Sarah I. trilled to be given this incredible opportunity

My name is Sarah Isaacson and I am a junior majoring in Human Rights and Women, Gender, & Sexualities Studies here at UConn.  I decided to join the Cape Town program because I believe it is the best opportunity for me to gain the experiences and perspectives necessary to successfully advocate for change in the future.  Although I have read numerous articles and listened to countless presentations on injustice, inequality, and oppression, that can only do so much.  For while being educated about these topics are essential for my activist goals, I believe gaining the incredible experiences this program provides will give me the ability to effectively help others with sensitivity, compassion, and understanding.  

I do not want to be someone who knows of inequality and violence, but does not try to seek justice and peace.  I do not want to be another white female with first-world privileges who ignores that there are suppressed groups living with discrimination because of unfounded prejudices.  I want to be an ally to those who want to advocate for change.  I want to help people, especially females and individuals who are gender nonconforming, realize that their potential is limitless despite what society tells them.  Essentially, I hope that this program will help me become the person I want to be.

Now knowing that I have been accepted into the program has provided me with both hope and excitement for the future.  While it is intimidating to think that I will be living in a house with seventeen other people in another country, immersed in a new culture with new practices and norms, I am thrilled to be given this incredible opportunity -- an opportunity that will allow me to gain a new perspective about the world and the people who live in it.  Although I know it will be hard to leave home, to be away from my family (and cats) for three and a half months, away from all the comforts I frequently take for granted, I am ready to embrace the unfamiliar. After years and years of schooling in Connecticut, I often feel as though I am just going through the motions of my life, stuck in a place I can never be rid of; but now, I am anxiously waiting to hop on that plane and take off for Cape Town, to another part of the world I know will teach me things about life that no classroom can.

Katherine ready to expand her world view

My name is Katherine Eastman, and I'm a journalism and WGSS double major. I'm a senior, spending my last semester of college in Cape Town, South Africa. 

My parents have always encouraged me to seize opportunities to travel and expand my world view, so naturally when I learned of this opportunity to live abroad in a place vastly different from my comfortable home in Connecticut, I pursued it wholeheartedly. I feel blessed to be presented with the chance to travel and exist in South Africa, while studying topics that I feel passionate about. 

Above all, I want to return from this program with a firm understanding of the complex social dynamics in South Africa, and be able to relate them to current tensions in the USA. I hope that the experiences and knowledge I gain during my stay will give me the words to write well-informed, reliable pieces on social issues that involve race and gender, and to discuss these topics with others. I also hope to be more comfortable with uprooting myself and traveling more than I am now - I currently do not have much experience with leaving the country, or being very far from the comforts of home. I have some concerns about homesickness and culture shock, but I have confidence that these hurdles aren't too much for me to handle.

My thoughts on what's ahead of me are hazy, because my mind is still trained on the challenges of this semester. I think about next semester with some nervousness and anxiety, but mostly anticipation of seeing and doing things that will change my perceptions of others and also myself. I look forward to being friends with my fellow travelers, and enjoying this experience with them as much as possible, while making a positive impact on the community we're inserting ourselves into. 

Erica is especially looking forward to her internship

Hi! My name is Erica Petropoulos and I’m a junior at the University of Connecticut.  I’m double majoring in Political Science and Women’s Gender and Sexuality Studies, with a minor in Studio Art.

I decided to participate in this program for a multitude of reasons. The internship program highly interests me and getting the opportunity to work hands-on in a field of my interest would be an indispensable experience. I’m very passionate about social justice issues and sexual violence prevention, and I would love to work with members of the community and help educate people about these topics.

I hope to grow both as a person and a student through my study abroad experience. I am a strong feminist and I believe that looking at situations through an intersectional lens is key. I believe that studying abroad will broaden my perspective regarding social justice issues and allow me to grow as a feminist. Studying abroad will undoubtedly put me out of my comfort zone; however, I view this as a largely positive thing. I hope that my time in Cape Town will challenge me in new ways and contribute to my growth as a global citizen.

