Layla Khalid

Canadian Parliament Internship

My STEP Signature Project was a five week internship in an office of a Member of the Canadian Parliament, Joyce Murray, in Ottawa, Ontario.I did a variety of tasks including answering constituency mail, filming and editing videos, writing speeches, managing social media accounts, researching issues that are important to my Member’s riding, conducting tours of Parliament, and many other office tasks. I also attended Question Period, committee meetings, and receptions where I was able to meet and network with Members of the Canadian Parliament and other government officials.

This internship taught me many skills and changed my understanding of Canadian and American politics. I saw the way America operated from an outsider’s perspective and it taught me to think more holistically. This program taught me to compare different government styles and not be too quick to dismiss other methods that are different than what I am used to.

I have also learned a lot about the culture and history of Canada that I did not know before. Canada’s multicultural values really inspired me and showed me how a country can effectively embrace diversity in a welcoming way.  Working in the government also taught me how to work with and respect people who have different viewpoints and political affiliations than I do. I really hope to take these values back to America and use them in my day to day life.

The biggest contribution that led to my transformation were the people I met and the friendships I formed over the past five weeks. I became very close with my office and it was very insightful to talk with my coworkers about their lives growing up in Canada and their experience in politics. I was also very inspired that there were so many diverse people in politics. I had the privilege of meeting and speaking to The Honorable Ahmed Hussen who is the Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship. He is a refugee from Somalia and is also Muslim. As an aspiring immigration lawyer, it was so inspiring to see a fellow Muslim and refugee working as a Minister in the Canadian government and hearing about all the incredible change he is making in the world. I also met Canadian Senator Mobina Jaffer, who is the first Muslim senator, the first African born Senator, and the first senator of South Asian descent. I had the privilege to speak with her one-on-one and she gave me a lot of valuable advice about being a Muslim women in politics. She is also an immigration lawyer and spoke to me about law school and my aspirations. Speaking to these educated, yet humble people who have successfully become impactful in politics really inspired me and motivated me to make a difference.

It was also inspiring to see many women in politics. I interned for MP Joyce Murray, who is the Parliamentary Secretary to the Treasury Board. She has been in politics for many years and I learned so much about being a woman in politics by working for her. I am really grateful that I was able to learn from such a wise and experienced Member of Parliament. I also attended an event where I met Helen Clark, who is the former Prime Minister of New Zealand. She was the Prime Minister when I lived in New Zealand so this was very special to me and she shared her experience in being a Prime Minister and working in the United Nations.

During my internship, I also met and spoke to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, Speaker of the House of Commons Geoff Regan, NDP leader Jagmeet Singh, and US Ambassador to Canada Kelly Craft. Each interaction and conversation I had during my internship contributed to my transformation and growth through the past five weeks.

This transformation is very valuable to both my academic and professional goals. I never thought that working in government was a career that I would consider, but this internship changed my mind. It taught me there are many different paths and careers I can take with a Political Science degree. It also taught me that I can pursue many different careers with a law degree and it does not have to be a straight path. I spoke to many politicians, foreign service officers, and professionals from many different careers. These interactions helped me broaden my horizons and think about my future differently. This internship also provided me many skills that will be valuable for law school and any career I choose in the future. It taught me how to think critically, solve problems, and be organized. It also taught me time management, leadership, and networking skills that will be valuable in my academic, personal, and professional life

I am so grateful that I was given this once in a lifetime opportunity to experience Canadian politics from a hands-on experience. I cannot wait to visit Ottawa again. Overall, my STEP Signature Project has given me many skills, values, and experiences that I hope to take on with me for the rest of my life.

During the months of May and June I participated in the Canadian Parliament Internship Program as my STEP Signature Project. The time I spent in Canada taught me a vast amount about myself, professionally and personally, developed writing skills that will help me communicate in an efficient manner, became exposed to a foreign governments function, and observed the nuances that make it different than the United States, as well as a broad idea of the day to day life of a public official

While working in the office of MP Bryan May, I came across a newfound confidence that I did not obtain prior to the internship. Going into my project, I was often timid and reserved in expressing my political views. After a few weeks, MP May’s office truly helped me break out of my shell and exert my ideologies with confidence. This particularly helped me develop professionally; however, simultaneously it helped foster confidence in my personal life. This, in turn, contributed towards adjusting my writing style in a manner that was clear, concise, and confident.

