Forming My Own Perspective

We leave for Africa in a couple of days, and I am very excited. Throughout the entire process, applying for the trip, completing my documents, and attending the leadership institute, I was never nervous, only excited. But now, I’m starting to feel a little nervous. I’m not nervous about leaving; I’m more scared of anything bad happening or getting sick. Still, I know I will have a great time, and I can’t wait to experience the amazing opportunities ahead.

During this cultural immersion, I hope to gain a better understanding of African culture. In school and in the media, I’ve mostly heard negative things about Africa, so I’m really looking forward to forming my own perspective. I’ve learned about a lot of African countries, but I’ve never heard much about Tanzania, so I’m especially interested in learning more about it.

I hope to form lasting friendships with the other girls going on the trip and make awesome memories along the way. I’ve never traveled outside of the country or to a different time zone before, so I expect my body will need some time to adjust to the seven-hour time difference. I also hope there isn’t too much of a language barrier in Tanzania and that I’ll still be able to communicate well with the people there.

I’m really looking forward to visiting the villages and seeing how people live in Tanzania. I’m also excited about going on a safari to see the animals. I’m not expecting to see any specific animals so I don’t get my hopes up, I’ll be happy to see any of them!
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I can’t wait to meet the students, give them hygiene kits, and build solar-powered cars together. Overall, I want to gain a deeper understanding of the world beyond America. I know this trip will benefit me both personally and professionally. I hope it helps me become more open-minded in everything I do after stepping outside of my comfort zone.

Siara Lewis
Cohort 2024