Tanzania
School for International Training: Wildlife Ecology and Conservation
http://www.sit.edu/studyabroad
Dear Office of Study Abroad:
As I studied the behaviors of African wildlife, I found the animals and the scenery captivating and unique. Seeing a cheetah hunt and lions mate were definitely highlights of my study abroad semester, but there was so much more to learn and experience in Tanzania.
Living among the banana trees with my host family, and learning their language, taught me to slow down in life and appreciate the beauty in growing your own food and sharing it together in the fading light. Then living with the Maasai in their mud huts in the desert, living among the brush and carrying water back from the river on my head, they accepted me into their culture as we danced together under the stars and drank goat's blood directly from the dying goat. All of this took place in the shadow of the volcano we had climbed in order to talk to their female God, "Oldonyo Langai."
I also witnessed the lack of healthcare in Tanzania while conducting a research project on the saftey of pesticide use by farmers. While volunteering at Amani's Home for Street Children I saw the ravaging effects of malnutrition, and yet, the hope in each child's eyes was touching and amazing.
Before this experience, I wanted to become an infectious disease doctor and focus on public health. This summer I will be going to Thailand to volunteer in a health care setting. However, I know my heart is in East Africa and that I will return there one day as a doctor and friend.
– Vanessa Thomas