Observing a foreign government put me in the situation in which I could no longer wholeheartedly believe the United States government was the most efficient across the globe. Prior to departing to Canada, I held the conception that the United States had the most fluid and efficient form of government. After experiencing Canada’s Parliamentary system, I came to realize that I held a form of tunnel vision solely by being American. Once departing home, my mindset has changed in which I believe the United States has a multitude of ground to make up if they want to be as efficient as a Parliamentary system.

I primarily found confidence in my views through daily office discourse. Communicating with others in an open, accepting discourse on a daily basis. Aside from work-related projects, my colleagues and I would discuss current topics of both the United States and Canada. Coincidentally, this also gave me insight into the feelings Canadian’s have towards American politics.

Once I got the hang of articulating my personal ideologies verbally, I was able to apply this confidence in my writing. When I would write to constituents, it would be in a concise and respectful manner that clearly demonstrated the views of MP May and our office. Not only was I tasked with writing correspondence, but I was also given the opportunity to draft speeches which MP May would deliver on the floor of the House of Commons and at community events. Exposure to such tasks only bolstered my confidence in my writing and pushed me to achieve a greater sense of responsibility in the office. Acquiring skills such as these were helpful in Canada, but they will also contribute towards my growth academically and professionally.

One of the most impactful situations I was put into in Canada was being able to visit MP May’s congressional district. Being able to witness the way he carried himself and represented his constituents both at home and on Parliament Hill gave me true insight into the role of a politician. During events in Cambridge, he took the time to get out in the community and hear concerns directly from the people he represented. These concerns were then reciprocated in his day-to-day work on the hill. I have worked in offices before in which I would respond to constituent concerns via email, but witnessing it first-hand provided a picture of what democracy truly is.

Particularly, I have noticed that my writing style has progressed significantly since I have returned from Canada. Under the supervision of an incredibly intelligent staff, I was able to acquire a toolkit of skills that I will be able to use both throughout the remainder of both my academic and professional careers. Among these skills range from extensive planning prior to writing to elaborating in detail on ideas that may seem minute but serve a greater purpose.

Given that I aspire a career in public service, being exposed to situations such as this helped provide me an understanding of the roles and responsibilities I would be tasked with. I was truly amazed by the way MP May served as a delegate to his community and I am beyond grateful to have learned from a leader like him. Understanding the way he ran his office and conducted his duties will serve as a framework that I will follow in my personal endeavors.
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My STEP Signature Project involved studying Modern Greek Language at the University of Athens in Athens, Greece. The course I took and life I lived was a complete cultural immersion into the Greek way of life.

The largest change I noticed was my view on the world. After being immersed in such a new and foreign culture, I couldn’t not view our way of life in the United States with a different lense. A drastically different lense. After existing in a society that is far more relaxed than the United States, the transition back to this hustle and bustle is quite difficult. Something small, yet so indicative of our cultural differences that I noticed in Athens is that people go on walks (in Greek, a “volta”) just to see their city and exist with other Athenians. They just take a stroll, strike up a conversation with a complete stranger if they feel like it, and just interact with their surroundings (I observed this occurrence frequently from my daily post at a coffee shop right in the heart of Monastiraki). I cannot remember the last time I, or anyone I know has done the same. Even in a country that is doing extremely poorly economically, people still seem to love their lives, and appreciate the small things: the sky on a cloudless day, the heat of the sun when you first walk outside, and drinking coffee with friends (by far the most common activity I noticed). The poverty that I witnessed also helped to shape my worldview in an incredible way.

My view of the world changed as a result of the poor and poverty (in specific locations) that I witnessed. Never in my life had I seen refugees, and so many homeless people. Due to the economic crisis in Greece, and the influx of refugees (the result of the EU sending them to Greece), I saw things I have never seen before. Individuals, mutilated, with extreme burns, growths, missing limbs, just lying on the side of the street. The first time my eyes fell upon one of these individuals I was in shock. How are people that clearly are in need of assistance just abandoned in the gutter? I was informed that there simply is not enough money to help the people in these situations. I was and still am very deeply saddened by the fate of these individuals, and I hope Greece can fix its many economical problems to help those in such dire need.

