Yann Jules

Contributing writer

I came to KSC in the fall of 2006 and graduated in December 2009, studied journalism and moved back to France in early 2010.

Prior to coming to Keene I grew up in Drancy, in the suburbs of paris. To give you some context, Drancy is three miles from the Stadium targeted by the attacks. I currently live in Le Raincy, 12 miles from that same stadium. I also work a quarter of a mile away from the Stadium (the company is within the safety perimeter when there are events there).

Anyway, let’s get to Friday. I left work at 6 p.m., went to the center of Paris to pick up my wife and we headed home. We had the TV turned on to the soccer game all night, not really watching it as we had dinner. I watched it a little bit in the second half but I had no idea what was unfolding until 10:45. My wife Marlee went to let our dog out before going to bed, and I checked Facebook on my phone. That’s when I saw one of our friends in Paris letting her family know she was safe. As I scrolled down, I realized something was wrong. I switched to the news channel and discovered what was happening.

Contributed Photo / mary Curtain

It took me a while to realize what was happening. In fact I stayed up until 1 a.m. watching news and I still didn’t understand the magnitude of the event. At this point it was bad already, with 40-60 casualties reported.

My wife woke me up at 6:30  a.m. when she saw the death toll was 120. We watched the news for a few hours. The main issue at this time was that we still didn’t know how the events had happened, who was responsible and why they had attacked us.

I felt very uneasy about the situation. We tried to go about our normal business, going to get some groceries. Even at the mall, the atmosphere was off. Stores were closed. There were very little people walking around. And those who were there looked uncomfortable. So did I.

I won’t hide it: I cried while writing these few paragraphs. I was hurting deeply. I couldn’t fathom that all this had just happened in places I was familiar with. But writing about it has worked, and I was relieved, and Sunday turned out to be a good day. A sad day because of the freshness, but a lighter one nevertheless.

This morning as I got up, I felt uneasy again. I was wondering what it would be like to go back to work. To drive by that stadium where it has all begun, passing 100 feet from the McDonald’s restaurant where the third bomber had detonated his explosives.

As it turns out, there were no visible signs on what happened, but there was a very distinctive unmistakable smell.

Then, just as I was settling down for  my work day came the news that another bomber had been identified. A 28-year-old from Drancy. My hometown. I was in shock. As if this story could not get any closer to my home. Since then, we’ve also learned that the terrorists had rented an apartment in Bobigny, the next town over.

Tonight when I got out of work, I had a little bit of time before picking up Marlee so I decided to go see for myself where the attacks occurred. I stood on the corner in front of the restaurant where 14 people died on Friday. I looked at the flowers, the messages, the wine bottles set on the sidewalk. I read through the messages people had left, most of them by people just like me, who didn’t lose anyone they knew -even though virtually everyone knows someone who knows someone who died Friday.

So I pulled out a pen, scribbled a few sentences on the paper placed over the bullet holes on the wall across the street.

I went there to get closure. Did I get it? I don’t think so. Things are still too fresh. But I got to show that these 129 people didn’t die in vain. That, like thousands of others, we won’t forget them and that we’ll keep on living. Because what else can we do?

Yann Jules can be contatced at Yann.Jules@Gmail.com

Robert Ortiz

Contributing Writer

I have always had a passion for travel and love to see and experience different parts of the world and cultures, so I knew studying away for a semester would really broaden my horizon. I had done my research for studying away and landed on Australia.

So, in July, I packed my things and headed off to the University of Wollongong in Wollongong, Australia. It is now the beginning of November and my journey is sadly coming to an end. I have had the best of times here; from traveling, meeting new lifelong friends, experiencing the culture and just experiencing the country and continent of Australia. As I have said, I have had the opportunity to make new friends here whom I know I will continue to keep in touch with.

These are people that I hang out with every day and they are from all over the world; from the United States, to Australia, to all over Europe. I hope to continue my traveling adventures after studying abroad and visit them as I do so. I have even inspired many Australians to come to the United States to do a semester abroad, and many of them have applied to do so.

Before I came to Australia, I had worked all summer and planned to save as much money as I could to be able to travel as much as I could while I’m here. I have had the opportunity to visit California, New Zealand, Melbourne, The Great Ocean Road, Brisbane and many other destinations along the coast of Australia.

