To begin the first issue of the Purple this semester, I thought it would be interesting to highlight the experiences of two students returning from their study abroad experiences, not only to help those considering study abroad in the next couple of years, but also to demonstrate how diverse and important these experiences can be. In the words of the great Franklin D. Roosevelt, "A nation, like a person, has a mind - a mind that must be kept informed and alert, that must know itself, that understands the hopes and needs of its neighbors - all the other nations that live within the narrowing circle of the world."
Jenny Robb (’11) has spent the last semester in Quito, Ecuador through the IES program. A Spanish major, Jenny spent time researching programs, and saying the IES program suited the style of study abroad that she wanted to do. She says she decided on Ecuador because she needed to go to a Spanish speaking country and she had never been to South America. The program hosted other students, who she says, “became better friends than I ever could have imagined.” For Jenny, it was not one experience that truly stood out, but rather the whole experience: “For me, it was really the overall trip; experiencing the culture, becoming closer to my host family, and exploring different areas of the country.”
Being in South America allowed for several traveling opportunities, with the group and with friends. “IES took us to the Amazon forest and to the Galapagos Islands, but my friends and I organized trips to volcanoes, beaches, and other cities as many weekends as we could, and for a small country, there is a lot to see.” One moment she does remember well was her trip to the Galapagos Islands, where she saw many giant tortoises.
She does say that the idea of leaving Sewanee was hard. She worried about missing friends and family, but says that once she arrived she had nothing to worry about. “I became completely immersed in the Ecuadorian culture; I had a family who I lived and became close with.” The children in the house even called her Aunt Jenny. She says she is so glad that she was able to study abroad in Ecuador. “I fell in love with the country itself, the food, the people, even the chaos of the city, and when it came time to leave, it felt as hard, if not harder, than not going back to Sewanee in the Fall.”
Catherine Frampton’s (’11) experience, while different, affected her in similar ways to Jenny’s. Catherine, an anthropology major, was interested in studying different cultures, and chose a program in India. She ended up spending three months in Jaipur and one month on her own in Bangalore. In choosing a program, Catherine says she was looking for “something to help me grow, something also with hands-on experience related to anthropology.” The program afforded her this opportunity. While in India, Catherine was able to get fieldwork experience, and she even completed an independent study of her choosing.
Catherine calls the experience “a growth period.” She says that the independence gained from being totally separated from western culture helped her understand who she is. She was able to travel extensively, from Darjeeling to Agra to see the Taj Mahal. While she says that she didn’t realize how much she missed Sewanee until she came back, she says she was grateful while in India for the experiences and knowledge she had gained here. She says, “To succeed abroad you need to be dependent on yourself. Sewanee gave me that.” While she took her Sewanee experiences abroad, now she says she hopes to bring some of her India experiences here, and maintain them always.
Remember, if you are planning to study abroad next semester, you need to attend a session with Dean Jones. Some important dates include: February 16 (last day to submit request for portability of financial aid), March 23 (last day to submit Intent to Study Abroad), and April 26 (last day to submit LOA-SA form). You can find more information online at http://www.sewanee.edu/academics/studyabroad.
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