One day in class, to highlight the Greek spirit and hope (I think), my professor asked the class whether or not we noticed that there is an economic crisis in Greece. An American classmate and I answered yes, citing the poor, poverty, and refugees we saw in the streets downtown. We were unaccustomed (thankfully) to these cites, having grown up and spent most of our time in the United States of America. However, most of my classmates said that no, they did not notice that Greece is in an economic crisis. I was incredulous that people didn’t notice. Didn’t they see the refugees? The blatant poverty of certain areas? The individuals outside certain metro stops begging for change? Before I continue, I must note that all of my classmates save for me, one other American and a Canadian girl were from Ukraine, Russia, France, Brazil, and Bulgaria. I asked my classmates why they didn’t notice. One of my classmates from Ukraine (his name sounds like Roman, but I haven’t a clue how to spell it) said that simply, people were still smiling. I asked him what he meant, and he told me that he was a refugee. The “Russian military intervention in Ukraine” had uprooted his entire family. They had to leave their village  (in the Donbass region of Ukraine) because war had broken out. Never before had i met someone (close to my own age) who had seen war or violence in his own country, let alone in his own village. I was absolutely shocked. As a result of these experiences, I have grown to appreciate my life in The United States of America far more than I ever have before.

The last interaction that has caused my world view to shift has to do with the question my professor posed. She asked the class whether or not we noticed that Greece is in an economic crisis. Having grown up and been spoiled (for lack of a better term) in the U.S., many things I saw as a result of the economic crisis in Greece were completely new to me. However, listening to stories from my classmates and professor, I realized the remarkable spirit present in Greeks. Their economy is in shambles, the unemployment rate is extremely high, and yet, people try their best to live happy lives and appreciate anything and everything they can. They try to not let the extremely unfortunate economic situation they are in destroy their happiness. As a result of this interaction, I try to look at the positive aspects of things when I am faced with an adverse situation. In addition, I try to appreciate the good things I have, because I know that these things could be taken away from me in an instant and there are plenty of people on this Earth who are more appreciative of far less.

This change is not simply significant, it is monumental. I believe that I am a significantly more appreciative and optimistic person as a direct result of my STEP Signature Project. I believe this matters because optimism and appreciation are good qualities to have, and I feel as though I was lacking in them (a bit) prior to my Signature Project. In addition, as someone who wants to pursue a career in the medical field, I believe that optimism and appreciation (even for the small things) is paramount. Now, I wake up everyday and actually think about all the luxuries that we take for granted in our day-to-day lives. In addition, I am extremely thankful and appreciative that I have never had the misfortune to witness war with my own two eyes, as I think about what my classmate said quite frequently. Lastly, I am extremely appreciative for the STEP Program for allowing me to have the experience that I did.

             I used the funds I was granted from my STEP Signature Project to study abroad in Barcelona, Spain for one month through the International Study Abroad program (ISA). I took two classes while abroad, one which counted towards my Spanish minor (Spanish Art and Architecture) and one which fulfilled a History GE credit (Contemporary Spanish History).

            Throughout my month in Spain, my eyes were opened to a different way of life from that of the United States. I was able to experience a city that was somehow a bustling metropolis while feeling like a more relaxed atmosphere than Columbus. I had to learn how to be more mindful and was able to see how the cultural differences forced me to slow down and appreciate things. Spaniards don’t take their coffee to go, they sit at a café and drink it slowly while having a conversation with friends or family. They eat smaller meals more often, and always do so in a relaxed setting that gives them time to decompress and talk to people around them. They walk almost everywhere, unless they’re taking the metro or riding a motorcycle, and despite the busy city feel, there is no hurried or rushed sensation like those permeating New York and Chicago. As a person who is almost constantly rushing to get somewhere or do something, I was forced to slow down in Spain and to appreciate the amazing architecture, people, and food surrounding me. I have never felt more in touch with myself or a place as I felt there.

