Album A-H I-R S-Z
Mary Grace Baxendale, Quebec (Summer, 2006)
Camoosh Bell, Honduras, Belize, Guatemala,Mexico (2001-2004)
Marie Chiche, international student from France; Ghana (summer 2004): About a year ago I was in Ghana working for a women’s development agency. Africa was then my main focus, the only thing I was really working towards. Now I find myself missing it and wanting to go again.
When I came back from my trip, I just used to say that it had been tough, but great. It took me some time to be really able to talk about it and to share my experiences with others. I needed to process what had happened and deal with it on my own first.
Was Ghana what I expected? Yes, and even more. Was I able to accomplish everything I wanted while there? Not really. But it is an experience I would not trade for anything. It taught me a lot and helped me decide whether I really wanted to be involved in working in Africa. […]
Although I did have somewhat of a culture shock, it was not as profound as it might seem. A lot of the choices I made were also influenced by physical exhaustion, which was due to the rough physical condition we were living in. We were sleeping on the floor, up with the sun, walking anywhere between six to ten miles a day, working during the day smoking fish, carrying heavy loads and so forth, grocery shopping, cooking and cleaning for a group of ten people. Adding to that, as the second oldest member of the group, I found myself taking care and helping the younger members who were having a very hard time being away from home. In a Western country, this would not be such a hard task, but when you have to carry everything yourself, rely on local transportation and have to sanitize everything because of the lack of hot water, everything becomes difficult and exhausting. For safety reasons, we were also not supposed to be wandering the country side by ourselves and were almost at all times with two or three other people. …It was therefore complicated to be out and about on your own.
By the end of the trip, I was able to take most of the things in stride and keep a sense of humor about the difficulties of life. Many things were frustrating, but I quickly noticed that they were frustrating to the local people also. I was able to accept what was around me and learned to deal with the different situations. The fact that I was able to lead our week of travel within the country, relying only on local transportation and making sure that everybody was taken care of showed me that I was able to find my way in this country. The lack of peers that was my main obstacle is actually an obstacle that I could encounter anywhere. I believe it is more due to personal preferences than culture shock.
I learned a lot through my experience in Ghana. It allowed me to realize what I did not want to do and what conditions I wanted to work in. It gave me an understanding of a society and of the problems it can face. I could have pushed the experience further and tried to interact more with the community, but I made the easier choice, which was spending most of my time with my group. This was my first experience in a developing country. It allowed me to build the base for my future experiences and to have some basic knowledge and understanding of what I may be confronted with. And just for that, this experience was worthwhile. I also am aware now that I can adapt to difficult and complicated situations. photos
Trace Coats, Chile (fall 2005): "With my field experience I chose to go to a place as far away as possible, while still finding a place where I could fulfill my language requirements. Chile proved to be the perfect choice, as it was five months of enjoyable embarrassment. I could have asked for little more. I was truly taken away from anything I had ever known. Every moment was new; it was like being re-born trying to learn everything again for the first time.It was this freshness and lack of understanding of the world around me that provided a strange freedom. For the first time I was able to be both part and separated from the world around me. This strange duality allowed reflection that I was not prepared for, as every new person, place, or thing I encountered was applied to both my new and old worlds. In my new world every new tidbit of information or experience I could possibly acquire was continuously used to extract every bit of practical use to ensure my domestic survival. Correspondingly, every new bit of information or experience was also being applied to my old world, evolving the compilation of my life experiences. Perhaps the best way to describe what I learned is the concept of the relativity of the world or my understanding of it. Often in life we are taught or it is prescribed to us that things exist in clear and orderly forms of black/white, right/wrong, with everything falling into such a grouping. If one follows such an assumption there is only one type of government, one type of faith, or a single just action. I have always found the rationality of such logic to be flawed, even as many of my own actions or thoughts fell into that very flawed logical system. From what I have experienced myself or observed through others experiences of events alongside my own, I deduce that people have two basic reactions, to varying degrees, when they are exposed to a culture or situation that challenges their prescribed world. First, there are those who embrace the new situation either adopting a new concept as their own or acknowledging the relevance of a new perspective alongside their old understanding. The second group seem to be those who ignore or reject/disdain a new perception contrasting with their own and place it into that category of wrong or unjust because it challenges what they know to be “true”. These categories are very general and I have found that typically no one continually falls into a single category as every person moves back and forth according to the context of a given situation. … We are a world full of people obsessed with being “normal”, while we are all markedly different. Thus, we are a world full of people trying to be something we know nothing about. The more I learn about people and cultures the more I cannot help but wonder if it is not our differences that make us all great rather than our similarities."
