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CGEE Statement on Recent Executive Orders

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The Center for Global Education and Experience (CGEE) is committed to global education and intercultural experiences. The Center greatly values diversity of peoples and exchanges of culture that expand our appreciation and deepen our understanding of one another.

We have been committed to teaching and living the values of equity and inclusion and hospitality and social justice for more than 30 years and recent executive orders from U.S. President Donald J. Trump will not cause us to falter in that commitment. 聽While we are encouraged by the recent legal actions to these orders, we will continue to be engaged and vigilant.

Continue reading “CGEE Statement on Recent Executive Orders” →

Meeting Family in Guatemala: An Alumni Story

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This blog post was originally presented to CGEE staff as a thank you letter. We聽were very touched by Stephanie’s experience, and wanted to share with others.聽Posted here with permission from the author,聽Stephanie Gonzales-P茅rez. The words have not been altered in any way.

Hello,

I wanted to take the time to extend my gratitude through this letter. I am a recent alum of the CGEE Central America Program of Spring 2016. The program itself was truly life changing and as clich茅 as that may sound there are no other words to better describe it.

The mission of your programs is to give us another lens and to decolonize our minds which is a prime reason why I was interested in the program. Along with the constant recommendation from my study abroad advisor, Ann Butwell. Which is why I want to thank Berea College and Augsburg鈥檚 Center for Global Education and Experience because without all your help this would not have been possible. I was hesitant at first because of the cost, but both institutions provided me with scholarships that reduced the cost to nearly nothing.

Aside from how perfect the program already was due to my passion for social justice I was also drawn in because the program went to Guatemala specifically to Quetzaltenango, or also known as Xela, which is where my maternal grandmother lives. I had told my family about my trip and they were beyond ecstatic to finally meet in person after only having contact through letters, phone calls and Skype my entire life. I will be honest I had originally planned to go in the spring of 2015, but I felt guilty going and backed out because my mother has not seen my grandmother for over 25 years and it didn鈥檛 feel right to go before she did. My mother had the chance to return home; however, she made the ultimate sacrifice when I was 10 and that was not to move back to Guatemala with my father. She knew that the United States could provide us with more opportunities than her own country could. Continue reading “Meeting Family in Guatemala: An Alumni Story” →

Cuernavaca Corner: Our Favorite Cafes

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Coffee shop sign

With a cup of coffee in your hand just about anything is possible! You can finish an assignment, have a great conversation or get through a tough chapter in your book鈥� or your life! So here is the inside look on our top three favorite Caf茅s in Cuernavaca.

Bons Caf茅

On one of the quaint paved streets near the cathedral in Cuernavaca lays Bons Caf茅. Bons Caf茅 has a relaxing and welcoming atmosphere. There is ample seating in indoor, outdoor and second story areas. They have a complete breakfast, lunch and dinner menu and have a varied selection of drinks. We recommend the capuchino nevado (a cappuccino with a scoop of ice cream), iced chai, and for those of us who has a sweet tooth, the oreo frappe. Continue reading “Cuernavaca Corner: Our Favorite Cafes” →

International Education Week 2016

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This week,聽November 14-18, is International Education Week.聽 This is a national celebration happening at schools across the US, and beyond.

Augsburg International Student Organization is holding a number of events this week that you are invited to attend:

Monday: International Showcase聽10am-2pm聽in Christensen Lobby
International Auggies will be showcasing their home countries. Stop by to learn more about the diverse countries Auggies call home:

  • Togo
  • China
  • Japan
  • Singapore
  • Tanzania
  • U.K
  • Vietnam
  • Palestine
  • Germany
  • Netherlands
  • Italy
  • France
  • Lebanon
  • Sweden
  • Suriname
  • Uganda
  • Spain

Tuesday聽– Study Abroad Tabling in Christensen聽11am-1pm
Do you want to go abroad? We’ll have information about short-term programs coming up this summer, and how you can get started with study abroad.

Wednesday: Game Night
6-8 pm聽in the Christensen Student Lounge
Test your trivia skills in International Jeopardy!

Thursday: International Coffee Hour with student presentation
4-5pm聽Marshall Room–Coffee and snacks provided!
Malek will present Lebanon and his home school, American University of Beirut

Friday: International Dance Party
7 to 11 pm聽in East Commons

All Week: International Dishes in the Cafeteria!

CGEE Faculty Present at National Conference

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Dr. Ann Lutterman-Aguilar, Director of CGEE Mexico, will be presenting at the Annual CIEE Conference in Los Angeles, CA. The Council on International Educational Exchange (CIEE) is a nonprofit leader in the field of Study Abroad and Intercultural Exchange.