I also have a trip planned to Bali in Indonesia and a visit to the Great Barrier Reef. Traveling to these places has really broadened my perspective on the world, and life as well. I cannot wait to visit the upcoming destinations to continue my adventure here in Australia before I have to make my way back to New Hampshire. I do not regret spending any of the money I have spent on any of my traveling experiences. I would keep spending if I could, but funds are not unlimited. I have had the opportunity to share these experiences with my new friends here in Australia as well as one of my really good friends from back at Keene State College.

Rob Ortiz/ Contributed Photo

I also had the amazing opportunity to do things such as pet, hold and feed kangaroos and koalas out of my hand, along with skydiving right here in Wollongong. I cannot wait to show my friends and family the pictures I have taken here, as well as anyone who would be interested! Being away from home for so long really makes you realize what you take for granted, but it also helps you adjust to the lifestyle you are currently in. There are certain things I miss such as my family and American food. But I have made adjustments like I said and realize I am experiencing an amazing opportunity, so I am making the best out of every day I am here. Since I am a five-minute walk from the beach I spend a lot of my spare time there and will miss this once I leave.

When I come back home I plan on focusing on my major and plan to graduate on time in a year and a half. My overall experience here has been absolutely amazing and I have learned so much from it, and will continue to do so.

I do not regret my decision to study away for almost five months at all. I recommend studying abroad for everyone! This is an experience I will never forget for the rest of my life, and something that has really helped me grow as a person.

I am thankful that Keene State has helped me experience this amazing opportunity and Ithankful that my parents have made this possible for me by supporting my decision. I recommend this experience to anyone and everyone!

Rob Ortiz can be contacted at Rob.ortiz@ksc.keene.edu

Katie Woltner

Contributing Writer

Fairbanks is really a lovely place. It is amazing to see the early morning sun lighting up the snowy peaks of the Alaska Range, or the sun shining through the birch and poplar trees. The aurora dancing in the night sky and the trails on campus are nothing short of spectacular.

With a short drive you can be in the beautiful White Mountains and the northernmost portion of the rockies, or the foothills of the Alaska range. Adventure isn’t something you have to look for.

There is always an opportunity, whether it’s a weekend of camping, a trip to a glacier, or just a walk through the woods on the way to class. The beauty of this place amazes me every day and the people here are warm, friendly and helpful. I am so grateful to be in Alaska.

When traveling I have learned not to create too many preconceived expectations, but there were some things about Fairbanks that I did not expect. Everywhere you travel there will always be some issues local to the area that might not be something you would consider back home. Rather than hindering my experience, they have opened my eyes.

Katie Woltner/ Contributed Photo

In Alaska recycling is very expensive because it has to be shipped to the lower 48. It is not always common to see lots of places recycle like in the Northeast. People tend to be very resourceful and good at making things last as long as they can. It is common to see lots of older cars and trucks on the road.

When I thought of Alaska before, air pollution was not something I thought of. The air quality in Fairbanks is pretty poor, especially on cold days. However, this seems to make for spectacular sunsets.

Another surprising thing was that the water here is really bad. My first week here I was drinking the tap water and a friend told me that I shouldn’t be drinking the water without filtering it. I got really nervous about it, and thought I was going to get sick. The water in Fairbanks exceeds recommended levels of certain toxins, but you can’t get sick from it unless it is drank unfiltered for years on end. In the next town over though, the water is toxic because of a refinery. I now realize how lucky we are in Keene to have good drinking water and how lucky I am to be able to drink well water at home.

My first experience going off campus was taking the public bus to Fred Meyer. Fred’s is a huge department store like Walmart, but much larger and higher quality. It makes sense to have one place that sells almost everything you could need in a place where some people may have to drive a long ways just to get into town. After getting a few things,, I made it out and got on the bus. As it turned out, I got on the wrong bus. I ended up riding it all the way into downtown and had to wait at the bus station for the next bus back to campus. All in all I spent a couple hours just on the public busses, but I got a tour of Fairbanks, and learned how bus schedules work.

Riding the busses in Fairbanks is the best way to get around if you don’t have a car.

