Month: December 2019

Wild Lights at the Columbus Zoo

On November 15, 2019, several scholars programs, including the IA Scholars Program, travelled by bus to the Columbus Zoo. The zoo was decorated in Christmas lights for a festive showcase for all to see. As we all walked the paths around the zoo, we found many beautiful holiday lights and a few animals too!

The zoo is divided by continent. Each section represents a different continent and showcases the animals from that region. The lights were also set up based on the regions of the world. For example, the Asia section of the zoo was filled with beautiful yellow, red, and orange lights and housed a red panda and several elephants. As we strolled around the zoo, we learned more about the animals that live in different parts of the planet. The zoo also includes an aquarium where anything from sting ray to fish to manatees swim.

The zoo is home to animals from around the world, each working together to create one enjoyable place to visit. Each section of the zoo displays a different culture and a different environment. It is important to protect what makes every continent unique from a cultural and historical standpoint. It is also important to protect the animals that make every region special.

I enjoyed getting to see the beautiful holiday lights that lit up the zoo as I met other International Affairs Scholars and learned more about animals that live around the world.

(Social. November 15th, 2019.)

A Thousand Girls Like Me Film

On November 4th, 2019, I adventured to the Wexner Center for the Arts to see A Thousand Girls Like Me. This film, by Sahra Mani, follows a young girl as she fights for her freedom and justice after being sexually assaulted by her father. This inspiring and eye opening documentary is a true story which leaves viewers with a new perspective around the lives on young Afghani women. I met a few other IA Scholars at the event as we all learned more about the issues that women face in Afghanistan.

The documentary follows a young girl along with her child and her mother. The child is a product of sexual assault at the hands of the young girl’s father. This alone was very eye opening to me. In the United States, being sexually assaulted alone is obviously a federal crime, but Afghanistan’s government is not set up this way. The young girl, assaulted by her own father, is forced to live with the consequences while her father can run free. Thankfully though, the young girl worked up a great amount of courage to fight for her justice in an attempt to imprison her father.

With this fight for freedom comes even more consequences, though. The young girl faces hate from every male in her family. Her uncles use violence against the young girl, her mother, and her child as an attempt to keep them quiet. The girl continues to fight on though. Nothing can stop her. This trait that is displayed by the young Afghani girl is truly inspiring. Despite the risks, she continues to fight for social and legal justice against her father.

In the end, the young girl is able to imprison her father but fear the wrath of her now furious uncles. The young girl receives justice but never receives any safety. She is forced to flee the country with her children.

As I said, the documentary was very eye opening. The mere fact that the film contained one-hundred percent real footage made the message so much stronger. Seeing a real family deal with such a tough issue was impactful.

The young girl, who risked her life for justice against her father, is inspirational. She overcame all odds and put her safety at risk just to prove to everyone that such actions are not morally correct despite what many have been raised or brain washed to believe.

Lastly, I believe that it was eye opening to see how hard it must be to live as a woman in many other countries around the world. We take for granted our freedom and our ability to obtain justice as US citizens. Women in other countries face real justice, safety, and health issues that can impact their lives in several different aspects.

I enjoyed learning more about women living in Afghanistan through the use of film. It was very impactful and left a lasting impression on me as a woman.

(Campus. November 4th, 2019.)