DIANEY SALINAS: FOLLOWING THE AMERICAN DREAM

Photo of Dianey and I in MM199, took it by Kyute. August 2023

November 6th, 2023

By Stephanie L. Granada 

    Hello, one more time! Today I’m thrilled to introduce you to Dianey Salinas, an international student from Mexico majoring in Marketing and minoring in Mass media, who came to Washburn University seeking for opportunities growth in the United States. As Dianey mentioned in the podcast, her motivation to study in a foreign country arose from the perception of better academic opportunities compared to her home country and the presence of family that were willing to help her achieve her goals.
    Disney also shares with us her tireless seek of the American Dream, which impulse her to cross the border from Mexico to America with a lot of courage. As she mentions her experience as an international student, the connection with other students outside of her culture was fundamental to helping her mentally grow.
    To stand out, the tradition of Homecoming at Washburn University, became part of a significant moment in Dianey’s life, offering the opportunity to form bonds with other people and create new memories.
    What Dianey advises to all of those folks interested in the world of studying abroad and for those who are already taking that journey, is that getting involved is the key, because doing so not only builds lasting friendships but opens opportunities for personal growth.
    Her personal experience is an inspiring testimony of how following your dreams can take you to a personal realization and the creation of significant connections that may last forever. I hope you enjoy it! 

 

BETWEEN CULTURES: DIVING INTO THE HOLIDAY DIFFERENCES OF PARAGUAY AND THE UNITED STATES

Photo from Pixabay. Credit to Karoline Grabowska. 

November 5th, 2023

By Stephanie L. Granada 

    The holiday season in the US is here! Just right in the corner. The most exciting celebration of Thanksgiving Is taking place again, like every year, on November 23rd, 2023, and why not share with you some differences in holiday celebrations I have noticed these two years I have been in the United States? Thanksgiving is not just a lot of meals in one day, it is the time that the whole nation stops to reflect on their present and thankfulness. Families and friends get together around the table ready with Turkey, pumpkin pie, and cranberry sauce, appreciating life. 

    Teleporting to Paraguay, there is no celebration of Thanksgiving, but we do celebrate many other things such as the honoring of the Virgen of Caacupe that takes place every December 8 where people walk 10 hours and 33 minutes from the capital of the country Asuncion to the Basilica in Caacupe to adore the Virgen as a proof of sacrifice to get a miracle. 

    Another thing that I have noticed is that Christmas in the U.S. is a spectacle. Homes transform into winter wonderlands, and gifts from Santa are the main attraction on Christmas morning, where the family sits around the Christmas tree to reveal the gifts to the corresponding person. Contrasting with Paraguay, Christmas is not as traditional as it sounds in the US, but New Year tends to be the big bash, it’s a nationwide explosion of fireworks, parties, and joyfulness in families.

AFFORDABLE ESCAPES: EXPLORING FRIENDLY ADVENTURES

Photo of my friends and I. By Isaac Production. Pikes Peak, June 2023. 

November 4th, 2023

By Stephanie L. Granada

    Studying abroad in the USA not only offers academic opportunities but also gives people affordable opportunities to know other places inside the USA. Unlike Paraguay, the economic aspect made local people limit their travel experiences, even exploring regions inside their own country could make their wallets empty. But shifting gears, being in the US, just even keeping a part-time job at school you can travel any season to unimaginable places. 

    And here is when friendships take place again, traveling with friends makes it easier, more affordable, and possible! For example, as an international student with a part-time job at the Student Recreation and Wellness Center at Washburn with a 10-dollar payment per hour, I could afford a trip with my 5 friends to Pikes Peak in Colorado for a weekend for only 230 dollars, including the rent of an Airbnb, a platform that also offers a variety of affordable accommodations in any destination.

    Also, for short-term trips, there are airlines such as Spirit Airlines, Southwest Airlines, and JetBlue that offer cheap domestic flights to any destination inside the United States.
    While exploring Paraguay as a resident could require a bit more financial stability, studying abroad in the US let me spread my wings across many places, enriching my knowledge about the places inside the US without thinking “Can I afford this?”.

Photo by me at my airbnb in Alma, Colorado. June 2023

Photo by me outside my airbnb in Alma, Colorado. June 2023

Sophie and I in Pikes Peak. By Isaac Productions. June 2023. 

GLOBAL CONNECTIONS: CULTIVATING FRIENDSHIPS

 

Photo by me at Renata's birthday party, June 2022.

November 3rd, 2023

By Stephanie L. Granada 

    Diving into the world of friendships in the US has been an incredible experience! A mix of cultural experiences! Starting with sharing common interests such as intramural sports offered by the REC, campus jobs, events, and the international student club at Washburn, where I was able to meet a ton of people that I can proudly call my friends. 

    As an international student, being far away from home, and missing family, my friends became my support system, and my confidants, better said, they became my family. The most challenging part of international friendships Is that there is always a return home for everyone. 

    Despite that is an amazing thing seeing your friends graduating and growing, seeing your friends packing to go back home it feels like they’re taking away part of you. That is why it is very important to be aware from the day one that you meet them that there will be a goodbye at some point, or better said, a “see you soon”. 

