Antillean students in the States
Until the day I left for the United States, I wasn’t certain about the decision I had made. I was a Yu’i Kòrsou at heart who had decided to come to the United States, bypassing Florida (you know, the sunny one), to settle in Georgia (the peach and peanut state).
The University of Georgia is the biggest state school in Georgia (with more than 30.000 students) and has a breathtakingly beautiful campus. Old Buildings (that date back to 1785), sprawling lawns, huge fountains, mixed in with modern amenities, and state-of-the-art technology.
When I arrived none of this was lost on me, but I was in for a huge culture shock. I didn’t know what to expect from anything or anyone. The whole educational system is different and now I had to speak English all day long.
Soon, this place became as much a part of me as I became of it. Because of the way the education is set up, I had a chance to try out many things and take so many classes (could it possibly have been too many?) that I wouldn’t have had an opportunity to take otherwise. I delved into Latin, Linguistics, Early Germanic Literature, and even Computer Science. I tried de todo un poco, in the end settling for Spanish Language and Literature and a Certificate in Latin American (and Caribbean) Studies (with my thesis concentration in Linguistics, which by the way was written on Papiamentu).
I am happy that I decided to come to the United States, because it allowed me to come in contact and build friendships with people of all ages and from all over the world. I gained a newfound respect for Curaçao and I think that being here deepened my love for my own island even more, leading me to do a lot of research, especially concerning Papiamentu. I am happy to say that I am still in contact with some of my professors, even though I graduated last year and moved away from the University of Georgia to Atlanta. I have found mentors that are irreplaceable.
Now, I am finishing up my second degree (Psychology and Human Services) and I will start working as soon as I’ve rounded that up. In the meantime, I spend time with my boyfriend and friends, I like to keep up with what’s going on in Curaçao (I read the newspapers, talk to my mom every day, and listen to the radio), I read a lot, I work (as a tutor), and go to school ……asina nos ta sigui lucha!
Stacy
The University of Georgia is the biggest state school in Georgia (with more than 30.000 students) and has a breathtakingly beautiful campus. Old Buildings (that date back to 1785), sprawling lawns, huge fountains, mixed in with modern amenities, and state-of-the-art technology.
When I arrived none of this was lost on me, but I was in for a huge culture shock. I didn’t know what to expect from anything or anyone. The whole educational system is different and now I had to speak English all day long.
Soon, this place became as much a part of me as I became of it. Because of the way the education is set up, I had a chance to try out many things and take so many classes (could it possibly have been too many?) that I wouldn’t have had an opportunity to take otherwise. I delved into Latin, Linguistics, Early Germanic Literature, and even Computer Science. I tried de todo un poco, in the end settling for Spanish Language and Literature and a Certificate in Latin American (and Caribbean) Studies (with my thesis concentration in Linguistics, which by the way was written on Papiamentu).
I am happy that I decided to come to the United States, because it allowed me to come in contact and build friendships with people of all ages and from all over the world. I gained a newfound respect for Curaçao and I think that being here deepened my love for my own island even more, leading me to do a lot of research, especially concerning Papiamentu. I am happy to say that I am still in contact with some of my professors, even though I graduated last year and moved away from the University of Georgia to Atlanta. I have found mentors that are irreplaceable.
Now, I am finishing up my second degree (Psychology and Human Services) and I will start working as soon as I’ve rounded that up. In the meantime, I spend time with my boyfriend and friends, I like to keep up with what’s going on in Curaçao (I read the newspapers, talk to my mom every day, and listen to the radio), I read a lot, I work (as a tutor), and go to school ……asina nos ta sigui lucha!
Stacy
posted by Roy Evers at 6:43 PM
1 comments:
great to read about you again Jade scorp.. Greetz, Rafy
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