Mishell I. Field School Ambassador
What is one word to describe your study abroad experience:
"I would go 1000 more times!"
MISHELL I.
Madagascar Field School participant
Duration of Field School: 4 weeks
Summer semester
Studying Biological Science
- What did a typical day in this Field School look like?
We'd wake up around 6 AM. My friends and I would quickly roll into breakfast, eating rice porridge. Then we'd walk up a huge hill around 6:30AM and begin our field work! We studied forest biodiversity through plot sampling. We came back for lunch around 12. Lunch was always rice and beans. After lunch, we would do lemur observations from the campsite for about 2 or 3 hours. Afterwards was our free time! We liked to journal, play cards, and go on walks! Dinner was always tasty, and sometime we got noodles and everybody would freak out because it was such a rarity!! After dinner we would sit around the table and hang out until bedtime.
- What did you have to do for the course component of this Field School? How did it impact your degree?
We had a few projects during our field school. This included animal observations and their behavioural calculations, forest biodiversity sampling, and presenting our results to forest directors within the region. In Canada we had to write a literature review about a research question we developed during our time in Madagascar.
- How did your Field School Coordinator support your experience?
They were amazing! Great support and communication throughout the whole experience.
- How many other U of G students did you travel with? And what did you think of travelling with other students?
About 10-15. I loved it, it was super fun having a lot of friends to share the experience with!
- How did you interact with the local community during your Field School?
We were respectful to their cultural norms and helped teach them English! We worked with Madagascar students every day and shared a campsite, so we learned a lot about their culture, music, and gained lifelong friends!
- What influenced your decision to participate in a Field School opportunity?
I really look up to Travis Steffens and his amazing work, and also am passionate about primatology.
- What was the best thing that happened during your Field School? Explain.
Meeting my good friends Vanessa and Aviva, among all the other amazing people. Being able to share the experience with them was a blessing. Going out in the forest, finding chameleons, eating rice and beans every day, strenuous hikes, everything is better with them!
- Where was the coolest place you traveled to during your study abroad experience?
WE SAW BAOBABS!!!! Near Andasibe. It was so cool!!!
- What was the biggest cultural adaptation you had to make?
Modesty culture. We had to have a lot of discussions prior to our departure to Madagascar about what is and isn't okay to wear and do, and how to be respectful of their views.
- What was your best learning moment?
Learning how to navigate a language barrier with the Malagasy students. Because some of them struggled with English, we had to learn to be patient and find ways to communicate creatively.
- If you were to recommend this field school to your best friend, what would you say?
Field school is a life-changing experience. You will see things you've never seen before, be challenged in ways you've never imagined, and come back to Canada viewing life completely differently. I have a massive appreciation for primatologists around the world and the challenge of One Health Conservation. I would go 1000 more times!
- Would it be helpful to learn another language for this Field School?
It would be helpful to learn some basic Malagasy to show respect for the people there, such as hello, thank you, and please.
- How did you finance your study abroad experience?
Scholarships mainly.
- What are your packing recommendations?
Pack lots of light T-Shirts because it gets HOT!!!! And most importantly... a COT!! I am so glad I brought one. I needed my beauty sleep! Being in such challenging, new conditions (strenuous hiking, heat, limited food) means you really need to be able to recharge during your rest. I would also suggest bringing spare shower shoes. My friend lost hers and she had to shower in socks the rest of the trip!
- Is there any other helpful information you would like to share with future study abroad participants?
You will not grow if you stay in your comfort zone. If you are nervous about going because you've never done anything like this, that's all the more reason to go. This has been one of the best experiences of my life and I am so glad I had the opportunity to visit Madgascar. Give it a try, and best of luck!
