Estella Moriarty
Psychology Major, Class of 2007
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It seems rather fitting that I am writing my reflection today as I have just finished taking my malaria pills …
Pre-departure expectations.
As long as I can remember I have been enchanted with Africa as a whole, and the fact that I am on a plane right now to go there is beyond my wildest dreams. We have studied Niger but I still feel like I know nothing. Malam [Prof. Miles] says that the people there will receive us with open arms and are preparing for our arrival, but I know that we are going to stand out and look alien to these people, and that makes me nervous. Will they welcome us or be standoffish and judgmental? Will the woman be as beautiful as the pictures that I have seen? Will the children be emaciated and sick? I feel like I am going into this trip blindly. I hope that Professor Miles knows what he is getting himself into.
Post Trip Reflection
I have returned from this trip with a light bag, but a mind heavy with thoughts. What can I do to help now? What is development and why is it so difficult to execute? Why should anyone be deprived of the basic standards of living? This trip has taken my world turned it upside down and then shaken it to the core.
Major revelations: I had assumed that the people of Niger would be more prone to mental illness because of their living conditions. Wrong! It is exactly the opposite: the people of Niger should be candidates for further study because they maintain positive attitude in the face of adversity… I think (almost) everyone that went on this trip left part of their heart in Niger.
I find myself day dreaming of our trip and every time I look at a clock I find myself counting six hours ahead to Nigérien time and wondering what people are doing there.
When I left this trip I was heartbroken to leave my family for the holidays, but little did I know that a group of strangers would also become part of my family.
Thank you to my 14 fellow huskies, Malam [Prof. Miles] & Malama [Prof. Dewan], our Tuareg guides who were just as sad to leave as we were to leave them, the students of the National University of Niger, the amazing villagers of Yekuwa, and of course our Dialogue of Civilizations bull.