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THE MICHIGAN FRONTPAGE / Volume 4 – Issue 025 / October 22, 2004 D4 By David C. Butty Cell phones, electronic messaging, video con- ferencing. These afford us the means to commu- nicate with people around the world. Air travel has enabled us to have breakfast in Detroit and settle in for an evening of prime cut New York steak on Florida Avenue in Buenos Aires. Do we understand the heritage, beliefs, lifestyles and traditions, or the social, economic, political and educational background of the people in these faraway places? What do we really know about the person answering our call or at the computer some 3,000 plus miles away? Is it enough so that we do not unintentionally insult them or simply conclude that they are ignorant because they don’t comprehend us? Probably not. Despite the advance in communication tech- nology and our ever-increasing globalization, we continue to be divided by the lack of understand- ing about cultures other than our own, along with barriers created by language differences. We are still worlds apart socially, politically, and cultur- ally. Education is the answer for bridging this gap. This is why the Wayne County Community College District (WCCCD) has taken an educa- tional step to bridge the cultural divide through its Study Abroad Program. “Our students need to understand the current issues and the events that shape world events,” said John Bolden, WCCCD’s vice chancellor for student services. “They need to get an appreciation for other cultures and customs throughout the world, which, I believe, is one of the basics to being a good citizen and scholar.” Bolden’s office, in con- junction with the Office of Public Affairs, coordi- nates the Study Abroad Program. Dr. Curtis L. Ivery, WCCCD chancellor, is pleased. “Studying in another country is a life-changing experience. It gives students a special perspective on the world beyond their own borders,” Ivery said. “There is no better way to learn about anoth- er country’s people, language, history, economy, art and politics than being there and seeing for yourself.” He added that WCCCD students who study abroad are enriched academically and personally and find later that today’s employers look favor- able on those who have broadened their perspec- tive of the world by studying overseas. WCCCD’s Study Abroad Program, though new, has thus given students the rare opportunity to visit two continents, Africa and Australia. The first trip was in 2003, when 19 students spent 11 days in Ghana. The trip to Australia in 2004, allowed 23 students to spent 13 days attending classes at the University of Sydney as well as experiencing the mix of cultures. The richness that these trips added to the lives of those who went is apparent when one listens to them share their experiences. Akawaaba, in the Akan language means “wel- come.” This is how the students were greeted as they arrived at the Kotoka International Airport in Accra, Ghana. For Ruth Opalewski of Dearborn Heights, the trip was a an opportunity of a lifetime. “The trip to Ghana changed my look on the world,” she said. “I now try to go beyond television images from other countries to find the truth.” Students visited the Ghana National Museum, the Kwame Nkrumah Mausoleum and Park, and the Cape Coast Slave Castle. They will always remember the Kakum National Park, which allows one to walk through one of the remaining vestiges of the rainforest of Sub-Saharan Africa. The Canopy walk is not for the weak at heart, and even the brave tend to scream a little prayer as the monkey bridge swings back and forth. The high- est point of the bridge is 123 feet in the air and one can see monkeys swinging in the tree tops while the forest wilds go about their normal busi- ness as if nothing is happening. The students toured the city of Kumasi, the Mahhyia Palace and the National Cultural Center. They were participants in an ancient ritual as they each were given their Ghanaian name by their hosts. As some of the students were returning from Ghana, they spoke of how meaningful it was to have finally made a direction connection their African heritage. For them it was like coming home. Others commented on how disturbing it was to personally encounter the level of poverty in some areas, bringing a deeper appreciation for how fortunate they have been. At the same time, they noted that those who were living poorly exuded dignity, hope and generosity. None of the students who participated in this Study Abroad will ever see themselves or the world in the same way. Anthony Farris, who keeps in touch with those he met on the trip, said, “The friendship will last forever.” Perhaps, April 1 wasn’t the best day for Alma Bradford to tell her husband that she would soon be leaving for Australia to participate in the Study Abroad Program. “He thought it was an April Fool’s joke,” Bradford, a dental hygiene student, said. “He didn’t believe me. I had to tell him I was serious. Then he got excited for me.” Karen Blanchard almost let her single mother status stop her from taking the same trip as she didn’t want to be away from her children for two weeks. They made the decision and told her to pack her bags for what became a “life-altering” experience. “It broadened my opinion of my own life, see- ing how other people live theirs. It made me see how much I lived in my own small world,” said Karen, whose area of study is education. While in Australia, the students explored the social, political, economic, cultural and educa- tional aspects of the country at the University of Sidney, with site visits to the Federal Capital of Canberra. Rhonda Collier, a student in the Information Technology Program, did not fall in love with Australia’s technology, but with the old style of architectural designs. “The attraction of the city of Sydney is the design of the buildings, restau- rants and shops.” She continued, “My insight on how different cultures communicate in their day-to-day lives has increased my yearning to learn about other countries. To share in and understand the diver- sity of cultures and the multiculturalism of 200 countries here is overwhelming. Their languages, religions and education enrich this great coun- try.” Collier also hopes the trip helped erase false American stereotypes. “There’s more than one interpretation of how we do things here,” she said. “It’s all in the perception and changing it. I wish a lot of people would experience what I expe- rienced. It was indescribable.” Personal benefits of studying abroad • It offers an enriching and an eye-opening adventure. • Learning can extend to the world beyond the traditional classroom walls. • There is no substitute for living and studying in a foreign country if you want to gain first-hand experience of another culture’s customs, people and language. • Students often see it as an experience, which matured them personally and intellectually. • They praise being exposed to new ways of thinking and living, which encourages growth and independence. • They broaden their intellectual horizons and deepen their knowledge and understanding of international, political, and economic issues. • It is almost certain that most return from their sojourn abroad with a more informed perspective on world affairs. • They gain first-hand knowledge of how anoth- er culture approaches the tasks and challenges of everyday life. • They have a sense of how global the interna- tional culture has become, and an appreciation of the importance of international cooperation. • They gain a broader understanding of, and appreciation for, life in the U.S. and perhaps, how others view it and its world role. Career enhancement • Study abroad does more than promote aca- demic enrichment and personal growth. It also can enhance one’s employment prospects, espe- cially in the fields of business, international affairs and government service • Employers increasingly seek employees who have a sense of the world outside their own boundaries. • They know that students who have completed the program are likely to possess international awareness and often second language skills. David C. Butty is executive director of public affairs for the Wayne County Community College District. Study abroad: The world awaits you THE STUDENTS VISITED the W.E.B. (William Edward Brughardt) Dubois Center in Accra, Ghana. The center’s curator led them on a tour to highlight some of the achievement of one of the founders of Pan Afrricanism. Shown here is the grave site of Dubois. AVA RIAL (left) and Fateama Carr help local women in the village of Bonwire to pound dye at the Adinkra kente cloth process- ing factory. A CULTURAL DANCE troupe performed dur- ing a naming ceremony in Accra. TERRI BROADEN proudly displayed her certificate that makes her Ghanaian name official. WCCCD STUDENTS took a picture with a monk at the Chua Phuoc Hue Buddhist Monastery in Wetherill Park, in New South Wales. STUDENTS LISTENED closely as Dr. Melissa Butcher discussed elements that make up a country’s culture, such as education, food, clothing, language, religion, etc. THIS GROUP PHOTO of WCCCD students in Australia was taken from the rooftop of the Australian Parliament building in Canberra, the federal capital.In the foreground is the Australian War Memorial. Louis Beehag, project assistant from the Inside Australia Program,is third from left, front row. ON THEIR FIRST DAY of class, WCCCD students took turns introducing themselves and talking about their disciplines of study.
