Quality Education in the Benedictine Tradition.

search

Bearcats on the Road

Camino May 2018

Posted by Kaitlyn Thomas on Wed, Aug 08, 2018 @ 02:43 PM

In May, I traveled with the Honors Program to Spain. The main purpose of the trip was the Camino. The Camino is a pilgrimage that has several variations that all culminate in a walk (biking or sailing is also considered acceptable) to Santiago de Compostela. Santiago is believed to be the place where St. James the Apostle is buried. When the Muslims ruled Spain this pilgrimage became of great importance to the Christians still living in Spain. Our particular journey was the “Camino Ingles,” which takes place in the region of Galicia, in northwestern Spain. The walk on the Camino Ingles is approximately 75 miles. Yes, 75 miles.

Read More

Topics: spanish, study abroad, Spain, honors program, Kaitlyn Thomas, travel abroad in college, camino

China: Day 7 – May 23

Posted by Michaela Yonto on Fri, Jun 15, 2018 @ 10:00 AM

One week down, one to go. And what an incredible, eye-opening week it has been. Today, May 23, was the day that all of us had been looking forward to for a long, long time — Dr. Li’s Simple Interactions Workshop. This was something that all of us working with Simple Interactions had always heard about, but never experienced in person. Over the years, we have been hearing and watching the almost unbelievable stories from the village in Qingdao — stories of women with hearts too full to describe doing everyday actions to help better the lives of the children who come to their center — and today it was becoming a reality. The day started off as usual—breakfast and lots of yogurt — then it was time for the fun to begin. Come 9:00am we were all in our seats ready for the workshop to begin. The previous night we were all up much later than usual for this trip going through videos and discussing what we had seen, so I think we were eagerly waiting to see how the workshop would play out and how the team’s hard work would come together. There were two parts of this workshop — the first session being directed toward teaching the staff and visiting workers about the foundations of Simple Interactions, and the second allowing the staff to watch videos of themselves interacting with the children and learn from what they were seeing. Watching the audience’s reactions during the workshop was so profound to see. These people, who from observing them throughout the previous days, were the most caring individuals I had probably ever met, were not prideful of their tremendous work here at the center, but were utterly humble and eager to expand their knowledge of child care. If it so happened that one of the staff members was shown in one of the clips, she didn’t take that as her moment of glory, but from what I saw, each staff member was filled with pure joy and love — so happy and excited that they could help care for and love these children. I could really notice their excitement to learn throughout the workshop. Every one of the staff members was ready to go with pen and paper in hand, making note of any and every bit of knowledge they thought would be beneficial to them, and therefore, beneficial to the children. It was a really special sight.  This was, I thought, the perfect environment to showcase Simple Interactions. A place bursting to the seams with such pure love and desire to make each child’s world better. After the workshop had ended, we all had the opportunity to have a small roundtable discussion with all of the staff members, and what a marvelous time that was. If it wasn’t clear how much everyone in this village loved and respected everything Dr. Li has done before, oh my goodness, could you feel that energy now. They had so many questions — nearly everyone had a story or an inquiry about something they were worried about. And the crazy thing was that they not only wanted Dr. Li’s opinion, but ours as well! That nearly blew my mind away. I couldn’t even imagine myself teaching these amazing women anything after seeing how much I had learned from them just in a few simple days in the village. But of course, everybody was happy to chime in and give any bit of advice they thought would be helpful, and the staff genuinely appreciated it and were really grateful for all the contributions made. It was a long day, especially considering that we couldn’t understand a majority of the workshop because we don’t speak Chinese, but I for one, felt like I had learned so much just from being in that room. The passion and ideas were practically bouncing off the walls and it was impossible not to feel completely a part of the entire experience. We ended the day with a seafood feast! So many different types of food, and all so fresh! Some were braver than others and tried things like jellyfish and mantis shrimp — I was too scared to try that one because it looked too much like either a BIG bug, or a small dragon . . . either way, I couldn’t do it. Anyway, to conclude this long post, this whole day was a phenomenal way to really see into the heart of Simple Interactions and see head on how “professional” resources and complex activities are not necessary to have a beneficial outcome on a child’s life.

