Christopher Tounsel, African Studies Program Director, recently spoke with Donalda Brantley about her study abroad experience last summer as part of the inaugural cohort of students on the JSIS/UW-Bothell Leadership and Nation Building in Rwanda – Sports Development, Global Health, Ecotourism and Human Rights program. Brantley also received ASP support for her study abroad, including the Nelson Mandela and Graca Machel Fellowship Fund and the Ottenberg-Winans Fellowship.
This interview has been edited for length and clarity.
What motivated you to participate in a Study Abroad program?
Growing up, traveling was not accessible to me because I come from a low-income household with one working father and a stay-at-home mom of six kids. There was no room, time, or money to travel. The furthest I had been away from my hometown of Spokane was on an educational trip to Washington, DC sponsored by my school’s Black Student Union as a senior in high school.
I knew traveling was something I always wanted to do—it was just out of reach for me at the time. I saw opportunities to study abroad and thought that people like me would never be able to go. These trips were not meant for me. Eventually the stories and videos I saw of study abroad opportunities got to me. I searched through UW’s study abroad website and I saw an opportunity to study in Rwanda. My high school history teacher, Jamie Oleson, made me fall in love with history and taught me the stories of Rwanda. This opportunity stuck out to me: a chance to go to Africa and be in a place related to my interests and culture.
How has studying abroad changed your perspective on the world?
Growing up in a low-income Native and Black family and being in a diverse school district, I understood differences in culture. I came into this study abroad with the appreciation of other people’s perspective and left with a desire to expand my own perspective and knowledge on culture. Specifically, the program held a lot of significance for me in learning more in depth about their history and culture. In a world perspective, since we were immersed into the African Leadership University, we got to experience so many cultures from Rwanda, Ethiopia, Cameroon, Nigeria and so many more African countries.
The ill thoughts and feelings towards Africa as an entire continent have created a stereotype around this beautiful place. The truth is that there is rich culture, rich minds and an incredibly rich future ahead and you can see a lot of these things played out from Rwanda.
The world has a lot to offer in both terms of knowledge, history and culture, which is something I knew of before studying abroad but my perspective on that has been expanded now that I’ve been able to actually experience it.
What was the most surprising thing you learned about yourself during your time in Rwanda?
The most surprising thing I learned about myself during my time in Rwanda is that when I am around the right crowd, I really am not as shy as I think I am. I was able to flourish, lead and create meaningful connection because the environment I was in was welcoming and felt like home even though I had never been there before. I was able to properly handle the tasks at hand and when problems arose, I was able to work with my peers to create solutions. When I was younger there was always that teacher or adult who told us that we are “natural born leaders” and that “we have the ability to lead with power.” Of course, I just thought this was a motivational quote people got off Pinterest, but it is true! You truly do have the ability to lead what you put your mind to and studying in Rwanda was a pleasant reminder and learning moment for myself.
How did this experience shape your academic or career goals?
I am currently in my undergrad studying Education, Communities and Organizations. My academic and career goals are to give back to community in a meaningful way. Studying abroad in Rwanda, volunteering at different places, and being a part of their community temporarily helped deepen my desire to want to be a part of something amazing which serves to help others. In Rwanda they have rebuilt their society and country entirely through the work of community, forgiveness and building one another up. It is a beautiful image of resilience.
What advice would you give to students who are considering studying abroad?
I encourage everyone to apply even if you are afraid of financial and social barriers. I live in this same boat, and you must set yourself up to be able to sail on the sea. Do not be afraid of rejection. If at first you don’t get in, apply again. Be aware of your surroundings and the impact that one can have within a group of people. Involve yourself in a meaningful way but allow others to have their place as well. Prioritize your health and wellbeing before you prioritize an experience. You are going to have an amazing time regardless of what you do or do not get to do.
What courses or academic experiences abroad had the greatest impact on you?
During the beginning of each school year, African Leadership University holds a welcoming ceremony called, Ikaze. Ikaze translates to “Welcome” in Kinyarwanda. It was an event that welcomed every student that was attending this university, including us from the US. Each country had their own walkout song and dance to represent themselves and it was a beautiful thing to see. Some of our own University of Washington students walked with their Ethiopian peers and it was so amazing to see them reconnect with their roots. Everyone got to feel a part of their home even if they were hundreds of miles away from it. Another student and I decided to ask the DJ to change our song to Kendrick Lamar’s “They Not Like Us.” It was a great choice because everyone from the crowd joined us in our dance and it was a great way to end that portion of the ceremony.
This ceremony left a great impact on me because I felt connected to everyone, and it was beautiful seeing everyone share the beauties of their cultural identities. This was a prime example that music, food and culture ties people together internationally.
How did the academic environment differ from what you were used to?
I had no expectations about what the learning environment would be like in Rwanda. To my surprise, once arriving at African Leadership University, it was similar to the education environment that I have experienced in the US. Students are often paired with a specific interest which they focus their studies on, and they take courses accordingly. The main differences I saw were that after a student’s first quarter, they often took all of their courses online and those visiting from outside of their home country often returned home and continued to study there. They called their majors, “missions.” It was a slight change in wording which makes learning more encouraging and exciting. Their work seemed to be more hands on than what I was used to seeing in the US. I appreciated this way of learning.
Was there a moment that challenged you, and how did you grow from it?
After a safari trip, I had gotten sick for a couple of days. When I get sick, I become a baby. The whole world turns upside down and I only want to be in my bed. The issue was that I was thousands of miles away from my bed in a whole other country on a whole other continent. I wanted to be out and about doing all of the things and experiencing everything that I could. I tried to go out and tough things out but eventually I told myself to take a break. I was supplied with plenty of care and water. I laid down and slept for some time on the bus with people coming to check on me periodically. The following day I went with a friend experiencing swelling from a tooth ache to a pharmacy shop and we may have gotten lost, but we learned a lot from this experience. Being sick helped me to understand how certain pharmacies work, the effort to getting over sick and reassured me of the care that the people around me had for me. I may have missed out on a few activities, but I got back to full health and was blessed to be moving again fully immersed in the activities awaiting me.
Why did you choose to participate in the Rwanda program?
As an African and Native American, I have not experienced very many opportunities to explore the roots of my identity because they have been destroyed by colonization, slavery, and disease. Traveling to Africa was a dream of mine I knew I was going to accomplish at some point in my life. I was glad to see this opportunity as an option because of my personal goals and personal history that I had learned. More specifically, I was inspired by my previous learning of Rwanda by a teacher who had a very big impact on me throughout high school. Having both experiences and goals along with the program’s specific focuses on sports developments and human rights motivated me to choose to participate in the Rwanda program. I am glad I did because I had an amazing time.
How did the Program support your learning and integration into the host culture?
The program greatly supported my learning and integration into the host culture by continuously providing me with context, personal stories and new experiences to enjoy everyday! It was my first time studying abroad and yet being out of the country. I was terrified and everything was new to me but there was never a second where I felt alone or unsupported. Special thanks to all the students from UW, African Leadership University, other support and the professors (Ron Krabil and Ben Gardener) who helped me every step of the way. I felt at home in a place away from home. On an entirely new continent I was able to feel comfort and security in the people and places I resided in. it was a great time and prepared me to be able to travel again in the future.
Would you recommend this Program to others? Why or why not?
I may be biased, but I would 110% recommend this program to everyone regardless of their cultural or racial identity because of the learning opportunities. You will continue to learn about yourself and the world even outside of the program itself. When you return home you will begin to realize there is so much more learning to come.