Study abroad in Tanzania, Africa & Lugano, Switzerland
august - december 2024
August 30 - October 31 2024:
During the months of September and October I had the opportunity to live in Lugano, Switzerland as a member of the Linking Lives Study Abroad program. I was enrolled in 5 courses at Roanoke College which transferred to Virginia Tech as 18 credits. These classes include: Marketing, Society, and the Public Interest (MKTG 4644), Special Study- Legal Approaches to Change (MKTG 4984), Consumer Behavior (MKTG 4204), Field Study (MKTG 4964) and Study Abroad Digital Storytelling (MKTG 3954).
During my experience, I traveled to five different countries and gained skills in teamwork, organization and time management, communication, adaptability and resilience, and decision making.
As part of the interdisciplinary Linking Lives Lugano Study Abroad Programs this fall, I also had the incredible opportunity to meet U.S. Ambassador to Italy, Jack Markell at the U.S. Embassy in Rome.
Our group engaged in insightful discussions about U.S.-Italy relations, diplomacy and global cooperation. It was truly an inspiring experience and a highlight of my study abroad journey. I'm so grateful for the opportunity to have been a part of this unique program and to learn firsthand about international relations and creating sustainable social change.
Our group engaged in insightful discussions about U.S.-Italy relations, diplomacy and global cooperation. It was truly an inspiring experience and a highlight of my study abroad journey. I'm so grateful for the opportunity to have been a part of this unique program and to learn firsthand about international relations and creating sustainable social change.
In addition to coursework and my adventures to the embassy, some highlights of my trip include skydiving in the Swiss Alps, attending Oktoberfest in Munich, visiting the Lindt Chocolate Factory in Zurich, attending pasta-making classes in Florence, and sightseeing at the Louvre and Eiffel Tower in Paris.
November 1 - December 1 2024:
November was the most remarkable chapter of my study abroad semester and one of the most special times in my life. During this month I lived in Engaruka, Tanzania, Africa.
During this time, 11 other students from my study abroad program, Linking Lives, and I worked with the most inspiring community at Engaruka English Medium Primary School (EEMPS) and collaborated with the locally led NGO, Engaruka Community Initiative Organization (ENCO). ENCO is dedicated to empowering vulnerable young women and children in rural Maaasai communities throughout the region of Arusha through programs that support health, education, environmental conservation and economic development.
Throughout the month-long partnership that included transformative community initiatives, we built relationships that are now long-term. We assisted teachers, community leaders and administrators in providing classroom lessons in English, math, computer science and sports/arts. My group promoted sustainability throughout the villages by joining the seventh graders for a local trash pick-up day. We painted waste bins and street signs that contained community-centered messages, then installed them in villages surrounding the school compound. Additionally, our Linking Lives team painted the most vibrant murals for several classrooms to inspire students, lighten up the building and foster an enjoyable learning environment. One of my favorite community-centered activities was gardening. I got to plant avocado and mango trees, water them daily and then cultivate a plan to distribute the greenery to families outside of EEMPS.
We also had several opportunities to engage in cultural activities and enrich our understanding of the Maasai culture. Throughout each week, we had Swahili lessons, debate club with the children and religion/dance sessions. We saw Engaruka Ruins, an iconic historical site that is situated in northwest Monduli District in central Arusha Region. One of my favorite cultural activities was on our cultural exchange day where we experienced a mock Maasai wedding, witnessing the traditional practices, dances and beaded/plaid attire that the bride and guests wear. This experience has been the most extraordinary lesson in collaboration, adaptability and innovation, which has challenged me to think creatively, develop cross-functional strategies with local partners and align long-term goals with sustainable impact.
One of my favorite moments from my experience in Tanzania was installing waste bins in the community with the seventh graders. As we walked into town with our equipment to work, I remember how excited the children were to help us out. We were singing and skipping as we passed by herds of goats, cows, donkeys and fellow Maasai community members. When we entered the villages, the people seemed to spawn out of nowhere to come help and provide their sand/cement, wheelbarrows and even bottled water because of the heat. This communal spirit was amazing to witness and watch others generously lend a hand.
When I first came to Tanzania, I would have been shocked by the willingness for strangers to help, but after spending several weeks in Engaruka I realized that the people aren’t individualistic, like Americans. They are highly community-oriented, accommodate others and provide favors for others without any thought of receiving a return. Their lives revolve around the strength of their community, marked by a deep sense of mutual care and selflessness. This experience wasn’t only enjoyable because I had the opportunity to spend time with the kids, but I could see first-hand insight into the true heart and culture of the Maasai people. Encountering this specific exchange made me realize that I want to take with me the same ideals back home. As I pursue my personal goals, I want to shift my focus more on collaborating and community-building, rather than competition. Carrying this lesson home, I hope to embody the same spirit of kindness and interconnectedness that I witnessed in Tanzania.