The city is rather spread out; it is about three miles to walk to downtown from campus. Luckily the busses are warm, comfortable, and free to students. The bus rides are also generally quite interesting. I have had people try to talk to me about where they like to have sex.

On another occasion I had an older gentleman say “God bless you, dear heart” out of nowhere which reminded me of my Grandma.

One morning on the way to Fred’s, I sat down next to an old lady. She kept mumbling next to me as if she was trying to start a conversation with me so I said hello.

This old lady started telling me about herself. She was an Inupiaq Native and had lived here her whole life. She was surprised to hear that I had come all the way to Fairbanks to go to school. This lady was also very drunk and on the way to the liquor store.

Unfortunately alcoholism is a common thing in Alaska. Alaska’s Division of Behavioral Health claims that Alaska’s rate of Alcoholism and Alcohol abuse is 14 percent which is twice the national average (1). It is noticeably more of an issue in Alaska than in the lower 48. Some of this seems to be because Alcohol is still relatively new to Natives and  partly because they are losing their culture. However, alcoholism is not restricted to just them. I had a professor say that in Alaska you either drink or do outdoor activities, and from his experience, doing both doesn’t work out well.

Exchange is not just finding yourself, or learning about different people. I think it takes on a different meaning for everyone. For me, going to Alaska was originally about getting away. I was not sure if I felt like Keene could be my home, or a place where I could feel like I belonged. In the past couple months I have learned to be independant and accepting through small instances of misfortune and bad luck. I have learned to take life as it comes and appreciate everything that is great around you.

I now appreciate Keene State more than I would have if I had not gone on exchange. I miss the sense of community at Keene State that students are so active in making it. Through going away I have found a place in my heart for both Keene and Fairbanks.

Katie Woltner can be contacted at katie.Woltner@ksc.keene.edu

Emily Orell

Contributing Writer

For most college students, studying away is a major goal, as it was for me. After a long decision making process I decided to go through CIEE (Council on International Educational Exchange) to the Global Institute in Berlin, Germany.

Part of my decision was the school’s Architecture program, and the other part was that I would be able to finish my German minor while abroad.

From day one it has been an adventure.

While Getting on the plane I was very excited. Then the flight was delayed. I missed my connecting flight and got stuck at the Amsterdam airport for five hours. Not off to a good start.

But I was determined not to let the beginning determine the semester. Finally arriving at the school, which was at a brand new location, I felt so privileged to be able to have the opportunity to study abroad.

Contributed Photo/ Emily Orell

Within the first week I had traveled throughout Berlin every day, and getting lost was a common occurrence. This made me love it even more.

After a month I had still not seen half the city and spent countless hours exploring.

The language barrier most people encounter was not a problem for me. I am finishing my German minor while abroad.

So, although rusty in the language at first, I was able to communicate at least the basics.

Keene State College is debating canceling the minor. Learning German has opened so many doors and made my transition into a new country easier.

Knowing even a good amount of German enhances the experience because even though most people speak a small amount of English, I always feel out of place when I have to talk to locals in English.

Studying abroad is not all fun and games; there is still school work to be done. The school semester at the Institute is set up in blocks, and there are three blocks in a semester.

Which means for most students, they only have to take two classes every five weeks. All courses, except the German classes, only meet a few times a week.

This is set up so that students have time to enjoy the city and can experience their time abroad even more.

However, for the Architecture program, I am on a full semester schedule, with three classes. One contingency with the Institute is that the architecture students also have to take an elective.

For me, that was German, which meets four times a week. This also meant I had Friday classes, a big adjustment from the past two years.

It is a lot of work, but it does not hinder the social aspect of studying abroad.

CIEE sets up a weekly “Stammtisch”where many of the students go to a large neighborhood bar every Wednesday. Many bars in Europe are very small, due to the old and very narrow buildings.

Getting in with large groups of people can be very difficult, and often larger groups will end up having to separate.

The Campus is in Kreuzberg, a neighborhood in Berlin where everyone wants to live. It has the famous Bergmannstraße where there are numerous bars and clubs. It is also only a short subway ride away from places like the East Side Gallery, Potsdamerplatz, the Brandenburger Tor and Alexanderplatz.

Germany is very different from the United States, which I was expecting. You can carry open alcohol around the city, just don’t spill it on the subway.

