Friends of University Academy - Student Travel Journal

GRYPHON ADVENTURES ABROAD A journal of UA student summer experiences.

Study Abroad - Wilderness Excursion

Out of Kansas City Timidly, Into the World Boldly University Academy students are among the luckiest youngsters in Kansas City! In addition to a rigorous educational program, these students have access to a rich array of experiential educational programs, whose purpose is to broaden the totality of their college preparatory education.

Experiment in International Living (EIL), Student Diplomacy Corps (SDC), and National Outdoor Leadership School (NOLS) are three such partner programs that have provided our students these experiences long before I came to work here. These programs help deepen our students’ understanding of the larger world, while fleshing out the great education our teachers strive to impart to every student in every classroom. Thanks to the generosity of funders, University Academy Middle Schoolers have access to camping opportunities during the summer. And, most exciting of all, this past summer, EIL, SDC, and NOLS shepherded 29 Upper School students through life-changing, travel and cultural opportunities in 16 countries spanning five continents.

Another five students accompanied David Rucker and me for a five-day cultural experience in Ghana, with an overnight stay in Amsterdam.

The benefit of these programs to students is fairly well-established. For instance, students who participated in these programs command larger amounts in college scholarships, succeed in college at a greater rate, and earn college degrees at rates surpassing attainment rates for comparable students who have not participated in such programs. According to William Chalmers, who blogs for The Huffington Post, only 35 percent of Americans, approximately 109 million out of 311 million, own a passport. Of that number, only 3.5 percent, approximately one-tenth, have travelled overseas! By contrast, 55 percent of UA’s graduating class of 2018 have participated in EIL, SDC, or NOLS. You get the idea: something big and transformational is happening with the students of University Academy because of these cultural exchange programs. And each one of you who have supported us with your gifts and talent are part of it—your contributions make these miracles of transformation possible.

While we can’t put a price on the students’ eyes that these programs have opened, or on the minds they have expanded in many an interesting way, or the cultural barriers that have been bridged, I can share that these students rate these programs very high in terms of their own growth as enlightened human beings. The Upper School and Middle School faculties have long recognized the unique changes programs like EIL, SDC, and NOLS bring about in students who participate in them. Speaking in my capacity as the Upper School principal, please accept my heart-felt “Thank You” to all of you who understand what it means that these programs remain part of the fare for students. “Thank You” especially for your continued commitment of precious dollars--year after year--to these efforts.

Again, an old African proverb remains a good way to end: “Who helps a child find his or her place in the world, makes the child a better man or woman, and the world a better place!”

Dr. Clem O. Ukaoma, Upper School Principal

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STUDENT DIPLOMACY CORPS SDC provides dynamic cross-cultural education summer programs around the world that promote civic engagement, deepen understanding of local and global issues and unleash the potential and creativity of youth. SDC programs are designed to inspire the next generation of young activists to invest in creating a more sustainable, peaceful, successful and interconnected global community.

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Avery Austin '18

SPAIN – PICASSO Y FLAMENCO This summer I had the amazing opportunity to go to Spain to study Picasso’s artwork and the art of flamenco dancing. Along the way, I formed lifelong friendships and gained new knowledge about the world around me. Although I had such a good time, the trip wasn’t a breeze the entire time. Some things didn’t go as planned. I had to quickly adapt to the environment, while being open-minded to the new experiences waiting for me.

One of the skills I formed quickly was the ability to relate to other people. In Spain, my host family didn’t speak any English. Not letting that deter us, we soon figured out a system of communication that involved using hand gestures and practicing my Spanish with their help. In our endeavors, we ended up having laughs over my host mother trying to describe “Big Brother” as “Grand Brother.” I didn’t understand 90 percent of what they were saying, but learning together helped. The fact that my host family didn’t know much English comforted me. They were clueless, but eager to learn and to try just like me. In college, there is no guarantee that I’ll end up rooming with someone from Kansas City. This skill will help me form bonds with fellow classmates and professors in college, just as I did in Spain with my group members and my host family.

Spain’s culture provided a plethora of new concepts and experiences. If I hadn’t opened my mind to foreign ideas, I wouldn’t have had nearly as much fun as I did. The small things, like trying paella for the first time, prepared me for being completely out of my element in the flamenco classes. I got over the shrimp’s beady eyes and ended up loving paella, just

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like I started to love flamenco after the first class. Without this mentality, I would never have had the courage to try new things or make the best of my trip. I can use this skill when I get homesick in college, or when I just get overwhelmed with the workload.

I learned the importance of communication during my trip. My homestay sister and I were out late one night and had to walk home at midnight, with her dying phone as our only source of light. It was a culture shock for me, to say the least.

A 15-year-old girl walking home late at night by herself was not only accepted, but practiced. I, on the other hand, was scared for my life. Hearing animal noises and seeing cars slow down as they passed, I feared that I would get kidnapped or mauled. The next day, my family, my group leader, Ruby, and I all sat down for a serious conversation about why walking home so late was a problem for me. I found out that if I would have said something before, they wouldn’t have let me walk home so late in the night. The same communication is essential to collegiate success. Sitting down and having frequent conversations with my academic advisor will prevent me from taking unnecessary classes, and help me to graduate on time.

Although I was frequently put in situations that made me uncomfortable, the experience made me more confident in my Spanish and gave me courage to do things I wouldn’t normally do. From the Spanishspeaking dinners to talking to random strangers on the street, every day I was pushed out of my comfort zone was a day that I gained a little more courage than I had the day before.

Elijah Beamon '19 FRANCE – A MOVEABLE FEAST

I learned many skills when I was in France for Student Diplomacy Corps. A few of those skills include cooking, speaking French, reading maps, and speaking to different people. The skill that will stick with me the most in my journey throughout life is speaking to new people. Speaking to people has never come easy to me. Whether speaking to a big crowd or to one person, I used to always have a hard time talking. I believe it was a pessimistic mindset that made me fearful of speaking to people. I always thought that if I spoke to people, they would laugh at me or become angry for some reason. I didn’t realize the experience of traveling to France would lead to a 180 degree change in my life.

When I got to New York and met my group leader, I was not expecting her outgoing nature. That was the starting point of me becoming very social. Our conversations were usually not long, but there were times when I started the conversation, which was new for me. When I met my peers I wanted to try to communicate with them first, so I decided to ask them their names and where they lived. When I realized they “I was really excited were open to these questions, I told myself that being that I finally overcame sociable isn’t as terrifying as I thought it would be. my fear of interacting

with new people.”

When we first arrived in France and we checked into our hotel, my group leader had me rooming with a kid from Mexico. We had little conversation, but that was because he was unsociable just like me. Since my conversations with him were going poorly, I thought that would happen with the other people I met. So, I didn’t really talk a lot for a little while. I also didn’t really talk when I was cooking with my chef, because he had a lot of other people to attend to. During the last few days of my cooking class, I told myself to be more assertive and the chef really helped me with my cooking.

As time went by, I became more and more comfortable with speaking to people.

I talked to natives of the city, tourist guides, chefs, and many more people. I was very proud of myself; because while some people didn’t really interact with other people, I actually made an effort. When we were at our homestay, my host family and I got along because I became more outgoing. Because I was able to open up and talk with my family about my life and home, they would like to come see me again when they come to the U.S. At the end of my trip, I was really excited that I finally overcame my fear of interacting with new people.

When I came home I was finally able to break out of my shell, and I became an optimist instead of a pessimist. Now I’m talking to people to look for a job and talking more with people from my school that I don’t know. Also, sometimes I even talk to random people on the street just to see how their day is going.

These experiences will build me up in my life throughout high school and college.

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Kiara Bilberry '19 JAPAN – DRUMS FOR PEACE Student Diplomacy Corps is amazing. It allows you to experience a trip of a lifetime.

In the beginning while filling out the application, I discovered that I could select any three countries of my choice from those offered. This was cool, because I had freedom to evaluate and determine what I felt would best suit me. I also discovered that I could be very expressive in my essays. Discovering that helped me to see that I would have a lot of fun. And, I assure you that I did! After the application process, there was an interview that took place.

I felt comfortable in the interview, because I was able to be truthful and myself. I recall Mr. Frantz asking me if the climate of a country I selected would be problematic. My answer to that was “yes,” so Mr. Frantz said, “We’ll keep that in mind.” The day for revealing our destination countries eventually came up.

This day was very exciting. My name was called and displayed on the projector screen, while simultaneously my country was revealed. That country was Japan! My mother and I looked each other in the eyes and were so ecstatic. I found out that I would be part of the Taiko Drums for Peace Program.

Being a part of SDC and Taiko Drums for Peace is the single best thing that happened to me last summer. I met an amazing group of people that I related to in many ways. These people

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were Ashley, Adell, Ayesha, Isaiah, Jennifer, Jim, Jonathan, Joseph, Kevin, Steven, and Tanemihiata. Our group leader, Andras Molnar, was even fantastic. Together we traveled around Japan playing the taiko drums. Many pictures were taken and we were even broadcasted on the radio. That was awesome! It was almost as if we were mini celebrities out there.

We learned how to play the taiko drums on Sado Island. Over the course of four days our sensei taught us the song and dance he and his wife created called Enyo. We would practice from nine in the morning to 12 o’clock in the afternoon. Behind each performance, there was a story that followed. Enyo was simply performed to bring happiness to the people. The taiko drums brought unity to the community. If at any point you’ve played or you play the taiko drums, you’re part of a family. Without this trip, I wouldn’t have known the importance of the taiko drums.

I learned an enormous amount of things over the course of thirty days that seemed to go by expeditiously. I learned how to be more independent. I usually travel with my family, so being without them was slightly outside of my comfort zone. But, I found a way to adjust to that. Having Mahlet Getahun as my travel buddy was great. We both worked well together, making sure that we got to our destinations safely and on time. Meeting up with our groups and leaders was also great.

I also learned Japan is safer than America. People sometimes leave their cars or homes unlocked. I remember telling the children to buckle their seat belts. Apparently, buckling up in the back seats is only an option there. Figuring that out was

“Stepping out and going for it has expanded my paradigms of not only the little things, but life itself. I thank God for this opportunity of a lifetime.” quite funny. Another way I found out that Japan is safer than America was by camping with my host family. Nighttime had struck and I had to go to the restroom, which was a long distance from our cabin. I asked my host mom, Mikki, if she or someone could come with me, so I wouldn’t be alone. Her children were too sleepy, so she came with me. I thanked her for walking with me, simply because it was a kind act. I explained to her that being with a group is better than being by yourself. She told me, “Here in Japan, one person equals safe.” I shared how my family and I are all about safety, and in America that’s not always the case. I even used charades to show how things can go in America. She was very shocked by this information.

I also learned how to find appreciation for the little things. I was able to meet tsunami survivors in Japan. Meeting them would have to be one of the most impactful things of the trip.

They didn’t shed one tear while sharing their stories. They kept their heads held high with an exuberant smile on their faces.

Every word hit us hard as Andras translated. It all began with an earthquake, which the Japanese people were used to because they are common there. Being accustomed to earthquakes, it didn’t cross the people’s minds to get to safety, so they went about their day as normal. Well, thirty minutes after the earthquake, the tsunami rose. They quickly had to find a way uphill. Unfortunately, some people didn’t make it, including

fellow students, friends, and family members of the survivors.

One survivor had some footage of the tsunami. He was one of the few that made it on top of a hill where the tsunami reached its highest peak. My group and I got the chance to stand on the hill and guess where the tsunami stopped. One woman survivor was swept away by the tsunami. Yes, the powerful waters engulfed her. The debris clouded her vision as she persevered to the surface. She believed her life was over. Thankfully, someone spotted her hand reaching out through the surface of the water and rescued her. She is now a successful hotel owner. The hill and the hotel are both located in that same area the tsunami took place. Their stories were not shared for pity, but to inspire and encourage others.

All in all, my take away from this trip would be that even when life gets tough, don’t give up. Another take away would be to appreciate who and what you have, because you never know the final moments of their lives or even yours. I am very glad I received and took the opportunity to travel abroad. Stepping out and going for it has expanded my paradigms of not only the little things, but life itself. I thank God for this opportunity of a lifetime. I also thank SDC, Mr. Frantz, and Friends of UA for sharing this life-changing trip with me.

