Evelyn G. Field School Ambassador
What is one word to describe your study abroad experience:
"These types of programs really bring your learning to life when you get to participate hands-on outside of the classroom. Learning is FUN on a field school!"
EVELYN G.
Madagascar Field School participant
Duration of Field School: 4 weeks
Summer semester
Studying Zoology
- What did a typical day in this Field School look like?
After waking up in my tent at 6am to get dressed and ready for the day, I walked over to the table for our normal morning breakfast of eggs and rice porridge. At breakfast, we would chat about whatever and swap stories with the Malagasy students that we were working with. After breakfast, we went straight up to our study area (called JBA). It was quite a walk to get there involving many stairs. Once we were in our study area, we began data collection. This involves tree phenology, composition of tree species in a specific area (quadrats), lemur sightings, lemur behaviour, and soil sampling. After that, we would head back down for lunch at 11:30. Lunch was always rice and beans. After lunch, we either did calculations based on our data samples or we did lemur behaviour observations with the sifakas that live around the campsite. 5-minute focals and 10-minute scans were completed until we had at least 12 focals. We had free time after our work was done. Some free time activities we did included journaling, reading, catching up on missed work, washing our laundry, napping, or hiking back up to JBA to get to the only spot with service. Dinner was at 7 and was always delicious (and had more variety than breakfast and lunch). We often sat around the table after dinner and talked or played games. After brushing our teeth, we all tucked back into our tents for the night.
- What did you have to do for the course component of this Field School? How did it impact your degree?
We had to make calculations based on our data collections, keep a field log for every day we were in the field, and write a final research proposal based on our research question. We also had a small test prior to leaving for Madagascar.
- What did you think of your Field School coordinator?
Dr Travis Steffens was an excellent professor who was always there for support, advice, a good story, or a quick joke. He prepared us as best as he could prior to departure from Canada. He had lots of tips and tricks to make a month of camping more comfortable. He was very much like a father to us all during our field school.
- How many other U of G students did you travel with? And what did you think of travelling with other students?
Our group comprised of 12 field school students, 6 Malagasy students, our professors grad student and her URA. We all became fast friends and everyone got along exceptionally well. We are still friends now and regularly chat in a big group chat. No way I would have enjoyed this field school as much as I did without the amazing people I got to experience this with.
- How did you interact with the local community during your Field School?
We visited some villages near our campsite and got to participate in some of the daily activities that they do, such as rice husking, sapling sorting, plant watering, and more. We also took a trip the market one day to experience the economical side of things.
- What influenced your decision to participate in a Field School opportunity?
As a zoology student, I know that I want to work with animals. Particularly, I want to work with primates. Back in my first year of university, I took Dr Travis’ biological anthropology class, which was the spark that lit the flame of primatology for me. I decided then that somehow, some way, I would end up in Madagascar. When I heard about his field school running this summer, I immediately applied.
- What was the best thing that happened during your Field School? Explain.
The best thing that happened during my field school experience was being puked on by a diadem sifaka while visiting the rainforest, Andasibe. Not many can say that have been puked on by a wild lemur in Madagascar. This was particularly special to me because it highlights just how close we were able to interact with the native wildlife. It’s a story that I will share with friends and families for years to come.
- Where was the coolest place you traveled to during your study abroad experience?
Personally, I thought Andasibe was the coolest place to visit. We saw many lemur species while there and enjoyed tours of the rainforest from local guides. We also got to interact with some local villages and see their school.
- What was the biggest cultural adaptation you had to make?
Pointing while in the forest is taboo, and so instead of pointing to something, we had to gesture with our hand or point using our knuckle. It was a small adjustment to make but difficult to catch on to because of how normal it is to point with your finger in Canada.
- What was your best learning moment?
I doubt myself a lot and felt like there were some components that I would not be able to complete. Specifically, tree identification. With some advice and encouragement from Travis, I spent an afternoon up in JBA by myself working on tree identification. I was able to complete all my tree identification sheets and learned that with some effort and a clear head, I can do things that are difficult for me if I set my mind to it.
- If you were to recommend this field school to your best friend, what would you say?
This is a once in a lifetime opportunity that provided me with experiences that I will remember for the rest of my life. You will get to see so many different lemur species, interact with many different people of different regional cultures, and take home unforgettable stories.
- Would it be helpful to learn another language for this Field School?
Yes. Knowing French would be an asset to this field school. All the Malagasy students spoke English well, but they knew French better. Knowing French would have made communication easier.
- How did you finance your study abroad experience?
I applied for grants and bursaries through U of G and everything else was organized from a fundraiser that my mom set up for me!
- What are your packing recommendations?
Light weight quick dry clothes, a thick camping mat, snacks that you actually enjoy eating, books, sleep shorts (even though you probably can’t wear them out of your tent), and a good sized Fanny pack. Do not brig an abundance of sweat pants (too hot), any thick or heavy field clothes, or anything sentimental or important to you (jewelry, clothes you care about, your favourite book, etc. it will probably get damaged).
- Is there any other helpful information you would like to share with future study abroad participants?
Bring a small pharmacy with you. You never know what you might need in the field. I separated some over the counter pills (gravol, Tylenol, Advil, Imodium, dulcolax, pepto bismol) into a track pill case and kept it in my bag for quick access while up in the field. I also brought a tensor bandage, which was very helpful for when I rolled my ankle in a hole. The tensor bandage allowed me to finish my days data collection without any ankle pain.
