From Brothers Abroad to Theta Iota

2008-10-05T22:37:00.000-07:00

Sorry the pictures are all screwy, it looked fine in creating the post but shifted everything around when it changed to the actual post view

FYI, clicking the pictures makes them look a million times better

Cant you hear cant you hear the thunder

2008-10-05T21:52:00.000-07:00

As most of you know, I spent this past spring semester studying and traveling in Australia. It was an absolutely AMAZING time and for those brothers who have a few semesters left I would certainly recommend that you consider spending one of them outside the country. Why choose Australia? For me my first priority was that I wanted to go somewhere that I would be able to speak English, and second was the fact that I wanted to be somewhere warm where I could live on the beach. I came to find out that while these initial reasons for picking Australia were enough at the time, the country, culture, and people left me with an affinity for the nation that goes far deeper.

In a general sense, Australia is a rough mix of American, English, and Indigenous Australian histories and cultures. Things are similar enough that you can go about life in a pretty similar manner as in the states. However there is certainly a unique Australian twist on things which is most obvious in the different slang terms that they use. Basically they are a pretty lazy people and if a word is more than one syllable long, they find a way to shorten it down to something easier to say. The pace of life was also a lot different. People weren’t rushing from place to place without any regard for anyone but themselves as it seems people so often do here in CT. Things are more relaxed and people are a lot more friendly and willing to strike up conversations even though they don’t know you. This was my experience though, based off of where I lived. There are 6 states in Australia and there were clearly regional differences in values and lifestyles between them much as you would see in comparing New England to Florida to Texas to California.

My experience gave me the impression that there is a pretty large travel oriented aspect to the culture where both Australians and foreigners tend to do a lot of traveling around the country. I met people from African nations, Mexico, Canada, Netherlands, England, Germany, Sweden, and most other European nations for that matter while traveling around the country. There are also a lot of foreigners who now live in the country and I was told on a couple occasions that Australia was the ‘melting pot’ of the world in terms of culture. (Although I did argue that America was called that first). A large part of the economy is based on tourism and as a result there is a pretty efficient network of trains, buses and plane routes between most cities, and plenty of cheap hostels where you can spend the night. For example, when I went to Sydney the flight was 80 bucks each way and the hostel was 25 bucks a night.

If you want more information about what the schooling was like or any specifics I would me more than happy with fill you in. What follows are some pictures and descriptions from the places where I was able to live and visit during my time in the country. Most of the places can be found on the map as a general reference.

I stayed on the east coast of the country, which is where the vast majority of the population lives. Starting in the North there is Cairns, which is known as the ‘gateway to the Great Barrier Reef’ It’s a pretty small city that’s economy is pretty much based off of tourism to the reef and maintaining the hundreds of ships that bring people out to see this natural wonder. Going to the reef is absolutely a must do when visiting Australia. It is something you really have to see to understand how beautiful and fascinating the ecosystem is.

Arlie Beach: the jump off spot for visiting the Whitsunday Islands. It’s a very small town that again just supports people visiting the islands and reefs in the waters outside the city. The picture is of Whithaven beach (7 miles long in the background), which has the most pure sand in the world (they made the glass for the Hubble telescope out of it). Itspretty much talcum powder and was like no beach you’ve ever seen before. I took a 3 day 2 night sailing trip around these islands. You sail around during the day, stopping at different islands where you can scuba dive or snorkel and relax in the sun. At night they BBQ dinner and everyone gets wasted. I would highly recommend making a trip here. The other picture is looking out into the ocean from Arlie Beach's boardwalk

Frasier Island: 30 miles of sand with a forest in the middle. You spend 2 nights camping out with about 10 ppl from around the world. You drive up and down the coast of this island om 4x4's during the day and cooking/ boozing at night. The coast is actually a highway during low tied and its pretty cool to see cars driving down a beach at 50 mph with the occasional airplane landing stopping traffic. There were quite a few things to see here such as a ship wreck or the Champagne pools (water crashes over rocks into what is basically a huge tide pool you can swim in). The picture is of Lake McKenzie, which is a freshwater lake in the middle of the island. Its probably the coolest body of water I’ve ever seen cause it had the talcum powder like sand I mentioned before, but the water you swam in is salt free and so very blue.

Brisbane: I think it’s the 3^rd largest city in the country, and probably about 1.5 times the size of Hartford. There’s a nice river walk with cafes to eat at and plenty of things to do in the city from museums to shopping.