            My transition to a calmer disposition and a focus on mindfulness was brought about mainly through observation of the city life and the desire to not be seen as a tourist by locals. After the first week of living in Barcelona and assuming I could live my life the same way I do at Ohio State (hurrying from one thing to the next, always thinking about what’s ahead of me), I realized that this state of mind caused me to stand apart and kept me from fully appreciating the amazing opportunity I’d been given.

            Observing my host mom, the local students at my university, and the people I would see every day while walking around the city allowed me to realize how different Barcelona was from any environment I had already been accustomed to. Throughout the first week, whenever I would come home in a mad rush, my host mom would consistently be a force of calm and would cause me to see that my hyperactivity was definitely going against the norm. Similarly, the forces associated with being immersed in an atmosphere that radiates a more relaxed lifestyle began to permeate my mind. Whether I was on the metro, walking to class, going to a café, or even going on a run, the people around me all seemed to be moving at a slower pace.

            The local students as well were helpful to observe. Our classes were set up so that we had four hours of class time separated by a thirty minute break, during which we would go outside and sit down at a café, order something, and chat with our classmates. By watching the students at our university that were locals, and seeing how they used their time to sit and relax as opposed to studying, etc., we followed suit and were able to better enjoy each other’s company and companionship.

             This transformation in the way I look at my life and how I go about completing tasks will allow me to live more in the moment and be more mindful while on campus this coming year. I have realized that I am happier and less stressed when I simply focus on being as opposed to what’s coming next in my day or week. By being present in every moment and enjoying them to the fullest I believe that I will be able to live a happier, more fulfilled life.

Here is a brief description of my STEP project. I participated in a class that educated us about the culture, economy, and issues in Tanzania  today, as well as some project background info and history. Then, when the class concluded, we went to Tanzania partnered with students from the university of Dodoma (in Tanzania) to continue an ongoing project to bring clean water to local rural villages – most notably Marwa, our base of operations. The trip lasted from May 9^th thru the 31^st and the last few days we went on a safari.

Now that my project is explained, it’s still hard to believe my abroad  experience is over. However, the lasting memories will stick with me forever. With these memories comes a richer understanding of international development, personal growth, lasting friends, professional career insight, and a general sense of where my academic career is going as the second half of my Ohio State career swiftly approaches.

Stepping into another country and culture was a fabulous learning experience. Amongst this learning experience was the growth of my understanding of international development, and with this personal change as well. Through our class beforehand, I understood on a basic level the nuances of international development, especially in rural Tanzania, but experiencing it firsthand was rather enlightening.  One thing that stood out to me most was the difference, much like it is back here in the States, between the rural villages such as Marwa, Njakitai, etc., and the cities, such as Moshi, or even Same. The lack of a true “suburbs” was also interesting, as it is something I’ve never really considered before. On paper, it would seem baffling why areas like Marwa are lacking in certain aspects while a city with “proper” amenities in Same rests only a few miles away. Only by visiting would you understand – the people just have a different way of life, and development, as I’ve learned, must be from “bottom up” instead of the other way around. Culture is a very powerful tool, and can also act as a blockade to positive change, if enough people are bought in. For example, many people in Njakitai( a local village), according to the water testing team, believed boiling water would cause it to not be able to hydrate you, as that’s what the elder in the village believed.  It is little things like this that seem laughable at face value but are true in the end.

These experiences led me to great personal change. I can definitively say I am on a better track than what I was before I embarked on this journey. Other than the experiences discussed earlier, I developed new positive habits that I have integrated into my life back at homem such as journaling and waking up earlier. On a bigger scale, I built lasting friendships with some of the best colleagues I could have asked for. One thing that surprised me most was the relationships I developed with our UDOM (Univerity of Dodoma) partners. Their intellectual ability matched ours and their English was top notch, neither of which  I honestly was  expecting (which sounds stereotypical), but I was guilty of it. I had some fun times with our partners.  I also had some deep conversations with a few of our friends from UDOM – ranging from politics, religious beliefs, and life in general. Our differences in upbringing definitely showed through these conversations – For instance, one conversation I remember in particular was with a UDOM student about socialism – as in, I was arguing against it vehemently, while my counterpart was trying to convince me of the greed and vile he saw in a capitalistic society. These are the kinds of conversations that I have come to appreciate, as long as its scholarly, because it ends up benefiting both parties involved. I had a few more conversations like this on different subjects with our UDOM students, and the insight brought forth by them is something that I greatly appreciate.

