Returning to the Norm: Life After South Africa

By Jessica Burkard – When I first returned to the United States from South Africa, I was in heaven as all of my friends and family opened their arms wide in welcoming me home.

Like any other adventure, I experienced a “honeymoon” phase where everything was great and there was absolutely nothing to complain about. But as we all know, that time of bliss does not last forever. As of today, I have been back in the United States for exactly 3 weeks, and I am past the honeymoon phase I initially experienced.

Something that I did not take into consideration prior to my return is that coming home does not mean that I am coming back to the exact same environment that I left.

As much as I have changed, the world I call home has also changed.  Once everything settled down after the first week or so of my return I began to see that friends, dynamics, and communities have changed as well. This discovery was a hard pill to swallow; I wanted to come back to comfort–come back to home.

In this discovery that home was uncomfortable, I found myself homesick for Cape Town. I once again found that I was searching for my comfort zone. I wanted familiarity, comfort, and my South Africa family.

Just as I started to get overwhelmed I realized one last thing that was key in getting past my homesickness: just like Milwaukee is a home, Cape Town is another home to me. Suddenly, I felt more at ease and even more blessed than before. This experience left me homesick for another home.  Rather than being sad, I finally felt comfortable.

Even though I am still constantly coming upon situations that are unfamiliar, I am becoming more and more comfortable being back in the United States again. It has become a new adventure of sorts. That is not to say that I don’t miss South Africa, I do, but just as I carried around the United States with me as I lived there, I will be carrying South Africa in my heart everywhere I go while I live here.

Thank you to all of my wonderful friends and family scattered around the United States, South Africa, and globe as a whole for the love and support. I could not be here without you.

I’m Adventurous? Learning About Oneself Through Study Abroad

By Jessica Burkard – Suddenly, I was nervous…frozen momentarily in fact.

I tried not to look down…but I couldn’t help it.

“Oh my god…” I thought.

I took a deep breath as the two men on each side of me started counting down from 5.

“4…3…2…”

I looked forward and jumped, free falling for approximately 5 seconds, until the bungee cord caught me, and then swung me like a pendulum. When I finally stopped bobbing up and down, I finally realized that I could see again—everything had been so fast that my eyes didn’t process half of everything until I was just hanging there in silence. A minute and a half is by no means long, but that my friends was the longest 90 seconds of my life. To be quite honest, I don’t know how I wasn’t panicking more as a person who has always feared heights.

“Hey, how was your jump?” said a calm voice. I looked up and there was the guy working on adjusting my ropes and bringing me into a sitting position to pull me up. I had so much adrenaline coursing through my veins that I remember being shocked at how calm and collected he was when I just came off of jumping off of the highest bungee point in the world!

Bungee jumping was one of the highlights of my life.

Fast-forward to about a week ago. I was Skyping with a good friend of mine from home and telling her all about the things I have been up to here in South Africa. As I began telling her about everything, I expected an “Oh, how cool!” or “What was that like?” type of reaction.

Instead, she replied, “Oh my god, Jess, you’re so adventurous!” And I thought, “I’m adventurous??” Honestly, the thought had never really occurred to me!  Sure, I thought at the time of each specific adventure I was crazy… but never adventurous!

So, other than bungee jumping, my “adventurous” self has also gone shark cage diving, cruised around on a sunset safari, and hiked a mountain barefoot using ladders and chains. Looking at that now and this study abroad experience as a whole, I guess I should start thinking of myself as adventurous.

Hands on Learning in Munich

By Jacqueline Boratyn – It’s sad to leave a place you have learned to call home.

My experience at John Felice Rome Center has shaped me in a way that has made me become a better person daily.

From trips to classes I have explored the unknown and the wonderful world of education. Being around people who were strangers a mere two weeks ago and now being able to call them some of my closest friends has showed me the true value of being a friend to everyone. This week I had the pleasure of being able to begin my travels across Europe with my friend and sorority sister Marie Fredrickson.

