My Favorite Fordham Experience

One of the most popular organizations at Fordham University is Global Outreach, which provides teams of Fordham students the opportunity to travel, both domestically and internationally to partake in a service and immersion trips. Fueled by a desire to experience a new part of the world and an interest in international cultures I decided to apply for an international GO! project at the beginning of my sophomore year, and it is unquestionably one of the best decisions I have ever made at Fordham. 

After going through the interview process I received a call from the student leader of the GO! Mexico project letting me know that I would be spending my winter break in Puebla, Mexico. One of my favorite aspects of the Global Outreach program, as oppose to other service trips, is the amount of preparation that each team undergoes for months leading up to departure. Starting in October my team, of ten students and our chaperone, met weekly to learn more about the Puebla community where we would be staying and we also got to know each other better. 

 

On January 7^th, 2016 our group landed in Mexico City, from where we drove two hours to Puebla, the third largest city in Mexico. The ten days I spent in Mexico were an unforgettable experience. We visited many parts of Puebla, spent time farming, and helped out at a school for the blind just to name a few aspects of the trip. I am so thankful to have had the opportunity to see such a beautiful part of the world and interact with the incredible people who live there.

Another reason I enjoyed my GO! project so much was my amazing team. Prior to joining Global Outreach, I had never met any of the students on my team. GO! Mexico 2015 consisted of students from all classes as well as both Gabelli and Rose Hill students. Through our weekly meetings leading up to the trip and our ten days together in Mexico I became incredibly close with each member of my team. Its strange to think how without Global Outreach I never would have met the remarkable Fordham students who shared in this memorable experience with me.

Fordham University does an excellent job at providing their students opportunities to experience and learn from the world around us. To any person considering applying to a Global Outreach project I highly encourage you to do so as I truly consider it one my favorite and most impactful experiences in college thus far.

Check out this link to learn more about Fordham's Global Outreach program.

Czech Out Prague for a Semester

While I miss New York City dearly, leaving Fordham for one semester to studying and travel around Europe can outweigh the homesick feelings. For my spring semester of my junior year I am living, studying and working in Prague, Czech Republic. Before I left, I worked with Fordham’s ISAP team (International Study Abroad) and my advisers to find the perfect program for me.

Me saying "Na shledanou" to my mom at the airport

Like many other students at Fordham (36%) I choose to broaden my cultural, educational, and social norms by spending a semester abroad However, when colleges limit the programs they offer or accept credit from, studying abroad and still receiving enough credit to graduate on time can be difficult. I found this to be the opposite at Fordham.

All I had to do was choose my city and Fordham helped me take care of the rest. While in Prague, as a part of the CIEE Communications, New Media and Journalism program, I all of my courses pertain to my Communications and Media Studies major. Starting Monday I will even begin and internship at a Czech media company!

view from my CIEE school at Vysehrad Fortress

So while anytime away from Fordham causes me to miss my “Ramily,” I am looking forward to all of the new experiences, people and cultures I will “Czech” out while abroad!  

Prague's famous Charles Bridge

Ubuntu - Don't You Want To?

During spring semester of my junior year, I spent my time in the city of Pretoria, South Africa as part of one of Fordham’s unique study abroad programs. Ever since high school when I learned that studying abroad was a possibility, I knew that it was something that I needed to do! Looking back, it was hands down the best decision I have made. 

I met an elephant in
Kruger National Park on a safari!

Fordham offers a service- learning program in South Africa called “Ubuntu”. Ubuntu is a South African philosophical term that technically means “the belief in a universal bond of sharing that connects all humanity”. In short, it means “I am, because we are”. This concept was really relevant to my experience in South Africa because of the service work I was doing. I worked in an Early Childhood Development Center in a rural community called Erasmus. I spent my time with two different classrooms of young children who spoke no English whatsoever. It was a challenge, to say the least, but I somehow formed incredibly close bonds with each and every one of the children.             

Another unique aspect of Fordham’s program in Pretoria is the community aspect. I lived in a house, about a twenty - minute walk from the University of Pretoria, with twelve other Fordham students. I only knew a couple of these people going into the program, but now they are all my closest friends. You form a very unique, genuine, and unbreakable bond while living with such a small group of people who share the same values about service and social justice as you for six months. 

All of the Fordham Ubuntu students traveling together!

