As I pass the torch to future travelers, I encourage you not to be discouraged, and stand proud knowing that inner strength and conviction, as well as a strong sense of self, are key to withstanding and gaining from new experiences on a global level.
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Living in South Africa was an experience that I know has shaped me into the person that I am today. I instantly felt a part of the community when I moved there... I wanted so badly to be apart of that culture.
Read MoreI encourage anyone who studies abroad to rise above those who may knowingly or unknowingly make you feel inferior in any situation. Rise above those feelings of inferiority because you are more than worthy enough to be in the same vicinity.
Read MoreThough, I expected certain setbacks due to my status as a U.S. citizen, I had no idea how different I would be treated for being a black woman in a fairly homogeneous space. Black Argentinians are typically from northern provinces. Many other individuals immigrate from Central America and other countries in South America. They often work in lower paying jobs, therefore, people assumed I was a maid, a doorkeeper, or a nanny. I was quickly faced with stares and locals questioning as to whether or not I was from countries like Brazil, France, or Angola. They were shocked to hear that I was a student from the United States. Unfortunately, I didn’t have the confidence or maturity to deal with this negativity in a positive way at the time. I chose to stay at home, rather than explore the beautiful country I was in.
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It’s one thing to travel on a plane to an unfamiliar country, but its absolutely daring, fearless, courageous, adventurous and brave to immerse yourself in a new experience and culture! If you do not grow in some type of way from traveling abroad, you did it wrong.
Read MoreWe begin to stop asking for permission to exist. We begin to divest from spaces that have crafted laws to protect them from our bodies. We do not need permission to grow and love everything from the hair on our heads to the shades on our skins for which we are continually arbitrarily punished and criminalised.
Read MoreBeing African American and having similar physical traits as the Aborigines, there were times when I felt as if I were mistaken as an Aboriginal. When this happened, I taken aback because I would have been treated differently if I had been. It is also seems like a taboo to discuss the relationship between the white – Australians and the Aborigines. From my experience, it seems like Australians don’t even want to acknowledge that they even exist.
Read MoreMy one piece of advice to college students is to study abroad no matter what your major is, especially Black Americans. I believe when traveling abroad, we can’t allow ourselves to get offended by questions and stares because it is such a unique space. You must be patient and willing to answer any and all questions ranging from the ridiculous to the mundane. By doing this, it allows you to become better knowledgeable about another culture and ideals, but also the people of the host nation have a better understand of what it means to be Black American that is not misrepresented by the media. This is the time when we as Black Americans have to suck up our pride and represent our race, because we may be the first and only Black American that people around the world have had the opportunity to meet.
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The most wonderful thing about being seen as exotic in this space is how it has made me feel personally. It demands I embrace my blackness as something that is in fact beautiful and unique. When I walk down the street, people cannot help but stare at me. In the United States, we are persecuted and even slain for being born black, but here we are gold and rare. That is the thing so far that has caused me to slowly fall in love with this place and the people the most. I feel valued here and appreciated by its citizens for allowing me, “la morocha,” to experience this beautiful city.
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I have never felt defined by my race. In fact, I have never felt defined by anything external. However, I understand that race does play a part in how people perceive me, which has always encouraged me to seek to be a good representation of my race. Being black is an experience that varies from person to person. For me, it is a beautiful journey full of life, rhythm, and richness. Rarely, do I feel being black inhibits me both domestically or abroad. I have always enjoyed being black, thus I have always sought to share my black experience with others. In my travels abroad, I have adopted a few principles to help me further understand my own identity, while also consuming local culture.
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There’s a notion that science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) majors don’t have time to study abroad, or many schools will not accept the credits from other institutions because STEM disciplines build on themselves. Without the fundamentals from one course it’s impossible to be successful in subsequent courses. With comparable coursework abroad this doesn’t have to be the case. The most beautiful thing about STEM is that there is no cultural barrier.