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Mahlet Getahun '19 JAPAN – SUSHI DREAMS

Since the beginning of eighth grade, I at the futon mattresses with annoyance can vividly remember my excitement and disappointment. The temple didn’t to visit another country through the have air conditioning or wifi. Our feeble programs offered at my school. When teenage minds began to quickly wonder the time finally rolled around, I already how we’d survive the next three days. had my mind made up about the Our excitement began to slowly diminish countries I wanted to visit: Italy or Japan. at that moment. Dinner was shortly after I walked into the interview with Chris we arrived. Eating was single handedly apprehensive about the possibility of not the hardest thing about the temple. getting my first Now, Japanese “Japan isn’t only a country filled with food is absolutely choice, and I left high tech toilets, anime, and atomic confident that I delicious, but the would get Italy. bomb survivors; it’s a country filled with bland temple food I was chosen to consisting of plain hospitality and sincerity.” go to Japan. A rice, miso soup, and feeling of shock and disappointment first pickled vegetables made us wonder why soared through my body, but that quickly we even signed up for the program. To turned into enthusiasm. I immediately make matters worse, we couldn’t waste went home and googled Japanese foods, any food; not even a speck of rice could and every second I spent researching be thrown away. increased my eagerness to go to Japan.

The harsh rules of the temple weren’t While walking through the small town meant to anger or torture us, but of Uji to the buddhist temple to begin instead to humble us. The temple was our seminar part of the program, I was where we first learned the phrases simultaneously apprehensive and thrilled itadakimasu and gochisousama, which to learn from monks and meditate. I were said before and after eating to had never meditated before, and I was show appreciation for the effort the already imagining how rejuvenated environment and others went through my mind would be after practicing to produce the food. We left the temple meditation. Actually, we were all excited, on the third day, practically wanting to but we were in for a rude awakening. sprint out, with relief and happiness coursing through our veins. We did it!

At first sight, we were in awe of the We survived, according to our minds, beauty and size of the temple. However, the cruel and unusual treatment of the we walked into our rooms and looked

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temple. The foods we were forced to eat, combined with being hit by sticks on our backs during meditation for incorrectly meditating, made the experience seem like hell. But, we all left with a newfound respect for the environment and life itself.

Japan seemed like it was a country in a different universe from the United States. For starters, it’s quite homogenous compared to the United States. The culture of Japan completely shocked me, from taking off your shoes before entering most places, to the prevalence of vending machines, to the clean streets, to people walking around with masks while sick. Japan isn’t only a country filled with high tech toilets, anime, and atomic bomb survivors; it’s a country filled with hospitality and sincerity. My confidence for making friends while in college has increased due to the fact that, in one month, my group members became some of my closest friends. Traveling to Japan as a Student Diplomacy Corps member was the best experience of my life. Spending time in a different country with my group members and host family, away from the one I’ve grown accustomed to, has immensely impacted my perspective on the world and its inhabitants.

Je’Nique Graham '18 MEXICO – ON A TACO A DAY I wish I could pick a single best thing that happened to me over the summer, but I just can’t. Many different people, cultures, and even towns had a powerful impact on my life.

“Many times I was dared to do something new, such as run through a fountain of water, or eat the second hottest pepper in world. It didn’t matter what it was, I did it because I wanted to live in the experience.”

I didn’t know what to expect from a group of people I didn’t know who I would have to live with for a month, but we quickly got accustomed to each other. I had to get used to Cheney’s “Awwwww youuuu” from her favorite Soulja Boy album, and Ashley’s early morning Spanish translator of some popular songs. I can just hear my group now singing loudly, “DESSSPACITOO!” or the famous song, Como la Flor. I never thought I’d gain lifetime friends in the span of a month. These friends encouraged me to be great and be myself the whole duration of the trip. I never turned down a moment to create memories while I was there. Our saying was “Cuando en Mexico,” which means “When in Mexico.” Many times I was dared to do something new, such as run through a fountain of water, or eat the second hottest pepper in world. It didn’t matter what it was, I did it because I wanted to live in the experience.

to whom I can look up to and who have accomplished great things. I want to start by saying that Ashley was the most influential person on my trip. She was nothing but caring and she nurtured us as if we were her own children. Next, my host mother was also a person who took me in as her own child. In Mexico I caught the virus Montezuma’s Revenge, and she and my host father drove around for over an hour looking for a pharmacy that had a doctor to see me. She also took me into her house and taught me her culture, even though she was not compensated for my visit. My host sister taught me about the culture and many line dances that I had to perform in front of all of the family. The chefs were also very influential on my life by teaching me how to make many delicious foods and life survival skills with different foods.

Overall, this trip has helped me grow as a person and mature greatly. I’ve become an independent individual who is ready to take on any challenge life throws at me. I had to learn how to communicate with people who spoke little to no English. Now I can take on the world.

Thank you SDC and Friends of UA.

Besides building great friendships in my group, I met wonderful older people

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Marye Martin '19

CHILE – HOW TO GET TO EASTER ISLAND

I have so much to share, and I hope you will be entertained by my story. Let me begin with the flight from Kansas City to New York City. When I first arrived to New York City’s airport, I was scared out of my mind because of the stories I had heard from family and friends. I heard New Yorkers were mean or rude, or maybe even both. I’m a very emotional person, so if someone is being mean to me for no reason, I might cry. Gladly, none of the New Yorkers I encountered were mean or rude; instead, they were very gracious. I also heard that the New York airport is HUGE! I was afraid that I was not going to make it to my connecting flight on time, or even find it. I’m sure that Mr. Chris was getting annoyed with me, because I kept calling him to make sure I was going the right

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way to my terminal. I’m very grateful I had him to guide me through the airport. He even went out of his way to call a friend to help, but I kindly denied his gesture.

I realized at that moment that I’m not always going to have someone to help me. Instead I turned into the independent young lady that I was raised to be, and I found my own way to my gate. Surprisingly, I did. I’ll never forget the moment when I arrived at Gate 8 and met my group for the first time. They greeted me as if we were family members who haven’t seen each other for a long time. From there on out, I knew we were going to hit it off just fine.

When my group and I first arrived in Santiago, Chile, we were immediately greeted by Pablo and Claudio, our Chilean group leaders. I went in for a handshake, but instead they surprised me by hugging and giving me a kiss on the cheek. Instantly, by the look on my face, I knew that they realized I wasn’t used to that type of greeting.

They immediately

apologized to me and explained that was the way Chileans greet each other.

You might say that learning the proper way to greet a Chilean was my first step in becoming an official Chilean. When we first arrived at our hotel in Santiago, we were able to go explore, and as we did that, we met some Chilean high schoolers. It was so fun because we were able to practice our Spanish with them, and they were able to practice their English with us. It was quite interesting because I was not confident in speaking Spanish. What if I said something wrong? What if I didn’t use the correct conjugation? Or even worse, what if I got made fun of? These questions kept running through my mind. My group kept encouraging me that it was ok to mess up, but for some reason, I just couldn’t accept that. It took my experience with my Chilean host family to change my mind.

Astonishing. That one word describes my homestay with my Chilean family.

When I first arrived to my family house, I was so nervous to the point that all 11 years of studying Spanish disappeared from my brain. I wanted to talk so badly to my family, but I was so scared that I was going to say something wrong. This was especially the case when I went to school with my “big sister” and met her friends. School was a blast because all of the students were excited to meet me, and they were so nice. They brought me things every day, checked up on me, and made sure everyone was being nice to me. At the end of the school day when it was time to go home, I was still scared out of my pants to talk to my family. Lucky for me, Student Diplomacy Corps put me with a great host mom. I remember she

most muscular people I’ve ever seen.

The first day I met Tito, he gave me a big hug and his muscles made a sandwich with my face. Being on Rapa Nui made me become a matatoa, or a warrior, in many ways. First, I learned how to fish with only a string. When you catch your own fish, that means you have to cook it by yourself. Never in my life did I imagine eating raw fish eyes, hearts,

Making new friendships was the best thing Student Diplomacy Corps did for me. Even though my group was a decent size of 10, we all got along. For some bizarre reason, I thought they wouldn’t like me because I was 16, and they were 17 turning 18. But it made no difference, because these friends became my family and no one can break our bond. My Chilean family is my best memory from the trip, because it was as if I was at home with a perfect family. I learned so many things and recipes from my Chilean mother. My favorite recipe was Toteletas de Quinoa. A taste of that will make anyone go to Mars and back.

This trip also taught me about life. Living in Chile showed me how life will be in college away from my family. I learned

“As I kept moving forward in my Chilean adventure, I learned that it’s okay to make mistakes because learning from mistakes will help you get through life.” said to me, “Escucha, usted no siempre tiene que ser perfecto. A veces está bien cometer errores, así que diga lo que quiere decir y te corregiré si estás incorrecto.”

Which means, “Listen sweetie, you don’t always have to be perfect when speaking Spanish to me. It’s okay to make mistakes. So when you speak, I will just correct you.” This touched my heart because I had never had anyone encourage me like this with my Spanish.

As I kept moving forward in my Chilean adventure I learned that it’s okay to make mistakes, because learning from mistakes will help you get through life.

When I went to Rapa Nui, I learned that I was on Te Pito o te Henua, which means “The Navel of the World.” I was in the middle of the world surrounded by water. On this trip I met the biggest man in the world, Tito. And when I say big, I mean muscula. Tito was one of the

and brains, and strangely, it was quite good. Second, I learned the core values of hard work in everyday Chilean life.

On Rapa Nui, you see people walking everywhere or riding their bikes. When I was talking to some locals they told me that Rapa Nui didn’t have cars until five years ago, so everyone is still adjusting to them. Seeing and hearing this showed me how privileged I am, because people on the island didn’t have a problem with living life without cars or technology.

They were just happy with life as it was.

Also, the Rapa Nui people were so nice, because they taught me to accept things and be grateful for what life gives me.

This will help me when I go to college, because I will be able to use these connections and share with the world instead of being selfish. I will be able to share my mana, or wisdom, like a true Rapa Nui person.

how to speak up and ask for help, how to be independent, and especially how to accept mistakes and learn from them instead of trying to be a perfect person.

This trip and the experience was truly life-changing for me. Gracias, mauru uru, and thank you, Student Diplomacy Corps, for everything, and for giving me the opportunity to study abroad.

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Mariah McDaniel '18 FRANCE – LA CITÉ COSMOPOLITE

When I was a little girl one of my favorite cartoon films was Thumbelina (1994). I fell in love with the singing of Jacquimo, the quirky French bird. I also was intrigued with his description of Paris. His first line still rings a bell in my mind, “Welcome to Paris, City of Love.”

I wished with all of my being to travel to Paris to see this phenomenon myself.

Another verse imprinted itself into my brain as well. It is a lyric from the song, Follow Your Heart: “You’re sure to do impossible things, when you follow your heart.” These sayings resonated with me as I walked the streets of Paris after my last day at my internship, confidently strutting along without using my Plan de Paris.

Prior to that, I spent endless days running along the city, lost and puzzled, trying to read the map. I felt invigorated and on top of the world, or shall I say, the Eiffel Tower, when I finally bested that perplexing map. However, the journey it took to finally become confident enough to utilize my own abilities required me to struggle through a bigger obstacle: the dreaded language barrier.

I felt its effects within the first 24 hours of being in Paris. It seemed to me that every person in my group had developed strong French in school. They could waltz up to a friendly francophone and ask anything they desired, but I struggled to comprehend simple phrases. One

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fated night, my group and I were having dinner at the best crepe restaurant in the world, La Crêpe Dentelle. Breeze and Negina, our group leaders, challenged everyone to speak French for 20 minutes until our food arrived. I was mortified.

It was as if I was the foreigner at the table. I grew more and more exasperated each second. Luckily, Negina saved me the embarrassment and took me outside before I cried an ocean. It took her awhile to calm me down, but she assured me that I had to try speaking and trust in myself. The feat almost seemed impossible to hurdle, but miraculously, I felt a new change brewing within. After leaving La Crêpe Dentelle, I looked back upon the small, intricate restaurant and thought, “I am going to return and redeem myself.” With that declaration, I ran into my host family experience, headstrong with muscles flexed.

to be at La Crêpe Dentelle. It felt as if the universe heard my declaration and wanted to lead me to success.

Amusingly, my host family knew less English than I knew French. However, I stuck with my guns and successfully butchered many conversations with my semi-horrific French. Sometimes my family understood me. Other times we had awkward moments of silence mixed with confusion and burst into laughter soon after. By the end of my stay, I can truly say I held true to my word. I was prepared to travel back to Paris and leave my native tongue during my internship.

