The Rest of Rio - On to Sao Paulo

The rest of Rio was quite glorious. We had wonderful visits with O Globo and Petrobras. We went to the O Globo printing facility. It was amazing to see the process a newspaper takes to become a newspaper. Petrobras is one of the leading oil companies in Brazil and in the world.

We finally found a semi-affordable laundry. Hooray! After picking it up we found the thing that I have been waiting for. Besides the sandy beach and amazing views, the thing I remember most about Rio from 4 years ago was...stuffed churros! The stand cooks the churros and then the vendor fills them with chocolate or dulche de leche. Can you spell yummy? So good!

After a morning at the Corcovado and the beach, many of us then went to a Samba Club called Rio Scenarium Saturday night. What an experience. It was a club filled with movie props and eclectic furniture. The music was fabulous and it was a great opportunity to have fun together.

Sunday morning was so nice to catch up on some much needed sleep and then one more walk on the beach.

Our flight to Sao Paulo was short and sweet. I love domestic airports...much less hectic and crowded. Sao Paulo is a crazy busy city. There are skyscrapers and cars everywhere! The next few days are filled with amazing visits! Love it!

Rainy Rio

So we have arrived in Rio but it has been a rainy start. We had an early morning start at PUC-Rio. The private Catholic University here in Rio. After a wonderful lunch with the faculty and the Dean, we went up to Sugarloaf. Altough it was foggy, windy and begain to rain a bit, it was breathtaking. I promise pictures will come :)

After we returned to the Hotel the rain came down in sheets. Hopefully it will clear up over the weekend in time for our opportunity to enjoy the beach right outside our windows.

It was another "just keep swimming" day. But I know I am being refined by the challenges and rewarded with the joys.

Chilly Chile

It has been a wonderful 6 days in Chile. I will have to wait to post pictures until we get to a hotel with a little faster internet access.

We were hosted by Univdersidad Catolica in Vina del Mar and Valparaiso. On Friday we took a bus to Quillota to the Agricultural College. Universities in Chile are different than how most American Universities are structured. They do not have a central campus. Each college (business, agriculture, art etc) are located in different locations around the 2 cities.

A bit of a curve ball happened when our amazing hosts told us that the students had gone on strike and they had taken over the central offices and other buildings. It was very interensting because they did not seem like this was too nerve racking or out of the ordinary. I guess it is because they are used to this type of thing in Chile. It did put a slight kink in our plans, but we tried to take it in stride. We had a wonderful hosted lunch and the evening free.

On Saturday we were met by 3 students (who graciously did not go on strike...yet) took us on a walking tour of Valparaiso. This is always a highlight and the students were very happy to talk to the students and see the colorful city of Valparaiso.

It was fun to remember being here 4 years ago. Some things have changed, but much is exactly the same.

Most of the group went together to church on Sunday. It was fun to see the members and missionaries looks of suprise as a group of 20+ Americans walk into Sacrament Meeting. One of the students went up and bore his testimony. He served in southern Chile. It was a nice and relaxing day. The beach is rocky but beautiful. I know the students fell in love with this beautiful area. The rains came late Sunday afternoon. It was quite a down pour and made me grateful for an umbrella.

Monday we were originally going to travel to the university, but because of the strike we had the lecture in the hotel. After a lovely lunch we loaded the bus and visited CSAV shipping company. I am always so impressed by the hospitality and generosity of the companies we visit. We then travelded the hour and a half to Santiago.

Our guide informed me that the hotel we originally had booked had some issues with flooding from the rain. They had not had rain like this in over a year. Discovering leaks the hard way :) It is times like this that I am so grateful for wonderful travel agents that can fix these problems for us. We ended up in a nice hotel perfectly situated in downtown Santiago.

Paul and I took a small group of students to the offices of Banco Santander for an informal question & answer session Tuesday morning. We all walked around the Plaza de Armas and the Cathedral. It was interesting to get a flashback to March and the many Cathedrals of Italy I was blessed to visit. There have been some interesting coorelations between trips. Common threads weave their way throug all the trips I have been a part of.

We traveled to Weir Minerals and had a wonderful visit and tour. This company manufactures pumps and equipment needed in the mining industry. They were kind enough to answer all the questions and served us unexpected but welcome refreshments.

