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IIEPassport's Student of the Month
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Glendale Community College sophomore Louiza Minasyan left her campus near Los Angeles, California for six weeks last winter and had the experience of a lifetime. She took part in a study abroad program offered by her school that took her to three countries: New Zealand, Australia and Fiji. In New Zealand, she spent time in the areas of Auckland, Waitomo, Rotorua, Queenstown and Milford Sound. Minasyan and her group also spent time in Sydney, Australia, and she and a smaller group topped off their overseas experience with an optional, recreational trip to Fiji.
Minasyan sat down with IIEPassport to talk all about her experiences abroad-from enjoying the metro and nearby classes (unheard of in L.A.), to extreme sports and bonding with the natives of Fiji.
Q. What inspired you to study abroad?
A. Well, I come from a family who enjoys traveling, and I love to travel myself. I was taking a geography lab class with my professor Darren Leaver one semester, and when he mentioned this trip I knew I had to go. Although it was a year away, I started bugging my parents about it the next night. I have always wanted to visit Australia and never even thought about New Zealand until I started Googling the cities we were going to visit.
Q. How did your study abroad experience relate to your art history major?
A. I was actually surprised that my major and this trip went hand-in-hand. Although I haven't yet studied the art history of Australia, New Zealand and Fiji, I felt as if I was taking a private class in it. In my humanities class, we studied the Maori (the native culture of New Zealand), and their culture was full of art. Everything they made for everyday use was artistic. We had the opportunity to visit a museum filled with artifacts of the culture and the many cultures of the surrounding islands. I probably learned more about their art history than I would have had in a regular classroom. We learned a little bit about the Aboriginal culture as well, and visited a museum in Australia that displayed many of their art pieces.
Q. With all of the traveling you did, how did you manage your studies? Was it hard to balance with fun?
A. The first week, almost every two days we were in a new city but we still had to squeeze in some school hours. So, after sightseeing, our classes would take turns meeting in the hotel conference rooms. Even on long bus rides, the teachers would do their lectures. But once we got to Queenstown, where we stayed the longest, we had a room for class and we had it four or five days a week. The best part of studying abroad was that I could wake up at 8:50, roll out of bed, brush my teeth, make a cup of tea and go next door for class. There was no getting up early to get dressed, looking for parking and walking all over campus to get to class! And in Australia, we actually had a classroom on the 61st floor of the World Tower with a view of Sydney! We had to take the train from our apartments to class, which was an excellent experience.
Q. How would you compare the different countries you visited and your experiences in each? Did you have a favorite?
A. Three countries, three hours apart, three very different experiences. New Zealand was Beautiful! I described it to my mom like this: "I think God took a little bit of everything beautiful and placed it all in New Zealand." It has these massive almost painting-like mountains, clear crisp blue skies, aqua-bluegreen water, geysers and much more. It is the sports capital of the world. I went bungee jumping on the first bridge ever made for bungee, I went paragliding off a cliff, I went on a hike to the Rob Roy Glacier and I went Blackwater Rafting in the Waitomo caves!
When we arrived at Sydney on Australia Day, I had a culture shock. There were millions of people gathered around the harbor, and we had just come from a small town where we saw just a couple of hundred. Australia was, to me at least, very much like Los Angeles. It was very urban, but slower than L.A. Sydney was beautiful as well, but not with nature like in New Zealand. I went to visit family two hours away from our apartments and I went horseback riding in the mountains, but it just wasn't the same as New Zealand.
Fiji was also beautiful, but in a tropical way where there are no worries-just fun and relaxation. It's a place where you can be lazy! I'd have to say that it was New Zealand that took my breath away every morning. I can't wait to go back and see the places I didn't get to see and do things I didn't get to do, like skydiving.
Q. How were you received by the different natives of each country? How was your reception by the Maori and Aboriginal people different than that of the other natives?
A. We didn't really have a chance to interact with the Maori or Aborigines, because there are so few of them left. We saw more Europeans, Americans and Asians from around the world than any native people. We did get to go to the Te Puia Cultural Art Center, where we had a Maori guide who gave us a closer look at his culture. We also participated in the Maori Hangi, a dinner and a show of how the Maori tribes interacted with each other and how a traditional meal was prepared. I think there is no difference between the Maori, the Aborigines and any other native tribe, because when you think about it, they are all in the same shoes. Their lands have been invaded and all they're trying to do is keep their culture alive, and they are trying to spread awareness and knowledge about their culture.
