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wish we'd brought more gifts for children
Agreed - wish we brought more gifts in general - MIT tee shirts, Bosox hats...
we were surprised at how many requests for money we got--even from people associated with the host organization. be prepared to respond to such requests.
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mini soap bars come in handy
Bring lots of cash is an understatement. Travellers checks often come with a 10% commission, ATMs have 5% fees.. cash is king, especially in Tanzania where they don't even want Tanzanian shillings! Make sure you have a buffer of cash (a couple hundred) for the flight home. You never know where you may get stuck.
Don't be afraid to try public transportation or to bargain. It can be frustrating but a lot of fun!
Make sure to take advantage of the MIT name. We were able to get many meetings with high officials by just saying we were MIT students interested in learning.
Get information specifically on the country you are going to in terms of culture and what to expect. People tend to give you advice on 'Africa' after having visited only one country, which can be misleading. The regions are all very different.