Jenna Carlsson (Senegal, 2005-06)

Fun is not the word, Laura and I decided over 30 cent “couscous marocain” at the restaurant. We were thinking about our time abroad, how we will be heading home relatively shortly, and what it will be like to be back at home discussing our time abroad with others. If I could pick one word to describe my experience here, I stated, fun would not be it. No, Laura added laughing, fun definitely would not be the word to describe the year.

We were talking about what it would be like to regroup with friends and share experiences. It will be hard to relate, even with friends who studied abroad on other programs. Laura thought it would be hard to relate her experience to her many friends who spent the year studying abroad in Europe. Well, I know their experiences are very different from ours, I said, but it’s not like they didn’t have to go through culture shock too. True, she agreed, but I doubt they had travelers’ diarrhea. I thought it was possible. Still, she persisted, there’s no way they talked about their bowel movements as much as we did. OK, true, I said.

My concern is that people who spent their time abroad in Europe will come back to be like, Omigod! I had such a fun year! What about you? And we will be like…well, it was really hard. Laura jumped in: “I had to give bread to starving kids outside my cafeteria every day. Woohoo!” I chuckle. It’s true. I can’t compete with people who have had really “fun” years… but then again, that’s not why I came here. I didn’t come here expecting to have a really woohoo fun year. Not that there haven’t been many fun moments. There definitely have been really awesome times. But my goal in coming here was to learn… to learn so much… and I have definitely done that. That is what makes me experience a success. Kudos to you, Laura confirms.

No, seriously, Laura goes on, if I had to pick one word to describe this year, I think it would be ‘humbling.’ I nod in agreement. Humbling. Either humbling, or, ‘I learned a lot’, she says. Laura, I say, ‘I learned a lot’ is not one word. OK, fine, so, humbling, she decides. It was a good word.

It has been really hard at times… adjusting to so many new things, being on an isolated college campus (not that I’m not used to it at UCSD), dealing with language difficulties, feeling guilty for having money in a place so poor, learning that I will always be white and female, being called ‘la gazelle’ or ‘la belle’ or worst of all, ‘la mignon’ every day just for being white, trying to make friends across cultural borders…

But there is so much I would not have gained if I had not come here. I learned to appreciate so much, for one, but I also learned how much I really don’t need or even want. My eyes have been opened to so much more, I am open to so much more, and I am more the person I want to be.

Marilyn Shapley (Egypt, 2005-06)

“I have commuted between the world’s capitals:
Travel is no longer an achievement;
I must begin to do meaningful things.”

Dennis Brutus, I Have Commuted between the World’s Capitals

Thank God there are writers like Dennis Brutus to express the words bottled up inside as I try to describe what this year has meant to me. I know I expected more than just the stereotypical picture by the Sphinx with the pyramids in the background, but I greatly underestimated what I would take away from Cairo.

I’ve taken the hardest classes of my life, and I didn’t collapse. I discovered toilet paper is a privilege, not a right. I found out talking slowly and loudly will not improve my communication skills. I now have a friend to stay with in a lot more countries around the world. I can almost speak Arabic. I can pretend to know a little about refugee issues. I can even shake my hips like a belly dancer if Nancy Egram (an Egyptian singer) comes on the radio.

But, as important and memorable as these things are, they are not the greatest thing I take from my time in Cairo. What I really learned here is how little I know about the world. My dreams have grown exponentially since coming here, and not just in terms of where I picture myself traveling in the future. Being here has forced me to look at my plans for my education, job, even the friends I want to have, and the bar has been raised higher than it was before. I will take back a humble, hardworking spirit. It is a spirit that discovered the world is as big or small as I want it to be, and now I will reach for the stars and not just the sky. “I must begin to do meaningful things.”

Tamami Komatsu (Italy, 2005-06)

“Because it was starting to get dark and the streets were crowded, I bumped into a googleplex people. Who were they? Where were they going? What were they looking for? I wanted to hear their heartbeats and I wanted them to hear mine.”

