Spring Break
Contrasts between countries abound in trips abroad
Sarah Leitner
Issue date: 11/5/09 Section: Focus
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Sophomore Barbara Matejova spent a month in the Slovak Republic this past summer. Matejova's whole family is from the European nation, and she was born there. When she returned to her birthplace, Matejova noticed many changes in the country.
"I've definitely seen Slovakia become more westernized and really advance economically," Matejova said. "You're starting to see a split between the West and East part; the East is struggling and many go out of the country to find work whereas the West is rapidly advancing."
Western Slovakia is not very different from America, Matejova said.
"You see malls that look very much like they do here," she said. "And with a lot of people my age, the differences aren't that big anymore. They don't live lives that are way different than mine."
Despite the narrowing gap between cultures, Matejova pointed out some cultural differences between America and the Slovak Republic.
"The heritage is very different in that you have traditional folk costumes and traditional folk music and traditional food that are typical cultural things," she said.
Besides her family, there are a few other things Matejova said she misses overseas when she returns to America.
"Everyone has fruit trees and gardens which I really miss here," she said. "They also have beautiful mountains. Whenever we go, my family goes hiking a lot, and that's always lots and lots of fun."
Junior Tonia Kerner visited family in Russia during the summer of 2008. She also studied abroad in Spain this summer.
Each differed from America in separate ways, Kerner said.
"Spain has a pretty strong night life," she said.
On the other hand, Russia struggles to raise its standard of living after communism, Kerner said.
"The standard of living has raised a lot since Putin came into power," she said. "He has done a lot with oil and gas."
Kerner said she learned much during her two journeys.
"My favorite part [about Spain] was learning the history," she said. "I took a class on the medieval history of Spain."
Her lessons in Russia did not come in a classroom, however. Kerner said she learned Russian as she built a closer relationship with her grandmother.
"I'm a very beginner in the language, but I improved a lot being there so long," she said. "During this visit, I got to have more conversations with [my grandmother]. I learned she loves Elvis' music."
Despite its low standard of living, Russia is becoming more commercialized, said Kerner.
"Most of the advertisements I saw were for sushi and new apartments," she said. "Sushi has been a fad in Russia for the past couple of years."
Sophomore Natalie Knudsen, who has visited the Caribbean, South Korea and Kenya, said she has seen the commercialization of other countries as well.
While in the Caribbean on a family cruise this past summer, she said there was a definite division between travel advertising and reality.
"Every time you see commercials, it's high-end and classy, like 'I'm going to lie on the beach and have a martini,' but there are a lot of poor people too," she said.
South Korea also held surprises for her, especially when she encountered her first four-story Dunkin' Donuts.
"They're very interested in America and our kind of pop culture," she said. "They love doing things over the top."
Kenya, she said, met her expectations.
"My mom and I went and basically we would meet with a lot of orphanages and play with the kids and help out with whatever they needed," she said.
Despite poor conditions, Knudsen said Kenyans' attitudes surprised her.
"The most interesting thing was their personalities and their character," she said. "There was so much thankfulness and appreciation and joy."
Matejova expressed how lucky she was to have American citizenship.
"We've been really struck by how blessed we are to live in America," she said.
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