In this personal reflection, Fort Lewis College Anthropology student Molly Mosier shares her experiences during a Summer 2024 ethnographic field school in Tanzania, where she lived with a host family, conducted research, and gained a new perspective on community, culture and daily life.

This story is part of an occasional series featuring Fort Lewis College students' experiences beyond the classroom, written by students for students. Apart from corrections to typographical errors, it has not been edited in order to preserve the author's voice.

My experience in Tanzania was incredible. The moment I stepped out of the Kilimanjaro airport I was welcomed into the country and all the fear and anxiety I had leading up to this moment just fell away. I went into this experience expecting to practice ethnographic methods and get out of my comfort zone. What I didn’t expect was to find so much comfort in this place, and discomfort when I had to leave. While I don’t want to minimize the contribution to my education this trip has been, I do want to highlight the personal takeaways I left with and encourage other students to participate in this program.

Our hosts were fantastic, there wasn’t a meal I didn’t love, and the homestay is lovely. There are three generations of hard-working women and girls happy to welcome us into their lives. One of my highlights from the trip was the time I spent in conversation with our hosts, exchanging stories of our culture and lives. This trip doesn’t always feel like work. The restaurants were lively and fun, we danced to live music, and the kids ran around playing. We went shopping, had birthday parties, went on ice cream adventures, and even took part in cultural practices in a Maasai village there is a market only a short walk down the road and by the end of my stay I began to see familiar faces as I would walk to and from. It was fun! As part of this program, we were all paired with translators, other college students, from a nearby university. I loved learning about life from a fellow student while hanging out listening to music and going through each other’s camera rolls.

It didn’t take long for us Americans to realize the stands in Tanzania are different… Stereotypes tell us that Africa is dirty, that the people are poor and that it’s not the safest place to visit. The stereotypes are dead wrong. It was the cleanest place I have ever been and everywhere else feels dirty ever since. Our host quickly commented on our lack of showering; in Tanzania, you shower at least once and often multiple times per day a clean wash your laundry after one wear regardless of how clean they seem. You scrub your hands before every meal, even in restaurants there are sinks by the tables and staff will remind you to wash your hands. The lifestyle isn’t “poor”, it’s just different. Neighbors help each other out; if you need something from corn to meds it is common practice to walk next door and ask. You want for little. Many people have rich gardens, and the food is so fresh, I have never eaten so well in my life. Everybody here was so welcoming too… People greet each other and take in interest your life. I have not felt this sense of community anywhere else I have visited; feeling a part of something like this has been one of the hardest things to say goodbye to.

My only complaint is that two weeks is not enough time. The sense of calm I felt in Tanzania has left a void ever sense. There are no words to describe my excitement to return to such an incredible place. My perspective on life has shifted heavily because of this experience; I find myself valuing people and time more and “stuff” less. My hope is that more people have the opportunity to experience the joy that I have, this program is inspiring and invaluable. Shout out to Dr. Thomson for making this happen.

Molly Mosier, an Anthropology major from Bend, Oregon, participated in an ethnographic field school organized by Anthropology professor Marnie Thomson in Tanzania in the summer of 2024. The four-week program begins with a two-week preparation period at FLC before heading to Boma Ng’ombe, Tanzania. There, students live with a host family while researching, interviewing, conducting participant observation, collecting visual data, and processing and analyzing data. Previous projects have included research with local residents regarding notions of masculinity, expectations of international aid, reproductive health and education, food sovereignty, and gendered expectations of romantic relationships. Students frequently turn their ethnographic field school experiences into senior seminar papers and presentations. For more information about the Ethnographic Field School Program, visit: https://www.fortlewis.edu/academics/schools-departments/departments/anthropology-department/field-schools/ethnographic-field-school