Introducing Myself (March 22, 2009)
Greetings! I’m Shivaani and I’m looking forward to staffing this trip to Cameroon and sharing some of my experiences with documenting oral histories with the students on this trip. I will also be a cheerleader for this blog so that our friends and families can see and hear about what we’re getting to experience so far away.I love to travel and believe that nothing replaces what you can experience and see with your own eyes. This will be a life changing experience for everyone and I’m glad to take part in it.
I’ve done some pretty interesting work over the years involving media and communications technology. I’m currently working with Dr. Agbaw at Bloomsburg University and getting my Masters in Instructional Technology. My last project was going to Kenya for an international human rights conference where I pulled together a media team to teach blogging and film interviews with leaders of anti-poverty organizations around the world. It was amazing and also my first time in Africa.
Kathe (March 27, 2009)
My name is Kathe Scott (my first name is actually pronounced like kada…there’s an umlaut over the a). I currently live in Wellsboro with my boyfriend, Chad, and his two kids. I am in my senior year at Mansfield U. I grew up in northern New Hampshire. After high school I enlisted in the army Military Police Corps and served for five years. During my time in the military I spent two years in Korea and one year in Iraq. By the end of that, I was ready to get out and start working on my degree. I’m majoring in Sociology/Anthropology with a possible minor in French. I love to travel and I think that there is no better way to truly understand the human species. It is amazing to me to go to new countries and to be able to observe the parallels with my own culture while finding out new and exciting things about the foreign culture and my own. I also look forward to trying out some of my French. This trip for me is once in a lifetime, as I’m sure it is for many of you too. I am ecstatic to be going and really looking forward to meeting the rest of the group!
A little bit about me (March 30, 2009)
Hey there!
My name is Ashley, and I’m from Mansfield University. I am a sophomore nursing major with a minor in Spanish.I am taking a year off and studying abroad in Spain for the fall semester 2009 and working at a hospital near home for the spring. I will then go back to Mansfield and finish my last two years to receive my degree.
I have never been out of the country before. Eventually I want to travel and work as a nurse, ultimately helping in clinics in third world countries. This trip is important to me because it will give me a chance to see how I will deal with extreme diversity. I also love new things, new people, warm weather, and being outside.
Africa is also the one place I just have to go to, and this trip is the perfect opportunity to begin my traveling experiences. I am very excited to leave in May and can’t wait to meet everyone!
A lil about Sharnay (April 2, 2009)
My name is Sharnay Hearn. I am a 20 year old junior attending Slippery Rock University majoring in Social Work. Most important thing I believe everyone should know about me is that I am a child of God. I attended an African- centered elementary school which gave me a love and appreciation for Africa like no other, so from a very young age I always had a desire and passion to visit Africa. I always knew someone who was coming and going back and forth but I couldn’t go along because things were becoming unsafe. So I told myself whenever i would get another opportunity to go, I was going to take it. I am very excited about this trip and as time goes on I am also becoming very nervous because I don’t know what to expect; It’s a whole month!
Deanna Sharell Handy (April 4, 2009)Greetings All!!! My name is Deanna Handy, and I am a Junior English major and Ethnic Studies minor. I am excited about this opportunity because I know it only comes once in a lifetime. I highly anticipate all of the adventures we come acrooss, people we will meet, and class we will be successful in! I am esctatic about this experience, and looking foward to gaining more insight to myself and having memories that last a lifetime.
About me (April 7, 2009)
About me (April 7, 2009)Hello all!
I’m Chelsea Boser, I’m a senior at Indiana University of Pennsylvania. I’m majoring in Economics and minoring in Pan-African Studies. I had the opportunity to go to Ghana last summer through James Madison University and had the time of my life! When I found out about this trip to Cameroon through Bloomsburg University, I had to take the opportunity and go to Africa again. I’m looking forward to getting to know a great group of people and experiencing another life changing event! I can’t wait!
Siobhan (April 9, 2009)
Hey
I am a junior/senior @ Bloom. I am an English creative writing major, and legal studies minor. I am most looking forward to how i will see “my world” when i return from Africa, i suspect it will be through new eyes, huh? I liked what somone said at the orientation: “you can’t know your own country until you’ve been to two others.” I dont’t think Canada counts for that equation (no offense), so with that, bring on Cameroon and Ethiopia! Personal goal = what does it mean to be American? Sigh, besides the philosophical ideals, i most especially am excited for the Real… and whats real is that that i, we, are going to have FUN!
Can’t wait to get to know you.
Introducing Shaneka *The Queen* (April 10, 2009)
Peace
I am a senior at West Chester University. My major is Social work with a minor in African American studies and or Ethnic Studies. I am heavily involved on campus. This is my second year as the President of The Black Student Union. I love to be creative. This means some clothes may be different and crazy. I love music and love to sing. I believe that hard work will allow me to achieve my highest dreams of success. I love people and learning. I am also really excited to go to AFRICA!!!!!!!!!! I truly believe in my African roots and having an opportunity to go home will be truly life changing event. I have had one opportunity to go to Cancun Mexico and it was beautiful. I enjoyed the scenery and the culture. I love to travel and I plan to continue to do so.
Dan Kroszner (April 18, 2009)
Hi how’s it going, my name is Dan I’m finishing my junior year at West Chester as a History major. I was a little late getting started with the program but now I think I got everything together. I am really excited to just get on the plane and know we are going to be in Africa. I’ve taken some classes on the history of Africa and I am pretty excited about going.
Dr. Gene M Gordon (May 2, 2009)
Hi all,
One of the points I often try to make, when discussing the issues that obtain between Americans and peoples from other countries, is that we do not travel abroad enough. Failure to visit others, to learn other languages, to participate in divergent cultures leaves us crippled in developing relationships with our global neighbors.
It is with enthusiasm therefore, that I anticipate experiences in Cameroon, often referred to as “Africa in Miniature”, and Addis Ababa, the capital city of Ethiopia and the seat of the secretariat of the African Union. This East coast West coast excursion will be my first, though long awaited, trip to the continent. Thoughts of remembering the horn of slavery, how could one avoid such when in Africa, colonialism, and liberation movements abound.
I look forward to developing unique relationships with all members of this travel group as we learn and grow together in knowledge, in tolerance, and in understanding. As a teacher for sufficient years to be awarded with retirement, I offer my accumulated sense of life for your use, and as a pastor I offer, to the extent you may wish it, opportunities for spiritual reflection and contemplation as we spend a month together away from our usual homes. Laissez-nous aller!
