Study abroad.

Class of 2009, former Mayfair Valedictorian Megan Turner, has taken full advantage of this opportunity.

This semester, Turner is studying in Nairobi, Kenya to pursue her major of International Relations with an emphasis in Africa and Peace and Conflict Resolutions.

“Studying abroad is one of the greatest things that you can do,” Turner stated, “It challenges you to leave your comfort zone and question all of the values and the facts that you thought to be true.”

In 2009, Turner believed that the transformation of moving from Lakewood to American University in Washington D.C. would be hard, but she has realized that moving across the country is nowhere near the cataclysm of moving across the world.

Although she had studied Swahili for two semesters and talked to other people who had been through the program, Turner was amazed to realize how truly difficult being a mzungu (foreigner) really was.

“Adjusting is the hardest thing,” Turner wrote in her blog. Trying to avoid the stereotype of a pretty, white American woman, she found herself in a position nobody could ever have imagined.
She was the minority, and being in such an unfamiliar setting, getting by was difficult.

Despite the ethnic food, insane transportation, inefficient education system, and difficult living conditions, Turner has realized that her next few months in Kenya will be an unforgettable experience that will stay with her throughout her life.

“I am hoping to come back with much more knowledge on how to prevent ethno-political conflicts, but aside from academic benefits, I think I will return with a greater appreciation for what it means to live in America and a greater appreciation for the cultural differences and struggles of other people,” Turner said.

You can follow her journey at meganannadventure.blogspot.com.