1March 2011 Global Pulse

2 March 2011 Global Pulse

Editor-in-chief Lisa Marie Nagapen

Design Director Putera Camaro

Assistant Designer Scott Ramirez, Lisa

M. Nagapen

Contributing Writers Serena Robin-son, Tanya Dahonick, Jason Yokom, Mabel Chan, Pugaleni Iynkaran, Shannie Lu, Kitty Lam

Graphics Contributor Jason Shum

Photo Contributors Jinglin Zhen, Kitty Lam, Serena Robinson, Dee Luo, Lisa M. Nagapen

CONTACT USUniversity of Toronto Scarborough Campus

1265 Military TrailStudent Centre, SL-151Toronto, ON M1C 1A4

CanadaTel: +1 -416-287-7518Fax: +1-416-287-7672

Email: 06nagape@utsc.utoronto.caWebsite: http://utsc-isc.ca

WHO WE AREGlobal Pulse is a student-run initiative super-

vised by the International Student Centre,

and features exclusively international ori-

ented content. We aim to provide a resource

for students find the most relevant informa-

tion on international opportunities and offer

insights on the cultural, academic and per-

sonal benefits of travelling. Global Pulse en-

courages enthusiasm for travel, acceptance

of cultural diversity and most of all, an open

mind, so we invite you to share in our experi-

ences and hopefully begin your own unex-

pected adventure.

LETTER FROM THE EDITOR

On a recent trip to New Zealand, I was told by my tour guide that

when you travel you find yourself. As he said it, I laughed off his

cliched statement and figured he said that to everyone. He probably

does. But after nearly 7 months away from home travelling, studying

and living in and around Australia, I have to say that those words are

truer than any cliche I’ve heard.

I had hear stories from everyone claiming they knew someone who

went to Australia and decided to stay forever and figured this could

never be me, but after meandering down the graffiti caked walls of

Melbourne and tasting the most amazing coffee I’ve ever had, I knew

this city was made for me.

J.M. Coetzee once said, “I did not so much leave South Africa, a

country with which I retain strong emotional ties, but come to Australia.

I came because from the time of my first visit in 1991, I was attracted

by the free and generous spirit of the people, by the beauty of the

land itself…” Like many before me, I was also lured by the mythical

power of the unknown, to this mysterious land filled with cities, des-

erts, inspired architecture and seemingly endless beaches. Australia

is a place of overwhelming beauty that is only paralleled by the op-

portunity for adventure, and the collective open heart of its people. I

fell in love with Oz and with the excitement of travel during my time

and want nothing more than for others to share in that experience with

their own stories of adventure abroad. For me, the best way to travel

was through an academic program and for others it might be through

volunteering, working or recreation- whatever the route you take, let it

lead you to an open mind and a new experience.

This project started from a shared love of travel in the ISC, an en-

thusiasm for cultural diversity and the need for a resource for students

to make informed decisions about their own travel options. I thank the

great team behind it for all of their hard work and the participation from

those who graciously allowed us to share their insights and stories.

Travel safe and happy, xoxo.

Cheers,

Lisa Marie Nagapen

3March 2011 Global Pulse

Scholarships and Funding 10

Safety abroad 11

Stories from Abroad

City Guides

Top Summer Break Spots

Teaching OverseasConfessions of a teacher abroad: Japan

14

14

Photo by Jinglin Z

Photo by Jinglin Z

On the Verge of some-thing big: talking with Zinzi deSilva 06

Study Abroad CIE style:an Interview with Erika Loney 04

11

11

11

Photo by Serena R

4 March 2011 Global Pulse

ner institution providing personal costs such as flights and accom-modations. Erika suggests this program for students who are “self reliant, independent and open to experience things being very different from home.”

Study elsewhere is another option in which students can choose institutions that do not have partnerships with U of T, this alternative requires paying international fees and more prep-aration from the student to struc-ture their study experience.

