UT Tyler GATE announces: Ghana 2016

     The University of Texas at Tyler has announced that the new destination for the Global Awareness Through Education program will be in Ghana, a West African nation. This will provide the 18 newly selected freshmen an opportunity to become exposed to international cultures along with studying courses. This study abroad opportunity is a great experience for students to get immersed in different cultures that will enhance not only their resumes but their life experiences.

Tips for Studying Abroad at UT Tyler!

With GATE interviews just around the corner and a new class of GATE students about to be accepted into the program, I have come to realize that my time with GATE is limited. It seems like just yesterday that I was anxiously waiting to apply for the program. I first learned about the group when I was on a tour of the campus and I almost walked into a door with one of their fliers on it. I was immediately curious. The flyer I saw was advertising the opportunity to study abroad and travel! What was this GATE program and how could I be a part of it?

My face upon reading that flyer!

GATE stands for Global Awareness Through Education and it is a two year program for freshman and sophomore students. The classes that GATE students take have a global focus, such as Music of the Americas and World Literature, just to name a couple. Through GATE, I have met some of the best people and I honestly don’t know what I would do if I hadn’t have made those friends. When we were all at the first social getting to know each other, it felt like the Brazil and Argentina trip was so far away. It felt like such a colossal undertaking to get 30 students on the same page in studying abroad! Now that the trip is almost a month away, I have no fingernails anymore because I can’t believe it is finally here.

Here are some tips to make getting ready to go on a study abroad trip less scary:

UT Tyler Gate goes to Meiji Jingu Shrine and Imperial Palace

      Meiji Jingu Shrine is a Shintu Shrine dedicated to Emperor Meiji and Empress Shoken. After the Emperor and Emperess passed away, people commerate their virtues by donating 100,000 tress throughout Japan and overseas and worked voluntary to create the forest around the Meiji Jungu Shrine.

We had the opportunity to witness a traditional Japanese wedding! 

    Shintu does not have a founder, a holy book, as well as the concept of religious conversation. Shintu values for example harmony with nature and virtues such as "sincere heart" or Magokoro. Shinto believes in Kami, divine spirit, that is seen in mythology, nature, as well as human beings. In Shintu, it is believe that there is an unlimited number of Kami.

You can also purchase Ema, a wooden tablet which wishes can be written down and hung around the camphor tree.

Isn't it beautiful? 

UT Tyler's GATE student's also toured the Emperial Palace! This is a brief description from the Japan National Tourism Organization, which I could not have put any better " The Imperial Palaces, where their Majesties the Emperor and Empress reside, is situated in the center of Tokyo. The palace is surrounded by a water-filled moat and tree-covered grounds - a precious taste of nature within the bustling metropolitan city" 

Imperial Palace

UT Tyler Gate at Sensoji Temple

UT Tyler GATE students and professors with Dr. Kagawa from
 Shimane University

 Sensoji is a Buddhist Temple built completed in 645, making it the oldest temple in Tokyo. Japanese legends says that two brothers in 628 fished a statue of Kannon, the goddess of mercy, out of the Sumida River. The two brothers returned the statue in the river but it keeps returning to them. The temple was built nearby for the goddess Kanon.

Arriving In Tokyo with UT Tyler Gate

      As promised, I am so incredibly excited to share my experience with The University of Texas at Tyler's Gate Program trip to Japan! I am posting different blogs for each major place I visited. This will definitely be an on going project for the rest of the semester cause I just HAVE to share with y'all five weeks worth of such an amazing experience.

I'm Back!

       After a semester of being away from the Call Center, I can't express how much I miss this second family of mine! I am so pleased to see familiar faces as well as two new ones:) Carver. and Dallas., I'm excited to get to know you guys better!

Karen Elliott House Lectures at UT Tyler

House with Governor Muhammad Bin Nasser 

 

On Monday, November 11^th, The UT Tyler Honors and GATE programs partnered with Ted W. Walters and Associates to sponsor a public lecture from Pulitzer-Prize winning reporter Karen Elliott House.  House discussed her 30 years of writing and reporting on Saudi Arabia, as well as being a diplomatic correspondent, foreign editor and then publisher of The Wall Street Journal.  She also discussed her 2012 book, On Saudi Arabia: Its People, Past, Religion, Fault Lines-and Future. 

