Tag: Africa

What Happens When A Class Project Turns Into A Study Abroad Experience

Posted on by Chris Carlton

Henry in Kenya

“It’s one of the most important things I’ve ever done. It’s about immersing yourself in another culture, understanding that culture, and learning cross cultural communication” — Henry West

Henry West went to Kenya which is located here:

The reason he went to Kenya is actually because of a class project. With out giving away too much detail; the project dealt with water supply and how to improve the current process that takes place.

You’ll have to listen to figure out the how and why.

There are also two firsts in this episode:

First: The first time I’ve interviewed someone who studied abroad in Kenya and…

Second: The first time studying abroad affected the trajectory of someone’s major

Henry laid it all out like a blueprint, and if you listen, you can probably get a few pointers so you can make your study abroad experience stick out from all the others.

SHOW NOTES

  • Henry’s logical explanation for choosing to study abroad in Kenya [1:39]
  • The philanthropic outcome of the water vests [4:07]
  • The intricacy of Henry’s project and study abroad [5:21]
  • Getting a grant to help with the costs of the project [8:25]
  • The exact length of Henry’s project [9:23]
  • Getting to know the ins & outs of Kenya [10:00]
  • Mixing and mingling on the project [12:01]
  • Ok, so on every episode I ask for an interesting story or something that went wrong. Henry, as luck would have it, kept a journal of his daily activities, so we got a great recollection of stories from this gnarly trip to Kenya [12:36]
  • A) Did they all speak english and B) Were they all black? [18:08]
  • “The Kenyan food was incredible” [20:28]
  • Drinking the tea in Kenya [23:32]
  • Why Henry changed his major because of study abroad [24:29]
  • Why Henry chose Wisconsin [27:17]
  • Recommendations [32:32]
The water vests in action!

Mukimo and beef

Water Crisis Statistics [Infographic]

Water statistics

Kelly Burello Discusses Scholarships and Studying Abroad in Nigeria

Posted on by Chris Carlton

Kelly Burello Nigeria

“The premise was teaching them skills in western style mediation and negotiation so it would be easier to communicate with Nigeria in the Future” — Kelly Burello

SHOW NOTES

  • Living in Nigeria as a child 🧒 [1:59]
  • Learning a difficult language 🎓 [3:33]
  • Doubts before leaving 😕 [4:17]
  • Living in Nigeria after receiving the Boren Award 🇳🇬💸 [5:23]
  • Exactly what Kelly did while she was in Nigeria 😇 [6:26]
  • Going on an African road trip 🚍 [10:10]
    • Visiting SOS Schools ✏️
  • What you see in Africa 👓 [12:32]
  • If you like spicy food… 🥘 [14:49]
  • How the trip affected the trajectory of Kelly’s career 😎 [16:19]
  • Why Kelly decided to enroll at George Mason University 🎓 [18:08]
  • Kelly’s  recommendations 🙌 [19:55]
  • Wrapping up 🔚

7 Types of Managers in The Lion King [Infographic]

 

Botswana Bound in Africa With Lauren Goetze

Posted on by Chris Carlton

Lauren Goetze in Botswana

“It matters where you go, but if you’re on the bubble, just go somewhere.” — Lauren Goetze

I love when I interview someone and have to pull up the old maps to find out exactly where they went. That’s exactly what happened when I talked to Lauren about her trip to Botswana, which BTW is in the southern part of Africa.

This is now the third interview I’ve done with a student who studied abroad in this part of the continent, so they must be doing something right down there.

The dollar stretches a lot further in Africa, which means you can do a lot more with less. What you want to do is up to you if you decide to go, but Lauren’s interview is a pretty good example of what you can do.

You’ll also find out why it’s a bonus of if enjoy KFC. But that’s just me digressing. Seriously though, The University of Botswana soundsamazing and so do the stories that Lauren tells in her interview.

If you’ve come this far you now know where Botswana is. You can learn more about the country in the infographic below.

A BIG thank you to Lauren for taking the time from her busy schedule at Drake to do the interview. Give her website a look to see what she’s up to now.

