The Middle Ground Journal

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Europe – Five countries, Three weeks – by Ana Maria Camelo Vega. The North Star Reports: Global Citizenship and Digital Literacy, at NorthStarReports.org and facebook.com/NorthStarReports Travel. Travel a lot. Before living in the United States, I had the idea of a certain reality that merely involved my culture.…

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Semester in New Zealand – Don’t Forget Your Snapper Card – by Matthew Breeze. The North Star Reports: Global Citizenship and Digital Literacy, at NorthStarReports.org and facebook.com/NorthStarReports [This is my bus pass, known as a snapper card] Public transportation is a miracle, and a curse. Coming from northern…

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A Semester in Italy – In With Both the Old and the New – by Sara Desrocher. The North Star Reports: Global Citizenship and Digital Literacy, at NorthStarReports.org and facebook.com/NorthStarReports This past week has been full of adventures, my family was able to join me in traveling around…

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Porcupine Mountains Wilderness State Park – Michigan, U.S.A. – by Delaney Babich. The North Star Reports: Global Citizenship and Digital Literacy, at NorthStarReports.org and facebook.com/NorthStarReports In the midst of our chaotic world, there are places where peace and solitude still exist, namely, within our national parks and landmarks.…

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Taiwan – Spending the Summer in Taipei – by Megan Beckerich. The North Star Reports: Global Citizenship and Digital Literacy, at NorthStarReports.org and facebook.com/NorthStarReports [Pictured: Jiufen, a former Japanese administered coal mining town turned tourist hot spot and inspiration for Spirited Away] The summer of 2016 is one…

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A Semester in Italy – Siena and San Gimignao – by Donovan Chock. The North Star Reports: Global Citizenship and Digital Literacy, at NorthStarReports.org and facebook.com/NorthStarReports Ciao, This semester I am also studying in Italy with Sara Desrocher. The nature of my reports are to give readers an…

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An Introduction to the Chinese Hotpot – by Marin Ekstrom. The North Star Reports: Global Citizenship and Digital Literacy, at NorthStarReports.org and facebook.com/NorthStarReports [The hot pot broths] In China, going out to eat is a beloved activity that occurs on a regular basis. One of the most popular…

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Semester in New Zealand – Picking up Rocks – By Matthew Breeze. The North Star Reports: Global Citizenship and Digital Literacy, at NorthStarReports.org and facebook.com/NorthStarReports When you walk do you sometimes pick up a rock and look at it? Maybe toss it into a nearby pond or lake.…

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A Semester in Italy – Florence University – by Sara Desrocher. The North Star Reports: Global Citizenship and Digital Literacy, at NorthStarReports.org and facebook.com/NorthStarReports Buonasera, I am reaching the halfway point of my semester here in Montespertoli, Italy. Time is flying by! My classes are a little different…

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Semester in New Zealand – Spring Break 2.0 – by . The North Star Reports: Global Citizenship and Digital Literacy, at NorthStarReports.org and facebook.com/NorthStarReports [NZ flowers bloom in October] This is my second spring break of the year, as spring is in full swing here in the southern…

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Denmark – Expectations of Traveling Abroad – by Michaela Campbell. The North Star Reports: Global Citizenship and Digital Literacy, at NorthStarReports.org and facebook.com/NorthStarReports [The Seventeenth Century Canal Ring, in Amsterdam, North Holland] Once I began telling friends and family that I had been accepted to attend a study…

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A Semester in Italy – Venice, City of Water – by Sara Desrocher. The North Star Reports: Global Citizenship and Digital Literacy, at NorthStarReports.org and facebook.com/NorthStarReports Last weekend I had the pleasure of visiting Venice, which has been on my ‘bucket list’ for years. I was very excited…

