find a job in journalism or public relations.

Erin Groves Erin is a senior majoring in English (EWM) and a minor in communication.

She was raised in Sarasota, Florida, with her younger brother Michael. Erin is always looking to have the best time possible while rarely being serious. After graduation in spring of 2019, Erin is uncertain of what the future holds but is certain that it will be bright.

Alejandra Guzman Alejandra was born and raised in Miami, Florida. She is a senior double majoring in English (EWM) and advertising. She loves to binge watch bad television and hang out with her French bulldog, Kodak.

Lindsay Mead Lindsay is a senior who is majoring in English (EWM) and minoring in communication. Upon graduation in December 2018, she plans to move back to her hometown of Jacksonville, Florida, to work in public relations and social media. Her favorite things are avocados, traveling, and The Bachelorette.

Allison Notari Allison is a senior majoring in English (EWM) with a minor in communication.

A Florida native, she hopes to attend law school after graduating in spring 2019.

When not researching her next travel destination, she is drinking obscene amounts of coffee and re-watching John Mulaney’s standup specials on Netflix.

Maria Velez Maria is a senior majoring in English (EWM) with a minor in communication.

After graduating in spring 2019, Velez hopes to land a public relations position with a prominent fashion company. She has worked at Ann Taylor Loft for over two years, so Ann Inc. is her top choice.

Lexi Wendling Lexi, a third-year media/communication major from Fairfax, Virginia, strives for a career in sports broadcast journalism. At 19 years old, she became the youngest person to hold the public announcer job for FSU women’s volleyball. Her longterm goals include reporting for UFC Live and hosting American Ninja Warrior.

Students of the 2018 Editing, Writing, and Media Program in Valencia This less visited and photographed side of the Valencia Cathedral is almost as scenic as the front side.

Front, standing (from left): Meg Croney-Clark, Lindsay Mead, Ashley Gray, Erin Groves, Allison Notari, Maria Velez, and Alejandra Guzman; back (from left): Dani Brown, Lexi Wendling, Mia Dennery, Audrey Caraher, and Lauren Martin; front, lying down: Tomas Cabezas Photo illustration: The photo was digitally altered to add a student not present when the original photo was taken.

In addition to contributing articles and design ideas to this issue of Nomadic Noles, the students in the 2018 Editing, Writing, and Media program used Instagram to chronicle their adventures.

Go to instagram.com/NomadicNoles to see the photographs, and remember to follow us.

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