The social scene starts at eight o’clock in the evening and ends at eight o’clock in the morning at some bars. There are also clubs that are open all weekend, and people stay all weekend.

Traveling around, I went to the bucket list item of Oktoberfest. It was exciting although very crowded, seeing as though I went on opening weekend. I also traveled to Hamburg, three hours from Berlin, for a class field trip for the weekend.

There I studied water filtration using wetlands, but also explored the nightlife and culture. I even saw Beatleplatz: the street that the Beatles were discovered on, now located in a Red Light District.

My study abroad experience so far has been one I won’t forget. Although I have already been in Europe for a little over a month, it has only felt like half that time.

I have traveled, made friends from around the United States and Germany and experienced a new culture.

If I could give one tip for studying abroad it would be to make a list of places to go before you leave.

You are going to want to do everything and there are only so many weekends in a semester.

Emily Orell can be contacted at Emily.Orell@ksc.keene.edu

It was about three years ago that I decided I wanted to study in Australia. Basically right after I knew which college I was going to attend I had my heart set on spending a semester away. This is largely credited to my uncle who had just a few years prior spent a semester down under. And while it was easy enough for me to have “made my decision,” as my junior year got closer and steps started needing to be made to make this a reality, that decision became a lot less clear.

Thoughts like “what if I should go to South Africa?” “can I actually afford this?” “what will I miss in Keene?” started to pour into my head and I was having serious second thoughts. Then, just before Spring break 2015, I got offered a trip of a lifetime with my grandmother and uncle to spend a vacation hiking through the mountains of Peru. This sparked something in me that I did not realize I had before – a passion for travel. After that trip the eagerness to study abroad came back and, more importantly, I knew I wanted to go to Australia.

The summer leading up to leaving I had to work a ton. Saving was going to be crucial if I was going to be able to make the most of this experience. Working over fourty hours every week with minimum spending made it so when July 9, 2015 came around I had plenty of savings to start my adventure.

I said my goodbyes, some were harder than others, and got dropped off at Logan Airport with basically everything I needed to survive for five months on my back or around my shoulder.

The first thing I had to do was locate Rob Ortiz, my friend since middle school who would be joining me on all of the adventures to come. Once together we gave each other a grin because we knew the significance of what we were about to start.

After close to seven hours to California followed by just shy of 15 hours to Sydney we did not even have time to appreciate arriving in Australia. This was because in 90 minutes our flight was leaving for New Zealand. Needless to say, we touched down in Auckland, New Zealand, completely drained. I had referred to that day ever since as my longest day ever due to time changes and the utter mayhem of the whole process.

But our ten days in New Zealand was absolutely amazing. It was highlighted by hiking through an active volcano range, natural sulphur hot springs and visiting the movie set for the Hobbit and Lord of the Rings.

One thing that I had not expected was the inflated price of everything. To the point where Rob and I were forced to go to the grocery store and eat discount loafs of bread from the day before and Subway almost every meal. Saving money where we could became a habit so that we could focus the most amount of money on experiencing what opportunity presented itself. We really were the embodiment of the college backpacker stereotype.

Finally it was time to start class. At this point I had almost forgotten that it was the whole point of coming over here. Or at least that’s what my mom thinks. For the next three weeks I was bombarded with a total culture shock. I purposefully set up my housing to be with four Australian natives and without my travel companion in order to assure that I got out of my comfort zone and met new people. This turned out to be the single best decision of my entire trip. Because of this I met my roommate Hayden, who then introduced me to a group of about 15 guys who have been best friends since grade school.

The very first night I moved in was spent with all these guys marvelling over how weird each other’s accents are and the different ways we say just about everything. From then on just about every day was spent at the beach, which was no more than a five minute walk.

Scott Bradley / Contributed Photo

My new aussie friends showed me how to get around the city, which bars to go to, which people to avoid, and were always willing to answer any questions I had. I would highly recommend to anyone doing a study abroad program to befriend some natives, because they are the ones who will give you the best understanding of the local culture.

This does not mean that you should only befriend locals. In fact, you definitely should not do that. This is because most aussies do not care about touristy things like going to the Sydney Opera House or the Great Barrier Reef. And they definitely do not find kangaroos as interesting as you do. So for that I made several friends from around America and Europe whom I do different excursions with.

