 | | Presentation of gifts to the bride and groom at a Fijian wedding. Photo taken by Andrew McInnis, Class of 2014, on his 2013 Magellan. |
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Welcome to the eighth issue of the Magellan Messenger, the e-newsletter that strives to connect the W&J community and friends of the College with the Magellan Project. Each issue features articles written by Magellan recipients as well as updates on events related to the program.
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Donte Stevens, Class of 2016
Donte Stevens in Sicily.
Crunched for time, I walked swiftly out of the Palermo International Airport only to be punched in the face by the thickest, hottest air I had ever experienced. However, the heat did not stop me from realizing the beauty of the city, and I certainly did not let it stop me from exploring the city. In these initial moments I knew my Magellan was going to be an experience of a lifetime. I mentally prepared myself to walk the two miles to where my ride awaited, grabbed my suitcase and began what would become the best journey I have ever had.
My project was to observe and learn about the history of Palermo. However, I soon found out that the people of Palermo know very little of their own history. Interestingly, a lot of the buildings that hold historical significance have been converted to stores and apartments. However, I managed to find at least one site from the main rulers of the island. Sicily has been inhabited by several different kingdoms throughout its history, which is one reason why I was so interested in Palermo. Why did everyone want to rule this particular city? All it took to figure that out was a trip to the port. It is extremely large, very accessible and surrounded by mountains. This landscape gave Palermo two advantages: a great port for trade, and protection on all sides by the mountains and the sea.
Other than these geographical reasons for why Palermo was so prized, there also is an important gulf a few miles from the city. It's called Mondello Beach. During my first visit to Mondello, I met a local named Alessandro. He invited me to join him and his brother for a tour around the city. This was great because Alessandro was working as a tour guide for the summer. I was able to go to most of my sites at no cost and had my own personal tour guide! Alessandro also took me into the city a few times, which saved me a lot on transportation expenses. I learned an important life lesson from meeting Alessandro: making connections in as many places as you can is crucial. If I had not met Alessandro, I would not have been able to save money or learn the ropes of getting around town effectively.
The different cultures are so well preserved in Palermo that you feel like you visit different parts of the world with each street you walk. The markets offer a cacophony of noise, motion, scents, and sights. I found myself in a section of the market that seemed like I was in the Middle East. The streets were sandy, the murmur of Arabic raced through the narrow streets, the scent of kebabs and curry lingered in the air, and a building stood majestically in the background. This building was the Chiesa di San Cataldo. This church is left behind from the Arabian-Norman kingdoms. Interestingly, it is still the center of the Arab community in Palermo.
I also had the opportunity to go to Agrigento for the day, something I originally had not intended on doing. I met two people in my hostel who were going and tagged along with them. This worked out, though, because I was able to see the Greek influence on the island. The ruins left in Agrigento are absolutely stunning! During my studies I learned that the fighting over the island was not just for the convenience of the "great port" [literal meaning of Panormus or Palermo]; it was over religion.
The rule of the island was passed between the Greeks, Phoenicians, Romans, Normans and Arabs, while the religion simultaneously changed from Christianity, Islam, and Judaism. This mix of religions, races, and languages has left a unique mark in Sicily. The dialect here is strongly influenced by Arabic. So the Sicilians say they don't just speak Italian; they speak Sicilian.
I chose to do this project to really enforce my liberal arts education. As someone who is interested in the sciences, I thought it would be helpful for me to test out a different subject to see if I enjoyed it. The experience was amazing, but it also has made me realize I do not like studying history as much as I thought I would.
While this project helped me discover that I will never work as a
historian, it also has allowed me to learn about myself. I am generally a shy person, and this trip has helped me tremendously. I've learned that to get what you want you have to speak up, whether you speak the same language or not. Don't think hand gestures are rude. It's actually more disrespectful to speak English loudly and slowly to someone who doesn't speak any English at all! I also now understand why studying abroad is a requirement for foreign language majors. I spent three weeks in Sicily with very little knowledge of Italian, yet by the end, I was able to get around town asking people questions and of course order food. I also learned how to be frugal. No matter how rich someone is, everyone likes to save a few dollars. Once, a little Italian man in a store saw me weighing some tomatoes, and he came over saying, "No, no, no! Why are you paying for stems?". He told me that to save money, I should take the stems off and then weigh the tomatoes! I learned to do this with grapes also.