On Friday, November 18th, Ann will be co-presenting on, 鈥淚ntercultural Faculty Training for the Development of Innovative Global Initiatives.鈥� 聽From the conference website:

During this session, we’ll explore resources and frameworks that allow participants to identify the specific needs of their home campuses in relation to implementing intercultural and diversity initiatives. Intercultural competence has an impact on educators’ daily duties and projects, allowing them to bridge the cultural differences present on campuses and in education abroad programs. This type of competence helps to develop innovative initiatives and to align with global learning outcomes and goals. Furthermore, intercultural competence fosters reflection and creativity with the aim of developing thoughtful and distinctive new projects. Panelists will present models for intercultural training, lead discussions on best practices in this area, examine projects developed as a result of intercultural training, and review intercultural tools that can help when implementing new programs.

Congratulations to Ann on being chosen to present at this National Conference!

Students sitting outside along balcony
Ann Lutterman Aguilar聽leads students in reflection;聽Cuernavaca, Mexico

CGEE Represented at Ignatian Family Teach-In for Justice

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Joe Connelly, consultant and frequent leader of Customized Programs for the Center for Global Education and Experience in Nicaragua, will be presenting at the Annual Ignatian Family Teach-In for Justice, in Washington, D.C.

On Saturday, November 12th, Joe will be co-presenting on, 鈥淏eyond the Break: Moving to Action and Advocacy鈥�. From IFTJ鈥檚 website:

Did you have an amazing experience on an Immersion Trip聽over a break but aren鈥檛 sure what to do with that now? Do you want to take that experience to the next level and see how you can use it as a building block to get the most out of the Teach In? Join us in this pre-session to go beyond your break. Reflect on you what learned on your break, hear from a service immersion host site about what they鈥檇 like to see people doing after they leave, and see where your gifts and passions might put you on the Social Change Wheel and how that can turn into advocacy.

We are honored that Joe will be representing us at this event!

Student group outside in Nicaragua
Joe Connelly leads a lecture for students in Granada, Nicaragua. Spring 2015.

What is Day of the Dead?

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This blog post was written by our International Resident Assistant in Mexico, Amber Ramirez.聽

Mexican Sugar Skulls

Dedicated to honoring the souls and spirits of deceased family and friends, Dia de los Muertos (Day of the Dead), is a period of remembrance, celebration and spiritual regeneration.聽 This ritual is commonly celebrated on November 1st, which is primarily the day of the 鈥渓ittle angels鈥� or deceased children, and November 2nd, All Souls Day and day of deceased adults. Over the years, the Dia de los Muertos, has become a combination of Pre-Hispanic beliefs and rituals and Catholic practices and symbols. Currently more than 40 indigenous groups in Mexico celebrate el Dia de los Muertos, through diverse rituals. The Aztecs honored the souls of their dead, viewing it as a celebration of life on the ninth month of the solar calendar, August. They made offerings, or ofrendas, in commemoration of loved ones. The souls of the deceased would come back from the paradises of diverse Gods鈥攖hey went to these paradises based on their form of death. Those who died during combat, as prisoners, and while giving birth would go to Omeyocan (Paradise of the Sun). Individuals who died in association with water鈥攄rowning, sacrificed to Tlaloc (God of Rain), or during a storm鈥� would go to 罢濒补濒辞肠谩苍 (Paradise of the God of Rain). Children went to Chichihuacuauhco where they drank milk from a special tree that had milk droplets. Meanwhile, individuals who died of natural causes went to 惭颈肠迟濒谩苍. Continue reading “What is Day of the Dead?” →

Chapultepec Zoo

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This past weekend our students and some of our staff members visited the Chapultepec Zoo (Zool贸gico de Chapultepec)聽in Mexico City. The Chapultepec Zoo is located in Chapultepec Park (Bosque de Chapultepec).聽 Chapultepec Park is more than double the size of Central Park in New York! Chapultepec Park is approximately 1695 acres of beautiful flora with many species of trees and plants, as well as fountains and outdoor activities.

Chapultepec Park is considered 鈥渁 lung of Mexico City鈥� as it produces continuous oxygen, filters water for the city, and helps regulate the temperature in the area. The Chapultepec Zoo was founded in 1923 and later renovated between 1992-1994. It is a free zoo! It is home to diverse species, including lemurs, hippopotamus, antelopes, and endangered species such as the volcano rabbit, Mexican wolf, and jaguar. One of the most famous exhibits is that of the Giant Panda. Currently there are three females giant pandas at the zoo: Xiu Hua (Born in 1985), Shuan Shuan (Born in 1987), and Xin Xin (Born in 1990). Luckily, we saw two out of three! We all had a blast and students are excited to go back and explore more of聽Chapultepec Park!