Aron N. Field School Ambassador
What is one word to describe your study abroad experience:
"The environment was spectacular to see in person, and the beautifully haunting calls of the Indri indri echoing through the forested hills was an unforgettable experience. Seeing lemurs the size of larger human child leaping massive distances several metres above you from tree to tree was something that I will never forget."
ARON N.
Madagascar Field School participant
Duration of Field School: 4 weeks
Summer semester
Studying Anthropology
- What did a typical day in this Field School look like?
We would be up bright and early in our tents at 5:30, woken by the sounds of the birds and lemurs in the area. We would then all have a big breakfast as a group, and head up and out into the forest to conduct our forest and lemur surveys. We would then break for group lunch midday, after which we looked around for a group of lemurs near the campsite to conduct our behavioural observations on. After a few hours of lemur watching, we would have a bit of down time where we washed clothes, cleaned tents, consolidated data, played card games, or had a shower if available. We would end each day off with another fantastic group meal, finally being tired out from the day going to sleep at around 9:00pm.
- What did you have to do for the course component of this Field School? How did it impact your degree?
We had a period of 2 weeks on Guelph campus where we learned the types of data sampling methods we would use in Madagascar, and learned about the place, history, and people of the region. We then had a written examination in Guelph worth a large percentage of our grade. Once we went to Madagascar, we worked on various forms of quantitative data analyses where we had to determine frequency rates, analyze occurrence data, and further analyze lemur behaviour, all the while keeping in mind the One Health approach of people, animals, and the environment. Once we finished the field work in Madagascar, we went home and worked on the final course component which was to write a research proposal based on a research question we asked and deliberated on in the field.
- How did your Field School Coordinator support your experience?
Travis Steffens provided us with excellent support throughout the course content, as well as in the field school experiences in general as well. He made sure to give us all ample opportunity to learn on our own, but was ready to answer and help with any questions we had.
- How many other U of G students did you travel with? And what did you think of travelling with other students?
We had 12 students from the University of Guelph in the field school. All of us got along with each other exceptionally well! I was very pleasantly surprised to see that none of us bad blood with others, and that everyone was glad to meet and work with everyone else. During our travels to and from Madagascar, all of us were always looking out for each other, making sure nobody got left behind and helping anyone when needed.
- How did you interact with the local community during your Field School?
In addition to the 12 University of Guelph students in the field school, we collaborated with 6 Malagasy students from the University of Antananarivo, as well as a Professor from the institute. The students and professor were with us the entire time, and were the absolute best people to work with and talk to! We also met and forged amazing relationships with the people of Planet Madagascar, learning so much from them. I still talk regularly with one of the Malagasy students, and I hope the relationships we forged will last a lifetime!
- What influenced your decision to participate in a Field School opportunity?
My interest in Biological Anthropology greatly drove me to participate in the field school, as I saw it as an excellent opportunity to dive into the topic that was unlike no other. The great biological and cultural uniqueness of Madagascar was also a significant influence in my decision to attend the field school.
- What was the best thing that happened during your Field School? Explain.
The fantastic people I got to meet both from Canada and Madagascar, and the amazing life experiences we were all able to forge together was the best thing to have happened in the field school, and I wouldn't want it any other way.
- Where was the coolest place you traveled to during your study abroad experience?
The most interesting place we travelled to must have been to the Andasibe-Mantadia rain forest in the first week of the field school. That environment was spectacular to see in person, and the beautifully haunting calls of the Indri indri echoing through the forested hills was an unforgettable experience. Seeing lemurs the size of larger human child leaping massive distances several metres above you from tree to tree was something that I will never forget.
- What was the biggest cultural adaptation you had to make?
The stark difference for me that we had to adapt to was the fact that since we were very obviously foreigners, many people would stare at our group and young children would frequently point, laugh, and wave at us. None of us took it negatively, as we knew prior that Malagasy children often do such things towards foreigners, though it was still very different from our experiences here in Canada.
- What was your best learning moment?
My greatest learning moment was in seeing the reality of anthropological studies and how the academic aspect of field work is unbelievably more different than I initially assumed. The field school showed me the complex reality of the real world of academic work, and the extent to which people truly value the psychical world.
- If you were to recommend this field school to your best friend, what would you say?
I would most highly recommend this field school to anyone who values humanity and the natural world. The experiences you will likely have with the people around you will undoubtedly impact you for the rest of your life. But above all else, I think it is most crucial to come into this field school with an open mind to the world around you, ready to accept and deal with anything that comes your way.
- Would it be helpful to learn another language for this Field School?
French would definitely be a helpful asset for this field school. Although you can most likely manage to have a fantastic experience without any knowledge of French, it would still be useful for the interactions with the majority of Malagasy people and vendors who may not speak English proficiently. Communication with the students from Antananarivo would also have been more fluent with a good understanding of French, as there were occasionally gaps in our communication both ways. Though again, with an understanding attitude, English is perfectly enough for this field school experience!
- How did you finance your study abroad experience?
I made use of the various bursaries and student travel grants the University of Guelph offers, which I was nearly able to pay all my expenses from.
- What are your packing recommendations?
Some items I think were absolutely crucial or wish I brought more of, are: wet wipes (bring A LOT as showers will not always be available), a long cable rope, a wash cloth, a tilly hat, sunglasses, bar of soap (excellent for washing clothing and body), earplugs (the lemurs are louder than you think!), shower slippers, a large water bottle, and ample snacks. Some items which I would NOT recommend: any form of white clothing (will never be white again), too much warmer clothing (one set of warmer clothes is enough!), and a laptop (will NOT be needed).
- Is there any other helpful information you would like to share with future study abroad participants?
The most helpful advice I would have known was to prepare for the unexpected, and be ready to make changes to your plans while doing this field school. You should prepare for the fact that some things will most likely not go as planned, and adaptability was absolutely crucial to make the most of everyone's experience.