For example, I went to Melbourne during our Spring Break (since it is opposite seasons from the U.S I got two Spring breaks this year) with two friends from England and two from America.

The city was filled with amazing art, restaurants and people always willing to lend a hand if you get lost. An even larger group of us, 14 to be exact, have booked a weeklong trip for Bali, Indonesia, because Air Asia happened to run a promotion on our study break that brought a usually $900 flight down to about $175. The group of us booked a massive Villa on the beach since the exchange rate in Indonesia is so favourable (1 USD = 13,472 IDR). Once we return from that we have a week of finals and then another trip booked to Cairns, Australia, where I will be able to snorkel the Great Barrier Reef among other things.

I cannot implore people enough to take advantage of the study abroad program if at all possible. Thanks to this opportunity I have been exposed to a multitude of cultures and my eyes have been opened to all the possibilities for future travel. I was forced out of my comfort zone and in that process I have made lifelong friends as well as connections from all around the globe. While at times I do miss home, studying abroad offers students opportunities that cannot be experienced in any other way.

Whether it is all the way over in Australia or even to another part of our very own country, studying abroad is something that can only help you grow culturally and as an individual.

Scott Bradley can be contacted at scott.bradley@ksc.keene.edu

Mary Curtin

Contributing Writer

A month has gone by. A whole month. Before my departure to Seville, Spain, I had no idea what to expect. I never thought the language barrier would be as difficult as it is.

However, that adds to the fun and excitement of  the learning experience.

Our trip here was a very tiring one, between flights, train rides, cab rides, busses and just about every mode of transportation.

When we first arrived, we had to point at most things that we wanted and ate only things we knew how to say- so we ate very little and drank only water.

Our first night, we went to an American diner because we could at least see a picture and it resembled something we knew from home.

My culture shock was far different than I expected. I thought that I would have a really hard time immersing myself into the culture, but it was not too tough.

The toughest part, by far, was the language barrier.

It was an interesting first month say the least.

Getting acquainted to an entirely different continent, country, culture and language is completely exhausting, but also incredibly rewarding.

It feels as though I am basically enrolled in a full-time cultural and conversational Spanish course.

I have been able to explore the city quite a bit and it is so incredibly beautiful.

Mary Curtin/ Contributed Photo

Every nook and cranny has something interesting to offer.

Everything looks like it is out of some Euro-trip indie film. We have also had the chance to do some tourist-y things amongst taking classes…and taking [much needed] siestas.

We visited “Las Setas” or “the Mushrooms,” which is a giant structure that extends over the street in Seville and allows people to take an elevator to the top for an aerial view of the city.

It is breathtaking and makes you realize how small humans really are.

We also visited El Torre de Oro – “Tower of Gold,” which was once a military watchtower used to limit access to Seville through Rio Guadalquivir, which is the river most people know Seville for, and rightfully so – it is quite a sight to see.

Another beautiful place was the Alcazar that is filled with gardens, fountains and so much history.

After being here for a month, we have been able to find some hot spots for lunch, dinner, coffee [which is really great], views of the city, places to run and a couple bars.

We even found a Dunkin’ Donuts! There is a department-like store that is essentially a giant Macy’s with a supermarket on the bottom floor called El Corte Ingles. It’s a great one stop shop.

Our University, Universidad Pablo de Olavide, is an hour commute in the morning and an hour commute in the afternoon.

It is a 20-minute walk to the metro or subway, 20-minute subway ride and 15-minute walk from the metro to our academic building where all of our classes are held.

There are around 15,000 at UPO, but only around 350 are in the International Program this semester. The walk to the metro is very beautiful. We get to walk past the Cathedral every day.

The light reflecting off of all of the buildings in Seville is something that is not seen in many places.

There are many plazas with fountains, incredible architecture, horse drawn carriages, tourists, locals, restaurants, cobblestone streets and air filled with the sound chatter and the smells of the city.

Outside of Seville, I have been to Lagos, Albufeira, Sagres and Tavira in Portugal, and  Cordoba and Cadiz in Spain.

Additionally, in the middle of October, we are headed with a tour group to Morocco. Portugal was quite an incredible place and I see myself going back, hopefully in the near future.