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Chinese Table – Food, Customs, Traditions, Identities – by Mariya Taberko. The North Star Reports: Global Citizenship and Digital Literacy, at NorthStarReports.org and facebook.com/NorthStarReports [Image 1] Hot pot (火锅 huo3 guo1) seems to be everyone’s favorite meal, particularly on special occasions. During my time studying Chinese in Beijing,…

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Semester in New Zealand – Stolen Water – by Matthew Breeze. The North Star Reports: Global Citizenship and Digital Literacy, at NorthStarReports.org and facebook.com/NorthStarReports Minnesota is The Land of Ten Thousands Lakes, as our license plates so often remind us. There is water almost everywhere we look. Those…

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A Semester in Italy – Wine Making! – by Sara Desrocher. The North Star Reports: Global Citizenship and Digital Literacy, at NorthStarReports.org and facebook.com/NorthStarReports Ciao ragazzi! I am staying in the Tuscany region, which is in central Italy. The area is known for the beautiful landscape, including hills…

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The International Peace Garden – Canada and the USA – by Jennifer Battcher. The North Star Reports: Global Citizenship and Digital Literacy, at NorthStarReports.org and facebook.com/NorthStarReports On the border of Canada and the United States is a 2300-acre garden where visitors can cross between Canada and the USA…

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A Semester in Italy – Transportation – by Sara Desrocher. The North Star Reports: Global Citizenship and Digital Literacy, at NorthStarReports.org and facebook.com/NorthStarReports Ciao ragazzi! I have been in Italy for two weeks now and after a couple of trips within the country, I finally feel that I…

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The Opportunity of a Lifetime – A Meaningful Spring Break – by Kyle Dosan. The North Star Reports: Global Citizenship and Digital Literacy, at NorthStarReports.org and facebook.com/NorthStarReports Just imagine this scenario: Instead of going home for your first college spring break you decide to go on a service…

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Sustainability in Italy – A Special Series – Sustainability and Agriculture – by Sara Desrocher. The North Star Reports: Global Citizenship and Digital Literacy, at NorthStarReports.org and facebook.com/NorthStarReports Buongiorno! I will be spending the semester studying abroad in Montespertoli, which is about 13 miles outside of Florence, Italy.…

English: The Globalized Language – by Molly Enich. The North Star Reports: Global Citizenship and Digital Literacy, at NorthStarReports.org and facebook.com/NorthStarReports [Farewell sign in… Source: English: The Globalized Language – by Molly Enich. The North Star Reports: Global Citizenship and Digital Literacy, at NorthStarReports.org and facebook.com/NorthStarReports

Hidden History – by Thomas Landgren. The North Star Reports: Global Citizenship and Digital Literacy, at NorthStarReports.org and facebook.com/NorthStarReports Growing up in a house that is o… Source: Hidden History – by Thomas Landgren. The North Star Reports: Global Citizenship and Digital Literacy, at NorthStarReports.org and facebook.com/NorthStarReports

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The “Moscow of the Far East”: An Introduction to Harbin, China – by Marin Ekstrom. The North Star Reports: Global Citizenship and Digital Literacy, at NorthStarReports.org and facebook.com/NorthStarReports [The Saint Sophia Cathedral, a former Russian Orthodox church-turned-city museum that serves as Harbin’s most recognizable landmark.] Towering onion dome…

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Peace in Colombia – Saying yes to the end of a half-century of war – by Ana Maria Camelo Vega. The North Star Reports: Global Citizenship and Digital Literacy, at NorthStarReports.org and facebook.com/NorthStarReports Twenty years ago, it seemed absurd to imagine a peaceful environment in Colombia. Twenty years…

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Meet Our NSR Student Editors — Rachel Weyenberg, Social Media Editor. The North Star Reports: Global Citizenship and Digital Literacy, at NorthStarReports.org and facebook.com/NorthStarReports Hello, my name is Rachel Weyenberg. I am a sophomore at the College of St. Scholastica and currently pursing a major in nursing. I…

