London was definitely quite the learning experience, but more so a growing experience, for me at least. Indeed, I learned a great deal about international advertising and the media in Great Britain from class, all of which will help me in the future with my career. Yet, it is the things I learned and saw outside of class that will help me be a better person and live a better life. I feel like a changed person, a person not afraid to try new things or attempt to speak a different language or even get a little lost from time to time.

To be bold
I have learned to be more open-minded and bold. There are so many different viewpoints and ideas in this world, and many are respectable and admirable. Without diversity in opinion and character our world would be an awfully boring place, and nothing creative or inventive would ever surface. Actually immersing myself in a new culture has changed everything. Whether it's politics, fashion, entertainment or food, being different is a good thing and makes experiencing those different things memorable and special.

I'm convinced that my newly developed open-mindedness has made me a better person and a bolder individual. For example, never before would I have agreed to try something like black pudding, because I am fully aware of its contents, yet being in London and seeing how prevalent and traditional the dish was I decided to try it. Similarly, when I was in Scotland I decided to listen to Alex's father and taste a-must-have delicacy called haggis. Also in Scotland, I left my stable state and joined in on the ten or so Scottish dances in the castle ballroom. Never have I felt so incredibly awkward and clueless, but it was so worth it! All the twirling, stomping and arm-locking with old men decked out in kilts ended up being the highlight of the night. I'm sure this doesn't seem like much, but it's a decent start to my new bold self.

To be independent
In London I have learned to be independent. I mistakenly took my roommate's passport to the airport (when we were flying to Paris) and was faced with the quandary of me getting myself back on the correct shuttle, platform, train and tube line home. Somehow I managed to make it back to Regents College, with a few wrong turns and a little guidance from this cute, older woman. I was flustered and upset I missed my flight, but in a way relieved that I had actually made it home.

To appreciate
All in all, I have learned to appreciate. London is one of the most beautiful places I have ever visited and surpassed any of the expectations I had for it. There is so much history, and every English person is proud to be one. Oddly enough, I have also learned to appreciate my parents more. They were the ones who agreed to this adventure in the first place. They were the ones who said, "Maddie, go have the time of your life." Without my parents' support, I would not have experienced or learned what I did. I did have the time of my life in London and managed to actually study while abroad too. I learned how to properly drink tea and how often to carry an umbrella. I learned how to handle out of control Spaniards and Italians and the necessity of wearing flat shoes. I learned there's never such a thing as too much diet coke, but there is such a thing as too much refectory food.

Looking back on this whole experience, frankly I am surprised. I am surprised by how brave I've been. I'm surprised by the food I ended up liking and the music I am now obsessed with (Scottish Ceildh). I'm surprised that I handled five weeks of rain and survived not having air conditioning. I'm surprised I was able to handle being fully on my own and loving it. The bottom line is -I am proud of myself. I will never forget my summer of 2007 in London and the weekend adventures that felt like dreams...

I was placed at One World Broadcasting Trust (OWBT) because of my interest in media. My first day of work was very interesting. The work culture in London is very different than what I am used to in the States. Everyone was extremely quiet, I mean you could hear a pen drop! It was the strangest thing I have ever experienced in a work setting. Everyone was so focused and passionate about their work, it was an amazing thing to see because some of the places I have worked in Texas lack the passion that I saw in this organization.

In my first weeks at my internship I worked on a lot of follow-up for the annual OWBT media awards ceremony. The awards recognize the unique role of journalists and filmmakers in bringing together different societies, and communicating the depth of social, political and cultural experiences across the globe. So it was interesting to learn about the different awards and topics that various journalists covered and how they were making a difference by shedding light on these situations, which usually received little or no media coverage.

Botswana vs. the U.S.
Today I met one of the volunteers named Keletso, and she was originally from Botswana. I had an amazing conversation with her about the culture differences in Africa, Europe and the U.S. We mainly discussed our personal experiences as African-American women in our respective cultures.

I was explaining to her how different my experiences were in the United States as compared with London. Since London is such a melting pot I feel like race is not an issue whatsoever, and I did not feel out of place anywhere I went because of my race. But, in the U.S., race is of course a much larger issue, and racism, despite what people might think, still occurs every day. It is usually not overt, but it is there, and I shared with her some of my experiences on job interviews, in school and social settings.

She shared with me her experience of living in Botswana and not having the same features as native Botswanians and some of the reactions she received. She also told me stories of the discrimination she experienced when attending school in London from other African and African-American women. We bonded through our common experiences and became great friends that day. She even invited me to come visit her when she went back home, so I'm taking a trip to Africa! I don't know when, but I am definitely going to take her up on that offer!