House is a graduate of UT Austin, where she received a bachelors in journalism and was the editor of the university’s newspaper, The Daily Texan.  In 1984, she was awarded a Pulitzer Prize in international reporting for her coverage of Middle East while writing for the Wall Street Journal.  Specifically, her interviews with Jordan’s King Hussein and the discussion of the Middle East peace plan from the Reagan Administration gained a large amount of international recognition.  Following this recognition, she began her research and visits to Saudi Arabia, learning about the political and social structure of the country.

House identifies the three pillars that Saudi Arabia is built on: the Saudi political dynasty, the theology of Wahhabism, and the oil market.  She argues that these three historic pillars of Saudi stability are cracking for various reasons.  

Saudi Arabia’s oil revenues, which is valued at roughly $43 billion per year for the country, is currently being threatened by peaked production and a massive increase in domestic energy consumption.  Domestic subsidies for oil production is currently at 52 cents per gallon of gas, a tremendously high rate for a country that relies on their oil market for about 86% of its annual revenue.  The United States was predicted to be the world’s leader in oil production by 2015, creating a scenario for Saudi Arabia where competition for oil dominance is more of an uphill battle than ever. 

Wahhabism is a conservative and intolerant form of Islam that is practiced in Saudi Arabia.  At one point in the country’s history, there was a supportive Wahhabi Islamic establishment that bestowed legitimacy on the House of Saud (the current royal family in Saudi Arabia).  However, the establishment is not fractious and is decreasing in public credibility.

The current royal family is the House of Saud, and they have been in power in Saudi Arabia for the better part of the past 250 years.  The family is estimated to have roughly 15,000 members, the most influential of which is Abdullah bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, the King of Saudi Arabia.  Recently, the family is in danger of division as they are forced to confront generational succession.  This will lead to allegiances being split and the increase of tensions between higher up members of the royal family, generating a large amount of political strife in the country as a whole.

The University of Texas at Tyler is honored to have Mrs. House visit our campus and lecture on her area of expertise.  Keep track of the UT Tyler Honors and GATE web pages to check for the Spring Semester colloquium.  And if you are interested in learning more about what Mrs. House has been researching for nearly thirty years, check out her book!  

UT Tyler Honors Program, Fall 2013

This will be an exciting year for the Honors Program at The University of Texas at Tyler.  I was fortunate enough to be accepted as an Associate Student into the Honors Program, and now I will get to take part in the fantastic events that the Honors Program is holding throughout the fall semester.  Not only is this an amazing educational opportunity for all of those interested, it is also a chance to meet some of the nation’s brightest minds.

Distribution data that proves the existence
of the Bose-Einstein condensate, a
new phase of matter.

The first major event hosted by the Honors Program will be a lecture from Nobel Prize winning physicist Dr. Carl Wienman in early September of 2013.  In 2001, Dr. Wienman won the Nobel Prize in Physics, along with Eric Allin Cornell and Wolfgang Ketterle, for his work with Bose-Einstein condensate, a branch of research initiated by Albert Einstein and Satyendra Nath Bose that led to developments within particle physics and studies of superfluidity and superconductivity.  He also leads a web-based directive called PhET out of the University of Colorado, which has improved the ways in which physics, chemistry, biology, earth science, and math are taught and studied.  His lecture will be inspiring to those who are seeking a career in science, technology, engineering, and/or math.

Later in the month of September, another science-based lecturer will visit UT Tyler to discuss Forensic Pathology.  Dr. Scott Kornman, MD, works out of the Diagnostic Clinic of Longview, Texas, and will discuss his branch of scientific research and what he does within his specialized field.  Forensic Pathology is a subset of pathology that focuses on determining the cause of death of an individual via autopsy, or corpse examination.  This line of work is often dramatized by crime television shows such as CSI, even though few reveal the true intricacies of this particular field of science. 

