You've had a lot of time by now to learn about our Summer programs, either through our site, student stories, info sessions or meetings with our staff and with program directors. So now's the time to start applying if you haven't yet! Below you'll find links to info on our summer programs. The deadline to apply is March 1!

Here you can learn how to apply. You'll find a list of all the necessary forms to fill out and documents to provide us with. 

• Germany Photojournalism Summer Experience
• Czech Republic Advertising Program
• Germany (Leipzig) Summer Program 

Don't forget! If you want to study abroad this summer or go to D.C., you've got to get us your application materials by Thursday, March 1. 

by Fedor Zarkhin

Take a look at Elise's story about working in Brussels! And come to the info session today at 4pm in Tucker Forum. Gareth Harding, the Brussels program director, will be there to answer all your questions!

         When making the decision about where to study abroad while at Mizzou, I knew I wanted to travel somewhere “not obvious”, a city where I could get a different kind of study abroad experience than what other students may have. After doing research on some of the study abroad programs offered through the J-School, I narrowed my choices down to the exchange program in Melbourne, Australia or the internship program in Brussels, Belgium. Before researching the program, I had known very little about Brussels, besides the fact that it is known for its excellent chocolate products. I also thought it would be better for resume purposes to complete an internship abroad rather than just study and take classes. 

So when I started to talk to students who had travelled there previously and heard all the wonderful things they had to say about it, I knew it was worth doing more research. Everyone I spoke to about the program said they absolutely loved every second of it, and they said the opportunities available to broadcast journalism majors were pretty impressive. It was not until I heard that previous interns had the opportunity to work with companies like the Associated Press and Reuters that my decision was solidified: I was going to apply to study abroad in Brussels, Belgium for the 2012 spring semester.

         Now, one year later, here I am in Brussels, completing an internship with Thomson Reuters, one of the world’s largest press services in the capital of Europe. Having been on this program for about six weeks now, I can safely say that there is nothing I regret about coming to Belgium. Everything about the city makes me excited to be here and I almost feel a sense of pride and joy calling Brussels my “home away from home.” 

According to the locals, Brussels is full of “hidden gems”: you just have to be here to experience its true beauty. It also goes without saying that the culture of Brussels is what makes this city such a pleasure to spend time in. There is always something new to see and explore when in Belgium and the atmosphere is much more relaxed compared to the United States. While some people may complain that service at restaurants in Europe is lousier because of its slow pace, everyone is much more relaxed when they eat because they are not in a rush to be somewhere else; meals are an experience and Europeans take their time to enjoy what is in front of them.

         Being in the capital of Europe has also afforded me an amazing amount of hands-on job experience. On my third day working for Reuters, I had the sole responsibility of conducting an exclusive interview with the Turkish Foreign Affairs Minister. How many other college students can say that about their study abroad experience?  I have also had the privilege of attending and helping to cover EU summits and other meetings that make headlines worldwide. I was never very interested in political and business reporting before coming to Brussels, but going through this internship has definitely broadened my horizons and changed my mind a bit more on wanting to report on business and government issues. Through working with Reuters, I have also had the opportunity to see how a major news wire service works, which is an experience I do not know if I could have gotten anywhere else but through the Brussels program.

However, living in Brussels also comes with its fair share of rough patches. I came to Brussels knowing what I deemed a good amount of French from high school classes. However, once I got to Belgium, I found myself stumbling to communicate with people. No matter how hard I try to speak French to someone, I always seem to have to resort back to English in one way or another. There are decent amounts of people that do speak English in Brussels, but once you get outside of the city, the ability to communicate seems to wane. Another aspect of life in Belgium that has been increasingly difficult to deal with has been the weather. I had known coming over to Belgium that it was mostly gray and rainy, but having to actually deal with it day after day makes it that much worse. It also probably did not help that Europe has experienced some of the worst cold spells the continent has seen in over 20 years.

But what frustrates me a bit more than the rainy weather and prominent language barrier is having to constantly convert units and measurements into the metric system. I won’t lie, I am not the best when it comes to understanding the metric system measurements, so when asking for directions and someone tells me it is this many “meters” away, I often have no idea what they are really telling me. It is also quite weird to hear people say how nice and warm a “12 degree” day is in Brussels when referring to the weather.

