Amy Bourne in Budapest

STUDY ABROAD EXPERIENCES   

AMY BOURNE

Read about Amy Bourne’s experience as a SLU PT student studying abroad in Budapest to get an idea of what this unique study abroad opportunity is like. Discover interesting cultural norms, learn about the gorgeous monuments of Budapest, and become acquainted with kurtoskalacs.

I chose to go to Budapest because it was different from where everyone else from SLU was going and I wanted a unique experience. It was nice because I was still able to visit friends studying abroad in other countries. I was nervous about going because I didn't know how to speak Hungarian, nor did I know anyone else going to Budapest, but the program was fantastic and I had a Hungarian student as a mentor. I still keep in touch with her. The people there were very nice and helpful. It was different though because it isn't rude to stare, so at first it was weird to me that people just kept looking at me on the subway! Classes were interesting, and there were cool ones to choose from. I took a class about the history of Eastern Europe through film. 

There was a lot to see. Budapest Castle was beautiful (Katy Perry filmed her music video for Fireworks there). The Parliament building was also amazing.  Near where I lived were foreign embassies, an island in the middle of the Danube river that had a running path around it, Heroes Square (a park with monuments for Hungary’s passed Kings and rulers), a secret police jail that was turned into a Communism museum, and a Turkish bathhouse (which was fantastic, especially in the winter… huge outdoor hot tubs). We found a lot of really cool bars, clubs, and wineries as well. The food was good, too. They cook with a lot of paprika. This thing called kurtoskalacs was my favorite. It’s this kind of sweet bread rolled and baked over a fire at fairs and festivals and it’s covered in a glaze, cinnamon, sugar, or chocolate. 

I highly recommend the Budapest program for studying abroad. There are so many people there available to help you with anything. There are two study abroad programs using the school in Budapest, one is for Americans and the other is for Europeans students, but they mix quite a bit so you are able to meet people from so many other countries. It was really a unique experience. 

Win the PT Related Word of the Week!

It’s that time again. Time for you to win a car window cling on from the PT Related Word of the Week!

In case you didn’t see last Friday’s post, here’s how the PT Related Word of the Week goes: every Friday this summer we will post a PT Related Word on the Saint Louis University Program in Physical Therapy Facebook page. The first person to respond back (on the Facebook page) with a correct definition of the word and an explanation for how the word relates to Physical Therapy will win. If the sheer joy of competition isn’t enough for you, keep in mind that today’s winner takes home (or is mailed, etc.) a Saint Louis University Program in Physical Therapy car window cling on!

But wait! There's more! This week you will also be the winner of a Walk MS T shirt (available in M, L, & XL)!

No substitutions, exchanges, or refunds. And so, the much anticipated PT Related Word of the Week is…patella.  

The word of the week will always be chosen by a Program in Physical Therapy faculty member. This week’s PT Related Word of the Week is brought to you by Joanne Wagner. To go to the Saint Louis University Program in Physical Therapy Facebook page visit http://www.facebook.com/pages/Saint-Louis-University-Program-in-Physical-Therapy/118667271494162

STUDY ABROAD STORIES

MARK LUEGERING

The opportunity to study abroad inside of a 6 year freshman entry DPT Program is certainly unique. Even more so is the opportunity to pick any site that Saint Louis University has to offer.

So where should you go if you were to study abroad as a PT student? We interviewed several PT students who have studied abroad to give you an idea of where you can go and to show that student’s experience. The first student to be interviewed was Mark Luegering, who studied in Australia.

Why did you choose your site?

I chose Bond Uni (aka University, but everyone calls it Uni down there) in Australia because I was fortunate enough to travel abroad with some of my high school classmates 5 years prior.  Since I had the opportunity to experience the rich culture in Europe, I then decided that Australia could produce new challenges and experiences for me so I had to go there.  Also, lots of sun and beaches did not hurt the prospect of studying in Australia any.

What did you anticipate? Were you nervous? Excited?  I anticipated very little to be quite honest.  I did not have to worry about a language barrier and I also had 6-8 friends study with me so I knew I could count on them in tough situations.  I was nervous about juggling school and traveling/sightseeing.  I was excited about traveling and being in a completely opposite part of the globe.  I was also excited about experiencing the Australian culture and way of life.