Read More

Topics: fred rogers, study abroad, China, Fred Rogers Scholars, bearcats on the road, blog, service trip, Fred Without Borders, Student Blog

China: Day 5 - Tuesday, May 22

Posted by Sarah O’Callaghan on Wed, Jun 13, 2018 @ 10:00 AM

We began our first day in the village with a tour of the Children Welfare Institution. Before even going into the classrooms, we knew that we were about to witness something special just by watching the way in which the parents and children arrived in the morning. Because of the rain, most of the parents carried the children in on their backs while holding umbrellas, which made the presence of a strong connection between adults and children immediately evident. After observing in the classrooms for a bit, we had the opportunity to film the interactions that we found most representative of Simple Interactions. We plan to analyze these videos and use the ones we find most exemplary of quality interactions between adults and children in our presentation on Thursday. There were fewer children than usual in the morning (9-11 a.m.) due to rain. Most of the families have a difficult time commuting in the rain because they walk or the children are in wheelchairs. In the afternoon (2-4 p.m.), the rain stopped and more children arrived. While filming, what stood out the most was the purposeful, yet meaningful interactions. Everything that occurred in the classrooms was intentional, but the focus was not on meeting goals or objectives; rather, the focus was on the happiness and well-being of the children and the positive interactions between the children and adults. Upon reflection, we recognized that schools in the United States often fixate on the idea of meeting standards so much that the importance of interactions between individuals is lost. Here, however, we have seen no mention of standards; the intention is to help the children learn through interactions, not despite them. These ideals that we came across in the classrooms embody the principles of Simple Interactions and gave us another level of understanding of what quality interactions look like.

Read More

Topics: fred rogers, study abroad, China, Fred Rogers Scholars, bearcats on the road, service trip, Fred Without Borders, Student Blog

China: Day 3 - Sunday, May 20

Posted by Casey Fuga on Mon, Jun 11, 2018 @ 10:43 AM

Today was full of adventures! A few of us started our day early and took a nice walk to try out some authentic Shanghai street food that did not disappoint! Later, a group of us went to Sunday Mass spoken in English at Saint Ignatius Cathedral. I was very excited to experience Mass in a different country as it was something new to me. The cathedral was beautiful as was the Mass! I was amazed at the similarities between our Mass at home and the Mass here in China. It is extremely comforting to know that even in a country across the world, the Catholic church remains the same. After Mass, we were able to take a look at a lovely Blessed Mother grotto along with some other beautiful statues before setting out for some shopping in Shanghai. The whole group of us went to the Yu Yuan Gardens to look at all of the different street shops and pick out some souvenirs for our friends and families. We also took a look at the Earth God Temple near the Gardens in between shopping. We had so much fun experiencing even more of China's exciting culture! Looking forward to another beautiful day in the neighborhood!

Read More

Topics: fred rogers, study abroad, China, Fred Rogers Scholars, bearcats on the road, service trip, Fred Without Borders, Student Blog

China: Day 2 - Saturday, May 19

Posted by Kyle Ward on Mon, Jun 11, 2018 @ 10:40 AM

On Saturday, May 19, we had our first opportunity to immerse ourselves in Shanghai culture. Our first attraction of the day was visiting the Shanghai Museum. The museum is free to the public and houses four floors of the country’s most interesting artifacts. We learned the history of artistic bronze wine vessels, the significance of more than 3,000 figurines/trinkets made of jade and the cultural implications behind traditional Chinese couplets. An especially noteworthy exhibit displayed pencil drawings and ink or watercolor paintings done by artistic masters of China. Our favorite exhibit was the Chinese minority nationalities’ art gallery. It included costumes, embroideries, batiks, metal wares and masks that conveyed the diverse musical and artistic creativity of China’s many ethnic groups. We experienced the wisdom and character of China’s deeply rooted history through our exploration of the museum. Later in the evening, we boarded a private boat with officials from the China Welfare Institute and Department of Education heads from provinces across China. They welcomed us aboard their cruise on the Huang Pu Jiang river where they discussed the recent achievements and mission of the Institute and witnessed nightfall behind the Shanghai skyline. We gained insight into the logistics behind child-educator relations and had the opportunity to view the famous Bund from the river. The Bund features a stretch along the river that includes architecture and culture from diverse backgrounds due to colonial influence. Saturday’s activities instilled a deeper understanding of how present-day Shanghai has come into existence, and how its history continues to affect the daily interactions of the local populations. 

Read More

Topics: fred rogers, study abroad, China, Fred Rogers Scholars, bearcats on the road, service trip, Fred Without Borders, Student Blog

And we're off to China!

Posted by Dr. Dana Winters on Mon, May 21, 2018 @ 03:11 PM

And we’re off! Over the next two weeks, Dr. Junlei Li and I will be supervising a group of seven students on an educational service trip through China. The students come from a variety of backgrounds and majors – from early childhood education to psychology to biology – and have all worked with us for the last few years in the Incubator 143 Research Lab at the Fred Rogers Center for Early Learning and Children’s Media at Saint Vincent College. We all look forward to learning as much as we can while visiting preschools and kindergartens, village orphanages for children with disabilities, and community hospitals through Shanghai, Qingdao, and Beijing. Over the last year, the students have been working together to prepare for our journey – training with Simple Interactions, an initiative of the Fred Rogers Center that promotes and affirms the human connections between adults and children as the foundational building block of children’s development, learning about Chinese culture and history, and considering how we can best be helpful and spread the legacy of Fred Rogers through neighborhoods different from our own. As we travel and learn together, we will share our experiences and journey, our own learning and growing, and the importance of carrying Fred Rogers’ legacy of helpful appreciation across geographical borders. #FredWithoutBorders

Read More

Topics: study abroad, fred rogers center, China, Saint Vincent College, saint vincent students, bearcats on the road, service trip

First week in Cape Town, South Africa

Posted by Floyd Nichols on Mon, Feb 26, 2018 @ 03:50 PM

This week was my first week in Cape Town, South Africa. It has been an amazing experience so far. It has also been quite interesting to see the contrast between the Parisian culture and the South African culture.

