Winning Essays

Sarah McCloy
April 7, 2008
John Belk International Program Class of 1958 Award Essay

     T-minus 29 days as the countdown to Vietnam slowly ticks away, and I must say that the departure date of May 5, 2008 cannot come soon enough as the shared excitement of myself and my fellow classmates’, is becoming a bit hard to contain!

     The end of sophomore year was an exciting time, not only because I knew the end of that in-between stage of not-freshman-but-not-quite-an-upperclassman neared, but also because here at Queens the pleasure of choosing my John Belk trip finally arrived!  Sitting in the Sykes auditorium watching the PowerPoint presentations, I remember being taken aback by the experiences each trip had to offer its participants.  But Vietnam struck me in a way none of the others did.  This semester of preparation has confirmed my initial intuition I felt when I signed up for the trip.

     Unlike any other class here at Queens, the Vietnam prep class has been quite an experience in itself because of the casual nature of the class.  It is a group of equals congregating to talk about a new trip.  As part of this, I have spent time studying some basic Vietnamese and history.  However, it is a challenge to train our ears, which are not schooled to distinguish the fine differences, to learn a language of five tones.  The wrong tone can mean saying “four” instead of “noodle”, or potentially worse.  In order to attain some sense of the language, I listen to audio CDs in my room in an attempt to distinguish the intonations and accustom my ears to the speed. I know that once over there, I expect the culture shock to be significant, so anything to lessen that impact will help me to gain a quicker foothold and allow me the best chance to enjoy and deepen my experience.

     Class has also exposed me to the world of Vietnamese culture through its folktales and some novels written by banned writers like Duong Thu Huong.  These insights into both the ancient and recent history of Vietnam offer a great comparison tool for my American life, seeing that many of their folktales reflect societal, religious, and cultural values emphasizing the role of family, simplicity, duty, as well as the importance of land. These folktales, combined with the knowledge of their agrarian society, piece together a picture of a culture with values that align differently from that of our fast-paced culture driven by its extreme emphasis on individuality and consumerism.  When connections like this are made, it serves as a mirror into my own life, granting time to reflect on my own values and how they orient on this spectrum.
 
     Accompanying us on this trip is Larry Powell, Dean Powell’s husband.  Mr. Powell is a Vietnam War veteran, who was fortunate enough to survive serving in the infantry.  His experiences in Vietnam, both as a soldier and as a returning photojournalist, have given us invaluable insight.  A public photo-essay by Mr. Powell on the Montagnards--the oppressed and displaced refugee group of the Central Highlands--was shown here at Queens.  It told the story of these simple mountain people, who lived in one of the highest-bombed and most heavily Agent-Orange sprayed areas of Vietnam.  This is ironic since the Montagnards were the staunchest allies of the United States military during the war.  Some of the local Charlotte Montagnard refugees were in attendance, and it was very humbling to meet them, and to understand their arduous struggle to gain refugee status in the United States.

     My own curiosity has led me to explore Vietnam in my own less conventional ways as well.  I pride myself on being an experimental eater, and this has been the perfect opportunity to test this!  I have since taken it upon myself to try several of the local restaurants multiple times-Pho 98 and Saigon Palace-with my parents and visiting friends, to sample the cuisine of the country.  The most useful advice I get is to “try everything!” It seems a bit daunting, but I think I can stomach it (and yes, the pun is intended ƒº).  But the cuisine, and other aspects of Vietnam, is not only limited strictly to “Vietnamese”.  Vietnam is a country with an interesting past.  It has been continually subject to external control and invasion, yet all the while it has maintained an intense hold on its separate identity and Vietnamese culture. Each wave of invasion and domination, be it Chinese, Russian, French, or American, have left a distinct imprint on Vietnam’s language, dress, cuisine, and architecture.  As a French student, I am excited to be able to explore a former French colony—a subject not studied in any of my French classes!  It seems so easy to get to Europe to see France, or even to Africa to see those Francophone former colonies.  But Vietnam seems more of an adventure, and Hanoi offers a chance to see the vestiges of French colonialism with the huge mansions and tree lined boulevards reminiscent of Paris--with the pandemonium of the motorcycle traffic of Asian culture, all served with a café au lait on the side.  What a fusion!

