2015 Co-educators

2015 Co-educators
2015 UConn Co-educators Begin Their Cape Town Adventures

WELCOME TO OUR BLOG

As anyone who has participated in UConn's Education Abroad in Cape Town will tell you, there are no words to adequately explain the depth of the experiences, no illustrations to sufficiently describe the hospitality of the people, and no pictures to begin to capture the exquisite scenery. Therefore this blog is only intended to provide an unfolding story of the those co-educators who are traveling together as companions on this amazing journey.

As Resident Director of this program since 2008 it is once again my privilege and honor to accompany another group of students to this place I have come to know and love.

In peace, with hope,
Marita McComiskey, PhD
(marita4peace@gmail.com)

Monday, November 10, 2014

Meet RA, Jessica Gates

Purple Post-It

When I first started at the School Of Social Work, we went to many, many, many informational seminars. Things like “Get involved in your student government…. Join this, join that”, students eagerly stated. The opportunities seemed endless. Someone then mentioned, “we have a travel abroad program.” My interest was piqued. The student rattled off a few places that previous students had gone, Germany, Puerto Rico, and South Africa. There was a physiological reaction. My pupils expanded and my heart palpitations picked up, someone had said South Africa. Being that first year students could not apply, I would have to wait until the second year of the program to apply for an abroad program. In the second semester, someone put a sign up about an informational session about traveling abroad. I went to the session and was fascinated by the pictures and her tales of travel. Her name was Erin, and she was a RA. From that moment on, I inquired to my field advisor, and a teacher, while expressing interest in the potential opportunity.
  
I had always been into positive affirmations, and speaking things you want into existence. The whole “put it out in the universe” was a practice I was trying to incorporate into my life. So, I got out some post-it’s, and wrote some things I wanted to come into fruition. On a purple post-it on the upper right corner of my full length mirror, laid the phrase “I’M GOING TO SOUTH AFRICA” in bold letters. It became a morning mantra. That then turned into a reality.  While I’m very excited about the opportunity, I don’t think the reality has hit me yet.  Probably while boarding the plane from Detroit, the gravity of the situation and opportunity will come full circle.  I’m excited to share this journey with 17 other people who have not been there as well. I’m excited to see a part of the globe I’ve only seen on tv and read about in magazines. This is the motherland. It’s the apex of humanity and civilization. There is so much to learn, share and experience. Let the journey begin!!

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