[nabs-l] Studying abroad: tips and tricks.

Wed Oct 1 13:12:14 UTC 2014

Hi

Does anyone have any other tips? I'm planning a 6 week trip. My school
is being very accommodated but any advise would be appreciated.

Sofia

On 9/29/14, Arielle Silverman via nabs-l <nabs-l at nfbnet.org> wrote:
> Hi Kaiti,
> I have not been to the West Indies; however, I went on a ten-day
> college trip to Israel, which as you probably know, can be dangerous
> at times. Our group was heavily staffed and I experienced no problems.
> I have also been to Romania and Hungary and encountered some
> over-helpful people but nobody whose attitudes about blindness caused
> me problems. Have fun!
> Arielle
>
> On 9/29/14, Carly Mihalakis via nabs-l <nabs-l at nfbnet.org> wrote:
>> Good morning, Kaiti,
>>
>> You lucky duck, you!
>>
>> I don't think for all the reasons you stated that you will have
>> problems being hurt, or robbed. your experience in Jamaica will be
>> memerable and it is not for those reasons.
>>
>> A few years ago, I met this Jamaican guy in downtown Denver and fell
>> in love with patois. Unfortunately, I lost track of Edwin, but at the
>> Denver main library I checked out all this print material which I
>> scanned, and read, myself. Yes, Christianaty is definitely a
>> structural presence of a Jamaican identity and, being that it is so
>> structural, unlike ornamental Christians you might find here, I don't
>> think you'll encounter too much of the things you named about
>> previous experience with Christians. But then, you might be intrigued
>> by presences of Mama Afrika you might see within culture, and
>> tradition, if not to say spirituality?
>> Personally, something that has always intrigued me is how
>> Christianity as well as other influences are blended with old Afrikan
>> presences to form West Indian culture. You might wanna read about the
>> history of the Jamaican experience to better place your own
>> experiences and other findings into a certain context? Personally, I
>> really get off on knowing a historical context, and how my findings
>> of a group is influenced by history, and culture.
>>
>> I would love to be treated via a 2nd hand, of your Jamaican
>> experiences! would love to hear of how blind people are regarded
>> within such a society. Will you write to me if you find time/resources?
>> call: 408-209-3239
>> for today, Car 9/28/2014, Kaiti Shelton via nabs-l wrote:
>>>Hi all,
>>>
>>>I have applied for a ten-day study abroad service project to take
>>>place in June of 2015.  If selected to be a part of this program, I
>>>will travel to Boston Bay Jamaica and use my music therapy training to
>>>work with special needs school children, patients at an infirmary on
>>>the geriatric and psychiatric wards, and in a homeless shelter.  It
>>>would be a great experience for me, both personally and
>>>professionally.
>>>
>>>I'm trying not to be too optimistic, but I think I have a fair shot of
>>>getting in.  The interview portion of my application process went
>>>really well, and I've met all other requirements.  I've already
>>>discussed accessibility for the course materials and things like
>>>safety with the program's director, and he seems more than willing to
>>>accommodate with electronic materials and some extra orientation if I
>>>need it when I'm at the site.  He told me that all that is left is for
>>>my professor to give her approval, and she's already told me that she
>>>thinks this would be great for me and that I have her support.  So,
>>>all signs look pretty good.  I'm keeping my fingers crossed that
>>>everything panns out as expected.
>>>
>>>I am now curious as to how others on this list have studied abroad.  I
>>>realize my situation is a little different because it's short term and
>>>experiential rather than class work, but there are still aspects of
>>>the experience I am wondering about.  For example, how did you raise
>>>the funds to go if that was an issue for you?  How were you received
>>>in the airport of the country you visitted?  What was it like in the
>>>country you visitted when locals saw you/talked to you?
>>>
>>>I have limitted travel experience.  My first plane ride was to the
>>>2012 National Convention, and although I navigated both airports like
>>>a champ and had no problems, I've never had to deal with customs or a
>>>foreign airport before.  I also can't find anything about how
>>>Jamaicans view people with disabilities.  I know that Jamaica is a
>>>very religious country, and that Christianity is the prominent
>>>religion, but I've had people from various sects of Christianity do
>>>everything from claiming I was blind because some demon punished me or
>>>my mother, and others who just acknowledged it for what it was-a
>>>genetic or physical thing without religious affiliation, and that's
>>>just in the U.S.  In my research I've also learned about the crime in
>>>Jamaica, and am a little worried about being an easy target.  The
>>>program I would be a part of is very well-staffed, and I would never
>>>be out of the enclosed living area without a staff member to chaperone
>>>me.  The program also has a 100% track record in ten years for
>>>students returning home unharmed and with all their belongings, and
>>>the program's director told me that we'll be in a pretty safe area
>>>since we'll be in the countryside with local farmers and fishermen who
>>>know what the students are doing and don't want to bite the hands that
>>>feed them persay, rather than by the resorts where tourists are taken
>>>advantage of frequently.  Nevertheless, I want to do everything I can
>>>to ensure that I am safe if I end up going abroad.  I want to remember
>>>the trip for the good things and the learning, not for getting hurt or
>>>losing something valuable.  What extra measures would you experienced
>>>study abroad students advise I take if selected to go?  Any
>>>suggestions are welcome, especially if anyone has done study abroad or
>>>service work in the West Indies before.
>>>
>>>--
>>>Kaiti
>>>
>>>_______________________________________________
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>>
>>
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