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[International] Study in Senegal

Dear International Listserv Members:
For more information on the program below, please contact Cheryl Ajirotutu (contact details below) directly.
If you decide to participate, please also see the UW Oshkosh Office of International Education webpage http://www.uwosh.edu/oie/support.html for information on using Financial Aid, transfering credits, etc.
"Cultural Traditions of Sénégal" ethnographic field school, co-sponsored by the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee and l'Université Cheikh Anta Diop (Dakar, Sénégal). 


This year the field school dates are June 4  through July 2, 2006.
This letter is intended to answer some of the more basic questions you might
have about this program, such as:


-       What is an " field school"?
-       Can I attend if I am not anthropology major?
-       Will the program allow me to explore my personal interests?
-       How much course credit will I receive for participating?
-       How much does the program cost, and what does this cost cover?
-       What are the course requirements?
-       How do I obtain a passport?
-       Will I need immunizations to participate?
-       How do I apply for the program?

What is a field school?
A field school is an educational experience that supports the learning of
anthropological methods. Students work to gain an understanding and
appreciation of diverse cultural settings while acquiring some level of
competence in participant observation methods. This field school is located in
the country of Sénégal. Field school sites include, urban, and rural locations, 
as well as emerging global sites such as Gorée Island.  The field school in
Sénégal provides for a total cultural immersion learning experience.

Can I attend if I am not anthropology major?
This course is open to all students regardless of major. In this field school
students' learning experiences are grounded in Anthropological field methods of 
participant observation. Anthropology is interdisciplinary and students are
encouraged to incorporate their discipline-specific perspectives in their
assignments.

What are the course requirements?
Each student will be required to maintain a field notebook of her/his research
experiences throughout the field school, which will be turned in after the
conclusion of the program.  You will also be encouraged to write a personal
journal; whether you share this journal with others, or use it solely to
reflect upon your own experiences in Sénégal, a well-kept diary is more telling 
than any souvenirs you might acquire during your travels.

In addition, the field school also makes use of audio and video technology as
part of its documentation activities and research methods.  The field school
will provide you with sufficient training to produce short (i.e., five-ten
minutes) documentary films, photographic journals (using digital and 35mm
cameras), and audio recordings (using digital voice and sound recorders).
Using these technologies, you will be able to pursue your particular research
interests and present your findings in a more exciting and engaging way than
the traditional "paper."  Other field school activities include:
- formal instruction in the Wolof language (which is spoken by approximately 85% 
of the Sénégalese population);
- cultural orientation workshops to familiarize you with basic principles of 
etiquette, social interaction, and navigating your way about Sénégal;
- several small- and large-group meetings to discuss particular events or ideas, and to evaluate the progress of both individual students and the field school as 
a whole; and
- various follow-up activities at the conclusion of the program, and after your return to the U.S.; for example, collection and production of a "photo gallery" 
on CD-ROM (for examples, visit our website at http://www.uwm.edu/~yinka).

-       A copy of this year's tentative schedule is available at my web site
http://www.uwm.edu/~yinka).


How much course credit will I receive for participating?
The field school program will award up to six (6) credit hours (semester-based) to participants who successfully complete the program. For UWM students, these credits may be applied towards Anthropology, Africology, or Women's Studies programs. 
Application of this credit towards other degree or certificate programs is
possible, but must be negotiated and approved prior to participation in the
field school. Students from non-UWM campuses must make individual arrangements 
with both their own advisors
and the field school director so as to determine the quantity and disciplinary
applicability of credit earned through this program.

Will the program allow me to explore my personal interests?
Yes.  One of the requirements for participation in this program is that you
already have a developed specific research interest prior to going to Sénégal. 
Part of the application process will require you to articulate and submit a
brief (approximately one page) statement of your specific interests in
Sénégalese culture and society.  More information will be provided  once you
begin the application process.



How much does the program cost, and what does this cost cover?
The cost for participation in the field school is approximately $4,500.00 USD. 
This cost includes the following:

-       travel to / from Sénégal (airfare)
- program-related transportation within Sénégal (taxis, buses, ferry, etc.) 
-       scheduled meals (including beverages)
- various program-related expenses (e.g. admission to museums or cultural 
events, tours, lectures, research facilities and materials, etc.)
-       a Wolof-English/English-Wolof dictionary

It does not include:

-       the textbooks (required)
-       souvenirs
- personal-use purchases (e.g. unscheduled meals or beverages, alcohol, tobacco, 
toiletry items, personal transportation, etc.)
How do I obtain a passport?
If you do not have a passport, ensure that it is still valid (if it was issued to you as a minor, it remains active for five years from the date of issue; for 
adults, it remains active for ten).  If you have not yet gotten a passport, or
your passport has already expired, the
easiest way to apply for one is to pick up an application from the post office; 
however, you should call first to make sure your post office is equipped to
handle passport applications.  Application fees will vary according to your
particular status (e.g., first, renewal, or replacement passports). You should 
allow at least sixty (60) days between your application and departure dates.
Also, keep in mind that a valid passport is required in order to enter Sénégal. You are not required to obtain a separate visa (beyond the "tourist visa" which 
is automatically stamped onto your passport when you enter another country),
provided you are a United States citizen.  If you are not a U.S. citizen, you
will need to contact the Sénégalese embassy in Washington, D.C., for a visa
application (NOTE: there might be an additional fee assessed to process your
visa application.)

Will I need immunizations to participate?
Yes.  Depending upon your particular immunization history and medical record,
there are certain medical precautions you will need to take prior to
participating in the field school.  For example, you will need to obtain a
sufficient supply of medicine for malaria prevention, as well as certain
inoculations (such as yellow fever or tetanus).  The Centers for Disease
Control website (http://www.cdc.gov) maintains a summary report of both
suggested and required medical precautions for overseas travel.
You will need to consult with your physician to determine which precautions are necessary for you; for instance, if you received a tetanus shot within the last 
nine years, you should not require one for the 2006 field school (the tetanus
vaccine remains active for ten years).  If you do not already have a personal
physician, you can also check with your university or local health clinic in
order to prepare for the program.
NOTE: UWM students should make an appointment with Dr. H. Richard Weiner at the 
Norris Health Center (414.229.4716).  Dr. Weiner has extensive experience with
tropical medical conditions and has agreed to be our medical contact for the
field school.


How do I apply for the program?
First, you must fill out an application and submit it, along with a $250.00
deposit, to the Center for International Education.  Application forms are
available on my web site http://www.uwm.edu/~yinka

Second, we will send you part two of the application .  You will be asked to
write a short essay outlining your area(s) of interest and expectation for the
field school. Once this is returned and evaluated you will receive an official
letter of acceptance for the field school 2006.

Cheryl Ajirotutu
Associate Professor, Anthropology
Senior Faculty Associate, Cultures and Communities Program
University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee
308 Sabin Hall
3413 N. Downer Street
Milwaukee WI 53201
414.229.4390 (office)
414.442.1294 (fax)
http://www.uwm.edu/~yinka


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