Shaye Beardsley, a University of Oregon student in the human rights and social justice program studying to be a lawyer, shares their transformative experience in Tanzania, where they gained a more diverse, non-Western perspective on the world. Shaye is currently at the MSTCDC campus near River Lagonga and Arusha.
They emphasize the importance of gaining different perspectives, especially regarding development, noting that development is sometimes not done correctly and can be used as a tool for suppression. They learned the importance of gathering more information before making decisions and the value of accepting when they are wrong. Shaye also realized how much easier it is to be kind to each other.
Shaye recommends that future study abroad students coming to the area have no expectations, be ready to learn a lot, and try to learn Kiswahili beforehand. They describe various activities, including a Kiswahili cooking class and market trip, and visits to the African Court of Human and Peoples' Rights and several museums.