There have been quite a few little bumps in the road but all-in-all we are doing well. Off to Rio tomorrow. A day of flying and changing planes is ahead. Sometimes I feel like I am herding sheep...but I feel very blessed to be learning the ropes and associating with these people.

Pictures and more stories to come! Loves from the last night in Chile!

South America At Last

Finally arrived in Chile! It has been a long and stressful 5 months in preparation for this trip, but we are finally here! Vina del Mar and Valparaiso Chile are first up.

For those of you who don't know, I am the Program Coordinator for Global Enrichment at the Jon M. Huntsman School of Business at Utah State University. I facilitate and manage the logistics for the Summer programs. Specifically the South America Program this year.

We left Logan at 4:30 a.m. Wednesday morning. June 1, 2011. It has been a whirlwind day of travel with some unexpected bumps, but after 24 hours of travel and 14 hours in the air...overall it was a relatively smooth and successful journey.

We are all happy to be out of the airplane on on solid ground! After a much needed nap we all went out and explored a bit of the city. It is always an adventure making sure everyone can access their money, buy lunch, get bottled water etc. All the universal hurddles of group travel. We walked along the beach in Vina. It was a beautiful day.

It is definitely chilly in Chile! They are entering winter in a couple of weeks. I often wonder why I am trading my Logan summers for South American winter, but then I see a view like this and it makes it all worth it!

After cleaning 2 stores out of bottled water... we walked to the Reloj de Flores. It is a famous flower clock in Vina that was given to the city by the Swiss.

Looking forward to the beginning of the company and university visits tomorrow.

Today was great, life is good!

3 Evenings in Roma

So I am super late in posting about Rome, but it was go go go and once I got back to good old US of A I got super sick!

Now that I am on the mend I am able to post about Rome. 3 days in Rome was a perfect amount of time to see the sights and enjoy the city.

Day 1 in Rome:

Friday morning was spent taking it easy in the hotel until about 11:00 am. We knew that there would be a metro strike so we were trying to coordinate the alternative forms of transportation. That morning we learned more about our friends and fellow MBA trip participants in Japan. Thankfully they were out of harms way and were all safe. They felt their building sway but no significant damage. We were concerned about their return flight, but they made it back on time. Lots to be thankful for.

Little did we know that the strike march would happen right outside our window. It was a peaceful march with flags and music. Our guide told us that this is a common occurrence in Rome.

We walked through the streets down to the Colosseum. It was an impressive sight indeed. A bit different than I expected, but still quite a sight.

We had visits to FAO and a luxury hotel. We went and saw the Spanish Steps and the Trevi Fountain. I made sure to throw a couple in the fountain. Afterwards I couldn't get the song "3 coins in a fountain" out of my head.

1 coin: You will return to Rome

2 coins: You will find love in Rome

3 coins: Doesn't mean anything according to our guide...but I still love the song.

Day 2 in Rome:

Day 2 was filled with sight seeing. We started out at the Vatican Museum. It was quite different than I expected. I was overwhelmed by all of the art and sculpture filling the museum. The rooms leading up to the Sistine Chapel were so beautiful and in some ways even more beautiful than the chapel itself. Tapestries and carvings filled the rooms. There wasn't a square inch that wasn't covered with some sort of art.

Saint Peter Holding the Keys at the Vatican:

We were told that we should be silent and not to take photographs while in the chapel. When we got in there it was a very different story. People were crammed in there like sardines. People were yelling and photography flashes were going off left and right. It was really distracting and quite disappointing that people would so blatantly disregard and disrespect the rules. It was hard to take in the beauty of the room.

Saint Peter's Basilica was exquisit and massive. The colors and lighting that day were electric. I loved seeing the beautiful stained glass window at the front dipicting the Holy Ghost in the form of a dove.



Afterwards we walked through the streets of Rome and had lunch at the Pizza Navona. We walked down to the Pantheon, Forum and the Colosseum. It was a beautiful late afternoon and the lighting was perfect for photos.

The Pantheon:

The Forum:

The Original Cesear's Palace (what's left of it):

We were all so tired, we went to bed without dinner. Thank heavens for a cozy bed and bubble bath to sooth the aching feet.

Day 3 in Rome:

Day 3 was filled with even more sight seeing. The day was rainy and cold so we took our time strolling the streets of Trastevere. We found the beautiful church Saint Maria in Trastevere. I think it was my favorite church of the whole trip. The ceilings and floors were exquisitely decorated. We got to see the end of Sunday Mass. The back wall of the church was covered with gold leafing and mosaic depictions of Christ and scenes from the gospels.