Summer abroad is a tailored program mostly taught by U of T professors and is a great option for students who want a shorter abroad experience. Courses en-tail academic and travel experi-ences in host countries during the summer term.

Explore is a 5-week French language bursary program taught in the summer or spring, offered across Canada at institutions in Quebec, Ontario, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, British Colum-bia, Saskatchewan and Mani-toba.

Once you have decided to

Rabindranath Tagore once wrote, “If life’s journey be endless where is its goal?

The answer is, it is everywhere.” This is the message stressed by the International Student Centre (ISC) at UTSC and the Centre for International Experience (CIE) at the St. George campus. Both offices serve incoming interna-tional students, as well as outgo-ing domestic students studying overseas, putting emphasis on the lasting impact of international experience.

The needs of the student body at U of T are as diverse as the list of places to study in, but the CIE’s outgoing exchange offi-cer, Erika Loney concedes that if you have ever thought about go-ing somewhere, there is a study abroad opportunity that is right for you.

A popular option is the stu-dent exchange program (SEP); which allows students to choose from a selection of over 150 in-stitutions that U of T has part-nerships with in over 50 differ-ent countries. With this option, students pay their normal tuition fees and complete a semester, or full year, of studies at a part-

participate in a program, check for eligibility and requirements and use campus resources like the career centre for a resume critique, or see a study abroad ambassador at the ISC for help on your statement of interest.

Timeliness is also a huge factor, an inability to follow the guidelines of the application process may tell the CIE office that you are not be ready to cope with the responsibility of go-ing abroad.

It is easy to assume that study-ing abroad is just short-term fun, but the long-term benefits could help you on the job hunt after gradua-tion. “The mindset of people that participate is much more global and you are more likely to do a masters, or additional education programs abroad.” You also have a vast set of experiences that showcase your skills and willingness to step outside of your comfort zone.

Erika has office hours discuss abroad options, for further informa-tion visit the CIE or ISC and speak to a study abroad ambassador and start planning your very own dream semester.

The CIEMaking the Most of Your Time

ABROAD“If life's journey be endless where is its goal? The an-swer is, it is everywhere.”

- Rabindranath T

By Lisa Marie NagapenPhoto by Lisa N Photo by Dee L

5 March 2011 Global Pulse

Hong Kong Special Administrative Region is one of the most-ly densely populated areas in the world and is surrounded by a deep harbor and beautiful natural landscapes. It has

out in the area for those who are interested in learning about the culture. There is no doubt that Mong Kok is the busiest area throughout Hong Kong at almost any time of day. There, you can find different streets that are aimed at certain themes, so there is Ladies Market that sells many different souvenirs as well as Goldfish street, which sells a wide range of fish.

TIP: Catch a ride off of the coast of Tai Po and

be sure have a meal dedicated to seafood,

widely available in many coastal villages.

____CITY_GUIDES_`=-__GLOBAL_PULSE_-(:_

TIP: Ladies market is a desginated tourist

area and a must for souvenirs

form of transportation. Tsim Sha Tsui is every shopper’s ideal location for a variety of shops suited to everyone’s budget and a diverse selection of foods after a day on your feet. There are also many museums and unique architectural buildings that are spread

[HONG KONG, CHINA]cMABEL CHAN

become one of the top tourist destinations for many people throughout the past few decades. Lantau Island is the largest island in Hong Kong and provides many tourist activities available for all ages, such as, a cable car line that goes up the mountain to the Ngong Ping plateau providing a wonderful view of the landscapes of Hong Kong. The pla-teau has recently been renovated with many tiny shops that connect to several monasteries and the Great Buddha, which is one of the largest

TIP: Try a wide range of streetfood

in Mong Kok if you’re in a daring

mood.

outdoor Buddha statues around the world.

