School for International Training (SIT)

The homestay is not optional in the program, but it is only required for 6 weeks of the semester. SIT is an experiential learning program. So we were accomodated based on what/where we were studying. We went to the national park cabins, we stayed in a hostel for a few days, we camped when we went on outdoor expeditions. I think that the homestay was most valuable because I got to practice the native language (Shona) and learn about family/daily living. Living my family helped me to understand their perspectives and their culture because the family is the basic unit in society where culture is taught. People learn how to act from their family. Living with my family helped me to integrate much faster than when I didn't have a family to bond with while travelling.

I wish that I knew how to handle being an extreme object of interest (commodity even) because of my American nationality. I didn't know how to handle that, but I managed.

I highly reccommend SIT for people who want to step outside of their own personal experience to understand a different way of living. It's for the adventurous and those who would like to believe in their courageousness. I was able to write, choreograph and produce my own dance performance for my independent study project and I learned a lot about my strengths and my areas for improvement. I faced many of my fears on a daily basis.

The classes are all required, so take them. Study hard because the Academic Directors are personally invested in your success. Seek help from your family on your Shona homework.

This was an Arts and Social Change Seminar, but the seminar was more about history and contemporary culture seminar. Although history and contemporary culture are the foundation of arts and social change, the seminar could be reevaluated to make the theme more central and less marginal.

We took advantage of the depressed economy in Zimbabwe. The exchange rate of the US Dollar to the Zimbabwean Dollar was 1:50 at the time I was there (Fall 2000). Now it's 1:100 and things like hostel rooms were going from 700 Zimbabwean dollars per week.