Coincidentally, my internship happened

Thinking back to the classic movie that started it all, I now see that Jacquimo was correct: I could do anything that I deemed impossible if I followed my heart. The language barrier seemed impossible to overcome, but I followed my gut and never gave up. Now I feel that I can do anything I put my mind to, all thanks to my travels with Student Diplomacy Corps.

During the three days at my internship, I connected with the restaurant owner and their granddaughter on a deep level.

The granddaughter was my biggest supporter. She forced me to share my life story in French with every single customer. Even though I messed up a lot, she still encouraged me everyday and became my personal cheerleader.

By the end of my internship, I felt more at ease with the language. I didn’t care that I wasn’t fluent. I was proud that I survived that experience and established a sense of confidence in myself. I felt so exhilarated and motivated to tackle more challenges, that I decided to walk home that day without depending on my Plan de Paris.

Ashanti Minnenhall '19 MOROCCO – SONGS FOR PEACE When I first arrived in Morocco, it looked different but also very similar to what I thought it would look like.

We arrived in Casablanca and drove with our group and country leader to Rabat. Rabat was a great city, and it had so many beautiful things about it, and secret things if you knew about them. I really enjoyed my homestay and my host family. I really enjoyed how we got to go to school everyday.

The next city we were in was Chefchaouen.

I would definitely rate our hotel and experience as 10 out of 10. There was so much walking we had to do everyday, but it was worth it in the end. We went to many different restaurants and saw many different places in Chefchaouen. While we were there, we went hiking up a mountain trail in the blazing summer heat to see a beautiful waterfall. We went shopping at many different places along the way, but my favorite places to shop and see vistas were in Chefchaouen.

Benikolla Village was my favorite place in terms of being social and fitting in, while also appreciating and assimilating into the culture. I loved my second host family, even though most of the time we couldn’t understand each other. They were so welcoming and loving. I loved the atmosphere of the village and all of its people. There were always kids running around and playing, just being kids. That was fun because where I live in America, I typically just see kids on their devices. I really enjoyed my stay in Benikolla and everyone I met there.

Fez was a bit disappointing, but I still enjoyed my time there with my group and shopping all of the time. Fez was disappointing because we were told by our group leader to wait until we got to Fez to buy leather products; however, when we got there everything was super expensive, and we couldn’t bargain it down to the price that we wanted. I did enjoy the time with my

group and going out to eat. Our hotel was really nice and I got the best room out of everyone.

Marrakech was a great place, and I had a great time there. While in Marrakech, we saw the famous square Jemaa El Fna, which was amazing and very beautiful at night. Our hotel was beautiful and I loved the decor within. Marrakech was very crowded no matter the time of day, but I was okay with it because I enjoyed the scenery along the way.

Boulaouane was the best place I stayed in all of Morocco, but not because of the scenery or the shopping. It was kind of isolated, and I got to know the members of my group really well during our stay at the amazing community center. There was this little girl who stayed there named Asiyah.

She was 2 or 3 years old and she reminded me of my niece and nephew, which helped with my homesickness. I really enjoyed her family’s hospitality and kindness. It was difficult at first because there was no air conditioning or wifi, but I adapted quickly and overcame my feelings of uncertainty.

Essaouira was okay. The shopping was so nice and there were so many shops. There were all kinds of things you could buy, from souvenirs and trinkets, to food and beauty products. I enjoyed this cafe right next to our hotel called Cafe Rasta. There was this man in front of the cafe playing music for tips everyday. His music was beautiful and you could keep in sync with it as you tapped your foot. The hotel was not very nice because of its location near the beach.

The room and everything in it was humid and moist. Overall, it was okay.

I really loved Morocco and all of the cities I visited. Something that will stay with me for the rest of my life are the skills that I learned over there. I learned how to be interdependent and how to work together to get a task completed. One of the most important things I learned is that you shouldn’t stay inside the box where you’re comfortable; you should push your limits and try things that outside of your comfort zone.

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Kenath Mitchell '19 ITALY – VENETIAN EMPIRE This summer was, and I can say this honestly, the absolute best summer I have ever had in my entire life. My name is Kenath Mitchell, and I had the honor of participating in the Venetian Empire program this summer. There were so many awesome things that happened to me this summer. I could go on and on about my different experiences while abroad, but I really want to focus on the best thing that happened to me this summer: gaining a new family.

me by surprise, but as soon as I realized that bonds were formed, I knew that I had formed a new family. After that, it was kind of bumming to be apart from each each other, especially during our homestay.

During the homestay, though, something even more extravagant happened. Within just one week, I came to love strangers as much as I love my family back at home. My homestay family made me feel like I was one of their own. They let me help clean and cook, I ate meals with them I come from an environment “Within just one week, everyday, and I even went to where I’ve known roughly I came to love strangers gatherings with their extended the same people my entire family and friends who took me as much as I love my life. I go to University family back at home. in as family also. I really took Academy which is a K-12 a liking to my host brothers, My homestay family charter school. All the Nicola and Marco. They were made me feel like I was grades are in the same like real brothers in that they one of their own.” building, so I’ve been around helped me to know what and the same group of kids for what not to do, yet we sat and 12 years now. I don’t travel much at all, so talked like best friends all the time, played I’ve only really known my home city and the ping pong or basketball, and went shopping. people who live in it. Because I’ve known That week felt like half a year. I was very these people for so long, I’ve had a lot of sad to leave, and so was my family. time to gain love for them and to make Now that I’ve explained how great my new close bonds. This was not the case at all family is, I want to explain why this means with the people I spent time with in Italy. so much to me. As you know this program When I first met my group, I honestly didn’t was three weeks. Thinking about that know how to act. I tried to be an extrovert timeframe compared to the strength of the to get to know everyone as quickly as relationships I built just boggles my mind. I possible, but that was a complete fail. I never thought that it would be possible for was really nervous and couldn’t hold a me to cry for someone that I had known for conversation with anyone for long, so I just such a short amount of time. This program decided to stick close to the other girl who changed my view on the new people I meet. went to my school who was in a different Now I don’t take any new relationships for group in Italy. The first few days were really granted. I’m also happy to meet and get to tense, and it was hard for us to break out of know people, because I never know what our shells. I don’t know when it happened, the future may hold for us. And for that, I’m but all of a sudden we were having groupreally grateful to have been able to spend wide inside jokes and using each other for my summer abroad with these people. pillows. The chemistry between us took

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Iyanla Perkins '18

ITALY – SLOW FOOD. RICH CULTURE

The summer of 2017 was a time I’ll never forget. June 28th at 4:00 a.m., I awakened from a restless night. I only experienced one hour of sleep due to a long and tedious packing session. After getting up and dressed, I headed to the airport because my journey was just about to begin. At 17 years old. a junior in high school, I was about to experience something that many other people will never get the chance to do. I was on my way to Italy to explore and experience full cultural immersion. Shortly after landing at Fiumicino Airport at 10 in the morning, after getting no rest on the plane, we abruptly arrived at our hotel. We were given 20 minutes to get dressed in something new, then we were on the move.

We spent our first three days in Rome seeing the Colosseum, Vatican City, and other amazing sights. Rome is a tourist city, and for this reason they keep the scenery ancient and full of history. The streets are filled with churches and cobblestone. In fact, there aren’t many streets that are wide enough to drive an average size car down, so mopeds and smart cars are hot commodities.

Our next stop was Asti. Once we reached our destination, my group and I attended day one of our cooking course. On our way to Asti, we initially took the wrong train. After missing our stop, we got back on a different train and then had to get on another two trains to finally reach our destination. Initially, none of us thought we’d actually enjoy Asti due to all the craziness that occurred getting there, but in the end Asti was one of our favorite stops. We went to a cooking class and stayed in a four-star hotel. Everyone’s rooms were nice, but mine in particular was amazing. I had a balcony, a huge bed, and my shower was to die for. I truly was living lavish. In the cooking classes we learned how to make 10, three-course Italian meals, including fresh pasta, baked veal, and gourmet desserts. At the end of our course, we received a certificate for participation and a large award ceremony to thank everyone for their help and support.

We met three Italian teens who quickly became our friends. They helped us become more comfortable with Italian culture.

Our last stop was Ravenna, Italy.

In Ravenna we attended a 10-day homestay where we lived with an Italian family everyday, all day, and experienced full cultural immersion. During these 10 days, I stayed with my host parents and my host sister. Back in the US I am the youngest of one older brother, who is seven years older than me. So, you could say I’ve been raised as an only child. In Italy, my sister and I spent everyday together from sunrise to sunset. We went shopping together, visited the beach together, and ate dinner together every night. There were many things

that a person my age could do that would be looked upon as weird in the US. For example, one night my sister and I were hanging with friends and we ended up walking back home at an odd hour. My sister was 16 years old, so I expected to be picked up because it was pretty dark out. Instead, we walked home and that was a social norm.

Overall, my trip to Italy taught me independence, maturity, and how to adjust culturally and physically to a new environment. During the duration of this trip, I learned independence, because although we had a group leader, all of my decisions were made alone. I essentially had to look out for myself and ensure my own safety and comfortability. My maturity level enhanced because, in many cases, things that I wouldn’t like or even tolerate back home were now a new way of living for me. I also had to become an individual leader of my group and, in certain situations, use my prior knowledge to ensure our group’s well-being. Cultural immersion occurred every day during my trip.

Every new place we visited there were new things to learn and to experience that opened doors to a new and deeper understanding of the culture.

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Chianti Ramsey '19 CHINA – THE GREEN DRAGON In China I learned so many things, not only about the culture, but about who I am as a person and what I discovered about myself during this amazing experience.

Culturally, I learned that as a guest you shouldn’t help do anything, from cooking to taking your own dishes to the kitchen.

However, it’s best to try to help so they don’t feel like you’re just being pampered by them. I also learned that the elderly are extremely active in Chinese culture.

They have parks with exercise equipment the elderly use, as well as lots of places for the elderly to just have a good time and dance. The older men and women of Chinese culture do more than a lot of the teenagers in America do. We saw many old men doing so many different tricks on the monkey bars that involved lifting themselves into handstands and holding themselves up for a long time.

The next thing that stood out about the culture was the schooling. In Chinese schools the students have to take a really important exam, just so they can go to high school. While in high school, it’s very common for students to be stressed and overworked. The reason for this is because the students have day school, night school, tutoring and then only about four to five hours of sleep every single day. During the last year of high

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school, students must decide what they will major in, and they can’t change their major until after four years of college.

Sadly, another common thing during high school and college is for some students to commit suicide by jumping from tall building windows, because the stress becomes too much.

The next thing I learned about Chinese culture is the constant presence of people smoking no matter where you go. Even if you’re at a place where it says “No Smoking,” the citizens will smoke no matter what. The final thing I learned about Chinese culture is that the people are always willing to help you if you need help. Everywhere you turn, if you need directions to a certain place, someone will be happy and willing to help you. If you need help translating something, there are lots of people who speak enough English to help translate for you.

I discovered a lot of things about myself during this trip. First, I learned that if I try hard enough I can get out of my comfort zone and communicate with lots of people. Second, I’m able to get far away from my family and not have to call them or depend on them. Finally, I learned that If I try hard enough, I can do anything I put my mind too. And I’m willing to try my ultimate best.

India Sorrells '18 MEXICO – MAYAN QUEST

This summer I was granted the opportunity to study abroad in Mexico.

This program was offered through my school, and I had to go through an application and an interview process.

This process helped a lot, because it prepared me for interviews for jobs and for other things. This wasn’t just any old study abroad trip; I had to go through some rough times and persevere, including doing scavenger hunts in the rain in the busy streets of Mexico and climbing pyramids. But there was one particular experience that changed me as a whole, and that was going through the jungle.

We were in between the middle and end of the trip, and I was pretty comfortable and used to the people that I studied abroad with. They were a helping hand when it came to stuff I was fearful of doing. In this particular instance though, we had to go through the jungle where there were spiders, monkeys, jaguars, etc. I was extremely scared, because I didn’t want to be the victim of any of those animals.

As we walked onto the pathway leading into the jungle, I began to sweat bullets; not only because it was humid, but because when I am scared or nervous

about something I began to sweat. The ground was very slippery and muddy, so it was hard for me to get a good grip as I was walking. As we walked more and more, my first encounter was with a snake. It was not a big snake, but I was still terrified of the fact that it was right next to me. I still didn’t let that stop me from finishing my task, so I just kept moving and continued on my journey. My next encounter was with the howler monkeys. They were so loud and intimidating that I couldn’t even stay focused on trying not to fall on the slick ground. I fell a few times but I wasn’t the only one, so I didn’t feel too embarrassed by it.

