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

Thu Oct 2 03:40:43 UTC 2014

Yes, any other general tips would still be appreciated by me as well,
especially in regards to international travel as I have not done that
before.

Thanks,

On 10/1/14, Sofia Gallo via nabs-l <nabs-l at nfbnet.org> wrote:
> 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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-- 
Kaiti