(I met this
Spanish Professor at one of the European Commission's Annual Higher Education
Fair in 2014; in the course of our discussion, he suggested that I apply to this Erasmus
Mundus Action 2 Staff Mobility Grant under what he called Swap and Transfer
(SAT) Program; relatively simple application, not one that required detailed
proposals etc so didn't hurt to try anyway. By
a stroke of luck aka God's sovereignty, I was awarded 1 month staff mobility in
the field of Social Science cum International Relations. Didn't really want a
month and thanks to visa approval delays (initially frustrating), my tutor's availability, etc., I got my
perfect three weeks-get away at zero cost to BSU except of course for my salary for
the whole period. I thank BSU for allowing me. I thank my hubby for permitting me and for time and
again willingly taking over my roles in the household. I thank the progress in
communication technology as well because I still got to see him and the kids
everyday although it was not easy catching them awake. I came home with one signed (University of Oviedo) and two draft MOUs (Huelva University and Universidad Politecnica de Madrid) from the three universities I visited (which will become useless if there will be
no interest from faculty and staff to pursue collaborative activities, and
willingness for BSU to share counterpart funds), but more importantly, some
renewed motivation, learning, and exposure that can't be had in any classroom or office setting. (My colleague in the program was an assistant director for
International Relations in a Vietnam university and he said the Vietnamese
government funds scholarships for their professors, lecturers, and eligible students to study in
European universities. Anyway, while I wish that I can say that as well, I'm
happy enough that I have widened my horizon and learned about the opportunities and mechanisms available
in the EU system.)
Oviedo, Asturias, Spain
University of Oviedo, Oviedo Campus
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| Engr. Sy of Vietnam and Prof. Rifa, my tutor from the University of Oviedo |
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| With Mr. Camaro, an Erasmus Ph.D. student at UNIOVI |
University of Oviedo, Gijon
Universidad de Huelva/Huelva Province
(While my Vietnamese colleague in the program went for sightseeing to Paris, Amsterdam, Brussels, and Barcelona, for the love of BSU he he, I opted to visit the strawberry region of Andalucia.)
With Prof. Juan Diego Borrero of University of Huelva and a blueberry farmer
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| With Prof. Fatima Ruiz in one of the strawberry farms of Huelva Province |
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| Romanian nationals working as seasonal labor force in Huelva, Spain |
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| Soilless culture - raspberry production |
Instituto Andaluz de Investigacion y Formacion Agraria, Pesquera, Alimentaria y de la Produccion Ecologica (IFAPA), Malaga (South Spain)
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| Strawberry Genebank at IFAPA, Malaga |
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| The strawberry genebank manager |
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| Prof. Carmen Soria of IFAPA, Malaga |
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| Wild strawberry varieties |
Universidad Politecnica de Madrid (UPM)
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| Prof. Engr. Rosa, Director International Relations of the School of Agriculture, Food and Biosystems Engineering at Unibersidad Politecnica de Madrid (one of the top Agriculture universities in Spain) presenting their programs |
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| Ate Nena from Abra, Prof. Abigal of UST, Ms. Maylene of Atok Trail, Baguio city and Ms Sharon Pugong of Hingyon, Ifugao |
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| Mr. Camaro, Ms. Emily, Prof. Abigail, Ms. Academic International School owner and Mr. Harold, Erasmus Master's student |
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| Instant Philippine Academic Community in Oviedo (PACO) haha |
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| Cidra tradition in Asturias |
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| Ms. Sylvia, coordinator of SAT program at UNIOVI |
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| Pugong Family at Oviedo |
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with Vietnamese Mr. Sy
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Half day fun with my sister who met up with me in Madrid from Italy
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| Burnham park, Madrid version |
Luneta, Madrid version
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| with my sister Beverly Casiwan Lictao living in Modena, Italy |