Now that I’ve been accepted for the program, I’ve had lots of different thoughts come into my mind! I feel excited, curious, and a little anxious all at the same time. I can’t wait to immerse myself in a different culture and learn about the history of South Africa. I’m especially looking forward to my internship because I’ve been passionate about social justice issues for quite some time; however, I haven’t had the opportunity to get hands-on experience in the field.

I’m very excited now that I’ve been accepted into the program, and I can’t wait to see what’s to come in the following months!

Shona's thinking if she can do this she can do anything

Greetings from my life bubble! My name is Shona Barton- Negreiros, and I am a junior at UConn. I am double majoring in Communications and Human Rights, with a minor in Theatre Studies. I hope to work in an education setting, creating art and theatre programs in urban areas for kids of all ages at risk of either leaving school or not pursuing a higher education.

I learned about the Cape Town program in the Fall of 2015 and was hooked on the idea of going to a part of the world I am unfamiliar with. As a Human Rights major, the internship aspect of the program particularly appealed to me because of how unique the experience is and how it will help me start exploring the real world. I await to accomplish many things, dabbling within the personal and academic realms, but mostly I want to open a part of my heart to another place on this earth that will hopefully change me forever (dream big or go home, right?). I hope to do some crazy things like go cage diving and bungee jumping, but I also want to meet people who open my eyes to human rights issues internationally. 

I am so excited and almost in shock if we're being honest, because it doesn't seem possible that this is a reality of mine. To be away from home for this period of time intimidates me a lot, but I hope I learn how to properly cook for myself -especially chicken because I'm particularly bad at that one food- as an adult like creature who is trying to grow up. I have often found that going out on my own makes me want to stick my head into a pile of dirt (yes, like an ostrich), so this experience will hopefully begin to calm my anxieties, because if I can do this, I can do anything! I'm just all around so excited to just get up and go, go, go! 

Anna can't believe she will be living in Cape Town for a semester

Hi!  My name is Anna Babbin, and I’m a junior studying Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies with minors in Sociology and English.  I never imagined myself studying abroad, especially somewhere outside of Europe; but when I heard about this opportunity to study and intern in Cape Town, I had to apply.  Living surrounded by music, mountains, and beaches, as well as native Capetonians and fellow UConn students who care deeply about environmental and human rights, sounds like an adventure I could not miss.  During my time in South Africa, I hope to learn how to become a better activist for both animals and humans who have had their basic rights taken away.  I am excited to step out of my comfort zone of Connecticut and interact with people from a completely different culture and with different perspectives of how to solve our Earth’s problems.

I still can’t believe I’m going to be living in Cape Town for an entire semester.  I’m beyond thrilled, excited, nervous, and anxious – all in a good way!  I know the knowledge I obtain, the people I meet, and the experiences I have will all mold me into a new person who is more equipped to take on the world of activism.  I can’t wait for my journey of learning and soul searching in Cape Town to begin.

Laura G curious to see how she will change

Hello! My name is Laura Gelb, and I’m a junior here studying Communications and Journalism. I was drawn to Cape Town partly by the internship program included in it. The idea of living in a setting so opposite from the one I know is incredibly compelling. There’s such rich culture in Cape Town, and I’m so excited to explore it. I knew I wanted to study abroad since before I even stepped foot on a college campus, and the Cape Town program has stood out to me since last year. Through this program, I hope to understand the culture in South Africa and how it differs from here. I’m excited to be thrust out of my comfort zone and excited to learn to adapt to new surroundings. I also hope to gain real world experience through my internship that I can apply back home. It will be my first internship, so I’m really nervous but really excited to actually apply everything I’ve been learning in class!

After being accepted, I’m definitely nervous to go. It’s really far away from my family and friends, but I know that the experience will help me grow as a person. I don’t think I really faced that I was going until very recently. It’s an incredibly intimidating process, but I definitely know that will pay off in the end. I am really excited to get to know everyone else going on the trip, and I’m aware that my nervousness is completely normal. I will have my fellow trip-mates to bond with and adjust with together. I’m curious to see how I as an individual will change over the course of the trip!

