People of Tanzania

Submitted by Amanda Paul on the 2018 winter session program in Tanzania sponsored by the Department of  Entomology and Wildlife Ecology…

To kick off this week, we all went on a five hour hike in the Nou Highland Forest to the most beautiful waterfall you could imagine. The water was insanely freezing, but it was so much fun. Our time spent with the Iraqw People continued and we were all able to sit down with an Iraqw man around the campfire and learn more about their culture. He told us a lot about their environmental policies and how they conserve the forest and the water. It was a lot more organized and official than I expected since each village has environmental committees that work together in a co-managed system.

This week, we arrived at one of my favorite places, Yaeda Valley! Here we stayed with the Hadza Tribe and it exceeded all of my expectations. They are the last hunter-gatherer tribe and the only tribe that men and women are equal in. A huge part of this is because both men and women are able to independently feed themselves. A man cannot say “if you do not do this, I will not feed you” because a woman is capable of providing for herself and her children. They communicate through a unique click language and were so welcoming and kind. We got to dig for tubers with the women and make arrows with the men. One of my favorite days on the program thus far was when we went hunting with the Hadza. We split into groups of 2-3 and in a torrential downpour raced after a hunter, crawled through thorn thickets and scaled mountains following tracks. It was so ridiculous and we all had a blast.

The next stop on our journey is Karatu! I got to experience a farmers market (who knew they loved dried sardines so much here??) and then we visited a local orphanage. They have 75 kids in total and adoption is unheard of, though thankfully a lot of the kids are sponsored to get an education. They had cows, chickens and a garden to help provide food. They had a scrapbook with a lot of pictures of the kids and their stories which was really hard to read. One kid was there because his mentally ill mom tried to bury him alive. A lot of the kids were just abandoned. My experience in the orphanage opened my eyes to an entirely different area of concern in Tanzania. We’ve learned a lot about land and women’s rights issues, but this taught me about issues for the mentally ill. Children with mental illnesses are often left outside to die or hidden in homes. In a lot of areas of Tanzania, albino children are killed for their body parts or because they are viewed as demons. It was really difficult to hear and try to wrap my head around it all. Being here is definitely a reality check in so many different ways.

The waterfall we hiked to in the Nou Highland Cloud Forest
Digging for tubers with the Hadza women in Yaeda Valley
We caught a hornbill for dinner while hunting with the Hadza in Yaeda Valley

 

 

 

 

The First Week in South Africa

Submitted by Leah Epstein on the 2018 winter session program in South Africa sponsored by the Department of Behavioral Health & Nutrition…

South Africa has been nothing at all like I expected. The air is filled with a very dry heat, which is a refreshing difference from the high humidity levels we get in the United States. This program has kept us very busy and constantly active. Although I have only been here for one week, I feel like it has been a month’s worth of activities. We have seen animals in both sanctuaries and just out and about on many of the different open spaces that they have in the city of Pretoria. I have learned that the government is very supportive of the animals, and controls the conservation of all the lands in order to do what’s best for the animals. I have also already grown as a person through meetings with health care workers and visiting orphanages and youth programs in the informal settlements. Overall, it’s been a great week, I can’t wait to see what’s next!

 

South Africa: A Bittersweet Goodbye

Submitted by Jessica Fogal on the 2018 winter session program in South Africa sponsored by the Department of Behavioral Health & Nutrition…

My last week in South Africa was bittersweet because we all knew it was coming to an end. The activities we did were great, but we knew they just meant that time was up! In many ways I am ready to go home, or maybe just bring a select group from home to me in South Africa. I am dreading going back to school and work in three days. I really wish I had more time to settle, although I wouldn’t have wanted my time to be cut short. (Just school to start later for me) I am anxious that “real life” will be a huge slap because it’s so abrupt. I’m also realizing all that I have learned and gained during my month here and that I’m not the same person I was when I left. I learned so much about what it means to just be human and I hope that will stick in my brain and lessen the reverse culture shock. Although the people in S0uth Africa are who showed me such new perspectives, people in the United States are people all the same so I have to keep that in mind. I will forever be thankful for this experience and I don’t have the words to explain the extent. Everyone and everything that lead me here I am appreciative for whether it was good or bad. I know when I’m graduated and in my career 15 years from now I will be able to remember this experience and all the people I experienced it with (especially Patrick).