One of the big things that has come from this is my grater appreciation for what I have. Sure, I felt at home in the comfort of the great staff at the Elephant Motel, but little the little extra nuances of everyday life in Tanzania really stood out to me. Whether it was hand washing laundry, low water pressure in the shower, constant worry about mosquitos and sunburn, etc, I have come to appreciate my life back at home much more. In fact, after reading that you’ll probably think I’m a princess, or a typical rich white kid, but it’s true. It’s the little things like these, and the realization that I am better off from many people who call Tanzania their home that makes me a little more humble. It truly has made me a better person.

I have always believed that the best teacher is firsthand experience, and lately I have been pushing myself to try new things, take greater risks, and reap rewards that my younger self would’ve thought impossible. This trip was a direct product of this mentality. This is concrete proof that the changes I (am still trying) to instill in my life are working – and therefore, on this reason alone, this trip was worth it. But it ended up being much more than that. The list of positives is endless – experiencing a new culture, lifelong friends, lasting memories, and a new desire to travel – are among the highlights of those.  Most importantly, I feel that my sense of direction and purpose, which I have found a year ago, if that makes any sense, has been refined. I now feel that I will close the second half of my Ohio state career with a bang, something that last year I would have scoffed at. I now feel that travel should be a part of that future.

In all, I cannot express how grateful I am to have been a part of this journey and extend my thanks to all who made it possible. The experience I had and the transformations that have resulted in my life have infinite monetary value. It matters even more to me now because of the connections I made with the locals, our partners, and my classmates – these are real people, and in fact share some of the same struggles we do in their everyday lives . The residents welcomed us with open arms – there was not a care in the world for skin color, gender, or any other social category we put ourselves in. It was quite humbling, and there are many instances where our own people could strive to be more like this. This abroad trip will be a lasting memory that will forever impact my life.

Here a few pictures from my time in Tanzania. For a comprehensive gallery, my group created a Google picture gallery comprising of all our pictures!

Name: Ashley Rajavadee
Type of Project: Study Abroad / Internship
My STEP signature project was an internship with the Canadian Parliament in Ottawa, Ontario. I worked directly under a Member of Parliament on government duties and learned about the inner workings of the Canadian government.

My world view has definitely expanded as a result of this experience. I had never been to Ottawa before this internship, so living in this city independently gave me many experiences I had never experienced before. I didn’t realize how diverse Canada was and how it has many differences from the United States. Living in a city in general has brought out more of my own personality and understanding of myself. I love being in a STEM major but I also have a deep passion for public health.

Studying and working directly under a Member of Parliament gave me an incredible amount of experience in government work and specifically public health. My office was involved with the Health Committee, and because I am in the STEM field rather than political science, I found this incredibly interesting. Typically I saw healthcare from a scientific point of view. Through interacting with my office and Parliament Hill, I learned that healthcare depends almost solely on the decisions of politicians and industry.

After talking with my office mates and getting to know them over five weeks, I realized that political science is a very diverse field of study and there are many careers within government, no matter the country.  Even though the United States and Canada have many differences in their government systems, there are still many people working in it to ensure the stability of the country.

The experiences that affected me the most during the duration of my stay in Canada were the interactions I had with politicians. It amazed me how accessible they were to the average citizen. I was able to meet one of my role models at a government reception, and I even met the leader of my office’s political  party at a casual afternoon gathering. This made me realize that the people in these careers are real people and that someone like me could pursue a career like theirs.

This change in my views has opened up my mind to more opportunities to go after in my career and academic future. Though I am still planning on staying in the STEM field, I recognize the significance that the political scene has on health in the country. I am open to careers in public health or industry and believe that these paths were not fully recognized by me until I completed this internship. I have realized that I limited my career choices to a very small number prior to this internship, but now I can see how I am able to blend my love for healthcare with my passion for politics into a career perfect for me. 

