CGEE programs encourage thoughtful reflection during and after any study abroad experience. One student recently returned from our Central America semester program, has written a piece on her identity as a Malaysian citizen who came to the US to study as an International Student, then went on to be the only International Student in her study abroad cohort to Central America with a group of US citizens.
Continue reading “Reflections from an International Student in Central America”
Photos from Augsburg College Student, Marquell Moorer, currently abroad at Augsburg’s Global Campus in Mexico.
This is a guest post by James Tan, the parent of a CGEE semester student on our Central America program, Nicole Tan (Colorado College). He was able to visit her in Nicaragua during one of the last remaining weeks on the fall 2015 program.
Challenging, innovative and transformative, this outstanding academic program gives a connective learning immersion across Guatemala, Costa Rica and Nicaragua. As a visiting parent, I observed first hand the diverse aspects; from faculty instruction to field coordinators, student engagement to coursework content, and immersive field exposure gained across the countries.
Individualized language classes start at Guatemala. Continue reading “Reflections of a CGEE Parent”
Katie is a junior at Duke University, currently studying abroad in Central America with CGEE. This is an excerpt from Katie’s blog. Her blog is a great resource for anyone considering study abroad in Central America!
What does flexibility look like traveling in Central America?
It looks like getting used to rescheduling your classes when they’re cancelled due to protests over corruption (Guatemala) or the building of a new canal (Nicaragua).
It looks like knowing your taxi or shuttle might not arrive on time, without letting that stress you out.
It looks like figuring out how to bathe in a little den with a pot of boiling water and two buckets.
It looks like not being scared to ask for directions every once (or twice) in a while.
It looks like being open to making mistakes while learning a new language and understanding that you won’t understand everything. And that’s okay.
…And it looks like realizing that sometimes the best experiences in life are the unplanned experiences.
Augsburg students winning awards for January short term travel are:
Students from other institutions winning awards for January short term travel are:
The next round of applications will be due January 15th, 2016, for short term, customized programs at CGEE permanent sites traveling February – August 2016.
On Saturday, November 7th, Augsburg College celebrated the life and legacy of Lois Swenson, during the unveiling of a memorial gift in her honor.
A wooden, handcrafted bench now stands prominently in the atrium of the first floor in Lindell Library, inscribed with: “Lois Ann Swenson. 1935-2012. Live Simply so that others may simply live.”
Lois Swenson was the very embodiment of CGEE’s philosophy that the purpose of education is to create a more just and sustainable world, and we could not be more grateful to her, and her family and friends’ continued support of our organization and mission.
The event had a great turnout, with multiple speakers honoring Lois, and the unveiling of the new bench! Here are a few photos below:
Thanks to everyone involved with the event. Watch our website soon for more information on Lois Swenson, and all of CGEE’s wonderful donors.
This is a guest post written by Augsburg College student, JD Mechelke, after two months on CGEE Southern Africa program.
My eyes began to open, being disturbed by the slight shaft of light poking past the peaks of the mountains around our two story double decker sleeper bus. We were on the road all night traveling from Bloemfontein to Cape Town. I dug through my backpack and found my phone. It was a little past 5am. As the light behind the mountains grew I began to more accurately assess the highway we were traveling down. Though our bus was massive and the thruway vast, we were at the mercy of the mountains. But moments earlier, my conscience was somewhere else… Continue reading “Guest Blogger: JD Mechelke, Southern Africa October 2015”
This is a guest post written by Augsburg College student, JD Mechelke, after one month on CGEE Southern Africa program.
The view was hard to take in. It was decaying. An endless view of tin, tarp, and cardboard roofs. It was not possible to distinguish between each jury-rigged shack. It wasn’t overtly overwhelming to me. I had encountered the sounds and smells of deep poverty before. The merciless sea that is Alexandria halted drastically as we stopped on a bridge passing over a freeway. When we got to the other side, I realized we weren’t in Alexandria anymore. My eyes bulged as I watched a Lamborghini drive into a mansion. We had entered Sandton, the richest municipality in South Africa. There was an endless contrast between the super rich of Sandton and the extreme poverty of Alexandria, separated by 8 lanes of freeway: now that was overwhelming. Continue reading “Guest Blogger: JD Mechelke, Southern Africa September 2015”
Join ISO (the International Student Organization) for activities around campus during November 16-20 for International Education Week! Here are some of the great activities that will be going on:
In addition to ISO events listed above, the Study Abroad & Study Away in the USA and the office for Latin@ Student Services will be co-hosting a Global & Off Campus Programs info session for DACA and undocumented students interested in off-campus study.
The session will feature experiences of current students who have studied off campus as well as John Keller, executive director of the Immigrant Law Center of MN, who will provide legal advice about the risks and benefits of these programs for students. The session highlights Augsburg’s commitment to offering services and support to DACA & undocumented students. For more information about the session, please contact Dulce Monterrubio at monterru@augsburg.edu or 612-330-1309.
This is a guest post by Alicia Olness, an Augsburg College student that participated in the summer program in Mexico with CGEE, 2015.
Mexico had a lot of great things to offer. Every week we were able to meet with someone new from the community and discuss a topic such as poverty, immigration, or business in Mexico. This allowed me to expand my knowledge about Mexico as well as feel more connected with different kinds of people from the area.
I also loved the three states we were able to visit and the other destinations that CGEE brought us to. Everything we did and everyone I met had a huge impact in my life. Overall I had a great summer studying in Cuernavaca, Mexico and can’t imagine spending my summer any differently.
