Three weeks from today I will step foot in Africa for the very first time!
I have been dreaming of going to Africa since I was in high school; and now, as I enter my senior year of college I will finally be able to live out my dream.
A little background about myself and why I will be living in Cameroon, Africa for 3.5 months:
I am a rising senior at the University of Arkansas where I am earning a double major in French and African and African American Studies with a minor in Anthropology. Prior to attending college I took a gap year and studied in Belgium for a year with the Rotary International Youth Exchange program. I will be going to Cameroon, Africa through the SIT (School for International Training) Social Development and Pluralism program. This program is based out of Cameroon's capital, Yaoundé; however, we will have the opportunity to explore all different parts of the country. I will be taking 16 credit hours of study while abroad, the majority of which will be taught in French. I will also live in three different home stays throughout the semester where I will once again be immersed in the French language, as I was when I lived in French-speaking Belgium. The semester will be academically rigorous and include a four week Independent Study project where we will be free to conduct our own hands-on research project. I'm really excited for that portion of the study abroad!
I cannot forget to thank the University of Arkansas for their help in funding this adventure! Many thanks to the African and African American Studies program and the Honors College for their generous aid.
Like I said, less than a month before the adventure begins. That pretty much translates to: CRUNCH TIME! I have a lot of preparation to do before I leave the country. Thankfully the hard stuff is already over... vaccinations, but there is a lot more packing and reading and researching I want to do so that I can be as prepared as possible! Granted, I have done a lot of traveling before and I do know that no matter how rigorously you prepare pre-travel, you must be flexible with whatever may come. Plus, not knowing what you'll be getting into is 90% of the adventure!
I plan to write once more right before I leave the country and hopefully (depending on the internet situation) once a week while I am abroad. Thank you for following my adventure! I'm sure it will be an exciting ride!
