PUBLIC HEALTH IN CHILE

Joanna Tomaszewski, McCormick 2013 

joannatomaszewski2011@u.northwestern.edu

I'm Joanna Tomaszewski and I am currently a graduate student studying Biomedical Engineering. I studied abroad in Chile this past summer as a global health minor. The reasons I chose Chile were to immerse myself in the rich and diverse Chilean culture, to improve my Spanish, to volunteer in underserved populations and to learn about the structure of a foreign public health system. Aside from this, I had the opportunity to travel the entire country (fun fact: the length of Chile is the same as the distance from New York to Los Angeles) and experience the beautiful outdoors,- including Atacama Desert, Pucon, Valparaiso, La Serena- in unique and unforgettable ways. Aside from traveling, I love to ski and snowboard, dance, hike, bike and cook! 

The day I left Chile for the States, I posted an update that read: "Waking up to the Andes, hiking volcanoes, galloping on the beach by sunset, being stranded in a desert sandstorm, watching the sun rise over Santiago, experiencing every day with a new found appreciation for the people and places that surround you. Those are just a handful of things I will miss about the past few months. Thank you for an incredible journey, Chile. Until we meet again.” In a nutshell, that is what the experience meant to me.

Shruti Zaveri, WCAS 2014

shrutizaveri2013@u.northwestern.edu

Hi, my name is Shruti Zaveri, and I am a sophomore in the Honors Program in Medical Education, pursuing a major inEconomics and a minor in Global Health at Northwestern. I love staying involved on campus—GlobeMed executive board, Mirch Masala dance team, Alpha Phi Omega service fraternity, and Dance Marathon committee are some of my major commitments at Northwestern. I spent the past summer studying abroad through the Public Health in Chile program. During my time in Santiago, I not only got the chance to conduct public health research at one of the largest public hospitals in the city, but also was able to immerse myself into the country as a traveler, not a tourist. I learned to look at the world, and my place within it, with a holistic perspective, and discovered a new appreciation for studying, traveling, and living aboard.

CHINA: POLITICAL AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT (former ELES)

Sophia Hsu, WCAS 2014

sophiahsu2014@u.northwestern.edu

I am currently a sophomore studying Economics, BIP, and psychology. I enjoy cooking in my free time and love eating delicious food even more. I also go on Youtube daily without fail and get very excited whenever I see an open ping pong table. This past summer I studied abroad in Beijing, China and it is decision that I will never regret. Not only was I immersed in the food and language, I was able to witness a culture completely different from that of the United States. China has become more than a country that's thirteen hours away on the plane; it's become  a place where I made friends, climbed mountains, tried silk worms, and experienced a different culture.

Mary Li, WCAS 2013

lingyueli2014@u.northwestern.edu

I am currently a sophomore in Weinberg, majoring in Economics and minoring in Chinese and Political Science. My favorite things to do are reading the news, listening to (and belting out) my favorite songs, and eating delicious food (big foodie!). On a more serious note, I love working for organizations like China Care, and volunteering for organizations that promote my culture and express my beliefs. I was in the China ELES program last summer, and it was an awesome experience because I have not been back to China for over 10 years. So seeing the change (for better and for worse) was a little bit disorienting. But nevertheless it was an awesome experience, because I went to rediscover China in both personal and academic perspectives, and I accomplished both to my satisfaction! Oh, and the food was amazing!

George Liu, WCAS 2013

yangliu2014@u.northwestern.edu

My name is George Liu. I am a sophomore economics major fascinated by the social sciences. I went to the ELES program in Beijing to look at the modern Chinese society from an academic point of view. The program was beyond my expectations; the lectures were amazing and living in Beijing for two months was an unforgettable experience! I enjoy traveling, reading, and dancing. 

Sook Young Park, WCAS 2014

sookpark2013@u.northwestern.edu

I am a junior in the 5-Year BA/BMus dual degree program at Northwestern, studying Psychology, Piano Performance, and Integrated Marketing Communications. During the summer of 2011, I studied abroad in Beijing, China through IPD's Emerging Legal and Economic Structures program. I studied Mandarin for a year and was looking to improve my language skills, and thought to myself, what better way to further learn a language than to actually immerse yourself in its culture? This was the main reason I chose to spend my summer in China, and by the end of the program, I was able to carry on conversations with cab drivers, ask people for directions and actually understand their responses. China was definitely an unforgettable experience, and I hope to visit again soon!

PUBLIC HEALTH IN CHINA

William (Squilliam) Choi, WCAS 2014

wjc2014@u.northwestern.edu

My name is William Choi, but I have been known by many names such as Will, Bill, Billiam, Wilma, and most recently and amusingly, Squilliam. I currently call New York home, but have spent most of my life in Texas and California. I am a sophomore studying Environmental Science and Economics. When I am not studying or in class, I enjoy photography, music, and film, the great outdoors, and in general, experiencing new things and learning about life on this floating rock we call home. That is why this past summer I went to Beijing, China on the Public Health program, where I was able to build up my Chinese language and get a firsthand look at how the health institutions and customary practices in China work. Looking back on my time in China, I can definitely say that it broadened my world view and attitude toward Chinese culture, and gave me a fresh perspective on China's economic and social growth from firsthand experience. 