After we encountered these two things and many other spiders and bugs, we ended our journey at a stream filled with little fish that ate the dead skin off of our feet. This actually was the highlight of that experience, because it was very cool and it was a good way for us to bond.

It also was a relief to get to sit down and rest from all the walking we did throughout the hot and sweaty jungle.

“...this experience was life-changing for me because it allowed me to become more fearless.”

Overall, this experience was lifechanging for me because it allowed me to become more fearless. I faced my fears in the jungle; not only my fear of those animals, but on a separate occasion, I also had to face my fear of water. If it wasn’t for the opportunity to go out of the country and step out of my comfort zone, I would never have been able to get over my fears. I persevered through it all, and it also made me independent.

Overall, this was life-changing. I would definitely love to travel abroad outside of high school, and even recommend it to other students like me.

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Aunna Wolfe '19

ALBANIA – WHERE THE EAGLES SOAR spent together, we made every second count. I could go on rambling about how much fun we had together. I will never forget all of the laughs we shared and our inside jokes. Every night we would sit by the bonfire and tell countless stories about our crazy lives until two in the morning. The most breathtaking part was actually stargazing. We were all city kids, so where we live you barely see any stars. So, the fact that we could see the constellations, which I had never seen before, was absolutely incredible.

I chose Albania when applying for this program initially, but by the end, Albania chose me. My life has changed in a way that I can’t even begin to explain. How I also loved the homestay. My family was I view the world today and myself as a so welcoming. During my homestay I got young adult is different. Over the course so close to my mom. I taught her how to of weeks, I found out things about myself do the electric slide, and on our last night that I still cannot even believe. For together we made dinner together. She example, I really do enjoy hiking. Even also taught me how to speak though it is a struggle, once you reach the top the air in “...every day I woke up Albanian and drink pear juice, and all I want to say your lungs is rejuvenated doing something that I to her is faleminderit shume by nature. have never done before (“thank you very much”).

I was completely out of Spending time with her in my lifetime.” my comfort zone, and changed my life significantly.

I loved every minute of it. I was able I challenge myself in ways I never to enjoy things that I would have had would’ve thought of if I hadn’t met her. second thoughts about if I were to This trip has made me a better person. It attempt them before, such as climbing has changed my attitude and perception on top of a building inside of the oldest of things today. The most amazing castle in Gjirokaster and almost getting feeling throughout the trip was that I kicked out by the locals, or trying jadran was doing things that most people have gelato, which if you don’t know, is algae never done or dreamed of doing before. ice cream. That’s what made this trip Some people will never get to experience so impeccable: the fact that every day what I have. I would encourage anyone I woke up doing something that I have who has the chance to travel to do so, never done before in my lifetime. because you will change in so many ways I most definitely loved my group. Even and get a chance to embrace yourself in though we were from all across the a different culture. Honestly, if you don’t US and Argentina, we made an instant travel, you are missing out on a huge part connection. Because our flight was of life. I am so thankful that I was able to delayed for two days and all the time we embrace myself in this experience.

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NATIONAL OUTDOOR LEADERSHIP SCHOOL NOLS has become the leader in wilderness education. Founded in 1965, NOLS takes students of all ages on remote wilderness expeditions and teaches them technical outdoor skills, leadership, and environmental ethics.

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Malik Dickerson-Mckinney '18 WYOMING - WIND RIVER WILDERNESS During my 17 years on this planet, I’ve achieved some very proud moments in life. In sports, I became captain of the football team and made the basketball team. In academics, I was placed on the principal’s honor roll and honored to be a member of National Honor Society.

Out of my many accomplishments, completing my Wilderness Certification through NOLS is the one I’m most proud of. My course consisted of 16 kids from different states, including Oregon, North Carolina, New Jersey, New York, California, Wisconsin and Virginia. We were all inexperienced kids who didn’t

go into the woods and dig a hole. There were other memorable experiences, such as the all night rainstorms and blizzards.

I couldn’t believe that it was snowing in June. It was so cold at night that I slept in multiple layers under my sleeping bag.

And, I experienced all of this during my first week. Needless to say, I was ready to come home. It was all just different and new to me.

Although I felt alone and afraid, I refused to give up. I was determined to persevere and see the experience through. I can attest that I am happy I did. As the weather cleared, I was blessed to see

was finally through with the trip, I felt so fulfilled, like I just accomplished the greatest thing ever. It was most definitely the hardest thing I’ve ever done, and I somehow got through it in one piece.

This experience has helped me become a confident and inspiring leader. As a leader on my NOLS course, I had many responsibilities. One interesting duty was securing the bear fence around the camp before going to bed. This fence was a homemade alarm system that alerted us of any intruders. This was one of many duties that taught me how to have confidence in my abilities and hold myself

“Although I felt alone and afraid, I refused to give up. I was determined to persevere and see this through. I can attest that I am happy I did.” know one another, who decided to take a trip into the woods in Wyoming for a month to hike and live off the land.

Needless to say, we were all afraid at first. Although this may have been one of my most frightening experiences, I can honestly say it was one of my most rewarding and fulfilling ones as well.

NOLS was a really tough experience. We were without any form of communication with the outside world: no access to cell phones, computers, or television.

There were no electronics or electricity of any kind. I went through electronics withdrawal. I also can’t forget about the toilet. You know why? There wasn’t one.

When nature called, we were trained to

incredible sites of soaring bald eagles.

They are huge and beautiful birds. My group hiked 109 miles to the Continental Divide, where all of one body of water flows into Pacific Ocean, and the other body of water flows into the Atlantic Ocean. We stopped and rested to take it all in. It was one of the most peaceful moments of my life. I experienced a multitude of things on this exploration that I wouldn’t be able to experience anywhere else. And, most importantly, I made new, possibly lifelong, friends from different states, backgrounds, and values. Getting to know my new friends was worthwhile, and we never had a dull moment together. When I

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accountable for my work and my actions.

I plan to mirror the same leadership qualities in football by setting the right example and showing everyone how to act.

NOLS helped me appreciate just how very blessed I am. I no longer fear trying new experiences. This 30-day journey taught me to believe in my leadership abilities and value the essentials for life. I realized that I’m stronger than I think. I can always use this experience as motivation whenever I feel like I can’t do something later on in life. The things I learned from NOLS will stick with me forever.

Michael Paul Lang '18 WYOMING - WIND RIVER WILDERNESS This NOLS expedition was a great experience and taught me a lot about myself, others, and more. Without this experience, I don’t think I would be the better person I am today. During this expedition, my eyes were opened to what a true leader is and what a true leader is able to do with the right guidance. Before my NOLS experience, my impression of a true leader was truly flawed. This kept me from doing so many leadership opportunities that I could have done at the beginning of this trip and prior to NOLS. NOLS has also given me a new perspective on life.

At the beginning of the trip, I stayed away from any real big leadership roles. I thought I was not ready and could not fill the shoes and execute all the tasks that needed to be done. Then it was my day to lead the group, and I was super nervous.

We were heading towards a place called Temple Pass, and my instructor sat me down and told me that being a leader doesn’t mean you do things by yourself; it’s about working as a team. So all the tasks and hard decisions were not just up to me, but the group as well. I learned a lot from this. I got us to our destination safe and sound. Then it was time to go up Temple Pass. We made it to the spot where I fell. Because of my fall, we had to start all over as a group, and I thought I failed. My instructor asked me, “Did everyone get to the destination safe? Did you have fun on the way?” So my friends told me I did good as well, and it helped.

I learned a lot from this one experience.

I learned that being a leader has to do with more than just micromanaging everyone around you and always being right, or never showing weakness. It’s about bringing people together from all aspects of life and connecting with everyone while guiding everyone to a common goal. Being a leader doesn’t mean you always have to be ahead of the group. It’s about taking the strengths from everyone and using those strengths that will serve the group in the best way possible. To be a leader, you don’t always have to be the example, but you set the bar so people can see you striving for that bar. Because, at the end of the day, we are all human, and we’re going to make mistakes. That’s when you reach out to others, and they will reach back out to you as well.

Also, as a leader, there are going to be flat tires when you’re taking the journey through life. All you can do is keep filling them back up. This taught me that rough times are going to come, and they will make you mad, sad, and frustrated. You should take that emotion you feel and direct it toward somewhere else that’s useful. This is because bad times are never here to stay, and you have to let the good outweigh the bad. Doing this as a leader will set the tone and rub off on others.

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Kellan Owens '18

ALASKA - BACKPACKING AND SEA KAYAKING My definition of leadership deepened on my NOLS course by learning to overcome obstacles associated with the elements and trying to maintain comfortable body temperature. My first day in Alaska had overcast skies, and it had recently rained. I didn’t think anything about it, because there’s always a day in summer when it is not all sunny. However, I didn’t realize that was the norm for Alaska. In Alaska, the weather is usually around 40 degrees in the summer. I enjoy warmer summers, so coming to Alaska was definitely an adjustment. Throughout the course, there were many days when I didn’t appreciate how cold I would be. So, I complained a lot. Only when my group gave constructive criticisms of each other did I realize that my discontent had affected other people as well. From then on, I set out on a personal journey to keep my body, mentally and physically, in top condition.

Although I wasn’t leading the group by being the head of the group, I learned that leaders also lead by leading themselves. I had heard this before, but this type of leadership never had seemed so effective until NOLS. In football, the most skilled player usually leads the team. In school, my classmates and I lean on the smartest one to help us with difficult subjects. But, out in the wilderness, self-leadership is just as important as anything else. After beginning my journey, I began making an extra effort to drink the correct amount of water so that I could keep up. I even began eating nuts, something I don’t like to eat, in order to keep warm and keep my body fed with energy. When

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I did that, I was able to focus on larger aspects of the NOLS course, such as learning how to properly dispose of bodily wastes, and how to stay safe out in bear country. I began enjoying and appreciating the weather for what it was.

There were a lot of other obstacles during my course, but I felt better prepared for them knowing that I was in top shape. When we transitioned into the kayaking phase of our trip, there were a whole new set of problems.

Practicing wet exits in our kayaks and learning correct paddling form were a couple of the problems. Wet exits were definitely something hard to mentally prepare for. I had to dip my body in a very cold body of water, and that made me even more nervous since I strongly dislike the cold. But I stayed positive, just like I had learned to do during the hiking section of the course, and I successfully learned how to do it. Learning how to paddle was also difficult. My first day in a single kayak was really annoying. I had to go back to a single kayak, because I didn’t have enough power in my strokes.

I lost my cool halfway through the day’s paddle. The next day, however, I went back to the single kayak with an open and clear mind, and I learned how to gain more power in my strokes.

All of the problems I faced were solved by learning how to lead myself by staying positive and by eating nutritionally right. Self-leadership put me on a path that ended up making the course easier and more enjoyable. I am happy I took the course to challenge myself with obstacles.

Shayla Winters '18

WYOMING - WIND RIVER WILDERNESS My first time in an airport and on an airplane was amazing. I felt independent.

After my second flight, I had to find the shuttle-bus, which was my last mode of transportation to reach my destination.

A few hours after riding in the shuttle on a gloomy, rainy afternoon, we arrived at the NOLS hotel/dormitory. I met the three girls who I would be sharing a room with and learned we had very different personalities and outlooks on the trip.

After that, we went back downstairs for our group meeting where I met the rest of my peers and instructors. To my surprise, we got along phenomenally!

I realized the next morning when we had to be ready by 6 a.m. that the rest of the trip was going to consist of early mornings and late nights, which reminded me of school. Breakfast was super healthy, and jobs were set up for some of us to do for breakfast after everyone was finished. We walked to the NOLS store to get equipment and rations for the first six days. After learning how to pack our hiking packs and how to put them on, it was time for the expedition to begin.

Boarding the bus made me apprehensive from the thought of actually backpacking. Next thing I knew, the bus stopped at a rest stop across from the mountains. Hiking started quicker than a snap of a finger, and in no time I was gasping for air, climbing steep terrains with loose boulders, making my way across the Continental Divide. It was freezing, raining consistently, and the air became thinner going into higher elevations. I thought, “I can’t do this!”

and “Why did I agree to go on this trip?”

I quickly overcame those thoughts though, because I realized I had amazing peers and instructors to guide me along the way.

