Service Program: Tanzania

I did not have too many expectations for the program other than that we would do a lot of service work. I think it far exceeded my expectations. A big part of why it did was because of the relationships Putney has formed with the people over there. I loved how on the weekends we would travel places and during the week we would stay in the village. I didn't expect to do this, but I loved it! Living in the village is such a unique and special part of this trip. What gave me the greatest sense of...

Before going on this trip, I didn't go through many ideas in my mind. All I knew during the days leading up to the trip was that I was going to Tanzania. The only expectations I had was that I was going to be helping a community and learning about the culture. Those two were strongly exceeded. It wasn't that I had just learned about the culture or JUST helping the community, but I had become apart of the community. I felt at home, I felt comfortable, and I felt collaborative and happy. The only ...

I expected to be more of an outsider in the village and within my group. I think Putney did a great job of making sure that we were fully integrated into the culture of our group and of Tanzania. This program exceeded my expectations. I think the feeling of really being recognized and on common ground with the people of Maji Moto at the Goodbye Ceremony just solidified my feeling of accomplishment. I realized the success of the whole trip at that moment. More small-scale, though, our constructi...