Muzungo
Andrea Rannard University of Manchester
 
What was the context/situation/challenge?
Working in Kenya at the beginning of 2007: a continent I had not visited, although my mother had previously lived in Africa; unable to speak the language, but fortunately able to converse in English; a level of poverty I had not immersed myself in for the last few years; working with a group of strangers, mostly from different cultures; predominantly working in dangerous and volatile slums areas (as can be demonstrated by current affairs) with three bodyguards; aware of the absence of other white females and that I am carrying expensive filming equipment; and conscious that I am entering a community and have an agenda.
 
What were the particular characteristics of the situation that engaged you in an immersive way?
Engaging with a community that is based in a dense slum area where you are surrounded by people and are visibly different from them, it's difficult not to embrace the experience by immersing myself yourself in it, plus the alternative is to detach yourself and feel even more of an outsider. The denseness of the area and the number of people you are surrounded by is immersing. Walking around the community and talking to people, children rushing over to you and shouting "Mzungo" (white person), you know your presence is noted and it extremely difficult not to feel immersed, also it would be a lot less fun too. 
 
What forms of learning / personal development / change emerged from the situation?
Unsure about the 'forms of learning', but exploiting and learning about a different community and culture, how they live, what they see, etc. are the most obvious learning points from the experience. In terms of learning and personal development, the following emerged from the experience: feeling I had embraced and thoroughly enjoyed a challenging experience; engaged with people in a positive way; been treated with respect by strangers and treated others in the same way; and started to generated project ideas that would enable both myself and others to develop new skills and possibly facilitate new and meaningful interactions. On reflection, changes that emerged include a greater respect for others who encounter challenges on a daily basis, particularly people who live in absolute poverty and suffer from terminal illnesses, yet do so in a dignified manner.
 
What words/concepts/feelings would you use to describe the immersive experience?
Exciting, humbling, exploring, childhood, adulthood, happiness, sadness.
 
What principles or lessons can be drawn from this story?  
Lessons concerning the importance of exploring different communities and lifestyles in order to understand them, whilst helping you to better understand your own. Application to HE could involve more emphasis on interactive case studies, work-based learning projects, virtual volunteering opportunities and overseas placements with remote and/or disadvantaged communities, exploring key global issues of our time from minority perspectives utilising case studies from under-represented voices.
 
 

 


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