Ian Scholer: Rome

Latin

Although Latin is not a spoken, we did plenty of reading while on campus. The afternoons were devoted to preparing for the evening tutorial sessions, in which we went through the passage in a group of four with a tutor. We started with Suetonius’ account of Caesar’s murder and Livy’s account of Cicero’s. We then moved on to Tacitus’ opening to his Annals on how the participate happened, before reading Pliny’s letters to Tacitus concerning the eruption of Mt. Vesuvius just in time to visit Pompeii, completing our prose readings. Our poetry readings, comprised entirely of Vergil, started with Book IV of The Aeneid and ended with The Georgics, stories about life in agriculture. Various quizzes were sprinkled throughout the three weeks, but the final exam was the most challenging part of the course. To prepare, we spent a whole day reviewing all the passages we had read throughout the three weeks, enough Latin to secure three college credits. I liked the freer approach to translating, as we were even encouraged not to write anything down until the final exam, an approach that I think helped me understand the Latin more thoroughly.

Our beautiful campus

The City

Rome is perhaps one of the most historic cities in the world, and almost every morning we were able to see the remnants of ancient Rome. At different points, we walked up the Palentine and Capitoline Hill and had terrific views of the city. The most memorable experience came when we visited the Forum and saw the epicenter of the Republic and Empire. Of all the ancient ruins we saw, the ones in the forum were the most spectacular were the ones in the forum. The arches of Titus and Septimius Severus are still standing as they did at the time of the Empire and the Curia is still standing as well. Another important city of ruins was Ostia, and old port city surprisingly well preserved. We visited many medieval basilicas, often with ruins of Roman temples underneath, the most impresssive of which was the Basilica of St. Clemente, which had an extensive underground  system of Roman ruins.Although we did not go in, the Colosseum was also an incredible sight. One Sunday morning, we were even treated with a Latin mass in St. Peter's Basilica in the Vatican. On the last day, we went into the city after the final exam to see the Pantheon and the Trevi Fountain.On top of seeing firsthand these amazing historical sights, we also saw many artifacts from the time in museums, including the Museo Nazionale Tarquiniense and the Museo Capitolina

The Forum

Bay of Naples Trip

Our five day excursion started with a jolt, driving straight to Mt. Vesuvius and climbing to the top, at which point we were presented with a bird’s eye view of the beautiful Bay of Naples. That evening we were able to explore the old but modernized town of Sorrento on our own. The next morning we took a ferry to the famous island of Capri and were able to take a scenic lap around the island by boat, giving us great views of all the cliff faces and rock formations for which the island is known. On the third day we visited the famed ruins of Pompeii, getting a great idea what life in the R
oman Empire must have been like. Day 4 saw us visiting the cave of Sybil in Cumae, the cave in which Aeneas is said to have heard Sybil’s prophecy in Book VI of The Aeneid, and then swimming in the warm waters of The Mediterranean Sea. On the final day, we visited the quaint town of Arpinio, birthplace of Cicero and Marius before driving back to campus that afternoon. 


Michael and I at Pompeii with Mt. Vesuvius in the background

And then in Capri

Food

I have always liked Italian food, and the food on this trip was indescribable, but I’ll try. Every day, for lunch and dinner, the campus chef, Nino, and his crew would cook us delicious, authentic Italian pasta, along with some meat and vegetables. All the meals on campus were excellent, especially when enjoyed with friends. In the city, we were often able to enjoy gelato and Italian lemon soda. The best meal came in Capri, a plate of what was translated as “big pasta with seafood”, a dish from a local restaurant overlooking the coast of Capri. Meals were some of the most enjoyable parts of the trip, with delicious food and lots of laughs.

A meal of pasta and fish in Capri

Friends

The determining factor of any experience is the people with whom it is shared, and I could not have asked for a better group of people. Thanks to them, I have lifelong memories of how much fun this whole program was. I got very little sleep because even after my many nightly games of ping-pong I still talked to my roommates for another hour or two before finally going to bed. I know that I will remember all of them fondly, and I only hope that I will keep in touch with them as time goes on.

In the cafeteria with friends and our top notch chef Nino

At this point I would like to thank all of the people who made this possible, especially the Wilson family. Without their generous donation to the school for the language grants, none of this enriching experience would not have been possible. I would also like to thank my Latin III teacher, Mrs. Anne Christeson, for preparing me so well for all the Latin reading we did over the course of the program. Finally, I would like to thank Mr. Gaither and Sr. Paolicchi whose work organinzing the whole program for us was invaluable.

