JYA Experience

By Anonymous

Senza Parlare. Grata per Tutto (Without Speaking, Thankful for Everything)

"My time abroad allowed me to understand the importance of human communication. While in Italy, a fellow student mentioned he could understand people without words, and over the next few experiences, I noticed he was telling the truth. This trip has truly been a "life-changing' experience."
-Kaia Ross-Duggan ‘08

"Studying abroad was a wonderful experience because it gave me the opportunity to experience another country as a resident instead of as a tourist. I believe that this difference helped me develop a deeper understanding and respect for the history, culture and people of Jamaica. "
-Studying In Jamaica by Nicole Savage ‘08

"Argentina is, despite what we may usually think, a very diverse country. It is the second largest in Latin America, and its population is as diverse as its beautiful natural landscapes. It was surprising to find out that my idea of Argentina was limited to Buenos Aires, its capital, when in fact, the country has a very rich culture (influenced mainly by the natives/indigenous, European immigration, immigration from neighboring countries like Bolivia and Paraguay, and the mestizo culture inherited by colonial history). The country has a strikingly unequal social reality. Poverty has escalated due to the recent economic crisis that hit Argentina in the turn of the century. The necessity of social change has given room to the rise of new social movements (and growth of preexisting ones) with very interesting experiences. I have learned to appreciate the uniqueness of my neighboring country, at the same time that I have encountered in it the essence that connects all the countries of Latin America."
-Argentina! by Túlio Zille ‘08

"It is very easy to get caught up in the idea of living in a paradise and not recognize the real economic, social and political problems existent in the country you are visiting. In Costa Rica, everything is not 'pura vida' when government buildings and property in San José are collages of political graffiti. At the heart of the capital rests a statue of former president José Figueres, the man credited for abolishing the army in Costa Rica. Written along the bottom of the statue are the soft, yet inspirational words of Mohandas Gandhi. But not too far behind stands an old military base covered in the much stronger words of the locals. The people are talking, '¡No al TLC!'"
-Estudiando en Costa Rica by Joel Arce ‘08

"Kenya, an East African country in which Somalia, Uganda, Tanzania, and Sudan border has become a home away from home for me. During my JYA experience with the Student International Training Program, I traveled throughout Kenya to the towns, villages, and Islands of Mombassa, Lamu, Malindi, Kaloleni, and Kiwayuu. Also, I was afforded the opportunity to go by ferry to Tanzania and visit the capital-Dar’es Salaam and the island of Zanzibar. I was immersed in the Swahili culture of the coast, which has a rich tradition that synchronizes their Bantu roots and Arab ancestry through their historical interaction with traders (in ivory, mangrove poles, and slaves) from Oman who were brought to the coast on dhows via the annual monsoon winds. While sharing a plate of mandanzi or chipati with my host father I discussed the pillars of Islam, the Koran, and the conflicts between the Shi’ite, Sunni, and Wahib in Kenya. I went to a funeral ceremony of a Giriama woman who died of HIV, and I participated in the second night 'kitanda' of a Swahili woman’s wedding who lived in my neighborhood. I sailed on a dhow to the village of Kiwayuu, and played the drums with my little brother and sister (Mohammed and Tima.) I had my hands and feet painted with piku (a black dye) in intricate designs while listening to mambo music, and sang in the church choir in the middle of town in Lamu during their annual Crusade. My experience in Kenya has been one that has had a permanent imprint on my life, my ideas, my opinions, and my faith. In an attempt to avoid sounding too cliché, I can only summarize my experience as necessary and effective. JYA was an unforgettable and irreplaceable experience; I am blessed to have had the opportunity."
-Karibu Kenya (Welcome to Kenya) by Torrie Williams ‘08

In This Issue

• Cover Page
• Fiction/Non-fiction
• Spotlights
• Poetry
• Visual Arts

In addition

• Previous Issues
• Authors