Welcome to Portland and SMCC Campus!

After a late arrival Sunday night at our residence hall in South Portland, we began our first day together with thirty-one students from Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, and Italy. The morning started with the first of what will be many trips to the dining hall, after which the students crossed the street to their classroom building for ice-breakers, curriculum introduction, and general orientation information. Students have been paired with roommates from differing countries, and after five minutes of chatting, each student introduced his or her roommate(s) to the rest of the group.

The lovely Anne Rothaker from CIEE then guided us outside for some sunny sightseeing of useful landmarks around the Southern Maine Community College campus; Willard Beach and the campus fitness center proved to be of special interest. Students took some time to grab lunch and don their blue CIEE t-shirts--useful for keeping track of each other in town!--before heading into the city of Portland for a scavenger hunt planned by their instructors. In groups of five or six, students followed clues directing them to local Portland favorites where they documented their progress with the ever-ubiquitous selfie. The scavenger hunt not only allowed the students to stretch their legs after a long flight and a morning in the classroom, but also helped them gain their bearings in town, where they will conduct several surveys for their projects over the course of the program.

The final stop on the list of clues was Captain Sam's Ice Cream shop, where they were rewarded for their navigating with their choice of ice cream. Some groups used the extra time before the bus arrived to wander about the Old Port, while others relaxed in the shade. As the bus driver playfully warned us that the only difference between a bus rider and a hitch hiker is five minutes too late, we program leaders were particularly proud when everyone had boarded the bus at 15:59. 

Back on campus, the students are now free to settle in to their rooms, unpack, and unwind. Off to enjoy the clear coastal skies and sparkling views of our lighthouse-studded peninsula!

Program Leader Kassie