We continued to stroll through the streets and then ended up at the Hard Rock Cafe. Nothing like a bit of American culture stuck in the middle of Rome. I must admit it was one of the best burgers I have had :)

We then visited the Museo Borghese. It used to be a stately home amongst beautiful gardens. It reminded me a bit of Boston Common. The museum was beautiful. The most exquisite sculptures of the whole trip.

We headed back to the hotel to prepare for the 5 am flight home. After one more stop for pizza and beloved gelato. The sun set on this great adventure.

I am glad to be home in the states in my own bed and surrounded by my own things. I love traveling but I also love the contrasts of coming home. Home hasn't changed, but I have changed. My perspective is broadened and the view of the big wide world has been enriched.


I am so thankful to my sweet mom who was there to pick me up at 10 pm Monday night and had a warm bowl of Irish stew to welcome me home just in time for St. Patrick's Day.

Now on to preparations for South America June 2011!

Reggio Emilia and Florence

Wow! So much has happened in the last few days. It has been running running running all the time. I have a lot of pictures to share. We had a wonderful visit with the students at the University of Modena and Reggio Emilia. Dr Fadel has a collegue at the university and we had a great day talking with the students. We visited a company called MetaSystems. They create and engineer electronic products that are sold to BMW GM and other car manufacturers. We got to see the microchip production line. It is amazing how fast the technology industry moves and innovates almost daily.

We met up with the students for an aperitivo at a local cafe. This is a traditional experience in Italy. You pay for your drink and then they have finger foods and of course italian pizza available for free. We had non-alcoholic pina coladas and enjoyed their company for time.

We got in to Florence late that evening.

In the morning we had an apointment to see Michalangelo's masterpiece. The David. And a masterpiece it truly is. Pictures and recreations do not do it justice. I was captivated by the detail in the hands and the way you could see the muscle and form under the "skin". It was explained that Michalangelo carved the statue from a block of marble that was kind of discarded at a constuction site. I thought of the poem "The touch of the master's hand" and how there was that truly divine potential within that discarded and forgotten block of stone. It took a more knowing and skilled craftsman to "release" the beauty and awe inspiring masterpiece within.

Florence was breathtaking. The Duomo is so beautiful with its red and green marble. It is sad that the polution in the city causes the marble to stain. They are working on cleaning it during the off season, so most every major sight has construction and scafolding. But it is worth coming during this time to avoid all of the crowds.

We made the trek up the 400+ stairs to the top of the bell tower. It was a hike but was so worth the amazing view.

The Duomo, Baptistry and Bell Tower:

The Bell Tower...looking a bit ominous:

I made it to the top! (I kept telling myself it was not as hard as the Great Wall of China:))

So worth the view!

After stopping for a much deserved gelato, we hit the market for some shopping. I have never seen so much leather in all of my life. The only thing I couldn't get over was the prices. Not cheap. I was searching for something that would stand out to me enough to justify the expense.

I finally found it on the street in front of the Uffitzi museum. A street painter had some beautiful and creative watercolors for sale. I was so happy to find just the right one to frame and remind me of this magical trip.

We saw more famous art and sculpture than I could ever hope to remember. It was overwhelming to see such beauty everywhere I looked.

In the plaza a guitar player was playing the theme song to the original Romeo and Juliet movies. It was a bit to perfect and picturesque. I have been humming that song ever since.

We strolled the streets by the river as the sun was setting. Hard to think of a more beautiful place. Unfortunately the one day in Florence went by all too quickly. We had to board the bus and take a late night bus ride 3 1/2 hours to Rome. More on that tomorrow. Ciao from Roma!

Sight Visit and Visiting the Sights

Today we had a late morning visit to Weir Oil and Gas company. We had a few presentations on the Weir group as a whole as well as the manufacturing of the oil pumps that they do here in Italy. We toured both plants and had lunch in their cafeteria.

After the visit we went out to see more of the sights of Milan. We visited Castello Sforzesco and saw more of downtown Milan. It was quite cold and I was happy I brought my wool coat. Although I feel quite out of place without wearing all black.

We decided to go to Navigli which is supposed to be a place for night life by the canals that were built to transport the stone for the Duomo. But unfortunately there was not much there and the canal was drained due to the off season.

