Student Introductions (7/8)

Olivia and Aubrey of tent "Keeping up with the Kudus" will now give their student introductions and give thanks to those that made their trip possible!

Dumelang! Lenna lame ke Olivia Arena! I am a Plan II, Urban Studies, and International Relations triple major with a concentration in environmental studies and Latin America. I’ve always wanted to travel to Africa and this was a phenomenal opportunity to get technical experience in the field. Interested in sustainable and equitable urban planning and development, I was excited to learn about the evolving relationship between communities, resources, and climate change in a savanna ecosystem. International relations challenges learners to see cities as interconnected, and the UT Botswana trip offered me the opportunity to see a completely new continent, natural environment, and way of life. This wouldn’t have been possible without the generosity of the Plan II Honors Program, COLA Scholarship, and of course the ever-wary Arena familia. Besos de Botswana. 

Hi, my name is Aubrey LeBlanc. I’m a senior International Relations major, on the culture, media, and the arts track. I also have a minor in African Studies. My decision to come to Africa came from wanting a completely unique experience, and I thought Sub-Saharan Africa could provide me with that. The classes we’re taking, Climate Change and Environmental-Cultural Dynamics, are applicable problems we face today and will hopefully help me find solutions once I graduate. My dream is to start my own sustainable food business and be able to provide organic, sustainably-sourced food on a national and eventually global scale. I would like to thank my parents for providing me with this opportunity to learn about a completely different culture as well as gain hands on experience within the field. I hope to use this knowledge when starting my own sustainable business and wouldn’t be here without my parents’ support.