For the past 2 weeks or so, I have been studying at Rhodes University in Grahamstown, South Africa, for a Junior year abroad (also known as JYA). Studying abroad has always been something that I have wanted to do, and after a semester’s worth of effort, it is very satisfying living and seeing my work come to fruition!
I started the application process in October, and through the help of a relatively new department called Global Ed. I was able to apply to Rhodes University and come here. Although the department admittedly has a few kinks to work out, the number of different programs and places Wheaton students can go is really wonderful. Although making a decision as to where I wanted to go was rather daunting, I have to admit that it was a challenge that I throughly enjoyed.
So after writing an application essay, running around to get signatures for courses, and of course waiting, I finally got my acceptance letter from Rhodes in mid-November. It was hard saying goodbye to all my friends who I was leaving behind, knowing that I’d be missing out on graduation and Spring weekend, but now that I’m here I realize that I wouldn’t want to be anywhere else!
I have been meeting amazing people and have started to embrace the diverse culture, I don’t think I could have chosen a better place to study abroad! Many things are very different here, so I sometimes find myself taking a step back and thinking things through. South Africans have been extremely friendly and are always willing to answer my questions and explain things. Anyways, I am about to run off to a lecture, there will be more posts to come!

After about 2 weeks of classes, I have to say that the style of learning here is very different than at Wheaton, or even in America for that matter. I have to admit that I definitely appreciate the flexibility that is allowed by liberal arts colleges. Here at Rhodes, once you pick a discipline, you must stick with it until you graduate and to get an undergraduate degree it only takes 3 years. Being a science major with an interest in humanities, I found it very difficult to arrange my schedule as many humanities classes clash with science classes because they expect you to choose one or another. I am happy with the way my courses have worked out though, I am taking an array of subjects that I has really given me a great understanding of South Africa and is nuances. I think my favorite (but most difficult) course thus far is a 3rd year Zoology course on South African Vertebrates. We get to do stuff like dissect different vertebrates and learn about the biogeography of Africa. I am also taking an English class on South African literature which is also great because of all the wonderful books we get to read. Along with those 2 courses, I am also taking an Anatomy & Physiology course to fulfill a requirement, and Art History and Visual Culture.
The classes here are quite large compared to Wheaton. My English class for example is about 70 or 80 people. But the once way they make sure that you’re getting individual attention is by assigning us into small groups that meet once a week called tutorials, or as they say here “Tuts.” So far, I’ve had more lectures and tutorials each week than work to do because of how they divvy up percentages. It is typical for courses to have finals that are worth 80% of your grade!
Anyways, I am thrilled with the courses I am taking and I expect to learn a lot from them. I am very grateful for the opportunity to go abroad because I really feel like I am getting that extra angle to my education that I would never get elsewhere.

I think the reality that I am in South Africa has finally set in when this weekend, my friends and I went on a trip to an elephant park. I mean, only in Africa would I see a giraffe on the side of the road! It was a wonderful trip that was arranged by a local backpacker’s lodge. We drove around the park all day then had a barbeque, or as South Africans would call it, a Braai. We were able to see all sorts of animals, mostly elephants, warthogs, Kudu, and ostriches. The park is home to close to 500 elephants, so we were able to see them very easily as they gathered around watering holes and wandered around in herds. I could have sat in one place and just watched the elephants all day! It was a great time and I look forward to other such opportunities during my stay here.