The Class:

people:

Brandon Alston

I am 21 years old and I am a senior at PSU. I am studying to obtain my degree in African & African American Studies with an interest in the social sciences ans community development. I also have a deep interest in African-American history. This opportunity will enable me to use my two biggest assets, my knowledge and my heart, but more importantly it will give me an experience that will help me grow personally.

Q'tyashia Arrington

Hello! I am both Antiquan and American. I am excited about working with you in this service learning project in Tanzania. I honestly do not know exactly what to expect, however, I know that we wll learn from each other and together we will make an impact.

Alisha Balee

Hello! I am a Sophomore at Penn State and working towards degrees in Bio-behavioral Health and Women Studies. I am so grateful for this opportunity to travel to Arusha and be able to experience a new culture! I am very interested in health issues as well as feminist issues here at Penn State. Overall I am extremely excited for this trip and cannot wait to meet everyone!

Sherry Cain-Wathers

Hi! I am 20 years old an a sophomore at PSU. I am a very competitive person so it is only natural that I am always up for a good challenge. I always say, "you don't know what you are capable of until you try." I believe everyone should tale life by the horns and seize EVERY opportunity that presents itself!

Brian Canseco

Hello! I am 18 years old and a first year student at PSU. I am an English Literature major and Spanish Literature minor. I grew up in Los Angeles, California. I wish to go to Tanzania because I know it is the next chapter in my life -- to help in any and every way I can. I love English, reading, history, art, & music!

Michael Dissen

Hi! I am Mike Dissen and I am so excited about the trip! I am from Pittsburgh, PA and am currently in my junior year at Penn State. I love working with kids and have taught swim lessons, coached a swim team, will be a counselor at a camp this summer. With that said, I am hoping to spend most of my time in Tanzania with the children that live in the community. I think I have a lot to bring the community, and I know I can learn a lot from them as well. I know this will be a great experience and can't wait for it to start!

Nolan Fontaine

Hamjambo and What's up? My name is Nolan, I am 22 years old and I am a senior at PSU majoring in International Politics and Black Diaspora Studies. I am extremely exstatic about coming to Africa...and even more excited about seeing Arusha. I feel that with coming to Tanzania, it will give me a sense of learning more about the world around me and help rekindle my artistic side that has kinda been sidetracked by school work. I'm hoping that we'll be able to collectively educate each other in becoming more artistically eclectic.

Andrea Gallego

Hello! I am 19 years old , originally from Medellin, Colombia, but now I reside in East Hampton, NY. I am a sophomore majoring in finance and women's studies. I enjoy new meeting people, especially kids! I am very excited to meet all of you and to get to know you. I am very dedicated and I like to get involved in everything. Please contact me anytime - avg5018@psu.edu.

Kate Gillen

Hi! I'm a sophomore majoring in psychology and women's studies. I am thrilled to be going to Tanzania this summer. I love meeting different kinds of people and learning about different cultures. I look forward to learning not only about alternate ways of living, but new things about myself. I know this is going to be a life-changing experience and I can't wait!

Bridget Keogh

Hi everyone! I'm so excited to work with our fellow classmates and our partners in Tanzania to formulate some useful and longstanding projects. Besides Canada I have not traveled internationally and I am so grateful for this opportunity. Tanzania will be life changing and the people will give us perspectives and experiences that will be unmatchable. I can't wait!

Alyssa Ketterer

Hujambo! I'm looking forward to taking full advantage of this rare opportunity to combine all of my interests: feminism, education, language, art, and activism. I can't wait to be part of this service-learning project that embodies all of my passions, especially going international! I'm so excited to share knowledge and experiences while participating in the movement toward social justice. This is the beginning of turning theory into practice... a beginning that will lead me into a life-long journey of learning and activism. Asante!

Alison Mathews

Hello, my name is Alison Mathews and I'll be graduating from Penn State this December with a degree in Women's Studies. My interest in, and passion for, feminism and activism make the opportunity to travel to Tanzania especially thrilling. I have a particular interest in learning about women's lives and backgrounds that are different from my own, and experiencing life in Tanzania (even if only for a short time) will offer a vantage point few are lucky enough to enjoy. I'm just so excited to see what I can contribute and how this class and trip will help me to grow and change� it is truly the opportunity of a lifetime!

