College of Business Education Abroad Scholarship Recipients – Summer 2015

As the next wave of students prepares to depart on their respective summer adventures abroad, we would like to highlight four college of business students in particular. These students won the College of Business Education Abroad Scholarship to help fund their programs. Below are their bios and education abroad plans.

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Name: Lauren Funai

Hometown: Alpha, Illinois

Year of Study: Senior
Major: Business Marketing and English Creative Writing 

Host City & Country: Prague, Czech Republic 

Length of stay: 6 weeks

What are you most excited for? 

I’m excited to intimately learn the streets of a new city and country. I want to become as much of a Prague local as possible in 6 weeks!

Why did you want to go abroad?

Exotic locations, new languages, expanding my world view? Mother may I…

How is the COB Education Abroad scholarship helping you?

Long story short: you tend to enjoy things more when the weight of crippling debt is lifted. I could not be happier to have received the COB Education Abroad scholarship, it has helped me to relax and focus on making the most out of my experience.

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Name: Megan Bush

Hometown: Windsor, CO

Year of Study: Junior
Concentration: Marketing

Host City & Country: Prague, Czech Republic

Length of stay: 5 weeks

What are you most excited for? 

I have never been to Europe before so I am most excited to experience new cultures, meet diverse people, and explore Prague and the surrounding areas.

Why did you want to go abroad?

I have wanted to go abroad since my first year at CSU and finally found the perfect opportunity with Central and Eastern European Studies in Prague. I am studying International Marketing and Business because I want to learn about the complexities of marketing in a global context.

How is the COB Education Abroad scholarship helping you?

I am personally funding my Education Abroad experience so the COB Education Abroad scholarship is helping me so much.  I am so grateful for the opportunity, and the scholarship is making it possible!

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Name: Cassie Santy

Hometown: Parker, Colorado

Year of Study: Going into senior year

Concentration: Supply Chain Management

Host City and Country: International New Venture Creation program: Heidelberg, Germany; London, UK; Paris, France; Prague, Czech Republic; Berlin, Germany.

Length of stay: 6 weeks

What are you most excited for? I am thrilled for the new experiences I will be having, and also to just learn and grow! I can’t wait to be challenged and develop new skills and relationships.

Why did you want to go abroad? I have always wanted to go to Europe, and the chance came to me through study abroad at the perfect time. Ever since I was a little girl, I’ve wanted to see and experience more than just the world directly around me. I know that going abroad is going to be a life changing experience, and I cannot wait!

How is the COB Education Abroad scholarship helping you? Studying abroad is expensive, but the experiences gained make the cost well worth it. The COB Education Abroad scholarship is a major blessing to my family and me as we work through the finances of this amazing opportunity.

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Name: Michelle Betsinger
Hometown: Longmont, Colorado
Year of Study: Senior
Concentration: Finance
Host City & Country: Dublin, Ireland
Length of stay: 2 months
What are you most excited for? I am most excited to advance my business skill set while also experiencing the culture and community of Ireland.
Why did you want to go abroad? I strongly feel that understanding and adapting to different cultures and environments is something that is crucial in the business world. Additionally, being able to travel while I am young and see what the world has to offer is an exciting opportunity.
How is the COB Education Abroad scholarship helping you? I was so happy and honored to receive this scholarship! It will help me focus on my internship and worry less about finances. This scholarship will also help me fully experience everything that Ireland has to offer.

Internationalizing Your Time at CSU

The possibilities of internationalizing your time at CSU are abundant. Read how COB Global Opportunities own student assistant, Audrey, is globalizing her college experience.

CSU Global Connections

By: Audrey Norvell 

I try to maximize every opportunity and at Colorado State University, the possibilities are truly endless. Currently, my focus and passion is very much global. Four semesters ago I could never have imagined how many international, social justice, and business engagements I would be, and have been, part of.

Working two departments at the Office of International Programs, I am able to see and hear first-hand the impacts that international experiences have on students, faculty, and staff. There are countless benefits and I find cross-cultural communication and compassion to be such a valuable skills in current society. With my work, my sense of wanderlust exponentially grows every day. The time is rapidly approaching for my unique experience and the opportunity to venture abroad for seven months.