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Elena Coscodan, international student from Moldova (2005-2006): … it is necessary to mention that America is a welcoming place for any nationality. It includes immigrants from over the world. In New York or other big cities, for example, there are areas populated by ethnic groups: Italian, Chinese, Russian, which follow their customs and rites. Even in Greenville I could meet many Slavic people from ex-Soviet republics, who have their own clubs and gatherings. As to me, during my studies in America I did not feel like a foreigner thanks to the polite and kind attitude of people I met, as well as to the specific American culture. I could easily develop friendships with my class-mates and work-mates. They seemed curious regarding my native country, traditions and beliefs. To sum up, all cultures are unique and have their way of life. I was confused about accepting a new culture and different attitudes, but now I appreciate the value that different culture holds. An old proverb teaches us, "When you are in Rome, behave like a Roman," which is a key to success in any country. I formed a friendly and positive attitude toward this hospitable country with cultural diversity. I received valuable and authentic knowledge in the professional field and a rich experience in the educational system. I learned how to write a research paper, develop a project, and how to be more pragmatic and analytical. My world outlook includes looking into myself and into life immediately around me. My new skills are necessary and pertinent for my future career at the Academy of Public Administration where I worked or at any other institution in Moldova. Now I am more self-confident, independent and decisive and feel that my life is still ahead in: professional growth, prosperity, as well as in enjoying life. photos
Danat Dalenov, international student from Kazakstan (1998-2000)
Caroline Darrow, Mexico (summer 2002): "Since my mission trip to Mexico, I have had two more opportunities to go on overseas mission trips, and plenty of time to consider my first summer abroad. Both new experiences and time have enabled me to look back on the trip, appreciate the special things I wouldn’t give a million for, and consider the things I would go back and do differently. ...
My hope was to “become like the Mexicans, that I might win the Mexicans.” A second goal that I hoped to accomplish was encouraging and ministering to the youth groups that would come down for the summer. I would be training them to perform dramas and share their religious testimonies. More than that, however, I hoped to encourage them in their faith in Jesus so that they would return to the United States empowered to make a difference in their own families, high schools, and communities. I never expected, however, for these two goals to conflict with one another. After a time of reflection and looking back, I have gained understanding of how things could have been done differently, and how I hope to do things differently in the future in order to reach the ultimate goals of my life.
Above all, the time I spent in Mexico in the summer of 2002 is something I will always treasure. I learned, grew, and gained experience that developed a broader worldview and perspective for me. It made me thankful for all I have and have grown up with in the United States, and it made me even more burdened for the people in the world who are not as fortunate. I developed a deeper relationship with God during my time in Mexico, and I learned to rely on Him in areas where I formerly relied on friends or parents. Instead of going to a friend for encouragement on a difficult day when I missed being away from home, that summer taught me to go to the Lord in prayer, or to find His encouragement in the Bible. I learned independence I had never experienced before, and I gained an appreciation and love for adventure that I hope to never lose." photos
Harmon Driscoll, Italy (fall 2005-spring 2006)
Being a stranger in another world as a privileged American has always been exciting to me. Native people give the American traveler great latitude of acceptance and freedom to just wander inside their culture. Probably they think that no harm can come of this innocent voyeur who brings nothing more than money, time and willingness to enjoy the experience. For me the carefree meandering inside this womblike place where everything is new and available to my exploration is worthwhile. I have enjoyed the times, all 36 of them, that I have left my own country.
What I really love about Europe is the Continent-wide appreciation of its artistic heritage and the great museums that specialize in local topics and regional diversity. Architecture, cultural, and historical remnants are museumized as well, for better understanding and appreciation by local citizen and visitors. For example, you can go to any major city in Alsace, let’s take Strasburg, and you will find wonderful museums that celebrate Alsatian history, culture, art, architecture and whatever is considered important in that culture. But that is not unique to Alsace or France. This phenomenon is widespread across the European landscape making travel on the continent full of surprises no matter where you wander. You could literately spend years discovering the local splendor of the Euro countryside or even urban lifestyle while visiting museums touting in fine style local cultural history. …
After completing a year studying aboard in 2002, I promised myself I would do the same inside my graduate degree. This year in Florence, Italy, I kept that promise and added a year of graduate work in the field of Museum and Art History Studies to my great love of the Renaissance and many other areas of art.