Megan Nesper

Hello! I am very exctied about our class and spending time in Tanzania. I wasn't too sure about what the class was going to be about, but as class continues I am starting to understand what it is all about and what we will be doing during our three week stay in Tanzania. I find it extremely important to always try to help and teach others, and this is an amazing opportunity to do that, but also for us to be helped and learn at the same time. I know that we are in for an experience of our lives, and I can't wait!

Erin Pettit

Hamjambo~ I am so happy to be going to Tanzania. From the short time we've already spent with one another, I have a good feeling that we all are going to contribute something unique and worthwhile to their community. I am looking forward to developing some amazing service-learning projects with you all. Like we've already stated, this experience will be life-changing and I'm so excited that all of you are ready and excited for it too. I'll see you all in class, and in Africa :)

Lauren Pisieczko

Hello! I'm a senior at PSU. My favorite classes have been about international studies. I have never been outside of the US and am really looking forward to meeting new people and culture of Tanzania!

Brittany Reutzel

My name is Brittany and I'm currently a sophomore in the process of designing my own major. Traveling to Tanzania is an amazing opportunity and I excitedly look forward to making new friends, discovering a part of this beautiful world I've never known and learning a lot about myself while in the process.

Laura Rochon

Hello! I am a sophomore seeking a degree in English with a minor in Sociology. I have a passion for language, all aspects of the performing arts, and I enjoy working with children. I am looking forward to traveling to Tanzania because I am emerging myself in a different culture. I am so grateful for this opportunity and I can't wait until May!!

Mariam Bukky Olubukola Salisu

I am a Pre-med student at The Pennsylvania State University majoring in Applied Psychology. I plan on graduating spring of 2008 and by God�s grace matriculating to medical school in the fall of 2008 to pursue a career as a cardiothoracic surgeon or neurosurgeon. My reasons for traveling to Tanzania are to garner knowledge on the health epidemic in the country and aid in the efforts to reduce the spread of HIV in Tanzania.

Rachel Samuels

Hi! I'm a sophomore majoring in geography and women's studies. I'm interested in issues of women's agency and sustainable development. I'm so excited to immerse myself in the culture in the Arusha area and learn as much as I can and contribute as much as possible.

Jennifer and Auja Stahl

Hujambo! Currently, I am a double major in Women's Studies and African Studies with a minor in Peace and Conflict Resolution; with an overarching interest in social justice activism. My name is Jennifer and my daughters name is Auja, and we will both be traveling to Tanzania, and I am very excited to be bringing her along to experience this trip with me. It will be a wonderful opportunity in our lives, to feed our mind, bodies and spirits. We are both very excited about the trip and the experiences we will share, an experience that I know will be with us for the rest of our lives. Salama tu!

Carl Sutherland

As a returning student, I look forward to building on the foundation of my relationships from last summer. This kind of persistance is important to me in anything I do. I can't wait to be back!

Julie Thompson

Hi everyone! My name is Julie Thompson and I am currently a sophomore studying Sociology and Women's Studies. When I heard about this opportunity, I knew it was something I could not pass up. During my time here at Penn State, I have discovered a love and passion for feminism and activism, as well as opening my eyes and mind to things unknown to me. This trip will be a perfect experience to really surround myself with something completely different than the culture I know and live in, which I am so excited about. I can't wait to have this life changing voyage that I will remember and carry with me forever. I am also looking forward to traveling with everyone and really forming a bond as a group!

Angie Vena

Hello! I am passionate about education and service, so this seems like the perfect class for me! A little about me...I am easily excited, eternally optimistic, dedicated to making a difference, passionate, caring, a good listener, and enthusiastic about life. I enjoy the little things. I am excited about this trip and I can't wait to meet all of my new friends.

Corey White

This is Corey White. I'm 21, and a senior in the English program here at Penn State. I am looking to work on accommodating educational programs via radio through my partnership with the UAACC in Tanzania. I hope to, in part, add to a productive educational structure within the community.

Kristen Wolfred

I am now entering my fifth year at PSU with an "intent" to graduate in Fall 2007 after a semester of student teaching in Pittsburgh. My interest in using art as a tool for social reform began when I realized how sharing my scented markers in third grade could change the whole outlook of the class from "I am not very good at art" to "at least my art smells like cherry!" In all sincerity, I am only beginning to unravel the curative powers of art and its positive impact on social renewal. Going to Tanzania on this service learning initiative has been a leap of faith for me being my first experience abroad, but I know it will act as a catalyst for my future involvement in art education. I am so thankful to be working with such an intelligent, dedicated, and passionate group of individuals to pioneer opportunity for future aid. I can only imagine what we will yield...