Overseas Seminars - Arusha, Tanzania
Issues of Development in Northern Tanzania
Study in Tanzania with Bob Siegel
Arrival Date in Arusha: June 25, 2012
Departure Date from Arusha: July 16, 2012
This seminar explores the economic and cultural issues affecting development in the Arusha region of northern Tanzania. Caught between preservation of traditional values and the economic and cultural pressures of globalization, East Africa is fraught with opportunities, challenges, and contradictions. The Arusha region is specifically chosen because of the abundance of resources pertinent to development issues. This will allow students to get a broad overview of the field with numerous first hand examples. During this three week course, we will cover three modules concerning Health and Disease; Education and Technology; and Conservation, Tourism and Land Resource Management. We will address such issues as infectious disease, resource management, water conservation, ecological decline, and microfinance. We will look at the economic potential resulting from tourism, mining, and the UN tribunal on genocide in Rwanda (located in Arusha). We will pay particular attention to a model for intervening in the transmission of HIV. Overarching themes will be 1) the dynamic tensions created by the rapidly changing world and 2) the need to view problems in context by looking at the chain of causes. By exposing students to the interplay of these issues we will demonstrate the need to take a holistic approach to development.
The course will consist of daily lectures followed by site visits to places and people relevant to the themes of development and globalization. Possible visits may include NGO field sites, rural clinics, a community library, the agricultural college in Tangeru, a local orphanage, the United Nations facility in Arusha, and the Ngorongoro Crater conservation area. We will also have daily discussions stemming from student observations assignments described below. Students will be travelling by the rented vehicles throughout the seminar.
Students will be expected to chose a topic of interest and research that topic prior to the course (see the list of possible research topics). They will supplement their research in country observations and interviews. These topics will be presented to the group throughout the seminar. A write-up on the presentation topic will be turned in following the seminar. Students will also be expected to keep a series of daily observations – four short observations and one on which they elaborate (These can be thought of as the equivalent of four Twitters and 1 blog posting per day).
Location
This seminar will be based in the Arusha area of northern Tanzania. Arusha is considered to be the gateway to some of Africa’s most famous wildlife parks, including Tarangire, Ngorongoro Crater and the Serengeti. It is also in close proximity to Mount Kilimanjaro and Olduvai Gorge. It is serviced by nearby Kilimanjaro International Airport.
Living Conditions
Students will begin their stay at a local hostel in shared rooms with private or common bathrooms. Subsequently, students will live in homestays with Tanzanian families where they will get a flavor for the people and culture of this region. There will be multiple students per family. Students should understand that the conditions in Tanzania can present difficulties and discomforts not encountered here at Stanford. The families will be carefully screened by the local organization and will be excited to welcome students into their homes. However, students should be prepared for pit toilets, lack of electricity, no internet access, bucket showers, new foods and limited food choices, and less privacy and personal space than they are used to at the home campus. Home stays vary in their level of amenities, and may or may not have electricity. Students are expected to be flexible and willing to adjust to the culture of their host family to take the most advantage of this homestay experience. On the safari camping, students should be prepared for “primitive” camping in an isolated environment located in the field. Most restroom access and showering will be done in a central facility or camping style, and cooking will be done over open fires. Students should abide by rules of the camping and game park sites.
Faculty
Robert Siegel (http://www.stanford.edu/~siegelr/) is Associate Professor of Department of Microbiology and Immunology, the Program in Human Biology, and the Center for African Studies. He is the recipient of numerous teaching awards including the Gores Award for Excellence in Teaching. His courses focus on virology and infectious disease, on genetics and molecular biology, on global health and development, on photography, and on Darwin. He serves in an advisory capacity for numerous international NGOs, organizations, and projects including FACE AIDS, Support for International Change, Ocean Medicine Foundation, TeachAIDS, and Free the Children. Over the past decade, Prof. Siegel has traveled to Africa ten times including eight trips to the Arusha region. Prof. Siegel led the overseas seminar in Tanzania for Bing Overseas Studies Program in 2006. He has done fieldwork on malaria in Papua New Guinea and HIV in East Africa.
Enrollment Capacity
15 undergraduate students
Prerequisites
Enthusiasm, flexibility in terms of scheduling and personal amenities, ability to work well in a group setting, and a strong desire to work hard and have a great time.
Passport and Visa
Students are solely responsible for obtaining their passport and visa. Every BOSP participant MUST have a signed passport that is valid for at least 6 months after the scheduled RETURN date from the overseas program. Students who do not have a valid passport must apply for a new or renewed passport immediately using expedited service to ensure that their passport will arrive by early March. For information on obtaining or renewing a U.S. passport see http://travel.state.gov/.
U.S. citizens need visas to enter Tanzania. Depending on their nationality, non-U.S. citizens and permanent residents of the United States are normally required to apply for a visa for Tanzania, with a typically longer processing time of at least 6-8 weeks. It is essential that non-U.S. citizens and U.S. permanent residents start the visa application process as soon as they are accepted into the program. Specific visa requirements will be discussed at the pre-departure orientation. For information on the visa requirements for Tanzania see: http://www.tanzaniaembassy-us.org/tzevisa.html.
Health and Safety
Students on international programs should be aware that attitudes toward medical conditions, disabilities, and psychological conditions vary by culture and under the laws of the host countries. These differences impact the level of treatment and accommodation available abroad. Students should give serious consideration to their health and personal circumstances when accepting a place in a program and should consult with their physicians. Students should consider that at least half of this trip will be held in remote locations where no medical facilities are available within the immediate vicinity of the planned activities.
Students must be aware that certain immunizations are required to protect their health in Tanzania. Yellow fever vaccination may be required to enter into the country. Students must review the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s website for complete information on health conditions and vaccinations in Tanzania at http://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/destinations/tanzania.htm. Students must also consult the on-campus Vaden Health Center Travel Clinic (http://vaden.stanford.edu/travel/). Students are expected to make an appointment with the on-campus Vaden Health Center Travel Clinic as soon as they are accepted to the program at (650) 498-2336 ext. 1 to discuss any health concerns, pre-departure immunizations, and any personal prescriptions before going abroad.
Crime is a serious problem in Tanzania; visitors should be alert and cautious. Students must review the U.S. State Department’s consular information website for complete information on safe and security in Tanzania at http://travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/cis/cis_1038.html#crime.
As with any foreign travel, emphasis will be placed on staying away from questionable situations, avoiding injury, and preventing infectious disease. Generally, students will be expected to travel in groups, avoid travel at night, and stay with the group unless prior approval is obtained. Additional issues of personal health and safety and precautions will be discussed in detail during the pre-seminar preparation and upon arriving in country.
Malaria and Other Health Issues
Students should be aware that Malaria is present in Tanzania. For most of the trip, we will be above an elevation of 4,000 feet, the risk of malaria is greatly decreased. Nevertheless, we will emphasize behaviors that will minimize the risk of insect bites. Students must discuss with the on-campus Vaden Health Center Travel Clinic the best ways to prevent malaria. Students will need to get a prescription for a licensed drug to prevent malaria (e.g. mefloquine, doxycycline, or atovoquone/proguanil). These medications need to be started prior to travel and continue for various periods after traveling. Students will be expected to be up to date on all relevant vaccines including HAV, HBV, typhoid, tetanus, and polio. Any illness or health concern should be immediately reported to the instructor. Gastrointestinal illness are common, though rarely serious. Students should consult with their physicians to be prepared for this potential illness.
While overseas, students are advised to be alert to their surroundings, and be particularly aware of any health and safety advisories for the areas in which they will be visiting. Additional safety and health precautions and other important considerations will be provided at the pre-departure orientation.