The Scoop
Southern Miss International Programs Newsletter
The Scoop: April 20, 2016
- Staff Picks
- Questions from London
- 8 Places to Visit Before They Vanish
- Travel Insurance
Stay Connected
- Ask Emie
- Featured Photo
•Lets Go International•
Staff picks!
Preparations:
- I always make lists, sometimes weeks ahead. That way it's much harder to forget things, or it may save you from making last-minute shopping trips. Searching the internet for tips on packing is also helpful.
- Read up on the places you will be visiting. Have an open mind and try their food, music, drinks, dances, and unique traditions. Expect it to be different, and embrace the differences.
Carry-On Essentials:
- Eye drops for when your eyes get too dry on the plane
- Motion sickness medicine
- Gum to chew when the pressure in the plane makes your ears pop
- Scarf
Travel Must-Haves:
- A small snack. Airport prices are too high.
- A refillable water bottle, so you don't have to buy $7 water at the airport.
- Good walking shoes
- At least one light jacket or long sleeves and long pants, even if you are traveling in the summer. You never know what may happen.
Tips:
- It sometimes gets cold on the planes, so I always travel with long pants, socks and shoes, a pretty scarf or pashmina, and a spare long sleeved shirt.
- Planes also tend to be very dry, and as they don't let you take bottled water past security, don't be afraid to ask your flight attendants for the free water they provide.
- Use space-saving bags that you can vacuum air out of. That way you can pack a lot more things in smaller bags and suitcases.
Questions from London
British Studies alum Julie Hughes answers some recurring questions she received while on her trip.
How did you get there? Did you swim?
Well, Amanda, I’m glad you asked. I did in fact not swim. My mom drove me to New Orleans and from there I flew to Houston, Texas. We had a layover and then left for London from there. These were my first ever plane rides so they were interesting enough without worrying about physical exertion or aquatic life. I thought that if I swam I would reach London in ten to fifteen years or, you know, never. I am sorry to let you down and tell you I took the most muggle route available.
Did you go to King’s Cross Station? Platform 9 ¾? YES! I love Harry Potter more than I like most humans so missing that was not an option. It is super busy and touristy, but it was worth it.
Did you go to Abbey Road?
Yes. This is probably the most life threatening thing I did. The road is quite busy and all the cars hate you. It’s kind of mass chaos actually. There were a bunch of people there, there was no order to it, and I loved it. I really like the picture too.
Who learned anything over there?
Everyone. We learned about our subjects, culture, and ourselves. I can’t imagine a way to learn more. I didn’t stop learning from the time I stepped into the airport in New Orleans until two weeks after getting back when I finished my research paper.
Which museum was your favorite?
Probably the Sherlock Holmes Museum. I think its super interesting the whole place is made to look like Sherlock Holmes’ house, but he wasn’t real. He was a character. There is fan mail written to Sherlock Holmes. Not Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, Sherlock. It’s just really interesting to me how much of an impact this character has made. (Sorry, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. I know this would upset you greatly.)
What was the biggest culture shock?
I didn’t have any problems when we first got to London. Other than being utterly exhausted, I was fine. However, when we got to Amsterdam I made up for it. I was once again exhausted, it was my birthday, and all I wanted was to not be traveling. When we got off the plane we got some money out of the ATM and went into a store to break the larger bills so we could pay for the taxi individually. I had already noticed that everything was in Dutch, but it wasn’t until I had to try to work the self-check out machine that I really had my moment. I don’t know a single word of Dutch and in that moment I just wanted to cry. I was tired, hungry, and couldn’t read. A woman helped us at a regular check-out and we figured out pretty much everyone in Amsterdam spoke English. But for those first few moments I just sat there terrified thinking about being in a country where I can’t say a single thing for three days. It was terrifying and humbling.
Where was your favorite place you went?
This question is pretty much impossible to answer. However, I did particularly love Brighton. The water was beautiful. It was windy which made the temperature great. The town had a night life that went later than most of London’s. The pier was a great time. The whole experience was just amazing.
How do you feel about public transportation?
YES. 1000x yes. I loved having that option, it was so convenient.
Most interesting conversation you had with a stranger?
A man at a pub in Edinburgh. His name was Abs. He had leeches in his backpack.
Most breathtaking view?
The top of Arthurs Seat.
What are some cool things you did?