New ways to work
After about two weeks of working at One World Broadcasting Trust, I decided to take some initiative after overhearing a conversation my boss was having with a colleague regarding the American fundraising model. We were learning about this in Professor Latour's class, and she gave us a document that contained all of the information my organization needed. So I customized the document to fit some of the organization's needs, and I also made suggestions on a few things I thought OWBT could use to improve sother programs. The next day my boss was really happy with the fundraising document and the suggestions I gave her she asked me to do.

- Whitney P

Until recently, the vast majority of the general public, and even most global justice activists, have seen climate change as "an environmental issue" of secondary importance to "people-issues." OneClimate, a program under OneWorld NGO, acknowledges many connections now beginning to emerge between climate change, poverty and social justice. OneClimate focuses on promoting awareness and education, bringing the problems of climate change to the forefront of people's lives across the globe.

How big is your footprint?
Tracking the amount of carbon dioxide (CO2) individuals produce, or your carbon footprint, helps you gain perspective on personally making a difference. CO2 is a greenhouse gas connected to global warming and is something we release in mass quantities every day. Several calculators that determine your carbon footprint are available on the web. The majority produce results in pounds or kilograms, accurate but difficult to visualize. They ask questions relating to households and bill,s which, for students who live on campuses, can be inapplicable or time-consuming.
For example, according to www.timeforchange.org, "one kg (2.205 lbs) of CO2 is released with the production of five plastic bags, production of two plastic bottles and the production of 1/3 of an American cheeseburger." Yes, just 1/3. It is easy to tell that is significant, but difficult to grasp because holding a pound of gas is somewhat intangible.

The WWF calculator estimates how much productive land and water you need to support what you use and discard based on questions about food and technology as well as recycling and transportation. For example, a student who eats meat/fish once a day, buys food that isn't locally grown (which in a major city like Dallas is inevitable), drives an SUV 5-15 hrs a week, doesn't use public transit, spends 10 hours on a plane annually and lives in a two-person apartment, uses up to 22 acres of the earth annually.
Included in this calculation, this student recycles, turns their lights and computer off when they leave, and carpools, which are solutions that we have easily adopted to attempt to do our part. This isn't enough, considering that if divided evenly, there are only 4.5 acres for each person across the world to use every year.

You can make a difference
That means during our time at SMU, we will produce 5 times the amount of carbon dioxide the average person should be allotted. We hear about climate change beginning to be a serious problem in 2050 or even in 100 years' time. But OneClimate founder Anuradha Vittachi believes an "Irreversibility Day" is set for 2030.
There are recycling cans all over campus - use them. Carpool. The energy used up by being lazy is actually more than the energy you would use to be productive.

Eliminate your excuses for not tracking your carbon footprint by going to www.worldwildlife.org/globalwarming. Go the extra mile for a detailed footprint at www.epa.gov/climatechange/emissions/ind_calculator.html or www.begreennow.com/users/calculator.

Each website provides insight on how to reduce produced CO2 so you can start implementing improvements at SMU today. Statistics are showing that U.S. energy-related CO2 emissions declined from 5.955 million metric tons (MMTCO2) in 2005 to 5,877 MMTCO2 in 2006.

People are responding and changing. Be one of them today by signing up at www.oneclimate.net.

We flew in to Thessaloniki, which is a large city on the Northwestern coast of Greece. It was very warm, as you can imagine, since Greece is in the middle of a severe heatwave this summer. Some days, locals say, it gets as hot as 110 degrees, so we are naturally by the beautiful Mediterranean beaches every chance that we get.

Unfortunately, it wasn't as easy getting to our resort in Gerakini, a small village on the middle Southeastern coast, as it was getting from London to Greece. We got lost, and what should have taken us an hour car trip to the hotel took us about four hours. Needless to say, we nearly saw this entire country and met every local who owned a gas station and didn't speak English. However, we finally got to Gerakini late Wednesday afternoon and didn't waste any time in getting out to the beach.

The majority of our time in Greece was spent at the Center for Disease Prevention and Medical Research in Ormylia, a small village about 10 miles up in the hills away from Gerakini. The center co-hosted a breast cancer workshop along with the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure foundation.

As communication students attending this workshop with over 40 delegates from Egypt, Greece, Syria, Bosnia, Turkey, Azerbaijan and Srpska, our job was to brainstorm with these doctors and advocates ideas about how to build better communication for their countries about breast cancer, prevention care and education. Many of these countries face cultural and religious barriers, so our mission is finding how we as communicators can get the message to the people who need to hear it.

When the workshop research is done at the end of the day, it is one of the first times that the 15 students who left London to come to Greece have been able to rest! It is amazing how easily you can fall asleep on a sunny beach, with Mediterranean water lapping against a sandy and rocky shore when all your energy and enthusiasm are drained from the cold and rainy London weather!