The information I learned on this trip will allow me to better relate to any history class I may take here at Washington & Jefferson. I now know that the wars that are happening are over more than just hotheaded leaders. They are about the spread of religion, quality of life, and in general the beauty of the land. This trip has made me grow as a person in all aspects of life, and I cannot wait to do another. Next time, however, I will stick to a subject for which I have a deep passion: science. My first Magellan has definitely opened a new chapter in my life. One I would like to continue writing.
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Nothing That's Worthwhile Is Ever Easy
Lauren Horning, Class of 2015
Lauren Horning in Argentina.
Last summer, I wanted a challenge, so I spent nine weeks as a WWOOFer (Worldwide Opportunities on Organic Farms) in Argentina working on organic farms and studying sustainable living. This was the first time in my life that I think I may have challenged myself too much. When I heard other students talking about their Magellan projects, I only heard of the glorified parts: watching a surgery, making a difference in a slum neighborhood, or looking over a hill to see the sparkling ocean. But Magellans aren't 100% positive experiences. I had not anticipated the hardships I faced. At first I was frustrated at myself and felt unprepared, but as an optimist, I learned from unexpected situations.
I stayed on two farms in Argentina. The first farm was owned by a young couple who built the house from mud, logs, and bricks. Water entered the house through a garden hose that also delivered water to nearby houses. Winter arrived within my first few days, and the nights became frigid. The only form of heating in the house was a small fireplace. Another WWOOFer arrived two days after me. Her name was Claire, and she was from France. Claire became my friend and inspiration. She was patient with my floundering Spanish, and we worked side-by-side every day. Claire and I cooked for the couple even though they were supposed to provide us food. We cleaned the house, fed farm animals, performed basic house maintenance, and did whatever the couple asked of us from 9:30 AM until 10 PM. One of our jobs was to build a shed from bricks and homemade cement. One day, the wind was so strong that it knocked down one of the walls that had reached ten feet. We started reconstructing the next day. Water also was scarce. Some days, the government would shut off the water for several hours. One time we went one week without water. We took showers about once every four days because boiling the water and crouching under a bucket with a hole in the bottom was a lot of work.
However, thanks to the first farm, I can now wash two days' worth of dirty dishes with one kettle of hot water. I can also fearlessly light a gas stove, build with bricks, and make olive oil from olives on trees. My last day on the farm, I was able to travel into the nearby town with Claire. We found a phone booth, and I tried to call home. My parents didn't answer their cell phones or the house phone. When my sister answered her cell phone, I cried. I missed home so badly, but knew I had six weeks left. At that point, I knew I had planned an experience that would push me well outside of my comfort zone. I struggled to hang up the phone, but I knew I had to continue and find ways to enjoy my experience. I left the first farm with some trepidation, but high hopes of a better experience.
Winter continued on the second farm, but my experience improved a lot. This farm was an environmental education center, and the family was incredibly caring. I was given a room to myself that had a small heater and hot water! The family invited me to dinners with them. I just needed to provide my lunch and breakfast, which was easy because the organic garden was full of vegetables despite the cold. I worked every day except Sunday feeding the farm animals until 10 AM and then working in the garden until 1 PM. I worked with chickens, chicks, turkeys, peacocks, a lot of rabbits, llamas, pheasants, quails, rheas, sheep, and goats. One day, an adorable lamb was born, and the family named her Lorena after me. Even though I was lonely working by myself, I found comfort in singing to the animals, which also calmed them. My favorite mornings were when the chickens or quails would lay an egg for me. I cooked an egg for breakfast until it got too cold to take my gloves off to cook. I loved working in the garden because I got to work with the food I was eating for my lunches. I tended arugula, carrots, spinach, red beets, lettuce, parsley, radishes, and lots of herbs. Next to the garden were incredible compost piles where I would put animal feces, food waste, dead leaves, and other yard waste. I have never worked with such rich, wonderful smelling compost. I prepared garden beds and did farm work by hand without tractors, rototillers, or other electrical equipment. I even helped chop down a tree with a saw and a rope.
