Izze's Independent Study Abroad
Donation protected
Help me add some real-life experience to my education!
Who says that learning only happens in a classroom? What you learn in the classroom is just a small subset of the things you can learn when you’re creating your own adventures, when you’re exploring. Experiencing a whole new place, new boundaries, gives you the chance to use what you learn in the classroom in real life – and grow on it, often just by simply absorbing what you’re immersed in. For a little while, I want to take my education into my own hands, and I’m hoping you can help me do it.
True knowledge, in my experience, is gained through meeting genuine curiosity, and swimming through where you are, with the people around you, totally breaking into new comfort zones, and leaving old ones behind. This is the kind of education I plan to manifest, with your help, through this wonderful, self-guided experience.
My name is Izze. I'm 19 years old, I'm a Colorado native, I'm five feet tall, and I'm ready to pursue a new adventure!
This upcoming spring, I plan to travel with two of my best friends, to create a curriculum that inspires us, teaches us about new cultures, and opens our minds to the endless beauty and diversity around us – and we’re going to report the whole thing online with a blog dedicated to our travels. The three of us are entering this experience with different curiosities, interests and skills – and with your help, we plan to work together to make this trip at least as educational as a semester in the classroom.
Since I was a young child, I’ve gravitated toward experiences that push me outside of my comfort zones. I’ve traveled to Peru twice, and South Africa once, expanding my comfort zones with each leap. I’ve also always had a desire to explore the human condition, and how we can lead ourselves into things like genocide, food security, education, inequality, racism and unrest. My direction in college includes anthropology and early childhood education - because I want to help young people build lives based on strong, positive foundations, and help to build their self-esteem. I want to help the next generations learn to be uncomfortable in their comfort zones, so they can see the beauty and challenge I see all around me.
Our Traveling Trio
A quick description of our band of travelers: Amelia is a dedicated Art history major, on the path to become an art conservator. Evin is extremely passionate about outdoor education and environmentalism. Along with my intentions to get my degree in Anthropology and Education, we’ll be able to delve into each stop deeply, and see everything through multiple lenses. Being totally immersed in different families, in the middle of their culture and experience, will teach us so much.
I plan to start off as an Au Pair (or "nanny") in Córdoba, Spain for two and a half months in the Spring. During that time, I'll be living with a wonderful family of six, helping to care for the children and to teach them English, and functioning as another member of the family. I'll also have the opportunity to work at one of their elementary schools while in Spain, volunteering at least a few times a week.
Later in the Spring, Amelia and Evin will meet me in Spain, where we'll experience the country, seeing all we can. In April, we plan to head to Italy for a month, and then all the way to Iceland for the month of May.
This isn’t a gap in my education, it’s an intentional addition that will only add depth and experience to my understanding of culture. Being abroad, I’ll gain real life experiences to bring to my views of education and anthropology. With your help, this experience will help me bring a diverse, informed background into the classrooms full of hungry minds that I hope to work with.
How your donation can directly support my journey:
$5 - lunch on the streets of Florence or Barcelona or a book to give one of the many young girls I hope to inspire along the way
$15 - dinner with fellow international travelers or HOT SPRINGS in Iceland
$25 will cover a night in one of the many youth hostels we’ll be staying at in Spain, Italy, Germany or Iceland.
$30-$50 - Educational Tours - here are a few we know we want to participate in:
Dachau Concentration Camp - I’ve long studied the Holocaust, genocide and apartheid - this has fueled much of my desire to study anthropology
Museums in Florence & Rome
Whale Watching in Reykjvik
So. Many. More.
$100+ - Transportation! While I have my ticket to Spain, we’ll still need to get from country to country, and eventually home.
Thanks for reading, and thanks for helping Amelia, Evin and I meet this challenge, and adding to our experiences with your generosity! Be sure to follow our blog and receive updates on our progress - we can’t wait to show off all we learn!
Who says that learning only happens in a classroom? What you learn in the classroom is just a small subset of the things you can learn when you’re creating your own adventures, when you’re exploring. Experiencing a whole new place, new boundaries, gives you the chance to use what you learn in the classroom in real life – and grow on it, often just by simply absorbing what you’re immersed in. For a little while, I want to take my education into my own hands, and I’m hoping you can help me do it.
True knowledge, in my experience, is gained through meeting genuine curiosity, and swimming through where you are, with the people around you, totally breaking into new comfort zones, and leaving old ones behind. This is the kind of education I plan to manifest, with your help, through this wonderful, self-guided experience.
My name is Izze. I'm 19 years old, I'm a Colorado native, I'm five feet tall, and I'm ready to pursue a new adventure!
This upcoming spring, I plan to travel with two of my best friends, to create a curriculum that inspires us, teaches us about new cultures, and opens our minds to the endless beauty and diversity around us – and we’re going to report the whole thing online with a blog dedicated to our travels. The three of us are entering this experience with different curiosities, interests and skills – and with your help, we plan to work together to make this trip at least as educational as a semester in the classroom.
Since I was a young child, I’ve gravitated toward experiences that push me outside of my comfort zones. I’ve traveled to Peru twice, and South Africa once, expanding my comfort zones with each leap. I’ve also always had a desire to explore the human condition, and how we can lead ourselves into things like genocide, food security, education, inequality, racism and unrest. My direction in college includes anthropology and early childhood education - because I want to help young people build lives based on strong, positive foundations, and help to build their self-esteem. I want to help the next generations learn to be uncomfortable in their comfort zones, so they can see the beauty and challenge I see all around me.
Our Traveling Trio
A quick description of our band of travelers: Amelia is a dedicated Art history major, on the path to become an art conservator. Evin is extremely passionate about outdoor education and environmentalism. Along with my intentions to get my degree in Anthropology and Education, we’ll be able to delve into each stop deeply, and see everything through multiple lenses. Being totally immersed in different families, in the middle of their culture and experience, will teach us so much.
I plan to start off as an Au Pair (or "nanny") in Córdoba, Spain for two and a half months in the Spring. During that time, I'll be living with a wonderful family of six, helping to care for the children and to teach them English, and functioning as another member of the family. I'll also have the opportunity to work at one of their elementary schools while in Spain, volunteering at least a few times a week.
Later in the Spring, Amelia and Evin will meet me in Spain, where we'll experience the country, seeing all we can. In April, we plan to head to Italy for a month, and then all the way to Iceland for the month of May.
This isn’t a gap in my education, it’s an intentional addition that will only add depth and experience to my understanding of culture. Being abroad, I’ll gain real life experiences to bring to my views of education and anthropology. With your help, this experience will help me bring a diverse, informed background into the classrooms full of hungry minds that I hope to work with.
How your donation can directly support my journey:
$5 - lunch on the streets of Florence or Barcelona or a book to give one of the many young girls I hope to inspire along the way
$15 - dinner with fellow international travelers or HOT SPRINGS in Iceland
$25 will cover a night in one of the many youth hostels we’ll be staying at in Spain, Italy, Germany or Iceland.
$30-$50 - Educational Tours - here are a few we know we want to participate in:
Dachau Concentration Camp - I’ve long studied the Holocaust, genocide and apartheid - this has fueled much of my desire to study anthropology
Museums in Florence & Rome
Whale Watching in Reykjvik
So. Many. More.
$100+ - Transportation! While I have my ticket to Spain, we’ll still need to get from country to country, and eventually home.
Thanks for reading, and thanks for helping Amelia, Evin and I meet this challenge, and adding to our experiences with your generosity! Be sure to follow our blog and receive updates on our progress - we can’t wait to show off all we learn!
Organizer
Isobel Thieme
Organizer
Denver, CO