On October 24^th, the Honors Program will co-host Global Quiz Night along with the GATE program.  A large group attended the event last year, and it was well worth the visit.  Several student groups competed against each other in quiz-bowl fashion, proving to be a challenge for all competitors.  Groups such as the 

UT Tyler Debate Team, workers from the Patriot Talon, Honors Program members, and many other groups were in the running for top prizes, and it was an exhilarating experience.  Global Quiz Night challenges students to answer questions from a variety of topics, such as global history, arts and literature, science, sports, popular culture, and many others.  Last year, the Debate Team took first prize (holla!) and will be looking for a repeat title.  Perhaps your student group will be the one to step up and win.  Attend Global Quiz Night and find out!

Finally, to wrap up the semester, the Honors Program and GATE will co-sponsor a lecture from Karen Elliot House, author of “Saudi Arabia: Its People, Past, Religion, Fault Lines--and Future.”  House is a former executive of the Wall Street Journal and Dow Jones, and is a Pulitzer Prize winner for her Middle East coverage while working for the Wall Street Journal.  Her book shines light on the mystery that is Saudi Arabia; it details the infamous domestic social structure of the country, as well as the impact the country has on global economics and diplomacy.  Her book gives a fascinating portrayal to one of the last true monarchies in the world, and her lecture will be truly fulfilling to students that wish to explore a career in international politics, diplomacy, or economics.

The fall semester for the Honors Program will be full of exciting opportunities for those involved in on-campus activities.  Be sure to see the full schedule of events for more information.  If you attend these events and enjoy the rich, educational environment, feel free to explore the option of applying for membership in the Honors Program.  If you are still a high school student looking to enroll at The University of Texas at Tyler, consider the possibility of starting your freshman year as an Honors Student!

Japan: A Culinary Enrichment Experience

Here at our fine campus, the Center for Global Education via the GATE (Global Awareness Through Education) Program has been offering an awesome experience every semester for foodies in an event called Foods of the World.

So far, we’ve had three other events like this one, each of which featured desserts, street foods, and high tea. This semester, in light of the impending trip to Japan that the GATE 13’ students are about to undertake, we partook in delectable dishes that one would expect to see on a visit to the country.

There were many interesting things to try that evening, all foods being catered from the local Japanese restaurant Yamato (Which I recommend to any fan of Japanese cuisine).  Some of the selection included:

• Udon Noodles
• Fried Rice
• A selection of cooked sushi, including crunch shrimp rolls, citrusy fish rolls, California rolls, cream cheese and crab rolls, among others
• Vegetable tempura
• Chicken tempura (A dish that a Japanese woman declared to be decidedly non-traditional)

Unfortunately, none of the raw delicacies that are so trademark in the Japanese culture were able to be offered simply because it was difficult to plan it out and keep it safe to eat.

The event took place in the UC Theatre lobby area, where plates, napkins, chopsticks, and seating were provided and the event was free to the public! It was a really fun experience to try new and delicious foods from a country that has always held my interest.

If you’re as much of a fan of new cultural culinary experiences, don’t miss out on this bi-annual occurrence. I have no idea what the next one will have in store, but I can guarantee that you won’t want to miss it!

Traveling Blues

       2 MORE MONTHS! 2 more short months until I fly over the Pacific (or is it the Atlantic?)  Ocean to Japan! This trip has been the ABSOLUTE anticipated event that 11 lucky students have been waiting on!

If you guys don't know, GATE stands for Global Awareness Through Education. This outstanding program started 2 years ago. My "GATE '13" group (we are traveling in the summer of 2013, hence "13" in the name) is actual the inaugural class! Freshman apply for a spot in the group, which consist of an essay and phone interview.

The intelligibility is restricted to Freshman because it is a 2 year program. Students will be taking "GATE classes ". These classes are core classes every majors has to take anyways so you don't have to add on extra classes, which is always nice :) These classes are taught by UT Tyler professors that have graciously agreed to tweak their class to put in a global prospective on their lesson plan. Students also participate in various global activities held on campus by Central for Global Education ( CGE).