This NOLS expedition increased my confidence and changed how I meet challenges. It helped me understand that I do not always have to follow after the “leader” and that I can take charge, as long as I do it in a phlegmatic and respectful manner. The very last day of my NOLS expedition, I was chosen to be the leader and bring the team to the front country again. There were times that day that made me emotional, but I put my pride aside and eventually got us on the right track. We did a small debrief when we made our way to our last campsite, and I was told I was a great leader. I learned that if you never give up, you can accomplish anything you put your mind to.

I would definitely recommend this to others, because it’s life changing, and you learn how to appreciate what you have. Things in the backcountry are exceedingly different than things here in the frontcountry. Looking back on this trip, I finally understand why everyone made sure I realized what would come from this experience. I’ve become a better leader and a NOLS Alumna, which means I can lead my own group since I have the knowledge to do so. Everyone’s support and dedication has helped me grow tremendously, but NOLS was only the beginning of my adventures.

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EXPERIMENT IN INTERNATIONAL LIVING Founded in 1932, EIL programs immerse students in the daily lives of people in countries all around the world with the goal of developing a deep understanding and connection to their culture. EIL’s mission is to create meaningful, dynamic experiences for students eager to challenge themselves and engage their sense of global citizenry.

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Arsema Berhane '18

FRANCE: FRENCH LANGUAGE AND CULINARY TRADITIONS I got off of the train, my stomach a mix of nervousness and excitement. My fingers were slightly oiled from taking down my cornrows, my hair was big and kinky, and my French was as practiced as it could be from a painful, 30-minute attempted conversation with a kind old man. I knew the email from the program had said I had a younger host sister named Elodie (11), younger brother named Enzo (9), an older brother named Anis (18), and host parents, Fayrouz and Said. I looked around with a shy smile, and a woman with beautiful red hair cut in a bob, and a young girl wearing shorts and a tee- shirt walked up to me. “Tu t’appelle Arsema?”

I nodded wordlessly, and with that, I began my two week stay.

This summer, I spent my time studying abroad in France, and I spent a majority of my time with the Ramdane family in Pierrelatte. My host family went out of their way to make me feel like a member of their own family. The very first meal I ate with them, my plate was piled high with various barbecued meats, vegetables, fruit, and bread. I was also told that I could get up in the middle of the night for midnight snacking if I wanted to.

My host family originated from Algeria, and they spoke a combination of Arabic and French. They were also Muslim, and they gave me exposure to their everyday lives. My host mother, Fayrouz, would often blast Arabic music with the windows down while driving around; my host brother, Anis, told me about racism that he and his friends faced; my younger host siblings made sure that I was sent off with a bag of little Algerian cakes and desserts.

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Although I definitely utilized Google Translate to communicate with my younger host siblings and host parents, I was lucky in the sense that Anis spoke fluent English. That made it easier for me to communicate with the rest of the family, and I forged one of my stronger connections with him. I also formed really strong connections with my younger host siblings Elodie and Enzo.

We would usually play games with each other or watch movies.

Not to mention, all of my host siblings did some form of martial arts. Anis did kickboxing, judo, French and American boxing, and Muay Thai. Enzo did French boxing, and Elodie did judo. This was really interesting to me because I do kenpo karate, and this is something we bonded over as well.

My experience taught me that although we lived on different sides of the world and practiced different religions, we still had so much in common. I reiterated my beliefs that hatred based on fear or differences were completely ignorant, and my stay with this family gave me a greater appreciation for different cultures and people.

Martinique Briggs '18

SPAIN: LANGUAGE & CULTURAL TRADITIONS One critical global issue I was exposed to on my trip was racism. Some racist Spaniards looked upon three African American girls, including myself, and called us the derogatory slur for black.

This action did not affect me as much as if it would have happened in the USA. I was extremely shocked when they said it because there was a bit of excitement in their voices when they said it. The first thing that went through my mind was to act in an unruly manner, but that would represent not only my country in a bad way, but also my parents and my group members. The second thing that went through my head was to ignore the entire action and try to go about my day, and not let those two individuals ruin it. Later that evening I talked about the situation that occurred with the other two African American girls to see how they felt and what they were thinking about doing. All of our answers were pretty similar. Some of our other group members that heard what the two men said asked to join our conversation and wanted to know if we were doing

okay. All we could tell them was “Not right now.” We needed to get ourselves together because, at that moment, we were all ready to go home.

An action I can take in the future to work toward a more peaceful and just world is to bring light to those who don’t know much about the history of the United States. Slavery did exist, and African American people have gone through so many stages of hate and racism. To still hear negative things now is getting old.

If those guys would have been walking on the street, I would have approached them with the other two girls and my group leaders. I would have informed them that what they said was negative and could have really hurt my feelings and ruined the rest of my time there. As the end of the program came closer, we began to have meetings to reflect on people’s feelings and talk about anything that had happened or was seen that was perceived as wrong. My situation came up in every discussion, which started to make me feel uncomfortable. I understood that they wanted to be there to support the other girls and me and to try to help us through the situation.

However, constantly bringing it back up was aggravating. It was bad enough that the three of us stuck out like sore thumbs everywhere we went. We already felt unwelcomed there based upon people staring at only the African American girls.

appreciative that I was able to go out of the country this past summer. If I could go again, I would prefer a smaller group of five or so, just so I could feel a little closer. I enjoyed all the rest of the parts of Spain, though. My trip to Spain was not all negative, and I encourage people who have the opportunity to go, to take that advantage and go. Even if they are scared of heights, STILL GO, because you are going to learn something from the trip, whether it affected you positively or negatively.

None the less, I was still glad and very

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Torrei Ealy '18

NICARAGUA AND CUBA: ARTS AND SOCIAL CHANGE Visiting Nicaragua was a wonder-filled experience that has taught me a lot, not only about their culture but also about my own. My view on a lot of things has changed, while some views were just broadened and actually made me reflect and take in the world around me.

Here in the United States we live privileged lives. The little things in life go unappreciated and taken for granted, like running water, toilets that flush, and a seemingly unlimited supply of electricity. These are all amenities we are accustomed to, but none of them is totally necessary for everyday life.

Knowing that we are probably the world’s most wasteful nation, we could learn a thing or two from other countries.

In the small rural town of Lagartillo with my first homestay family, I finally realized how privileged I was to live the life that I live… or so I thought. When my host mom talked to me about how Nicaragua puts forth a conscious effort to be ecofriendly, I was amazed. I’d never heard of a country as a whole actively trying to make the world a better place, while also taking into consideration the things we put at stake by abusing natural resources and not taking care of our earth. One day while washing dishes my mom asked me, “Why do you guys flush fresh water down the toilet?” I was so taken aback by her question that I couldn’t even give her an answer. It was a great question and something that I’d never asked myself until then.

But now I think I may have an answer: because it is convenient and gets rid of the problem within seconds. Not caring whether or not that the flushing of freshwater is being used to push waste down pipes will one day cause a huge problem, if it doesn’t already. America is built on convenience and often does not consider the bigger picture; short-term goal setting is always it for the United States but never enough for the future.

In retrospect, being the “land of the free” comes at a huge price, whether it be raping our land of its most precious non-

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renewable resources, or our heinous greed as a nation.

Pondering why this life was so important to the surrounding community, I noticed that for starters it is the only life they’d ever known. But most importantly, without an earth or a place for everyone to call home, everything else is secondary to them, especially when it comes to world issues. These wonderful souls are able to see the bigger picture, and unlike most of us in the United States, they realize that without a planet to live on, we are nothing.

Eventually if citizens of the earth don’t try to fix the problem of global warming, then all of a sudden the issue of who is going to war with whom will no longer be significant for any nation.

Because these people were able to recognize these issues early on, they have the potential to teach other countries like the United States some of their ways of life, so that the earth can flourish and function as normally and naturally as possible.

When the people of Lagartillo aren’t really the problem and still are able to get away from modern temptations of technology that only spoil you and make the world a less eco-friendly place, it speaks volumes to the kind of people that they are collectively.

Because my host mom and I had great conversations about many different things, and I got to see what she was about and vice versa; she really impacted me in a way that I never would have imagined. My host mother, Maribel, made me realize that there is more to life than just the same old routine and what I am used to. The life that I lived with her and my two little brothers, Claudio and Riccardo, in the mountains has changed me forever. I’m forever grateful for the time and conversations that we had together. By the end of my homestay, I started to wonder if I was really the privileged one: to be as wise and humble as the people that I’ve encountered made me realize that there is so much out there, and change isn’t always bad.

Domini Johnson '19

INDIA: PUBLIC HEALTH, TRADITIONAL MEDICINE, & SOCIAL JUSTICE

I was so nervous the day before the trip that I could barely sleep. Going into it, I believed that I would have a hard time making friends for several reasons. The main reasons were my concern about the diversity of the group, the open mindedness of the group as a whole, and my habit of not speaking my mind for fear of people not liking what I say.

I was super comfortable on my way to JFK Airport because I was with two of my closest friends the whole way there.

One of my group members was on my flight from North Carolina to JFK and I didn’t even know! Arriving at JFK was bittersweet because I was finally alone, and it hit me: I don’t have my friends from back home to rely on for things as simple as conversation. I wandered around my terminal trying to find my group when one of my leaders walked up to me and made me feel so welcome.

I was the second person to arrive at the group’s meetup spot. As group members slowly started to pour in, that’s when all of my fears started slowly shifting away.

Many of my experiences will be shared as a story, but every story has a new skill learned. This trip was full of skill building and adjustments because it was not an easy program or country to be in.

As I stated before, I was very concerned about the diversity of the group. My biggest fear is that I would be in a group of 15 and be the only person of color.

To my surprise almost everyone in my group was a race that was considered a “minority.” I was also glad to see our group not breaking into comfortable racial cliques. We sat in a big circle together and played games, and for the first time in a while, I saw that color didn’t really matter. I found myself relating to everyone in some way and teaching them new things about my culture and home life. Even before the trip actually started, I learned the skill of coming into something with no expectations or judgments, basically with an open mind.

This brings me to my next fear: coming into the program.

A big concern of mine is how groups respond to certain controversial social issues such as LGBTQ rights or gender equality. When most of the group was together in the airport, we started playing “get to know you” games. One basic thing was us going around saying our name and pet peeve and then we’d have to repeat the previous person’s name and pet peeve. A lot of the group said their biggest pet peeve was closed-minded people. This was great news because we were able to have valuable conversations about how we view current issues and events. This taught me to have more faith in people, regardless of if I know them personally or not. It is similar to going in with an open mind, but this is specific to having faith in my generation and certain cultural backgrounds.

Before the program, and even still occasionally now, I have a terrible habit of not saying how I feel because I do not want people to be upset with what I say.

Having such controversial conversations showed me that it’s okay for people to not agree with you. It doesn’t mean they dislike you; you just have different opinions from each other. The entire trip made me feel more comfortable speaking my mind. In group discussions I would speak on any topic, no matter who I thought would disagree, but I still made sure not to disrespect anyone in the process. That in itself is a great skill.

The Experiment of International Living is an amazing program that taught me so many things. My specific program, India, is something I wouldn’t trade for the world. This program made me not only a well-rounded individual, but also a global citizen. I learned things about myself that I didn’t know and couldn’t believe were there, and I found a new passion. It’s true what they say: you definitely will find yourself in India!

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Aniah Kemp '18

SPAIN: LANGUAGE AND CULTURAL TRADITIONS Over the summer I travelled to Spain for the Language and Cultural Traditions program with The Experiment in International Living, and it was one of the best experiences I’ve had in my life. There were many challenges that I became accustomed to after some time, such as the time difference, getting around my food allergies, and not being able to understand the main language spoken. Although there were some obstacles in the beginning, one of the best parts of my entire trip was the homestay in Granada.

While I was there, I made many different friends with the other host siblings, and I still communicate with some of them to this day. When I first arrived in Granada, the first person I met was my host sister, Camilla. It was kind of awkward when we first met, but after getting to know each other for a couple of hours, we just clicked. However, I didn’t connect much with my other two siblings, which were my brothers, we because we never got the chance to hang out. Camilla and I went out to eat with her best friends, who ultimately became some of my closest friends. We always mixed our languages when we hung out together so that we could all learn different words or phrases from each other and improve our second languages. Also, we shared the different kinds of music that we listened to. Shakira, Rihanna and Enrique Iglesias are a few of the famous pop stars that they listen to. Ever since then, I have been hooked on Spanish music and learning to how to better translate sentences in Spanish. There were so many different memories from Granada that I wouldn’t trade for the world.

