On the 8th and 9th of July we went on an incredible weekend trip to Sedona, Flagstaff, and the Grand Canyon. Our journey began on a Saturday morning, when we gathered at the loading dock across from Gordon Commons and we departed for our first destination, Sedona. The drive took approximately two hours, and along the way, we stopped at a Shell gas station with giant cactuses. On our way to Sedona, the bus driver (who we had a wonderful and fun time with) stopped to show us some of the rocks and we took a photo with the one named Bell Rock. Our stop in Sedona was the charming Tlaquepaque shopping district. This place has a vibe like a small town in Mexico. We had a fantastic time exploring the area, looking around shops and visiting galleries. Next, we made our way to the Wildflower Cafe, where we had a wonderful lunch. Following our meal, we headed to the Sedona Airport Mesa Scenic Lookout for a truly breathtaking experience of the Red rocks of Sedona. This place gave us a beautiful panoramic view of Sedona's rock formations. After this experience we made our way to our next destination, to the Grand Canyon. We stopped at two places, first at a wonderful lookout, then at the South Rim near Grand Canyon Village. It was amazing to enjoy one of the world's most famous natural wonders as we watched the sun slowly set, however near sunset we had to leave for dinner. We took the most pictures by far at this amazing wonder. We sat down for dinner at a cozy restaurant named "We cook pizza and pasta." The menu offered huge pizzas and great pasta dishes. As the night came, we made our way to Flagstaff, where we would spend the night at a hotel called Baymont by Wyndham Flagstaff. It was wonderful to finally experience lower temperatures and higher humidity than we got used to in Phoenix during the last two weeks. Sunday morning started with a warm breakfast at the hotel. We packed our bags, we checked out and made our way to the Walnut Canyon National Monument, a place of great historical significance. Where we hiked along the trails and saw the well-preserved cliff dwellings. We also filled out an exercise book, pledged an oath to protect the national parks and got a Junior Ranger badge. Afterward, we had some free time to explore Flagstaff, where we wandered around downtown, visited Route 66 and went to the Flagstaff Visiting Center. As our trip came to an end, we began our journey back to Phoenix. However, we made one last stop at Rock Springs Café for their famous pies.
Marcell Kovács - SUSI 2023 from Hungary
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On Friday 7 July 2023, the academic part of the programme was about Protester Protections with Morgan Loew. He is the president of the Arizona First Amendment Coalition, teaches media law and TV news reporting at ASU's Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication and he is an investigative reporter at CBS5, 3TV and AZ Family. Morgan gave us his final lecture of the week, which was very interesting. Morgan's lectures always explored current issues and opened up perspectives to the students that helped develop critical thinking and open-mindedness. The final lecture summarised the experiences and lessons learned from the past week. The week began with a discussion on Freedom of Expression in the United States, followed by a visit to the AZfamily news room. To learn more about the US justice system, we visited the Phoenix courthouse, where we witnessed many interesting things. All of this experience and knowledge was summed up on Friday. In Morgan's final presentation, she encouraged us all to reach our goals and achieve our dreams, even if the obstacles we face can sometimes seem daunting. The rest of the afternoon focused on the preparation of Community Action Projects. Exciting ideas for solving the problems of our own communities came up. We started the evening with a dinner with Kristy and Amy. Everyone at the Wilderness was well fed with very tasty burgers and fries. During the meal, the owner of the restaurant told us that the food they prepare is made from such organic ingredients and they help local farmers' businesses with their meat purchases. And the highlight of the evening was the Phoenix First Friday, which takes place on the first Friday of every month and attracts a large crowd. During the event, stalls are set up in Phoenix's downtown area where you can buy jewellery and clothes. It was a great opportunity to experience Downtown Phoenix's art scene that includes local art vendors, music and food. and good vibes add a festival feel to the event. During the event, Marcell was interviewed by the local TV channel and talked about his experiences in the US so far and said that apart from the extreme weather, he likes everything about the country. The reporters then noted that Marcell's home country, Hungary, has more than 10 degrees colder weather, so it's no wonder that he has a hard time with the 110 degrees that is average in Phoenix. “I feel like I’m in a movie” was one of the first things I heard by the time we arrived in Phoenix, Arizona. Main character syndrome is famous among Generation Z and since we arrived in America I think almost all