Building Bridges: March 2019 Newsletter

BUILDING B R I DG E S

MAR. 2019 NEWSLETTER

UTC Global in Gatlinburg p. 1 City Girl in Chattanooga p. 3 Cover: Iran Spotlight p. 5

Building Bridges • MAR. 2019 Edition

1

G A L L I VA N T I N G I N G AT L I N B U R G Written by Gussie Gaston

UTC international students and their American peers made the most of a rainy day in Gatlinburg on February 23rd.

They woke up early Saturday morning, riding a bus three hours to this quaint mountain town in Northeast Tennessee.

After arriving, the group wandered between little shops downtown, eating old-fashioned pancakes and watching machines stretch taffy in candy store windows.

After lunch, students grouped up in front of Ripley’s Aquarium of the Smokies. Each group received 10 clues and instructions for completing a photo scavenger hunt.

Deciphering these clues allowed students to explore more Gatlinburg must-sees. These included Bubba Gump Shrimp Company, Herbie the Love Bug, the Anakeesta sky lift, and a giant mini golf range.

The group wrapped up the trip by boarding the bus once again. Exhausted from a fun-filled day, most students dozed off during the ride home. Back in Chattanooga, the scavenger hunt winners were rewarded with UTC Global sweatshirts.

The next day trip sponsored by the Center for Global Education will be to Nashville on Saturday, April 6th. To make sure you hear about future trips, follow CGE on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram @UTCglobal.

Following the scavenger hunt, students toured Guinness World Records Adventure.

In the basement of this museum, students used their bodies to play interactive games.

After each game ended, a leaderboard appeared onscreen, comparing the player’s score to that of the record holder.

6 2

Khushi Dhruv Major: Psychology Year: Freshman Hometown: Mumbai, India Hobbies: Walks around campus and Chattanooga

BIG CI TY G I R L IN CHAT TA N OO G A Written by Thomas Wiegand

First-year student Khushi Dhruv chose UTC for its strong psychology bachelor’s program, something she could not find at home in India. Khushi plans to complete a master’s degree and pursue neuropsychology after finishing her undergraduate studies. She hopes to conduct academic research and may also practice on her own in the future.

3

Moving to Chattanooga was exciting, Khushi says, but also a big transition. She grew up in Mumbai, an enormous city where she was always surrounded by tons of people. “The food is also very different, and I miss the spiciness of Indian cuisine,” she says.

Moving to a smaller city in a new country was a shock at first, but Khushi really enjoys Chattanooga’s atmosphere. Her favorite spots include the Riverwalk near downtown and the Walnut Street walking

Building Bridges • MAR. 2019 Edition

International Tea Time.

“UTC provides a wide range of courses and is very flexible for students to choose their own path.”

View of the Tennessee River from the city.

bridge. Starting over was challenging, Khushi says, “but I’ve made new friends with other international students and domestic students since I arrived.”

In her free time, Khushi enjoys cooking and exploring local restaurants. She spends a lot of time in the library, studying and enjoying its quiet ambiance.

She also likes walking through campus with friends and taking in the area’s natural beauty.

Khushi urges other students to join her in Chattanooga. “Come to UTC because it provides a wide range of courses, and it’s very flexible for students to choose their own path,” she says. “There are lots of extracurricular activities as well, like basketball and football matches that are fun to go to, and it’s nice that the University supports extracurricular things as much as classes.”

4

G LO B A L S P OT L I G H T: IRAN Written by Sarah Anne Perry

Thirty-six people gathered in the Tennessee Room on March 19th. They had come to hear Mehran Ghafari, a doctoral student studying computational science, speak about Iran. He proudly shared his homeland’s history, natural scenery, and cultural traditions.

Mehran described the achievements of the ancient Achaemenid Empire, introducing important political leaders such as Cyrus the Great. The first Persian king penned the world’s first human rights charter by decreeing an end to slavery, establishing freedom of religion, and declaring racial equality. Mehran also recognized notable Persian thinkers including Rhazes, who discovered sulfuric acid and alcohol; Khwarizmi, who invented the algorithm; and Avicenna, who authored important medical texts.

Mehran shared photos of Iran’s forests, fields, desert, and volcanoes. He described tourist attractions such as the Ali Sadr Cave, Eram Garden, Khaju Bridge, and ancient churches. He then discussed Iranian food, sports, and daily life.

5

Iran is a religiously diverse nation, Mehran said, with practitioners of Islam, Zoroastrianism, Judaism, Christianity, and the Bahá’í Faith. He described Iranian traditions such as Yalda Night, a winter solstice celebration with Zoroastrian roots. He also explained the Persian solar calendar and displayed a traditional table setting for Nowruz, the Iranian new year.

Finally, Mehran introduced attendees to Iranian music and art. He concluded the presentation with a performance on the Santur, an Iranian hammered dulcimer.

The next Global Spotlight, featuring Uganda, will be Tuesday, April 9th at 5 p.m. in Fletcher Hall 114.