At the end of my next (fifth) semester at CSU I will have volunteered abroad, worked abroad, studied abroad, and personally…

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How to Capture Your Travels Abroad

As the end of the spring semester approaches, the next wave of students studying, interning, working, or simply traveling abroad for the summer, fall, or academic year is approaching. These opportunities are statistically and personally unique and may very well be some of your best yet. Many students wish they would have better documented their travels and we urge you to record and capture them. This is also to say that there is a beauty about disconnecting and fully immersing yourself in the moment.  

While taking in a whole new country while completing academic credit may take most your time, the process of recording memories can be fun and easy. A few words or photos are better than none. Not only will this help you remember, but it allows others how you are maximizing your time abroad. No doubt family and friends will be curious, and other students will be inspired by your travels and use your collections to see more of what to expect.

There are many different platforms and endless methods to capture your experiences- photographs, videos, words, and art. This post is to help show some options on how to record your time abroad. You may want to establish a theme or plan before you go to allow for easier compilation, consistency and more motivation. We hope this list helps you to preserve your treasured experiences and memories for years upon your return.

• Photographs
  • “10 photo apps to help you capture your study abroad experience”
  • Photo Albums Online: Flikr, Picasa, Photobucket, Dropbox
  • Capture a specific pose in all your destinations
• Video
  • Record a few seconds from every day to put together at the end. Try the App Life in Seconds.
  • Stop-Motion Video

• Paper Journal– This option is one of the best to capture smaller details, discrepancies, and feelings. Challenge yourself to write every night or when you’re on public transportation. Moleskin is recommended.
  • This is a great article to get you started
• Blog 
  • Tumblr, WordPress, Blogger
•  Scrapbook
  • No-glue travel scrapbook:
    To simplify the process, fill a three-ring binder with plastic sleeves for the receipts, ticket stubs, labels, wrapper, maps, postcards, etc. you collect on a trip. There is no end to what you can collect.

• Audio Journal- voice record your thoughts for the day.
• Social Media
  • Twitter, Facebook, Instagram
  • Here’s 20 Popular Travel Instagram Accounts

• Clothing
  • Start with a plain, light colored bag, shirt, shoes, etc. to decorate as you go with names, ribbons, or charms.
• Keep-Sake Key Ring
• Photobook
  • You can make and order your own with Shutterfly. They offer great promotions such as 101 free prints, free photobooks, and discounts if you register an account. Photographs can also be printed on gift items, decorator items, stationary, and more.
• Collect Postcards
• Collect Souvenirs of all sorts. Magnets, stickers, cards, bracelets.

• Send Letters or group Emails
• Get a tattoo

Global Opportunities would love to showcase your experience to the CSU and COB community. Please feel welcome to share photos, videos, words, and stories with us at goabroad@biz.colostate.edu or on our Facebook.

Wanderlust: A Strong Desire to Travel

Here’s an update on Michelle, a senior in the College of Business, about half-way through her semester abroad in Barcelona. She’s had some amazing adventures and has taken some stunning pictures. Read and see more in her connected blog post.

Just a Girl in the World

This blog post comes at a wonderful time to honor Peace Corps week, International Women’s Day, and Shiza Shahid’s lecture on campus regarding the Malala Fund. Like this fund, Chrissa’s passion is women’s empowerment through education. Chrissa is in the GSSE MBA Program through the College of Business at CSU and serves as a Peace Corps Representative. Chrissa served in Ghana. Here is a connection of how her peace Corps experience has shaped and her past, present, and future.

CSU Global Connections

By: Chrissa Percival

I had been working in the rural village of Adaklu, Ghana, West Africa for a few months before I met Verone.  She is a woman in her mid-20s with a bright smile and a kind heart.  As a mother of two daughters and one son, guardian to her niece, and receiving little help from a husband struggling with alcohol abuse, Verone works tirelessly to maintain their one room dwelling, provide enough food to eat and be able to send the children to school.

