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)

Sunday, June 7, 2015

Taylor P has no doubt Cape Town was the best place for her study abroad

Three and a half months in Cape Town isn’t nearly enough time to explore the amazing city. Looking back on my trip it went by so quickly that I can’t even believe it. Being home has been nice because I missed all my friends and family but I find myself thinking about Cape Town probably at least three or four times a day. It truly was the trip of a lifetime in terms of beauty and experience. The past few weeks every time I see someone new they are like “I know a bunch of people probably asked you already, but how was Cape Town?” and I reply with “don’t worry, I really love talking about it.” I think the hardest part of reminiscing with people is when they ask me what my favorite part was. The thing is that there definitely isn’t just one thing that stands out from the rest

Overall, there were few, if any, things that I didn’t love about South Africa. I loved the hospital I worked at and all of the little babies that I fell in love with. I loved the classes that we took and the deep conversations and experiences we were all able to share with each other. I loved all the extra projects we did with the youth group in Ocean View and human rights weekend and our homestay weekend. And of course I loved all the tourist-y things like the garden route and skydiving and bungee jumping. But most of all I loved all the different people that I encountered everyday that were so open and willing to share their experiences and passions with me.
            
While abroad, I learned a lot about South Africa’s history and government and its people, but I also learned about myself. Vincent, Vernon and Marita all did an amazing job of teaching me more about South Africa than I’ve ever known about America. They changed my thinking in way more than a few ways by opening my eyes to harsh realities while also guiding me in the direction of different ways to help and be an ally. In terms of myself, I think I finally learned what it means to be passionate about something.

Before my semester abroad I thought I had my whole life figured out; graduate, straight to PA school and then on to be a physician assistant, case closed. However, after meeting so many people who have a career that directly correlates to their passion and being exposed to so many different opportunities, I finally realized what I really want to do with my life. I believe that I am on the right track in terms of the medical field. But now I have narrowed it down to wanting to work in pediatrics because I loved being just a small part of the kid’s healing process at Sarah Fox Children’s Hospital and I believe that kids are impressionable at their young age and I am willing to help in any way possible. I have recently discovered my passion for wanting to work with HIV/AIDS patients after my time in South Africa. The exposure and infection rates are insanely high in several countries and I think that getting involved in an organization or something related to prevention or what not would be amazing.


It is a month later and I am still decompressing about my trip to South Africa and I believe I will be for a very long time. I learned so much from the people and experiences that I had while abroad I really couldn’t have asked for anything better. Before committing to South Africa I was undecided between London and Cape Town for study abroad. I am 100% positive that I made the right decision for myself because I truly fell in love with this country and I know that I wouldn’t have felt so at home in London. By the end of our trip I felt like a local because I was so involved with so many communities and it really felt like home. I can’t wait to return to South Africa someday!

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