SFS: Tanzania and Kenya

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.