My plan before going abroad this time was to have a giant learning experience exhibiting the work of contemporary artists contrasting formally trained and untrained artists. My second plan included immersing myself in Florentine Renaissance art studies, enjoying another year in Florence, Italy, in particular, and Europe, in general, and visiting as many great museums in Europe as was humanly possible. I have felt driven during the last 10 years by a desire to see all the important arts museums in Europe and to enjoy as much work by the many great artists whose work is collected and exhibited in these museums. I love Florence so much because this city was central to the development of Western civilization into which I was born and which I must call my own no matter what may have happened in my own short life. There are so many historic artifacts in Florence. The local Florentines call the inner city, which is a large area, the Museum. When I first heard that, I said yes, it is indeed, however I don’t just dismiss it so easily.
I cannot deny that I also have a driving passion for fresh Italian food which you can only find in Italy. I am extremely fond of most European people especially Italians who make it very easy to get to know them. I enjoy being immersed in other cultures where I can get lost in wonder and amazement while still feeling at home and somewhat nurtured by the whole experience. Italians had given me that secure cultural experience and Italy had provided me with such a rich firsthand experience of history, art history and museums that I wanted more. At the same time they enhance my creation process. These were my goals for this graduate year abroad.
When I arrived in Italy in September 2005 I started talking with people in the arts, or people interested in the arts. In Italy that’s almost everybody. They criticized severely my idea of an exhibit with both academic and non-academic artists. I certainly had not anticipated this and it really made me think. Why are these people so sure that my idea is terrible?...
At the same time my advisor for the Academic Program at SACI, in which I was enrolled during the fall semester in Florence, told me I should take five challenging classes so I could get the maximum out of my one semester experience. The five classes I took were an Early Italian Renaissance Art History class, A Museum Studies round table discussion which covered late Renaissance up to 19th century period, another Topics in Museology, a class in 19th Century European and Italian Art, and finally a History of Italian Opera class. SACI is a premium American study abroad program in Florence Italy in the visual arts and also for art history graduate studies. How could I argue with that logic? So I signed up for the rigorous spate of five classes to get the maximum learning experience now that I was in Florence, the heartland of the Italian Renaissance. SACI has top professors and the best field study weekends of any study abroad program in Italy, for the seemingly one million American students in Italy at any one moment. So I decided to take advantage of that offer and put working in tandem on my project aside. photos
Brandi Dudley, Germany (fall 2004): "In Fall 2004, I participated in an UNC-Exchange Program to Mannheim, Germany through East Carolina University....I choose Germany for two reasons. First, I participated in a one-year exchange to Wuerzburg, Germany, where I had become very proficient in the language. Given my previous background, I felt it best to return to Germany to improve upon my language skills. Second, I was offered the opportunity to work as an intern in the Office of International Affairs at the University of Mannheim. Upon completion of my Master's Degree, I intend to pursue a career in International Education, so an overseas experience such as this could prove to be very useful when searching for a job. [...]
All in all, I would have to say that the experience in Mannheim was beneficial for me in all aspects. I was able to separate myself from everything that had been going on in my life up to that point, and gain a new perspective on my personal and professional goals. My language skills improved dramatically, I realized that I would like to pursue a Ph.D., thus making the decision to write a thesis for my master's program and gained necessary international work experience for my professional career. I was very happy with the choice of Mannheim to live, work and study for four months, and would highly recommend the program to future MAIS students. Upon my departure from Mannheim, I had a meeting with Christian Queva, the Director of International Affairs at the University of Mannheim, and he ensured me that he would like to see the intern exchange continue in the future. He also informed me that he would accept students with little knowledge of the German language, as they always need an English speaker in the office. If the MAIS programs accepts future students with an interest in International Education and Germany, this is the program to send them on." photos
Christa Dunn, Puerto Rico (fall 2000)
Melissa Edwards, Belize (fall 1999)
Joy Eubanks, Quebec (fall 1999)
Laura Friedrichs, international student from Germany (2004-2006): "During my previous visits to the US, I do not think I ever had any prejudices or perceptions about American culture. I would spend my summers here, but I would simply take things as they were and not think about the differences between American and European culture. That changed dramatically once I moved here. After having lived in Copenhagen and London, living in Greenville was and sometimes still is a drastic change. Before I moved here, I think I loved pretty much anything about America and American culture. However, once I was exposed to the American culture especially the southern version of it, I must admit that I did have difficulties accepting how certain things are done around here. American culture, at least on the outside is extremely conservative and sometimes even prudish. Those are not exactly characteristics that Europeans are particularly fond of. I cannot deny that in the first stages of going through my personal version of culture shock, I did question and judge certain “Southern” or American traditions, but I found that what works best for me is to simply accept how things are or are not done around here. I love living here too much to question American culture.