 

 

 

My Time in Tanzania

Submitted by Lucas Walls on the 2018 winter session program in Tanzania sponsored by the Department of  Entomology and Wildlife Ecology…

Week 1 (1/8-1/13)

This week has been everything I imagined it will be. With a delayed flight causing us to miss the connecting plane to Tanzania, we got an extra experience by being able to experience Amsterdam for a night. It was the first time I’ve been to Europe, and it was really awesome to see how different it was from a city in America. It was filled with a ton of bikes, canal systems and very beautiful with all of the brick buildings. When we finally got to Africa, I could just feel the freshness of the air. We met one of our tour guides and learned some basic Swahili and arrived at camp very late. Throughout the week, we camped in tents, drove through cities and visited some national parks. Driving around, local people would stare as we passed, some happy and some angry. It was definitely an experience and at times it was fairly uncomfortable. One of the best moments was waving at children we passed, as a large majority of them would always be happy to see us drive by. As we traveled to Arusha National Park, the weather was cool as we climbed altitude. Coming into the program, I was thinking I would be in the blistering heat every day, but in reality I was wearing a jacket almost every morning until about noon most days. We had our first close encounter experience of the program with giraffes walking right in front of our trucks. We ended the week traveling to Tanagerie National Park, where we stayed at a beautiful lodge and saw our first elephants. It was a moment I’ve dreamed of as a kid and a fantastic first week with many experiences to come.

Week 2 (1/14-1/20)

This week, we stayed at the Nou Forest with the Iraqw people and Yaeda Valley with the Hadza. The Iraqw are a group of agriculturalists who rely on the forest’s ability to provide clean water sources and increased rainfall to support their crops and livestock. We had a chance to talk to a local woman and man to learn more about their sustainability and conservation methods. Women do approximately 80% of the work in their culture, taking care of children, cooking, building homes and some farming. However, men still have a higher social status. They established environmental councils in 1986 and have used them since to conserve the forest and its benefits. It was a great experience to gain a little insight into their lifestyle, which is completely different than ours. In Yaeda, we stayed with the Hadza, a group of hunter gathers. I loved staying with them. They showed us their bows and explained the different types of arrows they used depending on the animal. Women and men are equal in their society. Our first day with them, we spent gathering tubers with the women in the morning and making jewelry with them in the afternoon. The men also helped us make our own arrows. We also had a chance to have a little target practice with their bows, which pack a serious punch considering they’re very simple. The next day, we split up into small groups and went hunting with the men, a couple of groups got small birds, but nothing big. It really put into perspective just how important the women are in their society because without them they’d go hungry very fast. We ended our time with having a celebration around the fire. We joined in some of their traditional dances and even taught them some songs from America. Everyone had a fantastic time with lots of smiling and laughing. Words can’t really describe how awesome it was to be able to connect with such a different group of people on that kind of level.

Week 3 (1/21-1/30)

This week was a week straight off of the Nat-Geo channel. We started out going to the Ngorongoro Crater, where we constantly surrounded by thousands of wildebeest, gazelle and zebra just to name a few. There wasn’t a time where we didn’t see some kind of animal. We were able to see some predators like lion and hyena, and even better, the black rhino. Black rhinos are extremely endangered and there are approximately 30 left in the crater. We were lucky to see three, one of them being just about 100 feet from our truck at one point. Being able to see them in person that close knowing they’re at such risk was remarkable.  We spent some time outside of the crater after that in the Ngorongoro Conservation Area with the Maasai. The Maasai are a group of pastoralists who are facing severe overgrazing issues and we were able to discuss some of the problems with the men. They asked for some of our ideas on how they might go about fixing it, and it was truly a great experience being able to discuss those big issues with them. We visited one of their villages and saw their houses, and played with some of the kids. They were so intrigued by our phones and cameras and they couldn’t stop running around all of us constantly smiling. It was a bunch of fun. We ended our program at the world famous Serengeti National Park. It really felt like I fulfilled one of my childhood dreams being able to stare across the savanna with the small trees and sea of tall grass. We saw lion, cheetah, leopard and over a hundred bird species in just two days there.