Harry Stewart: France

EIL: French Language and Cooking

For five weeks this Summer, I was fortunate enough to visit France to learn more about the French language, as well as native French cuisine. My trip was divided into multiple sections, beginning with a five day orientation in Paris, in which we explored all the tourist sites, and got reacquainted with the language. For the next eight days, we lived in Montignac, a small village in southwestern France, further studying the language and visiting many different tourist locations in the area. The trip continued to the two week homestay with a native French family in southeastern France. The final major portion of the trip took place in Lyon, during which time we studied cooking at the Paul Bocuse Institute. Finally, I spent one final day in Paris, cramming in as much shopping as possible. 

Orientation in Paris

After a long flight from New York, we began the day by touring a number of side-streets, mouths watering at every bakery, fromagerie, or café. The days in Paris turned into a blur of fantastic food, beautiful sights, and sore feet. Although I'd forgotten the majority of my French over the summer, I was quick to remember lots of useful phrases and words. We got to do a number of fantastic activities in Paris, including a tour of four different choclatiers, scavenger hunts, or just sitting and enjoying a picnic in the park. 

Just an average Parisian bakery

Language Study in Montignac

The View of Montignac

After our stay in Paris, we moved on to Montignac, a tiny village in southwestern France. It was beyond picturesque. At practically any spot in the area, there would be a beautiful panorama just waiting to be photographed. With our group, there were two wonderful teachers, Carole and Naima, who led French classes every morning to prepare us for the homestay. Then, every afternoon, our group would have a different activity in the area. We took a tour of French castles along the Verzere river, via canoe. We hiked up to the Lasceaux caves, which contain some of the oldest known cave drawings. We visited a goat and sheep farm, where we learned about the process of making goat cheese and got to sample different varieties. After saying goodbye to Carole and Naima, we departed for the homestay portion of the trip.

Homestay in Lapalud

By far the most anxiety-inducing part of the exchange, everyone was nervous about the homestay. Not only did we have to split up from our group, but the idea of spending two weeks with a totally new family can be terrifying. However, my family turned out to be incredibly accommodating. Every morning I would wake up and remember how incredible it was to spend two weeks with a French family. The entire experience was truly amazing, and it's hard to believe how much my French skills improved. 

Cooking in Lyon

The final portion of the trip was a one-week cooking course at the Institut Paul Bocuse, an amazing culinary school in Lyon. When we weren't receiving instruction from world-class chefs, we toured Lyon, sampling cheeses in an outdoor market, exploring houses that were hundreds of years old, and visiting historic sites. By far the most delicious portion of the trip, Lyon holds its place in my heart as one of my favorite cities. 

In Front of the Paul Bocuse Institute

Returning to Paris for one last day, we all spent the day enjoying our final moments together. Looking back, this trip has been an indescribable experience, during which I not only vastly improved my French skills, but I also met a group of incredibly close friends.

Ben Yahnian: France

The train roared across the track. I was on the TGV from Perpignan, France to Barcelona, Spain. While silence lurked throughout each cabin on the train, we oddly started to slow down. Suddenly, a man with a large feather attached to his hair seated behind me awoke screaming AHHHHH at the top of his lungs. A huge pain struck my gut as an intense pang of laughter hurt my side while the entire cabin joined me in hysterics. Dazed and confused, he obviously did not have a ticket for his journey and was hitching a free ride. Our train finally came to a stop because of an obstacle on the track. However, this man got up, grabbed his belongings which consisted of a satchel containing only 2 fairly large bamboo sticks, and hopped off the train where he disappeared into the distant countryside of southern France.

The view of Southern France from the TGV train

Now you are probably thinking why in the world would I be telling you this story? When I came back home, I soon realized that the only way I could express my appreciation to MBA and especially the Wilson family was through the memorable experiences, amusing stories, and essential lessons that I had learned. While my stories could fill 1000 pages, I am going to share some of the most unforgettable ones. In this way, I hope you will be able to see how truly appreciative I am. 

First, I want to discuss my EIL group which consisted of an economically, racially, and geographically diverse group of people. I love each of them from the bottom of my heart and I’m sure that these 15 different relationships will endure for many years to come. However, it would be a grave mistake for me not to mention one of my two group leaders named Sabienne Brutus. This lady is unlike any other person I have ever met in my life. To call her my hero would be an understatement. Words do not describe her, she describes words. She is a headstrong leader and the kind of friend who loves you enough to tell you when you screwed up or made a mistake.

