looking forward to

Looking forward to 2021- 2022 Study Abroad

by Cole Kuczek

Hamilton’s study abroad program is a capstone of many students’ educational endeavors throughout their four years on the Hill. Hamilton offers hundreds of programs for off-campus study, both domestic and international, including DC, Spain, China, and others affiliated with the college. Every semester, the Office of Off-Campus Study (OFSA) has hundreds of students walk through their doors, seeking to explore an education away from Hamilton’s campus.

Unfortunately, this semester’s programs were indefinitely affected by the pandemic. More than 200 students normally go abroad each semester, and the OFSA saw that number dwindled down to just five students. This past semester these students studied abroad in Iceland, Senegal, and through the Arcadia program. The most heartbreaking, a DIS program, was cancelled just a week before the group was about to leave due to stricter border control from the pandemic. In sum, this semester was plagued by serial uncertainty for abroad student hopefuls.

But the OFSA is looking hopefully toward future semesters. The OFSA admits that there will still be much uncertainty for next semester, but by the Spring 2022 programs should be all set to go. With many Hamilton students and many individuals globally getting vaccinated, there is hope that students will be able to travel abroad next fall.

This summer is also still hosting a multitude of programs. Although there is no financial aid available for summer programs, and some places will require a vaccination passport, there are still options for students. These programs are shorter and students can transfer up to two credits, usually with mentored research or an internship component. These summer programs may also shift to virtual -- with an interesting twist. The OFSA highlighted how abroad partners of the college are working to connect Hamilton abroad students virtually with an international cohort, so when education goes virtual, students are able to connect to fellow peers from across the world. More and more programs will be popping up for the summer, so check your email! These programs may develop as more of a career focus; one in Mexico will have a program for applied mathematics for data analysis skills, another (IFSA program) is seeking to develop a STEM-focused program for students to gain experience for health careers. We live in a world where problems are massive and complex, breaking through disciplinary backgrounds, so these new opportunities will open pathways for students to connect to their global counterparts. With new programs, and the world bound to slowly reopen, the OFSA and all of us students are elated to begin traveling again.

So, how do you get the ball rolling? For first-year students, attend Abroad 101 for a big picture of the programs. For sophomores, attend Abroad 201 for specific information, attend informational sessions about a specific program, explore the OFSA webpage, and request a meeting with a study abroad advisor. The earlier you start, the better -- for programs like Oxford you have to apply a full year ahead of time.

When asked why they would recommend students to study abroad, Assistant Dean North and Assistant Director La Cotera could not stress enough how formative the abroad experience is. They explain, this is the best chance in our lives to have the time and ability to try something we’ve never tried before, potentially on scholarship. They note, there is no better way to learn a language, experience a new culture, and learn in a different nation.

Students will be able to travel soon, so schedule an appointment with an abroad advisor and get started. The unique and wonderful opportunities abroad at Hamilton are endless!

Swimming ‘across the pond’ during a pandemic

by Jack Jee

When I touched down in London for my freshman semester abroad, I began to worry about how a lack of exercise in the water could affect both my physical and mental health. Back home in Connecticut, I was accustomed to a rigorous swimming routine that consisted of over 30,000 yards a week. Following the first week of quarantine, I began by contacting multiple local swim clubs, but to my dismay, many turned me down due to the stringent COVID rules and team capacity measures. Out of the seven swim clubs I reached out to, one finally replied. The Hackney Aquatic Club, a moderately-sized competitive swim team, welcomed me aboard with open arms. Following my acceptance, I rushed to dedicate my time to training with the team for as long as I had before the possibility of another lockdown was set into place.

A head-rush greeted me upon walking into the 2012 Olympic Stadium, and I was filled with excitement. It was overwhelming to be meeting my new team and thrilling to be swimming at the same facility that saw the notorious 100-meter butterfly between American legend Michael Phelps and the great Chad Le Clos. Frankly, it blew my mind. I was finally standing inside the massive, modern, and legendary London Aquatic Center that had seized my attention on television many years ago. I was living my childhood fantasy. Unlike the standard 25-yard pool that I had known from home, the Aquatic Center’s 50 meters struck me as surreal; it was as if I could swim in a single direction for miles.

As I swam, I began to notice certain cultural nuances that distinguished my perception from those of the British swimmers around me. For instance, the local swimmers would swim on the left side of the lane, and though this adjustment may seem minor in nature to correct, my body’s muscle memory would speak otherwise after crashing into at least two people in the lane. Let’s just say I won’t be driving on a road in London anytime soon!

Once we had finished practice, Jude, one of the local club team members, invited me to eat breakfast with him and the other chaps. We walked a couple of blocks to their local spot to grab a ‘proper’ English breakfast. Upon arriving at our table and ordering “whatever he’s having”, the server surprised me with a full English breakfast: fried eggs, bacon, hash browns, chips, beans, sausage, and toast all on one plate. After the exhausting and famishing workout beforehand, my plate was cleared within 15 minutes.

As if lockdown wasn’t depressing on its own, the new regulations also put a halt on my membership at the Hackney Aquatics club while preventing me from interacting with my new swim buddies. It was poor timing, and it’s a shame that it ended so abruptly. I attended a couple of team dry-land Zoom calls where they did bodyweight workouts such as planks, push ups, squats, and other conditioning to stay in shape, yet it just wasn’t the same. I felt disconnected from the team. The coach verbally instructed, and I could no longer have one-on-one conversations with my friends.

Yet, despite the disconnect between me and the team, after the end of lockdown, I was still able to pick up where me and my teammates left off. With Jude entering his final year of primary school, he began to discuss with me the possibility of getting recruited to a university in the United States and his fantasy of pursuing the ‘American Dream’. I ran him through the tedious process of recruiting and helped him find a list of schools that would best fit him. In fact, I am still helping him with the process by emailing coaches and getting his name out there.

Overall, I had a great time experiencing a new culture through a sport that I’ve dedicated half my life to. I will most definitely take these experiences with me wherever I end up in life, whether it’s being a swim coach or at a stereotypical nine-to-five office job. I’m grateful for the experience that Arcadia has allowed me to have in London. Joining a swim team in a different country is something I never thought I would be able to do. My entire trip here in London has felt like a long dream, and I’m lucky to have had this adventure in my life.

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