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East Africa Archive 2004

Orientation | August 12 | Sept. 16 | Oct.1 | Nov. 3 | Zanzibar Pictures | Coursework | Leaders | Program

The 2004 Program

Sara Penhale and Alan Winkler led the first Earlham Tanzania program in 2003 after US State Department policies forced Earlham to find alternatives to the long running Kenya program. They did an extraordinary job of setting up the program with little notice and few contacts in the country; indeed it was a very successful program that highlighted many good options for Tanzanian study.

Earlham’s second visit to Tanzania will build on those connections and experiences and will be led by EC alums Damon and Megan Hearne. The Hearnes’ first experience in East Africa was while participating in separate Kenya programs in the 1990’s. They also spent time in Tanzania last fall in preparation for the 2004 program.

Four courses will be offered on the program:

1. Conservation Biology and Preserve Management
2. Health and Society in Tanzania
3. Social Cultures of East Africa
4. Kiswahili

The program begins in late August when students arrive in Arusha, the major northern city of Tanzania, and ends in mid-December. Exact dates and travel arrangements will be made during the spring semester orientation period. The detailed itinerary for the entire program will be determined during the summer when the program leaders arrive in-country to finalize the program arrangements. A preliminary program schedule is provided below.

Learning in Tanzania is experiential in nature – the students will learn first hand from Tanzanians and the natural environment. Throughout the program, the group moves from locale to locale in order to gain a rounded experience Tanzania (wild and human) life. Some stops, such as homestays, will be longer in nature; others visits such as small National Park trips, will be only a brief visit. Housing will vary from dung huts with leather sleeping platforms to modern hotel rooms with most of the comforts of home.

The program will spend time in:

Arusha: A relatively modern city of 350,000 people and a ~7% growth rate, Arusha is northern Tanzania’s trade center and the countries safari capitol. Arusha lies several hours drive west of Mt. Kilimanjaro and south of the Kenya/Tanzania boarder. Although the number of tourists to visit the city in a year outnumbers the resident population, the atmosphere remains laid back and safe. The Maasai people reside in areas near Arusha and we will visit the home area of author Tepilit ole Saitoti and learn about the development and conservation issues affecting the people in his region.

Serengeti National Park/Ngorongoro Conservation Area: These renowned safari destinations are not only home to the “big five” (elephant, lion, rhino,
buffalo and leopard) but also support hundreds of other species that migrate through this ecosystem. Olduvai Gorge has been called “the cradle of mankind” and played an important role in our current understanding of the pre-history of the human species. Serengeti is one half of the incredible Mara/Serengeti migratory route that is traveled by millions of wildebeest, zebra and other animals each year.

Zanzibar: While living amid the narrow streets and rambling stone buildings of Stonetown, we will spend time experiencing and learning about this important center of Swahili culture. Although Kisawhili is the national language of Kenya and Tanzania, the Swahili culture and history is distinct from the native peoples of the interior lands. A culture derived from indigenous coastal groups and migrants from the Arabian peninsula, the Swahili people of Zanzibar remain traditional in many ways. In addition to cultural study with host families, we will tour the exotic spice plantations, snorkel an Indian Ocean reef and explore a local forest.

Iringa: Termed “one of Tanzania’s most attractive towns” by the Rough Guide, Iringa will be the site of our longest home stay and ethnographic coursework. Students will be matched with host families and will split their time between ethnographic research on topics of their choice and course meetings for the Health and Society course.

Lake Natron: Described as “hellishly hot, dry, desolate and bizarrely beautiful” by our friends at Rough Guide, Lake Natron will be the site of our Maasai homestay. Pioneered as a homestay location by peers from the School for International Training, the Natron homestay promises to be a once in a lifetime experience. The students will spend four days with families participating in daily life; carrying water, herding cattle and repairing dung huts (by hand!) will be some of the activities we experience.

Morogoro /Luguru homestay: The Uluguru mountains are home to a diverse and rapidly disappearing rainforest. Students will spend time in Morogoro at Sokoine University of Agriculture learning about the Luguru people and preparing to visit the homestay locations. During the Luguru homestay, students will participate in a locally operated cultural tourism project and spend time observing this matrilineal society. (For more on this unusual culture, see the Rough Guide page 278).

Independent Travel: There are two periods of independent travel, a short and a long. These are important opportunities for students to explore parts of Tanzania that appeal to their personal interests and to give them experience in planning activities in a country and culture far different from their own. The travel times are set at points in the program when students have gained confidence in their ability to navigate the country, and when a break from the intensity of the group experience will be appreciated. In other years, students have used this time to climb Mt.Kilimanjaro, relax on the beach, explore other areas of the country, re-visit homestay families or do volunteer work.

The opportunities for students on the Tanzania Program are unique and unparalleled. Though the experiences are often challenging, students leave the program with a changed worldview and an understanding of cultures other than their own. Students will undergo personal growth and development, and return with life-long memories of experiences shared with Tanzanians and the Earlham group.

 

**From the Earlham College International Programs Office Tanzania Program Handbook. Written by Africa program leaders past and present.