Jennifer Komos
Biography
Name: Jennifer Komos
Class: 2008
Major: French (graduating with Honors as a University Scholar)
Minor: Psychology
Recent travels: With Xavier’s Aline Fredin Memorial Scholarship, I traveled to Europe in the spring of 2007. I lived in Cannes, France, for two weeks and in Paris from the end of January through the end of May. My apartment was a five-minute walk from the Eiffel Tower and a five-minute walk from the Arc de Triomphe and the Champs-Elysées! Throughout the semester, I was able to travel to various cities in Europe, including London, Dublin, Barcelona, Venice, Florence, and Rome. I also enjoyed visiting parts of la belle France: Paris, Versailles, Normandy & Brittany, the Loire Valley, and the beautiful waterlily gardens of Impressionist painter Claude Monet.
Travel plans: This summer, with Xavier’s Brueggeman Fellowship, I traveled to Kenya, with the intent of studying education and the empowerment of women. For four weeks, I stayed at Hekima Place, a home in Karen, southwest of Nairobi, which houses girls, most of whom are orphaned by HIV/ AIDS. The girls range in grade level from elementary school to high school. Visit www.hekimaplace.org to learn more! I also visited Hekima Primary School just down the road, where I helped teach French and put together a writing contest for the students and teachers. The response was phenomenal! I am currently working on putting together a book of the winners’ submissions. My time spent at these places, along with a two-day safari in the Maasai Mara, made for a wonderful trip and an amazing experience. Please feel free to read my blog!
Because of the relationships I formed during my trip this summer, I sincerely hope to return to Kenya next summer, or sometime in the near future, to visit new loved ones and solidify friendships.