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Studying abroad – in Iowa
or some Simpson students, studying abroad means something other tha n traveling to far-off destinations like Germany, Tahiti or London. For them, the far-off destin ation is Indianola, Iowa.
Alejandro Caballero, a 20-ye ar-old junior, is an international student studyi ng at Simpson. His home is Juarez, Mexico. “I still miss homemade, spi cy food,” he said, laughing. “It’s one of the biggest changes I faced here.” On the other hand, there is snow. “I just love it,” he sai d. “I love winter. I tell studen ts I’m making up for all the years I didn’t get snow in Me xico.” While U.S.-born students have to adjust to new cultur es during their May Term or Study Abroad experiences, the same is true for Alejandro and the other international students who find themselv es in the middle of Iowa. His journey to Simpson beg an as a youngster in Juarez. His sister, Elizabeth, received a scholarship to the Lydia Pat ter son Institute across the border in El Paso, Texas, by winning a writing contest sponsored by a local television station. The institute is a private sch ool founded in 1913 and supported by the United Me thodist Church. Simpson has had a long-time relationshi p with the school, and Elizab eth was awarded a college schola rship. She graduated from Simpson in 2008 and now works for the U.S. consulate in Juarez.
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WW W. S I M P S O N . E D U /M AGAZINE
“When it was time for me to go to high school, my mo m thought my sister was gettin g a great education, and obviously she wanted the bes t for me, too,” Caballero said. “She decided that I wo uld go to school in the Un ited States.” He was awarded a half-scho larship to Lydia Patterson, and spent his first two years completing the English as a Second Language program. He also worked every day after school, and officials rew arded his determination wit h a full scholarship. “I continued working as har d as I could until I graduate d,” he said. When he was offere d a scholarship to attend Simpson, “it was one of the biggest days of my life.” On campus, several professor s “were really nice to me and helped me get through that first year. My second year, I had communication s professors who were very encouraging about my photo graphy.” Alejandro is majoring in int egrated marketing communications, and he has proven adept at photography. He hopes to eventually find a marketing job in the United States after gra duation. “Simpson has made me fee l welcome,” he said, “All the people I’ve met have been very helpful.”