"Stone Town Hopes"

“Botas de Hule y Pies Descalzos (Rubber Boots and Bare Feet).”

Two Monmouth College students received honorable mention awards in the Associated Colleges of the Midwest Off-Campus Study Photo Contest.

Seniors Kathleen Quigley of Wilmington and Karen Skadow of Loves Park earned the honors for photos they took while participating in ACM off-campus study programs in Tanzania and Costa Rica, respectively.

The ACM has helped pioneer off-campus study through its 14 member institutions, including Monmouth. The photo contest was held to commemorate the consortium’s 50th anniversary.

Titled “Stone Town Hopes,” Quigley’s photo was taken in Zanzibar, a small island off the coast of East Africa.

“About one month into the program, we took a four-day field trip to Zanzibar to practice speaking Swahili,” said Quigley. “The trip was a great opportunity to practice bartering in Swahili. The young girls in the photo were a group of school children who were following us around while we were lost in Stone Town.”

Quigley explained that her group had wandered outside the “touristy” areas of Zanzibar, and she said the children were very curious about the strangers.

“They spoke impeccable English and asked us our names, where we were from and ‘Do you love me?’” said Quigley. “Once we had ventured too far from their homes, the girls all posed for a picture blowing us kisses goodbye. Getting lost in Stone Town turned out to be very memorable!”

The biology major said she enjoyed everything about her semester abroad in the ACM program.

“Tanzania is the most beautiful place I have ever seen, rich with amazing wildlife and fauna and kind people. I learned about the difficulties of adjusting to a new culture and way of life, and I had indescribable opportunities to learn about ecology and evolution in the Serengeti, the Ngorongoro Crater and Laeotoli. My semester abroad has inspired me apply to graduate schools to pursue a higher degree in ecology.”

Skadow was in Costa Rica as part of the ACM’s Latin American Culture & Society program. Her award-winning entry is titled “Botas de Hule y Pies Descalzos (Rubber Boots and Bare Feet).” It was taken on a weekend trip to Tortuguero, a town located on the Caribbean shore.

“My friend, Elizabeth, and I hiked up to a lookout point,” said Skadow. “In order to do so, we employed two ticos (Costa Ricans) to guide us. To our amazement, the ticos hiked barefoot! By the time we reached the lookout I was in awe of both the natural beauty and the beauty of all of us reaching this point together by different means. I still cannot fathom how they made that hike without shoes! There was a beauty in the moment because I experienced how beautiful our differences make us.”

Like Quigley, Skadow also appreciated her off-campus experience.

“I relished in the fact that every day was an adventure,” she said. “I had the privilege of being a part of Costa Rican culture and society and learned from it every step of the way. Every day I learned new words through experiences (as opposed to vocabulary lists), observed natural and cultural beauty, and had a chance to apply what I was learning in Spanish class through natural conversations with native speakers. Studying abroad for me was more than just traveling or living in a foreign country. It was a highly valuable learning experience acquired from day-by-day adventures of experiencing Costa Rica.”

The two students with a knack for photography were asked about their “big picture” experience of a college education.
“At Monmouth, my new friends and professors have become a family away from home and have helped me transition into the person I am today,” said Quigley. “I thank them for the opportunities I have had, including studying abroad at the University of Dar es Salaam in East Africa and conducting summer research at the Chicago Botanic Garden. I look forward to the opportunities that my Monmouth College education will bring me in the future.”

Said Skadow, “At Monmouth College, I’ve learned how to genuinely connect with others, live on my own, get involved in organizations, become more culturally aware, think critically and better manage my time.”

She thanked faculty for opening her eyes to new ideas, not just in her main areas of education and Spanish, but also in disciplines such as art and history.

“Monmouth has given me the opportunity to develop personally, socially, and professionally,” concluded Skadow.