The farm also housed a high school German exchange student, Timon. When I would finish work, Timon and I would take walks, and he introduced me to his high school friends. We hiked a mountain famous for alien sightings, went to a poetry reading, and went to the movies where dogs from the streets entered and slept on the stage while movies played. Timon helped combat my loneliness and opened my eyes to new aspects of Argentinian cuisine, such as the famous barbecue, Italian pizza, yerba mate, alfajores, dulce de leche, and afternoon snack time (my favorite time of day!).
Argentina impacted my life in a lot of unexpected ways. Before my trip, I was a very independent person who liked to be alone. In Argentina, I was almost always by myself, and I longed to be with people. My journal became my best friend, and it is filled with pages of missing home, which I had definitely not expected. Now that I am home, I am extremely thankful when someone asks me to eat dinner with them, come to my room to talk, or even to study together. I value the company of friends and family much more. I also improved my Spanish proficiency, discovered that I can live on less, found a greater appreciation for my life in the United States, and gained the courage to talk to anyone. I met some incredible people in Argentina who helped me beyond belief. A woman from a garlic farm sat by me on my first flight, and she drove me to my first hostel once the plane landed. I also met a famous folklore guitarist on a bus. He walked me across a city to my next bus stop, and we talked about healthy eating. Before I left, he gave me one of his CDs. People are beautifully interesting, and I was always excited about the people I met once I found the courage to say hello.
My Magellan was not a flashy experience like those where a student helps with a surgery or meets famous people. I lived a rough life, but I learned from my struggles. Sometimes the challenges are worth the rewards. I truly feel that I have grown as a student, daughter, friend, and individual thanks to the Magellan Project.
Lauren working in an organic garden.
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Coral Conservation and Restoration in Fiji
Andrew McInnis, Class of 2014
Andrew McInnis planting coral in Fiji.
Following my semester abroad in Australia, I began my coral conservation Magellan project. My project began with a flight from Brisbane, Australia to Nadi, Fiji. The researcher that I would be working with, Victor Bonito, was at Nadi airport to pick me up when I arrived. We hopped in his truck and continued our two hour journey to the Coral Coast. For my first few days I stayed at an old dive shop that had been semi-converted into Georgia Tech's Fiji field station. While there, I worked with Victor to understand some of the cultural norms in the area that I would be working in. After a few days of getting adjusted I went to live with my first host family in Votua. The first family I stayed with was actually the chief of the four villages, Korolevu-i-wai, in our area. Following the local tradition, when I arrived at the chief's house I had to present my savusavu, which is an offering of Kava to show respect and ask for acceptance into the community. Once the chief accepted me into the community I was allowed to start my project.
During my stay in Korolevu-i-wai I was studying the effectiveness of community-led Marine Protected Areas as management tools for coral reef conservation in small villages along the Coral Coast. The four villages that I worked in were Votua, Vatuolalai, Namada, and Tagaqe. In the last few decades many Fijian communities have seen the degradation of their coral reefs and fishing ground as well as declines in the interconnected fisheries. From these negative changes many Fijians have realized the necessity and importance of implementing marine conservation projects. Unfortunately, the Fijian government is often reluctant to put into operation any form of marine management, which the communities have requested. Despite the lack of support from the government, the local communities have taken marine conservation into their own hands and have set up community driven management practices. These management techniques can be implemented because of the long history of customary fishing tenure held by the villages.