of us can experience it. Not because we idealize our life in the eyes of others but because every day in Phoenix, Arizona, feels unreal just like a scene from a movie. So now you will wonder what genre this movie is - criminal, action, comedy, musical, adventure. There is no simple answer to that every day's mix of emotion and activities. I decided to picture you on our Thursday as a compilation of movies and TV shows. Heat, palms, unsolved crimes, everybody wears sunglasses to the way of the courthouse. If that doesn’t ring a bell to you then you probably have never seen an episode of CSI: Miami. We spent the whole afternoon in the Phoenix courthouse to get a deeper knowledge of the U.S. court system and discuss the accessibility to media representatives. Furthermore, we sat on the jury chairs, pretended to play roles in the court, and asked numerous questions. And when the first part of our day was near to an end the evening was just around the corner. Most comedy shows or movies have a title that doesn’t have a connection to the plot. This introduction to our next activity perhaps will give you the sense that when we went to a stand-up show called “Pizza Party” there was no pizza involved in it. Indeed one of the performers looked like Jonah Hill which helped with our feeling of reliving typical American comedy. Improvised jokes, interaction with the audience, and delicious Mexican food, all that in a place with AC. Sounds like heaven right? Fact one as a girl I like to shop, fact two I enjoy vintage markets. So when we left the show I was sure that heaven is right here in Phoenix. At that moment I wished I had Cher's computer from Clueless so I can mismatch or find the perfect fit in just seconds. That doesn’t happen so we spend hours looking around and enjoying ourselves. You know that feeling when you are in your room ready to crash the bed, but a sudden desire to check the common room reveals the last movie for the day “High School Musical (Balkan edition)”. We tried to learn each other's traditional dances and realized how many similarities our music has. As a cherry on top we left our Cotton Eye Joe steps for last. Dance moves before bed are not only good for burning some calories but also for relieving stress. And “Cut” as directors like to shout at the end of a scene or as we call it- just a normal day here in Phoenix, Arizona. We are all excited for the next chapter in the script.
Your film critic, Viktoria. See you in the next act. Another sunny day in Phoenix, but it is not any day, it is Independence Day, a true American experience. One would say life is a movie and it truly is, not only are we living in one, but this time we are the directors. As cliche as it sounds, having the chance to be present on such a big celebration feels almost surreal, and yet we are here with some photos in our pockets as evidence. Our day began with none other but a baseball game. Could it be any more American? The answer is yes, wait until the end. As usual, we had to be PROMPT, this time in order to get Diamondbacks T-shirts. Yes, good guess, we were a bit late, but just on time to get the famous T-shirts (we also got the chance to choose sizes) and prepare for the loudest cheering I've ever witnessed. Kristy and the students from ASU did their best to explain the rules of the game, however, the majority of us barely understood the basics. Nevertheless, it was more than enough to feel the vibe and know when to cheer. Alongside that there were hot dogs, popcorn and peanuts that only added to the already wonderful experience. I ate a bunch of food, and took the “all you can eat“ part literally. We had the pleasure of meeting mascot Baxter who is mainly responsible for the entertainment during breaks. Despite the fact that he usually takes pictures with fans in the kids’ corner, we proudly took one indeed. Overall, it was a unique opportunity to combine America’s national sport and their holiday, regardless of the fact that the Diamondbacks lost. Our day didn't finish there. After the game we headed to Enrique’s determined to beat the heat by having cold drinks in the pool. Even though it was boiling hot, at one point we decided to get in the hot tub. I guess we adapted to this weather pretty well since we were so eager to warm up just a little bit more. The sun went down, and we were getting close to the peak of July 4th. It was time for the spectacular fireworks all around the city. I am telling you, if you are far away and can’t see one, you can definitely hear one. Darkness disappeared and all of a sudden Phoenix was full of lights. Some decided to spend the night at the Steele Indian School Park and feel the excitement surrounded with many people in a joyful atmosphere. The rest of the group and I were watching the fireworks taking over the city from a 10th floor balcony at our friend’s place. At the end we were trying to learn how to play poker, and I must say the rules of the baseball game were not the only thing that remained a mystery. It was as eventful as it gets to be, and I can say without any hesitation that I will remember this colorful day vividly, and will carry a piece of it back home. Nina Jovic Back to you Baze.