Jonathan Safran Foer
Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close

Although these are the words of Jonathan Safran Foer, it is really me talking and Chris, I know it is you as well.

I have spent almost a year now studying in Bologna, Italy and it’s been a lifetime. I’ve had the most amazing privilege of living and learning from three fabulous Italians and can honestly say that I’ve created a warm home and beautiful life for myself. Yet I have realized that no matter how hard I try I’ll never be able to express myself to them completely, that they will never see me how I see me, that some fundamental things about myself will never translate, will never make it over that barrier, that words are not just words but ideas, concepts, and emotions. I understand now the difference between being a liberal, open student and a liberal, open citizen. I know the agony of being generalized. I also know that with every experience a particular is automatically added to a chain of similar particulars that will eventually form a generalization, especially should it be a negative one. I know that openness can be a synonym for naive. I’ve realized that it is useless to tell others anything because in the end they already know it in the way they want to know it. I know that everyone feels justified for reasons they will never be able to express. I also know that all of what I’ve just said means nothing to anyone but me because all of that is founded on experiences that I will never be able to explain. I am 21 years old and I expect people to know and understand me from the moment they meet me. And you wonder why peace doesn’t exist in the world…. yet on the other hand, it’s kind of odd that it doesn’t when everyone, from the bottom of their heart, desires it above all else.

We’re listening for words; that’s the problem. Thanks to you, Chris, and the year you’ve given me, I know now what it is I’m supposed to be listening for: that universal beat that needs no common language or culture to understand. Finally, I know what it takes to be a global citizen. Oh, and Chris, I hear your heartbeat; it’s just a matter of time before we all get synchronized to it.

Alice Wagner (Scotland, 2004-05)

Living and studying in Edinburgh allowed me to grow tremendously as I began to establish myself in a new environment. The exposure to new people, new accents, customs, lifestyles, and a new educational system offered me a novel perspective on the world community, and a unique opportunity to grow as an individual.

I found that although two people may come from completely different countries, have two completely different backgrounds, and hold very different values, they can still come together on a common ground as students and individuals, and appreciate the diversity and richness of the Earth.

Henrick Shyu (Japan, 2004-05)

I’m a little hesitant to speak about my experiences abroad. There is so much to say that when people ask me about it, I don’t even know where to start or how long to go on for. I’ve hiked through frozen craters in Hokkaido, slept alongside the beaches in Kyuushuu, watched the sunrise from the peak of Mt. Fuji, and made and lost dozens of friends.

At this stage, it’s still too early to say how the experience has affected me as I find myself still changing, and standing at a fork in the road right now.

You see, I’ve recently been doing some job-hunting. As a graduate student majoring in Computer Science, I’ve applied to software companies and in fact have an interview scheduled shortly. As an EAP returnee who longs for adventure and mystery again, I’ve also applied to teach English in Japan, and will soon interview for that job. Family and friends say it doesn’t really make sense for me to teach in Japan, but at the same time, I don’t see myself being able to refuse an offer if I receive one. I guess only time will tell which road is for me. So, a lot of things are still up in the air. In a way you could say the journey is still continuing within me.

The experience overall however, has been a very positive one, and I consider last year to be the best that I’ve ever had. I feel that I’ve lived more than I could have hoped for already, and find myself being able to laugh more, and to give more because of it. It’s a sense of freedom really, from despair you could say. That one I owe to Chris.

Brian Israel (England, 2003-04)

My most shocking revelation while studying abroad was that I was experiencing revelations at all! In the years immediately prior to my year abroad, I had traveled extensively through countries whose radical differences from “home” could be immediately and tangibly felt, seen, heard, smelled, and tasted. It was against this backdrop that I assumed that spending a year in England, studying at University of Bristol Law was a copout – an arrangement of purely academic expedience. This assumption, however, went into the rubbish bin along with many other assumptions shortly after beginning my studies, and new life, in Bristol.

