April 5, 2016
by megantruong001
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Christy and Megan’s Reflection

How unique is it to say that, this week was “out of this country”?

Apologies for the bad pun.

We, as Pre Med A, B, and Biochem A, were able to experience this—and of course, this would be unlike any other experience that eager college freshmen are able to do.

When this week had started, we were very nervous to meet the Glasgow Exchange students.

Going out to the airport, we felt excitement rush through our veins and arteries. Having the opportunity to spend an entire week with the incredible GCU students, Allan, Anna, Alanis, Zara, Raimaisah, and Joe that changed our paradigms of the entire exchange. They were more than just exchange students, they became everyone’s friend throughout the communities. During the week, we were able to truly know each and every individual in the communities and who they are as a person. Since we were able to collaborate with Pre-Med B, and Biochem A, we were able to make the exchange more eventful as we all realized that this was something for our GCU friends to do together through Fire and Ice, Celtics game, and many more events.
What really highlighted the exchange, as mentioned by Dean Grosovsky was the lunar display that appeared before our very eyes. This is really what unified all of us as communities, and friends.

March 21, 2016
by juanitasaenz001
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Reflection

Here’s one last touristy picture

I believe everyone can agree that this exchange was a huge success. Personally, this experience surpassed my expectations. I thought the ambassadors were the only ones that were going to benefit from the exchange but I was wrong. I made new friends from GCU and UMass Boston. By attending the events that all three communities hosted together I was able to talk to people I had seen around but never had a courage to introduce myself to. Working with all of the other communities was easier than I thought since we all had the same goal which was to make sure the GCU ambassadors had fun.

I learned that students at GCU are not required to take classes outside of their major. This is something I would not want to be implemented in our curriculum because my interests are too diverse to commit to just one subject but I can see how it is beneficial for students that love their majors. When one of the GCU ambassadors told me that they did not have to learn physics in high school or in college I was baffled. I figured every STEM major would take at least one physics class regardless of their major. After I learned this we decided that I would teach him physics if he taught me Scottish slang.

I also learned that most of the GCU students commute just like us! We were able to relate to each other and could feel each others pain when we shared how long our commute to school was.

Saying goodbye was bittersweet but I’m glad the UMass Boston ambassadors are back!

Allan, Anna, and all of the other GCU ambassadors, it was a pleasure meeting you all and I hope to see you all soon!

March 18, 2016
by syedakazmi001
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The Week in Glasgow, Scotland

In middle school books were, in a way, my best friends. I was always reading, even when walking in the hallway (which I don’t recommend). I loved to read about the different adventures that the protagonists were on and how they would solve different problems. However, I enjoyed reading most of all because it was my source to travel to a completely different world. Reading ignited a new flame in me. It made me want to explore more of the different parts of the world I already lived in. So I began to dream of traveling. Thus, It has been a dream of mine to travel and explore the many wonders of the world. Never had I imagined that I would be able to embark on such an adventure so soon in my life. I am so grateful towards UMass Boston for allowing me to experience something I had only ever dreamed of till now. This trip to Scotland was not only my first step towards my dream to globe-trot, but also a major step towards my occupational goals. This has been an exceptional event for my first experience traveling across sea.

The culture I was exposed to and the contrasts in ours and the Scotland students’ daily lives was enjoyable to observe. While there are noticeable differences, like their love for haggis, their were many similarities as well. The historic buildings in Glasgow and Edinburgh were breathtakingly beautiful. I felt as though I was a part of something much bigger as I walked the streets of Glasgow and learned of its history and legends. Similar to Boston there were many modern buildings as well as Starbucks joints. I learned some Scottish dancing, which was incredibly fast paced and fun! It really brightened the mood and brought a joyous feeling with it. We indulged in fish and chips various times, and all the venues of our meals were incredible. The Scottish subway ran in an oval shape, and was much nicer in comparison to Boston’s MBTA Red line. However, the subway system in Boston branches out more and has various lines such as the orange and green line, unlike the Scottish subway. I learned of the undying love of sweets that the Scottish students possessed. I also had the pleasure to try many sweets at various points of the trip. This experience gave me a new angle of observation and a new understanding of people. I learned many things historically and culturally that matured my thinking. I feel with this new understanding I gained the bonds of friendship I made with the Scottish students will last forever. I hope I will get many more chances to meet with them in the future.