It's start of a new week with the SUSI program. This means new topics and new lead instructors. This week we studied U.S. Freedom of Expression with Morgan Loew. We covered the constitutional aspect of protecting freedom of expression as well as the exceptions to that protection. When the lecture with Morgan was completed, the rest of the day was filled with little bit of exploring. After a prolonged dispute about the public transportation system here in Phoenix, we hopped on a random bus (it wasn't really, we asked the lovely bus lady and got general directions) and prayed for the best. The first "decided" location was Scottsdale Fashion Square (it seemed too far and some had already visited it), then we shifted our attention to Paradise Valley (the bus driver warned there was not much to see.) Beside, you know, hyper-rich millionaire mansions and expensive shops for their pockets, definitely not for our weekly allowance situation. The next and final stop was Desert Ridge Marketplace, affordable and sweet place full of a variety of shops that we explored for the rest of the day. Our way back went smoothly, because we were Phoenix public transportation experts at this point, obviously. This day was finished as it started, with something new. The first day of a new week, the first new lecture, the first introduction to a new instructor, and the first visit to a Desert Ridge Marketplace had to be finished with the first supermoon of the year. Sitting on the terrace of our “home away from home” as Monday’s night sky was lit by the biggest and fullest Moon I’ve ever seen had to leave an unforgettable impression that’s going to last… not long considering my goldfish memory. But it was unimaginable, I think.
I am usually not a fan of early mornings. But today is one of those, and it just so happens to be a Sunday. We had no classes to wake up early for, but, you know, carpe diem. Knowing that my journey in the States is short, no wonder I want to make the most of it. I feel a sense of guilt whenever I do the opposite. Sunscreen, check. Water bottle, check. Shoes, on. Let’s get it! The Japanese Friendship Garden was the first destination for the day. Together with Agon, Amalia, Victoria, Yoanna, and Xhensila (the early birds), we walked toward the garden, impatiently waiting to explore it. The temperatures in Phoenix have been almost unbearable these last two days. Nevertheless, as soon as we arrived at the garden, the freshness of the trees served its purpose. Now, I feel rejuvenated. How calming it was to be surrounded by such scenery. It felt almost like being in another universe, in the middle of dry Phoenix. And as we gaze in astonishment at every corner of the garden, we come across a little friend. Agon named her Kumrie. She seemed bothered, so we left her alone after a few. After having grasped the entirety of the garden sitting in front of us, we decided it was time for breakfast. Interesting how there were loads of people waiting in line at a breakfast place we intended to eat at. “This food has to be God made”, I thought. The waiter told us we had to wait 35 minutes to be served. But being impatient for food, we decided to go to another place nearby. I distinctly remember the feeling of entering the restaurant after having walked around for a couple of minutes. Beyond thankful for air conditioners. And it’s the same feeling every time. I decided to have an omelet, with a side of English muffin bread. It was delicious, to say the least. The others ordered pancakes, french toast, and of course, the classic American breakfast. Enjoyed the time talking about the classes we’ve been having, new technologies expected to be launched soon, and TikTok. The waiter told us his former employer was Albanian, which made for a nice bonding experience. And then we headed back to the dorms. The best part of the day was yet to come. Our kind Professor, Kristy, had invited us for a Sunday dinner, at her own house, and everyone was excited to go, myself included. Well-dressed and up for a good time, we each made our way to the house, where we were greeted with such welcoming energy by Kristy and her son. But wait until I introduce you to the star of the show: Petey. He reminded me of those dogs you see in movies, and now I was meeting one in real life. In such a short amount of time, Petey befriended all of us, in his cute little way of playing around. I could talk about that dog for eons, but let us not forget about the hospitality. Upon arrival, Kristy welcomed us with lemonade, in red personalized cups. Delicious! She ordered us pizzas and salad. Divine! Then came ice cream with a touch of caramelized bananas. Also delish! There was an air hockey station at Kristy’s house. God forbid I was leaving without playing a game or two. My opponent was a little kid from the neighborhood. Happy to admit I lost. Two hours passed by quickly, with lots of laughter, good company, and impeccable food. And just like that, it was time to go back to the dorms again. The night did not end there for some of us, as we were headed to the place famously known as the Kettle Black. A couple of drinks for the sake of celebrating our time here was a great end to a day filled with delight. And as I am sitting down writing this blog, I think of how grateful I am to be a part of this journey, which will be ingrained into my memory of unforgettable experiences. Each day feels like a call for growth, and a reminder to always be mindful of your destination.
