Study in East Africa Was Life Changing! Past Review
By Luke A (Biology, Denison University) for
The School for Field Studies / SFS: Tanzania - Wildlife Management Studies
I learned a great deal about East African ecology and wildlife management. I also learned quite a bit about the political situation in this part of the world. The life experiences gave me a much deeper appreciation for the need for sustainable development and the plague of consumerism in American society. I was able to develop a clear passion that I have always had, but am now much more able to articulate it. The people I met and the friendships I formed are some of the most rewarding interpersonal relationships I have experienced. Overall it was an unforgettable experience that I can say has truly changed and shaped my life.
Personal Information
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | 2 weeks - 1 month |
Review Your Program
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* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
The academic experience was overall very positive. The focus on experiential education with field work and field classes was extremely enlightening. The rigor was similar to my host American university, however the grading was very different. The way that we were graded in Tanzania seemed to be very unfair by two of the professors in particular. Aside from the grading experience, the educational experience was excellent in both technical knowledge or skills as well as in life experience. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
The support services in both Kenya and Tanzania were readily available and well prepared to help with possible adjustment issues. The program was a perfect size and the staff and faculty knowledge about the host countries far exceeded my expectations. |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
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| * Food: |
The food was very good and versatile! I really enjoyed learning how to cook local cuisine and being able to experience different foods and methods of preparation from the United States. |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
All of the extra curricular events organized by our program for the non-program days were fantastic. I had the opportunity to connect on a deeper level with the communities that we were working in and see unique aspects of our host country. |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
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| * Safety: |
Since the bush camp living environment is generally a much more dangerous style of living, the program did a fantastic job at keeping safety a priority. Everything that the program recommended to get vaccinated for was very practical and none of the medical instructions seemed to be extraneous. |
| If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? |
Yes
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Finances
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* Money: How easily were you able to live on a student's budget?
(1 = not very easy/$200+ on food & personal expenses/week, 2.5 = $100/week, 5 = very easily/minimal cost) |
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Language
| * Did your program have a foreign language component? | Yes |
| If applicable, to what degree did your living situation aid your language acquisition? |
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| Language acquisition improvement? |
We practiced Swahili among the students, faculty and the staff at the camp. There was also English spoken in camp, but primarily Swahili spoken in the surrounding towns and villages. |
Other Program Information
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* Where did you live?
Select all that apply |
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* Who did you live with?
Select all that apply |
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A Look Back
| * What did you like most about the program? |
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| * What could be improved? |
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| * What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? | This is a physically demanding program that combines the love of the outdoors with practical knowledge and experience in the field of conservation. It is important for students to go into it with an open mind and to be hungry for knowledge in both the academic disciplines and life experiences. |