Looking back at the program, it couldn’t have been done any better. I’ve grown so close to the other students in such a short amount of time, and our tour company was amazing. It’s truly been the best month of my life and I was learning and experiencing something new every day. I cannot wait till I get the chance to come back.

These are pictures of the Hadza. They are a group of hunter-gatheres. The woman is using her digging stick to dig up different types of tubers, food similar to potatoes. Their diet is 80% fiber and they have the most biodiverse gut biota in the world since hunts aren’t always successful.
The other picture is one of the men starting a fire from nothing but a stick and a knife. It was truly remarkable to watch because he did it with such ease and on his first try.
This week we visited the Maasai and we played with the children for a while. They were so fascinated with our phones and cameras and we let them play with them and watched their pure fascination. It’s really crazy to think that they have never seen these items that we take for granted.

 

We were less than 100 feet from a black rhino in the Ngorongoro Crater. There are less than 30 of them in the area we went to, and they usually are never as close as they were. I was lucky enough to be in the one truck that had the opportunity to be that close, and it’s definitely my favorite memory from the program.
The first close lion encounter we had was in the Ngorongoro Conservation Area. I was in the open safari vehicle less than 50 feet away from the lions. It was just so exhilarating to be so close to such a big predator and appreciate their beauty firsthand.

South Africa: A Visit to an Orphanage

Submitted by Tatiana Thomas on the 2018 winter session program in South Africa sponsored by the Department of Human Development and Family Studies…

I really enjoyed Mama Esther’s Orphanage. The staff and children welcomed us with open arms. As soon as we got there, we were welcomed by the cutest little boy! The orphanage had a building for children with disabilities because there is a problem with placing children with disabilities in South Africa. The other building in the orphanage had many children that were kidnapped or trafficked from there homes in other countries. It was sad to see so many kids that were taken from their families. The orphanage was a really great community for the kids. I couldn’t tell that any of them had experienced trauma. I really got to connect with some of the girls and it was really fun to play with them for the afternoon. I face painted most of the kids and found out that I have a small talent! I would love to go back and visit my new friends! I also really got along with the house mother of the orphanage. She called me her daughter and asked for a picture. She really made me miss my own mother, but it felt nice to have a motherly embrace so far from home.

Learning about South African Tribes in Lesidi

Submitted by Tatiana Thomas on the 2018 winter session program in South Africa sponsored by the Department of Human Development and Family Studies…

Lesidi was a place that taught us how the South African tribes ran their villages and where traditions came from. I loved seeing the different cultures and how they started. Cows were the the most common currency for large purchases like trading and dowries. Most of the tribes had similar rules and traditions like having multiple wives, men doing the hunting, with women cooking, cleaning, and taking care of the children. There was a lot of separation between the men and the women. The men had areas where women were not allowed and women always sat in positions to be protected by the men. We enjoyed some food and dancing as well! It was really fun! I would love to learn how to dance like the women because it was so upbeat and looked like a lot of fun. I was very excited to share my experience with my family especially because the tour guide was very informative.