First stop: Munich, Germany.
I never really realized how different places in Europe were. I think Munich has become one of my favorite cities in Europe. Despite the rain, our first stop upon arrival was the Deutsches Museum. Here we got to see all the amazing accomplishments of Germany. Everything from boats to ships to musical instruments and Physics was found in this museum.

I think my favorite part was playing with all the Physics experiments. As someone who isn’t extremely excited every time she picks up a physics book, I was surprised to see how many of the experiments for us to play with I had already had the chance to experience both in high school and here at Marquette. It was exciting to run from one to another pressing buttons and seeing what happens with an ‘I’ve done this before!’ expression.

Although my education course is over I am still learning from my travels and my experiences. I am constantly thinking about my science classes in this museum as well as continually shocking myself at how much I really did know about physics. It’s amazing how the brain works…all those days I dreaded sitting through two hour lectures and 2 hour labs ended up paying off immensely.

My fun in Munich didn’t stop here though. We saw the old city (filled with butcher shops, bakeries, and cheese shops), a number of beer halls, churches, and even surfers surfing on a river…something I never expected to see in Germany…let alone in 60 degree weather.

I’m going to be disappointed to leave this amazing city, but I know I will be back. Munich is a beautiful city with wonderful people, and I will never forget my experience here.

The Gold Light: History, Hope, and Change

By Jacqueline Boratyn – After being in Italy a week, it still seems like just yesterday I was walking off the plane into 80 degree weather…only now, with lots of rain accompanying it.

I still haven’t quite mastered the language, but the fact that I studied Spanish has definitely paid off. Over the course of a week I have visited not only over 2 dozen restaurants and a dozen gelato shops, but also The Roman Forum, The Pantheon, and my personal favorite, The Colosseum. It was amazing to stand in the middle of a structure that is over a thousand years older than the United States!

Our class that day was structured around the idea of capital punishment; something we definitely didn’t expect. Dr. Fine started off our rainy day explaining to us how the center was used as a fighting ‘arena’ whereas the surrounding seating was based off class.

Before we knew it we were opening our “confidential envelopes” that we were told to keep shut until the day of the lecture. In the envelope was a number of documents on the topic of capital punishment in the United States and to my surprise, the abolishment of capital punishment in Illinois; my home state. There was a really interesting article explaining how the Colosseum is lit up with a gold light with a thumbs up projected on it every time anywhere in the world abolishes capital punishment.

For 24 hours, the Colosseum stays lit as hundreds of Italians come to applaud the recent change in the world. Dr. Fine proceeded to tell us about how the gold light was in representation of the prisoners who were covered in tar, placed along the tops of the Colosseum and set ablaze (giving off a gold hue) in the past. When the Colosseum is lit today, it is a remembrance of what terrible things went on in this historic place, and a sign of appreciation and celebration that these atrocities are being put to an end across the world. Soon we moved to talk about how it relates to the field of education (as we did with every lesson).

The idea of singling out students and putting them on the spot (as they did with the prisoners in the Colosseum), was our main focus. It was amazing to see how thousands of years of history relates to our school systems in the United States even today; I’ve never had a more eye-opening experience.

Every day I fall in love with Rome more and more, and every day I learn something new about myself and what it means to be not just a good teacher, but a caring teacher as well. The sites I have visited this week will always be in the back of my mind as I ponder how I treat my students, and observe how they treat one another. Through these classes I have not only been challenged on my personal views, but also challenged on my views of what it means to be a successful future teacher. I can’t wait to see what’s in store for the weeks ahead! Addio!

My Life in Rome: A Pre-Service Teacher Studying Abroad

By Jacqueline Boratyn – Italy. Roma. The home of fresh air, love, pizza, pasta, gelato and wine that tastes as if its grapes had been grown that morning.

When I stepped off the plane this morning, I felt as though I stepped into a whole new world; one slightly unfamiliar to me. As someone who loves to travel, and someone who in very familiar with certain parts of Europe, I was shocked that Italy gave me a feeling so different from that of which I’ve had the last two summers in Poland.