One thing I was surprised about was that my passport does not now contain as many stamps from other countries as I thought it would have. Under the Schengen agreement in Europe, people can move about freely in many countries without having to present a passport. So while I thought I would be collecting stamps from the Netherlands and France to take home and show my friends and family, I have nothing to show but my many photos. I was also pleasantly surprised, when visiting Paris, how much a student visa could get you, such as free admission to the Louvre or the towers at Notre Dame cathedral. Whoever said studying abroad in Europe didn’t come with perks?

         The time I have spent in Brussels so far has included some of the best experiences of my life, and I am already dreading the day when I have to pack up my things and return home in April. I definitely think the Brussels program is one that has something in it for everyone. I would recommend the Brussels program to anyone looking to see a unique and “hidden gem” of Europe. After all, as the program director once told our class, “Belgium is a pocket-sized country with a punch.” 

And here we have our fourth photo of the week! It was taken by Brendan Meyer at Stonehenge, that bunch of big rocks that has fascinated people for generations. 

I am currently in England, and it has been an incredible time so far. The city of London is so vast, consisting of many different cultures, religions, and people. So far, the most interesting part has been convergence of present and past within the city of London and the country of England. England is rich in history, yet it is also an ever-changing country. It has the big-city mentality, historical landmarks, and modern works of art. 

- Brendan Meyer
You can also see Stonehenge if you went on one of our London programs. Learn more about it on our site! 

If you're thinking about going to Buenos Aires either next semester or in the summer, you've come to the right place! Below you'll find links to articles online and to stories written by our very own students! So read up and get ready for the info session tomorrow. As the title says, it's on Tuesday at 4pm in Tucker Forum. You'll also want to set up an appointment with the director, Carolina Escudero, but we can talk about that tomorrow. 

Enjoy!

Katie Artemas writes about her decision to do an internship in Buenos Aires.

Lauren Delaney tells us about some of her adventures in the land of amazing beef and Tango. 

A New York Times article about wine-tasting in Buenos Aires.

Fodor's guide to Buenos Aires.

Yahoo's guide to Buenos Aires.

By now you've heard and read a lot about our programs, and maybe you've even attended an info session or two. But the mother of all info sessions is coming up Wednesday, so be sure not to miss it!

Come to our Study Abroad fair, where you can learn about all the different programs! You'll get to talk to students who've participated in most of the programs and talk to program directors.

But besides for learning stuff, you could even win stuff! All you'll have to do is fill out a little form. After the fair we'll do a drawing, and the winners will get one of the following prizes:

·         $1000 Travel Scholarship (that's right, a thousand bucks)
·         Nook (so you won't be bored on that plane to the other side of the world)
·         Small Genuine Leather Travel Case
·         MU Passport Wallets 
·         Student Universe Passport Wallet
·         MU Luggage Tags
·         MU Luggage Handle Identifier Wraps
·         $20 Gift Cards from Starbucks, Which Wich, Ingredient, Noodles & Co., and University Bookstore
·         Travel Journal

Study Abroad Fair: Wednesday, February 22, 11am - 2pm in RJI100A. Are you gonna be there? You bet your socks you are.

AND – we're going to be doing a drawing from the people who 'like' us on Facebook from Feb 22 to Feb 29. The lucky man or woman will get a $25 gift card for Starbucks. That's, like, 10 free coffees for clicking a button. Not bad. 

by Fedor Zarkhin

This photo of the week was taken by Breanne Bramer – a Science and Agriculture Journalism student – in Costa Rica's Santa Rosa National Park. If you want to join that program you've got lots of time to think about it: the application deadline is in October. 

A day on the Costa Rican beach is spent with your toes in the sand and watching aqua blue waves crash against the shore. But, instead of spotting seashells you may just find seabirds. These birds walk along the shore in lines, one by one, or fly over the waves in a mass. They can be found dipping their feet in pools and might just venture toward a tourist. The white birds flock to the seaside to enjoy a day on the beach, just like the Mizzou study abroad students.
Study abroad was a once in a lifetime opportunity for me to travel outside of the United States for the first time. I was glad I finally got to get my Passport! I was able to do what I love, travel and promote the agriculture industry through our MU journalism blog. And I got to spend free time on the beach in the winter! 