One management technique that has recently gained popularity amongst the Fijian communities is the establishment of marine protected areas (no take). Marine protected areas can provide numerous benefits and serve a dual purpose of appeasing goals of ecosystem conservationists and communities that rely heavily on the material marine resources. In my study, I used methodologies from three different academic fields to measure the success of the Marine Protected Areas in the communities. I am currently analyzing the data I collected, which will be used in my Environmental Studies Capstone.
During my stay I was able to get involved in a lot of different side projects. For example, I received training in coral farming for restoration using the 'coral cone' method. I made about 100 coral fragments of Acropora and Porites coral. These coral frags are grown out on a coral rack in shallow pools close to shore. Once they have grown a substantial amount we take the coral and plant it in coral lacking areas of the Marine Protected Area. This process is being implemented into an ecotourism project where local people will lead snorkeling tours and allow the tourist to plant one of the mature coral fragments. I also learned another method of coral restoration called direct planting. This is where you make coral frags and plant them directly on natural hard surfaces. I also learned a lot about the community's new waste-water treatment and was able to get involved with the newly established Fish Warden program.
Also while in Fiji I observed and attended many interesting cultural events. While staying with one family I was invited to go to a wedding at an inland village. The night before the wedding I went with some of the villagers to present gifts to the groom's family. As I sat all night I observed families from all over Fiji presenting their gifts of beautiful mats, blankets, kerosene, and whale teeth. The next day was the traditional wedding, and the bride and groom dressed up completely in masi, a beaten cloth fabric. The families took turns presenting gifts (mainly pig and whale teeth) to each other. Although the presentations were completely in Bauen it was a truly unique experience that I really enjoyed.
Near the end of my stay the Kalevu, the head chief of Nandroga Navusa, passed away. This was a very big deal because the Kalevu was the chief of our entire province, which is a very important position. The Kelevu was a great leader who was fighting for indigenous rights and was very active in the environmental health of Fiji. During a recent case against a hotel that was responsible for extreme environmental degradation in our province, my friend Victor became a close environmental advisor to the Kalevu. Because I was working with Victor and staying with the Davetukia (a very closely related family to the Kalevu) I was invited to the funeral. This funeral was one of the largest events to happen in Fiji in the last few years. Buses from all around Fiji were coming to the village of Duvu for the funeral. The Fijian prime minister and Fijian president were all in attendance, and I sat less than 50 feet from them. This was another very interesting event that I was honored to attend.
This Magellan project was definitely the best experience I have had up to this point in my life. Not only was I working in one of the most beautiful places in the world, but I also received great technical training and made friends that will last a lifetime. From now on anytime I go back to Fiji I have a Fijian family that I can stay with, no questions asked. It was a truly amazing experience, and I am very grateful to the Magellan Project for funding me. If you would like to see a more in depth analysis of the data I collected during my project, I will be presenting it for my Environmental Capstone at the end of the semester.
 Andrew with his friend JQ after a day of fishing.
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Leaving as a Buckeye
Huong Nguyen, Class of 2014
Huong Nguyen at The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH.
Last summer, for my Magellan project I interned at The Ohio State University (OSU), and I look back on the experience with humility as I was one of a very small group of students who were chosen for the Mentorship Initiative for Student Life (MISL) internship, part of the NASPA (National Association of Student Personnel Administrators) NUF (National Undergraduate Fellows) program. To my surprise, I ended up having a conversation with Dr. Mull, an Assistant Vice President of Student Life and the visionary of the MISL program, about the selection process and placement in our respective departments in Student Life. I must admit, I was a little intimidated when I saw the first email with nine other email addresses from large institutions across the nation. I was the only intern selected from a small liberal arts college while others represented institutions such as Penn State and Michigan State University. There were big names on the list, but I embraced the idea that coming from Washington & Jefferson College made me just as competitive as everyone else selected from nationally-recognized state universities. I provided an atypical perspective of a college experience among our cohort while gaining a better understanding of a public campus culture. My journey at OSU provided me with necessary, sometimes unexpected, learning outcomes and lifelong connections that will serve me well as a young professional in Student Affairs.