My EIL group (Sabienne is seated at the bottom)

Anyway, I do want to mention an interesting dynamic within my EIL group that I observed. From the beginning, our group split into several “cliques” based on but not limited to race and personality. I can not express how much this bothered me. However, I am pleased to say that by the end of the trip when we returned to Paris, our group became united and friendships had formed between everyone. 

My EIL Group

My trip was appropriately titled “Between the Atlantic and Mediterranean,” as we stayed in Paris for 5 days, traveled to Perpignan for a 2 week homestay with 4 days spent in Barcelona, embarked for a 4 day stay in the Pyrenees and finished with a few more days in different cities in southern France and Northern Spain before we returned to Paris. Basically, I got the wonderful opportunity to experience the Catalan (the peoples living in the border region between France and Spain) culture, dialect, and art. With my homestay family, I learned numerous songs and chants about the Catalans, and I now fully respect their amusing yet dedicated mascot: the donkey. Thinking back on my trip, I am honestly amazed at how much I did that my brain still hasn’t processed all the incredible moments on the trip. I went to the beach 11 times! The Mediterranean Sea just felt so good I just had to go back again and again. But particularly, I want to mention the beach at Collioure which was about an hour by bus away from my homestay in Perpignan. The beach there was absolutely incredible and I loved the red tiled roof architecture of all the houses. 

The Beach at Collioure 

As if I wasn’t lucky enough already just to get the opportunity to go on this trip, I was blessed with an unbelievably caring homestay family in Perpignan. I had two brothers aged 15 and 20 which was an opportunity for me to experience living with 2 brothers as I only have one sister in Nashville (I still love ya Mary). 

The cutest little homestay city of Perpignan

Anyway my dad was the coolest plumber in the world, and I respected him so much for the effort he exerted in his job daily. Also, I noticed a particularly odd occurrence that about 80% of the time my dad never wore a shirt. After I noticed that my brothers followed in their farther’s shirtless footsteps I soon picked up on the ritual and went shirtless. You should have seen the look on my real mom’s face when I came back home and tried to explain why I had disproportionately clean shirts compared to shorts. When I came to France, I predicated that I would lose 10 pounds as the French obviously ate way less than us Americans. Wrong Ben. So wrong. I have never eaten so much food in my life. My host family would say to me all the time, “oh you are american? Drink this coke.” As I was in no mood to refuse anything that they offered me, I accepted and this became a regular thing at dinner. We all drank coke and watched the news while we ate. For my first lunch, my mom bought me a baguette sandwich. However, when I came home that day having eaten the whole thing, I guess she took it as a sign that I was starving and decided to pack two huge baguettes each day for my lunch for the next 2 weeks, along with apple sauce and some fruit. (and a coke of course!) One day, my brothers called me their "vrai frere" or basically their true brother. Whenever they told me that, I may or may not have shed a little tear on the inside. My family went out of their way to include me in everything they did, and I felt like just another son in the family. I am truly grateful for the kindness given to me by my host family and I know that I will keep in touch with them for the rest of my life. 

My homestay family 

When I think about my trip, 3 key moments come to mind that I feel necessary to highlight. First, my brothers took me to this festival called a Feria. Basically, a Feria is an event in a city with bull activities during the day and at night the entire town shuts down as people line the streets for a huge party until 5 am. Oh and did I forget to mention that it happens for 3 days!? I loved listening to all the different bands on multiple stages and I danced my butt off with people of all different ages from young to even the elderly. By the third night, I was practically running on my reserve emergency energy supply. Man was I tired! 

Secondly, I struck luck again as I got the chance to turn 18 in Barcelona. This city was always and I mean always hopping. With one of the most breathtaking beaches and really cheap but incredible food, Barcelona is definitely a city I will be visiting again. My amazing EIL group leaders surprised us with a really nice restaurant dinner that night for my birthday and even gave us all a later curfew so we could explore all that Barcelona had to offer. 

18th Birthday in Barcelona!