Laura T impressed by enthusiasm of former participants

Hi everyone! My name is Laura Turner and I am a junior here at UConn. I am completing an Individualized Major of International Relations, focusing on Human Rights and the Middle East. I am also minoring in Human Rights and am planning on adding a minor in Psychology as well. Coming to college I was hoping to have the chance to study abroad, as I love traveling and living in a different country for several months is an amazing opportunity. As I was exploring the study abroad website, I saw this program in Cape Town and knew that I wanted to go. The opportunity to have a human rights internship and to work on an activist project while in another country fits perfectly with my major and minor and my future goals. Though the internship I will gain valuable experience in my field of interest, and will be able to help others in need. I am also excited to learn about a new, unique culture that is different from what I am used to. In addition, everyone I know who has participated in the program has absolutely loved it, calling it one of the most incredible experiences of their lives. The enthusiasm of past participants and the huge impact it has had on them convinced me that I had to apply.

           

I am incredibly excited that I have been accepted to the program, as I have been thinking about going abroad for a while. As the reality hits me that I am actually going I have definitely become nervous to be away for so long in a country so far away, but I know that it is the perfect way to step outside of my comfort zone and that immersing myself in a new culture is the best way to expand my knowledge of the world. It is also comforting to know that I will be with a group of UConn students and I cannot wait to explore Cape Town and South Africa with everyone.

Kaitlyn's certain this program matches her interests & academic pursuits

Hi everyone! My name is Kaitlyn Luft and I am a sophomore here at UConn. I just officially switched my major from being undecided in the ACES Exploratory Program into Allied Health Sciences. I will also hopefully be double minoring in Biology and Psychology. I am thinking of being an Occupational Therapist, a Nurse, or a Physician’s Assistant (although all very different, I know). 

When my sister went to Cape Town with UConn in 2014, I was still in high school and pretty unaware of the capacity of the work she was doing and where she was living while abroad. It sounded so cool to me, but also so far off and irrelevant to my life. Once actually at UConn, I knew that I would do whatever it took to study abroad at some point in my college career; it was just a matter of when. After talking to previous participants of various study abroad programs, my sister (more times than I can count), and attending information sessions, there was no doubt in my mind that Cape Town was the right fit for me. I was still deciding between Italy and Cape Town towards the end, but the Cape Town symposium made all my uncertainties vanish. I felt so at home when hearing about past experiences and that’s when I knew. The internship, activist project, classes, people, and culture all match my interests and academic pursuits. The past participants were SO passionate talking about everything that they accomplished and were exposed to while there and it made me want hop on a plane right away. It was so evident how close they all became while abroad and the incredible ways each and every person was impacted by their time there. 

Through my study abroad experience in Cape Town, I hope to strengthen and alter my current outlooks on life. I am excited to immerse myself in a both an internship relevant to my major/future career aspirations, as well as in a culture unique from my own. I have never been more ready to grow personally, expand my knowledge in the medical field, and just in general as a global citizen. 

It is still so surreal that I am about to start this journey in just three short months. Although this new experience scares me at times, I cannot wait to start my spring semester and create a new family and home in Cape Town. I will be pushed out of my comfort zone, challenged in ways I am currently unaware of, and I am so eager to see everything Cape Town has to offer. 

Clarie so ready to start this new adventure

Hi all!  My name is Claire Burfeind and I am a sophomore studying Human Development and Family Studies (HDFS) here at UConn.  Studying abroad had always been something I planned to do while in college, so exploring the website for possible programs was very exciting. After visiting Cape Town last spring when my brother was participating in this same program, I knew that this was a place I could see myself living for four months. When doing some more research into programs, the internship aspect in Cape Town really appealed to me.  The internship opportunity will not only provide me with valuable training in my field of interest, but it will hopefully allow me to help those that might be in need.  During my study abroad semester, I hope to immerse myself in a new culture, gain valuable insights on how family dynamics are different over there and make me a better person when I get back home. 

Now being officially accepted and committed to this program, I am so excited to return to this beautiful city and explore life on my own.  I cannot wait to meet and talk to Capetonians and to experience the beauty that this city has to offer.  I am looking forward to moving out of my comfort zone to try new things that I wouldn’t normally do. Although it will be a big change living in a different country, I am confident that my co-educators and I will navigate the transition and make Cape Town our new home very quickly.  The next few months cannot go by quick enough…I am so ready to start this new adventure!!

