EXPLODE INTO POTENTIALITY! Past Review

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

I learned more during my semester in Zanzibar than I did in any other semester at WashU. The academic program is very well designed and was what I was hoping for in an SIT program - experiential, hands-on learning. The only reason the academic portion of the program received less five stars was to draw attention to this aspect of SIT in general: it is experiential, hands-on learning! This often means that you get as much as you give and that you will need to take a certain amount of agency over your educational experience. The lectures and classroom sections of this program are great in that they draw in local experts and academics but these may fall short of the "academic rigor" that you are used to at your university. The exception to this might be the Kiswahili courses which were exactly as rigorous as they should have been to bring us up to speed with the local culture and language. If the formal curriculum were any more intense, than there might not have been as much potential for informal, experiential learning through the homestays and cultural experiences. I was very pleased with the academics of the program and I would have personally given it 5 stars if not for the aforementioned caveat. Go with SIT: Zanzibar!

On-site administration of your program

I cannot speak highly enough of Helen Peeks. She was an incredible resource to the students and an active presence in Zanzibar. She cares deeply about her students and goes out of her way to help them personalize their experiences. That being said, she is no micro-manager and will not be holding your hand throughout the semester. She does not manage your experience but certainly monitors it and ensures that it is safe and enriching. She personally helped me in so many ways to define and implement my research project. She even took one of her "days off" (if that is such a thing on SIT) to help me explore a potential ecotourism project in Pemba. Helen's experience in leading SIT programs shows in her ability to preempt and react to situations that arise during the program - she always knew what to do when complications came up.

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

I had incredibly homestay experiences both in Stone Town, Zanzibar and in Pemba. I was exceptionally lucky with my placements, but I gathered that the homestay coordinator did a good job with other placements as well. I am still in touch with my homestay family and hope to visit with them when I return to Zanzibar next September.

Indian meets Tanzanian meets Omani! The food in Zanzibar is great. I was very well fed in my homestays and had plenty of money during my independent research projects to eat in delicious, local establishments. The food provided by the SIT staff was mostly picnic lunch food - nothing special but certainly filling. Never felt underfed. Be sure to check out the food vendors near the big baobab next to the old slave market/church!

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

Incredibly well integrated thanks to SIT. Made friends throughout Stonetown and felt like a family member in my homestay. Without a dedicated campus or classroom to spend all of our time in, we were compelled to treat all of Stonetown as our campus and found internet cafes and places throughout the city to call "home".

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

Helen always pointed me in the right directions for my ailments. She knew which clinics were best and advised us how to seek treatment when necessary. She also went out of her way to help out a fellow student who became sick during one of our field experiences in Jozani Forest. She helped this student find appropriate treatment and missed this portion of the program, putting other people in charge in her stead.

I never felt unsafe in Zanzibar, but I am speaking as a white male. There were definitely times when some girls in the program felt slightly uncomfortable but there were no safety incidents during the semester I was there. Stonetown is small enough that it takes care of itself in a lot of ways. Everyone is somebodies family member and they hold one another up if somebody falters or starts down a bad path. Similarly, people recognize SIT students because of how much time we spend in the city - this discourages opportunism and definitely made me feel safer.

(1 = not very easy/$200+ on food & personal expenses/week, 2.5 = $100/week, 5 = very easily/minimal cost)

Again, no problems with budgeting. If you eat and live like a Zanzibari, you will have plenty of money leftover.

0 = No encouragement, 5 = frequent encouragement to use the language

My homestay family hardly spoke english.

Select all that apply

• Host Family
• Apartment
• Hotel
• Hostel

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• Americans
• Host Family

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• Americans
• Host Family

• Hands-on/Hands-off
• Homestays
• Zanzibar

• Formal academic lectures