A lot of the research I do for coastal ecology and natural resource management in my program is based on field work. SIT prides itself on experiential learning and I have found this very accurate. We have lectures and classes, but the structure is very different and I find myself learning more when I go out into town to talk to people or observing the idiosyncrasies of the unique ecosystem here. So I learn more out of the classroom. One hard part for me is that I am unused to writing up quantitative data that is required of me in this scientific based program. But so far our projects have both been group work; one project was in Jozani Chwaka Bay National Park describing density and behavior of the endemic Red Colobus monkeys the other was researching the use of water for agricultural purposes in a small fishing village. This tactic helps me adjust to the style of reporting that science based reports require because my peers are more familiar with this format that includes methods, data, and a discussion of the graphs and calculations, and end with further research topics. I am confidant that I am benefiting my peers because I have a good handle on Kiswahili and because many of our subjects speak the local language it is vital to our success in research here. Being confidant in Kiswahili helps me try to go out of my way ask questions and get the answers necessary to complete our work.
