Course Evaluation

Torro!
I thought this course was a great way to learn about other cultures through the eyes of our peers. We are all studying abroad in different countries, thrown into a new culture and a new setting, sometimes with a totally different language. It pushes our boundaries and this blog allows us to record our experiences and analyze where we live through a different perspective. I found it interesting that there were similar markets in Italy, and I particularly remember the heart lock in China. It is fascinating to read the stories and hear about what everyone else is doing and compare it to our own experiences.
My problem was staying on top of the dates everything was due. Despite having the syllabus online and very clearly outlined, I was not expecting the posts to be as often as they were (hence the reason I am posting this one a bit later). I like that we were required to read about our country, particularly the book Steve recommended about Spanish soccer and the political ties. I am using that in almost every other paper for my other classes and have talked about it many times with the friends I have made here. It was a great recommendation. I also think it was a good idea to have us comment on other people’s blogs. It forced me to look at what everyone else was doing, and that would sometimes inspire me to do something similar or get out and find a new experience to compare. Overall, I appreciate the idea of blogging and examining a culture from a more analytical eye as we experienced it in our daily lives. I do not really know how the grading works, but I enjoyed being able to share my own experiences while reading about all of the other students' adventures.
The only thing negative I have to say is not really negative, but is really just a reflection of my lack of computer skills. I think the website was difficult to use at first, for me, as far as inserting pictures into the blog. However, Steve was very helpful with that so really, good course overall.