South Africa has been recognized as one of the top tweeting countries, worldwide! According to a
study, there are twice as many tweets as there are people in the country during the last 3 months. That's a lot of tweeting, twittering, tweeping, or whatever you choose to call it. The study, called “How Africa Tweets,” was conducted by two companies — Kenya-based Portland Communications and Britain-based Tweetminster.
If you're planning on studying in South Africa with Interstudy, start paying attention to the world of Twitter to see what's going on in country. Follow Interstudy at
@interstudysa and also search
#southafrica.
Labels: social media, South Africa, twitter
It has been about a month since I first arrived in Botswana, but wow, this place already feels like home. There is so much to say about this colorful culture and its vibrant people but I think what is most eye opening is the inviting nature of so many of the people here. In the short time I've been here I feel like I have already seen so much; so many people are more than happy to take you around to experience the night life, tell you about their village, have you and your friends over for dinner... and everyday is something new.
Of the places I've been so far, the one that sticks out most is Kgale hill. It is a giant, green hill with hiking trails and giant rocks to climb. While hiking you can see baboons, exotic birds, incredible trees, etc. A few friends and I hiked to the top not too long ago and were able to get a fantastic view of the city of Gaborone, and some of rural Botswana and South Africa. There were some notable local attractions too, like the Mokolodi reserve where we saw a cheetah, a giraffe, and some other animals. It's hard to think about how much more of this country there is left to explore!
None of this comes without its challenges, however. There have been some student protests so some classes had to be cancelled, and also it is very important to keep your guard up; some people will try to take advantage of you. In the end though these challenges have been great teachers and really let you appreciate the kindness and hospitality of most of the locals you meet.
Labels: botswana, Gaborone, University of Botswana
The past four postings, if you didn't notice already, were from our Spring 2012 Student Bloggers! We're excited to welcome this new crew of Student Bloggers to contribute to our blog this semester, and look forward to watching how their study abroad semester unfold.
Stay tuned for monthly updates from our bloggers over the course of this semester!
Announcing our Spring 2012 Bloggers:
Sarah Lindsay, from Tufts University, studying at the University of Cape Town
Chris Harris, from Rider University, studying at the University of Botswana
Emily Coyle, from the University of Michigan, studying at Trinity College Dublin
Kendall Pruitt, from Augsburg College, studying at Queen Mary, University of London
Happy writing!
Labels: student blogger, student news
Sitting at my desk at Tufts almost 8,000 miles away from the city where I will spend five months of my life, it’s easy to think of studying abroad as being permanently in the somewhat distant future. However, the rational part of my brain knows that soon I will be leaving behind the school and the people that I have loved for two and a half years, and while I will be making new memories with people I haven’t met yet, life will go on without me at Tufts.
Luckily I also know that it will be worth it. While I’m trying not to form too many expectations about my semester abroad, I somehow consistently find myself eagerly reading other students’ blogs, or Google-mapping random streets in Cape Town and trying to imagine myself walking down the bustling sidewalks. I can’t wait to see the country that is home to such international inspirations as Nelson Mandela and Desmond Tutu, the country whose people formed a wave of activism so powerful it was able to overturn one of the most profoundly oppressive racist regimes of the 20th century. I can’t wait to learn about South Africa from the perspective of someone living there, to hike the Table Mountains, see the sun set on the African coast, experience the diversity of UCT, and fully immerse myself in the culture of the city I have been daydreaming about for months.
Labels: Cape Town, Sarah, student blogger, uct
London,
UK is revered as the global city and is known for its abundant amount of
immigration. This is one of the main aspects that drew me to the city for my
study abroad experience. I hope to be able to indulge myself within the many
cultures that London embodies and force myself to let go of the Americanized
perception: We Are the Greatest Nation. Giving in on this selfish idea and
being exposed to a different idea, like growing and maturing in a place that is
constantly changing.
With London being on the brink of the 2012 Olympics, the
change will be even more rapid. This constant change will be an opportunity for
me to see (with my own eyes) the positive and negative affects of this event
being held here, and hear the thoughts of the people. I’m sure I will have the
basic mental challenges that any study abroad student endured while they were
away from home. Other challenges like adjusting to a new social culture along
with all of the other sub-cultures will be an interesting and humbling
challenge as well. Still I look forward to all of these adversities. When it’s
all said and done, I hope to gain knowledge, and gain the ability to adapt while
staying true to myself.
Labels: Fun, Kendall, london, olympics, United Kingdom
I can honestly say that I haven’t anticipated anything in
the past as enthusiastically as I’m anticipating studying in Botswana, Africa next semester at the University of Botswana with Interstudy. At this point I can’t be completely sure what
to expect, other than the unexpected. It
is this aspect of next semester that I hope will change my life and bring a new
perspective.
I hope that
by studying in Botswana
I can open my eyes and my mind to a new culture in such a way that it can
broaden my perspective and the way I view the world. Living in the United States is great, but the
media and other social constructs are largely responsible for the way I think
about people and my environment. I am
hoping that all of that will change after I assimilate into a new culture and I
can see my life and values from a new lens.
My mother, an artist, always said
that sometimes an artist would have to back away from their painting and look
at it from a new angle. Once this is
done, they have seen it from multiple perspectives and can make their work
better than they could have before. That
is the perspective I’m hoping to gain from this experience. I also expect that this experience will come
with new challenges. Things like the
climate, the traditions, the food, the people… they will all be starkly
different from what I’m used to. But as
in all obstacles, I’m sure that these challenges will doubly serve as
opportunities to learn about the world and embrace a new, vibrant culture, and
in the end, I am faithful that I will be a more open minded individual.
Labels: botswana, Chris Harris, Gaborone, University of Botswana
As my departure date for Dublin draws near, I find myself spending more time thinking about the experience and what I wish to gain from it. Traveling to a foreign country, I know I maintain the traditional goals of experiencing a different culture, meeting new friends, and gaining a unique perspective; however, I also would like to set higher expectations for myself. Coming from a small town in Pennsylvania and then attending the University of Michigan where I self-admittedly have stuck to my comfort zones, I hope to push my boundaries and work to understand how those in a different country live, learn, and think. I wish to immerse myself in the Irish culture and learn directly from the mouths of the Irish how they go about and experience life.
As an American in a foreign land, I must remember to be respectful and abide by their society’s conventions, never wishing to offend those who I am trying to learn from. Though we are from different countries and cultures, I am confident I will be able to relate to these new people and introduce them to new ideas while they do the same for me. I know this journey I’m about to embark on will be rich in experiences, and I hope to push myself to extract the most from it as possible.
Labels: dublin, Emily
South Africa has been recognized as one of the top tweeting countries, worldwide! According to a study, there are twice as many tweets as there are people in the country during the last 3 months. That's a lot of tweeting, twittering, tweeping, or whatever you choose to call it. The study, called “How Africa Tweets,” was conducted by two companies — Kenya-based Portland Communications and Britain-based Tweetminster.
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