    

Sara W excited to be pushed out of her comfort zone

My name is Sara Wengefeld and I’m currently a junior at UConn with a Human Development Family Studies major and a minor in Human Rights. I decided to participate in this program because it seemed different from the other study abroad opportunities, in the way that it encompasses human right’s courses, an internship, and community service. I am hoping to accomplish a lot through my study abroad experience. I hope to come out with a better understanding of the world and hopefully with a more specific idea of what I want to do after graduating college.

Ever since I was accepted to this program I’ve become more and more excited about the adventure that’s to come. I can’t wait to meet new people and experience everything that South Africa has to offer. I’m excited to meet the other students going on this study abroad trip and also Cape Town locals. I want to go into this opportunity with an open mind and with out expectations.  I’m most excited to do anything that pushes me out of my comfort zone and to learn things I wouldn’t be able to learn in any other circumstance.

Karen anxious to see what the future holds

Hello, my name is Karen Littau. I am currently a junior undergraduate at the University of Connecticut. I am majoring in Psychology and Human Rights, and minoring in Women's Studies.

I decided to participate in the study abroad opportunity in Cape Town because I feel as though Cape Town is a place where I can flourish and make a difference. South Africa will provide me with hands-on experiences where I can eventually leave knowing that I have impacted at least one individual

I hope to impact somebody's life in a positive way. I hope that I am able to see life through a new pair of eyes.

Now that I know I am accepted into the program, I am feeling relieved and excited! I cannot wait until I get hands on experience and truly develop myself into the community I will be interning in. I am excited to see where this adventure takes me. My next step is to make a checklist of accomplishments I would like to complete before leaving Cape Town. I am getting anxious to see what the future holds! 

Ashely overwhelmed with joy that she will be going to Cape Town

Hi! My name is Ashley Hallstrom and I am a Junior at UConn double majoring in Public Policy and Human Rights with a Women's Gender and Sexuality Studies minor. 

I never thought that I would actually study abroad during my undergrad career. If I did, I wanted to go to Europe because I've been to Italy and I would've loved to go back...mainly because I've been dying to get back to this amazing restaurant in Perugia that serves the best pizza I have ever had. I dream about eating that pizza again. Anyway, I decided to study abroad in Cape Town because my advisor thought it would not only be an experience I needed to have, but also because it would be an experience that ties in well with my interests in the political/social/economic factors that help maintain the intersecting inequalities in race, class, and gender. I was hesitant to apply at first because Cape Town is not familiar to me (and because I love pizza), but I decided to look into the program. After doing my research, I fell in love with what the program had to offer! Especially about the fact that I would have an internship that is relevant to my studies. I'm glad I listened to my advisor, that's for sure!

I hope that my time spent in Cape Town will challenge me and help me evolve into the political activist/leader I aspire to be as an adult. I have faith that this experience will give me the necessary tools I need to contribute to dismantling the systems of inequalities I'm interested in.

I am overwhelmed with utter joy and I am still in shock and disbelief that this is going to happen. I can't say I'm too excited to be away from my dogs for an entire semester, but this is something that I need to do. I can't wait for this semester to be over and I am beyond excited to get on that plane in January...can we leave now? Most of all, I'm excited to meet the woman I become from this experience. 

Rachele hopes to become a more globally aware citizen

Hi everyone! My name is Rachele Spadafore and I am currently a sophomore at UConn. My major is Pathobiology and I am on a Pre-Veterinary Track. I decided to participate in this study abroad program because I have always wanted to study abroad and Cape Town seemed like a place that would be culturally different from America. I have never been any where on the continent of Africa and I wanted a chance to have an adventure and experience what life was like on the other side of the world.  The internship portion of this program was also very appealing to me because it makes this program stand out as a unique opportunity I may not get to have without this program! Through this study abroad experience I hope to become a more globally aware citizen and also to have some experiences that I will never forget.

Now that I have been accepted to this program I cannot wait to begin! I was so excited to apply to this program and now that I’ve been accepted it almost feels unreal that soon I’ll be spending 4 months in Cape Town! I have heard a lot of wonderful things about this program and now I am ready to experience it for myself. I am also very excited to take courses I probably would not have taken without this program. As a science major, I am excited to take a classes on the history and politics of South Africa and learn as much as I can about the new country I’ll soon be living in.