When I left the airport I had no idea what was in store for me. All I knew was I was in the beautiful city of Rome, with my friend Marie, about to embark on a journey led by Loyola University Chicago’s Dr. Janice Fine on diversity and culture in the school system.

Even with a single day here, I know that the next few weeks are going to be an adventure to say the least. My favorite “when in Rome” moment of the day has to be going to dinner, pointing to “gnocchi” on the menu and ending up with a plate full of clams in green sauce…last I had checked, gnocchi was a type of dumpling that had nothing to do with clams…

I think this language barrier is going to be the hardest challenge. Nonetheless, I’m excited for what’s in store, and can’t wait to see how thousands of years of culture standing before me here in Rome is going to help open my eyes to challenges of being a future teacher. Ciao!

Study Abroad: My Experience in Guatemala

Guatamala 2008 by sullust

By Molly Malone – So, you might be wondering why the blogger from Guatemala has yet to write anything specific about teaching ABROAD. I have been thinking the past few weeks of how to accurately describe my teaching experience in Guatemala and how it differs from my experience in the States. Disclaimer: My observations are only drawn from my small pool of teaching experience and definitely do not speak for all schools at home nor in Guatemala.

1) Focus on form. The school I am at looks at presentation as a very high priority. Students in middle school spend hours working in their cursive notebooks, perfecting their squiggles and circles. Students are often not allowed to make cross-off marks on tests or homework without being penalized, even if it is to cross out a wrong answer and put the correct one. And finally, students are often assessed on their ability to reproduce information, orally or written, rather than be assessed on their ability to be creative, to analyze, to problem solve, etc.

2) Value on different kinds of education. At home the schools I worked at in the suburbs focused on college as an end goal for their students. Students were being prepared for academic or arts programs in universities. The school I am currently at prepares students in academic and art courses, but also prepares them for a trade. Students spend half of their days in a workshop learning the basics about what it takes to be a carpenter, welder, baker, cook, tailor, or beautician. At the end of their three years in middle school they will hopefully have a solid background on three different technical trades.

I have done a lot of reflecting on what exactly “education” means since I have been here. I am still deciding on a good definition, BUT I have come to find the way a society/culture educates its children reflects its values, priorities, and wishes for them. I hope one day the culture of the school where I am will value independent and creative learning so that its students can be individuals who can think for themselves and make their mark in the world.

Reality (Sound)Bites

By Jes Lothman – On the occasion of my final post, I‘d like to offer sincere thanks to everyone who has followed my adventures in South Africa over the past year. This chapter in my life has proven to be, as expected, an incredible journey, with many lessons learned along the way.

Attempting to interpret and reflect on everything that has transpired in the past 11 months is a bit overwhelming. For my final contribution to the Marquette Educator, I sat down and tried to summarize my experience abroad through the recent pop cultural lens of reality TV shows — admittedly a guilty pleasure — in hopes that it might provide a little insight into the process of studying abroad and maybe even encourage a few people to do the same!

Arriving in a new country without knowing a soul and trying to be a Survivor is a bit like finding yourself on a remote island, and being compelled to live off the land. One must discover what to ingest and how to thrive in unfamiliar circumstances. Your existence quickly becomes a strategic game of sorts, forming alliances through friendships and conquering challenges in an effort to achieve immunity to culture shock, or at least have a good chance of surviving tribal council. Once you hone your survival skills, you must establish your voice. This quest is a combination of conversations and behaviors.

As a representative of Marquette and the United States of America, I did my best to express ideas and behavior that showcased the best we have to offer intellectually, culturally, and spiritually. Like a contestant on American Idol, each week I gained more momentum as I mediated my culture with experiences and greater understanding of the one I was living in. I appreciate all my judges—supervisers at UWC, Obs neighbors, Stanford co-workers and students—who gave me feedback and support to get the most out of the season.

Once I had the components for my personal development in hand, I was able to add the structure of various challenges to become a Top Chef putting together a great menu of student service experiences. With the budget of a college student, I went shopping for ingredients of an unknown recipe. In the heat of the kitchen, I managed to make some good decisions that led to successful meal of cultural understanding, student context and identity, study abroad structures and logistics.

