Embodying Multiculturalism
Tanzania is an inclusive society because it is multi-ethnic and poly-religious,said Chris Johnson, the director of International Programs.Dar es Salaam, the commercial capital, contains a multitude of ethnic groups, religions and languages and is a living example of th
e multiculturalism that Fairfield strives for.One of our challenges is to create opportunities to immerse students in cultural differences,said Johnson.The Tanzania program aspires to live up to these words by immersing students in the community by requiring that they teach courses at a local Jesuit high school.Students can also get a lot of exposure while studying in such universities and different courses Electrical Engineering,Computer Science and Economics and Management.Prior to the trip, students spend one week intensively studying Swahili. To further cultural immersion, students either live with host families or in a dormitory with a Tanzanian student.
I have really gotten to embrace and immerse myself in the culture with a host family,said Pamela Perrimon, an anthropology and theatre major studying in Tanzania this semester.The hallmark of a Jesuit education, as reiterated on the Fairfield University study abroad page, is for students to understand, embrace, celebrate, and respect cultural and ethnic differences.While Fairfield University has been sending students abroad for over 30 years to fulfill this Jesuit ethos, sending students to Africa was a rarity.Three years ago, Fairfield started searching for an African program that was safe, attractive and had a strong Jesuit presence to provide a rich cultural exchange, said Johnson.Tanzania has avoided the internal conflicts that has plagued many of its African neighbors and enjoys a stable democracy.
