Crossing Borders: Migration, Identity, and Culture in Senegal and Cape Verde
Bob Neuenschwander
Study Abroad Manager
University of Idaho
I wish to thank CIEE and the Ping Fellowship program for providing me with the opportunity to participate in Crossing Borders: Migration, Identity and Culture in Senegal and Cape Verde. In addition to the knowledge I gained through the seminar, I was able to spend a month further learning about Senegal by traveling regionally. The seminar provided me with a foundation to gain a deeper understanding of the environmental issues facing Senegal and Cape Verde, and the cultural, religious, economic and social traditions of these countries.
The CIEE IFDS with the generous support of the Ping Fellowship program has not only provided me with the opportunity to grow professionally, it has had a profound impact on me personally. Up to this point in my career, I have never spent any significant amount of time in Africa or a predominantly Islamic country. The experience has forced me to confront my stereotypes and develop a more realistic view of both West Africa and Islam.
How has all this contributed to the original goals that I outlined in my Ping Fellowship application?
Develop courses relevant to internationalization.
1) I used the knowledge and experience I gained on the IFDS in two student leadership seminars I taught focusing on the cultural similarities and differences of India and Senegal.
2) I have been asked to provide several guest lectures on Senegalese culture for cross-cultural communication classes later this semester.
3) I have been asked to do a guest lecture on Senegalese culture next spring on Senegalese culture for Sacred Journeys, a core class.
4) I will be doing a session focusing on culture (including the culture of West Africa) and global citizenship this fall at the regional 3rd Annual Advising Symposium. One aspect of this will be to promote the IFDS programs and Ping Fellowships as opportunities for advisors who wish to gain more understanding of other countries and cultures.
Expand UI’s study abroad program into new areas of Africa.
5) I have used what I learned in Senegal and Cape Verde, enhanced by the many photos I took traveling there, to promote study in West Africa to our students.
6) I have talked about my experiences and impressions of these countries with my staff so they can be more knowledgeable when they advise students on studying in this region.
7) My Senegalese dance experiences played a role in my decision to include a free African dance workshop as a part of our study abroad informational fair in September. We hired an African dance and music troupe out of Seattle. Seeing the joy on students’ faces as they had their first experience moving to African rhythms reconfirmed for me that this is what a university is all about—a place where we provide transformative learning experiences for students that include opportunities to interact with other peoples and cultures from other countries and regions of the world.
8) I tied in my trip to Senegal with a visit to Morocco. While in Morocco I visited several Arabic language institutes and discussed ways in which we might collaborate to provide intensive Arabic language learning opportunities for our students.
9) One faculty member I met on the IFDS runs a short-term faculty-led summer program in South Africa every year that may be of interest to our students. Another faculty member is starting an administrative position at a university in the Middle East this fall, and she may be able to help us as we expand into this region of the world.
Music
10) As a part of the IFDS, I was able to do an African drumming class in Toubab Dialaw. After the seminar finished, I returned to Toubab for another drumming class. I also had the opportunity to see concerts in both Dakar and Cape Verde as a part of the IFDS. The exposure to West African music has provided me with musical inspiration which I hope to use in future music compositions.