For my STEP signature project, I participated in a study abroad trip to Rwanda to learn about the 1994 Genocide, and how the country rebuilt itself after this devastating event. During our travels, fourteen other Ohio State students and myself traveled all throughout Rwanda to better understand it’s history, why the genocide occurred, and how to promote peace building in the future.

I have been a traveler for as long as I can remember, however my travels never took me outside of the western world. I was honestly a bit scared to travel to a country so different from my own. While there were some aspects of life in Rwanda that took some getting used to, like showering with buckets and mosquito nets, I quickly fell in-love with the country. The experience took me out of my comfort zone, and changed my perception of the world and its people. As an individual, I realized what a comfortable life I live in America, and I became grateful for all the opportunities and simple luxuries that I had once taken for granted. During my stay in Rwanda, I learned more than I would’ve thought possible about the world, the country, and myself.

All that I learned throughout this trip that ultimate changed the way I view and think about the world can be attributed to many things. A major contributor to me, were the many stories my classmates and I were told. We had guest speakers from survivors, perpetrators, and rescuers of the genocide, as well as university students who are the future of Rwanda. Many Rwandans who experienced the genocide still experience extreme trauma, so it was an amazing opportunity that the speakers were willing to share their story with us. The fact that we were in a country of survivors that have experienced mass trauma over the past twenty-four years, made this event very real for me. It’s easy to distance yourself from the world’s ongoing problems and atrocities, but being in Rwanda helped me realize that I need to be aware of what is occurring in the world, and to not let myself become desensitized to these problems and events.

When I was sixteen, I had the opportunity to go to Germany and live with a homestay for a month. This experience truly helped me learn about the German culture, and I was lucky enough to have the same experience in Rwanda. Each OSU student including myself lived with a Rwandan family for the duration of a week. I found this to be an essential part of the trip, and it helped me deeply understand Rwandan home life and culture. Compared to Germany, Rwanda had many more differences compared to America. A few examples include, hand washing clothes, house boys/girls in the homes, and bucket showers. There were also small differences between Rwandan and American life like later meal times, the availability of African Tea at all times (I might add this is the best tea I’ve ever had), and many music video channels on the TV. I think it’s important to immerse yourself in other cultures, even if it seems scary at first. This may be the best way to understand the world and people, because while studying a country through books is useful, studying through immersion is what truly leads to complete understanding of a society.

As my class learned more and more about the 1994 Genocide, it was easy to lose faith in humanity, and almost impossible to really believe this happened so recently. However, what gave me hope was seeing how Rwanda has moved forward to rebuild itself over the past twenty-four years. One would expect a lot of retaliation and revenge after the genocide, but the new government promoted peacebuilding and reconciliation. The fact that Rwanda was able to move forward despite having deep trauma gives me hope for the future of other countries, and that there may be peace one day in war torn countries. Rwanda has taught me and the world a lot about how to move forward as a country.  Because I major in International Relations and Middle East Studies, this was important for me learn and witness.

Before this trip, I didn’t really know what I wanted to do after my undergraduate career, but now I realize I would like to further my education and eventually teach university students about places like Rwanda, and hopefully pass on my knowledge of the country and peacebuilding to fgenerations. I don’t believe I would be so passionate about this decision to teach without my experience in Rwanda. As far as my upcoming academic plans, I would like to go back to Rwanda next summer and conduct undergraduate research. While I now know so much about this country, there is still an abundance information I seek to learn and discover, and I’m fortunate that this trip has inspired me to do so.

Please provide a brief description of your STEP Signature Project.

For my STEP Signature Project, I studied abroad in Valparaíso, Chile for five weeks. I also took two classes at a local university, which counted toward my Spanish major back here at OSU. Outside of class, I spent time with my host family and locals.

What about your understanding of yourself, your assumptions, or your view of the world changed/transformed while completing your STEP Signature Project?

Before traveling to Chile, I thought I had a firm hold on communicating in Spanish. I had never traveled outside the country, but I had a few Hispanic friends to whom I spoke regularly in Spanish, so I left for my project confident that interacting with people would be easy. I even studied the language for six years prior.

