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- Elisa W. •
- IRSEP Program in Tanzania •
- Global Studies Major
“I don't take anything
for granted now that I've returned.”
—Eliesa W. |
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Eliesa spent a year studying and living in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania as part of the Learning Abroad Center’s scholarship exchange, IRSEP. As a global studies major focusing on Africa, Eliesa had the chance to experience her area of study in a unique way.
Eliesa traveled to Tanzania having already fulfilled most of the requirements for her Global Studies major. This allowed her to take coursework in other areas such as sociology and art. One thing that stood out to Eliesa in her classes was the lack of materials for students and faculty. “I had some really great instructors who were very knowledgeable, and really dedicated to what they were doing. At the same time, you could see that some of them were really frustrated with the system, and trying to work within the constraints of that.” Learning within the Tanzanian system gave Eliesa a new perspective on her studies, and the opportunities she has as a student at the University of Minnesota. “I don’t take anything for granted now that I’ve returned.”
Eliesa also gained insight into her possible career path. “I’ve thought about working in the NGO setting, and have really questioned the benefits of international aid. I always thought it was a good thing, but now I kind of see the cyclical nature of aid, and that it’s not always a good idea. It definitely gave me another side, a more well rounded view of things.” She plans to use these ideas as part of her senior project for Global Studies, and thinks she would like to eventually work in a non-profit setting, either abroad or in the US.
One of the highlights of Eliesa’s time abroad was a trip to Ethiopia. She flew from Tanzania and then took a 16-hour bus ride to her final destination. From the beginning, she was impressed with the hospitality of her hosts. “We were talking to the bus driver, and he said, ‘your bags are fine. Come, I’ll take you to the best hotel in town.’ He took us there, it was $4 for the night, and we had running water; it was really rather nice. The next day, he came and knocked on our door, and the whole bus was there, and everyone was ready to go. They picked us up at our hotel, and just went out of their way to make sure that we were comfortable, and they were so friendly. I know so many instances of that happening in Tanzania. Everyone was so gracious.”
Last modified on November 21, 2008 |