I gained a new way of looking at the world through this program; the cultural immersion experience helped me understand what daily life is like in a low-income country, while stereotypical perceptions of Africa as being only known for poverty and violence. The independent study was definitely a highlight for me because I had clear academic goals and a topic that I wanted to explore; SIT provided all the resources, connections and support to make the research possible. The homestay experiences where we lived with local families were a really great cultural immersion and the families were very accommodating and friendly. However, do have realistic expectations, don't expect luxury accommodation and be prepared to use squat toilets at some point. SIT has fantastic Swahili language tutors who teach well, and with this working knowledge of the language you can feel more confident interacting with locals. Importantly, the SIT programme staff were always friendly, approachable, and trustworthy and we felt cared for at all times.