Those interested in ec-otourism can hike on easily accessible trails, however the tram is a great way to experience the old fashion

Photo byMabel C

Photo byMabel C

Photo byMabel C

6March 2011 Global Pulse

cLISA MARIE NAGAPEN

[Melbourne, Australia]

When people think of Australia, images of the outback with its iconic red dirt and blokey appeal come to mind; otherwise the soaring height of the Sydney Opera House emerges as an emblem to represent a physically and culturally diverse continent. Caught between the two overpowering and strong images of Oz is the often overlooked Melbourne, known as the fashion capital and celebrated for its cultural richness. Though it lacks the allure of the out-

TIP: Don’t feel like going through the has-

sle of renting a car for a Great Ocean Road

Trip? Check out deals from tour companies

at the tourist kiosk in Federation Square

TIP: Melbourne can be expensive, so en-

joy its mostly gorgeous weather by grab-

bing a selection of affordable goodies

from the Queen Vic Market and lazing

in the Royal Botanic Garden for a picnic

fantastic wines produced in one of Oz’s leading wine producing regions. However, an absolute essential for any trip to Victoria is a drive down the Great Ocean Road, a windy stretch of road folded into the picturesque coastline that stretches from the cities of Torquay to Warrnambool. Originally built as a war memorial, the road is littered with natural beauty including famous landmarks like the Twelve Apostles, limestone stacks that emerge from the ocean like slender streaked mountains.

back or the cache of a lovely harbor, Melbourne offers the best aspects of a city while maintaining a relaxed vibe and embracing European cafe culture.

Melbourne is known for its laneways that house hid-den cafes, bars, boutiques and restaurants, and a stroll down one of the many graffiti coated laneways will re-veal that this city prides itself on its artistic reputation, also evidenced in the many museums offering a variety of art suited for any visitor. A must on any itinerary for Mel-bourne is a trip to the Queen Victoria Market, the largest open air market in the Southern hemisphere. The market has everything from fresh produce and gourmet prepared food, to clothing and the best deal on souvenirs. Federa-tion Square is the central part of the city a hub for tourists for photo ops and festivals and events and is situated next to the scenic Yarra River.

For those looking for a relaxing way to enjoy the beautiful countryside outside of the hectic city centre, a winery tour of the Yarra Valley is a great way to explore the sprawling, scenic landscape and enjoy some of the

TIP: No visit to Melbourne is authentic

without a trip to the MCG to watch a live

Footy match and soak in the sporting culture

Photo by Lisa N Photo by Lisa N

7 March 2011 Global Pulse

cSERENA ROBINSON

[London, England]Picture London and the first thing that pops into your head is probably one of

three things: Big Ben, the London Eye, or Westminster Abbey, and of course, one can hardly blame you. They are iconic and certainly something you shouldn't miss in London but here are some tips for the things that are a must on your London to do list. Firstly, observe rather than ride the London Eye, skip the pricey fee, then climb one of the many tall public buildings surrounding and snaps your pictures to include the Eye.

THEATRE: Broadway who? Each night in London, there is seldom less than 50 separate live theatre performances. While theatre can be expensive, look into attending a performance at small-er theatres, with cheaper base prices. Also, check for student discounts and last minute tickets... sometimes being ten minutes late for the play will get you leftover those last two front-row seats for a real steal.

SHOPPING: If there is one more thing London doesn't have in short supply, it is shops. From the designer duds, to the I can't believe they sell those, to they have a whole store for what?! Head down to one of the many shopping dis-trict and drop some serious cash. Be sure to check out Harrod's, the world's most famous luxury department store.

LONDON BRIDGE: That famous land-mark that no one understand why be-came famous, stop at London bridge, if only for a moment, to snap a picture of the exceedingly more attractive Tower Bridge on your side.

BARS/PUBS: The London bar and pub scene is both relaxing and invigorating. Perhaps less rowdy than most European scenes, the Brits nevertheless main-tain their friendly reputation and will likely invite you to join them for a drink. Also, be sure to partake in some non-exquisite but essen-tial English fish and chips.