     Additionally, as a student of yoga, my practice has exposed me to the writings of many spiritual, psychological, and philosophical leaders and thinkers.  But it is my exposure to Vietnamese Buddhist and social activist, Thich Nhat Hanh that I have mainly applied in my preparation for this trip.  His extensive writings on the importance of nonviolence in response to global upheaval, especially within his own context of the Vietnamese-American War, were of much interest to me.  Particularly his book, Love in Action is a collection of writings from the Vietnamese Buddhist perspective dealing with peace, nonviolence, and reconciliation.  He stresses the need for mindfulness, patience, and keeping love within us to heal the wounds that cause us to deviate from peaceful relations.  Some of the most distinct images from the Vietnam War are the images of the monks and nuns who turned to self-immolation, and Love in Action urges the reader to understand that those were not actions of suicide but enacted to inspire change in the hearts of the oppressors, and to call the world’s attention to the situation in Vietnam.  This book offered a both a spiritual and political perspective that supplemented my existing idea of what happened in Vietnam.  It challenged me to question what is the right response in the face of aggression. 

     I know that traveling throughout Vietnam is going to be one of the most enthralling experiences of my life.  I expect the sights, sounds, smells, and tastes to be unfamiliar, forcing me into uncomfortable zones where I might not normally challenge myself to go--mentally or physically.  By traveling to a third world nation, one completely unfamiliar to my American life, I am asking for a challenge, and asking for my own ways to be questioned.  I will take the memories and experiences of new people, new foods, new places, and integrate them into my life. I see foreign travel as an integral part of becoming an active member of society because it allows for personal growth and expands the perspective of the individual who goes.  I am a sponge for knowledge, and it my personal philosophy to engage myself in activities that broaden my perspective of the world in which I live.  I have traveled across the United States and seen some of the most amazing natural wonders.  I have been on a pilgrimage across Ireland and the Aran Islands.  I have traveled to Bolivia a very poor third-world country, on a mission with my church.  On each trip I gained new knowledge about myself, about how different cultures work, and gained a new appreciation for the natural world.  To an even greater degree, I expect this trip to Southeast Asia to astound and humble me.  I want to see and bring back as much as I can of another way of life that contrasts so completely to my own through having the opportunity to immerse myself in it even for the short period of the twenty- days by eating, exploring on my own, and touring.  Everyone I have talked to who has gone abroad, or who has traveled to Vietnam has given me the same advice to be adventurous, but Mark Twain most impressively captures the true sentiment of his or her message:

“Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things you didn’t do than by the ones you did do.  So throw off the bowlines.  Sail away from the safe harbor.  Catch the trade winds.  Explore.  Dream.  Discover.”

This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, and I plan to live it to the fullest, savoring the unknown and exotic Vietnam.

Peter Green
JBIP: Class of 1958 Scholarship

     Ever since I heard there was an opportunity for students to travel to Italy for their John Belk International Program experience, I immediately knew that I wanted to take advantage of this opportunity. Upon entering the class, I was happy to hear that Rick Steves wrote both of our textbooks. His books were recommended to me last year when I consulted a family friend who had traveled throughout Europe as a member of the armed forces for any helpful information he had concerning European travel. He wrote down the name Rick Steves for me to remember because I was told the author provided much “non-touristy” information concerning travel throughout Europe. Therefore, on top of purchasing the Rick Steves books for class, I also purchased his Italy 2008 book. I felt that this would improve my knowledge of the region and provide suggestions for travelers who want to explore the country off the beaten path. His suggestions on experiencing Italy as a local would are the main reason for purchasing the book. When in Italy, I would like to take advantage of places he recommends that are normally visited by locals. There are many tips in this book for travel, some of which I have shared with the students in my class. There are maps of each major city in Italy as well, which has allowed me to decipher the surroundings of our trip before we have even arrived to the country. In addition to the Rick Steves books, I have also read the popular Dan Brown books The Da Vinci Code and Angels and Demons both of which take place in Europe and mention various works of art in detail. Additionally, I have browsed the website Youtube to watch any videos I can regarding famous sites in Italy, the Italian language, and even a few scenes from the classic film La Dolce Vita.