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Meanwhile, living at my homestay made me realize how many different aspects there are in the normal life of a Spanish family. For example, lunch was at 3 o’clock and no matter what anybody was doing at home, they came downstairs so that we could eat as a family. My host mom was so good to me because she always cooked me separate meals from the rest of the family because I am allergic to eggs, fish and nuts, and I don’t eat pork. Most of their diet consisted of pork and eggs. I appreciated her doing this because when I ate lunch or dinner outside of the house, I had to get the vegetarian platters or bread and cheese.

However, communication with my mom was very limited because she couldn’t speak any English, and I couldn’t speak any Spanish. The siblings translated everything for me, or we used Google Translate if they weren’t available. We also communicated through our actions, which made me more mature in a sense; she didn’t understand what I needed most times, so I had to do it on my own.

Still, this made my trip even better to be able to say that I overcame many different obstacles, from the language to my food allergies, by gaining more confidence in speaking another language and growing mentally as a young adult.

Overall, this trip was one of the best experiences of my entire life, but the homestay was the best part for me.

Sydney Lyles '18

ITALY: LANGUAGE AND LOCAL FOOD CULTURE school, and social life. We normally met up at the local skate park, the hangout spot for all of the teens, and walked to local restaurants and to Martina’s friends’ homes.

Going into my homestay, I was equally as curious about meeting my family as they were to be receiving me. I had already been away from home for three weeks living like a nomad with the other experimenters, trying to absorb as much of the Italian language and culture as possible, as preparation for diving into the upcoming uncommon atmosphere. Yes, I had been in Italy for a few weeks, but I hadn’t been alone. I had been with the experimenters who were from America, people I could relate to. This would be different. I would be a highschool student in Italy living with an Italian family, alone. So, with a few weeks of Italian language classes under my belt, I was off to Cosenza.

As we got off the Amtrak, all of our new Italian families were gaping at us. They seemed surprised by what we looked like. As we came up the elevator from the other side of the train’s platform, our families immediately welcomed us with warm hugs and kisses on our jaws, touching our faces and our hair in amazement at what Americans looked like. After saying goodbyes to the experimenters, I was off to my homestay.

Socializing with Martina and her friends and my experience in Italy as a whole made me realize how many constraints teenagers in the USA have compared to teenagers in other countries. Unlike my hometown, Kansas City, MO, Cosenza’s teens don’t have a barrier of curfews that prohibit them from being out at certain times of night, or the barrier of geographical areas that make them lack trust in their community. Me walking around Kansas City until one in the morning would be unheard of, which shows how there will always be a bit of fear in Americans. Racial issues and brutality makes people shelter their kids from experiencing new things and living life to their fullest potential. While in Cosenza there were fewer rules against teens, which showed how much trust the community had in them as well.

Trust plays a big role in the growth of an economy. America’s lack of trust in our teens and our communities can ultimately jeopardize our future.

Every night my host sister, Martina, and I went out with her friends. They were so curious to know everything about me regarding my family, close friends,

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Daunte Mickens '18

JAPAN: JAPANIMATION-ANIME AND MANGA Over the summer of 2017, I experienced the greatest event in my life to this day, and that was going to Tokyo, Japan for five weeks. I went there with the help of Friends of University Academy’s The Experiment, to learn how to create Japanese anime. However, that was not the only subject I learned. I learned about Japanese culture and life in Tokyo, the people in my group that I traveled with, and all these new things I can take back home with me. However, the biggest thing that I took home was the change within myself. After learning all these new things and experiencing a different life outside my boxed-in life at home, I am a different person than I was before I left for Japan. I see myself in a different light. I’m someone better now than who I used to be.

There were multiple changes to my personality that took place in Japan. First, I am now a lot more confident in myself. Before the trip, I had trouble making new friends. I had a set group of friends that I loved and stayed with. I didn’t go out to meet new people because of my interest in anime. My past experiences led me to believe that anime was not something a lot of people liked in the places I lived. I was scared to express my love for it.

In The Experiment, I was put with a group that wasn’t scared

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to express themselves at all. A lot of them were not crazy into anime like I was, but they were the best group to be with. Being with them, I was able to gather the courage to talk about what I liked, and they accepted it fully. They started liking it and some of them already had the same love for it that I did. They became some lifelong friends of mine. This group of friends taught me a lot of skills I needed to have a long time ago. I learned to take a small leadership role. Whenever there was a dispute in the group, I would do my best to try and come up with a solution to help benefit everyone. I used to just shy away from problems, but now I want to do my best to help. I always put in what I’m thinking when there’s a group effort instead of just going along with everyone else. Overall, I’m more confident in myself because I stepped out of my comfort zone.

I had to step out of my comfort zone pretty often while in Japan. Going to Japan and being in a different place other than Kansas City, Missouri was the easy part. The hard part was being with a group all of the time. After the first week, I got used to it, and I did not want to part with them. However, the first few days were a bit interesting for me. I was used to being on my own, doing my own thing, and making my own choices.

With a group, a person does not have that ability. You have to make choices and do everything together, which can create problems sometimes. With group decisions, I had to get used to not always doing exactly what I wanted to do. After a week the group, including me, got a hold of how to do things. We got so used to being in a group that we never needed the group leaders to help us solve problems. If there was ever a problem, we solved it ourselves with our own group meetings and by talking it out. It became normal for us to be in a group, and we became family. That was the biggest of the few uncomfortable zones I had to deal with, and I am really glad for how that became a new comfort zone for me. I am more open to being with a group and meeting new people.

As I stated before, my leadership skills have greatly improved.

I never took up a leadership role during school or in much of anything. I usually always followed what I had to do, maybe every once in awhile changing something or improving what had to be done with the consent of others. That changed while I was in Japan. In Japan when I was with the group, we had a few conflicts that had to be resolved. A few people in the group were just a bit stubborn, and my best friend Bryce and I decided to try and help others as best we could. This gave us not the role of

leaders, because we did not want that for the group, but more of helpers that gave our thoughts on what should happen between two or more people in a dispute. This required leadership skills, such as taking everyone’s opinion into account, being able to voice my own opinion, and moving forward with the solution the group came up with. It was a struggle at first, but the group overcame these struggles. And I grew personally too, learning to stand my ground and tell what I believed was the correct answer to a problem.

My trip to Japan was easily one of the greatest experiences I could have ever had. I learned so many things about the culture of Japan, but mostly I learned about myself and gained skills I could have only dreamed of by staying at home. I learned to be self-sufficient, to be in a group, to settle disputes, to make new friendships, to express myself, and so many more skills. I feel like a completely different person. I view myself as a person of strength and leadership. I view myself as someone that can become something, and someone that still has a lot to learn. In Japan there were so many different things I never knew about, and it makes me wonder: what else is out there to experience?

With this new me, I feel like I have the power to change the world.

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Marielena Ortiz '18

FRANCE: PAINTING AND PHOTOGRAPHY IN PARIS AND PROVENCE didn’t think she was going to like me. But I pushed those thoughts aside to make sure I wouldn’t ruin my experience. That first day I met my two host brothers, Joan, 16, and Bastian, 10, as well as my host dad, Philippe. It felt awkward to sit in someone else’s house at first, but most of that went away when we started talking. Joan had to translate most of the time because my host mom and dad didn’t speak a lot of English. It was interesting to learn about how they go through their day.

The best experience I had in France was with my host family. I had four host brothers, my host mom, and my host dad. A few weeks before I went to France, I was talking to one of my host brothers through email. It was kind of awkward, but it was also nice, because he introduced me to the whole family, including the pets, so I knew what to expect.

When I first saw my host mom at the meeting place, I was nervous because I

One way I got closer to my host mom was by helping her cook ratatouille.

Every time she grabbed a vegetable, she would say its name in French and I would say it in English, and that helped us understand each other a lot better. I got closer to Joan and his girlfriend, Aby, by just hanging out with them. My host dad made it his mission to find something that was really spicy, because everything they thought was spicy, I disagreed. After a few days I could tell that they were happy to have me as a guest, and I was happy to have them as my host family.

My host mom was especially happy to have another girl in the house. Closer to the end of the homestay, my host mom took me to the store and had me pick out a bracelet to match hers. I almost cried, because I didn’t think we were that close.

My host mom and I cried when it was time to say goodbye. I told her I would stay in contact with them and that I would try to come back one day to visit.

At the end of the trip, I was surprised that I had such a close connection with my host family because our cultures are so different.

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Essence Pearson '18

THAILAND: BUDDHIST TRADITIONS AND CONTEMPORARY CULTURE The summer before my senior year, I was constantly told to get prepared for what would, without a doubt, be my hardest year of high school. At first I paid no mind to those words; after all, I was granted the opportunity to spend one month embracing the Buddhist culture of Thailand. All I was worried about was Thailand and all the food, shopping, and activities. I would have plenty of time to grow when I got back. Little did I know, Thailand would prepare me for much more than my senior year and beyond.

I encountered my first obstacle a few days after arrival. My allergies and asthma were triggered by something, but I couldn’t figure out what it was. Growing up with asthma, I knew how bad it could get. Luckily, I was equipped with all the medicine that I needed to make sure that it didn’t get worse. Thankfully, I got better really fast. This situation really shook me a bit. I was in an environment I knew nothing about with people I didn’t know, yet I managed to get my health under control on my own without any help. Being in a situation where I

didn’t know anyone forced me to step completely out of my comfort zone. I had to make friends and try new things. In the end, I was so glad I did.

The homestay was one of the most unforgettable experiences of the entire trip. In the homestay we actually got a feel for what it’s like to live in a Buddhist village. My host family was so nice. They wanted me to be comfortable and they fed me more food than I had an appetite for three times a day. Since they lived in a village, it was harder for them to clean things and make sure they stayed clean because everything was pretty much out in the open. My bed, for example, was right next to a window, so there were ants all over my bed at times. Oh and one day I came home to a million baby spiders all over my backpack! I’m still recovering from that incident. My mattress also wasn’t clean, and with all the bugs and sleeping right next to a window, one time I woke every half hour because I couldn’t breathe due to my allergies acting up. Once again, I had to be a big girl and handle the situation;

my mom wasn’t there to hold my hand, and the last thing I wanted was to have an asthma attack. I talked to my incountry group leader, who talked to my host family; they agreed to clean the room with no hesitation. I felt really bad because I didn’t want them to think I was ungrateful. I appreciated them taking me in, but I couldn’t breathe at night.

I waited to call my mom until I got the situation resolved, and it felt good to know that I could handle situations like that by myself.

This trip really opened my eyes to how life will be when I move away from home and have to handle things on my own. I gained independence. I can now humble myself more, because I know what it’s like to go without things, like paper towels and sometimes a Western toilet. A lot of the things I used to take for granted are things that other countries don’t have. Now I can take this experience and use it to better myself when it comes to how I treat things and how I will handle things on my own in college.

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Amaya Zweifel '18

TANZANIA: COASTAL AND MAASAI CULTURES I stayed in Tanzania for five weeks this summer. My program was unique because I had the opportunity to stay with two different families. One of them was from a small coastal village near Tanga, called Stahabu. I was there for ten days with my family of eight members. My second homestay was in a rural Maasai village in Engikaret, near Arusha. I was also there for ten days, but I did not stay in the house with my family. Both of my homestays exposed me to new situations, which caused my values and aspirations to alter.

Stahabu was the highlight of my five weeks. The time I spent there introduced me officially to the Tanzanian culture. I was hands-on with the community right away. My family immediately welcomed me into their home as if I was their long lost daughter. They made sacrifices for me that I will forever be grateful for. This community was Islamic. That alone changed my initial thoughts. While staying in the home of people of a completely different religion than my own, I learned a lot about their practices and beliefs. I found that Tanzanians are some of the most welcoming, genuine and heartfelt people. I learned this firsthand from my entire family. I bonded the most with my younger sister, Hafsa, who was 16. She was in the process of learning English, so we communicated much easier than the rest of the family for the first couple of days. At this point, my Kiswahili was patchy, but I was determined to talk with my family. What better way to learn a language than to be taught by a native? Hafsa spent many late nights practicing my Kiswahili with me, knowing that she had early mornings. We spent all of our time talking about our hopes and dreams, joking around, and going to the beach. Our time spent together was cut short due to her leaving for boarding school. I witnessed my mother work extremely hard after four hours of sleep each day to make sure that I was comfortable, the family was provided for, the house was clean, and that my younger brother, Ally, was

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taken care of. The hardest part was watching her struggle with Ally, who had a disability. She had to constantly tend to him.

