Santa Clara University

Jessica Barnette '10

Peer Advisor: Workshop Series Coordinator

In the fall I studied at the University of Cape Town in South Africa with CIEE. Ive always been fascinated with the different African cultures and traditions and knew that I wanted to go somewhere that Id have a unique experience. After studying in Italy during the summer of 07 I knew I wanted something different. With CIEE I was able to volunteer as a mentor at a local charter school while living with a host family and immersing myself in a society that ended segregation less than 15 years ago.
I chose the IES EU: Freiburg, Germany program because of the opportunities it gives students to study the politics of the EU while traveling to meet with representatives and government officials.

 

---EXPECTATIONS---
  I thought I would share my last entry of my online blog from Cape Town:
http://mysouthafricanadventure.blogspot.com/

Monday November 10, 2008
So here I am sitting in my room trying to study for my last final and all of a sudden my computer goes to the picture screensaver. As I get distracted from studying by watching the changing pictures, I began to reflect on my experience here. A new vet, Rebecca arrived last night and I cant describe the feeling I felt when she asked how long I was here for and I told her Until Thursday. It sounded like an automated response, as it flowed so freely, effortlessly out of my mouth. But tonight as Margot and Andrew took us Americans up to Signal Hill to watch the sunset and I was sitting there with Miss Piggy in my lap, watching the sun disappear behind the vast ocean and watching all the city lights begin to flicker on- I realized that I only have until Thursday.
My ending here is approaching fast and to be honest, Im not ready to say goodbye.

Cape Town is a complex city, Africa in general is a multifaceted continent. And my time here has been short- but every moment, every day since July 8th, Ive called this place home. And finally tonight- having dinner around the table with Margot, Andrew, Ali and Rebecca, I actually felt at home.

Ill be honest with you (whoever YOU are that is reading this&) but Ive never been good at saying goodbye. In fact I suck at it. I would much rather avoid you than have to say goodbye. At least if I avoid you then its more of a well see each other when we see each other- it doesnt have the official stamp of a goodbye. When I say goodbye it becomes real to me that I wont be seeing you for a certain period of time. Yes goodbyes can sometimes be for a short period of time, but usually when you make a deal out of saying goodbye its for a significant amount of time or maybe for an unknown amount of time.

But on Thursday I have to say goodbye; goodbye to my new family, goodbye to 26 Raapenberg Road, goodbye to the life Ive made here.

I guess you could say I had 5 months to prepare for this goodbye, but really- I honestly didnt expect it to come this fast.

When Rebecca asked me how my experience here has been, I was hesitant with my answer. How do you answer such a complicated question in a way that doesnt send you reminiscing about your life since July?

So heres my answer:
Over the past 5 months-
my life has changed in ways I couldnt even imagine it would,
Ive experienced things I only dreamt about,
Ive felt emotions that I never knew existed
And Ive met people who, even if I tried my hardest, Id never be able to forget.

My experience here is not describable in words.
Not in pictures.
My experience here can only be conveyed in the ways that Ive changed as a person. The ways Ive grown up and matured since Ive been here. The ways in which going to an African country not knowing a single person, the ways in which living with another family and experiencing their every day life, the ways in which living in a country that ended segregation only 14 years ago, can change you.

Change. Thats a powerful word. And its a big word for Americans right now.
But as scary as change is, it is necessary. And it is inevitable. Ill admit, Ive changed.
I came here with expectations. As much as I tried to reassure myself that I didnt, deep down I did. Its only natural to expect something. I cant tell you what I expected, but I had some image, some thought as to how my life would go about while attending UCT.

Not all my expectations were met- and Im glad they werent. New challenges forced me to completely adapt how I live my life here from how Im used to living normally. Ill admit at times I didnt necessarily embrace challenges with open arms, but I did overcome them. And because of that, Ive changed.

Ill be seeing my mom December 5. It will be 1 day short of exactly 6 months from the day she dropped me off at Newark International Airport to come here. I cant tell you how ecstatic I am to see her and receive one of her good mom-hugs.
And shell notice it- the change; the small piece of Africa Im taking with me and Ill never have to say goodbye to.

 

---DEFINING MOMENTS---
  When I first came to Santa Clara as a freshman, I had already begun doing research as to where I could go to study abroad. I was so anxious that the summer after my freshman year I was able to take two courses through AIFS in Rome. During that month I not only acquired a love for gelato but also really enjoyed the differences of being a student in a foreign country. As that month seemed to pass too quickly I knew then that I wanted to go abroad for a full year. While figuring out what exactly I had to do in order to go abroad, I felt as if I was constantly emailing the study abroad office, peer advisors and past participants with questions. The help and advice that I received was way more than I could have asked for. The thought of living and studying in a new country can be scary however, I must say that I felt very well prepared when I left campus. Compared with other students who Ive met in my programs who had difficulty adjusting, I think the pre-departure meetings/ orientations really do help students to better prepare themselves before being thrown into a new culture. I want to be a part of the Peer Advisor Team because I can understand what it feels like to go way for the duration of a summer up to a whole year and feel that this would make it easier for me to relate to any student who wants advice or guidance.