Program Reviews

The worst thing about the program was the inconsistent academics. They do not meet the quality of an American university but maintain an air of being 'tough on you.'

However the community service projects were life changing, the days off were always filled with new people and once in a lifetime experiences and the research was probably the best experience you could hope to get.

Just remember that they grade at a different level and have no sympathy for you returning home with grades based on an East African grading standard.

Looking back on my time at Kilimanjaro Bush Camp, I am astonished at how quickly the month flew by and find myself reminiscing about my wonderful memories and experiences daily. The fighting baboons, haggling at the market and early morning cook crews became normal and welcome parts of daily life in Kenya. As I am sitting here and attempting to review the program, I am finding it difficult to put all of these moments into a cohesive statement that adequately explains my experiences, but I will do my best.

The SFS Summer Public Health and Environment course is a month-long intensive study in Kimana, Kenya. Upon applying, admission and arriving, I did not know anything more than that and was unsure what to expect from the program. Several students from my home institution, Franklin College Switzerland, have attended SFS programs and loved their experiences, so I was willing to take a chance on the program. What I got out of the program was so much more than I bargained for or expected. It has raised my expectations of travel, group dynamics, relationships and overall life experiences to a level so far above anything I could have expected. In this review, I have outlined several highlights of the program in academics, non-program activities and overall experiences.

I am so glad that I chose to attend the SFS Public Health program in Kenya. The research we were able to conduct was ground breaking and enabled us to provide [hopefully] helpful recommendations to the local community. Our research project was focusing on determining the impact of the closure of the Imbirikani Health Clinic on their beneficiaries. This health clinic was a private organization (U.S. American NGO) that provided a variety of services and world-class comprehensive care. The closure of this clinic had a profound impact on the health of the Imbirikani Region.

We conducted research in 396 households over a period of four days, disbursing from Camp in partners with a translator to administer questionnaires. The days were long, the walks were far and the experiences were unforgettable. Many of the Maasai Mamas I met left incredible impressions upon me. Despite living with so few material items, they opened their homes to us, always offering us chai and stools to sit on. These women were incredibly empowering and it was fascinating to talk to these Mamas about issues of vital importance to them. The four days of data collection flew by, yet the memories and stories are still crystal clear in my mind.

Academically, the course structure was quite different from what I was used to, but the SFS staff held many evaluation sessions during and after the program to make sure we were all comfortable with the academic components (and all other aspects of the program). The fact that there was always a staff or faculty member available to consult was great, especially because the course was so intensive.

Visiting and forging connections with HIV positive Mamas at the Boma la Tumaini was also a highlight of the trip. This voluntary counseling and testing (VCT) center provides free support services and testing in Loitoktok, the next town passed Kimana. I visited this VCT center three times, first with the whole group on a non-program day to speak with three HIV positive Mamas about their experiences. These women were some of the bravest people whom I have ever met. They had overcome incredible adversity and wanted to share their incredibly brave stories with us. Next, myself and three other students in the HIV/AIDS group attended a group therapy session. Twenty-five HIV positive women attended this meeting, many of whom were physically abused, stigmatized and were suffering from opportunistic infections such as Tuberculosis and Karposis Sarcoma. Despite these incredible barriers, these women had all gone public about their status and found support in each other. Lastly, we spent our community service day helping the Mamas make beaded jewelry and soap before teaching them how to make origami doves, which they loved. Before leaving, we shared a meal together. Despite a language barrier, there were plenty of smiles and laughter throughout the day. Making connections with these Mamas was wonderful. Later, we would see them in the markets and would be greeted warmly.

The group of students in the program was excellent. As one of the only global health enthusiasts at my university, it was so wonderful to be surrounded by insightful and impassioned discussions about topics like breaking the cycle of poverty and disease. As we all came from different academic and social backgrounds, it was very helpful to bounce ideas off of each other; we each brought something unique to the table. While the going-out scene was non-existent, we still had plenty of time for soccer, volleyball, ping-pong, movie nights and much more.

There are infinite aspects of Kenya that I will never forget and will miss dearly. The wildlife, nature and overall surroundings were stunning. The spellbinding African stars are indescribably spectacular and are incomparable to anywhere else in the world that I have traveled to. I doubt I will ever be in a classroom with acacia trees with baboons swinging around in them right outside again. We spent two days at the Amboseli National Park; highlights included twenty elephants passing in front-of and in-between our Land Cruisers and seeing two lions chasing a warthog. At Camp, the ceaseless chatter of birds, bugs and various animals throughout the day and night was oddly calming and homely. An added plus was sleeping under my mosquito net, which felt like having a princess-canopy bed.