Hayley Gleeson, WCAS 2013

hayleygleeson2013@u.northwestern.edu

I'm a junior majoring in Psychology and minoring in Global Health and History. I'm originally from just outside of London, England, so I guess you could say that I'm always studying abroad! I really love travelling - my parents were raised in Zimbabwe and also lived in India for a year, and so I've been really fortunate to be able to visit lots of different countries all over the world. This summer I went to China for the first time to study Public Health. I picked China because it was a part of the world that I hadn't had the chance to explore yet, and I was fascinated by the history and culture. It just seemed so different from anything I'd ever done, and that's something I wanted from my study abroad experience. I loved my time there - I learnt so much about Chinese culture and did so many amazing things - climbed mountains, tasted delicious tea, took a cooking class and learned to speak a new language. It's definitely an experience that I'll never forget!

PUBLIC HEALTH IN CUBA

Sophia Blachman-Biatch

sophiablachmanbiatch2013@u.northwestern.edu

My name is Sophia Blachman-Biatch and I am a junior studying psychology and global health. I participated in Northwestern's Public Health in Cuba Summer 2011 and am currently abroad for SIT's Chile: Public Health, Traditional Medicine, and Community Empowerment program Fall 2011. I loved being immersed in these new cultures and improving my Spanish. I also appreciated learning about the health care systems in both countries, as well as the unique opportunity to compare and contrast those of Cuba and Chile to that of the United States. Aside from study abroad, at Northwestern I am involved with Cirque Nouveau and Delta Zeta sorority.

CRITICAL THEORY, MEDIA AND LITERATURE - FRANCE

Cally Trautwein

catherinetrautwein2013@u.northwestern.edu

IPD Ambassador Cally Trautwein is a junior at Northwestern University studying Journalism, English Lit, and anything Real Housewives-related. Originally from Ridgewood, New Jersey, she studied Critical Theory, Literature and the Media in Paris, France last fall. She hates: Ryanair, drop-waist dresses, losing at Solitaire and roller coasters.  She likes: macaroons, Harry Potter, Nicki Minaj and “30 Rock”. Most importantly, she loves travelling. Over fall quarter Cally lived the life of Reilly bopping from Berlin to Barcelona and back again, and now can’t help but shout over scenes from Midnight in Paris, “I’VE BEEN THERE! I’VE BEEN THERE!”

EUROPEAN UNION STUDIES IN FRANCE

Elizabeth Lehmann

elizabeth.lehman6@gmail.com

My name is Elizabeth Lehman and I'm a junior in WCAS from Oak Park, IL. I am an MMSS and Economics double minor and soon to be a Political Science and Film and Media Studies double minor. I was looking to participate in an Economics related program in Europe and European Union Studies in Paris caught my eye. While in Paris, I studied with other Northwestern students at Sciences Po, a prominent Political Science school in Paris. I was part of the group studying all facets of the European Union and my program included multiple field trips to other countries and areas in France to see the European Institutions firsthand. My participation in this experience encouraged me to continue my studies in Political Science because I got to study the European Union at such an exciting and controversial time in the area. I had hoped to enter the Kellogg CPU the fall of my junior year because I am very interested in finance but I decided to go abroad instead and I wouldn’t take back that decision for the world!

Dana Kuehr

danakuehr2013@u.northwestern.edu

I'm Dana Kuehr, a junior studying Political Science, International Studies, and BIP. I'm into music, travel, good food, reading, and gushing about my abroad experience! I went to Paris, France and studied at Sciences Po where I participated in the European Union Studies Program. It was such an enriching four months, both academically and culturally. I advanced my French language skills and studied the political and economic issues currently facing the EU and the rest of the world. Very interesting, to say the least. Going abroad was one of the best decisions I have ever made: I saw a good chunk of the world, made amazing new friends, and gained an international perspective on issues I am very interested in. I loved every minute and can't wait to go back!

PUBLIC HEALTH IN EUROPE - FRANCE

Jennifer Brewster

jenniferbrewster2013@u.northwestern.edu

My name is Jennifer Brewster and I am a Junior in WCAS, majoring in Biological Sciences with minors in History and Global Health Studies. Being born and raised in San Diego, I love the outdoors-- running, hiking, the beach, and more! I studied abroad in Paris this past fall, and it was an incredible and unforgettable experience. While I was there, fellow NU students and I studied the various Public Health Systems in Europe, examining the differences in pubic health policy, inequalities in the delivery of healthcare, and the players involved in the organization of a healthcare system. We visited the World Health Organization in Geneva, had guest lectures from experts in the public health field, and did our own research projects on a global health issue (mine was on Global Mental Health). Not only did my passion for Global Health grow while I was abroad, I also fell in love with Paris. Paris taught me how to look at the world in new ways, to experience culture like never before, and to learn as much as I can from those around me. The magic that is Paris will always be present in me, just as Gertrude Stein said, "America is my country, and Paris is my hometown."

