Reality Education: Comedian Josh Blue On Interning in Senegal
Before winning Last Comic Standing, Josh Blue, who has cerebral palsy (CP), ventured to West Africa to find his childhood roots. “Wild animals call to me,” Blue says. He doesn’t mean he was raised by a pack of lions, rather Blue accepted an internship at a zoo in Senegal. Born and raised in Cameroon, Blue still has a deep connection to the landscape, wildlife and people of Africa.
Blue says his experiences at the zoo, where he earned credits towards his undergraduate degree in comedy at Evergreen State University in Olympia, Washington helps him to stay grounded in his fast paced life as a renowned comedian. “I knew before I went that I wanted to be in comedy, but that's not the only part of me. Working at the zoo and living in Senegal made me feel really small, but part of something important to the world, too.”
During his time in Senegal Blue stood out everywhere he went. He was the center of attention whether he wanted to be or not. Blue recalls, “Going to the market by myself was pretty interesting, since I was typically the only white guy, definitely the only white guy with CP, and irrefutably the only white guy with CP who spoke Wolof and was willing to barter.” People stared at him at first, but he used their curiosity as an opportunity to connect with and get to know people. It wasn’t long before Blue became a member of the community.
Blue took his adventurous and comedic spirit with him during his time at the zoo in Senegal. He got a taste of living with wildlife, including a 450 lb. gorilla that he decided to spend a day with in his cage to “see what it was like.” People with disabilities who go abroad often discover a sense of personal power, independence and pride. No matter what life throws their way whether it’s teaching a classroom full of rowdy kids, giving a presentation to the board, or having the nerve to ask for that raise, they know they can do it. After all, it can’t be any harder than making their way up the Andes, doing laundry on a rock by the river, or trying not to wake the Gorilla in the room!
Blue’s advice to other people with disabilities thinking about interning abroad is, “Do it, do it, do it. Just make sure you try to speak the language so you can explain that you're not drunk in the native tongue” referring to how people perceive his affected speech and unique walk.
Blue’s experience in Senegal, along with his many other travels, which includes Greece as a part of the US Paralympian soccer team, have given him many rich experiences to use in his comedy routines, the ability to stay grounded in the things that really matter, and a way to relate to people from different backgrounds – all valuable skills for a man whose career depends upon knowing people and what they find funny.
People with disabilities interested in adding international experiences to their resume can access a wealth of free information and resources online from the National Clearinghouse on Disability and Exchange (NCDE) to begin planning their international experience. Visitors can download a free booklet, Preparing for an International Career: Pathways for People with Disabilities to learn about people with disabilities who have international careers and the programs that got them there. The NCDE also provides free information to people with disabilities that would like to study, intern, work, teach or volunteer abroad.
Learn more about Josh at http://www.joshblue.com.
