Tag Archives: Predeparture

A long awaited journey begins…

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Firsts are tricky business. Whether it’s first day on the job, first kiss, or first bite into Aunt Sally’s infamous meatloaf, it can be a challenge to know exactly how to react to each particular situation. I find myself taking the first steps to a journey. I couldn’t be more eager, anxious and overwhelmed.Image

I go to Cape Town South Africa where I will intern with the pop culture publication One Small Seed. Armed with determination, talent, wanderlust, desire to succeed, and my ukulele, I prepare to leave January 7th and will return March 29th.

I have experienced many countries ranging from Slovakia, Germany, and Costa Rica to Australia, the Philippines and Italy, but this trip is a first to an African country and a first to live abroad for such amount of time.

South Africa has always sparked my interest. South Africa has long been the subject of debate concerning inequality, race discrimination, crime, and other crippling features. Despite historical and present hardships however, South Africa continues to be a country that is diverse, dynamic and destined for great things. Working with One Small Seed, I will be able to observe and report on this South Africa. By learning the influences and uniqueness of South African art, music, and literature, I will discover what captures the minds of South Africans daily.

In the early stages of deciding where I would spend the next three months of life, I wanted to write and witness “serious” news- the debates, political arguments, and rallies. When the door opened to work with One Small Seed, I realized the fit couldn’t be more perfect.

Scottish politician Andrew Fletcher once said- “Let me make the songs of a nation- I care not who makes its laws.”  A song or work of art can pierce the mind, change behavior or reflect the climate of a nation more than a law ever could. I plan to accurately and honestly reflect events and boldly stand for news that will inform and inspire the readership.

No matter how many articles I read, YouTube videos I watch, or opinions I gather on South Africa, I am confident I really know nothing at all and can’t wait for the lessons learned, people met, and unexpected journeys had during my time in Cape Town.

I don’t think I am aware of most preconceived notions I have concerning South Africa. Until I quite establish myself in SA, I find myself blissfully ignorant of my ignorance but I am confident I shall be exposed to my presumptuous, westernized view of the world in good time.

I am aware that before my journey ends I will have experienced many beautiful, awkward, exiting and terrifying firsts. Some including: first day on the job and first haircut in a foreign country. Naturally, I hope both these experiences will be positive ones but even if they side with the uncomfortable, I trust any endeavor I commit to will contribute to my grown professionally and personally. As the first of the year approaches so does my anticipation. Thank God the Mayans were wrong about 2012…I have to many firsts too experience in South Africa before the end of the world.

Heather

Pre Departure

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Hello All!

As I am about to board my plane to LAX I am writing this post, there are many thoughts going through my mind. So many questions are going through my mind. I am curious about what kind of people and friends I will meet, what activities will I be doing with my CIS Abroad group right when I get there, will I like my roommates? I am so excited to get going and can’t wait to land, 26 hours from now I will be in another timezone and 17 hours ahead of time than my friends and family here in Oregon. I am going to miss the Great Northwest but I think I am going to love my stay in Sydney. Here we go!

Hattie

I hope the bread and cheese stereotype is true!

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I am both excited and uncertain about my trip to France this summer. I previously visited France on a trip where I saw some cities such as Paris and Nice, but I feel like there is much more to do and so many places to go in the country. I am excited to see Angers, meet my host family, and begin the overwhelming task of adjusting to another culture. I believe Angers will be like inviting to us because there is the established program for exchange students and this may mean people are more willing to assist us with problems that arise because of our lack of fluency in the language and culture. I found that people were very helpful, and some even went out of their way to assist my family when we visited the country previously. I feel like the culture is welcoming to outsiders, which is part of the reason I chose to go to France. Another aspect of the culture I am really excited to experience is the meals and food in the way that the French people experience them. I believe both the food choices as well as the culture around meals will be different than the United States.

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I chose this picture of the Eiffel Tower because I believe it represents one aspect of the trip which will be comfortable to me already. I love to travel, and so visiting monuments, museums, and national landmarks is something that I already know how to do and love doing. The other aspect of this trip that is exciting, but also scarier, is the submersion in to the culture. The touristy side of travel, like visiting the Eiffel Tower, and the study of the culture are both interesting and important to me during my study abroad session.

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This picture of a variety of different bakery foods again shows my interest in becoming fluent with the food culture of France. I believe that the culture of food in a country can tell so much about the country itself. Aspects such as country’s wealth, health, and lifestyle are all shown by what the people eat, how much they eat, and when they eat. Do families eat most meals together or are there meals which require individual agendas? Is there one meal that is much larger or more important than the others? What types of food are common for breakfast, lunch, and dinner? I hope to find all these out in my stay in France.

Maggie