I taught English for the first time at the end of September to two girls (ages five and seven). I will be teaching them every Wednesday for two hours until I leave in December! The 7-year old is so very eager to learn and is very attentive.

Whereas the 5-year old is a little less attentive and very timid.

But, she is still young and this is understandable. The parents are very nice people and are always asking me if I need anything.

They have invited me for dinner/lunch/snacks with them already.

I met a teenage girl on the elevator while trying to find the apartment of this family.

We were conversing (with my very broken Spanish), and she asked me where I was from – I told her the United States and she looked at me with such an excited expression and was telling me how jealous she was.

Seville is beginning to feel like home, and I am having a hard time thinking about ever having to leave.

Mary Curtin can be contacted at Mary.curtin@ksc.keene.edu

I have always said since I was a little girl that I would study abroad one day – explore new things that nobody back home had ever done before. However, I never knew exactly where I wanted to end up. I dreamt of being somewhere warm, and laying on the beach sipping something fruity, witnessing views and extremes I’d never come across.

It just so happened that my sophomore year roommate was interested in studying abroad as well. That’s when we decided on Australia. My roommate has always been in love with sharks, and I grew up in the mountains of Vermont so any ocean environment sounded amazing to me. It was a lengthy process to get all of the abroad paperwork and costs worked out, but as my plane landed in Sydney Australia I automatically knew it had all been worth it.

Although, we toured Sydney for a few days and got to see the great

Baylee Jacobs/ Contributed Photo

Sydney Oprah House, my final destination was to the Gold Coast in Queensland, AU, where I live on campus here at Bond University. Don’t get me wrong, Sydney was beautiful, but it was more of an architectural, older city type of eye catcher, whereas here on the Gold Coast it is take- your-breath-away kind of beautiful. There are beaches, grasslands, trees and waterways everywhere. I can hear all of the unique birds screeching obnoxiously outside my window at night while I’m trying to sleep, instead of just the busy city streets I heard in Sydney.

The dorm I live in is also full of students from all different countries, so on top of the weird bird noises I can go from hearing German to Chinese, throw in a little Swedish here and there.

When I hear a loud American in the hallway I pretty much know it’s one of my girls. You’re guaranteed to meet tons of amazing people abroad!

I am a big outdoorsy girl, so being able to walk outside of my on-campus dorm and have a canal on my lawn that has bull sharks and stingrays as well as other fish from the ocean in it is just amazing (but do not go swimming, those sharks will get you!) I think it’s the funniest thing to walk back from getting dinner on campus and have flying fish jumping in and out of the water in the canal right next to me.

It’s also fun to compare the creatures here to the ones we have back home. At Keene State College all students expect to see at least three squirrels on their way to class, but (most Aussies are afraid of squirrels just so you know) here at Bond you can expect to see water dragons, a type of lizard that will pop out and run beside you on the sidewalk.

One night I went for a walk through campus and saw this huge animal in the sky, as it got closer I could see its wings and realized it was a bat at least five times the size of my head! They are huge and make the most awful noises, but they’re sweet!

For you nightlife folks and partygoers, the Gold Coast is the place to be. Not only can I walk out the front of my building and directly into a bar on campus, but during orientation week we’d party and drink in the bar until midnight when a vehicle  with “Party Bus” written on the side of it picks us students up from campus and drives us about 15 minutes to Surfers Paradise where all the hot clubs and late night Ben & Jerry’s are located.

At 3:30 a.m. you can chose to get back on the party bus and have it take you right back to campus, or you can walk over to the ocean and chill on the beach until you are ready to finally make your way home. It is not recommended to go drunk swimming in Australia, just for the record!

My trip’s only just begun and I’ve loved every minute of it! Plus nobody wants to hear about my classes because you’re probably doing much more schoolwork at Keene State than I am down under!

If you want to study abroad, study abroad. Don’t think twice about being home sick – you don’t have enough time for that! See ya’ll in the Spring.

Baylee Jacobs can be contacted at Baylee.jacobs@ksc.keene.edu

By: Maggie Finkelstein

National University of Ireland at Galway, Ireland

“Remind me again why I signed up for this?” Those were the last few words I said to my dad while I packed my suitcases and set off for Logan airport.

