My study abroad experience in Senegal helped fulfill a long-held dream of mine. As an African American, tracing lineage on either side of my family comes with feelings of sadness when we eventually hit a roadblock and can no longer go any further. Slavery, as many of us have learned, broke many familial bonds that existed. Mothers and fathers were taken from children, and families were broken apart to never…
Saint-Louis, Senegal was our 2nd main stopping point during the Senegal study abroad. Similar to Charleston, it is a coastal city that has many colonial architecture and statues still there. Fish and fishing are important to Senegal’s culture and economy. While in Saint-Louis, our excursions through the city were always filled with the sights of huge fishing boats. These boats ranged in size from small to big, and each had…
The next big thing we got to experience in South Africa was that we got to go on Safari in the Pilanesburg National Park! On this Safari, we got to see numerous animals such as Elephants, Springbok (an Antelope), Zebra, Lions, Warthogs, and more. We even got to see the Lions eating a giraffe, which didn’t smell very nice! Haha! We also learned a lot about conservation efforts and issues…
This has been an interesting month for trying new foods and snacks that you can’t get as easily in America! I’ve tried multiple different meats up to this point, as well as some cultural dishes! The first image is a meal I had in Swellendam, South Africa and it consists of an ostrich stroganoff with rice and regionally grown seasoned vegetables. Surprisingly (but also not really), it tasted similar to…
Senegal has some of the most amazing food I have ever tasted. Upon arriving at our first hotel, for lunch I ordered fish and fries. Now in America, if you typically order fish and fries the fish is battered and fried, and you have little to no bones. In Senegal, however, the fish will usually come whole with the head, eyes, and tail. Now I won’t lie, when the plate…
Hello! My name is Jenna Zaremsky, and I’m majoring in Astrophysics and Environmental Geosciences. I won’t be graduating until the spring of 2026, but I was still given the wonderful opportunity to go to South Africa through CofC for my Geosciences field experience, and I was looking forward to experiencing the sights and culture on my first international trip throughout the Spring 2023 semester! I specifically chose this country because…
During my studies in Egypt, I have been blessed to be here during the time of Ramadan- which I had previously known nothing about. This year in Egypt, Ramadan started the evening of Wednesday, March 22nd and ended the evening of Thursday, April 20th. During Ramadan, Muslims refrain from eating and drinking (amongst other things) between sunrise and sunset every day. The meal in the evening that breaks…
In March of 2020, my bags stood packed in the hallway, my passport in hand, I was ready for the long flight; however, as it would soon turn out, the flight was not ready for me. With closed borders, my plans changed several more times before finally, the spring of 2022 arrived. Though my original destination, Australia, was no longer an option, with ten days’ notice, I jumped on a…
I made it! I’m finally here! I step off the boat and take in the moment. It is one of those Shoot-I-am-just-so-thankful-moments. It is a WOW moment. A Bigness moment. A life is GOOD moment. All the little logistics leading up to this point no longer matter. In this moment, life is as good as it gets. After weeks of preparation, lectures, excursions, and planning, I have finally arrived at…
While studying abroad, I have discovered the true meaning of adaptability. As my program operates in remote locations and in unpredictable ecosystems, adapting to changing conditions and overcoming obstacles has become an essential life lesson. Whether the roadblocks are physical, social, mental, or emotional, I’ve realized that a) I am not alone, b) that my feelings are valid, and c) the best way to move forward is to adjust my…