Next, my group traveled to Yaso, Spain with a whopping total population of 7! Now what’s particularly interesting about Yaso are two things. One is that Yaso has 2 living accommodation options between a really, really rundown smelly old rusty cramped “hotel” and this brand new luxurious apartment complex. EIL through some snafu had booked half of us in the “hotel” and the others in the apartment complex. So we decided to draw straws and well my lucky streak just had to continue as I pulled a straw for the apartment. When I found out I got the apartment, I took off down the road screaming like a baboon and then I stopped and turned around and cried with joy. The other interesting thing about Yaso is the peculiar fly infestation. These things traveled in packs attacking not only our group but the whole town. However, I am pleased to report that our group formed a quasi resistance secret society waging war against these flies. After decimating their population, they called in backup and by the time it was time for us to leave Yaso we gave up our war with the flies and booked it to the charter bus. However, I need to also mention the incredible hiking in the Pyrenees mountains. We also got to go canyoning which is essentially entails putting on a wetsuit and wading down the river rapids with just your body and jumping off cliffs and waterfalls. If it sounds cool to you, then that’s because it was probably the coolest thing I did on the trip. 

There are so many more memorable experiences and moments on the trip that I wish I could tell including the Perpignan rugby game, all the stories I have from Paris, Biarritz, San Sebastien, Bilbao, Villefranche, Ceret, and many other cities and towns that we visited. I saw original artwork, climbed through medieval tunnels and castles, played pick-up soccer with these 13 year old French prodigies     (the score was like 7-2 if you were interested), attended a French barbeque, and now probably most importantly of all I feel I can confidently communicate with any French person on any topic in French. My main goal going into the trip was to increase my language proficiency and now the fear that used to lurk inside my body when I spoke to a native French speaker has all but been eradicated. 

My French Academy ID Card

I owe all my experiences, lasting memories, and loving friendships to the Wilson family. I sincerely hope you realize how much your contribution has meant to me and that this blog begins to describe my appreciation. I learned more, ate more, laughed more, and even cried more (at the end) than I ever have in my life. I know that both MBA and the Wilson family have positively impacted my life, and now I hope you both know that as well. 

Last night in Paris

Louis Brown's trip to Claustro Moderno in Bogota, Colombia

Introduction  

I met up with Daniel and his mother, Ms. Rodriguez, in the airport, and then headed back to their apartment. I unpacked all my clothes neatly because the family was very kind and respectful to me. The family was really nice to me, and they allowed me to use Angela's, Daniel's sister, room. The family consists of the three of them and no more. After I gave them chocolates we went to a Colombian lunch where I had empenadas and a traditional soup with three different types of potatoes in it. One thing that I realized the very first day is that they never waste any food. Everything that is served is eaten until the platter is completely clean. We then went to a mall where we got ice cream and walked back to the house to catch a final in the Colombian league between Nacional and Santa Fe. Santa Fe is the team in Bogota, and the people of Bogota were on edge as the game ended a tie 0-0.

my room for two weeks

Interesting Words 

Ague panela con queso
Arepa de Mais
Policias acostados- speed bumps
Promedio- average
Bacano-cool (only in Bogota)
Chèvere-cool
Mazorca- corn on the cob
desierto- desert
Bogotanos- people from Bogota
placer- pleasure

The Normal School Day 

The school was a 10 minute bus ride from Daniel's house, and a bus came to pick us up every day around 7:20. The school was very pretty with a lot of surrounding forest on the property of the school. Many of the days were spent going to classes such as English, Math, Physics, Philosophy, Art, Physical Education, and more. The classes were fairly easy to understand as many of the concepts were similar. The school had 11 grades, and the 60 11th graders will graduate in November.

Full assembly at Claustro Moderno

Excursions and Activities 

 We went to dinner south of bogota on the other side of a the mountains(over 10,000 ft) in a small town called la calera. We ate arepas de mais that is similar to an empanada and ague panela con queso, which is a hot sugar water.

Left to right: Me, Mariana, Ryan, and Daniel at the top of la Calera. 

 Ague panella con queso and arepa in la Calera. 

One day after lunch we hiked on the property of the school up the mountain. The school starts on the base of a mountain and works up the first gradual slopes. What is not always shown to the students is the path that works up the mountain reaching the summit. The view from the top is incredible. 

Left to Right: Chase, me, and Ryan on top of the mountain at the school. 

On the second Friday of the three weeks the school had a patriotic day celebrating Colombia. All of the students participated in cooking arepas and playing traditional Colombian games. In addition, on the next day outside of school was the Colombian independence day. I went with my host family to see a military parade downtown. The parade was impressive as it lasted two hours showing tanks, submarines, special forces, and more.  

