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University of New HampshireUniversity of New Hampshire Scholars' RepositoryUNH International Educator Newsletter Global Education CenterSpring 2011Spring 2011, UNH Boasts Five Gilman StudyAbroad Scholarship WinnersCenter for International EducationFollow this and additional works at: https://scholars.unh.edu/international_newsThis News Article is brought to you for free and open access by the Global Education Center at University of New Hampshire Scholars' Repository. Ithas been accepted for inclusion in UNH International Educator Newsletter by an authorized administrator of University of New Hampshire Scholars'Repository. For more information, please contact nicole.hentz@unh.edu.Recommended CitationCenter for International Education, "Spring 2011, UNH Boasts Five Gilman Study Abroad Scholarship Winners" (2011). InternationalEducator: the Newsletter of the UNH Global Engagement Editorial Board. 150.https://scholars.unh.edu/international_news/150The Newsletter of UNH Global Engagementhttp://unh.edu/cie/newsletter/2013/spring/gilman.html[7/13/2016 2:06:29 PM] SearchThe Newsletter of UNH Global Engagement Spring 2013Back to index pageSubscribeCenter for InternationalEducation HomeUNH BOASTS FIVE GILMAN STUDY ABROAD SCHOLARSHIPWINNERSIn December, five UNH students were delighted to learn that they were recipients of the Benjamin A.Gilman Scholarship to fund their study abroad trips in spring 2013. These highly competitivescholarships provide up to $5,000 in financial support to students who are traveling abroad onuniversity-approved programs four weeks or longer. To be eligible for a Gilman, a student must have financial need, as evidencedby being a Pell grant recipient. All of these students worked closely with the UNH Office of National Fellowships to prepare theirwinning applications and with the Center for International Education to plan their trips.Fast forward to spring: Durham and the East Coast endure Nemo as these students celebrate Carnaval in Argentina, soak inMediterranean culture on the French Riviera, learn how to throw boomerangs, marvel at heated toilet seats in tech-y Japan, anddodge meteors! Here are some updates from abroad on the scholarship recipients’ experiences to date.Audrey Petteruti enjoying an amazingFrench dessert in Aix-en-ProvenceJennifer Baker at a temple in Japan Brianna Cole (right) and friend celebratingCarnaval in Gualehuaychu, ArgentinaAudrey Petteruti is a biomedical sciences major in the Honors program and the UNH Center for International Education’s Foley-Jackson Scholarship winner. Audrey traveled to Aix-en-Provence, a small city 20 minutes inland from the Mediterranean Sea,which she is amazed to see is turquoise, not blue-grey like in New England. Her study abroad experience has introduced her toFrench perspectives on current events, which she says are easy to hear even if you don't speak French. According to Audrey,“Terrorism in France's ally Morocco is an important issue, as well as the gay marriage bill that is currently being debated in theFrench senate.” On a lighter note, Audrey has been enjoying French social life, though loud music at the clubs can sometimesThe Newsletter of UNH Global Engagementhttp://unh.edu/cie/newsletter/2013/spring/gilman.html[7/13/2016 2:06:29 PM]Heather Diversimake communication with locals almost impossible! You can read more about her adventures on her blog.Jennifer Baker will soon be enjoying cherry blossoms in Japan! Jennifer, a senior cognitive science major, is spending thesemester in Nagoya. Her first impression of her host country, town, and university was that everything was so clean! Jennifer, whohas been studying Japanese for several years, has already encountered the phenomenon of strange English. Her favorite examplefrom abroad? A t-shirt printed with the quote: “The wolf knows what the ill beast thinks.” Jennifer has been balancing her study ofJapanese language and art with cultural immersion and fun at clubs. She has been sobered by recent events, however, noting that“police have detained a U.S. airman in Okinawa for allegedly causing a car accident while driving drunk, the latest in a series ofarrests of American servicemen in Japan.”Junior political science/international affairs dual major Brianna Cole is exploring Buenos Aires, Argentina, where she is studyingat the University of Belgrano. She can’t believe how affordable the city is; Brianna notes that the official exchange rate is about 5pesos