Week 1: Orientation/Language Study

Intense in country orientation to East Africa. Time is spent discussing basic issues of cross-cultural communication, language, safety, health care, academics, and living in community. Swahili language classes begin for SWA 1401.

Sam Harrell teaching on Brackenhurst campus.

Week 2: Rural Homestay

Total immersion experience in rural agricultural community. Students live individually with families and participate in all aspects of daily life.

Student at homestay with Tugen.

Week 3 & 4: Course Work at Brackenhurst campus

Mornings: lectures, film series, and discussions related to AFS 3301: Africa in the Contemporary World

Afternoons are spent in Swahili language study. SWA 1401

Swahili teacher Peter Ndeleva with student on Brackenhurst campus.

Week 5: Environmental Field Component

Camping safari in Tanzania's Ngorongoro crater and other national parks for environment, wildlife, and ecology study. Some time is spent with the hunter-gatherer Hadza culture.

Week 6: Course Work on Brackenhurst campus

continuation of AFS 3301 & SWA 1401

Guest lecturer with students at Jain temple in Nairobi.

Week 7:

Fall Break/Guided Travel (five days)

Faculty and students on expedition up Mt. Kilimanjaro. Photo by Buddy & Tresa Gilchrist.

Week 8: Pastoralist Homestay

An intense study of the life of Maasai pastoralists including occupation, philosphy, gender roles, family, and education.

Student with Maasai.

Week 9, 10, 11: Urban Homestay/Course Work

Morning classes in area of selected study (religion, history, or literature). Afternoons in language study for students taking SWA 1402, with various cultural events scheduled. Evenings spent individually with urban families.

Uhuru Park in Nairobi.

Week 12, 13, & 14: Internship

Placement with any number of non-governmental or mission organizations for the purpose of exposure to and involvement in aspects of development, relief/human needs, and other related activities.

Kenyan school children.

Week 15: Evaluation and Debriefing

Submission of internship paper and host evaluation. Swahili exams for SWA 1402. Submission of journals. Final debriefing and re-entry seminary. Farwell dinner.