We've been back in Nairobi for more than a week now, but I haven't had much of a chance to write: mainly because of the amount of work we've been assigned. In the last week we've had daily Swahili homework, an essay on Islam in Lamu, 40-50 pages of reading a night, and due tomorrow, another essay on politics and 15 very difficult short answer questions. The Islam and Swahili courses are at an introductory level, but the politics course is probably 300 level.
The work load wouldn't be bad at all- if we were at LC. The difference is that here, we are in class for six hours a day, every day, and the commute time from our home stays is an hour each way. We have no internet or research facilities, and thus we have to hand write and recopy all work (something that is extremely difficult for me).
When we are at home for the maybe four hours a day we could do our homework, there is intense pressure to spend time with and learn from our host families- especially as we only have one more week with them.
I don't mean to complain too much- the material is all very interesting, and I'm enjoying being in Kenya. On the other hand, I was expecting a much less academically intense experience, and wasn't prepared for this. The trip was described by past students and promoted as 'experiential learning'- not academics in Africa.
Ps- if you're reading my blog and I haven't talked to you about it, could you leave me a comment to let me know? I want to make sure I got the address to everybody who wanted it.
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2 comments:
Wow, those academics do sound intense... I can't imagine writing papers etc. without a computer/the internet.
Also, I left a comment a few entries ago, too... but I suppose you'll be notified of that?
Hi Chris,
Andrew is reading your blog~ have a good time in Africa` Peace be with you.
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