'The most amazing gift'
Passion for learning and travel inspires Gilman Scholarship recipient

By Jennifer Cochran

Zodiac Maslin-Hahn thought about studying abroad before she thought about applying to college. For her, it was always a question of where -- not whether.

The junior African studies major spent fall quarter in the Council on International Educational Exchange study abroad program in Senegal with the support of the prestigious Gilman International Scholarship. Maslin-Hahn has a minor in French and plans a second minor in world religions.

"The Gilman Scholarship is really the most amazing gift anyone has ever given me," says Maslin-Hahn, who is considering serving in the Peace Corps after completing her degree. One day, she hopes to work in international development.

Maslin-Hahn says the West African nation of Senegal seemed the perfect choice for a study abroad destination: She wanted to experience life in a Muslim country and hoped to begin learning a third language. In Senegal, she gained exposure to Wolof, one of the languages spoken by the Senegalese people, and had the opportunity to converse daily in French, the official language of the former French colony.

Unlike simply traveling, study abroad provides for cultural immersion, says Maslin-Hahn.

"You get cultural orientation, language classes and the opportunity to live with a family that expects that you will become part of their family," she says. "I really needed an experience to help me figure out what I wanted to do and how far I’d be able to push myself."

In the suburbs of Senegal's capital, Dakar, Maslin-Hahn and another student lived with a host family of six. She attended classes in French, Wolof and Senegalese culture during the day and spent her evenings eating and socializing with the many visitors who passed through her host family's home. Maslin-Hahn's host father was the neighborhood imam, and her host-mother ran a hair salon on the lower level of their home.

Living in a country that only gained its independence from France in 1960 taught Maslin-Hahn the importance of history. "You have to acknowledge the effect of colonialism," she says, explaining that learning the Wolof language was one important way for her to demonstrate her respect for Senegalese culture. "I was acknowledging that they had a culture separate from France -- that they are an independent country."

In her interactions, Maslin-Hahn became accustomed to representing American culture to the people of Senegal, many of whom have never met a white person. She realized it was important for her to convey that not all Americans are the same. She, for instance, lived outside the United States -- in France and Puerto Rico -- until the age of 10.

Maslin-Hahn enjoyed the more laid-back lifestyle she experienced in Senegal. "They don't have such high expectations," she says. "They have fewer hang-ups about things that aren’t necessary.

"People are really inviting," she adds. For instance, it is common in Senegal for people to share food from one dish. She described being invited to share a meal with the women who worked at a coffee shop where she stopped for a drink after class one day. "Anything can happen, and you just go along with it," she says.

Maslin-Hahn was among 281 Gilman Scholarship recipients selected from a pool of more than 1,300 applicants in the fall 2004 competition. Established by the International Academic Opportunity Act of 2000 and sponsored by the State Department's Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, the program provides study abroad scholarships for U.S. undergraduate Pell Grant recipients. Winners' experiences are intended to better prepare them to assume significant roles in an increasingly global economy and interdependent world.

"Zodiac's motivation and intellectual curiosity really came through in her application," notes Betsy Morley, assistant director of the Office of Education Abroad. "She already had a strong interest in studying Islam and international relations and a passion for learning about different cultures. And her proposed service project showed a desire to share what she learned with the university and Athens community, making her an ideal candidate in every way."

Maslin-Hahn encourages other students to seek opportunities to study abroad. "It gives you a chance to learn through experience," she says. "It's totally different from learning in the classroom."

Students interested in the Gilman Scholarship may visit www.iie.org/programs/gilman/index.html or contact Betsy Morley in the Office of Education Abroad at morley@ohio.edu or 740-597-2721.

Jennifer Cochran is assistant director for communication and graduate programming for the university’s Center for International Studies.

Posted 5-19-06