Every morning
for the last month and a half I have woken up in my mosquito net bunk bed to
the sounds of birds as the African sun rise makes the sky around me orange. The
sun rises and sets much faster on the equator, also creating a much more
dramatic coloration for this short time period. Most mornings I take a daily jog
up to the Moyo hill (meaning heart in Swahili). This might be one of my
favorite activities in this study abroad experience. I am alone which is rare
here, and as I get to the top I get to see the Rhotia village below me along
with the surrounding villages and mountains. I also get the view of the Manyara
lake and conservation area where I got to see my first large African mammals. This
open view makes me feel free and reminds me how special it is to be where I am
at in that moment.
My
daily life here include lectures, traveling fieldtrips, talks from guests,
animal research, and cultural experiences with tribes such as the Maasai. The
times I have experiences with the Maasai tribe have shown me such a different
way of life. For example during my camping trip in Tarangire National Park I
got to spend time asking questions and seeing a Maasia tribesman’s home and family.
These experiences have been the most eye opening days of my time here. They
also remind me that although their lifestyle is much different, life is still so
similar for all of us. I told him to ask me any questions he wanted, and the
first one was about our president Trump, and the second was about what our cows
look like. Usually late afternoons are filled with playing soccer at the local field,
finishing up projects, and times reading in the hammocks on campus. Lately I have been thinking a lot about my desire to see more of African during these down times. I think that has been one of my biggest challenges is not having pure freedom as I do at home. We all eat
our meals on camp together unless we are on excursions. We all must help cook
breakfast once a week, which has actually become something I think I will truly
miss when I leave. We also have community service planting grass on farms or
volunteering at the local orphanages. I have also had the opportunity to teach
a few English classes at the primary school. On Sundays we get to explore the
local villages, do art projects in town, or go on hikes and bike rides. Yesterday
I spent my free day hiking to the top of this beautiful waterfall in Ngoronogo
conservation area. Here I truly felt like I was in the wilderness. It was so
nice to see animals such as baboons not just in the national parks from the
jeeps, but on foot. I felt like I was truly in the African wilderness.
One of
my largest goals coming here was to try to meet new people and experience the culture
as much as I can. Although, meeting locals has been a bit harder than other
countries I have traveled to. Although I have had the opportunity to interact
with many locals at the markets, during interviews, and in town, many of the
gender roles make creating friendships difficult. Many women my age are supposed
to stay home and take care of the house, as man have more freedom. Many interactions
with men can be seen as promiscuous, and men you talk to may randomly ask you
to marry them. Although people in town are so friendly and happy to interact
with anyone! I got the opportunity to do a home stay and learn about the
culture of the Iraqw tribe. Although I did see the gender roles in this families,
the lifestyle is very happy and laid back. We spent the day in their hand built
mud and stick home drinking tea and helping with household chores. We cleaned
the mud out of the home from the cattle because the cows and family sleep in
the same hut. We also helped with cooking and a little farm work. I loved how
the kids and parents spend the whole day together! They were not rushing or stressing about
any work to be done, just gradually doing their household chores with smiles on faces. Yesterday
I was able to talk to a man that lives in Arusha, the big city nearby. It’s
interesting to hear how different the culture seems there, and how it seems a bit more similar
to my life back home. This made me question how my impressions of Africa might
change depending on what region of the country I am living in. I’m excited for
our three day spring break in Arusha, to compare these differences.
Many of
my opportunities and privileges back home I am starting to miss. It’s easy to
not realize the luxuries of first world countries when you spend your whole
life there. The food may be my most missed aspect of the United States. Cheese
isn’t really a thing here, and I miss quesadillas! Of course I knew I would
miss things like rock climbing, and my friends. Although, I find myself missing
things I never thought I would, such as going to movies, Washington vibes, grocery stores, warms showers, and not
being starred at everywhere I go. I’m so grateful for the opportunity to
realize how much I love where I live, and the experience to know how other people live in
this world. My advice to anyone else doing this program in the future would be
try to talk to as many people as you can, they will laugh at your broken Swahili,
but you will learn the culture and language so much more! I am almost
half way done with this program, and I have learned so much about this culture,
and about myself. With another two months left, I have so much more to come and
experience!