“It always seems impossible until its done” — Nelson Mandela

SHOW NOTES 

  • Last-minute choice to study abroad in Botswana due to political unrest in South Africa 🇧🇼 [1:14]
  • Scholarly details and studying abroad through CIEE 🎓 [3:40]
  • Pushing through the uncertainty of living in an unknown country 🤷‍♀️ [6:15]
  • Waking up for early classes due to the heat of the day and dealing with classes taught in Setswana (Botswana’s native language) ⏰[7:34]
  • Camping in the desert and other travels to escape protests at the university ⛺️🏜 [10:21]
  • Getting drenched at Victoria Falls 🏞
  • Finding food as a gluten-free vegetarian in a land of beef and starch 🥦 [14:56]
  • KFCs everywhere and other infrastructure 🍗[16:12]
  • A new perspective from living abroad 👩‍🎓[17:08]
  • Recommendations and final quotes 🙌 [18:13]

6 Reasons To Study Abroad in Botswana [Infographic]

Studying Abroad in Namibia With Michelle Andersen

Posted on by Chris Carlton

“If I want to go and have this experience, or if I want to go and have this meaningful conversation, then what’s stopping me besides myself?” — Michelle Andersen

 

Michelle Andersen (First name IG, last name FB)  was one of the most well spoken guests I’ve had on the show to date. She went on a journey to the southern part of Africa and was kind enough to take us along for the ride here, today.

Sometimes we get people who have never been out of the country, or even on a plane for that matter. Sometimes we get globe trotters, and that is the category that Michelle falls under. She’s even got her own travel blog already which I highly recommend you give a once over. If anything, it’ll inspire you to start one of your own before you embark your very own ‘once in a life time.’

In this interview you’ll get a taste of what it was like to live in Namibia and explore southern Africa, courtesy of Michelle.

“Be the change you want to see in the world.” – Mahatma Gandhi

“To travel is to live.” – Hans Christian Andersen

SHOW NOTES

  • Reasons for choosing to study in Namibia 🌍 [1:26]
  • Looking into financial aid for studying abroad 💸 [4:24]
  • Touring and learning the history of Johannesburg and Cape Town 🏯 [6:08]
  • Communal living and experiential learning in Namibia 👩‍💻 [12:36]
  • Social work curriculum and interests 📋 [17:10]
  • Seeing roadside rhinos in Etosha National Park 🏞 [19:20]
  • Being accosted by a baboon in Zambia 🙊 [24:10]
  • Eating pap, antelope, and fat cakes 🥘 [26:45]
  • Importance of traveling the world 🛤 [29:41]
  • Michelle’s recommendations and advice 🙌 [31:33]

Michelle’s House In Namibia [Infographic]

How A Study Abroad Trip To Namibia Helped Maddie Morehead Understand What It’s Like To Be A Minority

Posted on by Chris Carlton

Maddie Moorehead in Africa

“I think that’s so amazing that you can go somewhere and get a cultural understanding of what it’s like to live like someone else, and then bring that back to the U.S. and talk about it” — Maddie Morehead

Maddie Morehead (first name Facebook, last name IG) is currently a social work major at Valparaiso University who plans to attend graduate school once she’s finished at Valpo.

Maddie is the first student on the show that studied and interned in Africa, and also the first to live in Namibia, which is a country located in the southern part of the continent.

In this interview Maddie talks about the importance of finding the perfect program that went along with her major and interests. We talk about everything we usually discuss on the show, but Maddie seems to got a bit further on most areas.

My favorite part of the interview was when she talked about the uncertainties that she had prior to her departure because of the fact that she was going to a not so traditional study abroad destination.

“Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world” — Nelson Mandela 

Where Namibia is within the continent of Africa

SHOW NOTES

  • Choosing something that aligns with your major [1:49]
  • Getting things set up and the pre reqs before she arrived in Namibia [3:46]
  • Different options available through the program [4:53]
  • Receiving a $500 scholarship [5:40]
  • Maddie’s uncertainties prior to departure [6:53]
  • The living situation, exchange rate, and Yoga classes in Namibia  [9:27]
  • Interning at Sister Namibia and getting published  [13:01]
  • Experiencing two different home-stays in both urban and rural  [14:05]
  • Eating tender chicken where the meat was ‘so tender it fell off the bone’  [14:56]
  • Going on a safari (this place looks so cool) 女 [17:46]
  • Traveling around Africa and seeing Victoria Falls  [19:42]
  • KFC and Food in Namibia [22:42]
  • Eating spinach with her sand  [25:17]
  • The different types of cuisine available  [27:07]
  • How the entire experience effected Maddie and what her plans are for the future [29:18]
  • Becoming the minority [31:08]
  • Getting there and my aviation knowledge  [33:00]
  • I Write What I Like by Steve Biko and Forest  [34:00]
  • Maddie’s advice if you’re thinking about study abroad yourself [35:48]
  • Surviving a mugging [38:07]
  • Keeping in touch with the roommates  [40:39]

5 Fascinating Facts About Namibia [Infographic]