For the duration of my experience, I was placed in the Office of the Vice President in the Office of Student Conduct for which I was grateful. Not having much experience with student conduct outside of my Resident Assistant position at W&J, I was excited to discover more information about this area of Student Affairs. I aspire to be a future Dean of Students and exposure to student conduct would provide me with transferable skills and unique insight on the Code of Student Conduct. I worked with my supervisors, Doug Koyle, an Assistant Vice President, and Brian Thomlinson, the former Director of Student Conduct, as well as other staff members for approximately twenty-five hours a week. I sat in on preliminary meetings, hearings, and phone conversations with people involved in cases. I familiarized myself with Maxient, which is used as a data information system for compiling and updating cases. There were many hands-on experiences that I took part in, but I also read many articles to familiarize myself with the Code of Student Conduct and policies relating to sexual misconduct. I oversaw my own research project that sought to improve the comprehension of conduct policies in relation to consent within international student populations. I interviewed various offices to gather information and provided feedback about what I found to those who were interested. I enjoyed compiling this information and working on projects; however, the process was daunting at first due to the size of OSU.
At the beginning of my journey, I had a multitude of things to adjust to--one being, the size of the campus. I could not grasp the fact that the entire W&J student body could fit into one residence hall and that the majority of the city of Columbus was OSU! Much of what I learned at OSU was that everything in the Student Life department was intentional, even down to the blueprints of each building layout. I participated in a tour of the new residence halls and met with the administrators involved with the facilities' management at OSU, and it was incredible to learn that creating a sense of community was at the forefront of their goals when planning the layout of buildings.
The makeup of the MISL cohort was also intentional in regard to fit and diversity. While each candidate who was chosen had individual strengths, fit within the cohort was indicative of being selected. My cohort came from diverse backgrounds in terms of race and ethnicity, familial backgrounds, socioeconomic status, education, age, and involvement at our respective institutions. However, being part of a cohort was a significant factor in my success at OSU. We lived, worked, and experienced the wealth of opportunities that Columbus had to offer together. We spent time at events as a cohort and explored the North Market, looked at paintings at the Gallery Hop, appreciated a variety of cultures at the Asian Festival, and often had family dinners. Though we had our differences at times, the members of my cohort provided me with a support system, advice about the graduate school process, and conversations with people who understood my aspirations for a career in higher education. Words cannot describe how it felt to talk about Student Affairs and have people get it and not question its validity as a career option.
The connections that I had with the other interns allowed me to engage in the OSU community more readily, and the connections that I had with administrators and staff members were just as memorable. I met with directors, Assistant Vice Presidents, and the President within the Student Life and Office of International Affairs. I was exposed to both the strengths and areas that needed to be improved at OSU, and I appreciated the honesty and bluntness from everyone that I spoke with. I absorbed an immense amount of information within two months, but what I found most remarkable was learning about the unique journey that each administrator had before acquiring their current position in Student Life.
The MISL program expanded my interests in pursuing a career in Student Affairs while preparing me to do so. I now think and observe more critically when looking at institutional structure, and throughout my internship I could not help but compare a private versus public school. Understanding OSU's resources and institutional structure sparked my curiosity in learning more about W&J's structure. Overall, the learning outcomes of this experience have greatly influenced my personal and professional growth. I am more confident in my skills and ability to be a successful Student Affairs professional. I have fostered a network of connections which I will continue to keep in contact with throughout my career. I conquered one of the largest institutions in the United States and made it feel like home. Finally, I was able to have meaningful conversations with people from diverse backgrounds in different stages of their lives, conversations I will take with me far into the future. After being directed to various departments, my view of Student Affairs is no longer myopic because I have been exposed to the opportunities and experiences available in this field, and I find that my varied interests will allow me to continue to sample everything that higher education has to offer. Without a doubt, I look forward to continuing on my journey.
Huong with her fellow OSU interns.
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