Trista's looking forward to this once in a lifetime experience

My name is Trista Pennington and I am a Junior Allied Health Sciences major with a minor in Molecular and Cell Biology.  I first found out about this program while browsing the Study Abroad website when I was a freshman, and have made it my goal ever since to participate in this once in a lifetime experience.  I am pursuing a career as a Physician Assistant and knew that the internship aspect of the program would offer me the chance to gain valuable hands-on experience in my chosen field. 

Although I am very much looking forward to the experience my internship will provide me, I am hoping to gain a much more well-rounded perspective of the world as well.  Learning about South Africa’s history, especially in the context of human rights, while also being immersed in the country’s culture, will provide me with an education that a classroom in Storrs could never adequately match.  I hope to come away from this experience with a much better understanding of the world around me and my place within it.

After I was accepted into the program, I was both excited as well as extremely apprehensive.  I have never been away from my family for such a long period of time, and I foresee this being the greatest hurdle for me in terms of adjusting to living in Cape Town.  However, I hope that, after getting to know the other participants a bit better, we can all collectively grow from this tremendously unique experience.

Amelia eager to be enriched by the vibrant culture of Cape Town

My name is Amelia Subervi, I am a Psychology and Political Science double major, and I am a junior.   I decided to participate in this program because I knew I wanted to go abroad before I graduated however I’ve never been out of the country and knew that I would one day vacation in Europe and Southern America.  South Africa was truly a once in a life time opportunity that i’m ecstatic to take advantage of. 

I really hope to enrich myself in the vibrant culture Cape Town has to offer. It’s a city with so much history and poverty so above all i’m excited to learn all there is to know about a place so foreign to me. 

After being accepted words can’t even begin to describe my enthusiasm. Every time I see South Africa mentioned in a textbook, class room reference, or even in the news I get excited. After recently seeing the huge protest that went on this past week I couldn't be happier to be fortunate enough to go to a place where so many people want to see change and will do all they could to get it. I’m excited to see myself outside of the vacuum of my normal life in America by being placed entirely outside my comfort zone and sharing this experience with so many great people. South Africa I’m ready for you!

Elizabeth views this as a once in a lifetime opportunity

Hello! My name is Elizabeth Charash, I am a sophomore who is a History major and human rights minor. I am also enrolled in the fast-track masters in public administration program as well as the special program in law, granting admission to the UConn School of Law. I think that studying abroad in Cape Town is a once in a lifetime opportunity. I have always wanted to study abroad, but did not feel like other programs really fit the service component I was looking for till I came across the UConn in Cape Town. I am also very interested in politics and feel that most of the problems that occur in foreign policy is because of our lack of understanding for other cultures and I would like to bring empathy and knowledge back with me to create better laws nationally and internationally.

I hope to really learn a lot about the culture of Cape Town and increase my listening abilities to both the people of Cape Town and my fellow co-educators. I think that through this I will, in turn, learn more about myself and my purpose going forward.

I am so very very excited and honored to be heading to Cape Town this coming Spring. I can hardly wait to meet everyone that is going on the trip and start to get to know him or her. I think that it takes a very special person to study abroad in Cape Town, with motivations that differ from the “traditional” student who chooses to study abroad. I am interested to see the motivations behind each student in coming to Cape Town and the reason why they are pursuing the internships they are pursuing.

I am wondering what exactly Cape Town is like and how the classes and culture are different and similar to those in the states. I am intrigued to taste the different cuisine and begin to immerse myself with the people and the culture. I think that living in a city with more things to do will be a nice change from the action on the Storrs campus, and can hardly wait for the concerts and many outdoor activities.

Mariko is already counting down the days

My name is Mariko Maxwell and I am a junior Physiology and Neurobiology major. I have wanted to participate in the UConn in Cape Town program since I first heard about it two years ago. I don’t think any other study abroad program offers the opportunities that this one does as far as challenging students outside of the classroom. I was most attracted to the internship component and cannot wait to work in my field of interest in a community thousands of miles from home.

                   

Although I plan on gaining a lot of experience from my internship, I also hope to dig into the culture and history of South Africa, all while broadening my perspective on the world in a way that sticks with me well past our departure date.  As a small token of thanks for all the lessons I’m sure I will take away from the country, I want to make an impact during my time there.

                 

Since I found out about my acceptance, I’ve been talking about the program nonstop with my friends and family. I can finally say that studying in Cape Town is a reality, and not just something I hope to do someday. While that reality hasn’t fully sunken in yet, I am already counting down the days!

Isabel found this program to be the perfect match

Hi everyone!  My name is Isabel Thompson.  I am a junior at UConn and I am a double major in Economics and Human Rights.  I decided very early on that I wanted to incorporate my studies abroad in some capacity during my undergraduate career.  I did a lot of research as I gained some experience in my field and found the Cape Town program.  What drew me to this program in particular was the internship aspect.  I wanted a new perspective if I went abroad and this was the perfect match.  I would not only get to study in a whole new part of the world, but I would also get the opportunity to expand my professional network and gain international insight.

I hope to be put outside of my comfort zone during this opportunity.  I know travel can be uncomfortable at times, but that is something I hope to work on while I am in Cape Town.  I think it takes a very strong person to be uncomfortable in a situation and be able to adapt to that discomfort.

How am I feeling about being accepted?  It had been almost two weeks since I received my acceptance email and I still want to do laps around campus.  I am so excited to live and work in such a unique place.  I am also very excited to be escaping Storrs winter.  I just cannot wait to see what these next several months have in store for all of us!