But those six years felt like six days. I remember texting my friend back in the states: “They speak so different here; I feel like I’ve never taken a Spanish class in my life.” Luckily, I picked up quickly. I also learned to distinguish between knowledge from the classroom and knowledge from experience. I used to think that college alone would carry me to success in the real world, that off-campus experiences were just résumé boosters. Now, it’s clear that my education—and anyone’s education—requires an equal balance of textbooks and practice.

What events, interactions, relationships, or activities during your STEP Signature Project led to the change/transformation that you discussed in #2, and how did those affect you?

The first week of my program was spent in Santiago, the capital of Chile. About 40 other students from the States comprised the group I was in. Don’t get me wrong, I made some great friends, but no one seemed to want to speak in Spanish. After all, that was the reason we all spent $8,000+ to be there.

Thus so, I got caught on the bandwagon and was dragged through a week of English that left scrapes on my tongue and bruises on my accent. I went to the grocery store in Santiago to pick up soap, deodorant and a toothbrush. While shopping, I spoke to no one. But the man at the cash register made me realize for the first time that I was not as good at Spanish as I thought I was. My purchases totaled to 8,000 pesos, about $12 USD. I, however, struggled so much to understand this simple information that I asked him to repeat what he was saying three times until he finally just pointed at the screen.

Yet it didn’t stop there. I misread the money and handed him four twenty-thousand bills instead of four two-thousands; 80,000 pesos, or $124, was a lot for three small bathroom amenities. Luckily for me, he laughed, only took one and gave me the correct change.

I was embarrassed that I could produce ten pages, in Spanish, of literary analysis of classical Spanish literature for a class back at OSU, but I couldn’t produce the correct cash at a grocery store. The experience forced me to realize where I actually was in terms of language skills. And it also gave me a more real appreciation for international students at OSU and for immigrants in the USA.

Why is this change/transformation significant or valuable for your life?

This experience raised my expectations about what it means to learn a language. And it raised my respect for those who do. It also revealed an entire half of my education that I was missing: real-world experience. Now I am actively seeking off-campus opportunities to enhance my career prospects and my general knowledge. I am thankful to STEP for granting me the resources that I needed to venture out of the country and out of my comfort zone.

A day at the beach

My host family

My STEP signature project was a six-week study abroad program in Lima, Peru that focused on Public Health. I took two classes at the Universidad Cayetano Heredia, which included field visits to various parts of the city. I was also able to explore all regions of Peru through weekend excursions.

My experience abroad taught me about comparisons. Peru is a different type of lifestyle. Things are more relaxed, time is less urgent, and the people don’t take life so seriously. This isn’t for everyone though, and it can be easy to become frustrated when people show up late to meetings or don’t make patient confidentiality a priority. For me, I just accepted that some things work for a country and don’t need to be “fixed”. I acknowledged that things are different there than the U.S., but didn’t declare one way as superior.

I went on a tour of a hospital and noticed how behind healthcare is in Peru. The lack of staff, equipment, and regulations make the environment much more stressful. Wait times are outrageous. People bring their own supplies and blood donors. Patients’ records are stored on paper, prone to all types of damage. They know they should change to become more efficient, but they are focusing on doing it in their own way and on their own timeline. One of the American students I was with kept pointing out how different things are and how we do things in the U.S., and I couldn’t help but think about how unimportant and not helpful those comparisons were to everyone. We already knew that the U.S. is more advanced than most, but we have more resources and a different government that influence our healthcare. I learned to find the differences and accept them without judging a country for their different, yet efficient, ways of doing things.

One emotional part of my experience was the passing of my host mom. I didn’t really know what to expect from my homestay when I first arrived to see my 68-year-old host mom. How much should I expect her to do for me? She wasn’t married, didn’t have any kids of her own, but did have a long list of students she had hosted. She knew so much about the challenges we were facing that she could anticipate what we needed before we did. She showed us how to exchange money, call a taxi, find our school, and order at restaurants. She put on Peruvian gameshows or telenovelas during our meals together, so we could practice our listening skills. She made sure to get to know me and my two housemates by asking us questions about our lives at home. When I first got there, I realized I forgot a brush. I asked her where I could buy one, and she immediately gave me an extra one of hers. This lady was really making my experience unforgettable, but then disaster unfolded during the beginning of week 4.

