Julia Klayman

My name is Julia Klayman and I am in the Class of 2025, double majoring in Global Studies and Political Science on a Pre-Law track and am from Long Island, New York! This past summer, I traveled to Bududa, Uganda with 12 other Lehigh students under the Global Studies program and Professor Kelly Austin. I have been having the most incredible experience here in Uganda, and it is truly a trip that I will cherish for a lifetime. 
 
Here in the Bududa District, part of our group is conducting research on various topics from coffee cultivation to screening practices for HPV, and others are interning at the Pathways Development Initiative School (including myself!), working with 3-6 year old students learning English, Healthy Habits, Mathematics, Social Development, and more! 
 
While interning, researching, and making life-long new friends, we have also been doing tons of hiking, football playing, traveling, and coffee/tea drinking. We took a waterfall hike to the Walwanyi Waterfall— I fell 11 times on the way but it was definitely worth it! 
 
Walwanyi Waterfall
 
One of my absolute favorite parts about the trip so far has been our safari excursion to Murchison Falls National Park. We saw all of “The Big Five”- lions, leopards, elephants, water buffalo, and hippos! We were within less than 10 feet from a mother lion and her two cubs— let me tell you, it was incredible! We even stopped at a rhino sanctuary on our way back to Bududa! 
 
Even though the safari was amazing, we were so excited to return to Bududa and see our students back at PDI. I definitely think the reunion was one of my favorite moments at school— the endless hugs, games, and of course duck duck goose was worth the wait! During our stay, we have been hosted by the wonderful Zaale Family. Being here, I was so nervous I would feel homesick, but the Zaales immediately stepped in as my Ugandan family and I have been so thankful for all that the Zaales have done for us! Our weekly dance parties and storytelling have been some of the many exceptional highlights of our stay. The trip has just ended and I am already planning to return this upcoming summer. This opportunity has been irreplaceable in my Lehigh experience, and I could not recommend it more!
 

Lehigh Students at PDI