That’s it from me. On to the next blogger. Rexhep Kameraj, Kosovo SUSI 2023 It was a hot (I know, shocking) Friday morning in Phoenix and you could just see the tumbleweeds strolling around the mostly desolated city. It had been like this from the beginning of time – or, at least, of our time here. Rumor has it, we were the only ones left. It was just rumors, of course. But, in some instances, it certainly did feel like it. The stillness made the city seem woebegone. But the silence was about to be cut short abruptly by the loud Balkanico-Hungarian roar of 19 SUSI students ready to seize a new day. With our arrival on Saturday, the Phoenix rose from its ashes, promising an unforgettable experience. And so here we were, on yet another day of newness and excitement and the city was seemingly going to appease once again. Most of us knew what the day had in store. Or so we thought. That is actually what I enjoy most about life – the fact that, even in times of absolute certainty, it can still surprise you. And, fortunately, in this case, it was in a good way. But let’s not get ahead of ourselves. The day, as mentioned, had started as any other one, with the usual fuss in the dorm, on the second floor. It was quite reinvigorating to hear the buzzing of so many people getting ready in the morning. Especially if you could just observe it from a third-party perspective. You could catch life happening around you. By 9:15, people were starting to leave their rooms every couple of minutes. The morning rush of student life. At about 10, the first course of the day had already commenced. On the day’s agenda, advertising and media with Professor Juan Mundel. It took the us no less than two hours to engage into an immersing discussion with the professor, in regards to parasocial relationships, mental health and the phenomenon of social comparison. And it could have been prolonged even after the clock had struck noon, but the schedule was packed ahead as well as behind. Nonetheless, there's little to no doubt there that we left that class with a greater understanding of the topic and even more exceptional then when we had first entered. The more we envy, the more we engage in social media use. - Professor Juan Mundel The lunch though – it was the turning point. From theory to practice and from stern to ludic, the students switched camps. Too much seriousness ruins, especially at the ripe age of youth. Hence, it was about time we turned to games in order to learn. An hour of videotaping turned into a scavenger hunt was exactly what the doctor ordered to bring us back to life, the professors believed. And in the right they were. In the brief moment it took us (the young disciples) to go from our last university-related activity to the celebration we had prepared, I saw a glimpse of ever-growing excitement. Perhaps related both to the previously finished activity, as well as to the upcoming one. Which brings me to the highlight of the day and the moment that I feel has bonded those souls in a very beautiful, unique way. The first week on Arizonan land culminated in a graduation. What a way to end the day. It was incredibly heartwarming to see a bunch of people that 10 days before were complete strangers, unite and mobilize for one of their own. About on Monday, the pupils have learned about Mirza’s upcoming graduation ceremony that was going to take place that Friday and about how, due to being in Arizona, he was going to miss it. That was the moment that kicked the gears into motion and a plan began concocting. The ceremony we organized in the conference room of the university was, though not extravagant, nothing short of memorable, simply because of the thought put behind it. In Mirza’s own words, this celebration that was put together for him was certainly better than the one his peers had back home. And for that, he is going to kill us. *This sentence is not a true threat and should be treated as such.* It was the end of the school week and the beginning of the first full weekend in Phoenix. This called for some fun. And so, the schedule never stopped being packed. Friday was a long awaited pool day. And, I mean, in this heat, could you blame us? It’s been so hot in here lately, it felt like the oven we were in was set on slow and torturous cooking. So yeah, the pool came as a blessing - and not even in disguise. It was a brief relief and a fun little moment we shared together. Don’t believe me? See for yourself. And, to end the night, we decided on going to a party, to have the full American student experience. But, in all honesty, it kinda flopped. No one can beat the Balkans in this regard. Nonetheless, the day turned out to be a great one and a good opportunity to bond with some of the other participants. In my books, that makes it a 10/10. I think you got pretty bored of me by now, so that was it on my part. Onto the next chapter. Looking forward to read all about our next adventure, just like you. Hugs and kisses :* <3s - Andra Welcome to Phoenix, Arizona, the country of cactuses, where the temperature melts your skin, but the memories you make in it melt your heart. Since the moment we arrived in the devil’s backyard we had a few culture shocks, but nothing prepared us for the days coming. So, grab your virtual seat as we delve into the heart of Phoenix – ASU. On this particular day at ASU, we emerged into the world of