Q. How are Americans viewed in New Zealand and Australia?
A. I think this was the funniest thing ever. Everywhere we went out to we had to show our IDs to get in and we never failed to hear: "Oh, it's the Americans!" And not in an enthusiastic tone. They don't like us! After a while when anyone would ask me where I was from, I would tell them that I am Armenian and I just happen to live in America. [laughs] Once they knew we were from America, they would only comment on the following: Tila Tequila, Paris Hilton, George Bush, the Hills, the OC, Tupac and Biggie Smalls, and Bloods and Crips! One Irish guy standing in line at a 7-11 in Sydney asked my friend and I where were from, and as soon as we told him L.A., he started rapping one of Tupac's songs-they think we talk like that! I just think it is sad that America is viewed only through the things I listed. They think everyone lives the lives of the celebrities they see on TV.
Q. What struck you most about the Maori culture?
A. The Maori culture is a beautiful culture. What struck me the most was the art. Everything created was art-their bowls were carved, their hair combs were carved, the houses were carved and decorated. The smallest object to the largest was artistically crafted. They put their soul into everything they made and gave objects "Mana," which was a supernatural power. This is an art form of carving, and is also found in their tattoos. They carve deep tattoos on their faces which was part of their culture. I just loved that everything they did was artistic.
Q. What, if any, difficulties did you face during your time abroad?
A. There were just two things mainly. First and foremost, I missed my boyfriend and family. I wanted them to be there so bad to experience the things I was seeing. The second was money managing. I couldn't just spend all my money at once. I had to learn to prioritize because, unlike many of the students, I still had to survive a week in Fiji financially. But in the end, it all worked out as planned.
Q. Did you begin working at the study abroad office before or after your travels? What are your duties there?
A. I started working here after the trip. Darren Leaver, who was our geography teacher, was also the Director of Study Abroad. Almost every day I would visit the office and talk about the trip or other trips that were being planned. Darren thought I would be a great candidate to work in the office, because now I had the experience of actually studying abroad and my experience would be great in getting other students to go as well. In the office, I help with the preparation of student's files who are going on the trip. I help advertise the program all over the campus and I also get to design brochures and flyers for upcoming trips. I am usually also available to answer any questions students come in with. I love working here because I want everyone to have the experience of studying abroad.
Q. Go into some detail about your trip to Fiji.
A. Only eight of us had signed up, and it was fun and a nice to break from a group of 24. We took a ferry from the large island to Malolo Island, where we were greeted with smiles and music. From day one, the native workers knew us by our first names. We stayed in this beautiful house with a separate living room and dining room. The ocean was just a few yards away from the porch! In Fiji, we bonded with the locals. After their work day was over, they would join us on our porch for hours of laughter and guitar playing. Every night there were fun activities set up for the guests. We had dance contests, crab races and the most fun was their traditional Kava ceremony. Kava is the root of a plant that is dried up and smashed into a powder, during the ceremony the powder is diluted in water. You clap your hands, say "Bula," take a drink out of a coconut cup (you have to finish your cup), then clap again and say "Venaka." The ceremony continues until all of the Kava finishes. The first night we probably had eight to 10 cups each until it was finished. Kava does not taste good! It tastes like chalk, but makes your tongue numb and you sleep like a baby. But it's a special native ceremony and we had to try it.
While in Fiji we kayaked daily and went snorkeling. One day they took us out on a boat ride to Tavarua and Cloud Break, where professional surfers surfed all day! It costs from three to four thousand dollars a week to stay in Tavarua. We had the chance to jump out of the boat and swim in the ocean while we watched the surfers. They also left us on a sandbar in the middle of the ocean to snorkel. It was to die for!
All in all, Fiji was a great way to unwind from our studies and finish our trip. The last night in Fiji, I had a glass of red wine, which makes me emotional, and I started to cry hysterically because I realized that the trip was over. While I was crying at the table my friends thought it was funny and were taking pictures of me!
Q. What was the most rewarding aspect of studying abroad?
A. The most rewarding aspect was seeing a whole different world than what I am used to in America. I got to experience on my own how to travel, to be more responsible and independent. I learned how to get around riding the metro, which I probably would have never learned here. It was all rewarding, and I know I would never have learned any of this sitting in a cold classroom in the winter reading a book!
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