Reese Bobitt
TANZANIA
I spent my Spring 2022 semester studying abroad in Tanzania. The program I participated in was focused on Wildlife Conservation and Political Ecology. Much of my time in Tanzania was primarily hands-on learning – field studies, conducting focus groups, and independent research projects. Not only visiting another country but becoming immersed in another culture was an invaluable experience. One of my favorite experiences in Tanzania was spending ten days camping on the Serengeti and Ngorongoro Crater – two national parks that are home to some of the most biodiverse landscapes in the world. Elephants, giraffes, and zebras would often visit our campsite during the night, and most mornings we woke up to lions roaring in the distance. My study abroad experience was impacted by COVID-19 and the way that different countries have responded to the pandemic. Originally, I was supposed to study abroad in Australia in a program similar to what I studied in Tanzania. But, due to stricter COVID policies in Australia, I was redirected to other programs in countries that would allow me to come study. All of the people involved with planning and coordinating my study abroad experience were incredibly helpful, and I would not have been able to have such a great study abroad experience without them. It really took a village. This change in plans taught me so much about embracing change and saying “yes” to opportunities I would not have normally thought to look for. Tanzania was where I was meant to study abroad, and the once in a lifetime experience I had there will stay with me for years to come.
Jackson Guilford
SERBIA
For my Fulbright English Teaching Assistantship, I was placed in Subotica, Serbia, about ten miles from the Serbian border with Hungary. I had never lived abroad before, so I had no idea what to expect. I was able to have a host of new experiences, such as traveling across Eastern and Central Europe by train, hailing taxis in Bosnia and Montenegro and surviving 10 hour bus rides through the mountains. I am now at Michigan Law School, and my Fulbright experience has served me in many ways. I am always able to keep things in perspective and appreciate a new challenge. I keep in touch with a close friend and fellow Serbia ETA who is also now in law school. And most importantly, I keep my cravings for ajvar and kajmak (traditional Serbian foods) at bay by occasionally making them at home!
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