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| ABOVE: Myranda Rees visits Iringa, Tanzania, the small town where she is studying and spending most of her time. BELOW: Students cross the Tanzanian countryside to reach the University of Iringa. |
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Since mid-August, Myranda Rees has been living out her lifelong dream to study abroad in Africa.
“I knew I was going to study abroad as soon as I got to Oakland University,” said Rees. “It has always been a dream to do so. I always wanted to go to Africa, and if I had the chance to go, I would.”
Rees methodically researched study-abroad programs to determine the one that best suited her time frame and curriculum: an
international relations major with a
women and gender studies minor.
“I weighed the options carefully,” said Rees. “It is a big commitment for a couple of months.”
Rees selected the CIEE Community Development, Language + Culture Program in Iringa, Tanzania for her study abroad experience. The program began August 16 and runs through the end of November.
“I chose a CIEE program with direct enrollment at a university. I looked at all CIEE programs and the Iringa program had an NGO (non-government organization) experience, which is what I want to go into, so it stood out. I will be taking required classes and a field research seminar,” Rees said in an interview before her trip.
“We’re very excited about Myranda’s program,” says Brian Connery, director of the
Office of International Education. “Programs like the Tanzania program, with its wide array of courses in so many different fields at the University of Iringa, complemented by the service-learning opportunities, are exactly the reason we’ve partnered with CIEE.“
OU is a member of the CIEE study-abroad consortium, a non-profit, non-governmental international exchange organization that provides high-quality, academically rigorous study-abroad opportunities using the expertise of local professional at all of its sites. Rees is the first OU student to participate in the CIEE Iringa, Tanzania program.
STUDY ABROAD FAIR:
Hear from students have studied abroad on Tuesday, Sept. 30 and Wednesday, Oct. 1 from 11 a.m.-1 p.m. in Fireside Lounge. |
The program begins with orientation in Tanzania’s economic epicenter Dar es Salaam.
“Then to the University of Iringa for seven weeks, which is in a more rural area,” said Rees. “I will be living with other Iringa students. There is a CIEE resident director living on campus. CIEE has an office set up and the director will be there all of the time.”
A four-week hands-on Field Research Seminar is held following the university experience at a community-based NGO in rural Mufindi where Rees will participate in development projects in development, public health, vocational training, sustainable agriculture, or NGO management.
“Eventually, I hope to work with an NGO that helps and works with girls in developing countries,” said Rees.
Study abroad scholarships
While planning her study abroad, Rees found study-abroad costs foreboding.
“I have had the most difficulty figuring and second guessing the cost. It is daunting and intimidating,” said Rees. “I know that it is all worth it. It is an experience that I won’t have again, especially as a student.”
Rees received an OU Alumni Association scholarship and CIEE GAIN: Global Access Initiative Grant to help finance her study abroad.
“Cost is probably the biggest barrier between OU students and studying abroad. OU has about $20,000 in scholarships dedicated to studying abroad, and our partners, like CIEE, have scholarships available as well. Students who receive Pell grants are eligible to apply for Gilman scholarships, and students who are interested in studying ‘strategic languages’ like Arabic and then taking jobs in the State Department are eligible to apply for Boren scholarships. Planning a budget and raising the funds takes planning and time,” says Connery.
Expanding your comfort zone
CIEE students can study abroad for a single term, full academic year or a three-to-six week summer program. Costs vary depending the program’s location and duration.
Rees plans to remain in Africa at the conclusion of the study-abroad through December to experience Arusha, Tanzania independently.
“I want to live outside my comfort zone and learn more about myself and other cultures at the same time,” said Rees. “Last year I went on a five-week volunteer trip to the Dominican Republic where I worked in a school with students with learning disabilities for two weeks. I learned a lot about myself and it was my best self.”
The excitement of the adventure outweighs Rees’ study abroad fears and concerns.
“When I tell people that I am going to study in Africa, many are caught off guard, and you can instantly see the concern in their eyes. I understand where they are coming from, but don’t share the same worries. Yes, I’m going to a place that's incredibly different from the one I call home, and it's true, there are many things that I’ll need to be cautious of. However, I have so much more to be excited about, and I refuse to let myself be overcome by fear. This is an experience that I want to completely embrace with an open mind and heart,” said Rees.
Connery notes that going to any foreign country can be daunting because it takes a while to figure out how things are done, whether it’s buying water or crossing the street.
“Studying in a developing nation can be particularly disorienting because of the lack of first-world comforts and conveniences to which we’re accustomed. On the other hand, not having these conveniences teaches us to take everything down a couple of notches and allows us to experience our world and each other more directly. As Myranda points out, it also teaches us a lot about ourselves. It’s normal to feel some anxiety about this way of getting outside of our comfort zone, but we shouldn’t mistake these concerns for safety issues: all of our programs provide support, security, and safety.”
For more information about study-abroad programs and scholarships, visit
oakland.edu/ie or the
International Education Facebook page.