The Kenyan lifestyle was entirely refreshing; kindness and collective goodwill are values that are placed at the heart of society- people are always smiling! I learned many lessons about the importance of patience, selflessness and heartwarming hospitality. Beyond this, I met women braver and stronger than I could previously fathom. I will miss hearing their stories and I will remain in awe of them forever.

As I am writing this, I think it would be incorrect to ignore the difficulties that we came across in the program. The physical barriers, such as extreme tiredness and the lack of many common amenities as well as the close proximity to wildlife would make this trip difficult for the faint-hearted. However, for the adventurer or even the person who wants to step out of their comfort zone but still have a safety net, this trip was ideal. The key is having the desire to change and experience something very new. Academically, the grading scheme was very different from that of American institutions, however there are many opportunities to address problems that might arise. Socially, you will be surrounded by the same ~20 people 24/7 for a month. Those who enjoy solitary time and are less social may have difficulty with this. Student freedom is relatively limited on the program and some people found that frustrating, however it was necessary due to safety (mostly wildlife) concerns and overall program structure.

The SFS staff was the key to making this trip so successful. Our Student Affairs Manager and the rest of the program assistants were always available and willing to talk or help us in any way possible. They were more than approachable and saying that they were incredible seems like an understatement. The other staff members were also more like a family away from home than staff members.

Overall, I would recommend the SFS summer Public Health and Environment study to upperclassmen students who have some prior travel experience, have taken statistics or epidemiology courses and who are truly invested in global health. This program is tiring, trying and very unique; it was also life changing and I would do it again in an instant.

In my opinion one of the best things about this study abroad program is the group aspect. Honestly, I was nervous about being with the same people for an extended period of time, but the group size and dynamic in my experience was amazing. Another huge perk is that the professors took the classroom everywhere, from rivers with water quality issues, to lectures in national parks, we were always learning something new. I was surrounded by students who were as eager to learn about the environment as I was, that experience in itself is once in a lifetime. I gained skills; technical, interpersonal and objective that I could not have learned anywhere else. The living situation in each country is very different. In Tanzania the center is closer to a town so it is easy to walk into town, but the center is smaller. On the other hand in Kenya, the nearest town is a bit of a trek away, but the center is much larger and there is wildlife within the center grounds, for example a multitude of birds, vervet monkeys and baboons. Being abroad in East Africa has its ups and downs, it is difficult to communicate with your family, it is dirty and it is intimidating at times, but in the long run the friendships made and the experiences you have will always outweigh the difficulties.

I did the semester program in Tanzania and Kenya in the fall of 2011; it was by far one of the most amazing experiences of my life. Getting to go on all-day safaris to world- famous parks almost every week was awesome, but even better were the connections I made with people, which I wasn't expecting. We got to become a part of the community during our stay there; saying goodbye was one of the hardest things I've had to do! I also stay in touch with the group I went with; I had never met any of them before boarding the plane, but our incredible shared experiences brought us so close. There were definitely moments of culture shock and homesickness, but I think overall my family was a little offended with how little I wanted to come home at the end of the program.

While I was in Costa Rica I lived with 34 other students, 3 of which shared a room with me. It got to be a lot being around people all the time, however, I made some of my best life long friends during this journey. SFS provided such an enlightening experience that I never could have created traveling on my own. We went on excursions every weekend and sometimes during the week too. I saw so much of Costa Rica while I was there & can't wait to go back!

This program gave incredible opportunities to be in or on the water on a daily basis. For someone looking to gain hands-on experience to supplement their studies, this would be an excellent choice. Major pros of this program included its integration into the local community and academic curriculum. Cons were generally related to the remote location - fussy internet connection, a "rice-and-beans" diet if the food delivery boat was a day late, etc.

My greatest experience in this program was my participation in Directed Research, where students work closely with a faculty member to carry out specific research and present the results. For me, this involved snorkeling every day for two weeks to collect data, and gaining a new appreciation for data compilation and presentation.

I thoroughly enjoyed my time in the Turks and Caicos Islands. I learned a lot (probably 150+ organisms by their scientific names, as an example), met some friends I will have for life, dove in a beautiful and diverse ecosystem, and had the experience if a lifetime. Despite few freshwater showers and frequent meals of rice and beans, I liked living in the center because the closeness led to tight friendships and trust. The interns, professors, SAM, and other staff were all so helpful and friendly. I would say there was about a 1 day adjustment period for me, then I didn't want to ever leave!

If living in the middle of a rainforest, surrounded by constant beauty and wonder is your idea of a typical study abroad program then Australia with the School for Field Studies is right for you. Be prepared because when you take the turn off of the highway into the middle of the rainforest, you will be shocked. From then on, for as far as the eye can see, it will be rainforest. The closest town is Yungaburra, which is not much larger than 1,000 people, and is about a 25 minute drive. Cairns is the closest "city" which is about an hour and a half away. If you are looking for a program to be totally immersed in the area around you this is it. You will learn more than you could ever imagined about the people you live with, the people within the town, the natural flora and fauna of Australia, and so much more.

