Val CAN'T WAIT

My name is Valerie Everett, but everyone calls me Val. I’m a Junior at UConn, majoring in Psychology and minoring in English.

I chose the Capetown trip on a whim actually. I had been skimming through the study abroad website since my freshman year, always going back to the European trips, particularly Florence, doing research and casually talking with my parents about it to see where their heads were at. Being Italian and from a family where travel was strongly encouraged, I was dying to go back to my roots in Italy and experience the culture, especially one that is known to have both exceptional food and art. But it never stuck. I couldn’t bring myself to apply. I don’t know if it was because I was scared or because I just wasn’t passionate enough about it, but I always told myself “next semester I’ll apply” or “next semester will be the one”.

2 weeks before the deadline, I got on the website and applied, not to the Florence trip, but to the Capetown, South Africa trip. Maybe it was the culmination of shifting experiences from this past summer: traveling to Israel with Hillel, getting an internship in Jersey helping at risk youth, or maybe just breaking it off with my high school boyfriend for real this time. But I felt like a new person. And for some reason, the Florence trip didn’t hold the same appeal it used to. As cool as it looked to party in Italy, I wanted to help people while abroad and I wanted to grow; I wanted to go somewhere entirely new and different and challenging and all sorts of scary. And I would be damned if I let an opportunity like spending 4 months in Capetown pass without me at least trying to get in. So I applied. And as I waited to hear if I got in, I realized how insanely I wanted to go. If 10 days abroad in Israel changed me irrevocably, what in the world would 4 months in South Africa do? My desire to go quickly went from wanting to craving to needing. So, needless to say when I got in, I felt like I might combust from excitement. Getting accepted was so surreal, I don’t think it’s hit me yet that in a few short months I’ll be in South Africa experiencing Capetown in all of its gorgeousness. I CAN’T WAIT!

Katrina eager to experience a whole new world

Hey everyone! My name is Katrina Hodgkins and I’m a sophomore here at UConn and an Allied Health Science Major. I could not be more overjoyed to be a part of this program for this coming spring semester. When I chose UConn, a school only around thirty minutes from my hometown, I dreamed from day one of studying abroad somewhere amazing. Having never left the country before, I pictured myself traveling somewhere in Europe, taking classes and experiencing a new culture. But when I attended the symposium for Cape Town last Fall, I immediately fell in love.

There was something so different in the experiences these students were describing. Every last one of them (and there were a lot) had a sparkle in their eye, and were passionate about something different, whether it be from the classes they took, their internships, activist projects, excursions or just becoming such a close knit family. They were each so clearly changed and empowered by their experiences, and wanted everyone in the room to know it. As someone who’s very passionate about the medical field, hearing about some of the crazy circumstances the students were put in terrified but excited me. And that’s when I realized that while I wanted my study abroad experience to be fun and crazy, I more importantly wanted an experience that would put me out of my comfort zone enabling me to really grow. I want to grow as a person, as a student in the medical field, and more importantly as a global citizen. I know my eyes will be open to a whole new world, and hopefully my experience will influence what I pursue as a career.

After hearing their experiences, my heart was set on Cape Town 2014. While my parents weren’t thrilled with the idea at first, with roughly a year and a half of it being all I wanted to talk about, they eventually warmed up to the idea. I can’t believe I’ve officially been accepted into the program, and will be leaving within 3 months, and I am SO excited to get to know my Cape Town family and prepare to leave. While this coming journey abroad definitely scares me, and certainly puts me out of my comfort zone, I am so excited to see what great things Cape Town has in store for me.

Jen fulfilling a dream

My Name is Jennifer Melissa Gomez, my family calls me Melissa and my friends call me Jen.  I am a senior at the University of Connecticut and I will be graduating in May 2014 as shortly after our adventure in Cape Town. I’m majoring in Human Development and Family Studies with a minor in Human Rights. Since I was a young girl, I always dreamt about going to Africa and being able to help and interact with children in a third world setting, this program offers everything I ever wanted to do, I will be able to touch many hearts during my journey in Cape Town as I’m sure that many more will be able to touch mine. Being able to be accepted into the program makes me happy and anxious at them same time. Being in a whole new setting with people I barely know but I’m sure that in the long run it will be well worth it. It has been a childhood dream of mine to be able to visit Africa and provide some of my human services abilities. I wish to be able to help out and make a difference in someone’s life.  

Melanie stepping out of her comfort zone

Hello! My name is Melanie and I’m a Human Development and Family Studies and Psychology double major. I hope to pursue a career in Social Work, Counseling, or Family Therapy.

There was in interesting series of events that led me to my decision to study abroad in Cape Town. I knew I had wanted to study abroad since high school but I didn’t have any particular country in mind, just somewhere with a unique culture and a program that provides a rich learning experience. As the study abroad application deadline grew closer, I hadn’t fallen in love with any country yet and on a whim decided Ireland would be a fun country to be in. Then I saw a flyer for the Cape Town program and after looking into the internship and research opportunities decided this was where I wanted to go.

However, when I got accepted it was not that simple. After long talks with my parents about their nervousness of me being so far in an unfamiliar country, Ireland was looking like the option more in our comfort zone. But after talking to people who had previously been to Cape Town and hearing how amazing and insightful their experiences were I knew I had to go. Also, my past experiences have taught me that the more you step out of our comfort zone the more you get from an experience. Now, I am SO excited to start learning about the unique South African history and culture, start getting to know everyone and to hear about my internship placement. I already know I made the right choice!

Manuela is extremely ready

Hello everyone! My name is Manuela Higuita and I am a sophomore majoring in Human Development & Family Studies minoring in Criminal Justice.

I always knew I wanted to study abroad in college, I just never knew where; I wanted a program where I can test myself as a person and was different then the typical places that most students traveled to. I decided Cape Town was the program I was looking for when I attended the study abroad fair last year.  I loved everything the program had to offer from living in such a beautiful country, experiencing a different culture through a homestay weekend; to the personalized internship I will have the opportunity to take part in. I was also able to attend the symposium, which was a great way to see the excitement and love the students that went last semester had for the program even after months of being back from Cape Town.

Words cannot describe the excitement I felt when I received the email that said I was accepted to the program. I was in the library studying with my best friend as she looked over she saw the excitement in my face and asked me what happened, I said I am going to South Africa!! I immediately called my parents and shared the great news!!

I am extremely ready for this new life changing experience I am about to embark on in less than 3 months!