What surprised you the most about your experience? What about the other culture surprised or shocked you?  What surprised me most was how large the country/continent really is.  I booked a 3 month train ticket for unlimited travel along the eastern coast (all the major cities), but was not very happy when my first trip was 12 hours (Sydney to Melbourne).  Seeing as the trip from Bond Uni (where you study) to Sydney was 12 hours, Sydney to Melbourne was 12 hours I made a 24 hour trip 3 times, a 12 hour trip 6 times, and multiple short hour trips up to Brisbane over the course of my stay.  Completely worth it in the end, but the lack of sleep was a bit of a surprise and damper initially.

What did you see (monuments, historical sites, palaces, etc.) that impressed you the most?  Great Barrier Reef (Cairns), Sydney Opera House, Sydney Harbor Bridge (climbed it), Rod Laver Arena (Melbourne), lots of kangaroos and wallabies (Kangaroo Island).  It was lots of fun, but not nearly as full of a rich culture and rich history as most of Europe is so it depends on your reason for choosing the experience.

Can you describe some of the food that you loved best? Any food experiences that didn’t go as planned/well? Kangaroo, crocodile, and eel were the most exotic things I ate (all pretty good - kangaroo was the best, tasted like venison).  French fries were the best I have ever had, seriously, no joke. I fell in love with Thai food in Australia.  The seafood was really good - the best was by the beach at small dive shops, maybe because we were super hungry though.  All Asian cuisine was fantastic (Australia had lots of Asian immigrants in the 1900’s).

Did you make friends with some of the people native to that site? What was that experience like? Did they make you notice things about your own culture that surprised you?  Bond Uni has a very diverse campus with about 50% enrollment being exchange students.  No lifelong friends were made, but I did meet and hang out with lots of Australians and Europeans and really enjoyed the experience.  I can’t remember too many specifics from our interactions.

How were your classes? Did you have the opportunity to take a class that fit into the culture of that site (such as art history of Spain, etc.)?  I loved my classes.  Australian history was a little boring because they really don’t have much of one since they have only been a nation since 1901 I believe.  I took a photography class for my fine arts credit – it was probably the best choice I made while I was there. I got amazing pictures everywhere including the Great Barrier Reef (I’ll attach one so you all can see). 

Would you recommend that other PT students study abroad? Would you recommend your site to them?  Definitely study abroad as a PT student.  The curriculum is very tough, so taking that semester off and enjoying yourself is a great treat.  I have some good friends in PT school that stayed that also loved it though, were able to get more involved on campus and such.  It comes down to personal preference, but I definitely recommend it to all students.  Bond Uni was a lot of fun so I totally recommend it to anyone.

                                                                                      

  -Mark Luegering

 

Mark Reinking and Irma Ruebling at the APTA Annual Conference and Exposition - Mark Reinking Recieves the Dorothy E. Baethke - Eleanor J. Carlin Award for Excellence in Academic Teaching

Mark Reinking, current Chairman of the Department of Physical Therapy & Athletic Training, and Irma Ruebling, Chairman of the Department of Physical Therapy & Athletic Training from 1977 to 2006, at the APTA Annual Conference and Exposition, June 7^th 2012 in Tampa, Florida. At this event Mark Reinking was the recipient of the APTA Dorothy E. Baethke – Eleanor J. Carlin Award for Excellence in Academic Teaching.

PT Students Tweeting in Class...

Yes, they were encouraged to Tweet! See photos below of PT students using Twitter in class with Chris Sebelski and Barb Yemm to instantaneously give feedback to fellow classmates. Twitter also provides the opportunity to have such feedback documented.

PT Related Word of the Week Competition!

Make sure to visit the Saint Louis University Program in Physical Therapy Facebook Page to participate in our summer 2012 PT Related Word of the Week competition!

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Saint-Louis-University-Program-in-Physical-Therapy/118667271494162

The Heart

Ever wondered why the symbol of the heart ♥ looks nothing like a real human heart? Students in Gross Anatomy this summer were wondering too. One theory is that the symbol originated from the silhouette of two swans.