Reedies Abroad: Tales from Beyond the Bubble

Ema Chomsky (she/her) - ES-History junior - SFS Kenya - Southern Kenya

What did you study/do?

I learned enough Kiswahili to speak like a six-year old! Helped slaughter and skin a goat, learned some Kimaasai, made friends with the nearby neighbors and the staff at camp, and made friends with my classmates. It was place-based learning, since we were studying conservation approaches, techniques, and history of Kenya, in particular the region we were in (Kajiado County, near Kilimanjaro and the border with Tanzania). We made documentaries about Human-Wildlife Conflict, conducted interviews in the areas neighboring national parks, visited national parks (Amboseli, Tsavo-Chyulu, Serengeti, Ngorongoro), participated in the Kenya Wildlife Service's annual total animal count in Amboseli National Park, [and] did an overnight homestay with a Maasai family. The directed research project I contributed to evaluated the efficacy of community based conservation at the Kimana Sanctuary – the first community-based sanctuary in Kenya, which belongs to the Group Ranch where we lived. We interviewed people in the area, wrote a big paper, and presented [it] to the community and the NGO that manages the sanctuary.

We also did a community service day where we went to the school in the town; we’d had a focus group before and did activities with the kids. My team led a story-making session where each kid wrote and illustrated a story. Lots of greedy hyenas and escaping goats.

Why did you decide to go abroad?

Because I could. Having lived always in Latin America, being in the U.S.A. is already abroad for me, and the culture can sometimes get under my skin in a debilitating way. I needed some escape and SFS gave me the opportunity to continue my studies in a different cultural setting, which was refreshing and healing.

How has studying abroad played into your Reed experience?

My Reed experience is only a part of my life experience, SFS Kenya plays into my life experience more than it plays into a Reed experience. It was wonderful. I am extremely grateful for the time I spent there, all I learned, and the connections I made.

Do you have a cool tidbit (place, person, story, project)?

Daniel lived down the road from our camp. He would come over to play soccer with us often. A few of us went to church with him one day. That day his mother led the prayers; the pastor didn't show up. These weren't just any prayers. We sang and danced for hours, asante Mungu, Wewe Bwana ni Wewe, Tembea tembea, Hakuna mungu kama wewe. We were mostly women and children in the church, each member took turns to come up front and lead us all in song. It was strengthening and inspiring.

Gabri LaFratta (she/her) - English junior - University of Edinburgh - Edinburgh, Scotland

What did you do/study?

I studied Chaucer's Canterbury Tales and Scottish fiction. Being able to study Scottish fiction while in Edinburgh was such a cool experience because I was getting to walk around the physical space that the books I was reading were set in. It also meant that I got to learn a lot about Scottish history. I was also able to take a portraiture art class for fun, and it was great having time to practice drawing.

Why did you decide to go abroad?

Studying abroad was always something that I really wanted to do in college because I thought it would be a fantastic opportunity to take classes at another school and see other parts of the world. It was amazing to be able to meet and make friends with people from all over the world. I also saw it as an opportunity to take a break from the Reed bubble and experience what it's like to go to another university.

How do you feel the experience has played into your Reed experience?

Studying abroad gave me the chance to take classes that I would not be able to take at Reed, and read books that aren't normally included in the English classes at Reed. It also made me more thankful for the rigorous learning experience that Reed has given me because it made it so that I was confident and felt prepared when going into my classes at the University of Edinburgh.

Do you have a cool tidbit (place, person, story, project)?

The University of Edinburgh has an International and Exchange Student Society that arranges trips to the Highlands and other parts of Scotland. I was able to go hiking at the Isle of Skye, take a boat across Loch Lomond, tour a bunch of castles, and visit St. Andrews all through this student group and made a bunch of lovely friends as well.

What else do you want to share?

This study abroad experience was amazing, and I think Reed should encourage its students to study abroad more. The professors definitely have a tendency to discourage students to study abroad, but my advice is to ignore them because you can definitely study abroad and still graduate on time.

Ella Rook (she/her) - Psychology sophomore - University of Edinburgh - Edinburgh, Scotland

What did you study/do?

I took some history, philosophy, political science, and anthropology classes to complete my allied field. I am also involved in the Marxist Society (a club), and the staff-student solidarity network, which is currently working on supporting striking staff.

Why did you decide to go abroad?

I really wanted to experience a school that's the opposite of Reed. Edinburgh is massive and quite impersonal, but it can also offer many more courses and has unique clubs, which Reed doesn't have the student body numbers to support.

How has studying abroad played into your Reed experience?

It has made me realize how much I do like Reed. I miss knowing professors by name, and I miss conferences where I'm engaged with my learning. Edinburgh is all about exams and just passing the class so you can move on and graduate. I appreciate even more now how much Reed emphasizes the learning process. Edinburgh is such a traditional, and frankly, boring learning experience, that I am excited to be a part of a radical learning community again.

Do you have a cool tidbit (place, person, story, project)?

I want to talk about the staff strikes that are happening [Edinburgh]. For some background, you can look at the University and College Union website, but it's basically about the terrible working conditions, pay, and pensions that staff [in Edinburgh] have. There were two weeks of strikes Nov-Dec. last semester, and we are about to enter three more weeks of strikes on the upcoming Monday [Feb. 24]. When I first heard about the strikes, I was mainly concerned with how it would affect my studies, but working with the union and other students to support our striking staff has been the highlight of my experience so far. I helped found a group called the Staff-Student Solidarity Network which has, and will, help by standing on picket lines with staff, taking hot drinks and snacks to picket lines, organizing venues for staff to give "teach-outs,'' which are like lectures on the picket lines or in cafes, bookstores, etc. about topics staff are passionate about and usually relating to radical ideas.

Most significantly, we occupied a 14-story tower in the center of campus for nearly two weeks in support of the strikes. The tower had classrooms and offices in it, so we disrupted those. Additionally, it acted as a hub for staff to spend time in, when they weren't on picket lines. We were able to hold events like teach-outs and organize direct actions such as banner drops, interrupting a BBC radio show, and blocking access to the finance offices for a day all from the central location. We also were able to model the type of society that we want to live in, a direct democracy, anti-capitalist, non-hierarchical, and radical space. Being a part of something that mattered and connected people was quite possibly the best thing I've done in my life.