It's beautifully simple here, which allows us to be easily focused on relaxing when we are not working. However, it is equally difficult to have any outside contact with the rest of the world. It is rare to get internet access, there are only three ATMs in a 200-mile circumference and calling home is a little unheard of. So watching CNN International in English is as exciting as celebrating Christmas morning.

Greece and London have been a great experience, and we have met amazing people from all over the world. However, I definitely look forward to coming home, but I have many great stories to share!!

Claire

They also lectured about what they do day-to-day to make their practices successful. The mammography practicum gives the radiologists opportunities to review their mammography films with other professionals and talk about better reading and screening practices.

Again, they served us a phenomenal, 4-course, homemade lunch that included an exotic dish: giant stuffed squid. It was interesting, to say the least. But, I'm proud to say that I did give it a try. Tastes like chicken.

Throughout the conference we were able to collect some great data by interviewing the participants.

At the end of our long but rewarding day, we put on our swimsuits and headed for the beach. There's nothing like a swim in the Mediterranean to bring the day to a close.

Candy

Deliriously wandering off the airplane at London's Gatwick airport on the day of my arrival to the SMU in London program, I boarded a bus with the rest of the kids in the program. Knowing some of the girls as sorority acquaintances, I had only been formally introduced to a handful of girls. For the most part, I didn't know anyone on the trip and certainly did not feel at total ease or comfort with any other students. I suppose learning to acclimate myself to challenging social situations and learning to be more open minded about people are the two most valuable things that I've taken out of these five weeks.

To be honest, I did a study abroad semester in high school and have lived in London for the past six summers so I felt like those two experiences really enlightened me to the traditional "things to be learned" from an abroad program: learning a language, learning about another culture, gaining a sense of independence, and learning about new transportation systems. This trip really held no culture shocks per se. On the other hand, having to be comfortable with people who I had already established as merely casual, distant friends was the most difficult thing to overcome. I now can honestly say I have done what I would never have imagined possible: converted a few social friends to true, lifelong friends that I will continue to hold near to me even upon returning to Dallas at the end of this program.

What I learned in London? What did I not learn in London should be the question. My experience in London put me on the right track again. Being 22 years old, life was beginning to get complicated. Do I go to graduate school? Do I need to get an internship? What about getting a real adult job? Life was much easier on the structured path in middle school.

My entire life has revolved around my music career. I missed out on a lot of college memories because I was too busy choosing to do things that may further my passion of music. I never had a close group of girlfriends at SMU because of this. Coming to London allowed me to forget about what may or may not happen with my music, and allowed me to concentrate on just hanging out with a group of smart, amazing girls.

I got to stay in scary hostels and laugh until I couldn't breathe. I have visited three different countries in a month. I have seen things that some people will never in their lives see. I have made friends that I hope to keep forever.

I almost decided to stay in Texas because I was afraid I would miss out on some show or opportunity for my music. That would have been the biggest mistake I could have made. I finally feel like I am having the college experience I have always heard about. "These are the best years of your life," now I understand.

-Tyler

Candy

When I decided to come to Dallas for college, it was a big step for me. I grew up in a small town in Arkansas where the population matches the total number of undergraduate students at SMU. I had never lived in another city before, much less another state, so I was nervous about being on my own for the first time in unfamiliar territory. Two years later, I now know that this choice to broaden my horizons and come to SMU has been one of the best decisions I have ever made.

With this in mind, I took the huge leap to come to London this summer with SMU to study journalism and film. As my time here is coming to a close, I can honestly say that this has also been one of the best decisions that I have made and one of the best experiences of my life. I have learned so much in such a short amount of time, and I don't regret a moment of it.

It's true that I have learned a lot about British media and film through my courses. I have learned about Parliament, the British Monarchy, and the rich history of England by exploring London. I have learned about the culture of the UK and other parts of Europe by traveling on the weekends. But most important, I have learned that no matter where you are in the world, no matter what language is spoken, what currency is accepted, or what crazy foods are eaten, people are all essentially the same - most people are good.

One weekend I traveled to Prague with my friend Lesli. After a long day of touring the city, we took a tram in the wrong direction and ended up completely lost. We were standing at a tram station fumbling with our maps trying to figure out how to get back to our hostel when a man waiting at the stop approached us. This man only spoke Czech, but despite the language barrier, he was desperately trying to give us directions. He had a look in his eyes of genuine concern, even though he didn't know us. Finally, he managed to put us on a tram sending us in the right direction.

At the time, I was just thankful to no longer be lost, but now looking back, I feel like I really taken something important away from that situation. Even though this man lived halfway around the world from the small town I grew up in and even though he spoke a different language, he still had a kindness about him. Though our cultures and lifestyles may differ, people are just people with the same wants and needs as everyone else on the planet.