Gina Chang

yunyoungchang2013@u.northwestern.edu

My name is Gina Chang, and I'm a junior double majoring in Political Science and Psychology and minoring in Global Health Studies. I've always known I wanted to be a doctor, but I've always been very interested in international relations and global policy as well. This led me to explore public health and global health because they seemed like cross-over fields that addressed both my interest in medicine and health and in politics and international policy, and I chose the Public Health in Europe program to further explore this interest because I thought that this particular Public Health program addressed more of the policy side of public health, which I had never really been exposed to before. My three and a half months in Paris gave me so much more than just a simple introduction into the field of public health, however. I learned about the deep inequalities present in different types of health systems and how international organizations were working to address these issues, and I now want to be a doctor who can work to reduce these inequalities by working globally. Paris also enlightened me in so many ways and helped me gain a wider perspective of the world. Studying abroad was an experience that taught me so many things and allowed me to take back from it memories that I never would have gained if I hadn't made the decision to go to Paris, and it's definitely an experience I will treasure forever. 

CONTEMPORARY BERLIN: CULTURE, IDENTITY & CITIZENSHIP

Jake Wunsh, WCAS 2014

jacobwunsh2014@u.northwestern.edu

Hi! I'm Jake Wunsh, a sophomore in WCAS. I'm an English Lit major and a German minor. When away from my studies, I love to read and to spend times with friends. But now, on to my abroad experience! Last summer, I studied in Berlin. Those 9 weeks were some of the best of my life. Not only did I enjoy life in another culture for the very first time, but I also came back changed by my diverse experiences. I went to Berlin to improve my German and fully prepared to immerse myself in German culture, but what I got was more than I could have imagined. I made friends, I improved my speaking, and I learned a great deal about myself in those 9 short weeks. I wouldn't trade them for anything, and I will always look fondly upon that first experience abroad.

PUBLIC HEALTH AND DEMOCRACY & DEVELOPMENT IN SOUTH AFRICA

Nadia Ahmed, SESP 2012

nadia.ahmed@u.northwestern.edu

I'm Nadia Ahmed, a senior majoring in Social Policy and minoring in Global Health. I come from the southwest suburbs of Chicago, a town called Bridgeview, IL, home to the Chicago Fire soccer stadium and about ten minutes away from where Kanye West grew up. My interests are casual and undirected. I like having random conversations with people on the el, painting the ground blue to match the sky (on a good day), taking pictures of trees and spiders and people, and sitting in my second home in Norbucks people-watching while sometimes practicing my fake British accent. I went to South Africa in Spring 2011, mainly because rumor had it that the NU Public Health program there was beyond stellar, but also because I was craving some mountains and beauty and knowledge about a culture I knew very little about. It was the trip of a lifetime, and by the time I walked out, I was introduced me to a world of public health that was shaped by politics and socioeconomic disasters and people and, of course, apartheid. Ask me if you have questions- this is one topic that I definitely could ramble on about

Katie Reberg, WCAS 2012

kathrynreberg2012@u.northwestern.edu

I am a Senior Social Policy major from Salt Lake City, Utah. When I was 16 I spent a summer in Nicaragua, living with a family and working in a local primary school. It was the first time I had been to a developing country and the first time I had really been exposed to the extreme poverty that most of the world faces. I returned to the United States with a new interest and life goal. My classes at Northwestern got me interested in global health diplomacy and the idea that health outcomes are based on numerous social, political and economic policy interactions. I always knew I wanted to study abroad somewhere in Africa; the political history, the rich cultures and the beautiful landscapes have always intrigued me. I chose to study abroad in South African because I knew the country's recent political history and ongoing societal rebuilding, it's extreme dichotomy between rich and poor, as well as the serious public health struggle to control the spread of HIV/AIDS, would provide an eye opening, once-in-a-lifetime learning experience. My time in South Africa was filled with amazing food, wonderful friends, harsh reality checks, inspiring stories of perseverance and strength, and memories that I will never forget. It instilled in me a great sense of global responsibility and a desire to truly make a change in the world.  

Ben Weinstein, WCAS 2012

BenjaminWeinstein2012@u.northwestern.edu

My name is Ben Weinstein and I'm a Senior in WCAS from New York City. Though I originally majored in biomedical engineering, I switched from McCormick to Weinberg to study English after Freshman year. I remained interested in health care, and so I became a Global Health minor during my Sophomore year, which is how I found out about the IPD Public Health program in South Africa. While there, 13 other Northwestern students and I studied at Stellenbosch University outside of Cape Town in the Western Cape, South Africa. I was part of the group studying public health systems in South Africa, which included weekly classes, field trips, as well as volunteer days at clinics and various NGOs. My experience at one such NGO, Stellenbosch Community Development Program, has guided me towards a career in community planning, specifically sustainable agriculture and urban farming. I am currently researching gender roles, and the notion of success in South African townships, and hope to apply for a grant to continue this research after graduation.