Swahili corner:
Nick Bucciarelli writes “This was my first trip to Kenya, and my first to Africa. Kenyans are proud to be Africans, which is funny since I’ve never seen anyone proud to be North American. Upon seeing the miraculous variety of dress, dance, and language throughout the country, I began to believe that culture back in America is dead. However, the more I was exposed to the Kenyan lifestyle (and being regularly questioned, “You don’t drink tea?!”), the more I realized I was just oblivious to my own culture. Abroad, I learned that the only way you can truly examine yourself is from a distance. This is best exemplified by several instances in which I observed Kenyans readily preferring room-temperature water over ice-cold, all as I gawked in astonishment. In all seriousness, I do think that Americans should adopt the word Shikamoo (meaning “I pay you my respect”), and everyone should say it to their respected elders, including my little sister.”
Chelsea Angwenyi writes: “Going to Kenya for the Fulbright-Hayes intensive language and cultural immersion was an incredibly memorable experience for me. The program started in Nairobi, and once there, I had the opportunity to visit some of my family that I hadn’t seen since the last time I visited, 13 years ago. Apart from our daily Swahili classes, our time was filled with experiences like watching a bullfighting tournament, walking through ancient ruins, visiting primary schools, and going to several cultural centers where we learned about Kenyan culture, history, and the Swahili language. We also were able to go on a safari at Tsavo National Park. Getting to see animals in their habitat was amazing. The program finished in the town of Kilifi, which I loved not only because the coast was beautiful but because we were able to interact with locals in Swahili.”