These include from outstanding lectures from FBI agent s to ambassadors at the UN, and even Foods of the World! If you are interested in attending these events, check out the GATE facebook page!

     As I said, 2 more short months, well more like closer to 3 actually since we just started March, but we leave DFW on May 23rd! We have to be there to start check out by 7:30 a.m. I must add! This leads me to the not so glamorous part of traveling that I do not enjoy....

1. Waking up SUPER EARLY  to drive to the airport. 
2. Checking in. Yes, I know this is for safety but it takes FOREVER! (have you guys noticed how impatient I am?)
3. The flight is 13 hours long! 13!!!! This is not good for people who are nauseous the whole time during a flight like myself :(
4. Packing. oh boy... about this, I tend to over pack anyways.. so what do I do when I have limited space and a weight limit to pack for a 5 week long trip?! Our GATE adviser told us to pack for just a week and a half worth of clothes. That's is easily said than done, especially for girls! WE LIKE LOTS OF CLOTHING OPTIONS! 
5. Cell phones, credit cards, computers, student insurance cards, vaccination.. well all those have to be figured out. I must talk to my cell phone providers and bank to inform them I am leaving out of the country!

Fortunately, I will be traveling by plane

In general, these are the knitty gritty stuff that's not as much fun to think about and do. So, as our trip comes closer, I really have to buckle down and tackle these pre-traveling stuff and get them all figured out! Don't get me wrong I am VERY much excited to go, and I probably sound negative talking about the trip, but these are the stuff I get so anxious about when it comes to traveling! Do you guys have tips for me? I have traveled abroad mutiple times but NEVER without my parents, so any suggestions would help! :) I would really appreciate that! 

I will post more stuff about t pre-trip activities and thoughts as the day comes closer! And be ready ready to see LOTS AND LOTS of pictures of Japan when I come back :) 

Keerin’s Brand New Job: The Prologue

Seated in a cushy office chair in a room down the hallway and to the left, in a little corner of The University of Texas at Tyler, there is a Nineteen-year-old girl with warm brown hair and bright blue eyes frantically banging away at the keys as she wonders how best to make an impression on her brand new audience. Her hands are trembling, face a little flushed, expression tight with absorbed musing. That girl is… Me.

Okay, Okay. Maybe I’m over thinking this a little bit. Let me just begin with my name. I’m Keerin deWet, and I suffer from consistent mispronunciations of both parts of my name, but it’s okay. I am used to a little variation. Here’s a picture of me to help put a face to the name:

I have lived in Tyler all my life, but my family moved to the United States from South Africa several years before I was born. I am going into my fourth semester as a student here at UT Tyler and I am an inaugural member of the new Global Awareness Through Education (GATE) Program. Just before the end of the Fall 2012 semester, I finally decided that I was going to major in Political Science and double minor in Psychology and International Studies.

Sounds a little crazy, right? Well, I have a wide variety of interests that plug into that decision, but all of it pools into wanting to someday go out into the world and foster happy and healthy relations around the world between businesses and Non-Government Organizations. I love cultural studies of all kinds, helping people work through their issues and coming up with solutions, and looking for new experiences of all kinds. These three components spawned my plan to someday become a mediator in the international sphere.

Until I get there though, I’m here attending school so I can chase those dreams and meet new people. I also have lots of other interesting hobbies besides people watching and cultural appreciation, though!

Here’s a little list of some of my other interests:

•     Reading and blogging about fiction novels, especially fantasy!
•        Writing fiction for fun
•        Playing video games
•        Cooking and food
•         Dancing
•     Coldplay and classical music
•      Drinking tea
•     Surfing the web for interesting but possibly useless information
•     America’s Funniest Home Videos 
•     Daydreaming about anything
•     Being helpful

I guess I could list a couple of things I hate too (math, stranger danger, drama, movies about war, etc.) but let’s focus on the positives, right? I am so excited to be joining the crew here at the UT Tyler Admissions Center to help dish out the inside scoops and help give advice to make your journey into college and beyond that much less scary. Stay with me at the UT Tyler Blog and see what we get up to this semester! It’s a pleasure to meet my readers, and I hope all of you will let me know what you want to see from me in the comments as I bring you more blogs!

