I chose this program because I really wanted to challenge myself, and see how simple life can be. Africa has been on my list for years, and I am so glad I came.
Alumni Spotlight: Katie Sorge
Katie is a 15-year-old from Texas who has fallen in love with traveling and exploring new cultures.
Why did you choose this program?
What did your program provider assist you with, and what did you have to organize on your own?
Rustic Pathways booked flights, transportation, and helped with my a packing list. Alone, I needed to apply for a visa, and take care of other small details.
What is one piece of advice you'd give to someone going on your program?
This will be the hardest trip of your life - though I'm not trying to scare you - and there will be moments when you want to be with your friends back home or sitting on the couch eating pizza, but it's so worth it.
Come with an open mind, and just remember that YOU make this a good trip. This will be the time of your life, promise.
What does an average day/week look like as a participant of this program?
Our daily schedule was fairly structured and typically ran as follows:
- 7:30 am: Wake up
- 8:00 am: Breakfast
- 8:30 am - 1 pm: Construction Work
- 1 pm: Lunch
- 1:30 pm - 3 pm: Continue Construction Work
- 3 pm - 7 pm: Free time unless program leaders have planned activities.
- 7 pm: Dinner
Participants are free to go to bed and wake up at any time they wish, as long as they make it to breakfast on time. In addition to our regular schedule, we spend time at a local church, went on a safari, had our hair braided, went on a Hazabe tribe outing, and went into town to explore and get food several times.
Going into your experience abroad, what was your biggest fear, and how did you overcome it? How did your views on the issue change?
My biggest fear was that I was not going to like the program, and I would be home sick. That was not the case at all! I promise you that if you just push all your worries aside and have fun, your fears will change.
What is your favorite story from your time abroad?
This is such a difficult question!
Jackson, our amazing local program leader and I were sitting outside somewhere in the village when a giant van started speeding towards us. Twenty or more people get out of the van singing, cheering, and chanting.
I learned that the local village had just won their soccer game! They all began dancing in a giant circle, chanting "ka tika, ka tika, ka tika, ka tika," while each person transitioned to the middle of the circle to dance.
I knew I had to participate and Jackson and I ran over immediately. When I joined into the circle everyone started chanting "Katie ka tika, ka tika" and I moved into the middle. While it seems so insignificant, it was such an amazing experience, and really opened me up to Tanzanian culture.