HAKUNA MATATA: LESSONS LEARNED FROM A SEMESTER ABROAD IN KENYA

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Hi my name is Julia Fonshell and I will be graduating from the University of South Carolina in May of 2019 with a B.A. in Political Science and a minor in Health Promotion, Education and Behavior. I spent the spring semester of my Junior year studying abroad in Kisumu, Kenya. My program, coordinated through The School for International Training, was called “Kenya: urbanization, health and human rights.” During this semester, I lived with host families both in the suburban town of Kisumu and the rural village of Semenya. I also studied Swahili, conducted an independent research project and took trips to Nairobi, Rwanda and Uganda. I chose to study abroad in Kenya because as a political science major and public health minor I had often read about the unique governmental and public health concerns lower/ middle income countries face. I was eager for the opportunity to make my textbook learning come to life and to get an immersive and hands on learning experience. The fact that I was able to live with host families truly enhanced my experience. I was also excited about the opportunity to conduct independent research and was able to combine my backgrounds in my major and minor by designing my study to measure governmental accountability and service delivery in Kisumu County. This experience has allowed me to gain a thorough appreciation of a culture very different from my own. I not only made new friends and family but I also gained experience working with a diverse group of colleagues. Upon graduation I will be joining Teach for America and teaching middle school English and language arts in New Orleans, Louisiana.