Why I Chose to Study Abroad!

I've always wanted to study abroad, and Saint Mike's makes it extraordinarily easy to do so, so perhaps this post would be better titled, "Why I Chose to Study Abroad in Stellenbosch, South Africa."  I honestly always pictured myself studying abroad in Italy, living in the land of my ancestors (my full name is Samantha Montana Francesca Giglio; don't let my red hair fool ya!).  When I picked up my Sociology/Anthropology major at SMC, I was informed that students on the Anthropology track (which is the track I'm on) are required to study in a non-western country.  I jumped at the chance to go somewhere more exotic than Europe, especially seeing as I've already been to Italy with my parents and I'm sure we'll return in the near future, and was also excited that this requirement would gently force my parents to allow me to go somewhere that they may have not normally regarded as acceptable (read: safe for their only child and somewhere they could easily visit).  

After months of looking through study abroad brochures, spending plenty of time in the study abroad office, researching cities and universities, and talking to professors and fellow students, my advisor (hope you're reading this Ari!) suggested that I go to Stellenbosch, South Africa.  He had had students that had done this program in the past and absolutely loved it.  Since he has always given me great advice, I went back to the study abroad office to talk to Peggy Imai about it.  Peggy knows EVERYTHING there is to know about study abroad programs, and she easily tracked down the provider of the program Ari had told me about.  It was AIFS, American Institute of Foreign Study.  

As I looked through the AIFS Stellenbosch booklet, I immediately fell in love with the program.  It had everything I wanted - an incredible service learning course that would allow me to work with South African children, getting to see Robben Island where Nelson Mandela was imprisoned, hikes, wine tours, beaches with penguins, even A SAFARI. The list doesn't stop there - I have to save some surprises so you keep reading!

The program is a really important part of the study abroad process - there are a ton of countries that I would love to go to for a semester, but this program through AIFS was by far the best one for me.  As far as the country itself goes, South Africa seems absolutely AMAZING. It's incredibly beautiful, with mountains and oceans and just about everything in between. Everyone that has been there cannot say enough about the kind, welcoming people of the country. There is ample opportunity for hiking and other outdoor activities, as well as gorgeous sites to see.  I hear there is great shopping too, yay! And of course, culture.  I will be volunteering in a township school surrounded by poverty, which is something I’ve always imagined myself doing.  South Africa has a tumultuous history, which is terribly sad, but also quite interesting.  While I’ve been reading up on the Zulu Wars, Apartheid, the AIDS epidemic, and other parts of South Africa’s turbulent past and present, nothing will compare to learning about these things in the very setting in which they took place.

After all of this thinking, I'm sure that South Africa is the perfect place for me to spend the next five months!  This weekend I am off to a beautiful country to have the experience of a lifetime, and the next time I update my blog, I'll be in South Africa!!