SFS Study Abroad: Wildlife Management in Tanzania

This program changed my life. I was exposed to things that I never thought I'd experience. I saw parts of East Africa that I never even knew about, and I met some of the most incredible people.
One of my favorite parts of the trip were camping in the Serengeti for a week. We were woken up by lions outside our tents every night and got to sleep underneath the clearest skies I've ever seen.
Another one of the highlights were the home stays. We spent time with people from Iraqw tribe and also Maasai. They taught us about their everyday lives and we got to help with everything they do on a daily basis.
The academics were definitely challenging for an abroad program, but I had no problems with the professors or grading policies. I loved getting to know the professors on a personal level, and spending time with all of the staff.
SFS runs an incredible program. I look at the world in an entirely new way, and I will never forget the experiences I had while abroad.

This program offers so much more than your typical study abroad program. You get to live in an area of the world that most people only dream of visiting. Surrounding by acacia woodlands, the Kenyan field station sits on the northern side of Mount Kilimanjaro. From the outdoor showers, you have a perfect view of the top of Kili! Both fields stations are incredibly beautiful, with gazebos, volleyball courts, and soccer fields nearby.

While I would say that I faced some difficulties at first adjusting to the East African lifestyle and not having all the necessities that I've become accustomed to using, you can have a greater appreciation for the people and beautiful landscape of these two countries. Honestly, I would not have enjoyed this experience as much if I were glued to my computer, worried about what was going on back home. You're able to connect with an incredible group of students who are just as nervous, but excited as you to journey to a region quite different from the US and Europe. You also connect to the staff of both sites in a way that would never occur at any other academic institution. The staff quickly becomes your extended family, eating dinner with you, getting to meet and know their family, and playing a game of soccer with them in the afternoon. Where else in the world can you play volleyball with your professors?!

Although I think this is an incredible program and think everyone should experience this area of the world that is often misunderstood, the trip isn't for everyone. You're surrounded by your classmates 24/7, leaving few instances of alone time. Also, if you're not willing to be adventurous and try new things, this program may not be ideal for you. There were moments when I was completely out of my comfort zone and instead of not participating (as usual), I embraced the moment and had the best time of my life. On the first day in Tanzania, a group of students and staff decided to play soccer. I was hesitant at first and I'm not extremely athletic, but the other students persuaded me to join in on the fun and I loved every moment of the game! Another instance of this was during our optional community service project in Tanzania. Over the course of two weeks, we had the chance to go to a local school and implement a reading program. The program wasn't mandatory and I'm not always great with kids. I went to the school on the first day as nervous as could be, but ended up falling in love with the students and went back every day after that to continue interacting with them.

One final thing I'll add is that even though this is a program intended for wildlife lovers, don't choose the program solely based on this fact. You will see all the awesome animals from The Lion King and scream for joy the first time you spot an elephant; however, you soon become accustomed to these animals sightings on a daily basis and the excitement quickly turns into an appreciation for the landscape and region as a whole. Similar to a majority of people on my trip, I left the program falling in love with the people and staff of our field station more than the animals. The best moments I can remember are from these interactions with people that I grew to love and care for. In this sense, you should go on this program with the mindset that it'll be more than just a 3-month long safari, but instead a life altering experience that will open your eyes to the beauty of the people and landscape of East Africa.

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.