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Carolyn Loeb
Maynard, Mass.
Environmental Studies
In my Environmental Analysis
seminar, I study papers describing
ice thickness changes in the arctic.
I skim documents talking about
land use, energy policy and inequalities
inherent in the global climate
change initiative. Then I rush to
French Literature, ready to discuss
the text of Les Liaisons Dangereuses.
At 7 p.m. I return home to La maison
française to eat a hearty meal while
conversing in French with my five
housemates, two of whom hail from
France.
In addition to
taking coursework
on international
development taught in
French, I will live with
a French-speaking
family and do an
internship related to the environment.
—Carolyn Loeb
My life at Macalester is soon to
undergo a complete transformation.
I am preparing for a semester’s study
abroad in Senegal, gathering the
tools to make the most of my time: a
strong interest in development issues
in Africa, a basic knowledge of
French and environmental issues,
and a very open mind.
 The program I will go on introduces
students to Senegalese history, language
and culture, while creating
dialogue about problems faced by
the developing nation. In addition to
taking coursework on international
development taught in French, I will
live with a French-speaking family
and do an internship related to the
environment, perhaps in biological
research or sustainable agriculture.
The program attracts students of different
backgrounds and allows us to
find our own niche. As an environmental
studies major with a focus in
biology, I will explore how environmental
problems are dealt with in a
nation very different from my own.
At the same time, I hope to discover
a lot about myself and my future
direction in the field.
Why has soil erosion been such a problem
for Senegal? How are solutions culturally
derived? What is the biological basis for
the issue, and what can be done? These
questions are part of the vast puzzle
of land management and ecosystem
health. French is valuable to my
environmental work because it
allows me to discuss environmental
issues outside of the Anglophone
world, and living in the French
House is a wonderful step toward
my study abroad.
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Anticipating Senegal