for $1 USD right now. She is fascinated by Buenos Aires—a “place full of contrasts. There are skyscrapers for miles, thenthe next block an enormous plaza or botanical garden, extremely modern and chic buildings alongside old and worn out ones.” Shehas also gotten to experience a South American celebration of Carnaval, the festivities right before Lent, in the small town ofGualehuaychu, where the streets become a parade of revelers selling costumes, headdresses, and glowsticks. Which is not to saythat her time in country has always been an easy ride: Brianna got lost trying to navigate the public bus system on the way to theuniversity for the first day of classes. Live and learn!Heather Diversi, another biomedical sciences major, is at the University ofWollongong in Australia this semester. Because of the difference in academiccalendars, Heather didn’t leave the U.S. until February 16 and classes haven’tactually started yet; however, she has already managed to pack in a lot: visitingthe rainforest, going on a duck tour, hanging out with kangaroos and koalas,seeing snakes, dingos and a 4-meter-long crocodile being fed! Heather has alsohad a chance to experience Aboriginal culture by painting Aboriginal art,watching an Aboriginal dance and learning firsthand from an Aborigine how toplay the digeridoo (the iconic Australian wind instrument).A trip to the Great Barrier Reef has been another early highlight; as Heatherwrites, “If UNH students could see the Great Barrier Reef and spend the daysnorkeling it, they would pack their bags immediately and come here! There areno words to describe how truly serene and breathtaking it actually is. I nowunderstand why it's a World Wonder and I hope everyone gets to experience itonce in their life!”Honors student Kellie Shea is a junior Russian/international affairs dual majorstudying in St. Petersburg at the Gertsen Institute this semester. The big news inRussia is, of course, meteors! Kellie writes, “They landed in Siberia, so I was notaffected by them, but I am very humbled by the fact that so many people in theU.S. sent me messages asking if I was okay.” Unlike Brianna, Kellie has not hadany respite from winter weather; in fact, she has been amazed at how much icethere is everywhere. As she notes, “Saint Petersburg was built on a marsh landand its founder, Peter the Great, wanted this city to be the Venice of the East,with boats on the many rivers to be the primary source of transportation. Now,all the rivers that weave all over the city are frozen. They look like an unpavedmulti-lane highway or huge snow covered fields.” Check out the photo of Kellieon the banks of the Neva River, the biggest and widest in Saint Petersburg.The Newsletter of UNH Global Engagementhttp://unh.edu/cie/newsletter/2013/spring/gilman.html[7/13/2016 2:06:29 PM]Kellie Shea (center) and classmates at theChurch of Our Savior on Spilled Blood inSt. PetersburgKellie had her first ‘I’m not in Kansas anymore’ moment when she caught agroup of three pickpockets trying to rifle through her backpack. Luckily, nothingwas taken! She concludes her report by reflecting on her language progress sofar: “I have learned so much colloquial Russian here from talking with nativespeakers every day. UNH has a great Russian program with amazing professorsbut you can only learn so much in a classroom. I felt prepared to the best of myability before coming here, but I have learned so much firsthand by strugglingthrough ordering food, buying tickets and participating in school.”About the Office of National Fellowships: Established in 2005, the UNH Office of National Fellowships provides information,counsel, and editorial support to high achieving students applying for national and international fellowships and scholarships. Theservices of the Fellowships Office are available to undergraduates, graduate students, and alumni. Contact Jeanne Sokolowski at(603) 862-0733 or jeanne.sokolowski@unh.edu.~ contributed by Jeanne Sokolowski, Director, Office of National Fellowships  Copyright © 2015, Center for International Education  •  The University of New Hampshire223 Hood House  •  89 Main Street  •  Durham, NH 03824tel: 603-862-2398  •  fax: 603-862-0169study.abroad@unh.edu  •  international.affairs@unh.edu

Spring 2011, UNH Boasts Five Gilman Study Abroad Scholarship Winners

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Spring 2011, UNH Boasts Five Gilman Study Abroad Scholarship Winners

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