Study Abroad with UNA
Destinations
A Bright and High Future
There are hundreds of skyscrapers in Shanghai that go as far as the eye can see. Surprisingly, all of these skyscrapers have only been built in the last twenty years. The first of these skyscrapers is the Oriental Pearl Tower, which was built in 1994. It is probably the most unique skyscraper in the city. Shooting up like a needle, the tower is considered the architectural icon of Shanghai. We had the chance to go up the tower and see the skyline of the city, and the high rises really do go as far as the eye can see. A … // Read more
Our First Day in Shanghai
Shanghai is extremely different from the other cities we’ve visited. As a port city, Shanghai has had a lot of western influence, and you can see that influence in its architecture. While there are typical Chinese traditional buildings, there are many European style buildings. Our first day there we explored the city and looked for some interesting places to eat. In one of the art centers of the city, we found a bathroom themed restaurant called More Than Toilet. We also found a restaurant where they bring a live cat to your table with your meal that just sits there … // Read more
Tan (Zan) ia
For the last three days, our group has transitioned from the urban setting of Dar es Salaam to Zanzibar– the island counterpart of mainland Tanzania. In the 1960s when then Tanganyika gained independence from the U.K., the island of Zanzibar began experiencing some internal fighting and eventually joined with Tanganyika to become Tanzania (luckily for us, since no comprehension study of the country of Tanzania would be complete without a stop at its island counterpart, we are enjoying the spoils of this island in the Indian Ocean). Zanzibar has a fascinating history as we have discovered through 2 detailed guided tours. … // Read more
The Trek up the Purple Mountain
Today, a group of us went to the Purple Mountain. It’s called that because of how it appears to be purple at dusk and dawn, unfortunately we didn’t get to see this, but regardless of that, our trip to the mountain was fantastic. Our approach to the mountain felt surreal, because at one moment we were in the middle of the urban sprawl, and the next we were on a small road inside a dense forest. After hopping from city to city the past several days it was strange being surrounded by green leaves and the fresh smell of pine … // Read more
The Spirit of the Southern Capital
Yesterday our group visited the Nanjing Massacre Museum, a museum honoring and remembering the approximately 300,000 citizens of Nanjing that were killed by the Japanese in 1937 during their invasion of China. It was a very solemn place where most people were very quiet as they walked through. Kristen, a member of our trip who has also visited old concentration camps in Germany, said that the museum reminded her of the heart wrenching emotions she and others felt as they visited the camps. It’s saddening to think something so horrible can happen, but it is uplifting to see how Nanjing … // Read more
Night Train to Nanjing
If you have never been on a night train before, you should know that it will be an unforgettable experience if you ever do. You’ll probably be a little nervous, but you will probably have a lot of fun too, especially if you’re sharing a room with your friends. Think of it as one big sleepover on wheels. I think that makes it sound less intimidating! After the twelve hour train ride, we went straight to our hotels so we could get showers (hallelujah!), and after that, we visited two factories. The first factory we visited was a bible printing … // Read more
Xi’an
Biking on the city wall was incredible. It took about two hours to go around the entire wall, which allowed us to see much of the city from an interesting perspective. Afterwards we went to the bell tower and the drum tower, two ancient buildings at the heart of Xi’an. We then navigated the bustling Muslim street and followed the scents of a hundred kinds of delicious smelling food. We also got to visit one of the oldest mosques in China, where Arabic and Chinese words were engraved together on stone objects. That night, I met some friendly locals who … // Read more
Teaching Old Dogs New Tricks
You quickly realize that studying abroad is so much more than simply a vacation for school credit. I’ll be the first person to agree that any opportunity to travel is lucrative and exciting, but to study abroad means that you are constantly challenged intellectually and noting observations without hesitation throughout your travels; the purpose of studying abroad is not to relax but to insert yourself into an unfamiliar environment and observe. I have participated in three of these programs, and each one has had a defining moment. I think that today’s experiences will culminate in one of those enduring memories … // Read more
Heart of China
We took a high speed train out of Beijing to Xi’an, one of the oldest cities in China. The transition from metropolis to countryside was very quick. It goes from workers commuting to their jobs to farmers tending their fields. But throughout the countryside you would see pockets of high rises, products of China’s rapid growth. Once we got to Xi’an, we went straight to the hotel and got some much needed rest. The next day after class, we went and visited the terra cotta army at the tomb of the first emperor of China. It was incredible to see … // Read more
The Legend of Hambati
He stands at little over 5 feet tall, but his smile and laughter make him the tallest man in any room. At 44 years old, he has the perfect combination of youthful exuberance and overflowing fountain of knowledge. He captivates a room with stories so masterfully communicated and knee-slapping hilarious. He yells to hippopotamuses and lions on safaris saying, “HEY MAHNNN! WAKE UP! We pay too much money to watch you sleep, hippo!” or “HEY SIMBA! Roll ova, mahn! You are lazy, lion!” He jumps in to sing and dance with Masai (nomadic, cattle herding group in Kenya and Tanzania) … // Read more
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