Arepa con queso

Pinto in his traditional Colombian outfit

the parade on independence day

One of my favorite restaurants was the chain called Crepes and Waffles. The food there was good but also cheap because of the favorable exchange from dollars to pesos. 

 Mariana and Daniel at Crepes and Waffles 

Thanks 

I am so thankful for the opportunity to visit a new country and learn about their customs and culture. The world is a big place and with this trip I am better able to produce a picture of what it is really like. The improvement of my speaking abilities is incredible and I am closer to my goal of becoming fluent in Spanish. I would also like to thank the Wilson family for the wonderful experience they gave me. It is an honor to be selected for these grants and for that I thank Mr. Gaither and the language department. Also, thank you to Mr. Paolicchi for accompanying the three of us on our exchange. The Wilson grants are one of the opportunities that make MBA special, and I am proud to be a part of the program.   

   Bogota, Colombia from the air

James Throckmorton: China

2013

One of China's most iconic images: The Forbidden City

          Visiting China was one of the greatest experiences in my life, but I admit that I was quite nervous. I had never flown over an ocean before or been out of the country before. As the plane was landing, hundreds of thoughts rushed into my head. What if I offend someone? What if I did something wrong? I took a deep breath and relaxed. I reminded myself that this amazing trip would change my life forever.

            The first city that I visited was China’s capitol, Beijing. After disembarking the plane, my group was greeted by four students who attended Beijing Number 4 high school. They were all eager to meet us. Their names were Harry, Peter, Anna, and Biscuit. 

(Left to Right) Harry, Jackson, Biscuit, Anna, Penn, Steve, myself, and Peter

They introduced me to my first authentic Chinese meal consisting of things I have never even attempted eating. They also gave me great insight into the way Chinese people go about their daily lives. My introduction to China had begun.

            We saw many fascinating sites while staying in Beijing such as a Chinese Museum, Tienamen Square, The Forbidden City, The Great Wall of China, Beijing Number 4 High School, The Temple of Heaven, The Summer Palace, and the Silk Market. 

The Forbidden City: The former palace of the Emperor

 I was able to vastly improve my Chinese at the Silk Market where customers had to haggle for items. I was able to use my Chinese skills to talk to the salesmen and purchase small trinkets for a very low price. However, visiting Beijing Number 4 taught me about Chinese culture. I was able to converse with several Chinese students and learn how they go about their day to day activities. 

Standing atop the Great Wall of China

The Great Wall winds across the landscape for as far as the I can see.

 Although everything that I saw in Beijing was mesmerizing, The Great Wall will have a very lasting impression on my life. My group of MBA students hiked about four miles of the Great Wall during our visit. It towered over the land scape and seemed almost mystical. As I was standing atop the tallest portion of the wall that we could go to, I was awestruck by the majesty of the great structure. The fact that the wall had been built by men over many generations and that many of the workers were buried underneath the wall made my knees weak. The wall had stood the test of time and defended the land from conquerors throughout the dynasties that have ruled China in the past.

            Beijing was not the only place that I visited. I also explored the city of Jinnan, which is the hometown of my Chinese teacher, Zhang Laoshi. We traveled to Jinnan by train, and it was the first time I had ever been on a high speed train.   

My first experience in a high speed train.

The city was tiny compared to the bustling city of Beijing (It was still much bigger than Nashville). My host brother, Tom, was an incredibly nice guy who accepted me into his family. His cousin, Lien, also lived with him, they went to the same school. This experience was the true test for my Chinese skills because Tom could not speak English very well nor could the rest of his family. I had to really concentrated and try my best to understand what others were saying, and I had to make sure that they could understand me. I learned so much about Chinese culture from shadowing Tom and talking to him and his cousin. One thing I did learn was from pure dumb luck. At the first dinner I had with my host family, they raised a toast. We all clinked glasses, and I clinked glasses with Tom's grandfather. I did not know it at the time, but I had dipped the top of my glass underneath the top of his glass. The old man was shocked by this action because it is a great sign of respect. For the rest of my time in Jinnan, Tom's grandfather wanted to converse with me to test my Chinese skills. 

(Left to Right) Lien and Tom saying goodbye to me on my last day in Jinnan.