There was no shortage of traveling during my study abroad experience. South Africa is a large country and is incredibly different depending on what city you are in. Although I loved living in Pretoria and am thrilled it was my home for six months, the city of Cape Town was by far my favorite city that I travelled to. What I thought was so interesting about Cape Town was how it was a city of contrast: affluence and poverty, ocean and mountains, historical and modern development. The beauty of this city is really indescribable. The Atlantic Ocean is in sight no matter where you are, as are the beautiful surrounding mountains. I noticed that Cape Town seems to have the positive elements of many of the major US cities combined. It has the palm trees, sunny weather and mountains of Los Angeles, but the cool air and steep roads like San Francisco. It is a bustling metropolis like New York City, but has the old stone buildings to remind everyone of its rich history like in Boston.

The beautiful Hout Bay in Cape Town

Although I am very happy to be back on Fordham’s campus, I long to return to South Africa one day. I cannot imagine winding down my experience with Fordham University in a better or more appropriate way. I am so grateful that Fordham exposed me to such a wonderful country with an incredible history and amazing opportunities to travel.



Written by: Abigail Collins

Fordham Abroad - London Centre

For as long as I can remember, I’ve wanted to study abroad in London during my college career. So when my first semester of junior year was finishing up and I still hadn’t done this, I had a minor freak out; how can I study abroad before I graduate?

“Have no fear,” Fordham’s International & Study Abroad Programs (lovingly known as ISAP) website seemed to tell me last November as I scrambled to find out what I could do. And then I discovered I could study in London before my senior year at Fordham for four weeks in the summer. Perfect!

Big Ben in typical London weather

And it truly was perfect. I was required to take one liberal arts course, and I chose Writing for Magazines. For a few days a week, my class met at Heythrop College, where Fordham London Centre is located. We got to do so many incredible things for the class, including seeing a play called “McQueen” and interviewing the show’s stars afterwards. We also got to meet up with Fordham alumni who are now living and working in London, and they gave us tours of their neighborhoods. We got to see a whole new side of London that most tourists don’t get to see.

Of course, I also partook in the traditional touristy London and English activities; I rode the London Eye, visited Windsor Castle, stopped at Stonehenge, saw a couple West End shows, and ate lots of delicious pub fare. It was everything I wanted out of my study abroad experience and more.

Stonehenge rocks!

Additionally, spending four weeks abroad turned out to be the perfect amount of time for me. A semester would have had me missing my family, friends, and Fordham, so four weeks gave me just the right amount of time away to get me acquainted with London without feeling so homesick.

Notting Hill's adorable houses

Even if you can't spare a semester to study abroad, Fordham's ISAP allow you to spend a short time in a foreign city that could fulfill all your study abroad dreams!

Happy Spring Break!

Alligators in South Carolina (from a safe distance)

Hello from South Carolina! I am spending my very last spring break at Fordham down south with my roommates. So far, I've seen about 20 alligators (very scary), three gorgeous sunsets, and more palm trees than I could count. It's the ideal place for some rest and relaxation before out sprint to graduation.

Exploring Little Italy (the Manhattan version;
it's not as good as Arthur Avenue) my sophomore year.

Spring Break at Fordham always gives students a lot of opportunities. Freshman year, I flew home to celebrate my birthday with my extended family and catch my cousin's play. Some students stay at Fordham over break, and that's what I did my sophomore year. I took advantage of the extra time to explore while helping finish a volume of the Fordham Undergraduate Research Journal. Although some residence halls close over break, students who stay can relocate to on-campus apartments. I lived in Salice-Conley and got a taste for the still-new apartments that seniors (and some juniors) get to enjoy.

I spent my junior year abroad in Granada (you might be able to find a few posts about my study abroad experience here or here), so spending spring break in Paris was a no-brainer. A lot of Fordham students jump at the chance to travel a little further during break. I know friends who have paired off to explore Europe (spending today in Ireland, of course), grouped up to head to a Caribbean resort. or signed up for GO! projects to devote their breaks to immersion and/or service. Some GO! projects this break include San Jose, California; the Adirondacks in upstate New York (which you may hear about later this week-- stay tuned!); and Les Cayes, Haiti.

There is no wrong way to do spring break, but I've found that the best way is to spend it with your Fordham family.

P.S. Happy St. Patrick's Day!

Studying Abroad With Fordham London (Is The Best)

Kensington Palace- A 5-minute walk from Fordham's campus!

The best experience I have had at Fordham University was my semester abroad in London through Fordham’s London Centre. For four full months, I spent my weekends traveling around Europe and my days exploring the ins and outs of London- and of course, going to class. As a marketing student, Fordham offered all the business classes and marketing electives that I need, which allowed me to continue my studies and while expanding my horizons, growing as a person, and mastering all forms of European public transportation. I also made so many new Fordham classmates through the program, many of which I am still very close with now that we are all back in the Bronx.

