French and cultural immersion in Morocco

The opportunity to study abroad was made possible by a scholarship Caine received through OVPDEI. Caine, who hopes to work in corporate IT eventually, learned of the scholarship through Ochmaa Escue, the director of OVPDEI’s Overseas Studies and Scholarship Program.

“Being familiar with her background, I knew Mica was an ideal candidate for the scholarship, so I encouraged her to apply for it” said Escue. “We hope more students like her take advantage of the opportunity to study abroad and learn more about other parts of the world while representing IU and OVPDEI.”

While in Morocco, Caine was part of a Francophone program, which required her to take her classes in French, in addition to course taught in Darija, the Moroccan dialect of Arabic.

While it was challenging, the active Caine, who is also the president of the Undergraduate Business Diversity Council, an organization that provides resources, social activities and professional development opportunities for underrepresented minorities for the business school, the historian-in-chair of arts and letters for the Gamma Nu chapter of her sorority, Delta Sigma Theta, Inc., and a member of the board of Aeons, 12-person board that advises the president, it’s quite evident that she can handle multiple duties at the same time. That’s why she’s already signed up for another experience studying abroad in the spring semester, this time in Rouen, France.

“After my experience in Morocco, I like the fact that I’ll be able to have a Francophone experience while still having a lot of freedom and the ability to travel to other countries,” explained Caine, who began school in a French-immersion program, then took private lessons in the language after moving to a new school district.

Caine, who had previously traveled to several countries in Europe while in high school through a program called People to People, is very encouraging of her fellow IU students who are considering studying abroad through an OVPDEI scholarship.

“The OVPDEI scholarship is a really good way to supplement additional funds to help you with your flight and meals. You can apply to small $500 scholarships, but since OVPDEI scholarships range up to $4,000, you can get everything you need if you have your program paid for. It’s a great way to supplement other aid that you have,” said Caine, who will be returning to General Electric for a summer internship in the company’s aviation division, the second summer she’s worked with G.E.

“Do it, don’t be scared, and to a degree, definitely don’t listen to other people who haven’t been abroad. That can be the biggest hindrance, listening to all the concerns of your family and friends.”