You could tell that all of these things were of value to the entire family. My siblings woke up early every day to help as much as possible before starting their 45-minute journey to school.

My experience in this village taught me the true meaning of love and gave me a new reason to live. I am now more grateful for my education and healthcare, and care less about all of the materialistic things that are important to Americans. This experience put me at peace. I gained a whole village of loving family members.

My second homestay was the toughest part of my trip, but I learned the most. I had early mornings everyday with my homestay mother, and she showed me her daily morning routine. This routine consisted of collecting firewood for cooking, herding and milking the goats, making chai (tea), beading, and collecting water. One of my favorite activities was collecting water. During this time, I became really close with my mother. She spoke Maa and a little Kiswahili, so there was a major language barrier at first. My mother was really good at using body language to communicate. The place to collect water was about an hour walk. Our first go round, she taught me how the Maasai women carry their water. She tied a piece of cloth to the canister and wrapped it around my head. It made her very happy to see me participating in their practices.

Knowing that I was doing it correctly made me feel closer to the Maasai community. I appreciated the work that the mothers do everyday to bring the water to and from the house because it is a strenuous activity. I was successful with learning several Maasai routines with little verbal communication. I was welcomed in this community by all of my nieces, nephews and older brothers. We spent the rest of the time making jokes while beading or drinking tea around a fire.

Kamryn Rivera '19

JORDAN: HISTORY, POLITICS, AND ARABIC LANGUAGE Jordan holds more than 2 million refugees within their borders. They make up for approximately 40% of their population. Jordan history is plagued with refugees relocating to their country.

One of the most pressing issues in Jordan is the refugee crisis. The fact that Jordan allows millions of people refuge with the limited resources they have is amazing. A problem that refugees have to deal with is the inability to get jobs due to the laws. There is also a threat to the safety of Jordan, due to their open armed policies regarding refugees. This situation really changed my perspective about a ton of topics I had previously been blind to. The experiences I had with refugees helped me determine what I hope to do with my life.

Established in 1921, Jordan accepted their first refugees when Israel began kicking Palestinians out of West Bank. During my trip, my instructors stressed the closeness of Jordanians and Palestinians. There was no option for the Palestinians who needed refuge after being displaced from their home country. I met many people of Palestinian descent, and though their families have lived in Jordan for three generations, they still introduce themselves by saying “I am from Palestine.” A common practice for many refugees is to keep the keys to their house in hopes of going back.

Every time we met a group of refugees, we asked them, “What is your greatest hope?” Each time they answered, “To go back home.” No matter the state of their country or what anyone else says, they are utterly in love with the place where their family was born. Many of the refugees lived a stable and comfortable life before becoming refugees. This was

unfortunately interrupted by whatever reason they left their home. They moved to somewhere with plenty of problems.

A problem I ran into almost immediately when I got to Jordan was the water crisis. They are severely lacking fresh drinking water for their citizens. They have the Dead Sea, but it is one of the saltiest water sources on Earth. Normal Jordanian middle class families have a struggle with water. Every week a water man delivers the water they paid for.

Their shower can last maybe 10 minutes, and they may not be able to take one every day. This is for the middle class.

Now imagine how it must be for the people who aren’t even citizens, the extra 2 million people to provide water to.

Everything the refugees get is rationed up based on availability and number of family members. So, maybe a family of ten in the Zaatari Camp (the largest refugee camp) gets two barrels of water a week. This is for cooking, cleaning, drinking, and bathing. The water crisis is a serious problem that affects every single person in Jordan, especially the refugees.

A major problem that stops refugees from living a more comfortable life is the law preventing them from getting jobs. If a family wants the benefits of being labeled a refugee (scheduled meals and a stable place to stay), they cannot legally obtain a job. A family I conversed with described why this is inefficient for the refugees. This family got 10 dinar for each person in their family for a MONTH. There were twelve people in their family, so they got 120 dinar a month. This is roughly $170 for a family of ten, which included elderly, children

and pregnant women. That is nowhere near enough money for a family of even 5 people. So, many refugees are tempted to break this law, but if they are caught, then they lose their refugee privileges.

Jordan’s refugee policy is open armed.

Anyone can come in, claim refuge, and live in their country. This system sounds nice, but the world isn’t perfect. With the many problems in the Middle East, this could prove a safety issue. For example, sleeper cells could be hidden in refugee camps, posing as refugees. One day if they are awakened, then they could cause destruction in one of the camps or in the cities of Jordan. Anyone is allowed admission, so someone who is a refugee could also be a rapist. This puts the women and girls of the camp in danger and makes them feel uncomfortable.

This issue affected me heavily. In the U.S., sure people are poor or homeless or in danger due to circumstances. But the situations some of the people I met were so devastating, and yet they had smiles on their faces. Some parents’ kids were killed or raped in the situation they were in. As stated before, some families only got 10 dinar per family member for a month. To do my part, I have decided to try and head into the social work field, so I may help others make it through their tough situations. Hopefully, in college I will be able to go back to Jordan for an internship where I can help with refugees and help better their situations.

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THANK YOU! Thank you Friends of UA Donors,

Dear Friends of UA,

Without your generous contributions, I wouldn’t have been exposed to the many experiences I had while in Spain.

I went to a professional flamenco concert in Seville, I studied Pablo Picasso’s life and art, attended World Pride in Madrid, successfully communicated with my host family for a whole week, and made strong connections along the way. Without this opportunity, I would have stayed in America all my life, using my economic shortcomings as a crutch, and never rising to my full potential. You not only gave me a trip, you gave me a lifetime of memories, a second family to go back to, friends all over the country, and the confidence I gained while overseas. Words can’t truly express how grateful and indebted I am to you, but I hope this helped.

Thank you for this great opportunity to travel out of the country. This was a once in lifetime chance, and you made it possible for me to go. This was really meaningful to me, because I always dreamed of going to France and you made that dream come true. Also, I would like to thank you for paying for most of the fees. On my own I would not be able to go out of the country until college. I want to thank you because it helped me prepare for college.

Very few people go out of the country in high school, so I will stand out to colleges when they see that I had this experience. Lastly, I want to thank you for genuinely caring for us. You give us so many opportunities to become the best we can be.

Sincerely, Avery Austin - SDC

40 - Thank You!

Sincerely, Elijah Beamon - SDC

Dear Friends of UA, Hello! I’m Kiara Bilberry. I just wanted to take some time out and thank you all for making it possible for me to study abroad.

I was in the SDC Taiko Drums for Peace program. This meant that I journeyed to Japan. Oh, how grateful I am for being apart of such an amazing experience! Getting the opportunity to see how unique the Japanese culture is and to see how another country operates was huge. I never thought I would learn how to speak the Japanese language. I learned a few basics of the language, such as how to introduce myself, and say hello, see you again, excuse me, and thank you. Writing and reading Japanese was a challenge, but practicing and listening to it was rather simple.

Another thing I learned that I didn’t originally see myself doing was how to play the taiko drums. Performing through dance and playing the taiko drums was fun. It was fun because you could connect with the audience and bring smiles to everyone’s faces.

My view of the world has expanded.

Going on this trip has motivated me to travel to as many other countries as possible. It has also motivated me to encourage others to step out and go beyond their comfort zones. Thanks again for giving me the chance to grow as an individual and experience a trip of a lifetime.

Sincerely, Kiara Bilberry - SDC

Dear Friends of University Academy, Traveling abroad to Japan as a Student Diplomacy Corps Member was the best experience of my life. I would’ve never been able to pay the thousands of dollars for the trip without aid from Friends of UA. There were people in my group who received scholarships, but they still had to pay a fraction of the cost of the program. I was proud to tell them that all of my costs, including my airfare, were covered by an organization that supports my school.

They were shocked to find out that dozens of students from my school travel to different countries each year at no cost.

The trip overall has broadened my horizons and triggered my urge to learn more about different cultures. The culture of Japan is completely different than the culture of the United States. I quickly grew to adapt and appreciate the unknown country I was in. My group members are now some of my closest friends, and that wouldn’t have been possible if Friends of UA wasn’t there. I can now proudly say that I’m one of the few high schoolers who has studied abroad. I will forever deeply appreciate Friends of UA for allowing me to embark on an amazing journey. Thank you so much!

From a very thankful SDC Member, Mahlet Getahun

Dear Friends of UA,

Dear Friends of UA ,

I want to thank you for giving me the opportunity to explore another side of the world. I would like for you to know that I am sincerely grateful for your generosity. You all allowed me to have an unforgettable experience in Albania. This experience gave me the chance to be a completely different person. Thank you so much for the financial support that you provided for me. Without your support, this experience would have never been possible. I got a chance to immerse myself in a culture that has dated back to the 18th century.

My homestay was spectacular. While in Albania, there was a traditional festival that lasted three days, and my host sister taught me the traditional dances. On the last night of my homestay, my host family and I joined the whole town as everyone was spewing into the streets dancing until 2am. I still can’t believe that I was given this amazing opportunity that most kids my age will never have. I learned so many things about myself that I probably would have never discovered if I didn’t go on this trip. I’m so thankful that you chose me out of the other 100 candidates that applied. You really have made a huge impact on my life.

I feel that just saying thank you is not enough for me to express my gratitude. Thank you so much, or should I say, faleminderit shume, for allowing me to fulfill my lifelong dream of traveling the world.

First and foremost, I would like to say that this summer has been the best summer of my life by far! I never in a million years would have imagined traveling outside of the country during high school. This would not have been possible without your support and effort. For that, I give you a trillion thanks for the opportunity.

Forever Grateful, Aunna Wolfe - SDC

Money has always been a factor in why I can’t participate in certain activities. Not only am I a first generation student, but I live with my single mother who barely makes enough to get by. The only thing that I rely on to get money is my academics. So, the fact that there was a scholarship to travel abroad sparked my interest tremendously. I finally had an equal opportunity to do what I want. With that being said, thank you for picking me as one of your scholarship recipients. I remember screaming on the phone when I told my mother the news.

I literally had a Cheshire Cat grin for weeks on end. People probably thought that I was crazy.

Traveling abroad gave me a new insight on the world around me. It also gave me a new sense of confidence within myself that decreased my anxiety towards meeting new people, enabled me to trust in my abilities, and made me comfortable with leaving home for college.

Through the struggles of conquering the infamous language, I now have better social and communication skills. Lastly, with your help, I now have created life long connections with the awesome people in my group.

Once again, thank you for bestowing me the opportunity to travel with Student Diplomacy Corps. This experience has forever changed my life. Now I can’t wait to board another plane and dive into another culture!

Sincerely, The BEST Student Diplomat, Mariah McDaniel - SDC

Friends of University Academy - 41

Dear Friends of UA,

Dear Friends of UA,

Dear Friends of University Academy,

Thank you for making it possible for me to take a trip across the world and to learn about the life of a whole new culture. Without this trip, I wouldn’t have made so many friends and I wouldn’t know all the new things that I do. I hope to one day in the future make it possible for a child just like me to go on a trip and learn about a culture like I did. So thank you very much for the opportunity that you have given me.

I will like to thank you for everything you have done for me. Paying for me to go to Chile and Easter Island was generous. Because of you, I was able to develop new friendships with people from all over United States. New friendships were the best part of studying abroad. Even though my group was a decent size of 10, we all got along.

For some bizarre reason, I thought they wouldn’t like me because I was 16 and they were 17 turning 18, but it made no difference. These friends became my family and no one can break our bond. My Chilean family was the other best memory from the trip, because it was as if I was at home with a perfect family. I learned so many things and recipes from my Chilean mother. My favorite was Toteletas de Quinoa; a taste of that will make anyone go to Mars and back. Having the chance to study abroad taught me about life. Living in Chile showed me how life will be in college away from my family. I learned how to speak up and ask for help, how to be independent, and especially, how to accept mistakes and learn from them instead of trying to be a perfect person.

This trip and the experience was truly life-changing for me. Gracias, mauru uru (“thank you” in Rapa Nui), and thank you, Friends of UA, for everything, and for giving me the opportunity to study abroad. Because of you, I know I’m going to excel further in my life.

I appreciate everything that you’ve done for everyone at the school. I would like to take this opportunity to recognize the work that you’ve put in to help the students get to where they are. Personally, I don’t even know how to begin to put into words how appreciative and grateful I am to have been given the opportunity to travel and study internationally over the summer.

I went to Morocco for the summer, which is in North Africa. When I went over to Morocco, I was completely overwhelmed with the beauty of the place.

