Study Abroad: South Africa

In the summer of 2014, I took off across the country to South Africa to take part in a nutrition study abroad fellowship. While most students were excited for the safaris and the beaches, I was excited to meet new people and to dive into the culture. South Africa was a beautiful country both in landscape and culture. While visiting in a post-apartheid state now with blended cultures, I was able to learn about the political history of South Africa and how it became free within my lifetime. While abroad, we visited various townships, clinics, and nutrition-related organizations that strived to improve the health of the community. We worked with them to come up with additional ways to engage their specific demographics and got to work alongside some children. Despite our nutrition focus, we got to tour the country through various other activities such as visits to the Cape of Good Hope, wineries, art stores, beaches, safaris, and more. I got to face my fear of the ocean and sharks by shark cage diving in Gaansbai. I learned that my passions of food and photography were two of the easiest ways to connect with both new cultures and new people. I've used the lessons learned abroad throughout my life and nutrition journey since this trip. This adventure furthered my passion for helping others and developed a hunger for international travel.