Living with undergraduate college students during both semesters, I can attest to the Real World experience. Living with 30 different students, from 6 different colleges, with various majors and backgrounds led to great friendships as well as profound lessons learned about advising students and understanding their perspectives. Happily there was not as much drama as there is on TV!

Additionally, we were all trying to fully explore Cape Town which gave the semester a bit of a tang of Road Rules-esque adventure. Every outing led to a feeling of achievement, lessons learned about our new environment, and a sense of being more confident in the new setting. I came into my experience in South Africa as a Graduate student doing a practicum.

At the outset I was an Apprentice but I left Cape Town a trained and confident professional in student affairs. To my great good fortune, I was not fired, and I departed the country with enduring trans-Atlantic friendships, poised to continue in international education and appreciative of being a Marquette-educated student with opportunities to be a global citizen, a writer, and hopefully, the difference for those I worked with throughout!

Full Circle: South Africa in Pictures

By Jes Lothman – Over the past 9 months, I have shared with you many experiences and lessons learned while I was living and working in South Africa.  Now that I am home, I’ve had time to reflect on my time abroad–this process was aided by thousands of pictures I snapped along the way.  I’d like to share a collection of my photos that help summarize my time in South Africa, and will give you a full-color glimpse of this extraordinary place!

My journey began as the World Cup tournament was winding down, which provided an energetic introduction to South Africa’s people, pride, and hospitality.  As a result of this welcome, the sound of a trumpeting vuvuzela will hold a warm place in my  heart.The University of the Western Cape became “home” very quickly as I spent 30-40 hours per week working as an intern in the Center for Student Support Services.I worked with outstanding students and staff at UWC. I had great fun with all the colleagues and friends pictured above and learned volumes about the country and culture along the way!When I was not on campus, I did my best to engage with local culture – Mzoli’s Braai was one delicious means to that end.  Known for their huge helpings of barbequed meat, this restaurant hosts hundreds of local and visiting people every weekend– transforming the entire Guguletu township into a block party.I welcomed the opportunity to share living quarters with Marquette undergraduate students at Kimberley House, meet as other Marquette alums living in South Africa, and interact with Judy Mayotte who helped bring the Marquette program in Cape Town to life.I fell in love with South Africa, and decided I did not want to return home after one semester.  It’s a country full of beautiful, engaging people and astonishing geography, as this view from the top of Table Mountain shows. I was thrilled when Stanford University hired me to be a Student Advisor for their study abroad program in Cape Town.I lived with 23 Stanford students during my encore experience in Cape Town–this helped increase my professional grasp of the many elements involved with a successful study abroad program. It also exposed me to students from another part of the States, and the workings of another college institution.During this academic quarter, I was privileged to work with the Sea Point Rotary Club on their Blue Train project.  This pint-sized train and its surrounding parkland area helps make Cape Town proper accessible to people from the Townships as well as funding other non-profit projects.I spent more time in the townships during the second half of my time in South Africa. This opportunity provided me with a deeper understanding of the backgrounds of students I worked with during the prior semester at UWC.I managed to find some time to be a pure  “tourist” visiting Oudtshorn, the world’s ostrich farming capital, in the Karoo.  I was also sure to take in the country’s historical sites, such as Robben Island, where Nelson Mandela was held as a political prisoner for over 20 years.Interacting with some of South Africa’s wildlife provided amazement and amusement.  I swam with this penguin and dozens of his friends on Boulders Beach at Simon’s Town, on the tip of the Cape Peninsula. During my semester with the Marquette program, I was part of a memorable safari in Kruger National Park and saw giraffes, elephants, rhinos, and a hippo up close and personally.My nine months in South Africa were professionally transformative and hugely edifying!  Unfortunately, my stay ended a bit sooner than expected due to a knee injury, but I am a confirmed believer that things happen for a reason.  The future is bright on the horizon, as I will be moving to Spain in October to teach English in Telavera de la Reina.  Spain wining the World Cup  in Cape Town was an omen of good things to come.