           

             When it was finally time to leave my host family, we had a heartfelt goodbye. I then re-boarded the train and traveled to Shanghai. Shanghai was an amazing experience. All of the buildings towered above me. It is such an advanced city and yet it has such a vast history. Several buildings of British origin dot the curve in the river known as the Bund (The bend in the river). 

The soon to be second tallest building in the world

The Bund: One of the most iconic spots in all of Shanghai

The best part about Shanghai was meeting my host brother Owen. Owen had visited MBA in the winter, and I had met him during his exchange. He is a really great guy, and we share many of the same interests. 

Owen and his mother saying goodbye to me as I departed Shanghai

While in Shanghai, Owen and I were both quite busy because we were preparing for the international conference that was taking place at Owen’s school. He had to prepare for the events, and I had to prepare for my role as a director and presenter. Even though we both had very busy schedules, we always talked with each other. Every night, we would play video games together. Owen taught me a valuable lesson while I was staying with him. Even though American students seem to be very different from Chinese students and vice versa, we can still enjoy the same things and enjoy each other’s company. 

            This trip was one of the greatest experiences in my life, and I will never forget it for as long as I live. The Wilson Family has given me so much, and I offer them my sincere gratitude. I also would like to thank my host families for putting up with me. I know that it must have been difficult to change your daily routine, and I and truly grateful. I would also like to thank Zhang Laoshi for taking such good care of me and the other MBA students as we traveled across China. I also give my sincere thanks to Mr. Gaither and Mr. Paolicchi for making all of this possible.

Gaines Garrett: Germany




Arrival at Frankfurt Airport

June 12, 2013: AATG

        After traveling for 16 hours round-trip, Nick Obremsky and I met our host partners as enthusiastically as possible. However, I soon learned that their hospitality matched that of ours in the South. Martin, my host brother, and his mother drove me an hour back to Wiesbaden where I slept through the rest of the day and night in my own room. Martin and his brother Patrick were sharing their own bed. The next morning, I awoke to the smell of freshly baked bread which I would have for breakfast and lunch. I knew then that I was in good hands.

First day of School

        For the first week, I accompanied my host brother to school where I took a multitude of classes all in German. It didn't matter which class was which. Biology class was German class, Religion class was German class, Math class was German class. We did however spend four hours of our day in our homeroom class which was a safe haven where we still studied German but in English. After a few days passed, however, we were all comfortable with speaking German to the best of our ability. Many of us failed initially, but the embarrassment was mutual. Each little mistake was really an improvement as the nearest German, whether we knew them or not, would politely correct us. We were speaking German!

The glorious Brandenburg Tor

        After each school day, my host partner and I would go into the city of Wiesbaden. Within the city we walked everywhere which gave me a chance to enjoy the local quisine, find the best local shops, and experience the culture first hand. I quickly discovered many important things such as: my favorite food, Döner, my favorite shop, the local candy store, and my favorite custom, honking your horns and driving around in circles when someone is just married.


        I had many fantastic experiences different of what my other AATG group members had. One of which was the time I spent in Frankfurt on the panel for a discussion about the recent politcal speech made by Barack Obama which coincided with the anniversary of JFK's speech in 1963. In Wiesbaden I had the opportunity to be a part of this discussion along with one other American from my AATG group. We were joined by many other German students around the state of Hessen, but we were the only Americans. We were joined by journalists, filmakers, and people who saw JFK'S speech in 1963 first hand. We answered many opinionated questions about JFK's speech, Obama's speech, and comparisons between the two. It was a fantastic thing to be a part of and I relished the experience.

The discussion panel at the Villa Kennedy, hosted by the
U.S. Consulate General in Frankfurt am Main

        Our group spent an exhilirating few days in Berlin as well, where we stayed in a youth hostel and explored Berlin. We saw all the museums, including the world renowned pergamon museum. We saw the Berlin Wall, Checkpoint Charlie, the Dome, the Reichstag and much more. Around noon each day though we were given the freedom to explore Berlin on our own. We then enjoyed the Berlin music scene and many fantastic shops around the city.

The Prussian Flag in front of the Reichstag

I would like to thank the Wilson family for their fantastic generosity. My trip helped me improve my German speaking skills tremendously and I made lifelong friends in a different country on a different continent. I will never forget my time I spent in Germany and I will always be indebted to MBA and the Wilson family. Thanks again.

Charlie Hawkins: Spain

Guards of Charles I's castle in Madrid

View of me on balcony of castle

Garden in Madrid

Group picture on beach of Mediterranean Sea

Done with school in Cordoba!