To begin, the program is academically rigorous. Everyday is filled with lectures and field excursions to give real life examples of what is being taught in lectures. While lectures and grading scales are not difficult it provides a low stress experience that allows you to focus on subject matter and learn it well, rather than just committing it to memory. On top of that, this program drives home the goals, and methods of research. 3 different field exercises, and an entire course devoted to research techniques, and scientific writing drills the point home that this program is about research. Have no fear though, even non-science majors participate in the program.

Life at the center is not all about school though. 6 days a week are devoted to class, but the value of a study abroad experience is taken into consideration. Efforts to get away from the center, and spend time among the Australian people are made on weekend trips to cities, and a mid-semester break entirely on your own. Even within the school week, multi-day trips were taken to other places to see more of Australia, at a depth that is unrivaled.

The community aspect of the program is one of the most important aspects it has to offer. Living conditions are rudimentary, kind of like summer camp. Open cabins (single sex) of up to 8 people are shared so you might have to get used to alarms. Internet is all through satellite, but contact to home, and around the area is possible through a student phone at the center. The program consists of twenty-some college students that are driven by a like-minded interest in science, which creates an enormous common ground. Be prepared to share a small setting, in close vicinities with amazing people. Interns, and a Student Affairs Manager are available to mostly help professors with transportation logistics and student social activities.

In the end, you will find that every day will be filled with awe, and your headlamp will be your most important piece of equipment.

I had the best time in Australia. Definitely one of the best things I've done with my life this far. Living in the rainforest, doing field ecology with twenty-something of the best college kids I can imagine was just great. I learned so much, academically and personally through this program. They keep you busy with projects and community work and everything, but some of the best times I had involved sitting in the rainforest, just soaking it all in with some of my friends.

Living situation is very rustic, you're very isolated. I loved that, as did almost everyone on my program, but that's definitely something that you should be sure you want before you go. It's not going to be your typical study abroad program. We had a TON of fun, but if you want to be going out a lot and meeting tons of Australian college students, this is NOT the program for you. Yungaburra is a tiny little town, which is nice because everyone gets to know you and you can get to know them, but you are isolated. The interns try to counter that by taking us on trips around the area on weekends.

Academics are generally good. I didn't find the initial three classes too strenuous, but they were definitely intersting and I learned a lot about the rainforest I was living in. Directed research is the main thrust of the program. As the Center Director told us, getting us through the DR portion of the program is their main goal. And DRs are crazy! You get to design your own research project and do it for a month. It culminates with a massive paper, a fifteen minute powerpoint presentation and a poster. By the time that's all done, you're going to need to sleep for a week! But it's incredibly rewarding to be able to do a whole project like that on your own.

Overall, I had an amazing time and miss it terribly. I loved all the people I went with, and we're doing a pretty good job keeping in touch! I would definitely recommend the program, but while emphasizing that it wouldn't be right for a whole lot of people. You have to really want to live in the rainforest for a semester!

I absolutely loved the SFS- Australia program and would recommend it to everyone; however, you have to make sure it will be a good fit for you. You like in the rainforest in a cabin with 3-7 other students, so you have to accept that you won't have much privacy. There are also snakes and spiders to deal with and intermittent internet at times since you are in the middle of the rainforest. Even if you don't think you can deal with that, it is an incredible experience. You get to learn about the rainforest in the classroom and then walk away from the centre and directly into the habitat you just learned about. You get to interact with the locals and gain a sense of life in the Wet Tropics. One of my favorite experiences was going on a weekend homestay with another student. We stayed with an Australian family and learned all about the Australian way of life. The group takes trips to the Daintree and the Outback. I have never seen so many different ecosystems and learned so much about the environment.

You get a few free weekends in Cairns where you can have fun off of program time. The 5 day long mid-semester break was also a great chance to explore parts of Australia with some friends in a caravan (a great deal and great way to travel) on our own.

For the first 2 months of the program you take 3 courses. With awesome professors! The last month you work on a directed research project of your choosing under the guidance of one of the professors. The directed research project component allowed me to study a topic that I was very interested in and has helped guide my graduate school pursuits and career aspirations.

There is a cook that makes all of your meals, and the food is great! And she takes requests and really wants to make sure everyone is happy.

For those of you who are athletic and want to continue your sport, that can be tough. I am a 3 season athlete, so I really wanted to stay in-shape while I was there. There is a run down elliptical and some weights there. The other option is to run (when you can find time- early morning is best, when it is cool). It is a rough, uphill path.

Even with some of the annoyances, I would go again because it is a wonderful, once-in-a-lifetime experience.