Austry, my host mom, was feeling nauseous one morning, so her brother took her to the clinic. She was still there when we got home from class and exploring the city for a little, which was 12 hours later. I texted her to make sure everything was fine, and she responded right away, trying to ease our worries and apologizing for not being home to heat us up our dinner. I thought that the clinic must have just been backed up due to lack of staff and supplies, but I realize now she was probably admitted for the day because of her state. When she got home that night, I answered the door to her younger brother who kindly introduced himself. Meanwhile, Austry sat motionless in the car with a distant look in her eyes, quite the opposite of her usual greeting of “Hola chica”, said with a smile. Her brother didn’t seem worried though, so I just went to my room and figured she needed rest. The next morning, I woke up to a new housekeeper and my roommate knocking on my door. The housekeeper asked “Is this normal for Austry?” in Spanish. I immediately ran to her room to discover her motionless, speechless, and moaning in pain. I woke my other roommate up, and we tried to read her address book to find the contact of her brother or old housekeeper, whose son was kidnapped, which caused her to take a leave of absence. The next 30 minutes felt like one of the telenovelas we had watched with Austry. People coming and going and calling nonstop- neighbors, relatives, housekeepers, friends, and the neighborhood police who ended up taking her to the clinic in the back of their truck. The whole day I felt lethargic. I laid in bed, knowing Austry would be upset that we weren’t exploring the city she was so excited to share with us, but it just didn’t feel important anymore. That night we heard she was in a diabetic coma. Very few people knew she had diabetes, which shocked everyone.

That weekend, I went to the Amazon Rainforest, but on Saturday my roommates and I received a text from our program director informing us that our suitcases were moved to a different house. I think we all knew what that meant, but we pretended to be oblivious to the situation. The next day, our dread was confirmed, and we were told that Austry had a brain hemorrhage and did not survive. When we came back from our excursion, we were introduced to a new host family. They seemed nice, but it wasn’t Austry. The living, laundry, meal, and family situations were so different, and I felt defeated. It would take some time getting used to this new place, and by week 5, I didn’t want to feel like a stranger to this country I previously felt comfortable in. The next couple days, I woke up confused, wishing I could talk to Austry.

Our resident director kept saying how sorry she was this had to happen to us and how she never heard of this happening in the history of the program. I was annoyed that this had to happen to me. Then, I decided to focus on being grateful. Grateful I had an opportunity to live in the country of my dreams. Grateful to have explored destinations on my bucket list, including Machu Picchu and a desert oasis. Grateful to have formed friendships with American students from all over the United States. Grateful to have been welcomed by two different homestays. Grateful to have become a “regular” at a Peruvian café, where the baristas knew me and my order. Grateful to celebrate soccer wins and eat fresh fish with Peruvian students. Grateful to my boss in Illinois for allowing me to take off half a summer to study in a foreign country. I tried to imagine how other people would have been able to handle this situation, and I realized how adaptable I was. By week 5, I was used to things working a little differently abroad. Things didn’t always go as planned, and I could handle that, especially when I had no power to change the situation. If this happened week 1, I don’t know how long it would have taken me to get over my circumstances, but as time went on, it was much easier to put a positive spin on any situation and to focus on what I can do for the future.

My experience abroad taught me about what kind of person I want to be throughout my life. Through my experiences, I saw how different people handle stressful situations. These situations show a person’s true character, and I want mine to exude positivity, adaptability, and genuineness. The characteristics align with my values that I have always tried to carry with me, and it is important to know how I can express my values through my personality because it will make me a better friend, coworker, sister, etc. Academically, I saw how important it is to be passionate about your interests. I went to Peru wanting to become fluent in Spanish, but I didn’t realize how difficult it would be. So much concentration and active listening was required to have even a basic conversation. I wanted to not waste my time, so I took advantage of any opportunity to better my speech- talking to locals, listening to Spanish music, seeing movies in Spanish. When week 4 came, I was forced to talk to all of my host mom’s friends and family about her health, and it finally seemed to flow out of my mouth. Being able to communicate in a language that wasn’t “mine” made me feel so empowered and like I could finally start telling people that I speak Spanish. This experience confirmed my plan of continuing my Spanish education and career goal of working in a foreign country.