<p>I was wondering what the range of experiences were, particularly in Sub Saharan Africa.</p>
<p>I haven`t studied abroad through college yet but I do come from that part of Africa. What would you like to know?</p>
<p>D returned in early May from 4 months abroad; the final 5 weeks were in Capetown, South Africa. She loved it – although her absolute favorite country was India. At any rate, she was in a couple different homestays in/near Capetown for most of her time there.</p>
<p>Agree w/ dko – your post is a little vague, so it’s hard to provide any specifics.</p>
<p>There seems to be a trend that the richest kids feel the need to spend time in Africa or other 3rd world countries. Some spend time studying; others help because of the poverty and living conditions. I wonder if any of them have noticed that conditions in many parts of the US are not much better.</p>
<p>Totally agree with edad</p>
<p>D spent 60 days in Ghana two summers ago working with Unite for Sight. She was located in a smaller town and went out daily to work in clinics in the area. She lived in a hospital compound. The experience was great for her.</p>
<p>I would love to go to Africa during college with Engineers Without Borders</p>
<p>Well, I have been to South Africa twice in the last few years, for about a week each time. First time, had an armed hijacking of the airport limo, second time a residential armed robbery.</p>
<p>In my opinion, if you let your kids go to South Africa, you are insane. Just look at published data on violent crime rates.</p>
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<p>I’m sure there’s a difference between going on your own, vs going as part of a well organized program with an in-country coordinator – which is what D did. She never had a problem, and never felt unsafe.</p>
<p>CBBBlinker, mind if I ask what organization your D went with? I’m looking into some international internships and at least one of the organizations has placements and assistance in South Africa.</p>
<p>We’ve been to South Africa as a family several times. Never with a tour group - always on our one. Never a problem, but then - no matter where you are - you have to be smart. Can’t let your guard down anywhere.</p>
<p>Smart, Grcxx3? An act of intelligence prevents your airport limo from being hijacked, or your room being broken into by armed robbers?</p>
<p>I agree there are worse areas and better areas, and Cape Town is relatively better. But why do you need any of it? There are other safer places (even in Africa) if you want to help people.</p>
<p>Also remember the high incidence of HIV/AIDS and the pervasive belief that sex with a virgin will cure it.</p>
<p>^^
You are right. It is hard to avoid having your car hijacked and having your room broken into. However that can happen ANYWHERE!!! </p>
<p>Yes, Cape Town, the Winelands, and the Garden Route are much safer than Jo-burgh. But no matter where you are - you have to keep your wits. </p>
<p>Whenever traveling (even in the US), you have to weigh all the risks, but for me, I refuse to let the “potential” for problems keep me from traveling somewhere I"m interested in.</p>
<p>D was with the International Honors Program (IHP) on their Health & Community semester abroad program. They spent time in 3 countries, studying health issues in each location. (The health issue in So. Africa is, as you might expect, HIV/AIDS.) Google IHP for more info. It’s not really an internship, though.</p>
<p>CBB:</p>
<p>How did your daughter like the IHP program? Pretty intense, huh?</p>
<p>My daughter still gets together with her IHP buddies. She’s going to NYC next weekend to hang out with two people from her IHP trip back in Fall 2006. It’s an bond and experience that is hard for the kids to even begin to explain.</p>
<p>Interestly enough, I think my daughter probably liked Bangalore, India the best too. She said that it was really interesting after a few weeks when she started to see order out of what had appeared to be total chaos.</p>
<p>Here’s there website for whomever asked:</p>
<p>[International</a> Honors Program](<a href=“http://www.ihp.edu/]International”>http://www.ihp.edu/)</p>
<p>
That seems to be painting with a bit of broad brush.</p>
<p>And, yes, I think many of those students notice conditions here in the US as well. In fact, many of them get involved in NGO-type careers.</p>
<p>Although, to be completely fair, even the most poverty-stricken areas of the US typically have running water, sewer systems, and some access to health care. I’m not sure there are areas of the United States that really compare to the shantytowns of Buenos Aires or South Africa.</p>
<p>^^I agree w/ interesteddad about poverty in South Africa and Buenos Aires and have been to both places in the last year. We offer our US children free public education along with clean water and some health care and vaccinations. The children living in the slums in SA and BA don’t have that. The number of Aids orphans alone in SA is staggering and grandparents are raising sometimes 15 or 16 grandchildren without any government assistance. Their homes are built of scavanged lumber, cardboard, sheet metal. The more wealthy in the SA Townships buy a couple of bricks at a time to make their homes more sturdy. I don’t think anything here quite compares.</p>
<p>Ghana is considered “Africa for beginners.”</p>
<p>Africa is out of many people’s comfort zone. But it has so much to offer. We loved our trips to South Africa, Kenya, and Tanzania. My husband and youngest son went to Zimbabwe and enjoyed it - altho that was just before everything really got bad. Of course, living in Egypt, it was easier for us to get to these places and there was minimal jet lag.</p>
<p>It’s not for everyone - but for those who are willing to do something different, it can be an incredibly interesting and rewarding.</p>
<p>The most popular locations I’ve known people to visit are South Africa, Tanzania, and Ghana. Some go on official university study-abroad programs. The advantage of these is that they’re usually well-organized and students can easily get academic credit for them, but they can be superficial and expensive. </p>
<p>Many go with the programs where you pay a large sum of money to get placed with certain organizations/groups. I’ve heard mixed reviews though and almost all the time the placements aren’t quite what were advertised, so check carefully before you go. </p>
<p>I also encountered a significant number of Westerners working with religious organizations and these people seemed to be doing some of the best work within communities. </p>
<p>For a more adventurous traveler on a budget, it’s also entirely possible to enjoy Africa on your own. I did research in Kenya for two months last summer with little more than a laptop and a cheap cell phone (bought in Africa; best $25 I’ve ever spent). I did have one contact already in Africa who helped me get set up, but for the most part I was on my own. </p>
<p>Sure, things happened. I got sick several times (one good rule to follow: don’t eat meat that has flies swarming all over it), but fortunately there are doctors everywhere in the world and prices are pretty cheap for most things. I never talked to people out on the streets of Nairobi, but if I was in a bus or cafe I always tried to strike up a conversation and that often led me to some of the best information for my research as well as good friendships. Following simple safety precautions and avoiding looking/acting like a rich tourist worked well for me; I kept my laptop secure in my apartment while I went around town with a notebook and my cellphone, which certainly cut down on the hassle.</p>
<p>Overall, it was an excellent experience, but sub-Saharan Africa can be one of the more difficult places to study abroad for beginners, so I’d recommend having some experience traveling independently elsewhere first if you want to get the most out of your time there.</p>