    But, thanks to technology, distance as an obstacle has become less hard and easier to accept, using Facetime, WhatsApp (a famous app that almost all international students use to communicate with each other) and other social media apps helps a lot to keep connected with those that remain in your heart. As Aristotle once said: “A friend is one soul abiding in two bodies". 

                                                

Photo of my friends and I. By Samira L. Arriola, December 2021.

 Photo of Abdul and I. By Isaac Productions, Pikes Peak, June 2023. <3

DIVERSE CLASSROOMS: COMPARING THE UNIVERSITY DIFFERENCES BETWEEN PARAGUAY AND UNITED STATES

     

Picture of the National University of Asuncion, Paraguay. 

Credit to UNA. 

November 2nd, 2023

By Stephanie L. Granada 

    Hey, welcome again to our virtual space of inspiration, my future explorers! Diving into the academic differences between Paraguay and the United States, going to college in both countries unveils a fascinating contrast in university life and amenities. American universities such as Washburn University, The University of Kansas, Wichita State University, and others, offer a variety of benefits for students to help them be successful in any aspect of their lives. For example, Washburn University has a facility called the Student Recreation and Wellness Center, where students can integrate fitness into their lives, allowing the use of the gym, joining fitness groups, playing sports, etc., with only swiping the student ID card, and the most incredible thing is that it’s all paid by tuition. In contrast, universities in Paraguay, such as The National University of Asuncion or The Catholic University of Asuncion, despite being great schools to study, don’t offer facilities like in the U.S, placing students in a position to seek to integrate into the fitness world independently, having to pay an unreasonable amount of money to get memberships in other wellness centers to stay healthy.

   Another important detail is that in the U.S.A., both, private and public universities, offer on-campus housing options, especially for freshman students who are just integrating into the college world. On the other hand, in Paraguay, most of the universities do not have on-campus housing, steering students to seek off-campus living arrangements or trips back and forth to their houses, generally by bus.

   This comparison not only focused on the disparities in gym access and living culture for students but also reflects the cultural and institutional differences that distinguished Paraguayan and American universities.

BEYOND BORDERS: NAVIGATING AFS OPPORTUNITIES

Logo credit to AFS Programs

November 1st, 2023

By Stephanie L. Granada 

    Hey, there! My fellow explorers! As we continue this journey together, let’s dive into the world of university life in Paraguay and Kansas. Now picture this: Imagine you, a student from the United States experiencing a new campus completely different from yours back in your country, drinking the traditional fresh drink of herbs and yerba mate under the tree with your Spanish-speaking friends during your break from classes. 

    As I mentioned in my previous posts “Exploring New Horizons: Embracing the Early Journey of Studying Abroad”, I came to the United States through the Paraguay-Kansas Partnership which helps bring students from Paraguay to Kansas to study abroad. But, what about students from the US that would like to experience Paraguay at least once in their lives? The American Field Service Intercultural Program, well known as AFS Intercultural Programs is your golden ticket. It opens the door to students from Kansas to explore the vibrant heart of South America, not only providing a travel arrangement but also ensuring that exchange students from the US have a meaningful experience embracing the culture, forming international friendships, and gaining a deeper understanding of the diversity in the world that can last in their hearts forever.

    The program allows any student from the United States and other countries to experience one semester of college in Paraguay at two of the most famous universities: Columbia University and University of San Carlos, learning about the fusion between Spanish people and the indigenous Guarani, creating the miscegenation of two different cultures and traditions. Also, exchange students will live with a Paraguayan host family to get them closer to the customs like eating the traditional barbecue called Asado, and of course the language, Spanish and the beautiful sound of the Guarani.

NIGHT VIBES: EXPERIENCING NIGHT LIFE IN KANSAS

    

Photo by me with my friends in our night life. 

October 6, 2023

By Stephanie L. Granada 

    As an international student from Paraguay, it was difficult to adapt to the night life here in Topeka, Kansas. Since it's a smaller town, there are not many things to do outside of work and school. Getting used to only doing activities with friends at their house or at a restaurant when I was used to having a more active social life at night clubs and bars with my friends back home was a challenge. Because there are not many things to do in Topeka, people go to other cities that are 30 minutes to 1 hour away such as ¨Brothers Bar¨ in Lawrence, ¨Fat's Bar¨ in Manhattan, and ¨Power and Lite¨ in Kansas City, where people have to spend the night to avoid driving under the influence.

    Another difficulty that I've encountered is that in South America, people are legally allowed to drink alcohol at the age of 18, while here you need to be 21 years old. According to the law, you have to be of age to go out to bars and night clubs and to drink alcohol in general, which was something that bothered me as I had to wait three years again to go out and dance. 

    Last year, I turned 21 years old. I finally could go to the famous bar where all the students from Washburn go to have fun called ¨Skinnys Sports Bar & Grill ¨, which is a Karaoke Bar and dance club. Many Washburn students and alumni go there which gives you the opportunity to get involved with different people from the community and make friends. Since being able to go to the bars, I have adapted better and my night life became more active and fun again.