At a young age, her family pulled her from school to work on their subsistence farm and help her mother at market.  Without an education, Verone is unable to get a job with decent pay or properly manage a small business of her own.  The consequence is that her family often goes without and her daughters and niece are frequently out of school for…

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Crafting a Unique Experience

Colorado State Rams Abroad

[Originally posted by Michelle Betsinger, a Business Administration major. She is in Barcelona for the Spring of 2015. You can find her blog directly here]

“What a unique experience” – a classic dad thing to say. I applaud him for believing this – and on some level I believe it too. However, on the more immediate level I see myself stuck in an all-white hospital room in a foreign country with an IV pumping who knows what into me! Then again- who else gets to say that their first overnight hospital stay was during their study abroad semester!?! Additionally it’s been a learning experience! I’ve mastered the Spanish words for flu (gripe), throat (garganta), cough (tos), and fever (fiebre)! But overall it’s a good thing I’m at the hospital! They are taking good care of me and even served me gluten free and dairy free meals!

I think the…

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Playing Australia

Originally posted by Lauren Arakawa, a Junior studying Business Administration with a concentration in Marketing. She is spending the Spring of 2015 studying at Bond University in the Gold Coast of Queensland, Australia. Lauren is also an avid surfer. You can find her blog directly here.

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Coming to Australia I didn’t think there would be much of a cultural change. Being my naive self I thought that Australia would be a prettier version of the US. Fortunately I was wrong. I’ve been in Australia for about a month now and have encountered some noticeable differences.

First, some sites on the Internet are not available in Australia. One of these sites is Netflix. In order to watch movies you have to download a program called “Hola” which allows you to browse from different countries, which makes blocked sites available.

Secondly, is the grading system. In America we have the A-F mark system with A as exemplary and F as failing. Here a D mark is a good grade that stands for Distinction. The highest grade, which is equivalent to an A, is High distinction and the lowest is Fail. Another difference was how they schedule their assignments. When tests and assignments are given they are referred to by the week instead of the date. So my professors would say our midterm is during week 7 instead of Thursday March 5th. This makes scheduling a little harder but is understood that it is during the allotted class time.

Thirdly, Australians love their alcohol. One of the first things I noticed was the amount of alcohol allowed on campus. Students are allowed to have parties in the common areas and dorms as long as there are no glass bottles. Since the drinking age is 18, almost all the kids attending uni (university) are already able to drink. It’s a complete 360 compared to the dorms in the US which had no tolerance for alcohol. Another difference was the days students go out. In the States students typically go out on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays. In Australia students go out on Tuesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays and Sundays. It’s a miracle that they get their studying done!

Finally, one of my favorite parts of the culture difference is housekeeping. Since I live in the dorms we get our trash taken out, sheets changed, bed made and floor vacuumed every Monday. It’s so nice to come back and my room is completely cleaned!

These cultural differences really made me realize that America is great but there are many different ways of life out there even if they’re only subtle differences. But this really makes me want to visit a country that has a completely opposite culture to the US just to experience the difference. Maybe the next country I travel I’ll try to be more adventurous and travel somewhere that speaks another language.

Una semana muy linda // A beautiful week

CSU College of Business alumnae and former COB GO Assistant joins CSU’s Winter Break program in Nicaragua! Thanks for sharing your story Chelsea Johnson!

chelsvivenica

My first big adventure of 2015 was the chance to join a group from my beloved alma mater Colorado State University on their Global Sustainability and Service alternative winter break program. The day after I arrived back in Nicaragua, I hopped on a tiny plane to travel to Siuna, a small mining town in the north of the country, part of the RAAN (North Atlantic Autonomous Region) department, which they consider part of the Caribbean. As always, it was exciting to visit a new part of the country and learn how it is different from elsewhere. The CSU group partnered with Bridges to Community, a wonderful nonprofit that supports volunteer service learning trips within rural communities around Nicaragua. Some of their staff picked me up from the airstrip and we ventured to a small community about thirty minutes outside of Siuna called Rosa Grande, where we would spend the next…

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College of Business Education Abroad Scholarship Recipients – Spring 2015

The CSU College of Business Education Abroad Scholarships for the Spring 2015 semester have been awarded to Joe Santini and Anyssa Juarez.   Sarah Goodwin received the Chris Collins Memorial Scholarship for marketing majors.  These College of Business scholarships are available to help defray the cost of an education abroad experience. Below are their bios, travel plans, and motivations.  Best of luck Joe, Anyssa, and Sarah!