Gabelli School Trip to Rome

While I technically speaking had a “semester abroad in London”, I prefer to think of my experience as a semester abroad in Europe with London as my home base. London is where lived, studied and explored Monday through Thursday and anywhere else in Europe is where you could find me on the weekends. During that time I travelled to 10 different countries including France, Switzerland, Spain, Germany, Denmark, Italy, and the Czech Republic. I ate traditional Czech goulash, clinked beer steins at the largest German festival in Munich, and climbed the rural mountains of Scotland. I ate potatoes for breakfast, lunch, and dinner in Ireland and dined in the mountains of Gruyere, Switzerland with, of course, gruyere cheese fondue. I learned how to navigate almost any public form of transportation and have mastering the art of being comfortable with being uncomfortable.

Our Flat

And while traveling on the weekends was always exciting, returning to London, to Fordham’s campus was always something to look forward to. My flat (British for apartments) was my home and my classmates were both my best friends and family. Classes were hands-on and field trips exploring the city and its treasures were common. Our professors were both encouraging and understanding about traveling, but still expected us to work hard and really learn in our classes.

London Centre Fall 2014 Farewell Tea Party

I cannot stress how great my experience in London was and I encourage every Fordham student to study abroad in order to discover it for themself.

Check out the the Fordham London's Facebook page and website for more information. Happy travels! 

ILCGB - Living in and Connecting with the Global Network

If you're enrolled in business school, applying to business school, or have any interest in the business world whatsoever; two things have been engraved into your mind -- networking and the global perspective. While the Gabelli School pushes students to study business with a global perspective, Fordham students have unlimited reign when it comes to expanding their studies, whether it be through a club or class like FairTrade or studying abroad for a semester. One option for sophomores wishing to take their professional network to the next level is the Integrated Learning Community for Global Business, or ILC-GB.

Signing in at the European Conference

Located in O'Hare Hall Residential College, ILC-GB combines living with learning as do nearly a dozen other Integrated Learning Communities on the Rose Hill campus. As the name states, ILC-GB focuses on global business, and is open to all sophomore residents on the Rose Hill (even FCRH students may apply!). Like most ILC's, everyone on our wing of O'Hare has one class we all take together in a classroom inside our residence hall. While it technically is a class, ILC-GB is very personalized and focuses on preparing students for networking and attaining great careers and internships as a result. A typical "class" isn't even really a class, and typically consists of guest speakers. These guests are typically Fordham Alumni and have ranged from managing directors of hedge funds to the CEO of Lacoste.


ILC-GB also offers students opportunities to get outside the classroom and expand their network by taking students on trips to special events, like the European Conference at Harvard University. Fordham took care of transportation, registration, and even our lodging expenses at the Revere Hotel. The conference was an incredible experience and a great way to broaden your perspective on how business and politics interact across the Atlantic, and also enabled us to be able to network and converse with MEP's (members of European Parliament) and other professionals involved with the policy of the EU.

A group of ILC-GB residents leaving Harvard

While ILC-GB is a superb experience for sophomores that I would recommend to everyone in Gabelli, Fordham offers three excellent ILC's for freshmen that you can apply for when you apply for housing in the early summer, and more info on those can be found on Fordham's website. 

Seeing the World One City at a Time!

London's Big Ben

When I came to Fordham, I had never left the country before. I dreamed of seeing the world, but I never expected to start traveling the world so soon. However, Fordham has allowed me to travel across continents. By the time I graduate, I will have visited four countries in three different continents. I have been able to do this by taking advantage of Fordham's Study Tour programs, which are short study abroad programs. Rather than spending a whole semester abroad, the study tours last about two weeks.

In my freshman year, I took advantage of a Gabelli Study Tour to Europe. With a group of twenty-three students, I visited London and Paris.  While in these cities, we visited several companies from a range of different business disciplines. Each visit gave us a sense of what it was like to conduct business in Europe, which was very valuable. 

The Great Wall of China!

In my sophomore year, I went on a Study Tour to Beijing. Although Beijing was certainly different than New York, I thought it was an amazing experience. We visited many of the major companies in Beijing and attended several lectures at a Beijing university. I especially enjoyed the lectures at the university since they covered historical and business topics from a very different perspective than I had ever experienced before. 