I went to the Globe and saw "As You Like It" which was pretty amazing. The whole production was phenomenal. I visited an old operating theatre (a really old hospital from back before sanitation was a thing). Saw a lung with tuberculosis, no big deal.I went to the Bedford and saw the stage Ed Sheeran made his big break on. You can bet every penny you own that was one of my favorite things. That was amazing. I love Ed Sheeran. We roamed the city at two in the morning and saw what London looks like when it’s not swarming with people. We got wonderfully lost the first weekend and found our own way back. I went through a graffiti tunnel that was supposedly started by Banksy. People are constantly painting it so much that it’s likely to be completely repainted if you back a week later. Rode the London Eye and got to see the place I was staying from the air. It also showed me all the places I hadn’t made it to in London. Hiked Arthur’s Seat. I thought I was going to die on the way up but the view was incredible. I can’t even describe it. Took a canal ride in Amsterdam. It’s so beautiful. We just rode around for three hours and saw as much as possible. Went in the room that inspired the Great Hall in Harry Potter. Took a picture on the steps that the end of the second movie was recorded on. So much Harry Potter, so much fangirling. Saw the desk of Charles Dickens. That museum was pretty cool because I love Dickens.
It completely changed my life and I would go back tomorrow if I could. I think I’ll spend the rest of my life missing London. I wish I could do it justice, but my words would fail. London has a piece of my heart for the rest of my life and I’m okay with that. It should keep a piece of me since I’m keeping it with me forever. Until next time, London. I’ll be missing you.
8 Famous Sites to See Before they Vanish
Many factors are affecting this planet, and some of them are jeopardizing beautiful and diverse landscapes. Let this information inspire you and keep you from putting off exploration and adventure, because some places might not be here forever! Credit to the Matador Network for the information, and to Google Images for the photos.
1. Galapagos Islands
Nearly 9,000 species call the islands and their surrounding waters home, and over 3/4 of the reptiles and land birds are endemic (or native and restricted to) the islands. Tourism is steadily increasing by 12% every year, and this influx of visitors is slowly chipping away at the Galapagos's unique ecosystem. Time remaining: unknown. P.S. Check out USM's new program, set in the Galapagos Islands, more details coming soon! Check our website for updates.
2. The Maldives
The Maldives is the smallest Asian country in both population and land area, made up of about 1,200 islands. However, 80% of those islands are only one meter above sea level-and they're currently sinking even lower. The president began buying land in other countries for his citizens to live in once they have sunk completely. Time remaining: less than 100 years.
3. Great Barrier Reef
The world's largest coral reef is the only living thing on Earth visible from space. It contains over 3000 individual reef systems and coral cays, along with 350 different species of coral. Rising ocean temperatures, water pollution, ocean acidification, and cyclones continually destroy the reef and have caused mass coral bleaching. Time remaining: less than 100 years.
4. Venice, Italy
Everyone knows that the quaint and beautiful canal-laden city of Venice is sinking. But as tourism and flooding has increased, so has the speed of the city's sinking. St. Mark's Square flooded more than sixty times in 2000, and the city has sunk by nine inches in the last 100 years. Time remaining: less than 70 years.
5. The Dead Sea
The world's saltiest body of water (ten times more salty than the ocean) is also its lowest body of water, sitting at 1,388 feet below sea level. The water level drops four feet per year, as the only source of the sea is the Jordan River, and more and more cities are beginning to tap into the river for a water supply. Time remaining: less than 50 years.
6. The Alps
The European Alpine mountain range sits at a lower altitude than the Rocky mountains, and since the Earth's temperature has increased twice as much as the global average in the 1980s, the Alps have already lost twenty percent of their size. Time remaining: less than 40 years.
7. Madagascar
The fourth largest island in the world, more than 80% of Madagascar's flora and fauna are found nowhere else in the world, and yet game reserves take up only 5% of the island. Forest ecosystems are being destroyed by logging, subsistence farming, and poaching; in fact, only 20,000 of the original 120,000 square miles of forest are left. Time remaining: less than 35 years.
8. Taj Mahal
Construction on the famous landmark began in 1632 and took 21 years to complete. Over 1,000 elephants and 20,000 laborers worked to make the Taj Mahal what it is today. However, the air pollution and the 4 million visiting tourists per year are eating away at the white stone facade, and tourism officials are considering closing the monument to the public. Time remaining: less than 5 years.
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Featured Photo
My Spring Break in Italy
Photo from an exchange student studying at Keele University.
"2 days of hiking, 5 cities, & lots of gelato -- I found my favorite place in Italy!" @_totalsarahmove
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