filming and interviewing and witnessed the creative use of multimedia equipment with our lecturers Kirsten and Jordan. We put our best efforts to create our first report and learn as much as possible from the experts of this side of journalism. When it comes to filming, I could never decide which one I like more – to be in front or behind the camera. To my surprise, editing was quite enjoyable! Filip asked me when did I learn how to do it, but it was my first time! First few days we devoted to exploring the town. Let me just say, I should stick to hugging people. Lunch is always at a different place for us, but this one stuck to me because the food was so delicious, I danced while eating it! The day-time DJ that was there helped with the rhythm. To burn those calories and escape from the heat we used our friend Will’s pool. Swimming on my back while watching the palm trees in the sky was a blast. I just kept thinking how lucky I am to be here. Yesterday we had a lecture with dr Mansour Javidan where we analyzed our global mindset test results. He said that if you are accepting, openminded and inspired by diversity then "The world is your comfort zone." and that really spoke to me. It's still surreal to be here and I often feel like jumping from joy, like I did in the picture below. It all makes sense now - why traveling has always felt like home. Reporting from Phoenix, Arizona Tea By Erza Elezaj They say that everywhere you go you find new versions of yourself but today… I feel as though I am leaving a piece of me behind. The morning sun is shining as it always does in downtown. As I wake up from it, I immediately realize that this is my last day here, in the Valley of the Sun. But, I just choose to ignore that thought and all the feelings that come with it, so I decide to wake up and go eat breakfast. It is for sure a blessing to go and just grab it (the perks of being at Hampton Inn). But once I continue eating it with Razvan and Xenia, I realize that I cannot ignore the fact that this is the end of our trip here because both of my colleagues mention it. Oh My God, this is it! I say, as I walk down the road that takes me to the Cronkite School for the last time. I just can’t accept the fact that we are going to leave the city that quickly stole our heart and easily felt like home. At Cronkite there weren’t many people in the room where we usually go, since today is the last day to finish our projects. Kristy is there as always, mentoring everything that is going on. Somehow, she knows how to deal with every situation (including our stress), while she says that everything is going to be just on time. We leave the classroom to go visit one of the biggest TV stations in Phoenix, Channel 12 News. As per usual, someone is late while we’re waiting. As a form of revenge we had our ways to make them come faster. That seems like it worked, since three people showed up just seconds after. Lol. Our journey to the TV station wasn’t long, but the heat which was about 40 celcius, made it seem longer. Everything was worth it, because we had a great time there. The representatives of the television hosted us and we learned a lot from them. We also got to see their news studio, which by the way was very beautiful and for me who is already working as a journalist it is a little more exciting (makes me dream about my future). I imagine lots of scenarios in my head, as we’re going back at Cronkite. There, we give the last touches to our project, it seems like we are ready for it. The modest ceremony of presenting starts at 1:30pm and one by one, with amazing presentations, the groups finish theirs. Now it is our turn to get up and in a few seconds explain the work of four weeks here. To cover a topic like ours - Sexual and Domestic Violence in Arizona - it has its challenges. Especially while knowing the fact we had interviewed a survivor of domestic violence and that the interview might trigger or emotionally affect someone. Therefore, the presentation starts with a warning. After it ends, it seems like everyone loved it (their faces seem satisfied), this means a lot to us. Yet, something unexpected at that moment happened, because Kristy was handing us certificates for completing the program. We took group pictures and also said goodbye to some of our professors, who played an important role on teaching us how to make multimedia products. It is our last chance to visit some shops and buy stuff for people back home, so as soon as we head back Krenare, Hana and I go shopping. American snacks aren’t that cheap tbh. We got so many of them hoping they would fit somewhere in our luggage that is already full. Being tired has never stopped me from having fun. I just leave my bags, change my clothes and go to the one and only-KETTLE BLACK. As the girls and I head there, we see our last sunset of our time here. There, it felt like that part of mine that I mentioned in the beginning was staying here, with the sun! It’s okay guys, I say, we have one more week in DC, it is going to be fun. Tonight we have decided to enjoy Phoenix, and the drinks too… which were a few.
Seeing my friends there, makes me realize that we are leaving but we’re taking beautiful friendships with us. I’ll be waiting for their knock on my door, to host them in my country in the future, while remembering the best moments we shared together in Phoenix... Erza Elezaj. |