Uno

Matthew Vaccaro

3-22-06

analysis

The speaker that came in on the Wednesday before break was there talking about study abroad and the opportunities along with it. He presented the opportunity's well. He used analogies like when people think of apples in America they think of red apples but when people in the UK think of apples they think of green apples, granny smith apples. Christmas in America is the 25th and the new year on the first but in eastern orthodox Russia Christmas is January 6th . You couldn't imagine being in the office Christmas eve, so if you were calling from America trying to get a deal done you would have to be familiar with there customs. These examples were to show people that, getting out in the world and exploring, and challenging what your beliefs are and what you have been told . There are many things to learn, and experiences to broaden you culture and your knowledge. It is interesting to see how people are different and what they have t offer and what certain countries may have that the US doesn't. The speaker pointed out key concerns being: leaving friends, time and scheduling, program availability, safety and price. He later explained how these variables can be worked around to make it possible for most everyone to go abroad.

The first speaker we had on Monday was from the Schweitzer institute. He talked about how he has been all over the world helping communities and countries. He gave us the background on Schweitzer of how he was known as the white witch doctor. He built a hospital in Gabonet, raised money in Europe. He was a wonderful musician, and this is how he could raise money to help people, but felt his most important contribution was "reverence for life."He felt some of the west was morally bankrupt. Having learned this information of Albert, I appreciate what the foundation is about. It is interesting how some people are so gifted in certain ways, like him with music, and yet he still gave his lifes effort to helping those less fortunate. He was one man trying to achieve so much. Famous, or talented people today for the most part take advantage of who they are and don't trly give back and put forth enough energy to make this world an overall better place.