While I was over there, I appreciated and assimilated into the culture to get a better perspective. I learned a lot in a short amount of time, and I’m so glad that I got the opportunity to do so. I love learning new things and experiencing new things, especially when it comes to other cultures. For me, education is the best thing in life, because I know that knowledge is power. Friends of University Academy, I would like to thank each and every single member for working with and for students, to get them to strive for more. Finally, I would just like to say that I am humbled and speechless at the opportunity that was presented to me. I’m glad that I jumped at the offer, because I don’t know what life would be like had I not gone to Morocco.

Sincerely, Chianti Ramsey - SDC

Dear Friends of UA and SDC, Thank you all for making this experience possible for me. This trip was really a life-changing experience. It has made me want to travel abroad in other places. There were so many amazing sights and things that I saw in Mexico, and I wouldn’t have seen any of those things if it wasn’t for you guys. This experience meant a lot to me, and I hope that this program continues on forever, so that other kids in later generations can experience traveling outside of the country. I also would like the thank SDC for pairing me with such amazing group members. These people became lifelong friends of mine, and I never would have expected that to happen.

So again, thank you guys so much for everything. It is greatly appreciated and forever will be.

Thank you, India Sorrells - SDC

42 - Thank You!

Sincerely from your UA student Marye Martin - SDC

Sincerely, Ashanti Minnenhall - SDC

Dear Friends of UA,

Dear Friends of UA,

Dear Friends of University Academy,

First and foremost, thank you for granting me one of the greatest opportunities of a lifetime. The time I traveled abroad and studied the slow food and rich culture of Italy, I had the most fun I’ve ever experienced. For years I could only imagine how it would be traveling around the world. With the help of the Friends of UA, this dream became a reality. The five weeks I spent away from home not only built my character, but it also taught me skills that will remain present in my life for years to come.

In Italy I made lifelong friends and set goals to remain open to learning new things as I continue my journey through life. While staying in Asti, I experienced a week full of great food and enjoyable sightseeing. Tribewanted was my absolute favorite experience. Living sustainably on a farm where everything was in its most natural form forced me to appreciate the little things.

From feeding the animals in the early morning, to hand picking the fresh ingredients from the vegetable garden for dinner that night, there was no day that went by that failed to interest me.

Another thing that I will never forget is my homestay in Ravenna. Entering the homestay I thought living with people I’d never met would be strange, but to my surprise we all adjusted as if we’d been living together for years. I plan to continue my journey around the world.

Thanks to Friends of UA for providing me with this wonderful experience that changed my life forever.

There aren’t enough words to express my gratitude to you guys for making it possible for me to have the SDC experience. There were so many things that I took away from it: I learned a lot about myself, my relationships, and my country while on the trip. I gained lifelong friendships, and it opened my eyes to another world.

It was literally an experience of a lifetime. Thanks again. I truly appreciate the opportunity!

I really appreciate you all for believing in me and giving me the opportunity to be apart of the National Outdoor Leadership School. At times I thought I wouldn’t be able to push through with it, but having Friends of UA (Mrs. Moats) by my side changed my mind.

This trip was life-changing, and it gave me a different outlook on the world.

I was given the opportunity to travel out-of-state, meet many individuals from around the country, and face challenges I never thought I would see.

I learned the importance of leadership and how to remain calm, even in the worst situations, and how to work out differences with my peers maturely. I also learned how to live in the backcountry; I believe the ways of the backcountry are better than the frontcountry. I would definitely recommend this trip to others, and will always be proud that you helped me through the whole process. I am appreciative of the scholarship as well, because without that I have no idea how I would have paid for it all. Thank you Friends of UA, and I hope to hear from you soon!

Sincerely, Iyanla Perkins - SDC

Safiya Maxwell - NOLS

Sincerely, Kenath Mitchell - SDC

Dear Friends of UA, Thank you for giving me this opportunity to experience NOLS, Alaska and for giving me the opportunity to meet new people.

This opportunity has taught me a lot and I will be forever grateful for it. Thanks for not only giving me the opportunity, but for investing in me and my future.

This trip has prepared me to handle things in certain ways and to focus on me and how I affect others. This was such a great opportunity, and I hope that others get to experience it as well.

Thanks for giving me that and more stories to tell.

Yours Truly, Shayla Winters - NOLS

Friends of University Academy - 43

Dear Friends of UA,

Dear Friends of UA,

I’m so honored that you allowed me to have this opportunity to participate in NOLS. It was an amazing experience. If I had a chance to do it over again, I would. There is really no way I would’ve been able to come close to doing something like this on my own. I had a great experience in Wyoming. The views I saw were some of the best I have ever seen. I also realized out there that I don’t have to rely on technology or other things to enjoy myself. And because of my experience, I can go on trips like this whenever I want; because I have been prepared, and I know how to survive in the wild. I can’t express enough how thankful and blessed I am that Friends of UA graced me with this opportunity to do something that very few people have the chance to do.

Thank you Friends of UA for sending me to Spain. I really appreciate everything that you have done for me and everything that you will continue to do for me, even after I go to college. I loved everything about my trip, from my first stay in Spain’s hostel to creating new memories with new lifelong friends. I will never forget my homestay family and my amazing host sister because she took me to explore different foods of the city and even took me shopping in the super mall. I still wish I was in Spain because I had such a great experience that I wouldn’t trade it for the world. There aren’t enough words to express how thankful I am to Friends of UA for providing this wonderful experience.

Sincerely, Malik Dickerson-Mckinney - NOLS

Thank you so much!

Aniah Kemp - EIL

Dear Friends of UA,

Dear all those who helped send me on this trip,

Thank you so much for this amazing experience. I loved my trip, and I wish I could go back! I’m even thinking about going to one of the leadership institutes next summer. This program helped me expand my medical knowledge so much, and it also reassured me that I actually want to go into the medical field after high school. Traveling throughout India is an experience that I will take with me forever. I made long-lasting friendships and found a new family who I hope to go and visit again someday. India was a place I had been dreaming of going to since I was 12, and actually going was so surreal for me. I can’t believe it was real, and it still hasn’t hit me that I’m back home. I hope that everyone else who studied abroad or studies in the future has just as great of an experience as I did and continues to keep their connections and what they learned. I will definitely share my knowledge with the world. Again, thank you so much for everything that you did, and continue to do, for my peers and me.

I want to thank you. Most high school students aren’t given the opportunity to travel outside of the country and experience what I did. During this trip, I learned so much, not only about Arabic culture, but also the various cultures in America. My group was multicultural and understanding and willing to teach and learn in any situation. All the adults there cared for me exceptionally. It was as if I was one of their family.

From a very happy Experimenter, Domini Johnson - EIL

44 - Thank You!

This experience has put me ahead of the curve and made me competitive amongst other high school students. My experience has changed me significantly, not only in my attitude towards life, but also in my appreciation of different cultures and peoples.

So I just want to thank you once again for changing my life.

Kamryn Rivera - EIL

Dear Friends of University Academy,

Dear Friends of UA,

Thank you so much for giving me the opportunity to join The Experiment this year! It was one heck of an experience that I wish I could do all over again. Tokyo, Japan was easily the best choice for me to go. It was a great place to be. I loved the culture and how things were run. I loved the different parts of the city, my favorite being Akihabara, and being part of the city. I was able to naturally walk through Tokyo as if I had lived there my whole life. I learned how to animate, how the subway systems worked, what the people were like, how the streets and traffic worked, what technology was over there, how popular anime was in the city, the types of foods, and even more.

Thank you for granting me the scholarship to go on the EIL study abroad program focusing on Italian Food, Language, and Culture. You have given me the opportunity to be one of few people I know who have gotten a chance to travel across the world as a high school student. I am very appreciative for this because not many people get this opportunity, and this makes me attractive to many different employers and colleges. I enjoyed every moment of my trip, from touching down in New York, to meeting my group, to traveling to Vatican City, home of the Pope. I am especially thankful for making long-lasting relationships with my group members from the United States and my host family in Cosenza. My homestay was one of my most memorable and favorite parts of the entire trip. Hanging out with my host sister, Martina, made me realize the difference between American culture and Italian culture. My host family finally gave me the opportunity to experience a different aspect of Italian culture in reality, rather than in textbooks. Words can’t express how much I appreciate the opportunities that you have given me and will continue to give me in my near future. Thanks you so much for the opportunity!

I think the best thing that could have happened, however, was meeting my group. My group was easily the best group I could have asked for. Some of them will be my lifelong friends because of the experience we had together. We went through learning the city of Tokyo together, and that was a long experience. We explored and dived into the culture as a team. If one person did something, we all did it together. That’s probably the biggest thing that I am grateful for.

All of this could not have been done without the help of Friends of UA. There was no way I could pay for this myself. If I hadn’t been given this chance, I honestly would not be who I am today, and I’m not saying that generically. I truly am different from before I left. I gained so many skills and learned more about myself than I thought I would. I’m now more open with who I am, what I like, and what I do, and I’m not ashamed of it. And Friends of UA is the only reason it was possible for me to be able to go.

Thank you so much Friends of UA for giving me lifelong friends, and a new me I can fully accept.

Daunte Mickens, Japanimation Team - EIL

Sincerely, Sydney Lyles - EIL

Dear Friends of UA I would like to thank you for this wonderful experience in Nicaragua and Cuba. Because of you guys, I was able to make friends for a lifetime. I was also able to jump out of my comfort zone and try things that I would have never dreamed of doing. I really had the time of my life on this trip, and I’m forever grateful for it. Thank you.

With Much Love, Torrei Ealy - EIL

Friends of University Academy - 45

Dear Friends of UA,

Dear Friends of UA,

First and foremost, thank you for granting me one of the greatest opportunities of a lifetime. The time I traveled abroad and studied the slow food and rich culture of Italy, I had the most fun I’ve ever experienced.

For years I could only imagine how it would be traveling around the world. With the help of the Friends of UA, this dream became a reality. The five weeks I spent away from home not only built my character, but it also taught me skills that will remain present in my life for years to come. In Italy I made lifelong friends and set goals to remain open to learning new things as I continue my journey through life. While staying in Asti, I experienced a week full of great food and enjoyable sightseeing. Tribewanted was my absolute favorite experience. Living sustainably on a farm where everything was in its most natural form forced me to appreciate the little things. From feeding the animals in the early morning, to hand picking the fresh ingredients from the vegetable garden for dinner that night, there was no day that went by that failed to interest me. Another thing that I will never forget is my homestay in Ravenna. Entering the homestay I thought living with people I’d never met would be strange, but to my surprise we all adjusted as if we’d been living together for years. I plan to continue my journey around the world. Thanks to Friends of UA for providing me with this wonderful experience that changed my life forever.

Thank you very much for giving me the opportunity to travel abroad this summer. I was able to travel to Tanzania for five weeks. This is something that my family would not have been able to send me on. I will forever be grateful for this experience. I learned a lot about myself, the community, and the culture. I also learned about different cultures within my group. This trip was intense at some points, but very eye-opening. There were many instances when I was at a loss for words, due to the amazing things that I came across. My program in particular had a program where we had group discussions. We talked about different controversial issues in different parts of Tanzania. Some of those topics included the idea of poverty in Tanzania, whether or not Tanzania should be “developed,” and environmental issues. This taught me a lot and changed my perspective on many topics that I was once ignorant about.

Sincerely, Arsema Berhane - EIL

I also really enjoyed having the opportunity to speak with kids my age about serious and common issues Tanzanian teens face.

Some of those topics were teen pregnancy, HIV/AIDS, and alcohol/ drugs. These conversations gave me insight into the lives of other teens. It showed me how similar we really are, and that we all have common struggles. It was nice hearing real stories and experiences, rather than getting textbook answers.

One of my favorite things on this trip was learning Kiswahili.

Before getting there I feared speaking it, but after the first lesson I loved it. Learning a new language while being in-country was nerve-wracking but very helpful. We got direct assistance with our language skills from the natives. People were excited to teach us. Just knowing how to greet others made me feel more comfortable in Tanzania. It made it easier to communicate with my homestay families and the locals around us. We gained more respect for knowing basic greetings. I truly believe that studying abroad changes people for the better. I met many great people along the way. It allowed me to make connections around the world. I fell in love with the country, its language and its people. Thank you once again for sending me on this trip. I will remember this trip many, many years down the road.

Sincerely, Amaya Zweifel - EIL

46 - Thank You!

Friends of University Academy - 47

Amaya Zweifel ‘18, Tanzania

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