Pre-Departure
In two days I leave for Tanzania, Africa where I will be studying abroad for the next four months. One of my biggest draws to participate in this study abroad is my desire to travel. I want to see the world, and Africa is somewhere I have never been. In this country in particular I feel the culture is so beautiful different that it appealed to me over other places. I feel like traveling gives you more ability to learn what the world is really about. Sometimes we get too stuck in our own little worlds we forget how many other little worlds are going on around us. Also how different these other little worlds can be. I want to show myself these new places, and ideas and see how I can grow and truly become who I want to be.
This summer I spent two months traveling alone in Spain and Portugal, and walking across the country of Spain on El Camino de Santiago. Traveling alone was amazing for me, putting myself in a vulnerable position I have never been in. It gave me much courage and insight into the world around me, and the people in it. I’m excited to compare this past travel experience of being alone, to this one being with around 30 plus other students in a very controlled atmosphere.
With the program School for Field Studies I will be doing classes and research working with land use changes, wildlife management, and biodiversity conservation in local areas of Tanzania. I’m very excited to be getting experience in field work research and hope to be able to apply this to a future career in Environmental Science work for conservation of our planet! I’m truly passionate about keeping our planet’s habitats intact not only for us but for all living creatures. As we all know this world wasn’t made for us! Every living thing shares this planet and we must act to maintain that. Preparing for this trip I read a bit of history about local tribes and the language of Swahili! It’s very interesting all the influences that have made the local African culture the way it is. I’m excited to experience this, and learn a bit of the language myself.
I am sad to be away from my boyfriend for another few months, along with other friends in my life. I hope distance will only remind me and them of how much we truly appreciate our presence around each other. I’m very excited to see animals I have only seen in zoos. I also can’t wait to be on another hemisphere and look at a different set of stars in the night sky. I’m nervous to be in a situation with many strangers, although excited for the friendships I will build. Can’t wait to see what’s to come!
Here we go!:)