The “differences” I experienced in England were far more nuanced, and required transplanting my life and studying there to detect. Studying constitutional law in a country without a written constitution is representative of the kind of nuanced differences I experienced. In debates in and outside the classroom, I found myself explaining, justifying, and occasionally defending the “American way” of doing things – what I had long taken for granted as common sense seemed exotic to my British classmates. I thus became less “married” to the status quo, the way things have always been done.

Playing [American] football in the UK was another experience whereby nuanced differences that initially offended my American sensibilities served to open my mind. The rules of the game were not different, yet the mindset and approach of players was – something I came to recognize not as more right or wrong than what I grew up with – just different.

Beyond the fond memories, lasting friendships and acquired habits, the most enduring souvenir of my “copout” year abroad is a new way of thinking.

Jonathan Wang (Japan, 2003-04)

I believe that the best way to describe the impact of having gone abroad would be to present it in the form of advice to those who have yet to do the same:

Spending a year abroad does not open your eyes merely to the tones of another civilization, but inwards into the core of your persona as well. The moment you step off that plane and set foot on foreign soil, that is when it all becomes real. Fantasies, hopes, and expectations are swept away by the reality of the situation to which you have voluntarily exposed yourself, and the challenge of prospering in such a place becomes rapidly apparent over the next hour, the next day, and so forth.

Overcoming logistics, cultural unknowns, and the terror of interacting with native people as one who does not fundamentally belong is enough to survive for a year. But the fruits of an experience abroad come from raising the courage to overcome one’s own sense of fear and pride; to be ready to make mistakes, and to learn to withstand embarrassment. It is these personal thresholds that you must cross to be able to even begin experiencing the alien environment surrounding you. Without having come this far, one’s experience in another country can hardly extend beyond the imagination inspired by a marriage of textbook trivia and popular stereotyping.

One way or another, a year abroad will reveal new information, and while the breadth of that knowledge will certainly be greater should one learn to take initiative in exploring it, the real opportunity in traveling abroad lies in the opening of one’s senses to distant worlds, unfamiliar peoples, and new ideas. Once you have gained that, then it will be easy to enjoy the rest of the year. More importantly, the confidence you will have gained will last beyond the day you step on the plane headed back home, and you will be stronger for it anywhere in days to come.

Julia Carter (Egypt, 2002-03)

One of my most vivid memories of my year abroad in Egypt came on my very first day in the country. My plane had arrived in Cairo, seemingly wending its way through dozens of minarets, touching down amidst the shimmering heat and dust. Immediately I was swept into dealing with luggage, passport control, customs, and the choking traffic. I finally arrived at my dorm in the quiet, shady neighborhood of Zamalek and I sat on the edge of the bed, surrounded by suitcases. I remember that moment, sitting in the cool quiet, and the one thought that ran through my mind: “What in the world have I done?”

Looking back now, more than three years later, I know the answer to that question. That year in Cairo ignited an interest in the Middle East that is still an important part of my life. It widened my perspective to an extent that I hadn’t even known was possible. It humanized a part of the world that is routinely dehumanized in the media and in politics. It gave me a sense of self that continues to be a touchstone for me, and the knowledge that I can handle just about anything that comes my way. It introduced me to the amazing depths of hospitality, generosity, and humor that exist amongst a people. Last but certainly not least, it allowed me to perfect my hummus recipe. I am not a wildly different person because of that year, but I do think I am a more sensitive, courageous, perceptive, and, ultimately, a better person because of my experiences in Egypt.

