Fellow Stories
True gap year stories from Fellows abroad!
Check out the latest blogs from Global Citizen Year Fellows in Brazil, Ecuador, and India!
Category
Class Year
Country
My Voice
Josh Hamilton
2011-05-03
“Silence is freedom’s greatest enemy” so today I stand up for freedom and let my voice be heard despite certain fears inside of judgment or misinterpretation/misunderstanding of what falls from my lips. I am just simply speaking out because my voice counts. Here in Senegal there are certain restrictions on who decides what and assigned...
Read MoreSenegal in Syllables
Naomi Wright
2011-05-03
Over the past months, I’ve occasionally jotted down little haikus in my journal. Perhaps you’ll get a different perspective on my life in Senegal from these mental musings. I have drunk friendship, Brown-olive, thick with sweetness, From a glass teacup ————————————————– Sneezing and smiles: The same in every language. Ah-choo! Ah-choo! Eeeee! ————————————————– Beans make...
Read MoreFresh Prince of Pointe Serene
Josh Hamilton
2011-05-02
Aujourd’hui, je dois dire suma dek bi dafa rafete. (Today I must say that where I live is beautiful!) The day I arrived at my home stay in Point Serene it was not quite, alright not at all what I expected or anticipated: Pointe Serene can be characterized by long walks on the beach enjoying...
Read MoreThe Girl at The Glass
Tess Langan
2011-05-02
After living here for six months, however, I no longer find myself comparing life in America to life in Senegal...Instead, I find myself comparing Tess American to Tess Senegalese.
Read MoreThe Donkey Hunt
Josh Hamilton
2011-04-26
On a relatively warm Sunday morning which is usually the day for rest here in Senegal, I was unpleasantly awaken by my host brother François; who asked me to accompany him in a search for the family donkey. At first I thought of it as a part of the humorous Senegalese culture, but shortly after...
Read MoreThe Family Impact
Peter Saudek
2011-04-25
Almost four months ago I moved in with my current host family after having to change from the first family I was originally placed with. The switch was a result of a series of miscommunications and some complex issues that escalated over the two months spent with the first family. During the transition from one...
Read MoreLost and Found
Clara Sekowski
2011-04-25
Since my sister warmed up to me several months ago, I’ve noticed some changes. My host-mother always used to act apologetic for the existence of Ndeye Fama, and it embarrassed me. She would say that Ndeye Fama is ugly, and crazy, and stupid as she swept the floor in front of her. It made me...
Read MoreToubaab, Redeemed
Clara Sekowski
2011-04-25
My second day in Ross-Bethio, I tagged along on a USAID mosquito net distribution project. Towards the end of our rounds, we sat under a canopy of a house on the border of the village, speaking to the village chief. I was completely exhausted and dehydrated and couldn’t drink any of the water they offered...
Read MoreThe Tip of the Iceberg
Michael Stivers
2011-04-25
I have about a week left in Brazil. But instead of talking about all the feelings pounding on my chest, demanding that they be shot up my esophagus, out from my mouth and conveyed, I will talk about one. I came to Brazil wanting to teach. Whatever I would be doing in this country I...
Read MoreA Responsible Night In Peace
Emily Hess
2011-04-25
Looking back on some of the first nights in my homestay, I remember seeing the two-year old of the family sleeping on a mattress in the living room without a mosquito net. There was a mosquito net, but it was tied up above the bed of my parents in the other room. For the most...
Read MoreTaking it to the Streets – Malaria No More
Amanda Brinegar
2011-04-25
GCY fellows walked 11 kilometers on Sunday April 16th with Malaria No More to raise awareness about the curable and preventable disease that kills 1 child every 45 seconds. Malaria No More has the goal to halt and reverse all incidences of malaria in Africa by 2015. [slidepress gallery=’malaria-no-more’]
Read MoreMalaria, Know More
Naomi Wright
2011-04-25
During some of my first weeks in Senegal, when I was living in Dakar, my four-year-old host sister didn’t come down for breakfast one morning. In response to my worried inquiries, her mother shrugged and nonchalantly indicated that the girl was sick, “Elle est malade, c’est le paludisme.” Malaria. I was shocked. Though I was...
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