Building Bridges • MAR. 2019 Edition

6

Jared Steiman Major: Creative Writing and International Studies Semester Abroad: Fall 2018 Study Abroad Program: SIT Oaxaca, Mexico, Fall 2018

“You really cannot know what’s out there until you go.”

7

Building Bridges • MAR. 2019 Edition

M I G R AT I O N STUDIES IN MEXICO Photos by Jared Steiman Written by Jamie Booth and Sarah Anne Perry

Jared Steiman is no stranger to Mexican culture; his wife’s family is from Michoacán. When he decided to study abroad in Oaxaca, Mexico, the Chattanooga native thought he knew what to expect. Instead, he says, he learned that “you have no idea what you are going to encounter.”

American refugees fleeing violence and poverty. “There were moments, as some of the migrants shared their stories, which were profoundly sad,” he says. “However, the overwhelming essence of that memory is joy. The lunch we shared was defined by loud laughter, a child singing, [and] sharing tortillas.”

During the fall of 2018, Jared took Spanish classes and studied migration, border policy, and transnational communities. Examining these topics in Mexico “proved a great opportunity to learn about the dynamics involved up close and personal,” he says.

Although Mexico fulfilled some of Jared’s expectations, it also exceeded them. “The majority of my semester was shaped by events, ideas, and relationships that I could never have conceived of beforehand,” he says.

Jared’s coursework included lectures and readings but focused more on collaborative discussions and observation. Cultural expeditions were another major component. “The teaching-learning environment in my program challenged a lot of my previous ideas about education,” he says.

One highlight of Jared’s semester was visiting a migrant shelter in Mexico City. Shelter residents included Central 8

WAYS TO GET I NVOLVE D EVENTS Spring 2019

Study Abroad Info Sessions

Global Spotlight

Join the Office of Study Abroad for any of the scheduled study abroad info sessions to learn about your worldwide study abroad program options.

Uganda Tuesday, April 9 5 - 6 p.m.

Fletcher 114

All sessions are in the UC Ocoee Room unless otherwise specified 101 sessions: Mon. April 1 10:00 - 11:00 a.m.

Wed. April 10 2:00 - 3:00 p.m.

(UC Forwood) Mon. April 15 10:00 - 11:00 a.m.

102 sessions: Fri. April 5 Wed. April 17

9:30 - 10:30 a.m.

2:00 - 3:00 p.m.

103 sessions: These sessions are for students who have already attended both 101 and 102.

Mon. April 8 2:00 - 3:00 p.m.

Tues. April 9 3:00 - 4:00 p.m.

(UC Fortwood) Wed. April 10 10:30 - 11:30 a.m.

Thurs. April 11 10:00 - 11:00 a.m.

Fri. April 12 10:00 - 11:00 a.m.

Sign up for Study Abroad 101 at

utc.edu/studyabroad

9

International Tea Time Thursday, Apr. 4 3:15 - 4:15 p.m.

UC Chickamauga Room Monday, Apr. 15 3:15 - 4:15 p.m.

EMCS 4th floor

Follow us on social media and stay up-to-date on all of our event announcements and reminders!

@UTCglobal

Building Bridges • MAR. 2019 Edition

PROGRAMS:

International Buddy Program

Go Global Living Community

• Pair up with a UTC domestic student who can guide you through your transition to American culture and academics.

• Attend events and activities with your buddy and other IBP participants.

• Live with U.S. students and other international students.

• Attend trips and events with the Go Global Community.

• Learn about new cultures.

• Develop your foreign language skills.

For a full description and more details about the program, visit utc.edu/international, click “Get Involved” in the sidebar, and then click “International Buddy Program.”

International Orientation Leaders International Orientation Leaders help welcome new international students to UTC campus and the Chattanooga community. IOLs help the Center for Global Education carry out events and sessions during the New International Student Orientation.

For a full description and more details about the program, visit utc.edu/ international, click “Get Involved” in the sidebar, and then click “Go Global Living Community.”

Visit our website and stay up-to-date on all of our event and program information!

utc.edu/international

For more information and to apply, visit utc.edu/international.

10

CONTACT US Center for Global Education The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga 648 Oak Street, Hooper Hall 203 Chattanooga, Tennessee 37403, USA

utc.edu/global goglobal@utc.edu (423) 425-4735 UTCglobal

OUR TEAM:

Takeo Suzuki Executive Director of the Center for Global Education

Laura Livermore Study Abroad Director

Anna Savary ESL Director and Assistant Director of the Center for Global Education

Jamie Booth Study Abroad Coordinator

Patricia Lin-Steadman Senior Coordinator of International Student and Scholar Services

Sarah Anne Perry Credential Evaluator and Immigration Specialist

Eunice Davis International Undergraduate Student Advisor

Amy Devan Graphic Design and Marketing Coordinator

Lora Cook International Graduate Student Advisor

Joyce Blevins Administrative Specialist

UTC is a comprehensive, community-engaged campus of the University of Tennessee System. UTC is an EEO/AA/Titles VI & IX/Section 504/ADA/ADEA institution.

E045710001-010-19