Mary Jo Velasco (France, 2002-03)

I had known for a long time that I wanted to study abroad my junior year in college and that most likely I would spend that year in Europe. This is not too surprising, seeing as since an early age, I have had the enormous opportunity to delve into the customs, traditions and histories of different cultures. Raised in a bilingual/bicultural atmosphere, I have always been fascinated with discovering other languages and customs. It still astounds me to experience either personally, or vicariously, different ways of life from my own. It is then that the sense “everyone carries a personal universe of his/ her own” hits me the hardest. I realize now that even though I may not always be sure of different career decisions or of where I will be in a few years, my study abroad experience reinforced in me the sense that I will continue to evolve in different aspects of my life so long as I am open to truly share it with others. For it is in this open sharing that we discover the personal histories, the “universes,” of other people and forget to take our own for granted.

I am still living abroad today, and this, I believe, proves most persistently that my year abroad in Bordeaux, France left an indelible mark on my own personal history. I suppose I just loved French bread too much to want to leave! My year abroad was not only my first year so-away from home, it was a year when I developed friendships with wonderful people, passionate about my same interests to travel and experience different cultures. It was a year when I strengthened the confidence to adapt to a different system and flourish despite cultural and linguistic considerations. It was also a year when everyday life was a constant adventure and memorable experiences – like singing Mozart’s Requiem in a beautiful old church – seemed (and still do!) too good to be true.

Ultimately, I am very thankful for my year spent in Bordeaux, for it detailed a sketch of my life, my qualities, and my personal goals that I now continue eagerly to color.

Ben Winkler-McCue (Spain, 2001-02)

I spent my junior year of college living in Santander, a mid-sized city on the Atlantic coast of Northern Spain. My memories of Spain have a dreamy lightness about them. In the four years that have passed, I haven’t once returned for a visit. Excuses abound: plane tickets are expensive, the euro is strong compared to the dollar and I now have a real job with limited vacation. Yet deep down I know that none of these account for why I haven’t gone back. The truth is, I don’t want to visit, because that would only mean leaving again. No, the next time I go to Northern Spain I will not have a return ticket.

I fell in love with the life in Spain. I felt I belonged there. Everything felt just right. All of my hopes and needs were met and in perfect balance with one another. I was constantly learning, wrapped in a whole new way of life. Yet my time in Santander did more for me than expand my knowledge of culture and language; it increased my self awareness, and feeling of place in the world.

To all those who supported my year abroad, I am forever grateful. The fifteen some months I spent in Europe set the tone for the rest of my college experience as well as influenced my perspective and sense of place in the world. As time passes, I think less and less about my life in Spain. Yet when I do, the first impulse is always to buy that one-way ticket.

Ellen Holloway (Spain, 2001-02)

Just about every time I speak to someone in Spanish, they are impressed by my accent. They usually ask “De donde eres?” (Where are you from?) When I say “I’m from California,” they seem surprised and comment, “Hablas muy bien el espanol,” (You speak Spanish very well). Attending university in Spain my junior year made me a confident Spanish-speaker with a strong bond to native Spanish-speakers and Spanish-speaking cultures. From where I stand today that is the greatest impact my experience abroad has made on my life.

My love for the Spanish language has formed my life since returning from my year in Granada, Spain. I engage Spanish speakers at every opportunity. Earlier this year at Catholic Charities Immigration Law Clinic, I counseled a Colombian man seeking asylum. At this same clinic I interviewed a Salvadoran man regarding employment discrimination. A few weeks ago while volunteering with Community Tax Aid of Boston, I spoke to a Guatemalan couple about their income tax return; and just yesterday a Puerto Rican man helped me at a hardware store. Each of these people lit up when I spoke with them in Spanish, and I felt so happy to converse in their native language. The reason I am able to relate easily to people in Spanish is because I spoke Spanish every day of my year in Granada. I listened intently to people’s words so that I could make sense of the meaning of those words. I looked folks in the eye and asked them follow-up questions to make sure I understood. This is what I do today as a law student representing Spanish-speaking clients. I look them in the eye; I listen to their words, and I ask follow-up questions to clarify their concerns. The act of conversing in Spanish is delightful to me. In fact, it is consistently something that I seek out to enrich my life.