Surfers Paradise: This is where I lived and studied. I was 100 yards from the beach in an apartment above a street with a dozen clubs/bars to enjoy in the evenings. The university was a half hour bus ride away which wasn’t that bad since there was such good public transportation. Surfers is a suburb of the Gold Coast, which is about 30 miles or so of beach where people come to visit on their vacations or have summer homes. It’s also where all the college kids go for their spring break a la Cancun. Surfing is a must. The ‘Hinterland’ is the area behind the coast. It’s a low mountain range covered in tropical forest and separates the coast from the outback. As for the weather, it was 90's when I got there during the middle of our winter, and when I left it was mid Australian winter with a blistering 70 degrees or so during the day. The first picture is looking at the city from the beach, and the second is at night from the 80ish level of the building in the center of the first picture. (the coast isnt shaped like a 'V', its just a picture from the left and right sides of the building put together)

Sydney: Kimmie or Halpin can prob give a better tale of what this city is like since they lived there on their abroad. Sydney is kind of like the NYC of Australia but not so big or crazy. There is a ton to do here. Outside the city are the Blue Mountains, which are pretty cool cause the oil off the Eucalyptus trees below actually creates a blue haze that colors the valleys below. They are in the first picture, and the second is from the observation tower in the center of the city.

Canberra: equivalent to Washington D.C. but smaller. Some really awesome monuments and museums here, but the town itself has nothing going on. There was absolutely nothing to do here besides see statues and tour buildings, so id recommend skipping this place unless you really love history or something.

Melbourne: 2^nd largest city and rival of all things Sydney a la Boston/ NY. I found it really clean, organized, and easy to get around. Tons of bars, restaurants, museums, shopping, and sights to take in. Also of note are the great ocean road and Phillip island which are outside the city. The former is a day long drive with cliffs and the ocean on one side and a tropical forest on the other, and the latter is home to the largest population of the smallest penguins in the world. They come marching in a dusk from fishing all day and walk past the platforms you stand on to their nests.

Other places of interest: Mojo Surfing Camp – I would highly recommend this trip. They pick you up in coach buses and drive you to their surf camp a few hours away, you get to meet ppl from all over the world while they cook for you and teach you to surf for 2 days. At night you have a bonfire and, like most events in Australia, drink , drink, drink... And granted I was pretty gone, but I swear there are more stars in the sky when you are in the southern hemisphere. You can see the milkyway clear as day.

Also, there are plenty of zoos and animal reservations which serve to introduce you to some of the native animals. I got to feed and pet kangaroos, hold koalas, and see other animals like Tasmanian devils, emus, and dingoes.

I started this post with a lot of ambition and figured it wouldn’t take to long, but now I realize that even though I have written WAY too much, I haven’t even scratched the surface of what there is to detail about the country. But is late and I no longer have a desire to keep rambling on. Ive got a ton more pictures on facebook if you feel like giving them a look, there was way too much to fit in on this post. Basically, go to Australia, you will have the time of your life.

Florence, Italy

2008-09-09T18:28:00.000-07:00

CIAO! Mi amore Firenze! This summer study abroad program was an amazing experience that allowed me to travel all over Italy, make new friends, learn about European business and enjoy the relaxing Italian lifestyle. Italy is much different than the U.S.; shops close mid afternoon so people can meet friends for an espresso, business owners are in no rush to assist customers, and they truly savor both their food and their company.

On weekends I traveled all over Italia:

Venice: I still marvel on how Venice stays afloat. Unfortunately the tiny island that is crowded by shops, narrow walkways, and the famous San Marco square, is slowly sinking. If you visit, you should purchase Venice's famous glass jewelry and take a rise in some type of boat through all of the water canals. I took the Grand Canal Boat tour, which I would highly recommend, that included a narrated tour guide through the waterways, views of Elton John's house and a bottle of Italian Prosecco to enjoy. Venice can definitely be done in a day trip.

Rome: Rome is Italy's big city, it's like the New York of the country. There are lots of people and you have to be careful not to get run over by Vespas. I loved touring the ancient ruins, the Coliseum, the Vatican, St. Peter's Basilica, the Spanish Steps, and the Trevi Fountain. The food in Rome was a bit of a letdown, and there is not as much nightlife as in Florence. However, I would recommend getting a few bottles of wine and hanging out with friends at the Trevi Fountain one night. The setting is magical, with white lights reflecting over the flowing water and it's a fascinating place to people watch. I would recommend three days in Rome.