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 Name  Joe Santini

 Hometown  Highlands Ranch, CO

Year of study/Major  Junior/ Business Marketing

Host City & Country  Prague, Czech Republic

Foreign Language in Country  Czech

Length of Stay  Spring Semester (February-June)

What are you most excited for?  I’m most excited for the all-around freedom that comes from studying abroad. For me, a typical semester consists  of having my calendar booked months in advance. To be able to impulsively pack a bag and cross some borders is a luxury I can’t wait to experience.

How is the COB Education Abroad Scholarship helping you?  The COB Education Abroad Scholarship is helping in numerous ways. Foremost, the additional funds will assist in taking full advantage of being abroad. I won’t have to sacrifice travel opportunities to pay for tuition, books, etc. so that I can make the most of my education and experience in Prague. It also assures me that CSU and the College of Business are incredibly supportive of my journey.

Why do you want to go abroad?  I think there is a very small window to be young, a little naïve, and uninhibited as a traveler. It’s easy to say you’ll see the world later in life, but the chance to go as a student and the endless possibilities that come as a result cannot be recreated. Once I realized this, the choice to go way pretty simple.

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 Name  Anyssa Juarez

Hometown  Lakewood, Colorado

Year of Study/Major  Junior / Management; Certificate: International Business;  Minor: Spanish

Foreign Language in Country  Spanish

Length of Stay  4 months

What are you most excited for?  I’m excited to improve my Spanish and be immersed into an unfamiliar culture with a variety of people with backgrounds   and stories different from my own.

How is the COB Study Abroad Scholarship helping you?  Studying abroad is something I’ve wanted to do since high school and having this scholarship is helping provide the means to achieve my goal.

Why do you want to go abroad?  I want to go abroad because by having the opportunity to experience the culture of another country, I can become more adaptable and sensitive to other ways of life. Creating my own non-profit business for under developed countries has been my biggest motivator for going school and this invaluable experience of studying abroad will provide necessary international skill to better prepare me for my future.

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 Name  Sarah Goodwin

Hometown  San Jose, CA

Year of study/Major  Junior, Business Marketing

Host City & Country  London, England

Foreign Language in Country  English

Length of Stay  Five Months

What are you most excited for?  My 10 week internship in downtown London during my stay.

How is the Chris Collins Memorial Scholarship helping you?  It is helping me pay for my plane tickets, my housing, and traveling to Europe during my  time in London.
Why do you want to go abroad?  I want to go abroad to experience life in a different place, meet new people from other cultures around the world, and discover what it’s like to work for a major company in another country.

A Reflection & What Study Abroad Can Lead To

Working at the CSU Office of International Programs, I constantly see how going abroad changes lives. I am inspired everyday by global experiences and what results. I wanted to share one of my favorites with you all.

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Serengetee is one of the fastest growing clothing brands in the world. From their success though is their humble beginning. The idea for Serengetee came while three college friends were traveling the world on Semester at Sea, a floating campus study abroad program. The friends originally chose authentic fabrics from over 15 different countries and spent every last penny to launch Serengetee out of their dorm room in the spring of 2012.

Over the semester, I have also been amazed by the company’s full-force growth: introducing 40 new fabrics, a holiday line, 7 new products, limited-time styles, and Black Friday/ Cyber Monday deals, and more all in the period of two weeks. I have also been impressed by the company’s commitment to their representatives, offering creative challenges to spread the word. I was fortunate enough to be a Campus Rep for Serengetee this semester.

In my opinion, this company has it all. On top of a youthful & joyful culture, Serengetee is determined to their mission: to connect people to the globe through fabric while giving back to the communities that inspire our products. The fabric Serengetee collects from 32 different countries not only is what differentiates their products, but helps fabric makers and grassroots causes around the world. Customers are able to shop by region, cause category, or simply design. Serengetee then donates 5% of each purchase to the associated cause(s). To date, Serengetee has contributed over $160,000  to cause donations and fabric purchases. This company is a role model to me and in my opinion the ultimate compromise connecting the world, entrepreneurism/ business, philanthropy, awareness, and spirit.

 “Wear the World. Change the World.”

Who knows what motivation you can bring back when you GO!

Dearly,
Audrey
College of Business Global Opportunities | GO Marketing Assistant and Serengetee Supporter