Since starting law school almost two years ago, I have questioned my decision many times. “Why did I want to go to law school?” I asked myself last Tuesday as I stepped into the lobby of my apartment building, where a man was vacuuming. I smiled at him and was reminded of the Salvadoran gentleman I had helped a few weeks earlier at Catholic Charities, a man who had been fired from his job because of an INS error with his work authorization. In that moment, I was reminded of the responsibilities of my educational privileges, including my year at the University of Granada. Studying abroad helped me to master the Spanish language, a skill which has come to shape my life choices. When I feel completely lost, I remember my love of travel, culture, and language. Studying abroad gave me the opportunity to develop that passion, a passion that continues to comfort and guide me today.

Shige Itoh (Japan, 2000-01)

It’s been almost 5 years now since I returned home from spending a year in Japan. In that time I’ve graduated from UC San Diego, completed law school, and ventured into society. Although it seems and feels like a long time ago, my experiences from my year in Japan continuously return to me. Whenever I meet someone from Japan, I become delighted by an indescribable urge to approach and converse with them. I believe this feeling comes from my insatiable curiosity that was particularly piqued during my time in Japan. It must also come from my desire to understand where my ancestors and part of my culture originated. But, my interest isn’t solely isolated to Japanese people. Whenever I meet non-Americans, I also get this same feeling. I attribute this part of my feeling to my understanding of what it is to be a citizen of the world, rather than simply a member of a smaller society. One beauty of studying abroad is the opportunity to mingle and meet people of other backgrounds and cultures who aren’t from the host country. So by studying in Japan, I not only got to learn more about Japan, but also about those around me who were also simultaneously taking in the wonderful aspects of the unique society around us.

I have also noted that my Japan experiences benefit me greatly in my daily life as a professional. I currently work with many international legal issues. To a U.S. trained lawyer, many of the laws of foreign countries neither appear coherent nor do they simply feel right. However, whether you agree or disagree with the foreign law, that is the law of the respective land, and one must respect that law or forgo transacting business in that particular jurisdiction. Perhaps the best method for approaching these differences is not by rejecting these laws as ludicrous, but to look to the cultural and historical underpinnings of the laws. For example, the laws in Japan are very different from those in the U.S., and at times seem convoluted and unclear. I have found that by referring to my historical and cultural understandings of Japan, these laws become much more rational as I begin to understand why the people who created the laws drafted the laws as they did. I believe this has made me not only a better thinker, but a more reasoned and rational lawyer. I know that without my experiences in Japan, none of these perspectives would be even comprehensible to me.

Yukio King (Germany, 2000-01)

My decisions over the years to learn a foreign language, play a musical instrument, take up competitive athletics or nurture my interests in urban landscapes have come to define who I am today. But that is only part of the story. The common thread connecting these multiple facets of my life is rooted in a seemingly harmless decision I made sometime in the Fall of 1999 to spend my junior year abroad in Germany. What started as an adventure that would push my boundaries over the course of a year became an insatiable interest in a city that lingered long after I had returned to my country of origin. Berlin became for me a city full of opportunity and intrigue and I knew upon returning to California that it would not be long before I saw it again. After graduation and multiple attempts to find a way back to Berlin, I said goodbye to the university life and came home to Yolo County in July of 2003 to start a new chapter in my life. After about three months of living at home and working full-time, I finally decided to book a plane ticket to Berlin to spend a month reacquainting myself with my old friends and neighborhoods.

Although my return flight was scheduled to get me home by Thanksgiving, the much-anticipated “Turkey Day” came and went and I was still in Berlin. By Christmas of 2003, I found myself in love with a Berliner and determined to make something happen for myself. Needless to say, my life had been turned upside-down and I was loving every minute. Anja, the Berliner, and I married in June of 2004. After completing an internship in Berlin’s city planning office and faced with the somewhat anemic state of Berlin’s city planning market, I decided to start work as an English translator for a local Berlin-based software company. I began taking violin lessons again and joined a rowing club. Recently I started a Masters program called “Sound Studies” at Berlin’s University of the Arts. Put simply, this program puts both a practical and theoretical focus on the issues of sound in our societies and built environments with the goal of creating a new generation of sound designers suited to work in fields ranging from architecture to multimedia marketing. This program offers me an exciting synthesis of my interests in music and urban planning with a backdrop of a city on the cutting-edge of contemporary creativity.