All in all, and after a not so lucky start, I can finally say that my stay in Greenville was an incredible experience. The things I learned about life in general and especially about life in America have been very beneficial for me. I also learned a lot about myself, about what I can and what I cannot do. There were times when the circumstances of my personal as well as my academic life pushed me to the limits, both mentally and physically. I learned that what does not kill me makes me stronger. It was a hard lesson to learn, but I am very proud and glad to say that it was all worth it. At times, I really did not think I would make it, but I did and I feel that in the past five semesters at ECU my life has come full circle."
Christopher Goss, Costa Rica (fall 1999) :“The experience in Costa Rica also allowed me to open my mind and attitude towards the issues regarding foreigners in my own country. Before I left I was not as sensitive to the difficulties that people have when they arrive in a new country, especially when it may not always be for reasons of enjoyment but rather for necessity. My travel to Costa Rica has brought about a change in my attitude toward and understanding how foreigners in the United States may feel. As was my case in Costa Rica foreigners in the U.S. may feel alone and unwanted. They are in a strange place where nothing is familiar. People talk badly about them and every day is a struggle for survival. I think that now I am able to treat them with the right amount of respect that I may not have shown prior to my experiences in Costa Rica.…When I notice that a person has made an erroneous statement regarding foreigners, especially regarding those that have migrated to the U.S., I make sure that they are aware of their mistakes. [M]y attitude towards wanting to change minds of those who are unaware of the international community and … my life changing experience in Costa Rica are the real reasons I pursued studying the MA in International Studies. When choosing this path I felt that my new attitude and experience would make me a perfect candidate for a job working with the international community and it would help me to make a difference in the attitudes of others.
In addition to making me more aware of my environment in the United States and of the issues in the international community, I think that Costa Rica has made me a better all around person. I feel that I am more sensitive to peoples’ needs, especially those of foreign ethnicity. I think that I am less motivated by material desires and more motivated on the basis of whom and to what degree I can make an impact on a particular situation such as my job. I now strive for knowledge of international topics and the chance to make a difference to those people unversed in international issues. Living abroad has rerouted and diversified my life… I believe this experience will continue to change my life. It has led me to hope that one day I will be able to continue to travel and learn as much as possible about other foreign cultures. This will enable the continuation of positive changes in my life for years to come.” photos
Chrystie Graham, Spain (fall 2000): As time passed I began to readjust to life I had known before my stay in Santander. The holidays came and went and I returned to school in January. By this time well over a month had passed and my excitement had dwindled from a roaring fire to a glowing ember keeping the memories alive. I accepted that my experience was personal and it would be difficult to convey to my friends and family, namely those who have never traveled abroad, everything I had gained from the trip such as the beauty and intellect of the Moorish and Roman architecture that exists in Spain or how young my native culture is when compared to the thousands of years of history that tell the story of Europe. This thought had saddened me at first but later I saw it was me, alone who had gone through this tremendous experience. I had coped with good times and bad times and the waves of culture shock so I asserted that I was now ready and able to accept the shock of re-entry thus bringing some closure to the phase. With the ending of this phase I was able to be more objective in my thinking of the experience. I knew I had to share my new found insight in order to encourage others to leave their comfort zones by traveling to another country this way they too could grow personally and have their worldview widened.
Elizabeth Grant, Spain (summer 2000)
Kathryn Hall, France (fall 2003)
Melissa Hensley, El Salvador (fall 2001): "My trips to El Salvador had changed my life. They were special and miraculous. What if the 'real' El Salvador that I am about to face doesn't live up to my expectations? What if I'm disappointed when I get to know the ins and outs of everyday life there? Will it ruin my image of the people I have grown to love? Worse yet, will it change the positive view of humanity that I've gained as a result of knowing the people of rural El Salvador? I think my biggest fear is that, after returning from my trip, my innate feelings about the country will change. Will my face still light up upon hearing the word El Salvador, or meeting someone else who has been there? Will I still spend my free time reading La Prensa Grafica (the Salvadorian liberal newspaper) on the Internet? And, more importantly, will my aspirations for the future still revolve around my commitment to working in the region? These fears did not last, however. I think that overall, the reason that my relationship to the Salvadorians has been so strong is that, although I should be an 'outsider' there, it has never been the case. Rather, I have felt very much a part of their society, culture and family from the first moment I stepped into the village of Tierra Blanca."
Ramil Huseynov, international student from Azerbaijan (1999-2000)