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Meet Our NSR Student Editors — Jena O’Byrne, Social Media Editor. The North Star Reports: Global Citizenship and Digital Literacy, at NorthStarReports.org and facebook.com/NorthStarReports Hello, my name is Jena O’Byrne I am from Stewartville, MN. I am a student at the College of St. Scholastica and will be…

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Meet Our NSR Student Editors — Sarah Burton, Social Media Editor. The North Star Reports: Global Citizenship and Digital Literacy, at NorthStarReports.org and facebook.com/NorthStarReports Hello everyone! My name is Sarah Burton. I grew up in Colfax, Wisconsin, which is a small town outside of Eau Claire. I am…

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Meet Our NSR Student Editors — Nancy Thao, Social Media Editor. The North Star Reports: Global Citizenship and Digital Literacy, at NorthStarReports.org and facebook.com/NorthStarReports Hello, my name is Nancy Thao. I am a senior at the College of St. Scholastica who will be graduating in spring 2017. I…

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Meet Our NSR Student Editors — Jonia Gordon, Social Media Editor. The North Star Reports: Global Citizenship and Digital Literacy, at NorthStarReports.org and facebook.com/NorthStarReports Hello, my name is Jonia Gordon. I am a recent graduate of the College of St. Scholastica with a major in Global, Cultural, and…

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Meet Our NSR Student Editors — Allison Brennhofer, Social Media Editor. The North Star Reports: Global Citizenship and Digital Literacy, at NorthStarReports.org and facebook.com/NorthStarReports Hi! My name is Allison Brennhofer, I am from Saint Paul, Minnesota. I am a junior at the College of Saint Scholastica. My major…

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Meet Our NSR Student Editors — Jodi Moran, Social Media Editor. The North Star Reports: Global Citizenship and Digital Literacy, at NorthStarReports.org and facebook.com/NorthStarReports Hello, my name is Jodi Moran and I am from St. Michael- Albertivlle, MN. Since I am a transfer student I am currently a…

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Meet Our NSR Student Editors — Molly Enich, Social Media Editor. The North Star Reports: Global Citizenship and Digital Literacy, at NorthStarReports.org and facebook.com/NorthStarReports [Me hiking the eastern coast of Iceland] I grew up in Side Lake, Minnesota, a very small community on a chain of lakes, up…

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Meet Our NSR Student Editors — Jemma Provance, Social Media Editor. The North Star Reports: Global Citizenship and Digital Literacy, at NorthStarReports.org and facebook.com/NorthStarReports Hello! My name is Jemma Provance. I come from the little town of Roseau, Minnesota, and I’ll be graduating from the College of Saint…

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Meet Our NSR Student Editors — Michaela Campbell, Social Media Editor. The North Star Reports: Global Citizenship and Digital Literacy, at NorthStarReports.org and facebook.com/NorthStarReports Name: Michaela Campbell, Graduation Year: 2017, Major/Minor: Psychology/ Political Science (intended), Hometown: Two Harbors, Minnesota. I think that picking a quote to define you…

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Meet Our NSR Student Editors — Megan Hennen, Senior Editor. The North Star Reports: Global Citizenship and Digital Literacy, at NorthStarReports.org and facebook.com/NorthStarReports I am Megan Hennen and I am a 2016 College of St. Scholastica graduate. I started working with the Middle Ground Journal (MGJ) back in…

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NSR concludes its 2015-2016 publication schedule. A Keynote Address and Reflections – by Professor Hong-Ming Liang, NSR editors Bryce Gadke and Sara Tomlinson. The North Star Reports: Global Citizenship and Digital Literacy, at NorthStarReports.org and facebook.com/NorthStarReports [The North Star Reports  global areas of coverage, 253 original articles, student…

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Norway – More From Two: Observations of Politics – by Jonia Gordon. The North Star Reports: Global Citizenship and Digital Literacy, at NorthStarReports.org and facebook.com/NorthStarReports Editor’s Note: this is a part of a special series from Jonia Gordon, a talented student who is studying in Oslo, Norway for…