My advice to anyone considering a study abroad or travel opportunity would be to jump at the chance, even if it scares you. And when you do it, take it all in because it will go by quickly. Spend an afternoon people watching. Talk with strangers. Stay out until four in the morning. Get lost - because when you do, you just might find something.
- Mallory

We have had mostly rain and cold weather in London for a month, and now we can expect sun and a high of 100. The change in the weather will be as big a shift as our focus. For the next week the students will be matched with Radiologists and advocates from breast care facilities in a number of developing countries. The students, under the direction of visiting senior lecturer Tony Kroll, will be interviewing individual doctors and the advocates with them about issues of breast cancer in their country of origin. For example, in a Muslim country the women are covered from head to foot because of the belief that only their husband should see their body. So how will they receive adequate preventative screening for breast cancer -- and how do you overcome that issue?

For the past month the students have been using statistics and numbers to prove the need for issues such as gun control, women's rights and climate control. Now they will learn how to gather those statistics from doctors and women on the front lines. Tony and I will be encouraging them to look at ways to leverage their work this summer into a fellowship or internship for next summer.

-Kathy

Working with visiting senior lecturer Tony Kroll and senior lecturer Kathy LaTour, the students will finish internship hours begun in London, where they interned with international nongovernmental organizations. Working with Kroll, whose research expertise is in barriers to treatment, the students will be gathering data through interviews to understand cultural barriers in breast cancer screening and creating messages that they hope will ultimately be used in the home countries of the doctors and advocates in attendance - who come from Bosnia, Eritrea, Azerbaijan, Egypt, Syria and Turkey.

The students and faculty were able to attend the workshop because of funds granted by Susan G. Komen for the Cure and the Meadows Foundation Edge of Excellence Funds.

Both LaTour, who is a 20-year breast cancer survivor, and Kroll, who has specialized in barriers to treatment in his research and with the Centers for Disease Control, will be part of the faculty for the program, which also includes Elizabeth DePeri, MD, the director of Breast Imaging at the Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville, Florida.

Kathy

I have had some great memories in London as I am getting ready for my time here to be over! I finished my internship at the Green Belt Movement on Thursday and actually fly to Greece on Tuesday morning.

In Northern Greece, we will be researching alongside the Komen Foundation for Breast Cancer in their facility in Thessaloniki. We will be doing in-depth interviews with participants about barriers and perceptions of breast cancer and breast cancer screening. It will be an amazing experience - not to mention that we get to take part of the beaches, food and lifestyle of Greece!!

After that, I fly home for some rest and much needed time with the people that I love - before jetting back to Paris for the fall! What an experience!

Well as for London-

We have been finishing our time by seeing a lot of markets and museums... and resting as much a possible! Thursday afternoon I took a train to Salisbury, about an hour and a half away, to see the Salisbury Cathedral and Stonehenge! We toured the cathedral that night, then again slept above a pub (like Scotland) - I'm not sure what SMU is thinking - and then up at the great hour of 4 am to experience Stonehenge at sunrise ... a very early sunrise!

Unfortunately, if you are following the weather over here in the UK, you would know that London is flooding with these summer rains - and Salisbury was no exception! There were SHEETS of cold rain sweeping over the drenched grass as we all wobbled out of the car at 4:15 on a fabulous Friday morning.

We had the rare ability to walk into the circle and touch the stones and take pictures! It was quite a sight ... seeing 20 college students running around, slipping, skipping, and chasing sheep around these massive stones - all in order to keep their frozen bones warm!!

Other than that, this week we have been to Kensington Palace, Camden Market, the London Eye, every museum known to man - thanks to an overexcited little brother, as well as the National Gallery, Westminster Abbey, the British Museum, and the British Library ... plus far too many restaurants and shops than any of us can remember!
London has been a great experience; I look back and really appreciate my time here so much. I have learned more than I could have imagined from the experiences and places that I have been put into. Working in a global office is just a fascinating experience in itself. But having the ability to work hands-on alongside them is even more amazing.

While I look forward to Greece, I will always remember my time in London and fondly cherish what I learned here. It is more than unique to have this opportunity as a college student, and I am forever grateful to SMU for this chance to learn outside of the classroom.

There is nothing that better sums up the last month of life than just incredible. I am so blessed to be here today, and I cherish my opportunities that I have had and the ones to come in the future.

-Claire

While I look forward to Greece, I will always remember my time at the GBMI and fondly cherish what I learned. It is more than unique to have this opportunity as a college student and I am forever grateful to SMU and CCPA for this chance to learn outside of the classroom.

I have loved getting familiar with the research and fundraising aspects of non-profits: a side so different from Taos and my work there. There is nothing that better sums up the last seven months of work than just incredible. To have the opportunity to work at a local, medical clinic to working in the arts in another state, then moving globally and working with an international non-profit in one of the most amazing cities in the world ??? well, that???s just unfathomable to many of the people I know.

I am so blessed to be here today, and I cherish my opportunities that I have had and the ones to come in the future.

-Claire