James Madison University - Index

James Madison University - Madison - The Magazine of James Madison University - Spring 08 - Index

equally compelling is the visit to Robben island, where nelson
Mandela spent almost 27 years in the maximum security prison.
Today former guards and prisoners live there together, showing
solidarity against the destructive ideology of the past and exemplifying
the hope that exists after apartheid. “They have decided to
make it work,” says sutton, “that if the terrible hostility against
each other continues, then nothing has changed. They want to
show not only their fellow south africans, but also the world, that
something good came out of something bad.” The lesson is not lost
on students who regularly mention their visit to the island as one of
the most powerful learning experiences of their study abroad trip.
in fact, the ability of south africans to forge a new spirit
of conciliation and Be the Change for their troubled nation is
a source of inspiration to all those who witness it. zacaroli has
become devoted to her south african neighbors: “The people
there are so amazing. even though their problems are life threatening,
they are full of joy, hope and outward love for others.”
so what do sutton and zacaroli hope for those who avail
themselves of the opportunities to help south africa?
zacaroli is thoroughly convinced that reward and fulfillment
Health 490 —
embodying Be
the change
By Whitney Gee (’09)
Debra Sutton’s students
kept journals during their
Study Abroad experience
in South Africa. Below are
excerpts from nursing major
Whitney Gee’s journal:
May 6: Departed Dulles International
Airport for Cape Town,
South Africa, with no idea of
what to expect for the next two
weeks. When we landed, I could
not get over the colors, the
cleanliness and hospitality.
May 8: We visited Robben
Island where Nelson Mandela
was imprisoned. The speaker had
been imprisoned with Mandela
for many years. It is amazing that
he and others were able to survive.
When they were released,
these prisoners responded with
forgiveness and reconciliation —
truly amazing. Back at the waterfront,
we visited the African Café
and practically ate our weight in
food. Then we enjoyed a performance
of singing and dancing,
mesmerized by the performers’
flowing skirts, quick rhythmic
moves and painted faces.
44 Madison Magazine
Front (l-r) : Students in the May 2007 Health 490 class, HIV/
AIDS Prevention in South Africa are Molly Mueller, Ashleigh Oliver,
Jessica Hill, Julialyn Deos and Liz Nelson. Back (l-r): Jenness
Kocsis, Hilary Pauli, Whitney Gee, Rachel Clark and Julie Fry.
May 9: We toured the Groote
Schuur Hospital and the Desmond
Tutu HIV Centre. It was
heartbreaking to see the sick
children on the ward. By 2020,
more people will die of AIDS
than are born in South Africa.
May 10: The group visited the
Beautiful Gate orphanage and
played with the children. Of the
45 orphans, 42 were infected
with HIV. The statistics for HIVinfected
children in South Africa
are shocking: five children die
per night, 50 percent die by the
age of 1, and 75 percent die by
the age of 18 months.
May 11: We met with peer
educators at the University of
the Western Cape to see how
they communicate their HIV-prevention
programs to the com-
come from connection with other people, not possessions or
titles. “They really appreciate us. everyone is saying ‘thank you’
all the time. They take time to be with you, and that is a really,
really rewarding personal connection,” she explains. perhaps
most telling of her own Be the Change spirit, is that she is not
proprietary about channeling charitable action to 25:40. “We
want to help the children in south africa but also [want] to
open hearts here. people have talents, passion and energy; and
we want people to find the gift they have and channel that into
something good. it may not be 25:40 or kids in south africa,
but everyone has a gift and opportunity for something. each of
us must follow our heart.”
sutton wants her students to understand a profound lesson as
well. “everything is connected. That’s a lesson i’ve been fortunate
to know for many, many years; and one i want my students to
learn,” she says. so sutton makes sure that each student preparing
to go on their study abroad trip to south africa hears the story of
her meeting zacaroli. Both women are convinced that the chance
to change the world can come from a seemingly random occurrence,
a serendipity of destiny and human goodness. M
munity. Later, we rode a cable
car to the top of Table Mountain.
No picture could capture this
moment, and no word could
describe how I felt as I peered
out over the side of the mountain
looking at the water.
May 12: Today we enjoyed
an excursion to the Cape of
Good Hope and saw where the
Atlantic Ocean meets the Indian
Ocean. Again, the views are
indescribable — I know I keep
saying that, but I truly mean it.
Later, Julie and I went to St.
Mary’s Cathedral and attended
mass. Crazy enough, halfway
around the world the same
songs are sung and prayers
offered as those at my church
back in Virginia. It made the
world seem very small!
May 13: While touring Cape
Town, we had lunch at an Islamic
family’s home located among the
rainbow-colored homes of Bo-
Kaap. We ate sitting on the floor.
I tried everything and loved it all.
May 15: We spent most of
the day at the University of
Pretoria’s Centre for the Study
of AIDS. The HIV infection rate is
about 12 percent, equivalent to
one in 10 people in South Africa.
May 16: Today, we learned
more about the University of Pretoria’s
efforts fighting the AIDS
epidemic. In effect, HIV is like an
onion. The university’s programs
have peeled back the layers and
put people in charge of addressing
each layer of the epidemic
— political, social, educational,
psychological and physical.
May 18–20: We went on safari
at the Elephant Plains Game
Lodge. The adrenaline rush was
constant, and we saw the “big five”
— lion, leopard, rhino, elephant and
cape buffalo — almost immediately.
This whole experience in South
Africa was one I will never forget,
exposing me to things that made
me uncomfortable and challenging
my ways of thinking. I realize how
privileged I am to live the life that I
do. I’m determined to study harder.
I hope that once I become a nurse,
I will have a chance to return and
help others even more.