BUCKINGHAM PALACE - CHA-ING OF THE GUARDS: at precisely 11:30 each day during peak season, and every other day in the off sea-son, a ceremonial change of guards takes place in front of Buckingham Palace, complete with a band and some flawlessly executed drill.

DOUBLE DECKER BUS/TUBE: Only in London can trans-portation be a tourist attraction of its own. Those famous double-decker red buses are actually quite affordable and a pleasant means to see the city. Want something more direct: take the tub (London's subway) and be sure to stop at King's Cross Station and have a picture snap of you gripping that infamous cart at platform 9 and 3/4.

A view of the London bridge.

Photo by Serena R

Photo by Dee L

8March 2011 Global Pulse

Imagine being taken to a country, that you’ve have never imagined you’d see. This was

the case for during her year-long exchange at King’s College in London. I was given the ul-timate surprise: a trip to Morocco, including a three-day trip into the Western Sahara desert.

I had traveled to Singapore and spent time in Italy, Amsterdam, France, and exploring the United Kingdom, but I never thought I would be able to spend my birthday riding a camel through the des-ert, dressed in flowing cloths that only left my eyes exposed. All of which happened as a result of some elaborate and clever scheming by my housemates and friends. While I believed my housemates were simply taking me out for dinner, in reality, they had already packed my bag and booked a flight down to Marrakesh with the idea of taking me “somewhere I would never go by myself.”

My companions and I, international students from Australia and Singapore and a fellow exchange student, spent the next five days and four nights

exploring Marrakesh and, of course, trekking through the Sahara desert in temperatures that exceeded 45°C. While on course, we slept in pre-built tents, ate a traditional meal of rice and couscous and learned about the desert and the local culture.

My greatest memories were the nights in the desert that, with so many stars, were al-most light out and of course, the kindness and courtesy of our driver, who invited us back to his residence for peppermint tea and snacks. Though it was never my plan to visit Morocco, to trek across the desert, or to adjust to the unique gait of a camel, I had an amazing time and would definitely do it again in a heartbeat.

STORIESFROM

ABROAD

A Surprise Vacation an Unexpected Destination

cSHANNIE LU

cTANYA DAHONICK

Under the Napoli Sun

When people visit Italy, the top cities on their checklists usually include, Rome,

Milan, Venice and Florence. However, a southwestern city in the region of Campania is often overlooked-Naples. A bad reputation throughout the years has labeled Naples as being a hectic, dirty and crime-ridden city.

After mentioning my interest in the city, I had heard all kinds of comments about crime,

the mafia, and pick pocketing warnings, but my friend I decided to spend 3 days in the city to dis-cover Naples for ourselves.

My first impression of Naples was, yes it is dirty! Litter clogs the gutters and there seems to be graffiti on any empty wall space,

9 March 2011 Global Pulse

but this gritty aesthetic seemed more authentic compared to all the glitz and glamour of Milan and Rome. The colourful, tiny houses with red rooftops all over the city seem to be arranged like a maze with the volcano Mount Vesuvius towering over the city. There are numerous alleyways overshadowed by all the hanging clotheslines from the houses and cars and Vespa’s zoom around corners and swerve past crowds of pedestrians, sometimes a bit too closely. The city is not buffed to a high sheen for tourists like other Italian cities; and has a cheeky “I am who I am, love me or hate me” at-titude about it. One thing that I instantly fell in love with was the local Italian people. I was enchanted by the way they never use indoor voices and the way they gestured emphatically with their hands while speaking as if it were a form of aerobic exer-cise. Everyone we met was very loud but friendly and willing to help out lost tourists like ourselves.

Naples is full of history; it’s like a museum

derground excavations from the Roman period. There are layers of history in Naples, and a visit there is bound to make anyone feel a little bit like an archaeologist. Of course, a trip to Naples would not be complete without tasting the pizza! Pizza is sold on every corner of the city and the people of Naples have perfected the art of pizza making and I have yet to come across a slice that rivals those in Naples, especially the Margherita pizzas.

