“I think in many ways God has used this trip to open my eyes to His Kingdom work throughout the world and taught me to look beyond the small corner of my own world” Cimber Winfrey, a junior business and mass communications major from North Little Rock, Ark. said.
Winfrey is studying abroad this semester in Salzburg, Austria. The opportunity to study abroad is offered every semester and during the summers at Ouachita. It can seem like an overwhelming journey, but it can be a unique life experience that students should consider taking advantage of. Ouachita offers the opportunity to study abroad in Australia, Austria, China, Costa Rica, England, France, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, Jordan, Morocco, Scotland, South Africa, and Spain.
Winfrey left her hometown of North Little Rock, Ark. in mid-January, and will remain in Salzburg until May 1. Her journey began with an orientation week in Munich, Germany heading off to Salzburg. She is with four other students from Ouachita, and fifteen other students from across the U.S.
Winfrey said it has been an awesome experience getting to know these people that she would have never really talked to at OBU or even met, had she not studied abroad. According to Winfrey, a typical week in Salzburg is full of “eating and studying and traveling.”. Students go to class Monday through Thursday, with a Wednesday afternoon excursion. Weekend day trips are also provided by Salzburg College. Last weekend they went skiing in the Alps.
In the upcoming months Winfrey plans to travel as much as she can. Her family has made plans to come over for two weeks to travel in Italy with her during an independent travel period provided by Salzburg College.
“One of my favorite things about Europe is the way you can travel a few hours and end up in a completely different country filled with completely different people, languages and culture,” Winfrey said.
This journey has not been a seamless one for Winfrey. She knew from her first semester of freshman year that she wanted to study abroad, so when the opportunity arose, she knew that she would regret it if she did not take it. It was nerve racking for her though, because she was not sure if she would actually be able to go.
“From day one Austria seemed to be the perfect fit for me,” Winfrey said..
Salzburg College offers communications classes and, being a business and mass communications major, she was drawn to the international market. She also gets to knock out both foreign language credits and one fine art credit while in Salzburg. However, most people battle some kind of hindrance when looking at studying abroad. For some it is financial, for others it could be class requirements, but for Winfrey, it was health. Winfrey battled with Type 1 diabetes since she was seven.
“Unfortunately, diabetes takes more than just your health…it takes your ability to be spontaneous,” Winfrey said.
She was not sure how she could pick up and move to another country for an entire semester, but after doctor’s appointments, many calls to the pharmacy, and attempting to pack three months of supplies into her bag, she knew she could manage.
“I feel like the moments of preparation leading up to the trip required just as much faith as it took me to step onto the plane,” Winfrey said.
Looking back, Winfrey realizes that she can now see God’s hand moving through it all.
“He has taught me that there are no limits to his power,” Winfrey said. “Our dreams are not accidental, they are given with a unique and divine purpose, all of which will turn around and bring him more glory.”
By Katie Jo Henley
