Southern Africa Archives - Page 3 of 3 - Center for Global Education and Experience

Guest Blogger: JD Mechelke, Southern Africa October 2015

Posted on November 12, 2015November 12, 2015

This is a guest post written by 麻豆区 College student, JD Mechelke, after two聽months on CGEE Southern Africa program.聽

My eyes began to open, being disturbed by the slight shaft of light poking past the peaks of the mountains around our two story double decker sleeper bus. We were on the road all night traveling from Bloemfontein to Cape Town. I dug through my backpack and found my phone. It was a little past 5am. As the light behind the mountains grew I began to more accurately assess the highway we were traveling down. Though our bus was massive and the thruway vast, we were at the mercy of the mountains. But moments earlier, my conscience was somewhere else鈥� Continue reading “Guest Blogger: JD Mechelke, Southern Africa October 2015” →

Guest Blogger: JD Mechelke, Southern Africa September 2015

Posted on November 12, 2015November 12, 2015

This is a guest post written by 麻豆区 College student, JD Mechelke, after one month on CGEE Southern Africa program.聽

The view was hard to take in. It was decaying. An endless view of tin, tarp, and cardboard roofs. It was not possible to distinguish between each jury-rigged shack. It wasn鈥檛 overtly overwhelming to me. I had encountered the sounds and smells of deep poverty before. The merciless sea that is Alexandria halted drastically as we stopped on a bridge passing over a freeway. When we got to the other side, I realized we weren鈥檛 in Alexandria anymore. My eyes bulged as I watched a Lamborghini drive into a mansion. We had entered Sandton, the richest municipality in South Africa. There was an endless contrast between the super rich of Sandton and the extreme poverty of Alexandria, separated by 8 lanes of freeway: now that was overwhelming. Continue reading “Guest Blogger: JD Mechelke, Southern Africa September 2015” →

Top Ten Reasons to Study in Namibia

Posted on April 23, 2015

List brought to you by Spring 2015 students!

1. Escape from your comfort zone and step outside of your norm.

2. Meet fellow American students who share similar passions and a spirit of adventure.

3. Intern at a local NGO (non-government organization) that not only immerses you in the community, but places you in the heart of current issues Namibia is facing today (something that will allow you to learn and grow everyday).

4. An opportunity to create lasting connections and experience unique personal growth.

5. Make cross-cultural connections between race dynamics in Southern Africa and the United States.

6. The opportunity to open your eyes up to the sides of the world which you haven鈥檛 seen and don鈥檛 know about in order to become a true global citizen.

7. Live in a small, intentional community where you can bond with other students on a deep level.

8. Interact with people from Namibia and across Southern Africa. By meeting so many people from around the region and taking time to learn about their various life experiences, it is impossible to come away from this trip believing in stereotype about 鈥淎fricans鈥�. You also get the chance to break down some assumptions about 鈥淎mericans鈥�.

9. An opportunity to live, grow, and learn in an enriching community (and let鈥檚 face it鈥攖he nightlife is awesome as well!)

10. Live in a beautiful country with stunning landscapes, mountains, coast lines, sand dunes. What more could you ask for?!

More Student Photos of Southern Africa

Posted on April 1, 2015May 23, 2017

More photos from student Andrea Sutliff, Siena College student studying abroad in Namibia.聽

You can also view more CGEE photos on our new, and聽by searching #CGEE. Happy photo viewing!

Student poses with elephants in background — While staying in Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe, I went on a day-long safari trip to Chobe National Park in Botswana. As an animal lover I almost exploded from excitement; we saw literally hundreds of elephants, hippos, giraffes, buffalos, crocodiles, various birds, and other game animals. It was amazing to see not only the animals themselves, but just the inexplicable beauty of nature.

Student poses at waterfalls — This photo was taken at one of the vantage points along Victoria Falls, (from the Zimbabwe side.) I was fortunate enough to be able to stay in Victoria Falls at a hostel during our Spring Break. The only way I can think to describe the feeling of approaching the falls is 鈥渂reathtaking;鈥� it鈥檚 obvious why it is one of the Seven Wonders of the World.

traditional African dress with host family — This was my lovely host family, who so graciously opened their doors and arms to me. This photo was taken during the rural homestay in a village outside of Outapi, Namibia, during the CGE Farewell Party (hence the traditional Oshiwambo colors/attire.)There are really no words to describe the experiences all of us students had.

lush green ravine — This photo was taken at the Ruacana Falls, on the Namibia and Angola border. We visited the falls (which were unfortunately mostly dry due to the current drought) one afternoon for a picnic lunch after visiting and learning about the NamPower Station. We were able to climb along the rocks and ledges and even scale down to the bottom of the falls in some spots. I only wish any picture I got there could鈥檝e capture the beauty of it all.

Rural Homestay in Namibia

Posted on March 28, 2015January 10, 2019

Students in Namibia spent a week in the Outapi community in the northern region of the country and participated in a rural home stay. The purpose of this home stay is to allow students the opportunity to learn what life in a rural area is like and to learn more about the northern part of the country, which is where a majority of the population in Namibia lives. Students were asked to share one word or phrase that they felt summarized their experience and here were their answers:

鈥淪pecial鈥� Molly, Clark University

鈥淲elcoming鈥� Miranda, Valparaiso University

鈥淧arallel鈥� Greta, Texas Lutheran University

鈥淓ye-Opening鈥� Haley, Clark University

鈥淓ducational鈥� Winnie, 麻豆区 College

鈥淔un鈥� Matt, Vassar University

鈥淗umbling鈥� Abbie, Clark University

鈥淚nvaluable鈥� Andrea, Siena College

鈥淐ooperative鈥� Louise, Oberlin College

鈥漈hought-provoking鈥� Jordan, Siena College

鈥淧eaceful鈥� Katie, Valparaiso University

鈥淐onnect鈥� Maddie, Oberlin College

鈥淚nformative鈥� Lulu, Clark University