     Besides the purchase of the extra Italy book, I have asked other people knowledgeable with Italy for any information they may have such as travel tips or hints regarding sites and transportation. I will be staying behind in Italy after the rest of the JBIP group leaves in order to see more of Italy and Europe for myself and extend my international experience to four weeks. This will be personally rewarding on numerous levels. My father went backpacking across Europe the summer between his Junior and Senior year when he was in college as well. Also, last year I applied to the John Belk International Program to study abroad in Australia. To my disappointment, I had to decline this offer so that I could graduate on time without putting myself under too much academic stress. It was then that I decided I would make the most of my JBIP trip Italy. To prepare myself for this trip I have read sections of the Italy 2008 book and have also asked my JBIP professors, as well as my advisor Dr. Rhodes who lead the Western Mediterranean tour last year, for suggestions on where to go, what would be the best sites to see, and how to get those places. Dr. Quinn, the professor and leader on my trip this year, has been kind enough to provide me with suggestions and also a map of Italy so that I may plot where I would like to go and estimate the length of travel. I have also visited the JBIP office to speak with Mr. Mayhew about the European rail system and whether to buy an Italy country rail pass or pay for each ticket as I travel from place to place.

     There is much I hope to gain from this JBIP experience. Most exciting for me will be the chance to visit Rome and Vatican City. As both a Christian and an appreciator of art, I have wanted to visit these locations since before attending Queens. Being able to attend St. Peter’s Basilica and seeing Michelangelo’s Pieta has been a dream of mine ever since I saw pictures of them in high school. It is the powerful experiences such as this that have built a desire for me to travel to Italy. Upon first arriving to Queens, I was an undecided Art or Biology major. Though I have taken the route of Biology in my course of study, I have not lost my appreciation for various works of art. Furthermore, being well rounded in both the sciences and arts will greatly enhance my appreciation of this location of travel. I am deeply excited to travel to the cradle of the Renaissance, where both worlds of art and science came together to shape the progression towards scientific thought and reason. The place where artists produced the greatest works of art using breakthrough techniques with space, depth, contrast, and even the new execution of sfumato. Italy is the land of the scientist Galileo Galilei, and the artist Raphael. It is also home to scientist and artist Leonardo da Vinci. This “Renaissance Man” has long been a favorite of mine, as he mastered both science and art. He learned a plethora of knowledge varying all the way from the inner workings of the circulatory system and the development of a fetus to the concept for scuba gear, a submarine, and a flying machine before these were discovered or invented by modern man.

     To make the most of this time abroad, I have been preparing for what I will see while I am over there. I have always made an effort to read the cultural readings and learn the language from our textbooks, and have also done some planning of my own utilizing the extra book I purchased. I did these things to enhance my appreciation of works of art and architecture, and also to maximize my time with efficient planning for when I stay behind in Italy after the JBIP class departs. It is my hope to learn from this experience that viewing art can truly change a person. To see in person the greatest works of art ever produced will be a powerful experience that I believe will alter the way I view not only my faith but also myself. I hope to relearn history at the place where the Christian church was formed and where the great Caesars once walked. I not only want to take away pictures of the beautiful Amalfi Coast, or souvenirs for my parents, but most importantly the knowledge of another culture. I have not had the opportunity to dive into another culture quite like this before and am completely thrilled that I will be traveling in Europe for one month. Queens is allowing me the privilege of becoming a well-informed, global citizen through world travel and it is because of this institution that I am able to travel to Italy and experience everything I have to this point only read in books. I intend to make this a trip I will never forget!

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