Incredible semester for those interested in rural immersion

Houghton in Tanzania provided fabulous exposure to life in southern Tanzania. You live in tents just outside of a village with courses in East African History, East African Culture, Wildlife Behavior, Missions and Folklore. In the afternoons, students are encouraged to go into the village where the children are eager to play and families are generous in hosting, teaching and sharing life. The staff are well connected with the ex-patriot community which provides students the opportunity to connect with many development workers, missionaries and volunteers. Throughout the program there is a lot of travel with safaris, sightseeing trips and time experiencing culture through two home-stays and a camping trip with the Massai. I went on the program knowing no Swahili and was near conversational by the end of my stay. This program is not for everyone, but for those who are interested in long-term international living in the future, it is a great introduction.