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I originally set out for Vienna, Austria with the purpose of studying Music Performance in one of the most well known music capitals of the world. While there, I was also privileged to not only stay in Vienna but also travel to six other nations throughout my time abroad: Budapest Hungary, Prague Czech Republic, Paris France, London England, and Stockholm Sweden. As I applied for the program, applied for the scholarship to go, and booked my trips, I was faced with multiple friends and family members who warned me that some European nations had racist people. They warned me that Austria and some of the other countries did not have a lot black people and had a mass of people who were not comfortable being around those with darker skin tones. Being in the countries both affirmed and disproved these statements.
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Without question I identify most with Sierra Leonean culture. It wasn’t until I came to Morehouse College that I had my first real experience with black American culture. It’s hard to put into words why I failed to have experienced black American culture because to white America I am viewed as a black American male. However, when I try to relate to the same culture I am associated with, I fail because I was not raised with the same type of “black American experience.” I frequently hear people say that if you are black and in America you by default have a sense of what it means to be black American, but in my own personal journey and comparing my experience to my black American friends, I have not found that to be true.
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Before I came to Morehouse, I had never met an African-American who spoke Mandarin. All of that changed the first day of my Chinese 101 class. My professor was Dr. Henrietta Yang who, unbeknownst to me, was one of the most highly recognized professors of teaching Chinese as a foreign language in the country. Her job prior to being appointed as director of the Morehouse Chinese Studies program was an engagement with the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) where she trained agents before they went to their assignments in Asia. In other words, she was a boss, the Greatest Of All Time (GOAT); insert whatever culturally appropriate vernacular that encapsulates greatness and that was Dr. Yang. For those of us had not studied Mandarin before Morehouse, she allowed one of her students, Myles Postell-Reynolds to present for us. After he finished presenting (and translated), Dr. Yang told my class, “He began his Chinese studies at Morehouse. If he can do it, so can you”. Completely inspired, I decided that I would go to China one day and get just as good, if not better than Myles.
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The immediate benefit of studying abroad was my return of curiosity that one seems to lose after early childhood. I reawakened my senses that lay dormant for so long. Despite my deep curiosity and excitement for my new surroundings, I knew that I would use each day and opportunity to better myself for my daughter. I ate healthier, read more, exercised daily, and traveled often. The benefit of studying abroad is the attainability of peace that allows for self-discovery. There is no limit to how far you can explore yourself when there is nothing around you but new possibilities. These new possibilities led to my travels around Spain, Morocco, Italy, Scotland, Greece, and the beautiful island of Ibiza. Each country taught me a little more about myself and forced me to realize that I am undoubtedly blessed for the direction my life has taken.
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My black was completely different there; I was not identified as black, but Brazilians saw me first as American. It was nothing like the United States, a place where I can always clearly feel my blackness. In a place where I am shown many opportunities equal to my white counterparts, it is yet so clear to see the not-so-visible divide that we create for our own. We as Americans still segregate ourselves even in a land where minorities are given more chances than Brazilians at better lives. Our barriers come not in the appearance of separate communities, jobs, or education like the physical divides in Brazil. Our cultural barriers are, however, existent. They exist in our minds, where even if we live similar lives there still exists a need to willingly separate ourselves from others that are not like us or share our culture.
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I grew up a TCK, a Third Culture Kid. A TCK is a child whose lives in and out of foreign countries around the world; we’re born in one culture but raised in different ones for a significant part of our lives. In my case, I was born in Kenya, but I grew up in the United States and in between I lived in Zimbabwe and Ethiopia. I’ve also travelled to Paris, Barcelona, and Dubai. With a dad who works in an international organization, growing up meant traveling and living in different countries other than my country of birth. This has enriched my life experiences, posing both challenges and blessings, making me who I am.
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Wanderlust: a strong desire to travel. I had never been struck with such a desire until this summer. My family has always placed an emphasis on traveling, but ever since my parents ended their two-year stay in China, they wanted to enjoy home. On the other hand, I want to get away. This is the first year in a long time that my feet haven't left Georgia soil.
Read MoreThe most valuable lesson I have learned from all of my trips is to live in the present and appreciate what is around you. In America, we tend to get so concentrated on our end goal and everything that worries us, that we tend to look over our blessings and not appreciate all of the good things that are happening to us right now.
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