How Africa Changed My Life - Thanks to The School for Field Studies Past Review

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

Although it took some time to get used to some differences in teaching styles between the traditional American education system and the educational system at this study abroad site, it was well worth the change. This study abroad program was truly an experience to learn as much about wildlife management, conservation, and culture as possible and each of us students left with a broad range of valuable knowledge in the field of conservation with a strong backing in community involvement. This program kept us working hard, but the rewards made every moment of it well worth the challenge. I left this program with a solid understanding of conservation research methods, which has been helping me secure a job in the field of environmental studies and conservation. You will leave this program knowing that you got the most out of every minute and penny spent, and will ultimately have a life-changing experience that is great for both your personal life and your professional resume.

On-site administration of your program

The program administration was quite helpful with this program, as we had a main Student Affairs Manager (from America) that overlooked all of the students and was with us everyday to make sure that things ran smoothly and to help us anytime we had questions or concerns. I also really appreciated the fact that most of the faculty/staff was from the local communities, which gave us great opportunities to get to know local cultures and to really feel at home in the countries where we stayed.

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

Our housing was very nice. In Kenya it was more "in the bush," which was a great experience and was beautiful. You could see Mt. Kilimanjaro from your doorsteps and monkeys and baboons ran around the premise all day. Nothing beats waking up to a sunrise over the mountain and the sounds of birds, monkeys, and other wildlife. We stayed in "bandas" which basically was a wooden-sided/thatched-roof square hut that held four people in each. Kind of small but the beauty of the campus made up for it. Also limited electricity/heat made for a really interesting and quite memorable experience, and allowed for you to escape from technology for a while and enjoy the wonders of a simpler life. The campus in Tanzania was a little more modern and located right off the road of a small town, with larger cement buildings holding four students also and more electricity and hot water. Each campus had a main center building with a kitchen and a classroom, library, and computer lab.

Quite a variety of food and much of it was local recipes with consideration of typical American appetites, which offered a great variety for picky eaters and a chance to experience a taste of another culture.

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

The School for Field Studies made sure that we were as involved with the local communities, cultures,and customs as possible. This was perhaps the greatest aspect of the program as we had the chance to experience Africa in ways that many tourists never have a chance to see.

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

This program ensured our safety in the area and ensured that adequate healthcare was available. Considering the remoteness of some areas that we were at during the program, I was very satisfied with the emphasis on safety and health during this program. We were well informed before the program began of any vaccinations/health precautions that needed to be taken.

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

Almost all of the staff members on our campus were from the local communities and our campus was also located right in local villages in each country, so we had plenty of opportunities every day to learn the local language. The program also made sure that there was always someone available to translate into English and vice versa if it was needed, and the program offered a course in Kiswahili so that we would have a basic understanding of the local language. The Kiswahili course was taught differently than a traditional language course at an American university, so it could be a little confusing at times, but if you put the effort into attempting to learn the language you were able to become as fluent as you would like to be.

Select all that apply

• Other

Select all that apply

• Americans
• International Students

• Of all qualities of this program, the strong involvement with local communities was the most valuable aspect.

• Perhaps some more free time allotted to explore larger cities in the area would be beneficial.