Amalfi Coast / Capri / Sorrento / Positano: After visiting so many museums, and historical sites, traveling to the Amalfi Coast is a MUST vacation when you can acutally relax. The water is a gorgeous Mediterranean color. I signed up for a package vacation down there, that included bus transportation, a boat tour around Capri, and a bungalow house to stay in. Capri has breathtaking coastlines. Definitely try their native Limoncello liquior when you are there and the lemon chocolates. Sorrento is fun at night with a couple of bars/clubs. If you like seafood there are some amazzzzzing seafood dishes at the Sorrento restaurants. I had two of my best Italian meals here: seafood rissoto & seafood linguini. Positano is a small beach town built along the Italian coast. I recommend the cliff jumping there. If you're in Southern Italy be sure to stop at Pompeii at some point.

Cinque Terre: only a short train ride from Florence, it is a great day get-away. There are five coastal beaches; however, I only stayed at one. The beaches have more locals than the Amalfi Coast, but it can get a little crowded. There is a hiking travel linking the five beaches. There was great cliff-side gelato and restaurants along the water, making for a great place to watch the sunset.

Sienna & San Giminaggio: These are both medieval towns that have breathtaking views of the Italian countryside. Golden Hawn & Kurt Russel were spotted in San Giminaggio when i was there!

Florence: My favorite city in the world. This city embodies the heart of the Renaissance with its amazing art, ornate buildings, and beautiful sculptures.
Best City Activities:
1. Central Market: Located near the Duomo, this outdoor/indoor market is a great place to wander around, shop for souvenirs, and purchase fresh meats, vegetables, nuts and dried fruit.
2. Calico: This is a sporting event that is the earliest form of soccer. It's an intense sport, where any kind of contact is allowed, from tackling, punching, and wrestling. I thought that the men would be kicking around a soccer ball, but the players end up bloddy and there is a lot of team patriotism. Definitely a must see!
3. Spend the afternoon at a local cafe drinkg cappuccinos and espressos with friends.
4. Shopping: Italy is known for its amazing leather so be sure to purchase a wallet, belt, or purse. The high end shopping is located by the arno and Palazzo Ruccelai. Lauren ocnrad was sportted while I was there in Zara's by Piaza di Republica.
5. Bike ride through Chianti: the wine is the best in the world, and the scenery is gorgeous.
6. Climb to Piaza di Michelangelo: the views are amazing and very romantic at night.
7. Climb the steps of the Duomo: exhausting, but also worth the views. The Duomo Cathedral has a very extravagant ceilings as well.
8. Eat gelato every day! My favorite place was La Carreira.
9. Pub Crawl: lots of fun, do it in Rome or Florence.
* Best advice: explore the city, enjoy the sights, sounds, and take in all the scenery around you!
Best Restaurants:
1. ZaZa's: right near central market, has a great open atmosphere. I enjoyed the savory fettuccine with truffle sauce that falls apart in your mouth.
2. La Grostra: on via Borgo Pinti, with tables outside that are decorated with white lights at night. The brie-filled raviolies are delicious! Many famous people dine here, including Chevi Chase!
3. Moyo: near Santa Croce this apertivo bar is a great deal for appetizers & a drink for 7 euros. It's a fun way to start the night and the food is pretty good.
4. Oil Shoppe: ecellent Panini shop, the ingredients are really fresh.
5. Cafe Amerini: right around the corner from school, a great place for a quick bite to eat or an espresso.
Night Life:
1. Space: really fun at night, lots of fun games, pretty decent music.
2. Red Garter: located near Santa Croce, BEER PONG tournaments every Tuesday.
3. J.J.'s: an Irish pub in the heart of Florence. Lots of American students hangout here because you can pay with American dollars from 6-10pm.
4. Twenty One: smaller, but cheap, and free shots.
5. Central Park: really really far away, but I heard it was a lot of fun, but kind of expensive.
6. Fish Pub: known for its "Five Shots, Five Euros" the shots are actually mixed drinks, but still fun to visit at least once.
Class:
You'll actually look forward to class when in Italy. Professor Rummel, who is also a faculty brother, teaches the business class and he is great. You'll have the opportunity to travel all over Italy to see Italian businesses such as a winery, an olive oil firm, Lamborghini, Ducati, wool/raw materials plant used in the fashion industry, and GE in Italy. I also took Masters & Monuments, to lear about Art History while in the art capital of the world. The class included trips to museums around Florence and learning about artists such as Da Vinci, Michelangelo, Donatello, Ghiberti and many more!

Tales of a Connecticite in South Africa

2008-05-07T12:54:00.000-07:00

Top 10 Reasons to Visit South Africa:

10) Table Mountain - Cape Town's signature landmark and an absolutly incredible sight to wake up to in the morning...

(Table Mountain from Downtown Cape Town)

(Downtown Cape Town from Table Mountain)

9) The Exchange Rate - one of the only modernized countries to do worse than the US dollar while I was abroad was the South African Rand. Drinks and food were extremely cheap the whole time we were there..