Happy International Education Week!

             UT Tyler Holds International Education Week!!!!

Ashley Ward is AWESOMMEEE!!

This week UT Tyler is hosting different activity each day that incorporates international education. UT Tyler teaches students the importance and the benefits of international education! Being part of the GATE program as well as being born in a different country, I have experience first hand how educating yourself about cultures other than your own enables you to  achieve far more knowledge about yourself, other people, and the world you live in. 

My buddies!! Jelissa Lair and Alberto Hernandez

Today I went with my fellow GATE members to the Food of the World: Afternoon Tea Event! We tried different types of tea as well as scones, sugar, cookies, and finger food like cucumber, egg salad, and chicken salad sandwiches :) 

Bellow are the schedule for the rest of the International Education Events !!! :D 

Tuesday, Nov. 13 in the UC Ballroom 

Global Quiz Night, 6 – 8 p.m., pits students against each other for prizes. Question categories include sports, geography and science. Sponsored by the Center for Global Education and UT Tyler Honors Program.

Wednesday, Nov. 14 in the UC Ballroom

The Henna, Dress and Adornment Workshop, 11 a.m.  – 1 p.m., describes various practices of adornment around the world, including henna tattoos and forms of dress.

Thursday, Nov. 15 in the UT Tyler James H. Stewart, Jr. Administration Building, room 301

A study abroad reception, 3 – 5 p.m., is for students who have studied abroad or are interested in studying overseas. The UT Tyler Phi Beta Delta International Honor Society serves as sponsor.

Friday, Nov. 16 in the UC theater

Student Panel/Study Abroad Fair, noon – 2 p.m., allows students to learn about study abroad opportunities at UT Tyler from other students and explore different Spring Break and summer travel/study opportunities.

WorldFest!

  
I <3  field trips! woohoooo!!!!!

  The GATE (Global Awareness Through Education) students had the opportunity to take a field trip to World Fest in Addison Square this Sunday. I must say we had lots of fun, minus.. the heat and the humidity... 



 "WorldFest celebrates the diverse cultural communities that make up the DFW Metroplex and provides guests the opportunity to be immersed in the culture of Asia, Europe, Africa, Middle East and of course the Americas"

Take Advantage!

Whenever I get the chance, I am going to be buying some new music, the soundtrack to this legit musical called 1789:  Les Amants de la Bastille [The Lovers of Bastille], a French production based on the events of Bastille Day, the French independence day.  Were it not for French courses that I took a few years ago, I would not be able to appreciate and understand the music.  (Now I just have to get over to France so that I can actually see the musical. :D)

Every year, there are an increasing number of ways to experience different cultures, both in class and outside of class at UT Tyler.  Here are just a few of these opportunities:

• Language courses:  By learning a new language, you learn about another culture.  On top of that, you get something awesome to put on your resume; as companies continue to expand around the globe, they want bilingual employees.  Here at UT Tyler, you can study Chinese, French, Japanese, Latin, and Spanish, just to name a few.
• Culture classes:  There are several courses with a multicultural focus, including courses in art, English, history, political science, and sociology. Of course, the best way to learn about other cultures is to experience the culture at it's heart, which is possible through UT Tyler's travel-study courses.
• Multicultural Events: The Cowan Center offers numerous events that students may attend for free.  The GATE program schedules a variety of programs with a global focus throughout the year;  the Jazz Band and the Choir offer periodic performances as well.   Many of our own students get to have their artwork displayed at the Meadows Gallery, which is open to students free of charge.  If those do not pique your interest, then there are also lots of student organizations to participate in to broaden your horizons.