Alex planning and organizing to prepare for her time abroad

My name is Alex and my major is Psychology with a minor in Physiology and Neurobiology. I am a junior and am planning on continuing my education at a graduate school for physical therapy. Coming into college I knew I had wanted to study abroad and even after transferring colleges, this has always been a goal of mine. I love to travel and come back with new experiences that I wouldn’t be able to have had elsewhere. I hope to gain new insights into my future career as well as learn about the culture of South Africa. I am currently very excited and thankful to be given the opportunity of a lifetime to experience a new culture for three and a half months. The internship I was offered sounds exactly like what I have been wanting to do for a few years. I feel like this study abroad trip is the perfect mixture of travel, fun, independence, education, and exposure to my dream career. At the moment I am planning and organizing my schedule to ensure that I meet all of the upcoming deadlines along with the aspects of my current schedule. I am really looking forward to enjoying a semester without labs where I can truly learn and grow from the courses. Knowing that I will be studying abroad is definitely the added motivation that I need to get through this semester!

Taylor ready to step out of her comfort zone

My name is Taylor Muncy and I am a sophomore at UConn majoring in Education and History with a minor in Human Rights.  I knew at some point in my college career I wanted to study abroad, and once I read about this Cape Town trip I knew it was the one for me.  South Africa is so beautiful and full of history, and friends who have visited before had nothing but good things to say.  Especially having a minor in human rights, I think Cape Town is the perfect place to expand my knowledge of the world and bring those experiences back to UConn.  During my time in Cape Town, I hope to learn as much as I can about the culture and history of South Africa so that I can become a more worldly educator one day and person in general. 

When I was accepted to the Cape Town program, I was so excited because I have been thinking about applying and talking to my friends and family about it for months.  Now that the idea of going is a reality, I do have to say I am a little nervous to leave home for that long, but I know I will have such a great time with all the other UConn students.  I cannot wait to explore this new country and to step out of my comfort zone for a while, especially in such an amazing city.  I am also looking forward to meeting the other participants, and I can’t wait to share this experience with them!

Maddy can't wait to begin this adventure

My name is Maddy Perriolat, I am a Speech Language Hearing Science Major with a double major in Human Development, and I am a sophomore here at UConn. I knew I always wanted to take advantage of a study abroad program while in college, however, with my major being SLHS, I had limited options to have an opportunity to do something Speech related while abroad. While exploring the study abroad website, when I came across the Cape Town program, the internship interested me the most. Being able to have an internship abroad sounded like a perfect opportunity to incorporate my major into a study abroad program, and as I researched the program more it seemed like a perfect match for me. What I hope to accomplish through my Cape Town experience is not only gain experience in my major but also become immersed and learn about the culture I am living in and expand my horizons beyond my comfort zone of Storrs, Connecticut. I can’t wait to get involved in the community and accomplish things I would never imagine doing.

Although I am nervous about being so far away from my family and friends for such a long time, now that I have been accepted I am also excited and ready for this change in my life. I know our schedules will be very busy and I can’t wait to experience and get everything I can out of this once in a lifetime opportunity. Going with other UConn students is also comforting and I can’t wait to meet you all and get our adventure started.

Ravneet wants to experience life a little more adventuously

My name is Ravneet Gill and I'm a Junior, double majoring in Human Rights and Psychology. I am so grateful and excited to be studying abroad in Cape Town next semester. Participating in Cape Town study abroad program is a rare opportunity for myself to get out of the comfort zone and experience life a little more adventurously. The political landscape of South Africa will expose me to indispensable knowledge on how systems and institutions effect human rights. I hope Cape Town will introduce me to influential leaders and people, invaluable memories, and non-profit work experiences. I look forward on learning more about myself and discover new passions within social justice work. 

I can hardly wait to start my study abroad experience. I am ecstatic, nervous, and very ready for January to come. Although, I'll be anxious leaving my home for 4 months, I know this is a necessary experience to grow and learn more about myself and the world.