In two weeks, I will be leaving for my third Study Tour. This trip will be to Santiago, Chile. I am currently taking a Business Practices course that is preparing my class for this trip. We have been learning about the political and economic conditions that are affecting the business climate. Spending so much time preparing for this trip is really making me antsy to go! Like the previous trips, we will be visiting various businesses and attending lectures at a Chilean university in Santiago. My Spanish is pretty rusty, but hopefully I will remember enough to get me around the city (It's a good thing that the lectures and company visits will be in English!).

Fordham Study Abroad: London Dramatic Academy

I spent last semester at London Dramatic Academy (LDA), one of Fordham's study abroad programs. I love acting, but I didn't want to get my undergraduate degree in theatre. Still, I wanted to get some kind of training before college was over. LDA was the perfect compromise. I got to spend three months focusing solely on acting—a rare opportunity for any college student who isn't a theatre major. Even better, my LDA class was quite diverse for a Fordham program. Two of us were from Fordham Rose Hill, four were from Fordham Lincoln Center, and the remaining ten were from a variety of schools including Cornell University, Loyola University Chicago, and the University of Pennsylvania. My roommate Julia and I, both of us from Rose Hill, were the only non-theatre majors.

LDA is a conservatory acting program, with a full week of classes that last, on average, from 9 AM to 5 PM (though ending a bit earlier on certain days of the week). It sounds like a lot, but the weeks actually flew by because 1.) I enjoyed virtually everything I was learning, and 2.) There are a several different modules within each course, so no one class became tedious. For instance, one of the four courses you register for at LDA is "Physical Training for Actors," but under that course we had four classes a week: Period Dance, Stage Combat, Movement, and Physical Theatre. (Check out my Instagram below to watch an excerpt of me and my classmate Tim rehearsing our final presentation for Stage Combat!) We also had interesting master classes with London-based theatre professionals, as well as a "Casting for Camera" workshop with Polly Hootkins Casting.

My classmates rehearsing the famous lovers' quarrel from Midsummer Nights Dream.

Aliyah and Tim performing as Hermia and Lysander in Midsummer Night's Dream rehearsal.

A video posted by Vanessa Anne (@vanessa_avocado) on Dec 18, 2014 at 6:40pm PST

Most of our teachers were trained at England's finest drama schools, and some even teach at those schools now in addition to working at LDA. For example, my acting teacher Kathryn Pogson (who also happens to be director of LDA) spent her years at Drama Centre alongside classmate Pierce Brosnan. My voice teacher currently teaches at the highly prestigious Guildhall School of Music & Drama. Several of my teachers have acted on the British theatre scene with the likes of Alan Rickman, Ralph Fiennes, and Mark Rylance. My one-on-one audition coach was a prominent drama teacher at Eton College for fifteen years, where he taught both Eddie Redmayne and Tom Hiddleston. (He actually still keeps in touch with Eddie.) Needless to say, we were in very good hands at LDA.

Me and two of my roommates, Julia and Jasia, take a final photo with our LDA director and Acting teacher, Kathryn Pogson. Excuse our teary looks--this was taken at the LDA Farewell Party!

We had several walking tours of London built into our class schedule, as well as two day trips to Oxford and Stratford-upon-Avon. LDA also booked about fifteen shows for us to watch as part of our Dramatic Criticism module. No exaggeration, I saw some of the best theatre of my life during my short time in London. The theatre culture there is wildly different from the culture in New York, and I firmly believe that training in the British tradition has its own merits that can't necessarily be reproduced in American acting schools.

Tim, Julia, Maryn, and Courtney amid the beautiful architecture of Oxford!

Between a full class schedule, day trips, and over a dozen shows to watch, it sounds like we never had time to travel, but in fact, I visited four different countries while I was abroad. Some of my classmates saw even more. LDA has one week-long fall break, and it ended a week earlier than the other Fordham programs. Ending early was nice because we were able to travel afterwards without having to worry about homework or getting back in time for my next class.

LDA gave me confidence, posture, and practical tools for approaching my craft. No matter what artistic projects I may undertake in the future--whether on stage, on screen, or simply an audition--I feel like I have an actual method to return to whenever I'm not quite sure how to begin. And LDA isn't just for actors; past LDA students include future lawyers and people who simply wanted to get out of their comfort zone.

Even if I don't continue acting after college, I am thankful for my time in LDA because it has immeasurably improved my critical thinking skills, the way I carry myself, my ability to follow direction and take criticism, and the way I communicate with others. All of these skills will serve me well in whatever career I pursue.

To learn more about LDA and how to apply, click here!

Our Acting class in a cast photo for our final presentation of the play Mixed Doubles.