8) The Township- to get a real feel for how South Africans live, I'd recommend taking a trip into the townships. A township resembles nothing more than a shantytown. Thousands, and in some cases millions of people (mainly native Africans) live in condensed areas with illegal electricity, no water, gangs at large, and some of the poorest quality education. Despite all this, the Townships produced some of kindest individuals I met in all of South Africa.

(Those aren't sheds in the backyard, those are houses. Khayaleitsha, the largest of Cape Town's townships is estimated to have nearly 1,000,000 residents living just like this)

7) The Big 5 - The lion, elephant, rhino, buffalo, and leopard are the "Big 5" animals to see while in South Africa. The country takes great pride in these animals as each is designated to their 5 bills of currency (R10- rhino, R20- elephant, R50- lion, R100- buffalo, R200- leopard).

(Black Rhino from our safari)

6) Food & Wine - South Africa is home to a collection of cultures each with their own food. Anything from Middle-Eastern food, to Indian curry, to traditional African or Afrikaner meals can be found in any major city in the country. Also, 30 minutes outside of Cape Town rests the Stellenbosch wine route, boasting some of the worlds best wine, comparable to that of California's Napa Valley or France's Bordeaux. Wine was also very cheap, a really nice bottle would cost somewhere around $12 US dollars.

(Stellenboch wine area)

5) Soweto - When blacks were forced out of the white areas of Johannesburg during apartheid they were forced into the South Western Townships, also known as Soweto. Soweto is South Africa's largest township and played a crucial role in combating the apartheid regime. Many prominent activists such as Nelson Mandela, Archbishop Desmond Tutu, and Albert Luthuli (all Nobel Peace Prize winners) called Soweto home during the struggle.

(At a local 'shebeen'(a mix between a shed and a bar) in Soweto)

(Nelson Mandela's old house in Soweto)

4) The Garden Route and the World's Highest Commercial Bungy - South Africa's natural beauty can't be summed up by one trip on the Garden Route, but it's a start. The Garden Route connects Cape Town and Port Elizabeth and runs along the spectacular southern coast of the country. Skattered with perfect beaches and mountanous landscapes, the Garden Route truly is a sight for sore eyes. The Bloukrans River Bridge connects the Eastern and Western Cape Provinces but is also home to the worlds Highest Commercial Bungy (216meter free fall)

(Plettenburg Bay on the Garden Route)

(Bungy jumping from the Bloukrans Bridge)

3) Sports - the main sports consist of soccer/football, rugby, and cricket (quite a change from the US). South Africa is set to host the World Cup in 2010 and regardless of people arguing for it or against it, the tournament will be a hell of a lot of fun and I plan on returning after graduation.

2) The History - Europeans started colonizing South Africa in the 1650's, disenfranchising and segregating the black majority from the start, but it wasn't until 1948 that the National Party came to power with an agenda of institutionalized racial segregation known as "apartheid." Under apartheid, all citizens of South Africa were registered as whites, indians, coloureds, or blacks and were given rights based on those qualifications. Many were forced from their homes to live in areas less desireable to whites, forming most of the modern townships. Despite most of the resistance's political leaders imprisonment, the apartheid regime was brought to its knees thanks to many successful protests, international pressure, and stable organization from resistance parties such as the African National Congress. In 1990, all political paties were unbanned and the first democratic elections were finally held in 1994 with Nelson Mandela winning the country's first presidency. The following years have and still are epitomized by the idea of reconciliation for all the attrocities committed during apartheid. Race is still an issue and will continue to be for a long time...

(One of the many quotes from the Apartheid Museum in Johannesburg)

(Nelson Mandela's cell, where he spent 18 of his 27 years in prison)

1) South Africans & the spirit of Ubuntu - the people of South Africa are what make the country great. No matter their background, each person has a story to tell and they hold no concessions about telling it, oftentimes you have no choice about hearing it. The idea of 'ubuntu' can simply, but not entirely, be described as your dignity, being my dignity. It has the same message as the Golden "Do unto others as you wish them to do unto you" Rule but with a African twist of human togetherness and the belief that we are all one people regardless of color or beliefs. The idea is a point of pride for South Africans and is frequently marketed to the rest of the world by many of South Africa's prominent leaders.

Honorable Mentions: The Drakensburg Mountains (the hights mountain range in southern Africa)

The Cradle of Mankind , outside Johannesburg (where the oldest human fossils are found). Technically, we're all South African.

Test Post Number 1

2008-04-28T19:31:00.000-07:00

Terry Tu here,

Just starting up our Brothers Abroad blog! Even though I'm still in the States, I can't wait to get this thing started :)