We did find a nice pizzeria and enjoyed another evening of authentic Italian cuisine. Tomorrow we head to another company visit and we will get to see Leonardo Da Vinci’s The Last Supper. I am excited to continue this adventure. Ciao!

Lake Como...Bellagio...Milan

Another beautiful and relaxing day here in Italy. The students got up early and headed for Venice. The faculty and 1 student decided to take it easy and stroll the beautiful streets of Como and Bellagio. Como is north of Milan and a comfortable train ride away. I couldn’t help think of the similarities between the metro system and train system in Boston Mass and Milan. It is strikingly similar. I felt like I was having a flashback to the Boston to Salem train. It’s funny the parallels you find when traveling.

After arriving in Como we took a ferry ride on Lake Como. Wow what a beautiful sight. Gorgeous villas and towns with colorful churches dot the shoreline.

We arrived at Bellagio and strolled up and down the streets. It is the off season so there are many closed shops and construction, but it was still absolutely charming. We ate lunch at a wonderful brick wood oven pizzeria. I don’t think I have had a more delicious pizza. The crust was perfect and the ingredients so fresh.

We went to the church and listened to the bell tower chime. After a stop for Gelato (which is becoming a daily staple), we lounged around and then took the ferry back to Como.

Como was having a sort of carnival. There were tons of people and little children dressed up in costumes. Many were holding bags of confetti, silly string and streamers which they threw on each other and many unsuspecting passersby. A cute little dragon approximately age 2 threw a nice handful of confetti my way. He was the cutest dragon. It was fun to watch the people in such a festive atmosphere.

We took the train back to Milan and tried to find a quick bite to eat. We ended up back at the Duomo. I was so glad because the stained glass windows were absolutely breathtaking at night. Scenes from the bible and other important Catholic stories were crafted into those giant windows.

All in all it was a wonderful night full of strolling and enjoying quintessential Italy. No rush, no worry.

Arrived in Milan...What a Wonderful World!

After over 12 hours of travel. Mechanical issues...changing planes...etc. I am finally in Italy.

What a trip! It was a day full of airports, changing planes and checking luggage. I am so grateful for modern aviation technology that could bring me 4400 miles across the ocean in a matter of hours. AMAZING! Even if the in-flight entertainment never worked...bummer.

We arrived in Milan at 9 am Saturday morning. (8 hours ahead of good old Utah). So we had to go out and make the most of the day. We got to our hotel and headed to the Duomo.

What a spectactular sight.

Hundreds of spires and thousands of carved faces and figures adorn that magnificent building. The doors are exquisit metal that is carved so intricately. The inside is breathtaking with all of the stained glass and columns that look like they literally reach to the heavens.

We window shopped and people watched in the mall adjacent to the Duomo. Had a late lunch. Classic Italian of course.

It is a bit chilly here in Italy. Everyone is bundled up in their black coats, knee high boots, and colorful scarfs. You can tell just by looking at the people that this is one of the fashion capitals of the world.

The group is off to exciting excursions tomorrow. Lake Como or Venice. I am kind of undecided about which place to go. Choices...Choices. What a hard decision ;)

I am again in awe of how much perspective is gained through travel. I am able to see Italy the good the bad the beautiful and the ugly. It is amazing the similarities and striking differences between this country and others I have visited. As always, I am grateful to be able to gain this perspective. As Louis Armstrong so beautifully put it..."I think to myself, what a wonderful world!"

Only one more sleep til Italia

Wow! How did this day come so quickly!?! 4 a.m. tomorrow we will be on the way to the airport to fly to Milan. What an exciting and whirlwind adventure! I am all packed and ready to head out. I am so grateful for this opportunity to learn and grow. Ciao for now!

Italy T-minus 10 days!!!

So I am starting this back up again after quite the absence. Much has gone on in the past 2 years since posting :)

In some ways I have come full circle. I am back at Utah State but not as a student. I am a staff member and program coordinator for global enrichment. This means more exciting adventures internationally. In just 10 short days I will be setting out on another adventure to beautiful ITALIA!

It is a great opportunity to learn the ropes of being a trip/program manager. In anticipation of my trip this summer back to South America. I hope this blog can be a way to keep all the friends and familia in the loop and sort of act as a travel diary too.

So if so inclined...come along for the ride. Ciao!