You’ve just experienced the sky’s daily spectrum as the magnanimous sunset wakes you, flying over Sudan’s desert sands with its burning orange hue filling your window seat. You are here, Tanzania: home of Kilimanjaro — the largest mountain in Africa; land of Swahili’s origin — a language that’s brought great umoja (unity) to people; safeguard to Olduvai Gorge — the remains of the origin of modern humanity. Your classes learn about wildlife with- in the world acclaimed Safari’s of the Serengeti and NgoroNgoro Crater — the seventh wonder of the world. You’re welcomed into home stays; immersing you in joyous culture and facilitating your Kiswahili from classes, with the greatest local teachers, held daily in the village’s center. Most of all, you encounter the most thrilling characters that converse genuinely, comfort, inspire, laugh, dance and sing with you!
Your studious excursions include a week exploring a rainforest on top of the West Usumbara Mountains — the most breathtaking view of mountainous land while conversing by the fire of the forest’s renowned swiss chalet. You are immersed in the life of East Africa’s notably traditional tribe, Maasai, which include trekking through waterfalls to a River’s source within the Rift Valley Walls — marking your most astonishing experience abroad.
As winter break begins, you travel to the neighboring city of Nairobi, Kenya, experiencing it briefly, yet dynamically, before experiencing the best joys of Nigeria. You’re set to experience a traditional Nigerian wedding with the beautiful, fervent, inspirational family of a close mentor. The time spent in the country’s capital introduces you to well organized city life within Nigeria. Amidst blizzard threats, all family members arrive in time to begin the travel to Umuahia, in Abia state, where you’re a royal guest of a unique estate and all of “Igbo-land.” The three day wedding introduces
you to the joyous ceremonies of giving away the woman of one family and bringing two families together. The festivities stretch through Christmas and you’re in awe of the opportunity to experience another country’s celebration of your community’s most exalted holiday! You’re sent home warmly, visiting family before beginning your new journey for the new semester.
The beginning of a new year marks new adventures and it’s off to explore the wonders of Egypt, starting in Cairo, where your great friend is studying abroad. You share in the wonder of the Great Pyramids, the wisdom of the Nile, and the foundations of antiquity’s artifacts before ending on the spirited waters of the Mediterranean Sea in Alexandra. As you wake up to the rising of the sun, watching as the sun burns in bright orange above the Indian Ocean and colors the skies with hues of magentas, you are inspired to start the circadian grind that you reluctantly attempted to regulate before succumbing to the atmosphere’s sporadic nature. This semester is set from a stable location of a dorm and daily adventures are everywhere! Between teachers’ strikes on campus, commonplace challenges of running water and electricity shortages in housing, one makes space for historical revelations of the East African Slave Trade, the Citywide Walk/Runs for Clean Water, scavenger hunts, and guided bike rides encompassing community awareness! The celebrated arts become you; music festivals envelope you, your role is found as a traditional dancer and ends with an appreciation for the International Film Fest on the country’s enchanted island of Zanzibar! You’ve learned the joys of cooking Tanzanian foods, embracing coconut milk and spice melodies as a starter of any delicatessen.
Your first birthday abroad approaches, and to your amazement, you are blessed with the greatest dinner of international friends for which you could’ve asked! Your most favored treasures are the people you’ve met; the interactions, understandings and relationships you built while working to secure your faith in humanity. You bid farewells to loved ones throughout East Africa, building new friendships along your route to complete this continental experience. My entire time abroad has been a testament to dreams beyond one’s imagination becoming reality. A heartfelt prayer and dream came true as I volunteered with the beautiful and inspiring children at New Hope Ministries, a home and school for deserving children in Busia, Uganda. After being encouraged and renewed by the faithful, loving children with whom I related and shared my story of achieving my dreams beyond life’s obstacles, I set off for my new semester and the many adventures awaiting me in Tanzania’s big city and the country’s main University of Dar es Salaam!
I share this with you, my fellow scholars, urging you to study abroad, take advantage of the countless opportunities for international experiences and make them your own! Allow your greatest imagination to become your reality and define your time, as it refines who you consider yourself to be!
Pictured: Aprili and her homestay sisters in traditional Maasai Boma (housing), animals from Safari trips.