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Iron Range, Minnesota – Home on the Range – by Molly Enich. The North Star Reports: Global Citizenship and Digital Literacy, at NorthStarReports.org and facebook.com/NorthStarReports [First picture: Chisholm High School, built 1912] “Cabin country” is what people from the Twin Cities refer to the area north of Duluth…

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“Brain Travel” – by Matthew Breeze. The North Star Reports: Global Citizenship and Digital Literacy, at NorthStarReports.org and facebook.com/NorthStarReports Over spring break I had the pleasure of going home and relaxing with friends and family. I thoroughly enjoyed the time and the relaxation that was available because of…

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Monte Gordo, Portugal – Fresh Sea Food – by Catherine Kolar. The North Star Reports: Global Citizenship and Digital Literacy, at NorthStarReports.org and facebook.com/NorthStarReports It was late February and even though classes had only started a week or so earlier I was ready for a break. Sevilla is…

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Macau, China – Portuguese in China (and the World)? The Lusophonia Festival in Macau – by Marin Ekstrom. The North Star Reports: Global Citizenship and Digital Literacy, at NorthStarReports.org and facebook.com/NorthStarReports [A Brazilian mannequin dressed similarly to national icon Carmen Miranda] [The brightly lit entryway to Lusophonia] Macau,…

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New Zealand – Permaculture and the Environment – by Delaney Babich. The North Star Reports: Global Citizenship and Digital Literacy, at NorthStarReports.org and facebook.com/NorthStarReports One of the most intriguing lessons I learned while studying abroad was the idea of permaculture, and its impressive success rate on the environment…

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Norway – The Bergen Trip – by Jonia Gordon. The North Star Reports: Global Citizenship and Digital Literacy, at NorthStarReports.org and facebook.com/NorthStarReports Editor’s Note: this is a part of a special series from Jonia Gordon, a talented student who is studying in Oslo, Norway for the Fall 2015…

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Cyprus – Reflections – by Samuel Bunting. The North Star Reports: Global Citizenship and Digital Literacy, at NorthStarReports.org and facebook.com/NorthStarReports I will be the first person to admit that going abroad was something that never appealed to me. Sure, I had listened to the energetic talks of my…

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The Matriarch and Traditions, Death and Change – by Cheyenne S. Lemm. The North Star Reports: Global Citizenship and Digital Literacy, at NorthStarReports.org and facebook.com/NorthStarReports (A four generation picture. [left to right] My grandma holding my niece, my mom, and my sister.) Like so many other families, the…

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A Fulbright Teacher in Bogota, Colombia, A Special Series – “The Native Speaker” – by Laura Blasena. The North Star Reports: Global Citizenship and Digital Literacy, at NorthStarReports.org and facebook.com/NorthStarReports I will be leaving my university before the end of the Fulbright grant period. Among other personal reasons…

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Tanzania – Service Learning – by Paul Schulzetenberg. The North Star Reports: Global Citizenship and Digital Literacy, at NorthStarReports.org and facebook.com/NorthStarReports Editor’s Note: Many thanks to photographer Adam Bridge for the permission to use his photos for photos # 1 and 4. That might be kilograms? [Photo #1…

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A Fulbright Teacher in Bogota, Colombia, A Special Series – Trash Collection – by Laura Blasena. The North Star Reports: Global Citizenship and Digital Literacy, at NorthStarReports.org and facebook.com/NorthStarReports When our cleaning lady decided to take a week off after Christmas, I and the fourteen other people living…

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A Fulbright Teacher in Bogota, Colombia, A Special Series – “It’s Not Bad, It’s Just Different …” – by Laura Blasena. The North Star Reports: Global Citizenship and Digital Literacy, at NorthStarReports.org and facebook.com/NorthStarReports I work with another organization that pairs individuals that are studying or working throughout…