Group photo

Charlie Hawkins: Spain

I arrived at the New York airport and met fourteen of the people that I would become great friends with for the next month. My leaders Darius and Gillian assimilated the group with activities to learn more about the people in the group. After arriving at the Madrid Airport at 10:15, we took the bus to Hostal Persal and had Spanish meals together for lunch and dinner. The next morning we took a tour of Charles I's castle and saw many antique paintings, carpets, and over 1800 rooms.       Later that day, I went on a scavenger hunt around the city, bought a Ronaldo jersey, and took a very difficult Spanish placement test. The Spanish hotel served the same breakfast every morning, a model of consistency. After a few days in Madrid, we took a bus to Toledo and went into a church. We went to eat at a cafe and bought the famous Chupa Chups lollipops. We then took a bus to Cordoba, where we would spend the next two weeks, and had a dinner of soup, chicken, and fries. Each night we would have a group discussion called "Rose, Bud, Thorn" describing the positive, looking forward to, and negative parts of the day. The school experience in Cordoba for two weeks was a very special experience. Each day we would walk to school and interview the locals on the streets of Cordoba. The best way to improve my Spanish skills was through trial and error. Even though we were in Spain, there was still a plethora of ice cream stores, which our group visited frequently. After a siesta, we visited a mosque and a park. The soccer game that afternoon that we played in Cordoba was a great way to get exercise and play the most popular sport in Spain. We took a trip to the local pool and met a variety of interesting people, like the Gypsies. The next morning, after a breakfast of churros, we walked to the botanic gardens. That night we went to a guitar concert and outdoor Will Smith movie in Spanish. Spending the Fourth of July was very unique. The faculty at the school surprised us with Miley Cyrus' "Party in the USA" and made us feel at home. After the hotel staff gave us a very American lunch of hamburgers and fries, we relaxed at the hotel before going to the roof at night and looking at the stars. I learned to keep a good attitude even when it took the hotel three days to do my laundry. The next morning at breakfast I had a few thoughts. While language barriers may separate two races from one another, smiles and gestures are universal. During this trip, I discovered a great deal about myself and my strengths and weaknesses. As one of two people from the South in our group of fourteen, I learned to express my opinions with people from very different backgrounds, religions, political views, and cultures. Eating at an Indian restaurant in Cordoba as Americans represents a unique amalgam of three cultures brought together. One night we went to a very loud flamenco show, and I developed an appreciation for styles of music to which I was unaccustomed. For the next twelve days, I would experience a very memorable homestay. I arrived in Guadix and met my family. My father was a local business owner, and my mother was a homemaker, who served delicious gazpacho. I had three brothers who were very conversational and made me feel at home. I found it funny how my eighteen-year-old brother's room was filled with Disney movies and toys. My mom would cook every meal and give me hot chocolate for breakfast every morning. My eighteen-year-old brother, David, was a city-renowned artist, and I shared a room with him. On several occasions, he took me to the pool and to the fiestas every night of my homestay with the other Americans in my group and their Spanish siblings. One day we went camping in the Spanish mountains and walked up to a stream for lunch. We played a Spanish version of dodgeball by the cabin and walked to an abandoned building for ghost stories that night. At my brother's friend Juanma's birthday party the next night, we stayed up until 6:30 in the morning at a carnival and disco party. Our group went on several cathedral tours in the city of Guadix, and we had a very fun day on the Mediterranean Beach. Swimming 300 yards into the Mediterranean Sea and going to a karaoke party that night capped off a very exciting couple of days that were highlights of the trip. Whether observing a view of the caves in Guadix from the top of a mountain or the Virgen Carmen parade, I will remember my time in Guadix. The last fews days of the trip were spent drawing cartoons with the group in an art studio and at Al hambra gardens and palace. We had a banquet the last night in a local hotel. All the families came together, and each American gave a thank you and goodbye speech, bringing some of the audience members to tears. The next morning we went to the Madrid airport only to find that our flight to New York had been cancelled! After 16 hours of flights, delays, and layovers, I made it back to Nashville. I made some unforgettable memories in Guadix, Madrid, and Cordoba, and I am very thankful for having the opportunity to go on this trip.  I wanted to give my utmost thanks to the Wilson Family for making this incredible trip possible, and to conclude, in the words that my brother David said all the time, "Venga, hasta luego."