Cape Town, South Africa: Table Mountain

Submitted by Madeline Zehr on the 2018 winter session program in South Africa sponsored by the Department of Behavioral Health & Nutrition…

The past week and a half, we have spent in Cape Town and have been able to thoroughly explore this beautiful city. When we arrived in Cape Town, our entire group was blown away by how vibrant the city is. There are palm trees lining the streets, fantastic restaurants everywhere you look and gorgeous beaches. Unfortunately, Cape Town is dealing with an extreme water crisis at the moment. In every bathroom, there are signs to conserve water, most restaurants do not serve tap wate, and the hotel has signs everywhere to encourage two minute showers. In about two months, the city is predicted to be out of water. This is crazy to me being from somewhere where there is plenty of water. It has taught us how important it is to conserve water and energy all the time so that a crisis will not occur where we live.

A highlight of our time in Cape Town has been hiking Table Mountain. Most of us have agreed that is was one of the hardest things we have ever done. We took a path that was natural steps made of rock from a stream that used to flow down the mountain. However, we were able to reach the top in under two hours, which is making very good time for this hike. The hike could not have been completed alone, as working together with our peers and motivating each other was what got us through. It was extremely mentally taxing since we were unfamiliar with the hike and were unsure as to what was around each corner. Without fail, it was always more stairs. Through joking and chatting, we were able to focus less on the pain in our legs and more on creating lasting friendships amongst each other.

Penguins on Boulder beach
Views from Table Mountain
Views from Table Mountain

South Africa: Wow!

Submitted by Drew DaVia on the 2018 winter session program in South Africa sponsored by the Department of Human Development and Family Studies…

Wow!  I tried my best to come into this experience without any expectations because I had no clue what to expect, and it honestly exceeded anything I could have imagined. There was something awesome to experience in every single day. It was my first time out of the United States, and I really wish I didn’t have to go back. This program touched me mentally, emotionally and spiritually in countless ways, and I feel that I have grown so much stronger as a person. I’ve made such good friends here and I truly feel that we’ll keep in touch for the rest of our lives. I’m beyond thankful for every aspect of this journey and feel blessed to have been a part of it. South Africa now holds a very special place in my heart and I fully intend on returning someday. I appreciate everyone that helped me get here and the ones along the way who made this program what it was. I believe that direction is greater than purpose, and that love is the point in the compass that brought me here. I loved every second of this experience.

Great Week in South Africa

Submitted by Danielle Lumpkin on the 2018 winter session program in South Africa sponsored by the Department of Behavioral Health & Nutrition…

This week we’ve been in Cape Town. Here in Cape Town there is a water crisis so we have had to be very careful about how we use water. We’ve been learning a lot about conservation and what we can do to help our environment. This week, we also went to Table Mountain. The view from the top was beautiful. It took my breath away. We also went to Boulders Beach and saw African penguins. They were so cute and we were able to get so close. It was a great week!

South Africa: Safari

Submitted by Darlaine Paul on the 2018 winter session program in South Africa sponsored by the Department of Behavioral Health & Nutrition…

This week in South Africa was Safari week! We spent five days at the Klasarie Safari Park where we went on morning and evening drives. The morning drives were very early at 5:30 am and the evening drives were at 4:30 pm. During our safari, we were very fortunate to see four out of the big five, which was the lion, rhino, elephant and leopard. The only one we missed was the African buffalo, but a lot of people only usually see two or three out of the big fice so seeing all of four of those animals was amazing. Aside from the big five, we also saw giraffes, zebras and lots of other animals. During safari, we also learned about the importance of having a balanced ecosystem because having too little or too big of a population of a certain species can cause harm to the environment. We also learned that simple things that we hear everyday and sometimes neglect, like recycling, being mindful of pollution are other things that impact our environment. Being on safari really brought a lot of joy to my heart because I love animals and  being just a few feet away from them was absolutely amazing. Safari is definitely something I wish everyone could experience at least once in his or her lifetime. Pictures and talking about safari isn’t sufficient, it is actually the physical experience that is worth a thousand words.

Elephant – This image was taken while on safari at the Klaserie Private Nature Reserve. The elephant is part of Africa’s big five and it was the first out of the big five that we spotted. The elephant was about 15-20 feet from our safari vehicle and I was able to get a great shot of the whole body.