Allie ecstatic and counting the days

Hi! My name is Allie Ball, and I’m a sophomore majoring in English and Political Science. I first heard about the Cape Town program just a few weeks into my freshman year, and I immediately knew it was something I seriously wanted to do. It provided everything I could possibly want in a study abroad program- interesting classes, real work experiences, a close-knit community, and an incredible location. I was so determined to go that I actually was pretty nervous about the application process; it’s a popular program, and I didn’t even want to consider what would happen if I didn’t get in! Luckily, I was accepted, and I’ve been practically giddy with excitement ever since. (I actually read the acceptance email at about 1:30 in the morning, and I was so thrilled that I couldn’t fall asleep!)

I was planning on talking about which part of the program I am most looking forward to, but now that I’m actually writing this I can’t decide! Just the thought of spending over three months in South Africa is amazing; its combination of history, culture and natural beauty make it a truly unique country, and I’d like to learn more about it. As if that weren’t enough, I get to work in a school as well! I love teaching kids, so I can’t imagine a better internship for me. And beyond that, I’m looking forward to bonding with the other people going to Cape Town. It seems that past groups have grown very close over the course of the program, and so I can’t wait to get to know everybody. Overall, I am just ecstatic about my acceptance to the UConn in Cape Town program, and I’ll be counting down the days until we depart.