Professor Betty Levitov doesn’t use Expedia.
You won’t find her on Priceline.com and she rarely talks with a travel agent.
But that’s not because she distrusts those resources.
It’s because none of them speak Swahili.
For the 10th time since 1996, Levitov, an English professor, will travel with 15 Doane students for a semester abroad in Africa starting next August.
Although Levitov said any semester abroad is an experience, living in Africa is truly life altering.
“I think Africa is somewhat contagious,” Levitov said. “The experience students have is so transformative, it changes their lives.”
While the students were chosen in the fall of 2008 through an application and interview process, junior Ashley Lidgett said she didn’t think she’d ever be one to apply, even after spending three weeks in Africa.
“I always thought I’d never be able to study abroad,” Lidgett said. “The first time I went, it was a really tourist trip with hotels and safaris. This trip will be a lot more world experience…and I’m trying to get more of a perspective of what life is, not just life here.”
Although Levitov did say the safaris were what most students initially looked forward to, they usually came back with more profound memories.
“A lot of people are thinking about the safaris,” Levitov said. “But the people that come are always amazed by the people there.”
Sophomore Lisa Thiry said she wasn’t even thinking about Africa until an opportunity opened up late last semester and she was encouraged to apply.
Thiry said it was the learning experience that drew her to the trip.
“How can you not be aware of what you are constantly learning?” she said. “It’s easy to be aware of culture and you just have to take it upon yourself to learn from it.”
During their time in Africa, students will visit nine countries, including three or four long stays, where they can immerse themselves in the African culture.
Culture that also includes volunteer work, which Levitov said is a crucial part of any learning experience.
“There is a distinction,” Levitov said. “We are not just travelers, but also students. Everything is a learning opportunity. You can always see the sights and sounds, but you want to learn as much of it as you can.”
Students will spend their time learning cooking, gardening, building a shed or teaching professor Brad Elder’s plastic bag project to people there.
Yet, Lidgett said she plans to apply Africa to her future career.
“When I first signed up for the trip, my mom was a little concerned it didn’t apply to my music education major,” Lidgett said. “But music is something you can experience anywhere and by living in Africa, I’ll get to meet some musicians and experience a different view of how education is around the world.”
Levitov, a co-leader Carla Stromberg and the 15 students will depart on Aug. 26, with the semester ending Dec. 7. Levitov said most students are staying a few weeks after the semester until Dec. 20, or so.
For the summer, however, students will have to keep preparing for their semester abroad.
Something Levitov said, that just can’t be done.
“You really can’t prepare,” she said. “Every student has to figure out their responsibility. That’s part of the fun of it.”
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