The Glasgow Caledonian University was a key part of this experience. In my observation, the school’s academic setup was very similar to that of UMass Boston. They had classes that ranged from large lectures to small classroom-size classes, which allowed for both mass education as well as a bit more direct instruction. In comparison to the University of Glasgow, GCU had more mordern architecture and interactive space, much similar to UMB. The school was set up in an open manner allowing many open spaces for group work.The instructors were very welcoming to the Boston ambassadors and involved us in the class as well. I was able to refresh on many skills I had forgotten, and learned material that is further ahead in our syllabus. One of the Chemistry lectures was an introduction to Organic Chemistry which gave a basic overview of the course. The information from this lecture will help us tremendously as we aim to take Orgo-Chem next semester. GCU also had much diversity in its community. The students as well were incredibly welcoming and cooperative during courses. My experience at the university was fantastic, and I hope to return to study here for a while.

I enjoyed many aspects of Scotland, including the architecture and education. I would definitely visit again for a longer stay, to indulge in the culture further. This trip has made me realize how much I have yet to see in the world, and has definitely unlocked my thirst for adventure. I plan to continue traveling to other parts of the world and learn as much as possible. I hope I can utilize the skills and understandings I will gain from these experiences to further my career. As a doctor I will need to be able to find common ground with many of my patients, and by having these experiences in my background I would be able to cooperate with them much better. The friends I make on these trips will forever be dear to me, and I hope that we could also work together in the future on various projects to make this world come closer as a whole- to make it a better place for ourselves and others.

I would like to thank everyone who made this exchange event possible. Thank you for allowing me to have this experience and move one step closer to my dreams.

March 18, 2016
by adamstornaiuolo001
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Reflection

I wanted to keep it short and sweet because the pictures, videos and memories that we’ve created speak for themselves in regards to the exchange.

Now that our friends from the exchange have gone, it’s back to basics; however, we will never forget the friendships and memories we’ve all created together. Looking back at the very beginning of the exchange and the weeks leading up to it, I personally was both excited and nervous. This experience was very exciting and I’m extremely grateful to be a part of it all yet the one thing that had me worried the entire time leading up to the week was working in a team. With so many communities and students involved in the exchange, I was worried that many things would be left to last minute or even worse, people wouldn’t do their assigned tasks and such. Now that this experience is over, looking back I can truly say that this exchange was a success. With the exchange students having had an amazing time, this week proved to me that there was nothing to worry about when working in a large team. Being a co-captain and blogger, I got to not only be an integral part of the planning of events but also got to document the amazing changes that had occurred not only in the exchange students lives but also in the lives our those hosting them here at UMass Boston. Many people were important assets to the exchange and its smooth sailing. I would like to thank everyone from the communities, the administration that formulated this exchange and our ambassadors for representing us in the best ways possible over in Glasgow.

March 17, 2016
by vivianli001
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Reflection

Now that I am back from Scotland, and the jet lag has almost subsided, I can finally reflect on my Scotland adventures. Beyond the basic differences in our language, such as calling fries “chips”, Glasgow is actually very similar to Boston. I remember landing after an overnight flight and thinking to myself that it felt like I had never left.

Throughout the week, I was able to attend classes at GCU. The largest lecture hall was less than one third of the size of Lipke, and their class sizes are significantly smaller. They were learning about basic biology, including topics such as the immune system, white blood cells and Punnett squares. Being able to attend an organic chemistry lecture was especially interesting. I absolutely loved attending GCU, as well as becoming close friends with the amazing hosting team. I am seriously considering returning to Scotland to take more classes.

Some of the biggest difficulties I had to deal with was not attending their school or balancing work back home, it was actually learning to use Scottish pounds and adjusting to the jet lag. Not used to using coins very often in America, Scotland has a one pound coin that I used very frequently. The jet lag prevented me from having an appetite at certain times of the day when the Scottish students were having lunch or dinner.

I had never expected to become so close with the hosting team in just one week, but saying goodbye was devastating. Adieu for now, Scotland! Enjoy one last vlog about the last day and the flight home: