Alumni Reflect on Working and Serving Abroad

Goldcott: I wanted to expand my perspective on life and see things from a different vantage point. It was always fascinating to me — the idea of living somewhere foreign, not just traveling but actually having an address and embracing the local culture.

Margolis: I was inspired by both personal and professional aspirations when I decided to do the Peace Corps in Uganda. I had been working in big pharma prior, an experience I loved and feel so much gratitude for; but deep down, I was searching for something more. I knew I wanted to remain in health care but wished to get out of the private sector and explore the field of global/public health. I thought, what better way than to go out into the field and really immerse myself in it, experience things at a ground level? I married this desire with my innate sense of adventure and curiosity about the world and felt like Peace Corps offered a unique opportunity to see how, at a fundamental level, other people lived. I felt a strong pull to get out into the world and learn from other cultures and people who lived lives drastically different from mine. Uganda, an incredibly culturally rich and diverse country of 45 million people and a hub for development and innovation, offered me the chance to do just that.

Goldcott: The first time I successfully spoke Thai to order food, figured out transportation and haggled with a street vendor was pretty special. It caught the locals off-guard that a foreigner knew the language and gained their respect.

Margolis: My time in Uganda truly transformed me and my outlook on the world, and there were so many memorable moments. When I reflect, I just remember the people most. Working with the nurses at the health clinic, the students in my Grassroot Soccer program, my neighbors and counterparts, the friendly strangers I met on public transportation and all the local people who are doing such incredible work in their communities, to educate, start businesses, care for the environment and mentor children. They welcomed me with open arms, cared for me, helped me learn and adapt, and showed me so much love. I miss the red dirt roads, rolling green hills and rainy season. I even miss handwashing clothes, the smell of burning trash and riding hours crammed into a matatu [mini-bus] with chickens and babies, drenched in sweat.

A specific memorable time was also when my family came out to visit. It felt like the colliding of two worlds and was beyond special getting to show them the country and community that I had called home and grown to love.

Goldcott: My time at Ravenscroft definitely impacted my interests to go abroad. The amount of classes, art and culture the school offered really opened my eyes to what else is out there. I would highly recommend any current students or younger alumni reading this to strongly consider working overseas if given the opportunity. I have tons of international friends and keep in touch regularly. The unknown can be daunting, but you never know what’s out there if you don’t go and see it for yourself.

Margolis: When I was at Ravenscroft, Africa had not yet been on my radar. However, my first-ever trip abroad was my junior year when I went to France on a student exchange during spring break with Mr. Teitelbaum and our French class. We went to stay with French peers and their families for two weeks in a small town called Compiegne. It wasn’t just a travel trip. We lived with our French families, shared meals with them, went to school with their kids, attended parties and studied French. It was my first true international, cross-cultural experience, and I will always credit this opportunity that Ravenscroft afforded with instilling in me my passion for travel and making global connections.

For anyone who has ever had the slightest interest in pursuing an opportunity abroad, whether it is travel, study abroad, doing a summer program or one day taking a job with a global company, my advice is to just do it! I can guarantee it will be scary and difficult. It will always be easier to remain in the confines of your comfort zone, close to everything and everyone you’ve ever known, but you will learn so much about yourself and the workings of the world. You will become a better, more knowledgeable and compassionate person. You will be stunned by the beauty of this world and all it has to offer, and you will build confidence and resilience that will carry you and serve you well throughout your life.