Decolonizing the Mind: Racial and Environmental Justice

Through studying abroad with Augsburg, I was able to meet life long friends and gain a home away from home. In addition to learning about cultures, people, places, and historical events I had no idea existed, the community welcomed me with open arms. Cohort style learning meant hands-on experiences with my peers and opportunities to explore/tailor learning to best serve us. The Augsburg team has become family.

It is difficult for me to summarize the entire semester for there were several individually unique factors that require analysis in their own respects. However, all these factors accumulated together leads me to overall love this program. This semester has done some much and now means so much more to me than I would have ever imagined. I'd give the overall trip experience a 9/10. I would recommend anyone, of any background or degree, to go on this trip. It will help you understand humanity better and therefore hopefully plant a suitable seed inside of you that will grow towards living in and for love rather than hate.

Overall, CGEE Southern Africa is a very rewarding experience. I especially appreciated the number of trips incorporated into the program, including stays in Johannesburg, Cape Town, Elundini, Ludertiz, Swakopmund, Walvis Bay, etc. We also had a total of three homestays, which helped us better understand the local culture. This was appreciated, especially because it can be hard to meet locals when our program is just US students. I hope that in the future there is more collaboration with UNAM so that CGEE students find it easier to make friends with Namibian university students. The majority of the program is spent in a single house in Windhoek, which can at times feel very isolating from the rest of the community. It is also worth noting that Windhoek is not a very large city and many places (besides bars) close early (as in before or at 5pm) so fellow students and I sometimes had trouble finding things to do for fun. Windhoek also has its share of criminal activity, even on the street that the CGEE house is on, so it is worth keeping that in mind when selecting a program. The professors at CGEE are all very wise and passionate about what they do, and will do anything they can to help you succeed. Classes have a lot of speakers and field trips, so I was never bored. Assignments are not especially academically challenging. Overall I had a life changing experience with CGEE, and would recommend the program to most anyone.

Overall great program the staff and professors truly do make this program as well as the traveling throughout the semester. However, I do wish I got to interact with more University students and that their was more help getting involved in community activities, there is a lot on this program that you have to do and find yourself.

Good program, helped me learn about Southern African culture while still being comfortable with amenities I am used to back home, (Food, wifi, A/C, etc). Classes are way too easy, assigned readings and papers were few and far between. Don't agree with the policy about not having alcohol at the house.

Augsburg's study abroad program in Namibia is a unique experience. You get to learn in a hands-on way from local people. This includes trips to museums, monuments, and across the country. The staff is incredible! It is not a full cultural experience since you are living in a house with Americans, but it is what you make of it. You can learn and see a lot on this trip.

This program was immersive, insightful, and beyond anything that I could have expected. It challenged me in a variety of ways, and has aided in both my academic and personal life. I strongly recommend this program to anyone who wants to broaden their horizons, and challenge the status quo in which they live their lives.

My time at CGEE was incredible. It was truly a once in a lifetime experience. I learned so much from all of the staff. The home stays made the experience truly unique and helped you get a real idea of what it is like to live in a place that is so different than home. CGEE takes care of all housing and meals which gives you time to focus on learning the culture and exploring Windhoek. The trips they have planned are great and make sure that you stay busy and see as much of Namibia as possible. Not only that, they give you a lot of freedom to travel independently if you chose. It is hard to describe what an extraordinary experience CGEE Namibia is but I truly believe you cannot find a study abroad program like it. The courses are completely focused on experience which means the professors bring in outside speakers that give you so much more insight into the politics and history of the country. If you are looking for a non-traditional study abroad program, CGEE is the place to look.

Studying abroad in Namibia and South Africa provided me friends, family, and experiences that I will never forget! The CGEE Southern Africa program teaches you about present-day issues that you can't just read about. CGEE puts a large emphasis on experiential learning that really brings your time abroad and education focuses together to ensure you have meaningful time abroad. Plus Southern Africa is an amazing place with so much to see and do! Get out of your comfort zone and study with CGEE!

I am incredibly thankful for the opportunity to have gone on this incredible journey, stay with three incredible host families, travel throughout two different countries, and learn in completely new ways from professors, speakers, experiences, and by looking at what I've learned in the past with a new perspective.

I loved this program. The people I met and experiences I had will stay with me for the rest of my life. I truly miss Namibia and the incredible people I met there, and I dream of going back to visit with everyone at CGE and the amazing host families I was able to stay with.

I loved this program, the staff was incredible and there was so much learned in such a short time. I would definitely recommend this program. I learned a lot through classes and meeting and talking with locals. This experience is what you make it.

Incredible experience! The program as a whole was very hands on and we were always working with people in the community, listening to speakers, and gaining knowledge of the local perspective. In terms of academics, the classes were not extremely difficult; however, if they were, it would have taken away from the overall experience. I learned a lot about myself, Namibian culture, and the role of building an international community.

The program is awesome, from the visit to south African to the stay in Namibia. It is so well organized that we could only so much within such short period of time. The staffs are amazing as well, they are more than just our professors, RA and cook; we built a meaningful relationship/friendship which just add to the experiential learning.

I had an amazing time! This program was truly life changing. Southern Africa is a beautiful region of the world rich in culture, people, and history. This program did an amazing job of capturing all of this, and I am so grateful to have had this wonderful experience.

Learned a lot about the political history of Namibia and had many incredible guest speakers. I am really grateful for all of the travel opportunities we had through this semester!

The Center for Global Education and Experience is not the typical study abroad experience. This program challenges you to see the world through a non-Western view. You are learning the history of racism and in Both South Africa and Namibia. The narratives of black and brown bodies become a reality that you face, and you wonder why these stories were never told in our Western Education. Through experiential learning the CGEE creates a study abroad experience that you will never forget. You travel all over South Africa and Namibia with amazing individuals. If you are looking for a program that pushes you out of your comfort zone, and allows you to grow this program is for you!

My experience at CGEE Southern Africa was excellent and I was able to learn so much about the world and the problems that I might not have otherwise noticed. This program opened my eyes to the discrimination that still exists in everyday life and the ways in which the world is still very much so colonized. I was able to get a feel for the local people and they ways in which they deal with important issues.

This program provided an environment conducive to emotional and intellectual growth both individually and in community. In only a few months, I've learned enough about myself and the world to rival my two previous years of higher education.

The CGEE program was wonderful and the experience life changing. We got to experience things that I would never experience in the United States like the rural home stays. the close knit community created makes it awesome.