Jan 4, 2015 was one of the most nerve-racking days I’ve ever experienced.

Saying goodbye to my family, friends and all that was familiar was harder than I could have imagined.

I was about to embark into all new territory, unfamiliar with everything ahead of me in this country with endless green fields, sheep, castles and Guinness; this little island called Ireland.

I set out on this journey without any familiar people or knowledge about where I was living.

It was a huge adjustment, but everyday got easier as I became acquainted more with the people and with the city.

It wasn’t realistic to ignore the first few uncomfortable days – I realized I needed to learn to take it one day at a time, and soon enough I would see this new place as my home.

Galway is the most lively, vibrant and beautiful city in Ireland. Colorful shop buildings attached to one another,

Maggie Finkelstein / contributed photo

the narrow cobblestone streets full of children’s laughter, musical street performers and continuous chattering from those enjoying the company of friends at pubs are all staples in town.

Now, as winter dies down and spring begins, the Corrib River that runs through Galway City becomes the main spot for people, young and old, to gather to have picnics, relax and simply enjoy the sunshine (which I’ve learned to never take for granted!).

I attended the National University of Ireland at Galway [NUIG]. One may think that studying abroad entails going to school and doing homework, similar to life at Keene, but that wasn’t so much the case.

Yes, I did have classes, but classes in Europe are much different than anyone would believe.

Here, professors don’t take attendance or make sure you hand your work in on time.

In fact, it’s not even mandatory to attend class since all professors put their notes online.

What better situation could a college student dream of?

It was like being on vacation for five months with people who have become your closest friends.

I was also lucky enough to get accepted into a Service Learning class for the semester.

As a student in this class, I took the time to go to a primary school once a week to help kids with their homework and literacy skills. This was one of the most rewarding things I got to do while studying at NUIG.

Not only was I able to hang out with kids a few hours a week, but I was also able to better understand Ireland’s education system and how much the country as a whole struggles with literacy skills.

I also took two Irish-oriented classes, Irish literature and Irish history, both of which introduced me to the rich history and culture of Ireland.

Learning about Ireland’s past, its literature and its traditions from native professors, while looking out at buildings and courtyards that are thousands of years old was a truly remarkable opportunity.

I’ve been able to spend a lot of time traveling around Ireland: sightseeing, hiking and, of course, exploring the hundreds of pubs.

Ireland never fails to surprise me with its culture and beauty.

The unique stone walls in every field separating one farmer’s property from another’s, and the countless castles are both hidden treasures that become the greatest rewards when stumbled upon.

After careful planning and preparation with friends, I was able to spend time traveling around Europe.

I was lucky enough to go to Barcelona, Germany, Austria, Scotland, Amsterdam, Paris and Rome, all of which have provided outstanding visits.

However, it is always a relief to come back home to Ireland where there are no worries about language barriers and, better yet, no fear of [people who] pickpocket.

With my time here coming to an end, I am left with a bittersweet feeling.

I look forward to going home to my family, friends and returning to the familiarity of my life at Keene, but I feel the significant sadness of leaving this place that I have fallen in love with and the friends that will never be forgotten.

Studying abroad in Ireland has provided me with an experience more enriching than I could have possibly dreamt of.

It has not only offered me the opportunity of a lifetime to learn by being immersed in another culture, but it has also connected me with new friends, people whom I now call my family.

It has provided me with personal growth and deeper insight about myself, realizing that I can do and achieve anything I set my mind to.

Ireland was always a place I imagined traveling to and, after these five months, I was able to achieve something much more than simply traveling in this incredible country.

I am able to walk away calling Ireland a home. I have full intentions of returning, maybe to visit or maybe forever.

Alex Fleming

Contributing Writer

After a long and frigid winter, summer is finally on the horizon and the Keene State College school year is coming to a close.

Most students are packing up and getting ready to go back home for four months of summer vacation, if you can even call it that.

For many students, summer means a summer job, with not as much time for play. Graphic Design major John Keefe won’t even be leaving campus for most of his summer.

“I plan on living in Butler over the summer just to make up transfer courses that didn’t transfer here,” Keefe said.

