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.