Taking a trip to Africa to learn language, drum and dance

Arlene Smith Start Date: Sep 30, 2017 - End Date: Dec 12, 2017
  • Educational/Research Trip
  • Professional Development
  • Study/Degree Abroad
  • Conakry, Guinea

My Travel Story

by: Arlene Smith Start Date: Sep 30, 2017 - End Date: Dec 12, 2017
  • Educational/Research Trip
  • Professional Development
  • Study/Degree Abroad
Hello All,

I am a studying Linguistic Anthropologist taking (yet another) studying trip abroad. As usual, it is very expensive when calculating the cost of tickets, immunizations, and the program itself. But, it is very worth it when you take into account the education opportunities you are likely to gain from the experience.

With this program I am partaking on, now, I will have the chance to learn: sewing, dance, drumming and other instruments, the culture/landscape of the land, and (most importantly) the language of Malinke. When I go there, I fully intend to "soak it all in". That is to say; I want to brain bleach, as much as possible, the European influences that have been forced into me as I most posibly can in the short time that I'll have to work with. Good for my career and good for my life.


  • Conakry, Guinea

Updates

1
  • Still Need Help, Any Amount Would Be Greatly Appreciated.

    I posted this already, about a week ago, and have gotten no response.

    Just a little bit about my reasoning for wanting to travel in the first place:

    I have always had a love for language, and an interest in people; why they do the things that they do. I thought that it would be a good idea to intermix the two as a degree in Linguistic Anthropologist. My plan is to, someday, travel to barely known tribes with disappearing languages and help preserve them. Many of them have been disappearing and replaced with the more popular ones, like english. I find that to be very sad, because the majority of what makes a culture a culture is its exclusive uses of words and labeling of things.

    With this trip, I'll be traveling to Conakry, Guinea to learn Malinke. I'm very excited, and yet, at the same time afraid that I won't be able to even afford the round trip ticket. I am a broke, fulltime, college student. Financial aid and student loans can only get one so far. Please give, if you can. Thanks.