Kenya is a place everyone should visit! Past Review

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

The class itself wasn't too difficult but it required a lot of time and effort. The material was interesting and relevant to my majors. The grading system was very fair. We had 3 professors who cycled giving lectures throughout the month. A difference between SFS and my university was the length of class. There were very long lectures and labs, but there was still plenty of free time and time to work on assignments. I was a little disappointed we didn't learn about certain topics but we were able to express those concerns to the professors at the end of the course.

On-site administration of your program

This program has obviously been there for a long time. They are very organized and know how to respond to every situation. American administrators work with local Kenyan administrators, staff, and faculty to make this place run smoothly. The program size was smaller than I expected, but I really enjoyed having a smaller group. My expectations were exceeded beyond what I could have imagined.

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

We lived in student "bandas" which are essentially 4-bed "huts" with thatched roofs and zip-up windows. The beds were covered with a mosquito net and we had to bring our own sheets, sleeping bags, and pillows. For six days we went camping and lived in tents with 4-5 other people. It was very cramped but still very fun.

I do not have any dietary restrictions, but many people in my group were either vegetarians, lactose intolerant, or had a peanut allergy and their needs were definitely met at every meal. The food was very good and we were always fed well. There were no "restaurants" we could go to but the kitchen at the campsite provided everything we needed.

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

The cultural events and field trips were the highlight of my experience. Meeting the people there was amazing and it is so different from America. It's hard to describe this aspect of the program because there was so much variety in what we did. We got to go on many "safaris" to Amboseli and Tsavo West/Chyulu Hills national parks.

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

I felt extremely safe while I was there. There are guards at the campsite that walk around at night, and there are guards during the day sitting by the entrance gate to the camp. I did not have an experience with healthcare but they are very prepared for everything. I had to get many vaccines for this program, and I also had to take anti-malaria pills every day throughout the program.

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

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• Other

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• Americans

• The cultural experience
• Seeing and learning about the wildlife, including being a student, not a tourist.
• Anything involving exploring outside of the campsite

• Management of free time inside the campsite