A great story.

Who's really in charge here?

During the past summer, several Gentlemen from Steds participated in the Center for Social Concerns' International Summer Service Learning Program, or ISSP for short. Here's what Frank Spesia, Steds junior and ISSLP participant, had to say when I finally caught up to him...

St.Ed: Frank, I heard that you did an ISSLP this past summer. Where did you go?

Spesia: I went to Komga, which is in the rural Eastern Cape of South Africa.

St.Ed: South Africa? Never been there, though after going to a Bush Gardens once in Tampa, Florida, I feel as if I have. Still, what were you doing there?

Spesia: I worked at Open Arms Home for Children, which is an orphanage that currently houses 57 kids aged 6 months to 16. I did a lot of different jobs while there, but every day I taught for a few hours in the preschool on-site. It really helped me stay fresh with my counting and color recognition. I read so many children's books that I now have 'a very hungry caterpillar' memorized!

St.Ed: Did you drive in South Africa? Don’t they drive on the wrong side of the road?

Spesia: I drove to Cape Town at the end of the trip. It was a 12 hour drive on the wrong side of the road, and there were very little traffic laws. Fortunately, I have exceptionally fast reactions and a natural ability to avoid head on collisions, so I made it there in one piece. 

St.Ed: I know they speak English down there, but you know, it’s like “English English” or “English English” with a Dutch twist… sounds like something you would add to a coffee. So, did you have problem communicating?

Spesia: I understood what everybody was saying, but they had the most ridiculous accents that it made serious conversation very difficult. It's hard to keep a straight face when somebody is talking in a voice that is like a bad british accent on steroids. It's almost too weird... it seems fake.

St.Ed: Why would you recommend an ISSLP to your fellow Stedsmen?

Spesia: ISSLP is a great way to get hands-on experience in a professional field that you are interested in (health care, business, etc.) while traveling abroad and experiencing another culture. It's also a near guarantee that you'll make at least one new friend, which honestly is why I signed up.

St.Ed: Indeed Frank! From the picture, it looks like you have made more than just one friend! Congratulations!