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Southern Africa Fall 2016: Week 2 Reflections

Posted on October 19, 2016

This is an excerpt from the student-assigned blog for our Southern Africa semester, which can be found on the website “blog spot” at: cgenamibia.blogspot.com.

Week Two: The Unseen Colors of the Rainbow Nation

by Imani Briscoe, St. Joseph’s University & Kitty McGirr, Univ. of California, San Diego

… it is very intriguing that, even with the acknowledged importance of the history of South Africa’s “Rainbow Nation”, discussions surrounding the indigenous people and colonization of what is now known as Cape Town rarely occur. Most of what we find in the American education history books regarding the changes Cape Town has gone through seems to focus on the racial issues of blacks and whites. Continue reading “Southern Africa Fall 2016: Week 2 Reflections” →

Nicaragua Security Update

Posted on October 19, 2016February 17, 2017

This post was written by Mark Lester, Regional Director of Central America, office located in Nicaragua. This is in response to the US State Department’s Travel Alert dated June 29, 2016 for Nicaragua, which has since been taken down after the warning expired.

Within a seven-day period in June, the Nicaraguan government expelled 3 US officials, and 6 foreigners. The first of the three US officials was Evan Ellis, a researcher professor of Latin American Studies for the Strategic Studies Institute of the US Army War College, whose research focus is the canal. He apparently had notified the Nicaraguan government of his visit, and arrived on a diplomatic passport on the same flight as a couple of other US officials on diplomatic passports, But these latter two worked for US Customs, and had arranged their visit with Nicaraguan private enterprise. They were arriving to do a regular inspection of cargo being sent to the US to facilitate the security review required post-Sept 11. Continue reading “Nicaragua Security Update” →

A Note of Thanks

Posted on October 6, 2016January 10, 2019

The Central America team would like to share with you a recent letter they received from an alumni of the program, Rachel, from Fordham University. This is an excerpt from Rachel’s thank you letter. Bolded emphasis ours.

I just wanted to write this email to say thank you. It’s been about nine months since we left Nicaragua and I’ve now had ample time to reflect on my experience there. Since then, I’ve also studied abroad in South Africa on a program run through my university. This immediate jump to a semester in an entirely different context took some adjustment, but ultimately enabled me to place both experiences in unique contexts and explore the different ways study abroad programs can be run.

Now that I’m home and I’ve had time to reflect, I can say wholeheartedly that CGEE in Central America was the defining experience of my undergrad time and the most impressive program I’ve been on. I’m thoroughly convinced that this program lives up to its ideals and mission statements in so many different areas, ranging from support for the students to careful interaction with all the communities it touches. I have been on several other study abroad programs, in Europe, China, and South Africa, and nowhere else have I felt so supported and also so encouraged to step outside my comfort zone and open myself to opportunities and challenges that could forever change my perspective. Continue reading “A Note of Thanks” →

Southern Africa Fall 2016: Week 1 Reflections

Posted on October 3, 2016October 6, 2016

This is an excerpt from the student-assigned blog for our Southern Africa semester, which can be found here.

Week One: Reflections on the Motherland

by Chiara White-Mink, Clark University & Anne-Claire Merkle-Scotland, Clark University

Apartheid ended 22 years ago when the first democratic elections were held in 1994, the same year I was born. For a nation that experienced so much horror in throughout apartheid these elections marked a new era of possibility and prosperity. That hope was shared throughout the world, when the message of a newly united nation travelled half-way across the world to the classrooms and schools I attended. However as residents and students in the United States, we should be well aware that change, especially social change, may take years and even generations to truly happen. Therefore, we were exposed to the realities of post-apartheid South Africa and the continuously growing economic challenges and disparities faced by South Africans, particularly the black citizens still facing severe effects from Apartheid.

Continue reading “Southern Africa Fall 2016: Week 1 Reflections” →

Celebrating Pride in Mexico

Posted on August 31, 2016January 10, 2019

CGEE-Mexico joins LGBT Pride Parade in Cuernavaca on August 27. Photos courtesy of Ann Lutterman-Aguilar.

two people pose together wearing rainbow gear — Antonio poses with one of our regular guest speakers, Licha Arines

two people wear rainbow gear holding leashes with small dogs — Enjoying the parade, with Ann’s Dogs!

crowd looks up at stage — Stage at Pride

people march in parade holding signs — Church supports Pride

group marches in parade holding signs — Lesbians, bisexuals, trans Group

young woman holds dog while wearing rainbow gear — Enjoying the parade

people in parade wear formal gowns — Wedding Gowns

a truck drives in the parade with people riding in the back — Cuernavaca Pride

two people kiss in a parade under a rainbow umbrella — At pride with recently married couples

Mexico City Orientation Week

Posted on August 29, 2016January 6, 2020

Welcome to Mexico, CGEE Fall 2016 students!

CGEE-Mexico students spend part of orientation for fall semester in Mexico City. They loved their visit to the important cultural-religious site of the Basílica de la Virgen de Guadalupe.

Basilicas in Mexico City — Modern Basilica in front of older ones.

Students learn at mural — Students learn about Mexican history from Armando Lopez at Diego Rivera mural in Cuernavaca

CGEE Campus Visits

Posted on August 11, 2016October 16, 2024

Want to meet in person with a CGEE representative? A mix of faculty, staff, and program consultants will be all across the US this September, October, and November!

To schedule a visit with a traveler, please email Lucy Hardaker (hardaker@augsburg.edu).

Who, Where, When (listed alphabetically by US state):

Continue reading “CGEE Campus Visits” →

Photos: Mexico volcano excursion!

Posted on June 28, 2016January 10, 2019

Here are some photos from the summer program’s recent excursion to the Nevado de Toluca, or Xinantécatl. An extinct volcano that is located in the State of Mexico, southeast of the city of Toluca. The Nevado de Toluca is approximately 4,600 meters above sea level. There is a crater in the volcano which contains lakes (Lake of the Moon and Lake of the Sun). The students were able to go down to these lakes. Although at one point it started hailing, the students really enjoyed the excursion! Two of our host families also came along and had a fun time climbing the Nevado.

Thanks to new IRA Amber Ramirez for the photos and description!

Nevado de toluca, Volcano, Mexico — Students pose during the hike