The true legacy of the Chris Borton Memorial Scholarship Fund (CBMSF) is far more valuable than the monetary support it provides. Embodied in Chris’ living memory, the CBMSF’s spirit of generosity and emphasis on connections beyond our borders have planted seeds in each of its recipients to help us realize the value of studying abroad. This scholarship helped put me on the path to discover a place that has become much more than simply a city with a fascinating culture and history. For me, Berlin is now a place of family and formative personal experiences that will stay with me long after I leave, whenever that may be.

Nicole Wu (France, 1999-00)

The EAP year abroad was the most rewarding part of my college experience. It was a great opportunity to immerse myself in a culture that I was always curious about. The French culture is a lot slower paced than New York… Living here, you sometimes get so involved in your day to day routines that you forget to sit and enjoy a nice meal or an espresso at a cafe. I feel that my time in France reminds me of that and now I make it a point (at least on weekends) to have friends over for a big dinner party with French wine (of course). I am always looking for French events in the city, movies or conversation round tables, where I can meet others with similar interests and practice my French.

I enjoyed the experience so much that I encouraged my little brother, Bruno, to go abroad as well. He is currently studying musical theatre in London (at least that’s what he tells us), and is absolutely loving it!

I still go to Brazil once a year to visit family and friends, and have already booked my flight this year for August. Since working in the Finance Department at Lehman Brothers I now have 3 weeks of vacation, instead of 2 (at my previous job), I get a little more time to travel to other places. In February, I went to Punta Cana, DR, with some friends. Although it was only for 4 days, we had a relaxing time in the sun! I am also hoping to go back to France next year for the Roland Garros Tennis Tournament. Hopefully, I will get to practice my French, revisit some of my favorite spots and reconnect with old friends.

Mark Morris (Ghana, 1998-99)

i seem to have always had this urge to not necessarily turn my back on my roots or my place – and not out of dissatisfaction – but to move around, to explore, knowing that there was more for me to see, and a larger world that i was, and am, a part of. studying abroad seemed like the perfect opportunity for me to do this, and was for me essential.

i am a very particular person, but when choosing where to study abroad, i was not picky. because my language skills were not up to par, i was limited to studying in a country where english was the language of instruction. the other determining factor: choose someplace totally different. i figured this was my chance to put myself in a completely unique, and perhaps for a while, uncomfortable place, in that i would be lost, frustrated, shocked and/or scared. i also know that i am a pretty adaptable creature, smart and headstrong enough to survive any situation, enjoy the ride, and emerge a better person. for this reason, and because i had never before heard of ghana, that’s where i chose to spend my year abroad.

my experience there was somehow exactly as i predicted, difficult at first, frustrating, but over all, truly the most wonderful year of my life. my experience there was also nothing i could have ever imagined. the color, the vibrancy and cultural richness of the people and the country was touching, at times overwhelming. perhaps because the market embodied this spirit, i found myself returning to the market every day, sometimes all day, talking with the market women, learning more twi. it was a place i felt secure and comfortable, a place that accepted me, a place where i learned and grew. i knew that my time there, and in ghana, was temporary, and that only made my place there more precious.

i am honored to have been selected to receive a scholarship in memory of chris, enabling me to have this opportunity. i feel blessed for my experience, and hope i have lived up to chris’ engaging cultural spirit. i will treasure always this year of my life, and often reflect on it, smiling, knowing that it was indeed real, better – more challenging and more rewarding – than i ever could have imagined.

