“I believed spending a semester in South Africa would not only provide me a strong academic foundation to prepare me for future study, but also allow me to interact with South Africans and learn how a globally Southern country views global events and the United States’ role in the world,” reflected political science and international studies major Ian Staker, who is currently abroad on the School for International Training’s (SIT) South Africa program, called “International Relations in the Global South.”
Based in Durban, South Africa, students learn about South African politics, history and the country’s broader role in the world through visiting non-governmental organizations, museums and cross-country excursions.
“I’ve learned that I’m more flexible than I believed and am willing to put myself out of my comfort zone. At home, I stick to a routine, but I quickly found out that it wouldn’t be possible to follow it in South Africa. As we’ve traveled to different cities, countries, and stayed in numerous living arrangements, I’ve found that I can adapt quickly to changing environments, while still staying engaged in the program. I’ve also sought out new experiences, such as learning how to surf for the first time,” Staker noted.
Staker wants to become a diplomat for the United States and complete a master’s degree in international security/conflict resolution outside of the U.S. and hopes that this program will help him accomplish his goals.
“This program will be invaluable for me as I move forward in my career. It has taught me how to adapt to unexpected circumstances, be flexible and become comfortable with being uncomfortable. Academically, it has provided an alternative understanding of international relations, specifically, with how countries in the Global South view global events as compared to a Western-centric lens,” said Staker.
Outside of the in-classroom experiences, Staker said that his favorite experiences so far have been the class excursions he’s made to parts of South Africa and neighboring countries.
“We spent four days in Mozambique where we stayed along the Indian Ocean at Ponta de Ouro and spoke with diplomats at the U.S. embassy in the capital, Maputo. In South Africa, we visited the Wild Coast in the Eastern Cape, where we learned about the Amadiba Crisis Committee, an organization fighting against the expropriation of their land. We also spent a day in Lesotho, spending time in a local village, learning about their culture.”