Amari Hardy
College of Literature, Science, and Arts
Buffing my resume for future work experience, going abroad for the first time, exploring my interests, and learning more about different cultures and the way they view ecological and environmental issues hands-on was what motivated me to study abroad. I had the fortunate ability do to this due to my standing at the university, so I knew I had to take it regardless of where I ended up.
I’ve never done this before so I can’t say I had certain expectations before going. I left with a completely open mind and returned with new friends, knowledge, connections, and even a career trajectory. I’ve always known the state of the global south as an environment major, and how their developmental circumstances differ entirely from the way the global north functions. This is due to early imperialism and colonialism that altered the way these countries’ economies and political structures are currently evolving. However, I wasn’t privy to how deeply culture was enraptured in everything that makes up one’s livelihood in these countries. It’s amazing to see how people are brought together, how they are drawn apart, and how cultural similarities and differences are tied with how they feel about some issues that we think are black and white as the industrial superpowers. Every person I met was amazingly hard-working, each with their own backstories, ways of living, and views on the world and their country. Whenever someone asks me how my trip went all I can say is “It was really good.” Then when they ask me to elaborate… I can’t truly elucidate exactly how this trip meant everything to me and how truly incredible it was. That special feeling is something in between me and my fellow peers who went through the whole program with me. So, as much as I would love to expound in great detail about my travels, I honestly can’t. But I can tell you I loved every minute of it and would never trade it for anything else. So, if you have the chance to go on an abroad trip, not only do it but also make sure it’s something that you think will help you maybe explore unknown things about yourself or pathways you feel a possibility of moving towards as you go through the career market. Make the most of it and don’t spend the entire time trying to force yourself to get somewhere with your experience. In my opinion, most opportunities will open themselves up to you when you are true, genuine, and authentic.
This scholarship made it possible for me to go abroad in the first place. I could not have gone without complete financial aid coverage because of my personal financial standing, but this scholarship covered my flights, admission fees, and medical expenses. All of these were essential to me being able to leave the States and were the first steps required during the application process.
Every single part of my experience was incredibly eye-opening and rather important to me. I’ve never done anything like this in my entire life so I hold all that I did very close to me. In reference to my identity, I can’t really say it came up much, in any aspect of my trip. All the people I met – locals and staff and program peers – were amazing people who had so much to share and give and lots of kindness to go around. So the only experience I have to share in this regard was during the end of my Cambodia portion of the trip. I, out of all my fellow students, was the only brown POC (person of color) – Black and Hispanic – and that showed in my appearance. I was never treated differently by anyone on the trip, not even the locals until I entered the elevator for one of the hotels I was staying in. In the elevator was a younger woman (around 30), and her very young child (about 2 or 3) in a stroller. When the child saw me, she began to scream and cry and thrash while looking at me. It was because I looked different, that I already knew. The mother in response, looked at me sheepishly, smiling softly and looking frantically at her child while gently shushing the baby. During the process she kept looking back at me, panicking almost as if to say “I am so sorry, I promise I’m not terrified of you.” Eventually, she turned her baby around so she could no longer see me, which made her stop crying. Yet for some reason, the baby would periodically turn around and stare at me some more to resume screaming and then flip back towards her mother when she wanted to stop. This cycle lasted the entire elevator ride and when we came to a stop, the nice lady gestured for me to go out first and we went on about our days. At the time it was a bit of a strange experience, I’ve never had that happen to me and honestly, I found it funny. I still do. However, it is certainly something I think about often. The baby meant no harm, she was curious and had never seen someone like me before. It was scary. I was different. It just made me realize that racism is taught in the way the mother tried to reassure me through our language barrier that she didn’t view me negatively. How could someone from a foreign country who doesn’t often interact with people with my visage have such a different critical understanding than people from my own country? Bigotry breeds prejudice and sometimes people forget that curiosity and unknown experiences are not the grounds for this behavior. It’s not bred, it’s taught.
My advice is to please ask for as much help as you need in terms of before, during, and after your experience abroad. Ask other peers, ask your advisors, ask your program staff. The knowledge of other people is so incredibly important and you never know relationships can form out of advocating for yourself and exploring things for your own interest.
