University of Wisconsin–Madison

Tanzania: Peyton Thomson

Program: UW Health, Education, and Tanzanian Culture Program, Summer

Peyton’s Major: Neurobiology

Peyton leans against a white railing overlooking the red roof of the next building as the sunset casts an orange and yellow glow.
We went to a rooftop dinner while we were in Zanzibar, Tanzania. It was amazing to overlook the Indian Ocean and Stone Town after we spent the day walking through the bustling streets of Stone Town and visiting all of the little shops.

What is your most memorable experience from your program?

The most memorable experience from my program was when we were in Zanzibar, Tanzania, which has a population of 99% Muslim. Each student in the program had the opportunity to have a conversation with a student in Zanzibar. During my conversation, I learned some of what it is like to grow up in Zanzibar and grow up Muslim. I learned a lot about their religion and it was incredibly amazing to have such an open conversation where I learned so much about how important their religion is and how it has impacted their lives. It was also interesting to hear their perspectives of the United States and answering their questions about my life in the US.

The public health aspect of this experience is incredibly valuable, and knowing as much as possible to provide the best information would greatly benefit your experience in Tanzania.

What did you learn about yourself or the world because of your experience?

I learned about the importance of knowledge, access to education, and public health for all areas of the world. I learned about my new found passion of public health and this opportunity has led me to pursue a Masters in Public Health, with an emphasis in global health, because I want to not only gain as much knowledge as I can, but learn how to share information about health and safety to people who are not as fortunate as I am to have such easy access to this knowledge and education.

What is your advice for someone considering your program? 

My advice for someone considering this program is to research about Tanzania. Become familiar with various topics in Tanzania, such as education, government, the lives of women, and the ability to access resources for drugs, alcohol, gender-based violence, mental health, etc. ” … ” The public health aspect of this experience is incredibly valuable, and knowing as much as possible to provide the best information would greatly benefit your experience in Tanzania.