The summer of Kim Estenson's sophomore year, she studied in Lesotho in order to have a broader awareness of the world. Now that she has lived away from my own home for a month, she says she has a deeper understanding of the United States. She chose the trip because the idea of serving others abroad excited her, especially children. "However, I had not expected the work to be as rewarding and humbling as it was."

What was your favorite/most memorable experience?

My most memorable experience in Lesotho was being part of the opportunity my group had to meet King Letsie III. I have never had tea with royalty before, and it was neat to share our service experiences with him.

Do you have any examples of ‘culture shock’?

There wasn’t any heating or Wi-Fi in our first couple weeks there. It was definitely a shock to not communicate with my family for so long—but I think that it taught me to value face to face conversations more.

In what ways has this experience changed you?

I am beginning to understand what it means to be a global citizen by being part of this Wittenberg program. There is definitely a Wittenberg bubble that I feel connected to on campus, but there is also a Wittenberg international bubble where students are learning and impacting others all around the world.

Kim Estenson '19
Major: English & East Asian Studies
Hometown: Cincinnati, Ohio