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It really broadens your horizons and makes you more aware of global events that are happening.
My first time being on a plane, I flew big, I went out of the country. It's always been
on list of things to do. I never thought in college that I would able to go study abroad
or even travel to another country. THESE UNIVERSITY OF MEMPHIS STUDENTS ARE SHARING EXPERIENCES
FROM THEIR STUDY ABROAD TRIP TO CAPE TOWN, SOUTH AFRICA. AS A PART OF THE "MUSIC AND
RESISTANCE IN SOUTH AFRICA" CLASS AT THE U OF M, THESE STUDENTS IN THE HELEN HARDIN HONORS
PROGRAM WERE ABLE TO TAKE THEIR WORK OUT OF THE CLASSROOM AND TRAVEL TO CAPE TOWN TO STUDY
THE IMPACT THAT MUSIC HAD ON ENDING APARTHEID. The class was very interesting to hear about
how this really brutal racial segregation system actually could happen in part of the
world. FROM ROBBIN ISLAND, WHERE NELSON MANDELA WAS IMPRISONED, ALL THE WAY TO THE TOP OF
ICONIC TABLE MOUNTAIN, THE GROUP SPENT THE WEEK DISCOVERING SOUTH AFRICAN CULTURE AND
GEOGRAPHY. Table Mountain was my absolute favorite thing that we did.We got to explore
and hike around and look at all of the vegetation and the animals that we don't have here, that's
pretty cool. We rode, the little tram car up there and it was an incredible view. Table
Mountain was incredible. It was a breathtaking view, you could see the whole city, you could
see the water, you could see basically the skyline. See everything, you're like standing
on the mountain so you're looking at the entire city. It's like you're looking at the edge
of the earth. AND THE STUDENTS WERE ALSO SURPRISED TO LEARN THAT A SAFARI WAS INCLUDED ON THE
ITINERARY. And when we applied, we didn't even know we were going on the safari...Exactly,
when we applied...We were very excited when we found that on or itinerary. It was just
amazing. It was really something that you can't get anywhere else. They drove us by
all the animals, we saw some rhinos that had their horns poached, it was very sad, yes,
we saw emus. Lion, emu, ostrich eggs, we got to hold some ostrich eggs. Ostrich eggs, and
a springbok, yeah, we saw a lot of different animals. Wildebeest! Wildebeest! DR. MICHELLE
VIGNEAU, AN ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR OF OBOE AT THE U OF M, HAS LIVED IN SOUTH AFRICA IN THE
PAST, AND SHE ACCOMPANIED THE STUDENTS ON THEIR TRIP. SHE SAYS SHE SAW CHANGES IN THEM
IN ONLY ONE WEEK'S TIME. When we first got there, everybody wanted
internet access before they went to bed, and what I noticed on the last day, I did not
see a computer out, there was much less sort of technology, and they were sitting around
talking a lot more. I thought that they were very open to experiences, and that happened
very quickly and I think they surprised themselves by the willingness to try new things, and
all of them had new experiences, and all of them were very brave and went forward and
tried everything that we did. No one said I'm not going to do this, you know, so it
was great. AND WITH A FULL SCHEDULE THAT ALSO INCLUDED TRIPS TO THE SLAVE MUSEUM, THE UNIVERSITY
OF CAPE TOWN, SEAL ISLAND AND EVEN CAPE POINT FOR SOME SURFING, THESE STUDENTS SAY THAT
IT WAS ONE OF THE BEST EXPERIENCES OF THEIR LIVES. I look at the pictures almost very
single day, it's, it was such an amazing experience. I loved making all of the friendships. Everybody
that went on the trip was really awesome. The atmosphere in Cape Town, the views, everywhere
that you stand, you have a good view of, especially the mountains, You could see the mountains
basically everywhere. Yes, everywhere. So I'll remember that the most. I am really going
to cherish like this part of this college career, going on this trip, choosing to go
out of the country, seeing other parts of the world, other parts of the country, different
cultures, how people, even act differently in different countries.
THE STUDENTS ARE ALSO VERY APPRECIATIVE FOR THE SCHOLARSHIPS THAT HELPED THEM PAY FOR
THEIR TRIP AS WELL. The Study Abroad Scholarship, I applied for it. You had to write an essay
and get some letters of recommendation. I would not have been able to go if it weren't
for scholarship money. Very generous scholarships. That was a major factor in me deciding to
go on the trip, because money is kind of an issue in my family so having that scholarship
actually is what probably allowed me to go on the trip, so thanks by the way. AND THEY
HAVE ADVICE FOR EVERY OTHER U OF M STUDENT AS WELL. Don't think twice. Definitely do
it. Just having that experience now, it's invaluable. College is the opportunity for
when you have time to study abroad, well, when you get to explore the world and I never
thought in college that I would able to go study abroad or even travel to another country.
It's a fun experience, it's worth it, and you'll meet some really amazing people in
your group. I don't see how you can have a bad time with studying abroad.
FOR MORE INFORMATION ON HOW YOU CAN STUDY ABROAD, PLEASE VISIT MEMPHIS.EDU/ABROAD.