Read More

Topics: study abroad, bearcats on the road, cape town, south africa

Snow in Paris

Posted by Floyd Nichols on Thu, Feb 22, 2018 @ 02:29 PM
This week in Paris has been fantastic! I have really grown accustomed to the Parisian lifestyle. Unfortunately, I only have one more week left before I leave for Cape Town, South Africa. However, on a more positive note, it snowed in Paris this week! Although, coming from Pennsylvania that does not sound impressive at all, for Paris it is almost unheard-of to get snow in the winter, let alone any other time during the year. It has definitely been wonderful, as Paris is one of the most beautiful places when it snows. 
Read More

Topics: study abroad, Paris, bearcats on the road, snow

Getting Used to Life In Mexico

Posted by Cristy Marsh on Wed, Jan 17, 2018 @ 10:43 AM

I’ve become incredibly comfortable with my routine in the Mexico.

Read More

Topics: study abroad, Mexico, travel, travel abroad in college, life, bearcats on the road

First Week in Mexico

Posted by Cristy Marsh on Wed, Jan 03, 2018 @ 12:07 PM

This first week in Mexico was quite the adjustment. It’s one thing to learn about culture shock, but another to go to a third world country and experience it. Seeing small children being “street performers” on the side of the street gives you a new perspective and appreciation for everything we have in the states. 

Read More

Topics: spanish, study abroad, Mexico, Benedictine

About this Blog

In Bearcats on the Road, students chronicle their lives while studying abroad or completing internships away from campus.

Michael Orange

 

How can you study abroad?

Study abroad learn how

 


Join the Community

Subscribe to this Blog

Schedule a Visit

Request Information

Apply Now to become a bearcat


Latest Posts

Bloggers 

Paige Casario

Paige Casario is a junior International Business major with minors in Spanish and Operational Excellence. She is studying Business and Spanish and living with a host family in Sevilla, Spain, for the spring semester. She is very excited for this opportunity and experience and can't wait to venture all over Spain and Europe.

Nicole Reitz

Hi! My name is Nicole Reitz and I’m a junior psychology major at SVC. This spring, I’m studying at Edge Hill University in England.

Gianna Boburka

Hi! My name is Gianna Boburka. I am an international business major with minors in operational excellence and entrepreneurship. I will be studying abroad in Thessaloniki, Greece, this summer for five weeks. In addition to taking two classes abroad, I will be exploring many different sites around Greece.

Theresa Thimons

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Theresa Thimons is a sophomore majoring in mathematics. She is the proud little sister to nine siblings and aunt to seventeen nieces and nephews. Theresa believes that each encounter she has with another human is an opportunity to better understand the heart of Jesus, as every person is the result of God’s love. In whatever career path she ends up taking, she looks forward to solving problems and hopefully inspiring more people to explore the world of fun that is found in math.

Sam Geer

 

 

 

 

 

 

My name is Sam Geer. I’m from Murrysville, Pennsylvania, and I’m a junior at Saint Vincent. I’m getting my major in Environmental Science and minoring in Public Administration. I’m a work study at the Winnie Palmer Nature Reserve and am a member of the Benedictine Leadership Studies Program. This summer, I'll be traveling to Bhutan in the Himalayas of Central Asia, home of the bearcat, where I’ll be studying environmental sustainability and Bhutanese culture. 

Gabrielle Kohl

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Hi! Im Gabrielle Kohl, an avid reader who loves to travel around the world! I love to experience new culture, literature, people and food. I aim to make a positive impact in the lives of people with whom I interact in order to make the world a happier place.

Nicole Berry

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Hi! My name is Nicole Berry and I am currently a junior studying communication and psychology. I also am minoring in children studies. I am a commuter and currently live in Delmont, PA. I am hoping to graduate in May 2017 and go on to graduate school for my Masters in Social Work and Juris Doctorate.

Anastasia Jaeger

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Anastasia Jaeger is a junior English education major with a minor in German and a minor in peace and justice. She has always dreamed of being able to travel around the world and is thankful that Saint Vincent College has these opportunities available to students. When she is not at college, she is likely working her part-time job at a local bakery. In the future, she hopes to travel more and do humanitarian work or teach high school students English.