By Erin Meyer
 
So you've chosen a destination, attended an info session or two, swung by the Study Abroad Fair (BE THERE: Wed., Feb. 22, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.), started your application and then reality sets in: how am I going to afford this? Luckily, there are several scholarship programs available for those interested in studying abroad.

Highlighted below is the Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship Program which has been helping undergraduates finance their international educations for over a decade. Read below for more info and check out this YouTube video that overviews the program.

From the Gilman Scholarship Program's website:
What is the Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship Program?
The Gilman Scholarship Program offers awards for undergraduate study abroad and was established by the International Academic Opportunity Act of 2000. This scholarship provides awards for U.S. undergraduate students who are receiving Federal Pell Grant funding at a two-year or four-year college or university to participate in study abroad programs worldwide.

How would you like to take courses in a university that's two and a half times as old as the United States? Or explore a city that was a crucible for the movement that ended with the fall of the Berlin Wall? Or visit the church where both Bach and Mozart performed?

You could do all that and more this summer through our program in Leipzig, a city in eastern Germany that's over 1000 years old. Students will improve their German language skills and take excursions to media and cultural sights in the area.

Interested? Read on:

Hostelclub.com has a great list of things you'll simply have to see if you go to Leipzig. There's "The Jewel of Leipzig," which is the train station. Might sound mundane, but trains and train stations are something of a bigger deal in Europe than they are in America... 

The website also recommends going to Auerbach's Keller, a restaurant that's been open since 1530. Just try to wrap your mind around that... a 482 year-old restaurant. 

If you're interested in art, the New York Times tells us Leipzig is a good place to be, not only for the music but for other kinds of art as well. And this other New York Times article will tell you what to do during the day, at night, and where to eat. 

And here's a great little YouTube video showing scenes from Leipzig. Looks beautiful!

Finally, make sure to take a look at what WikiTravel has to say. As usual, you can find an enormous amount of information, from food and transportation to sights and events. 

If you have any questions, email us or stop by the J-School International Programs Office. And if you're reading this and it's not yet 4pm on Wednesday the 15th... get moving to the info session in Tucker Forum!

by Fedor Zarkhin

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If you go to Seoul this summer to attend the international conference held by the East-West Center, you'll probably be so busy you'll barely have the time to tie your shoes. As members of the conference news staff, you'll produce content every day, as well as work on individual projects. In no time at all you'll become mini-experts on new media in South Korea. 

But don't you worry! We won't fly you somewhere 15 time zones away just to watch you sweat. Instead you'll have the chance to see what this fascinating country, South Korea, is really like.

And it really is a fascinating place, full of contradictions. On the one hand every subway station downtown has what looks like a gigantic ipad with a touchscreen map of the city. In the streets, however, you'll find markets like colorful beehives with locals and tourists picking the choicest piece of fish, kim-chi, octopus, butterfly larva or just about anything else you can imagine.

Seoul, South Korea's capital, with a population of about 10.5 million, has a virtually endless amount of things to see and do. Seoul is a city that has managed to become a modern megapolis while maintaining its cultural heritage. You'll find palaces of Korean emperors, museums with ancient artifacts and people doing traditional dances in the streets. Once you get your fill of the old culture, however, you can head to one of numerous popular downtown spots, where you'll find restaurants to suit all tastes – beef, pork, chicken or intestine barbecue, raw fish, shark (very expensive), sweet potato pizza and much more. In between the restaurants you'll find bars and clubs and places to listen to live music, most of them places with unfettered character and open people.

So, let's read up on Seoul, starting with the New York Times. This article tells us that Seoul is the place to be – that it's just as cool as Tokyo, but cheaper. You'll find info on things to see and things to do. 

This New York Times article addresses Korean food. Don't underestimate it. Some people would say that going just for the food might not be totally unreasonable.

Next, check out Time's list of things to see and do in Seoul. Starting with Korea's most famous palace, passing through mountains just north of Seoul and ending with a Korean Feast, you'd be good to go just by following this list. 

...and, of course... don't... forget... the... INFO SESSION TOMORROW, FEBRUARY 14 AT 4PM IN TUCKER FORUM (Bring a date, if you want to.)

by Fedor Zarkhin