As you can see, there are lots of opportunities to explore the world around you right on your own university; try to take advantage of these opportunities if you can! :)

"Mysteries of Lisbon"

from: uttyler.edu/GATE

PRESENTS 

      Global Film Series: "Mysteries of Lisbon" 

The UT Tyler GATE (Global Awareness Through Education) is hosting a film night tomorrow night, September 11,  in The University Center Theater at 6pm! 

"Mysteries of Lisbon

                The film follows a jealous countess, a wealthy businessman, and a young orphaned boy across Portugal, France, Italy and Brazil where they all connect with a variety of interesting individuals. This film has won numerous awards and have been praised heavily. If you like mystery, suspense, a bit of old fashion action, and crazy, twisted, story plot then you should come and watch!! 

Watch the trailer @ http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1236371/

Welcoming A New School Year and New Beginnings

                New beginnings and a mile stone in my life welcomes me into the next school year. It’s official! I’m a sophomore and 20! It is still so hard for me to say that or admit to myself. Yes, I know, some of you readers might be shaking your head at me wondering why I’m freaking out about turning twenty. Well, to me it’s just a big realization that I am no longer a teenager. I don’t even have the “teen” after my age anymore! But I do look forward to this new school year with great excitement!

                My name is Gabby Cruz from Allen, Texas. I am a pre nursing major, coming in to my sophomore year here at The University of Texas at Tyler . I was born 8331 miles away in Olongapo, Philippines. Till this day, I still can’t spell Philippines without spell checkL. If you looked at me now, I bet you would never guess that this girl grew up in a farm. Indeed, a full on rolling fields, cows, pigs and chicken kind of farm.  I moved to San Jose, California in 3rd grade and to Texas the summer before 5^th grade. I’ve been living in Texas for 9 years and I still can’t get over this heat!

                Freshman year has been such a great experience, with a few ups and downs here and there. I definitely immersed myself in a lot of organizations on campus including, SGA (Student Government Association,  Expansion (we are in the process of staring a third sorority on campus! Yay!), Sigma Alpha Pi (National Society of Leadership and Success), and  GATE (Global Awareness through Education) which my group is able to travel to Japan this summer! I also enjoy singing and joined University Chorale spring semester of last year. Although I have been in choir since 6^th grade, I still have trouble getting over signing solo in front of people….  I also have played volleyball since 5^th grade. If you ask me to play volleyball with you, you’d probably want to think twice.. .. I’m pretty rusty..ok ALOT rusty.

                I am very honored to be a part of the Student Communication team at UT Tyler.  This is my first time blogging so hopefully you guys enjoyed reading my very first blog! It’s been kind of weird writing about myself.. but don’t worry I definitely cut it short to spare you! As I become more experience with blogging I hope you all would get a chance to get to know me a lot better through my post! Keep reading our  UT Tyler Student Blog because I have so much to share with you about all the things I love about life, college and of course UT Tyler !  

Free Movie

Tuesday night, I went to the UC Theatre for a free screening of a movie called Cairo Time. At first, I thought it was going to be a documentary about Egypt. I was totally into a documentary, regardless of how long I’d have to sit still. After I looked it up I discovered that it was a romantic drama, I wasn’t sure if I’d be into romance.

I thought twice about going. Maybe it would be lame? It was free and I had already invited a friend, so I attended anyway.
Best decision I’ve made for myself in a while.
It was a magnificently filmed and acted movie, even with the gooey lovie dovie parts.

Aside from that, it was a movie of clashing American and Middle Eastern culture. The way women were seen, specifically, interested me.

In one part Juliette, the leading lady played by Patricia Clarkson, enters a coffee shop to find her friend Tareq, played by Alexander Siddig. She talks to him for 5 minutes of the movie, and finally notices that everyone was staring at her, and asks why. She finds out that coffee shops are only for men! Everyone that was staring at her didn’t say anything because “it wouldn’t be polite”.

The GATE Program, or Global Awareness Through Education, is a two-year residential learning program and a series of planned events on campus that are designed for students. They are globally engaging, culturally diverse, and always fun.

 Free movies, too.