Austin Leininger (Scotland, 1998-99)

My year abroad in Stirling, Scotland through the EAP program at UC San Diego was an amazing and life-changing event. Arriving home from Scotland, I wanted to get back on the plane and go back. I still want to live there at some point, and may have the opportunity through a priest exchange with the Scottish Episcopal Church.

The people there were quite simply real. They were down to earth, friendly, had their priorities straight and were gracious and filled with gratitude for the blessings in their lives. By contrast, many Americans are self-centered, have an entitlement complex, have misplaced values based on media and materialism, and are quite simply spoiled. That’s not to say that Americans are bad people, but my own values and nature truly resonated with the people of Scotland.

So what made the experience so amazing? I know a big part of it is my lifelong fascination with castles, the middle ages, Scottish history, etc. But it was also an amazing opportunity to study in a new context, to actually experience the history of a place by going there and living in it. The culture, the Scottish highland and country dance, the cuisine, the amazing climate (I LOVE fog, wind, and rain!!), the living history, the change in driving and walking… it was one of the most wonderful years of my life!

I had a kilt fitted whilst studying there, which I wore for my wedding in 2003, I am continuing with my (limited) Gaelic and plan to learn more, and much of my favorite music comes from my time there. Broadening my horizons was a big part of the experience, and one which I plan to continue as I make plans to travel to far and distant places in the coming years. Ray and Verena were a big part of making this experience possible, and for that I am profoundly grateful.

As for life and other such stuff… I graduated with my Masters of Divinity on May 20th, got hired as the new Assistant Rector of St. Martin’s Episcopal Church on May 26th, got ordained on June 3rd, and packed up and moved to Davis on June 12th! What a whirlwind of events! My wife Jane, our dog Ginger, and our cat Fred have all endured the move with patience and grace, and are all very pleased to be living in Davis now!

Jennifer Chang (England, 1997-98)

When Ray and Verena told me about their plans to gather at The Land and celebrate Chris’ life, my first thought was “Has it really been ten years?” That means that it’s been nine years since I left UCSD to spend a year in Norwich, England, yet it seems as though only half that time has passed. It was while gathering my thoughts for this communication that I realized that this was most likely due to the fact that I haven’t recently thought about my time abroad; writing this letter has given me the opportunity to reevaluate how the experience affected me.

Living in the United States, I think it can be easy to forget that there are billions of other people whose wants, needs, ideologies and lives are different – but not less important – than ours. I’d like to think that spending a year outside this country increased my interest in other (non-American) points of view. Traveling through Europe was also a confidence-building experience; I came away from it knowing that I could take care of myself. Finally, while it is difficult for me to know whether it was specifically my time abroad or just progressing through my 20’s (probably both) that have contributed to the two points above, one thing I know would never have happened had I not gone to England is the friendships I made there. I wish I could say that I was still in touch with all the students I lived with, but seeing the few with whom I still correspond go on to med school/grad school/theater in London/etc. and keeping them apprised of the changes in my own life has been meaningful.

I never had the opportunity to meet Chris. But as the list of scholarship recipients has grown over the last nine years, I can’t help but think that it’s remarkable how much he has continued to touch people’s lives.

Mike Scanlin (Founder)

Chris was one of my very best friends. We met on our first day at UCSD as I was unpacking my Apple II computer. Chris came over and said “Oh, so you’re into computers? Nice. I’m Chris, by the way.” That was just the way he was… friendly and outgoing.

We were buddies all through college and after. Both of us did the EAP program to Europe in our junior year. And after college we spent some time together in Holland and in Germany. Later, we ended up working together for several years at a high tech company.

Anyone who knew Chris knows what a well-rounded and stand up guy he was. A rare combination of someone who was genuinely good in both the arts and sciences, and a pleasant person to be around.

Chris would really dig the scholarship fund that has been set up in his name. It represents him so well… It creates goodwill towards others in different cultures, helps worthy students further their studies, and promotes a sense of adventure.

It is a lasting and perpetual tribute to a great person and a great friend.