Chaotic and historic, beautiful and live-ly, polluted and gritty all describe Naples. After spending a few days there, I can say that I am an unabashed devotee of this grimy, loud metropolis. So forego all the warnings and find some time to pay a visit to Naples on your next trip to Italy.

piece in itself that is very much alive and still thriv-ing. There are many ancient sites and buildings to explore without the pricey admission fees such as, The Castell dell Ovo and Castell Inuovo, two beautiful castles on the bay of Naples. You can also explore numerous catacombs and other un-

cJAY YOKUM

learning about climate change while on

exchange in Denmark

The Copenhagen energy conference, En-ergy Crossroads 2009, was an international

conference with students from across the world brought together to address the very real threat of global climate change. From over fifty coun-tries students from all disciplines and academic levels met to discuss, what we, the next genera-tion, can bring to the table in order to combat global warming. At the time of this student con-ference, the United Nations meeting on climate change was taking place in the same city; this meant that the same speakers who addressed the leaders of the free world would also be speaking to us. On the first day, we were treat-

Photo by Serena R

Photo by Serena R

10March 2011 Global Pulse

c MABEL CHAN

Nyong ping hike

ed to lectures by the world’s top climate scientists, including the literal grandfather of climate change research, James Hansen.

After the star-studded casts of climate re-searchers were paraded in front of us, we broke into groups to discuss what action we, the world’s youth, needed to take. Each group consisted of roughly one person from each continent, each in a different field of study. I, a political scientist from Canada

was grouped with an economist from Ireland, a nat-ural scientist from Japan, and a PhD student from Brazil researching the next generation of bio-fuels. The dominant theme was realistic and economi-cally viable solutions: how to find a real solution to climate change - not ignoring the situation or shat-tering our economies in the process. Smart grids, bio-fuels, solar efficiency and wind power were all discussed from different viewpoint and their pros and cons were weighed. What might work from a German natural scientist’s perspective might not be viable from an Australian economist’s view and it was through these collaborations that lead to a true understanding of how global this issue was.

If there was one thing I could take away from the conference, it was that these problems are manageable, global climate change can be averted if the whole world agrees to change their habits. We are far from too late, and with the continued educational effort, it seems as if there is hope for the future.

There is no higher thrill than gathering together with 40 exchange students, among thousands,

who are all thirsty for the adventure that very few people value in the beautiful city of Hong Kong. Unlike the many traditional visitors who get togeth-er for a simple dinner to celebrate mid- Autumn Festival, we decided to do something different to remember this holiday. Among the many activities that can be explored on this unfamiliar land, the beauty of the surrounding mountains immediately caught our attention. This brings us to the gather-ing at Tung Chung Station with exchange students from both HKU and Polytech University to embark on a midnight hike up one of Hong Kong’s biggest mountains on Lantau Island, ‘Nyong Ping’ moun-tain.

Despite this informal organization among

few friends, many exchanges embraced the op-portunity from different residences to Universities. It took us half an hour to walk from the MTR sta-tion to the start of the hiking path, the perfect op-portunity to exchange names and greetings from every corner of the world. We arrived at the start-ing point for a brief headcount and realized this was going to be an unforgettable adventure, for-ever imprinted in our lives. So we started hiking along the narrow path, stopping at every unique statue or Buddha to take pictures and as many extra breaths as possible.

Several hours later we have arrived at the mid-point where we talked about the steepness of the hills, snapped some pictures, drank some water and used the only available washrooms. The rest of the long journey was even more difficult than we had anticipated. The towering dirt roads and stairs were replaced with large cumbersome rocks to climb for the last hour of our journey. Having something “so close, yet so far”, has never been used in any circumstance truer than this. When we finally took those last steps to the top, it was cold, dark and windy. Not exactly a picture perfect moment that we all had imagined, but the best has yet to come. The sunrise.

Photo by Serena R