Studying abroad and traveling around the world

Tina, tell me something about yourself first.

I'm Tina and I'm a doctoral student of chemistry at New York University. I am currently living on campus in Abu Dhabi, the capital of the United Arab Emirates. Our laboratory is working on the synthesis and characterization of polymers that are used for various purposes, for example, the removal of toxic compounds from the water or the delivery of medicines to cancer cells. Although I am a chemist, I am a traveller at soul. When I'm not traveling, I am planning future trips or I'm writing about the past. I also try to learn the basics of photography. I am part of Graduate Student Council at the University as an organizer of excursions for students.

What about studying abroad? Are studies at your university very different from studies at Slovenian universities? Did you have any entry tests?

This is an American university, which is quite different from the European system. There were no entry tests, but we had an interview as a part of the application and a mathematical placement test because we came here with a different knowledge. Undergraduate studies require a lot of work in the form of homework, quizzes and projects that are all graded. Also, the deepening of knowledge goes beyond the primary direction of study and activity outside of lectures, for example volunteering, working practice or research work. Lectures are mostly supported by exercises or other practical experiences. Classmates are very international, we're here from more than 100 different countries, and because we study, live, eat and socialize together, this broadens our horizons and knowledge of the world.

Doctoral studies are very different from undergraduate. There aren't as many classes, in my case, we only took them one year, and we spend most of our time researching. For scientists, this means studying literature, working in a lab, writing articles, sometimes teaching (Teaching Assistant) undergraduate students, presenting results at meetings and conferences. Work is dynamic and not even two days are the same.

Nowadays, the young have difficulty finding out what they are interested in. When did you find out that you were interested in chemistry?

In elementary school, I liked the chemistry lessons, and this continued in high school. My teachers, Marinka Dobaj and Zdenka Keuc, greatly contributed to this. During my undergraduate studies, I tried to study biology as much as possible, and the combination of both subjects also attracted me at my doctoral studies.

A practical part of the class is very important. Do you participate in a large number of projects during your studies?

As an undergraduate student I participated in research projects in three different laboratories and fieldwork in Greenland. In addition, I was also involved in some shorter study projects, for example, in Zanzibar, in cooperation with local students, we studied the maritime cultural heritage of the capital city Stone Town. At the moment, I'm short of time, I'm really active on a faculty level only in the postgraduate student world. An interesting project was on the Jakobshavn Glacier in Greenland, where they studied how the melting of glaciers influences sea temperatures and built climate models based on this. The glacier is interesting for this kind of research because it is the fastest moving glacier in the world. The professor was looking for volunteers for summer field work, I applied, and I was lucky.

You also spent many semesters on student exchanges. Where have you been? How did you experience them?

I was at campuses in New York, Buenos Aires, Sydney and Shanghai. I learned a lot of things. We cannot judge the world based on what media tells us and that the vast majority of people in the world are good and are trying to mostly do the right things. And that we are all people who want to be accepted and loved, regardless of race and religion.

You spent some time studying in New York. How would you compare Abu Dhabi and New York City?

There's a lot of trading in both, people come from all over the world, and there are many banks in both of them, but they are completely different experiences for the visitor. Both are completely misrepresented on television and in magazines. New York City is indeed full of skyscrapers, yellow taxis and tourists as they describe it, but it is also a city of great misery: it is full of homeless people who sleep on the streets; in the summer, many unpleasant odours are spreading; huge rats are found on the subway and people mostly care only for them alone. There is no sense for a fellow man. Abu Dhabi is presented as the capital of fun with Ferrari World, Warner Bros. Studios and water parks, as a city of culture with Louvre and other museums they are planning, and as a city of wealth and splendour with a seven-star hotel and countless glass skyscrapers. But the truth here is quite different: the summer temperatures are unbearable, there are few streets that are walker-friendly, and, contrary to the general belief, the wages are not so high here (with the exception of management positions). Most people work because they do not have other options or because many families in their home countries rely on their income.

Why do you recommend studying abroad to young people?

First of all, because this is a great way to become more independent, and to get to know many new people and expand the social network. When you come to study in an unknown place, you do not know anyone or very few people you are forced to contact new people. Probably many of them will not be from your home country, so you learn a lot of interesting things and about the problems of other people in their countries. In addition to this, you are also perfecting in foreign languages, not just in your course of study. In addition, once you move, you no longer have parents to whom you can rely on solving everyday problems, so you need to start finding solutions for your problems alone. You must wash your own laundry and take care of an empty stomach, so you will also begin to appreciate the benefits of mom's house when you return home.

Tell us more about the doctoral studies. Do they accept only the best students? What do you do?

Of course, only very good students take the doctorate, just like in Slovenia. Grades are not the only thing that are important, but also the experience with the research work, articles, recommendations letters and standardized tests. I go to the lab where I read literature, I'm doing experiments, preparing presentations and writing articles. Preparation for the dissertation lasts several years.

You have been a volunteer of Hostelling International Slovenia for a long time. Where did you find out about the organization and what do you do?

While browsing the internet, I found out that Hostelling International Slovenia has the offices in my home town. I was excited right away. As a volunteer, I am writing articles about places I travel to and publish photographs from my travels. I try to publish something every month, and in the recent times, I'm succeeding. At the beginning of this year, I also prepared a lecture on the topic of undergraduate study abroad for pupils and their parents. It is important for me to give young people the message that they can study abroad even if their parents cannot afford this. The governments of world countries from Japan and Korea to German, French universities offer countless scholarships that fully cover study and living expenses. Harvard, for example, offers all students whose families earn less than 65,000$ a year a free study.

Let's travel together. Where do you want to go and where have you been?

Anywhere! I choose destinations according to distance proportional to the time I have available. For an extended weekend, I go to Middle East, for example, Lebanon or Kuwait. If I have more than a week, I go home or somewhere further in Asia. I am also trying to combine scientific conferences with a holiday, and thus combine work and pleasure.

I visited countries on six continents, but there are still plenty of places I would like to discover. I am mainly attracted by places with a beautiful nature, high on the list are Galapagos, Namibia, New Zealand and Japan. I always want to travel. After a doctorate, I am planning a longer trip in Southeast Asia, but let's give it time.

And another question for the end. Do they know Slovenia in Abu Dhabi?

Mostly no. They think we are somewhere in Russia and that we were part of the Soviet Union or that we speak Russian. I'm always negatively surprised when somebody from Europe says something like that (and this does not happen so rarely).