Thursday, October 25, 2007
shlee Crowl has seen the world. She has been to England, France, Holland and Italy, just to name a few. But to Crowl, one destination stands out among the others: India.
Ashley Crawl, Topeka senior, travelled to India last semester for six months.
Crowl, Topeka senior, traveled through India and other countries in the Asian subcontinent last spring and summer while on an internship with the International Association of Students in Economics and Commerce, or AIESEC, (pronounced eye-sek).
AIESEC, according to its Web site, is the world’s largest student organization and has chapters in more than 800 universities, and the University of Kansas is one of them. AIESEC’s mission is to promote international understanding and cooperation and it facilitates a work-abroad exchange program between its member countries.
Vaishali Gala, Hays junior and vice president of student process for AIESEC, helps students plan their trips. She said about 40 students are involved in the organization this year.
“We want people and students to go abroad and get an understanding of what the world is,” she said.
While in India, Crowl worked for a marketing company that promoted educational programs for students. She said she wanted to travel to India because each area of the country is unique. For example, in the southwest the culture has a strong Portuguese influence and the north has a predominant Chinese and Buddhist culture.
“I’m just really interested in the culture and history of religion,” she said.
During her trip, she rode camels, slept under the stars in Pakistan, stayed in a Buddhist monastery and took a week-long introductory course in Buddhism and meditation.
She also saw the Taj Mahal, where she was also a subject of attention. Crowl said because she is a white woman with blonde hair - something many of the people there likely hadn’t seen very often – they took pictures of her as well.
“I was sort of surprised,” she said.
For fun, Crowl also went bungee jumping and canyon swinging in Nepal. She said that she dropped about 160 feet, and then swung on a rope in a canyon for about eight seconds.
“I wasn’t really scared,” Crowl said. “I guess I was thinking, ‘What am I doing right now?’ It was crazy.”
Crowl said in the future she would like to return to the region, but right now she was concentrating on getting into law school. She said international law appealed to her.
“There are a lot of people that need someone to stand up for them,” Crowl said.
Nate Barbarick, a 2006 graduate from Olathe, is currently living in Tampere, Finland. He said he decided to go to the country because he had always liked Nordic countries and thought it would be a good experience for him.
“I love this country very much,” he said. “The nature is beautiful and the people are mostly kind and friendly.”
For about six months, Barbarick worked at a university of applied sciences as a tutor, teaching staff and administrators the English language. He said he also wrote for a magazine and that he planned to return next month.
“Working abroad has been a fantastic experience, definitely,” he said.
For information about AIESEC, e-mail aieseckansas.stupro@gmail.com
— Edited by Rachel Bock
Students look for international internships, World Cup ...
The international youth leadership organization AIESEC held an internship fair Wednesday, representing ...
AIESEC raises awareness of AIDS in Africa
AIESEC will sponsor “Explore Africa,” for the AIDS Haven at 7 p.m. ...
Internships let students work abroad
By interning in Europe, KU students from differing academic backgrounds get unique ...
Free ad space for all organizations considered
Groups such as fraternities, sororities and performing arts currently cannot advertise for ...
Event highlights internships in 15 countries
Learn about internships in countries competing in the World Cup at the ...
Internships, paid or unpaid, increasingly important
While courts hear challenges to internship practices, students are encouraged to gain ...
Business School offers study abroad in India
For the first time, business students will study abroad in India over ...
KU 11th in study abroad participation
During the 2006-2007 school year, more than a quarter of KU undergraduates ...
Petition supports Israel program
The University’s study abroad policy does not allow students to study abroad ...
Summer internships now available
The KU Office of Study Abroad offers internships in various fields.
MBA program ranked among the best
Surveys completed by graduate students of the Master of Business Administration program ...
KU students adjust to life abroad
Several departments at the University offer resources for students far from home.
Study abroad sets students up for success
Deadline to apply for summer, fall and 2009-2010 academic year programs is ...
AIESEC to host Latin American fiesta
The event tonight will begin at 8 p.m. and have music and ...
Spreading the love
Ellsworth Hall students celebrated cultural diversity Saturday with “Around the World in ...
International student enrollment rising
University officials say international students are attracted to Kansas because of its ...
Senior promotes studying abroad in Germany
After his own meaningful study abroad experience in the country, Andreas Graf ...
Spotlight on Organizations: KU Cultural India club
The KU Cultural India club focuses on bringing a little bit of ...
Students defy statistics, give back to community
Three KU students split their time between studying and volunteering.
More KU students apply to Peace Corps
Economic downturn, increased international awareness combine to boost interest in volunteer organization.
Flu fears cause study abroad cancellations
The Office of Study Abroad calls off Mexico program, and European students ...
Student aids tsunami victims
Unpaid internship experience too risky?
Students question whether unpaid internships are worth it.
Coping with different dialects
University and city deal with the language barrier.
Miles from Ordinary
From Albania to Zimbabwe, KU students come from all over the world
Volunteers encourage service over corporate life
Programs certifying more students
More students are involved in University programs dealing with service, research and ...
Study abroad program wants to expand travel ...
Program officials would like to form a committee to review countries deemed ...
Book drive to benefit KC kids
The International Children’s Assistance Network and the Honors Program Student Council are ...
Internships offer experience in politics
The political science department enrolls students in Washington, D.C., and Topeka internship ...
International Education Week lets students think globally
The University’s openness toward international students and studying abroad makes it receptive ...
Exchange program offers international students homes for ...
KU students from Mumbai horrified by terrorist ...
Some think the attacks will harm India’s image internationally.
University records increase in international students
A report shows that the number of international students attending the University ...
Student studies abroad in small village
KU student Chelsea Cooley learns to appreciate the environment while studying in ...
Editorial: Exchange rate just one reason to ...
With the relative cost of studying abroad, decreasing, now is the time ...
Study abroad is possible despite economy
Financial aid and personal budgeting can make travel affordable.
New class will mirror international organization
In the Model Organization of American States Seminar, students study the 'United ...
Foreign to the Fourth
International students have opportunities to celebrate more than just Fourth of July ...
From left: Kimberlee Hinkle, Libby Johnson and Hannah ...
1 comment
Kansas Jayhawk fans hold aloft a reproduction of ...
2 comments
Erin Saupe, a Ph.D. student from St. Cloud, ...
1 comment
0 comments
Armed robbers continue to threaten.
3 comments
Lecture from Greg Mortenson, co-author of New York ...
0 comments
Comments
Use the comment form below to begin a discussion about this content.
Sign in to comment
Or login with:
OpenID