Keefe transferred to KSC at the beginning of the 2014 spring semester from The New Hampshire Technical Institute in Concord, New Hampshire .

On top of school work, Keefe also said he was planning on finding a job in downtown Keene.

“I mean I guess it’s going to be what a lot of other people do, preparing for school and they’re just going to be earning money.,” Keefe said.

Keefe continued, “I get a few weeks off but for the most part it’s just going to be work,” Keefe said.

Junior Taryn Lazinski from Bellingham, Massachusetts is heading to Boulder Creek California for her summer job.

“My plans are to be a camp counselor at Camp Harmon in California,” Lazinski said.

There she said she will be working with children and adults with special needs.

According to the Camp Harmon website, their goal is to help build self-reliance, independence, confidence and

sarah Morrison / equinox staff

strong friendships for their campers.

Camp Harmon is a summer camp for people with disabilities located in Boulder Creek, CA and is run by Easter Seals Central California.

“It kind of [relates] to what I want to do in the future and stuff so it should be a good experience,” Lazinski said.  On her downtime, Lazinski said she is planning on exploring the California area.

“I’m looking forward to being a senior next year,” Lazinski said.

Reflecting on her junior year  she said her favorite parts were, “Meeting new people and also staying friends with my old friends as well. Going to my English classes have been interesting as well, becoming a better writer and learning new things and stuff.”     

Communications student Brian MacDonald  is among the students who will be graduating and completing their college careers on May 9.

“I’m going home for the summer to landscape and wait tables and in September I’m going to Thailand to teach English. I have a month long teaching course in a city called Chiang Mai,” MacDonald  said.

MacDonald  said he is local to Springfield, Massachusetts and works for a non-profit organization called Greenheart Travel, which according to their website, is an organization dedicated to providing cultural immersion programs that change lives, advance careers and create leaders.

Reflecting on his time at KSC, MacDonald said he really enjoyed his time both at and away from school.

“I was happy I got to study abroad, because that made me leave for a little bit, made me miss Keene so I could come back and appreciate it, if I’d stayed maybe I’d be more sick of it,” he said. MacDonald studied abroad in Galway, Ireland.

“Studying abroad is a great way to learn about the world, experience new things and understand different walks of life,” MacDonald  said. “I would just encourage people to travel as much as they can. We always make excuses like ‘oh money and we can’t do this’ but if you can find the means to definitely do it, it makes you open your eyes a little more and [become] aware of what’s going on, it’s cool,” MacDonald said.

Alex Fleming can be contacted at Alex.Fleming@ksc.keene.edu

Mike Miezejeski

Contributing Writer, Print Journalism

Before coming to Keene State College, this New Hampshire sophomore, now 20, had never had a sip of alcohol in his life. When he arrived at KSC, he quickly realized that mostly all of his fellow students were consistently drunk on the weekends and even the weekdays. He and a few friends who did not drink would hang out on the weekends when everyone else in his dorm would drink. About a month-and-a-half into the school year, he decided to try a drink. “At Keene State College it’s what basically everyone does every single weekend. There was literally four other people that didn’t drink on my floor freshman year,” he said.

His first night of drinking was the week before Halloween. He told his friends that he finally wanted to get drunk. They made him rum mixed with Pepsi and they played drinking games in his neighbor’s room. Now in his second year of college, the student drinks at least two to three times per week, upwards of four times per week depending on his schedule. He said he goes out to parties every weekend and that he only used to drink hard alcohol but now spends 20 dollars per week on a 30 rack of beer, mainly Bud Light. He said he gets his alcohol from his friends at the college, some are of-age and others use a fake ID. He tips the students who use the fakes with the change left over from the purchase. In regards to drugs, the only time this student has smoked marijuana was when he was quite drunk. “It was handed to me and my brain said sure why not,” he said.

When asked how he felt, he said he does not remember anything besides getting dizzy and falling asleep.

The student then explained the process most students participate in before a night of drinking.  He said, “You drink in the dorms, then you go out to parties, you do that every weekend because it’s just the thing to do, it’s mostly social. Mostly on the nights that I drink I am pretty good about getting home safely, mostly I just get sick. Very sick and it gets gross.”

At parties this student said he mostly people watches to see what people do when they are drunk. Sometimes he likes to play drinking games.